Tag: Grant Shapps

UK Travel Industry Decries Return of Pre-Departure COVID-19 Tests

The British travel industry has reacted with fury to the latest travel restrictions announced by the UK government to rein in the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Saturday that all travellers arriving in England will be required to take a COVID-19 pre-departure test from Tuesday. He also said that…


UK Travel Industry Critical of Return of Pre-Departure COVID-19 Tests

The British travel industry has reacted with fury to the latest travel restrictions announced by the UK government to rein in the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Saturday that all travellers arriving in England will be required to take a COVID-19 pre-departure test from Tuesday. He also said that…


Britain Says Exact Date on US Travel Reopening Still Not Known

LONDON—Britain’s transport minister Grant Shapps said on Friday there was still no exact date for when the United States would open for travelers from the United Kingdom, beyond the guidance of early November. The lack of clarity on the U.S. opening is one of the final barriers remaining for UK travel after Shapps promised an…


UK Travel Red List Reduced to Just 7 Countries

The UK has further relaxed its COVID-19 travel restrictions, bringing its travel “red list” down to just seven destinations. From 0300 GMT on Oct. 11, 47 countries and territories including South Africa, Mexico, and Thailand will be removed from the red list, the government confirmed on Thursday. Passengers returning to England from these destinations will…


HS2: UK Ministers Will Not ‘Blindly Follow’ Plans Drawn up Years Ago

The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has added to growing speculation over the future of the eastern leg of HS2, saying ministers will not “blindly follow” plans drawn up almost two decades ago. In an interview with the Financial Times, Shapps signaled that a major rethink of the high-speed rail project between Birmingham and Leeds could be…


UK Government Takes Over Train Operator Southeastern

The UK Government is to take over running services on train operator Southeastern, also known as the London & South Eastern Railway Limited (LSER), after a “serious breach” of its franchise agreement. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said an investigation by his department identified evidence that since October 2014 the company has not declared more than…


Shapps Defends Foreign HGV Driver Plan and Blames Haulage Group for Fuel Queues

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has defended his foreign visa plans to solve the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver shortage as he accused a haulage group of sparking petrol station queues. Shapps said the queues and closures at fuel stations were a “manufactured situation” created by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) leaking comments from BP…


UK Government Urges Against Panic Buying Following Fuel Supply Disruption

British Cabinet ministers have urged motorists not to hoard fuel after several petrol stations closed on Thursday due to the ongoing lorry driver shortages. The disruption of a number of BP and Tesco forecourts has led to queues at some petrol stations on Friday morning. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s deputy official spokesman assured motorists that there’s…


Climate Group Insulate Britain Blocks Europe’s Busiest Ferry Port

Climate campaign group Insulate Britain escalated their protest action on Friday by blocking the Port of Dover, the busiest ferry port in Europe, despite the government’s warning that they face possible imprisonment if such disruptive protests continue. More than 40 people blocked the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover. Their…


UK Climate Protesters Face Jail for Further Attempts to Block Motorway

Climate protesters will face possible imprisonment if they make further attempts to block the UK’s busiest motorway after the government secured an injunction against such actions. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Wednesday that National Highways had been granted an injunction against the protests, which have shut down parts of the M25 five times in…