Cash for curtains

The 1-minute read to get the money news you need.

John Lewis nightmare

Boris Johnson’s £85,000 refurbishment of his Downing Street residence is now under investigation by the Electoral Commission. It says there are grounds to suspect an offence has been committed. The prime ministers opponents accuse him of letting Tory part donors contribute tens of thousands in secret to pay for the luxury refurb - which is against the rules.

Recruitment drive

Uber is aiming to sign up 20,000 new drivers in the UK to keep up with rising demand. The ride hailing app has seen a 50% jump in trips since pubs and restaurants reopened for outdoor service on 12th April. Tempted? Remember, Uber drivers now get workers’ rights including minimum wage, holiday pay and sick pay after the company lost a Supreme Court case last month.

Mental health

People who have become newly reliant on universal credit and self-employment grants during the pandemic have suffered the biggest rise in mental illness. That’s according to a major new survey, which found 42% of “help seekers” are struggling with poor mental health. Other groups, including “multi-strugglers” who have multiple financial difficulties, also reported a variety of mental health conditions.

100 days of Biden

US President Joe Biden has marked his first 100 days in office with a speech to Congress promoting an $1.8 trillion (£1.3tn) spending package. The plan includes funding for childcare and payments to parents and would give free access to preschool and community college. Biden also hailed the country’s vaccination programme, which has delivered over 220 million jabs so far.