At last, some midsummer light at the end of Britain’s long and immensely damaging lockdown tunnel. Boris Johnson’s Government has finally listened to this country’s businesses and given the seemingly doomed hospitality industry a chance of survival by easing the stifling two-metre rule. As this paper has repeatedly pointed out, traditional non-food shopping was suffering before lockdown under the weight of sky-high business rates, online shopping and surging utility bills made more expensive by mandatory green measures. The lockdown, despite a welcome year-long lifting of business rates, has only quickened this deterioration. But as you raise that celebratory pint, prepare for one almighty financial hangover.

Source: Daily Mail June 23, 2020 21:30 UTC