Lockdown: 1 year on

The 1-minute read to get all the money news plus expert adviser views.

Lockdown anniversary

Exactly 1 year ago today, Boris Johnson told us to stay at home for the first time. He’s described the past year as “one of the most difficult in our country’s history”. A year on since the start of the first national lockdown, we’ve lost 126,172 people to the disease, vaccinated 28 million people against it, and endured unprecedented restrictions to our freedom.

Employment rate rises

The number of people in work has risen for the third month in a row, with an increase of 68,000 according to the Office for National Statistics. The rise in employment means there were 200,000 more employees on payroll in February than in November. But overall the employment rate is far lower than before the pandemic, with almost 700,000 people fewer in work than in February 2020.

£5k holiday fine

Brits who try to travel abroad before the end of June will be hit with a £5,000 fine, amid concerns over rising cases in Europe. The government is planning to review the rules on foreign holidays - which are currently banned - on 12th April, and might still give jet-setters the green light from 17th May. But if not, the travel fines will stay in place.