Selasa, 01 Desember 2020

Hundreds of thousands of shoppers line up in huge virtual queue to get on Debenhams' website - Daily Mail

More than a MILLION shoppers line up in huge virtual queue to get on Debenhams' website and snap up 70%-off fire sale bargains in the final hours before the 242-year-old chain goes out of business

  • Debenhams announces it has lost JD Sports as a buyer and will begin stock fire sale before closing 124 stores  
  • Gets £75m sales from Arcadia concessions like Topshop but Sir Philip Green's empire now in administration 
  • Arcadia group, which includes brands such as Wallis and Dorothy Perkins, has £350m pensions black hole  
  • One Arcadia group worker today told BBC Radio Four that Sir Philip Green should sell yacht to help his staff
  • MPs call for Government to force Sir Philip to 'do the right thing' and bailout pension pot like he did with BHS 
  • Rishi Sunak says the Government 'stands ready' to help the 25,000 workers in 'deeply worrying' times
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More than a million shoppers swamped the Debenhams website yesterday to snap up generous discounts as the department store tries to clear its stock before closing for good.

The chain has become the latest high street casualty and will be liquidated in the New Year after rescue talks with JD Sport fell through, drawing a line under 242 years of trading and jeopardising 12,000 jobs.    

Debenhams has said it will open its 124 shops with a fire sale of its stock when the national lockdown ends tomorrow. 

Handbags, shoes, boots, watches and dresses are being slashed in price by as much as 70 per cent.

The bargain bonanza has already sparked a scramble for cut-price products online, with people waiting in virtual queues to access the store's website.

Late Tuesday night there was a 20-minute wait 'due to exceptional demand' with over 300,000 trying to get on to the website at one point, and the total number of shoppers topping one million.

A bruising year for the retail sector amid the pandemic climaxed this week when both Debenhams and Sir Philip Green's Arcadia group collapsed. 

Arcadia, which owns Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Burton, tipped into administration, putting 13,000 jobs at risk.  

Sir Philip was urged to do his 'moral duty' and sell his £100million superyacht to support his Arcadia staff before Christmas and bailout the £350million black hole in their pension pot. 

Hundreds of thousands of shoppers have swamped the Debenhams website to snap up generous discounts as the department store tries to clear its stock before closing for good
Debenhams (pictured in Manchester today) are prepared for liquidation after 242 years of trading with 12,000 jobs at risk after JD Sports declined to buy the brand in the chaos caused by Arcadia's collapse

Hundreds of thousands of shoppers have swamped the Debenhams website to snap up generous discounts as the department store tries to clear its stock before closing for good

Stock in cages is ready to be sold at a cut price in London from tomorrow - with customers encouraged to spend vouchers while they can on 'Wild Wednesday and buy with credit cards for refund protection

Stock in cages is ready to be sold at a cut price in London from tomorrow - with customers encouraged to spend vouchers while they can on 'Wild Wednesday and buy with credit cards for refund protection

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has declared the Government 'stands ready' to help the 25,000 Debenhams and Arcadia workers in 'deeply worrying' times, adding: 'There are negotiations between various parties and the companies at the moment - particularly with regard to pensions - and it wouldn't be right for me to comment specifically on those'. 

Mr Sunak's offer of help came days after he used his spending review to commit the Government to spending £1trillion for the first time and revealed that borrowing would hit an unprecedented £400billion this year as he bankrolls the UK's response to coronavirus.  It is not clear from Mr Sunak's statement whether taxpayers' money will be offered to Arcadia or Debenhams - or their pension schemes - but the 25,000 people they employ will be eligible for benefits if they are made redundant.

Customers with gift cards are being urged to spend them as soon as possible with administrators expected to block their use in the coming weeks as the business winds down. But people who have ordered items for Christmas online are now panicking they may never arrive with no chance of a refund.  

Experts today called the collapse of the two giants one of the most 'devastating' weeks in the history of British retail with up to 25,000 workers put at risk of redundancy in the space of 12 hours. The number of job losses is so large it equates to losing the entire labour force of the UK fishing industry overnight.

MailOnline research has found that since the first lockdown in March, 277,815 people in Britain have been put at risk of redundancy - or have lost their jobs - as high streets across the country are decimated by rising online sales, business mismanagement and months of lockdowns caused by the coronavirus crisis.  

Piles of goods are piling up in stores like this one in Oxford Street, which will close within weeks after a fire sale of stock (pictured) starting when the national lockdown ends tomorrow with the business expected to be liquidated by the end of the year

Piles of goods are piling up in stores like this one in Oxford Street, which will close within weeks after a fire sale of stock (pictured) starting when the national lockdown ends tomorrow with the business expected to be liquidated by the end of the year

The price of handbags, shoes, boots, watches and dresses are already being slashed in price by 70% on the Debenhams website (pictured)

The price of handbags, shoes, boots, watches and dresses are already being slashed in price by 70% on the Debenhams website (pictured)

A member of staff works inside the flagship branch of the Debenhams department store on December 1 ahead of tomorrow's fire sale

A member of staff works inside the flagship branch of the Debenhams department store on December 1 ahead of tomorrow's fire sale

Monaco resident Sir Philip was seen over the weekend relaxing in Monaco, where he keeps the super yacht Lionheart

Monaco resident Sir Philip was seen over the weekend relaxing in Monaco, where he keeps the super yacht Lionheart

The high street giant, which includes the Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Burton brands, has hired administrators from Deloitte after the coronavirus pandemic 'severely impacted' sales across its brands

The high street giant, which includes the Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Burton brands, has hired administrators from Deloitte after the coronavirus pandemic 'severely impacted' sales across its brands

Looking for Christmas deals? MailOnline have hunted down some of Debenhams' best discounted items:

Regatta - Khaki 'Elmore' Waterproof Breathable Jacket  £30 (save £70)
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Oral-B - 'Smart 4' Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush Duo  £70 (save £130)
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Debenhams is set to disappear after 242 years on the British high street 

Shoppers are seen charging through the doors of one Debenhams department store on the first day of a sale at the height of its strength in 1977

Shoppers are seen charging through the doors of one Debenhams department store on the first day of a sale at the height of its strength in 1977

Debenhams began as a draper business at 44 Wigmore Street in London in 1778. Initially founded by William Clark, William Debenham became a partner in the business in 1813 and changed the name to Clark & Debenham.

The business grew, opening branches in Cheltenham and Harrogate, before Clark retired in 1837 and it became Debenham, Pooley & Smith.

In 1851, it became Debenham & Freebody after Clement Freebody invested in the firm and it opened offices in South Africa, Australia, Canada and China.

It was incorporated as Debenhams Limited in 1905 and its new headquarters was completed in 1908 in west London's Wigmore Street.

The company began buying existing department stores across the country, including Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge in 1920.

Debenhams was listed as a company on the London stock exchange for the first time in 1928 and by 1950 became the largest department store group in the UK. At the time it owned 84 companies and 110 stores and in 1976 it acquired Brown's of Chester.

This was the only store to retain its name when all the other company's stores were rebranded Debenhams in 1977.  The company merged with the Burton Group in 1985 but demerged in 1998.

Belinda Earl became CEO in 2000 and Debenhams opened its largest British store in Birmingham's Bull Ring in 2003. But as profits fell Sports Direct bought 4.6 per cent of Debenhams shares in January 2014, and Mike Ashley secured 21 per cent of the company in August 2017. In March 2018, Debenhams reduced 320 store management roles across the business and Sports Direct's shares increased to 29.7 per cent.

The company announced its largest ever pre-tax loss of £491million in 2018 and the closure of up to 50 stores putting 4,000 jobs at risk. 

The company fell into the hands of its lenders, a group of banks and hedge funds led by US firm Silver Point Capital. And in April 2020 it announced it needed a buyer. The deal with JD Sports collapsed on December 1.

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The historic department store, founded off Bond Street in London in 1778, could now vanish completely after a rescue deal with sports retailer JD Sports collapsed this morning. Arcadia's concessions, including Topshop and Dorothy Perkins, are worth £75million-a-year in sales to Debenhams - and without them the business is heading for the wall.

Rishi Sunak was asked about the crisis engulfing Debenhams and Arcadia in the Commons this afternoon.

Labour MP Ruth Jones (Newport West) said she is 'very concerned' about the threat to thousands of jobs, and asked Mr Sunak to outline what discussions he has had to ensure those affected get the support 'they deserve'.

Replying in the Commons, Mr Sunak said: 'The news about Arcadia, and indeed Debenhams, is deeply worrying for employees and their families and the Government stands ready to support them.

'With regard to various things that are ongoing, there are negotiations between various parties and the companies at the moment - particularly with regard to pensions - and it wouldn't be right for me to comment specifically on those.

'But she can be rest assured we keep an eye on the situation.'  

Later the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the Government remained committed to supporting the retail sector following the news about Debenhams.

He said: 'We obviously understand it's a deeply worrying time for Debenhams' staff, the employees themselves and their families.

'We obviously stand ready to support them and we remain committed to supporting the retail sector and are working closely with industry during these very challenging times.'

Sir Philip Green was seen sauntering through the streets of Monaco over the weekend, where his superyacht Lionheart is still moored today, as it was revealed 13,000 Arcadia staff were put at risk.  He is planning a Christmas stay at a luxury Maldives resort, according to reports. 

One of Sir Philip's customer service team today told the BBC he had a message for his boss, and said: 'I think he should sell his yacht and take money out of his own pocket to help his staff, to make sure people aren't going to be without money for Christmas.' 

Pressure is building on Sir Philip Green to bail out Arcadia's pension scheme, which has an estimated deficit of £350million. But experts have said that Sir Philip is unlikely to be on the hook for it.

The Greens are also expected to receive millions of pounds from the administration of Arcadia as they will be amongst the first in the queue to receive money back when the companies' shops and brands are sold. However, their equity stake would be wiped out. 

Shadow Business minister Lucy Powell said today: 'This is devastating news for the 12,000 employees at Debenhams who are facing a very worrying Christmas, and comes on top of the news that Arcadia has gone into administration. The Government must urgently set out how it plans to support the people affected by the collapse of these companies, including pressing Philip Green to do the right thing and plug the Arcadia pension deficit.' 

Labour MP Stephen Timms, who chairs the Work and Pensions Committee, said: 'Whatever happens to the group, the Green family must make good the deficit in the Arcadia pension fund.'

Sir Philip Green may only have to pay £50m of Arcadia's £350m pensions deficit 

Sir Philip Green, pictured with wife Tina, saw his Arcadia empire collapse into administration last night causing a domino effect that has led to a takeover of Debenhams by JD Sports ending

Sir Philip Green, pictured with wife Tina, saw his Arcadia empire collapse into administration last night causing a domino effect that has led to a takeover of Debenhams by JD Sports ending

Sir Philip Green has been told he has a 'moral obligation' to plug the £350million pension deficit in his Arcadia retail empire - but is unlikely to have to, experts have said. 

John Ralfe, an independent pension expert who advised the Work and Pensions Committee on BHS pensions in 2016, believes the deficit could ultimately amount to up to £350m.

But he believes that he Sir Philip and his wife Tina may only have to pay the £50m they are contractually due to pay this week.

Any shortfall is picked up by the pensions lifeboat, the Pensions Protection Fund. This is funded by charges on eligible schemes.

Lady Tina, who is the registered owner of Arcadia, agreed to pay £100 million into the company's pension scheme last year - and will make another £50million in the next few days. Arcadia has contributed around £29 million to the fund, and the pension scheme has security over the firm's Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road stores.  

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The collapse of Debenhams came in a truly devastating week for the British high street, perhaps the worst ever in living memory.

Geoff Rowley, of FRP Advisory, joint administrator to Debenhams, said: 'All reasonable steps were taken to complete a transaction that would secure the future of Debenhams.

'However, the economic landscape is extremely challenging and, coupled with the uncertainty facing the UK retail industry, a viable deal could not be reached.

'The decision to move forward with a closure programme has been carefully assessed and, while we remain hopeful that alternative proposals for the business may yet be received, we deeply regret that circumstances force us to commence this course of action.

'We are very grateful for the efforts of the management team and staff who have worked so hard throughout the most difficult of circumstances to keep the business trading.'

JD Sports was the last remaining bidder for Debenhams, which has been in administration since April.

In a brief statement to the London Stock Exchange, the company said: 'JD Sports Fashion, the leading retailer of sports, fashion and outdoor brands, confirms that discussions with the administrators of Debenhams regarding a potential acquisition of the UK business have now been terminated.'

Retail workers in stores forming part of the Arcadia empire, including Topshop, Wallis and Evans, arrived at work on Tuesday.

Workers on Oxford Street, in central London, prepared stores ahead of reopening on Wednesday December 2, despite news that Arcadia has fallen into administration.

Staff outside Arcadia HQ on nearby Berners Street did not respond to questions about the issue.

Arcadia, which runs 444 stores in the UK and 22 overseas, said 9,294 employees are currently on furlough.

Experts have said the loss of Arcadia and Debenhams will change Britain's retail landscape forever. 

Richard Lim, chief executive of Retail Economics said: 'We cannot overstate the significance of this collapse given the vast property portfolio, number of jobs impacted and the reverberations felt across the industry.

'In a week that has seen the collapse of the Arcadia Group, this is a truly devastating week for the high street. This puts up to 25,000 jobs at risk in just a couple of days.

What is the pensions situation for Arcadia and Debenhams workers? 

ARCADIA 

As it stands, the group has 10,000 people on its £350million pension scheme and - if the company appoints administrators from Deloitte - the government-run Pension Protection Fund (PPF) could be forced to step in.

Its intervention could see members lose between a fifth and a quarter of the pension benefits promised under the Arcadia scheme.

The separate Pensions Regulator can force a former owner of a business to help cover costs if it can be proved there has been an attempt to avoid or not honour statutory liabilities.

Part of the remaining deficit may be secured against Arcadia's property, such as its huge Topshop store on London's Oxford Street. But with the value of the property portfolio falling in the pandemic it has become more and more difficult for Arcadia to secure loans from its bankers.

DEBENHAMS

Debenhams currently employs around 12,000 staff - mostly being paid by the Government under its furlough scheme.

Staff will be expected to keep working whilst stores remain open and will be paid, but job losses appear to be inevitable.

Most pensioners will be protected under the Government's PPF, which is funded in part by levies on other pension funds.

Current rules say those still working or former employees who took early retirement will only be entitled to 90 per cent of their promised pension payments when they reach pension age.

There is also a cap - currently at £37,315 - on how much someone can receive at the age of 65 via the PPF, meaning on average they will receive between 75 to 80 per cent of what they would have expected.

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'The reality is that Debenhams has been outmanoeuvred by more nimble competitors, failed to embrace change and was left with a tiring proposition.

'The impact of the pandemic has accelerated its demise but underlying issues within the business were the root cause.'

Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said: 'The retail house of cards on the high street is in danger of collapse with both Debenhams and Arcadia group now looking increasingly likely to face liquidation.

'Shares in Frasers Group and Marks and Spencer rose strongly in early trading with expectations they could be the last big department store chains standing in town centres.

'Frasers Group is also a strong contender to snap up the distressed brands up for sale.

'Some of those gains though were erased amid concerns about the wider malaise on the high street. A nightmare before Christmas is unfolding for 25 thousand employees who will lose their jobs if buyers are not found for parts of both businesses.

'Arcadia Group's collapse has set off a domino effect, with JD Sports pulling out of talks to buy Debenhams.

'Arcadia is the biggest concession operator in Debenhams and so its collapse into administration clearly put the frighteners on management.

'The decision has shares in JD Sports up again today, in a relief rally following a sharp decline last week. Next is also on the front foot. It's already shown resilience through the pandemic with its strong digital offering, and it too could capitalise on the demise of two high-street rivals.'

Monaco resident Sir Philip was seen relaxing in the French principality, where he keeps the super yacht, over the weekend. Speaking to Radio Four Today's Programme, under the condition of anonymity, the Arcadia worker said: 'We haven't really been told what's happening. All we know is we need to keep working as normal.

'I have a pension but I'm not sure what's going to happen to it. I think we may be out of a job'.  

Its failure has meanwhile been queried by senior government minister Michael Gove.

'The Arcadia story is a tragic one, I'm not going to criticise any individual but there's been a lot of reporting that points out some of the missteps by the management there,' the key ally of Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Sky News on Tuesday.

'We know more broadly, to be fair, that the high street is facing unprecedented pressure, significant part of that of course is Covid.'

Customers with gift cards are being urged to spend them as soon as possible with administrators expected to block their use in the coming weeks as the business winds down.

Customers with gift cards are being urged to spend them as soon as possible with administrators expected to block their use in the coming weeks as the business winds down.

Sir Philip sunbathes on the deck of his superyacht in Monaco a week ago. One Arcadia worker told the BBC they felt Sir Philip Green should sell Lionheart, worth £100m, in order to help staff

Sir Philip sunbathes on the deck of his superyacht in Monaco a week ago. One Arcadia worker told the BBC they felt Sir Philip Green should sell Lionheart, worth £100m, in order to help staff

How the collapse of Arcadia and Debenhams spells more major job cuts and losses with the total now over 275,000 since the Covid-19 pandemic began

Around 13,000 jobs are at risk after Sir Philip Green's Arcadia Group edged nearer to appointing administrators after being hit by the impact of the pandemic.

The group, which cut 500 roles earlier in the year, is expected to collapse in the coming days and has lined up insolvency specialists at Deloitte.

It adds to more than 275,000 job losses or potential redundancies announced since the start of the pandemic.

Here is a list of some of the high-profile British employers that have announced major cuts since March 23:

Total: 277,185

  • December 1 - Debenhams -  12,000
  • November 27 - Arcadia Group - 13,000 at risk
  • November 26 - Mitchells & Butlers - 1,300
  • November 19 - E.On - 700
  • November 17 - Johnson Service Group - 1,550
  • November 12 - WH Smith - 200
  • November 9 - Reach - 150
  • November 5 - Sainsbury's - 3,500
  • November 5 - Caterpillar - 700
  • November 4 - John Lewis Partnership - 1,500
  • November 4 - Lloyds - 1,070
  • October 29 - Pizza Express - 1,300
  • October 27 - Revolution Bars - 130
  • October 16 - Pret a Manger - 400
  • October 15 - Marston's - 2,150
  • October 14 - Gourmet Burger Kitchen - 362
  • October 9 - Edinburgh Woollen Mill - 24,000 at risk
  • October 8 - National Trust - 1,300
  • October 8 - HSS Hire - 300
  • October 7 - Manchester Airport Group - 892
  • October 7 - Greene King - 800
  • October 6 - Virgin Money - 400
  • October 6 - Vp - 150
  • October 5 - Cineworld - 5,500 (many cuts likely to be temporary)
  • September 30 - TSB - 900
  • September 30 - Shell - 9,000 worldwide
  • September 29 - Ferguson - 1,200
  • September 22 - Wetherspoon - 400 to 450
  • September 22 - Whitbread - 6,000
  • September 18 - Investec - 210
  • September 15 - Waitrose - 124
  • September 14 - London City Airport - 239
  • September 9 - Lloyds Bank - 865
  • September 9 - Pizza Hut - 450
  • September 4 - Virgin Atlantic - 1,150
  • September 3 - Costa - 1,650
  • August 27 - Pret a Manger - 2,800 (includes 1,000 announced on July 6)
  • August 26 - Gatwick Airport - 600
  • August 25 - Co-operative Bank - 350
  • August 20 - Alexander Dennis - 650
  • August 18 - Bombardier - 95
  • August 18 - Marks & Spencer - 7,000
  • August 14 - Yo! Sushi - 250
  • August 14 - River Island - 350
  • August 12 - NatWest - 550
  • August 11 - InterContinental Hotels - 650 worldwide
  • August 11 - Debenhams - 2,500
  • August 7 - Evening Standard - 115
  • August 6 - Travelex - 1,300
  • August 6 - Wetherspoons - 110 to 130
  • August 5 - M&Co - 380
  • August 5 - Arsenal FC - 55
  • August 5 - WH Smith - 1,500
  • August 4 - Dixons Carphone - 800
  • August 4 - Pizza Express - 1,100 at risk
  • August 3 - Hays Travel - up to 878
  • August 3 - DW Sports - 1,700 at risk
  • July 31 - Byron - 651
  • July 30 - Pendragon - 1,800
  • July 29 - Waterstones - unknown number of head office roles
  • July 28 - Selfridges - 450
  • July 27 - Oak Furnitureland - 163 at risk
  • July 23 - Dyson - 600 in UK, 300 overseas
  • July 22 - Mears - fewer than 200
  • July 20 - Marks & Spencer - 950 at risk
  • July 17 - Azzurri Group (owns Zizzi and Ask Italian) - up to 1,200
  • July 16 - Genting - 1,642 at risk
  • July 16 - Burberry - 150 in UK, 350 overseas
  • July 15 - Banks Mining - 250 at risk
  • July 15 - Buzz Bingo - 573 at risk 
  • July 14 - Vertu - 345
  • July 14 - DFS - up to 200 at risk
  • July 9 - General Electric - 369
  • July 9 - Eurostar - unknown number
  • July 9 - Boots - 4,000
  • July 9 - John Lewis - 1,300 at risk
  • July 9 - Burger King - 1,600 at risk
  • July 7 - Reach (owns Daily Mirror and Daily Express newspapers) - 550
  • July 6 - Pret a Manger - 1,000 at risk
  • July 2 - Casual Dining Group (owns Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge) - 1,909
  • July 1 - SSP (owns Upper Crust) - 5,000 at risk
  • July 1 - Arcadia (owns TopShop) - 500
  • July 1 - Harrods - 700
  • July 1 - Virgin Money - 300
  • June 30 - Airbus - 1,700
  • June 30 - TM Lewin - 600
  • June 30 - Smiths Group - 'some job losses'
  • June 25 - Royal Mail - 2,000
  • June 24 - Jet2 - 102
  • June 24 - Swissport - 4,556
  • June 24 - Crest Nicholson - 130
  • June 23 - Shoe Zone - unknown number of jobs in head office
  • June 19 - Aer Lingus - 500
  • June 17 - HSBC - unknown number of jobs in UK, 35,000 worldwide
  • June 15 - Jaguar Land Rover - 1,100
  • June 15 - Travis Perkins - 2,500
  • June 12 - Le Pain Quotidien - 200
  • June 11 - Heathrow - at least 500
  • June 11 - Bombardier - 600
  • June 11 - Johnson Matthey - 2,500
  • June 11 - Centrica - 5,000
  • June 10 - Quiz - 93
  • June 10 - The Restaurant Group (owns Frankie and Benny's) - 3,000
  • June 10 - Monsoon Accessorize - 545
  • June 10 - Everest Windows - 188
  • June 8 - BP - 10,000 worldwide
  • June 8 - Mulberry - 375
  • June 5 - Victoria's Secret - 800 at risk
  • June 5 - Bentley - 1,000
  • June 4 - Aston Martin - 500
  • June 4 - Lookers - 1,500
  • May 29 - Belfast International Airport - 45
  • May 28 - Debenhams (in second announcement) - 'hundreds' of jobs
  • May 28 - EasyJet - 4,500 worldwide
  • May 26 - McLaren - 1,200
  • May 22 - Carluccio's - 1,000
  • May 21 - Clarks - 900
  • May 20 - Rolls-Royce - 9,000
  • May 20 - Bovis Homes - unknown number
  • May 19 - Ovo Energy - 2,600
  • May 19 - Antler - 164
  • May 15 - JCB - 950 at risk
  • May 13 - Tui - 8,000 worldwide
  • May 12 - Carnival UK (owns P&O Cruises and Cunard) - 450
  • May 11 - P&O Ferries - 1,100 worldwide
  • May 5 - Virgin Atlantic - 3,150
  • May 1 - Ryanair - 3,000 worldwide
  • April 30 - Oasis Warehouse - 1,800
  • April 29 - WPP - unknown number
  • April 28 - British Airways - 12,000
  • April 23 - Safran Seats - 400
  • April 23 - Meggitt - 1,800 worldwide
  • April 21 - Cath Kidston - 900
  • April 17 - Debenhams - 422
  • March 31 - Laura Ashley - 268
  • March 30 - BrightHouse - 2,400 at risk
  • March 27 - Chiquito - 1,500 at risk
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What do I do if I have a Debenhams gift voucher and can I get a refund? 

Is Debenhams still trading?

Yes. Debenhams says its website is trading as usual and stores in England will be open tomorrow in line with local Government guidance.

Can you still order something?

Yes. The retailer said it is continuing to accept credit cards, store cards, gift cards and Beauty Club rewards as forms of payment.

Can you get a refund on something?

Yes. Debenhams says it is processing refunds and returns as normal.

What payment method should you use to buy something?

Which? advises customers to use a credit card for anything worth over £100 - so they can try to get their money back from their card company should something go wrong.

Should you use your gift vouchers soon?

Yes. Which? advises customers to use any gift vouchers as soon as possible and avoid buying vouchers for Christmas presents.

Can you return items if it goes into administration?

Possibly. If Debenhams goes into administration, then the administrator can decide whether to accept returns. You will have a better chance of a refund if an item was not delivered or claim for the cost of a repair if it was faulty.

Can I still use a warranty if it goes into administration?

Yes, you should be able to claim a refund or repair from the manufacturer – rather than Debenhams - under the terms of the warranty. You can also claim on an extended warranty if this was provided by a third party such as an insurance company, rather than the retailer.

Can I claim from my card company?

If your goods cost less than £100 on a credit or debit card and turned out to be faulty, you can try claiming under chargeback. If you bought something on a credit card costing more than £100, you can claim under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.  

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Meanwhile, Sir Ian Cheshire, former chairman of Debenhams, and current chairman of Barclays, said he felt 'desperately sorry' for those whose jobs were at risk. 

But he told BBC Radio Four he was 'not surprised' that news of Arcadia's collapse could have a knock on impact on Debenhams. 

He said: 'They've both dealt with the same problem of 'how fast can you change?' particularly when you are stuck with long leases and costs and the internet. They were caught in a straight jacket.

'The real problem now is that you have got to be so much faster and you have got have so much more online if you are going to survive the online pressures.'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: 'The news that thousands of Arcadia and Debenhams jobs are at risk is deeply saddening - especially so close to Christmas. 

'I hope deals are agreed that save as many jobs as possible.

'Having extracted so much wealth from the Arcadia business, Philip and Tina Green owe a moral debt to its workers, and should have to meet the cost of the pension shortfall, as they were made to following the collapse of BHS.'

It comes as reports suggest the future of Debenhams is hanging in the balance with JD Sports set to pull the plug on a rescue deal amid the collapse of the Arcadia retail group.

The JD Sports group were said to be closing in on a deal to buy the department store chain, which is in administration.

But the collapse of Arcadia has now threatened to derail the rescue of Debenhams, leaving the fate of 25,000 jobs in the balance.

Sir Philip Green's empire owns Topshop, Wallis and Dorothy Perkins – and Arcadia and its eight brands collapsed into administration last night.

The group, which employs 13,000 people, is the biggest single concession in Debenhams stores and accounts for about £75million in sales.

Arcadia's collapse could take the department store with it, as it could now be wound down, risking another 12,000 jobs. 

JD Sports, which entered exclusive talks to rescue Debenhams last week, was reconsidering its position as Arcadia's collapse would dent the department stores' finances. 

It is understood that sales of Arcadia brands make up around 5 per cent of Debenhams' total revenues.

Investors flocked to buy JD stock yesterday, pushing its shares up 5.8 per cent, or 43p, to 776.2p, as they believe the takeover of such a distressed chain is risky.

Timeline of key events in Sir Philip Green's career - from payouts and takeovers to a pensions scandal and alleged sexual harassment 

Sir Philip Green has called in administrators at Deloitte to his Arcadia chain, which owns Topshop and Dorothy Perkins.

The businessman's career has spanned massive highs, including a £1.2 billion payout in 2005, but has also been marred by a pensions scandal, and accusations of sexual harassment.

Here is a timeline of his rise and fall in the world of fashion.

Sir Philip Green sits Kate Moss with her sister Lottie at the Unique by Topshop autumn/winter 2014/15 collection at London Fashion Week

Sir Philip Green sits Kate Moss with her sister Lottie at the Unique by Topshop autumn/winter 2014/15 collection at London Fashion Week

1979: Sir Philip buys up the stock of 10 designer outlets that have failed. He dry-cleans the stock and puts it up for sale again in a shop in Mayfair.

1981-88: The aspiring businessman sets up several businesses. Like the Joan Collins Jeans Company, many fail to get off the ground, and several are liquidated. He also makes several successful deals during this time.

1988: Sir Philip is hired as the boss of Amber Day, the listed menswear group. He scores several victories in the role, and Amber Day's share price rises. But he leaves in 1992 after the company misses on profits.

2000: Sir Philip buys FTSE 100-listed department store BHS for £200 million. He quickly gains plaudits for turning the struggling business around.

2002: Sir Philip buys Arcadia Group, the owner of Topshop, through family business Taveta.

2004: The businessman tries to take over high street giant Marks & Spencer but pulls out after getting very close to sealing a deal.

2005: Arcadia pays out a £1.3billion dividend, £1.2billion of which goes to Sir Philip's wife Tina, who lives in Monaco so does not have to pay UK tax.

2007: Topshop launches a range of clothes designed by supermodel Kate Moss.

2010: Protesters gather outside Topshop in Oxford Street, alleging the businessman is avoiding income tax.

2015: Sir Philip sells BHS to Dominic Chappell for £1.

2016: BHS goes into administration, leaving a pension deficit of £571 million, and costing 11,000 people their jobs. 

MPs pass a motion to remove Sir Philip's knighthood over the pensions scandal. He later pays £363million into the scheme.

2018: The Telegraph reports that staff are accusing an unnamed businessman of sexual harassment and racial abuse. Sir Philip is later identified by an MP as the businessman in question.

2020: Covid-19 hits the high street. Arcadia closes 444 stores and furloughs 9,294 employees.

On November 30, administrators Deloitte announce the Arcadia retail empire has fallen into administration with 13,000 jobs at risk

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It followed a day of drama which saw Arcadia reject an offer for a £50million rescue loan from Green's bitter rival Mike Ashley, who runs House of Fraser and Sports Direct. 

Ashley is expected to face off against online giant Boohoo to buy Arcadia's bombed-out brands, with Topshop likely to garner the highest price tag.

Retail experts yesterday said Green and his wife Tina had failed to invest enough in the likes of Outfit, Burton and Miss Selfridge, or build a successful online business like rivals Zara, H&M and Boohoo.

A row also erupted yesterday over the company's pension scheme after it emerged that there may be a £350million black hole. 

The shortfall could result in 10,000 pensioners having their payouts cut by a fifth.

In 2017, Green had to put £363million into the pension scheme for BHS workers following calls for him to be stripped of his knighthood for 'services to the retail industry'.

Former City Minister Lord Myners said Green was 'an asset stripper': 'He doesn't invest in his business, he milks them.'

Ian Grabiner, Arcadia's boss, said: 'In the face of the most difficult trading conditions we have ever experienced, the obstacles we encountered were far too severe.'

There will be no immediate job losses and stores will still trade. 

Sir Philip, 68, acquired Arcadia for £850million in 2002. Though his chief executive blamed the pandemic for the high street giant's demise, experts have pointed out that Arcadia has struggled to respond to the increased competition from low-cost rivals like Primark, and online disrupters such as ASOS and Boohoo.

Critics have also accused Sir Philip, who has been mired in a series of controversies in recent years, of not investing enough in the businesses to get them in shape to deal with the new competition in retail.

Arcadia is the latest retailer to have been hammered by store closures during the pandemic, with rivals including Debenhams, Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group and Oasis Warehouse all sliding into insolvency since March.

The group, which runs 444 stores in the UK and 22 overseas, said 9,294 employees are currently on furlough. No redundancies are being announced yet as a result of the appointment and stores will continue to trade. 

Administrators said they will be 'assessing all options available', which could see brands sold off in separate rescue deals.

Arcadia will continue to honour all online orders made over the Black Friday weekend and will continue to operate all of its current sales channels, according to a press release.

Retail trade union Usdaw said it will seek an urgent meeting with Arcadia's administrators in an attempt to save jobs and ensure staff are treated fairly as Sir Philip's retail empire goes bust.

Business secretary Alok Sharma said he would be keeping a 'very close eye' on the administrators' report on director conduct, and pledged the Government would support the affected workers. 

In a statement, Arcadia chief executive Ian Grabiner said: 'In the face of the most difficult trading conditions we have ever experienced, the obstacles we encountered were far too severe.'

He added: 'This is an incredibly sad day for all of our colleagues as well as our suppliers and our many other stakeholders. Our stores will remain open or reopen when permitted under the Government Covid-19 restrictions, our online platforms will be fully operational and supplies to all of our partners will continue.'

Matt Smith, joint administrator at Deloitte, said: 'We will now work with the existing management team and broader stakeholders to assess all options available for the future of the group's businesses.

'It is our intention to continue to trade all of the brands and we look forward to welcoming customers back into stores when many of them are allowed to reopen. We will be rapidly seeking expressions of interest and expect to identify one or more buyers to ensure the future success of the businesses.'    

Sir Philip Green: The highs and lows 

Sir Philip's Arcadia is the latest retailer to have been hammered by store closures during the pandemic, with rivals including Debenhams, Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group and Oasis Warehouse all sliding into insolvency since March

Sir Philip's Arcadia is the latest retailer to have been hammered by store closures during the pandemic, with rivals including Debenhams, Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group and Oasis Warehouse all sliding into insolvency since March 

Sir Philip's career has spanned massive highs including a £1.2billion payout in 2005, but has also been marred by a pensions scandal and accusations of sexual harassment. For two decades, the 68-year-old dominated the British retail scene and built a multi-billion-pound fortune through a series of acquisitions.

He was knighted by the Queen, feted by Prime Ministers, and rubbed shoulders with A-listers like supermodel Kate Moss and actor Sylvester Stallone.

Based in Monaco, home of the super-rich, he was regularly photographed by media on his £100million superyacht, Lionheart, and even hired Beyonce to perform at his son's bar mitzvah party.

Sir Philip bought department store chain BHS for £200million in 2000, then Arcadia for £850million two years later and twice tried to buy Marks & Spencer.

His flagship brand, Topshop, was the go-to destination for teenagers and affordable fashion lovers. In 2009, he took the brand to the US, opening a big New York store.

When he sold a 25 per cent stake in Topshop to US private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners in 2012, that brand alone was valued at £2billion, cementing his oft-cited nickname of 'king of the high street'.

What followed was a series of business missteps that saw his empire unravel, and also trashed the personal reputation of a businessman whose street-smart public image belied a more genteel start in life.

Sir Philip went to the boarding school Carmel College, but he left at 16 with no formal qualifications and, backed by a loan from his family, threw himself into the rough and tumble of the London rag trade. A bricks-and-mortar retailer, he failed to adapt his fast-fashion brands when competitors emerged.

They were undercut by new players like Inditex's Zara, H&M and Primark, while their failure to successfully develop online businesses saw them outflanked by e-commerce specialists such as ASOS and Boohoo.  

The hammer blow for Sir Philip's reputation came in 2015 when he sold BHS to a collection of little-known investors, including former bankrupt Dominic Chappell, for a nominal sum of £1. A year later BHS went out of business, with 11,000 jobs lost and a £571million hole in its pension fund. 

Up until then, politicians, the public and press had often admired Green, even with his extravagant lifestyle. In 2005 when Arcadia paid Sir Philip's wife Tina, the group's ultimate owner, a £1.2billion dividend, some people decried the payout while others saw it as the fruits of his success. After BHS's collapse, however, all bets were off.

MPs branded him the 'unacceptable face of capitalism', saying his greed and disregard for corporate governance led to the company's demise and called for him to be stripped of his knighthood. 

After the pensions regulator pursued him, Sir Philip wrote a cheque for £363million in 2017 to plug the BHS pensions fund hole. But his reputation was further tarnished when he was named in Parliament as having tried to prevent publication of allegations of sexual harassment by him against Arcadia staff. He denies the allegations. 

All the while, trading continued to deteriorate at Arcadia, which owns the Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Miss Selfridge, Evans, Burton and Outfit brands, and has more than 500 stores. A restructuring last year provided only temporary respite. Covid-19 lockdowns proved the final straw.

The collapse of the group is a bitter blow to Sir Philip, who has long prided himself on his financial acumen.

During an interview with Reuters in 2012 he pulled out a wad of fifty-pound notes from his trouser pocket. 'I'd rather talk about things I understand,' he said. 'This is money.' 

 

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Usdaw national officer Dave Gill said: 'Now that Arcadia is in administration it is crucial that the voice of staff is heard over the future of the business and that is best done through their trade union.

'We are seeking urgent meetings and need assurances on what efforts are being made to save jobs, the plan for stores to continue trading and the funding of the pension scheme. In the meantime we are providing our members with the support and advice they need at this very difficult time.

'Over 200,000 retail job losses and 20,000 store closures this year are absolutely devastating and lay bare the scale of the challenge the industry faces. Each one of those job losses is a personal tragedy for the individual worker and store closures are scarring our high streets and communities.

'What retail needs is a joined up strategy of unions, employers and Government working together to develop a recovery plan. Usdaw has long called for an industrial strategy for retail, as part of our 'Save our Shops' campaign, to help a sector that was already struggling before the coronavirus emergency. 

'Retail is crucial to our town and city centres, it employs around three million people across the UK. The Government must take this seriously; we need a recovery plan to get the industry back on its feet.' 

Sir Philip's career has spanned massive highs including a £1.2billion payout in 2005, but has also been marred by a pensions scandal and accusations of sexual harassment. For two decades, the 68-year-old dominated the British retail scene and built a multi-billion-pound fortune through a series of acquisitions.

He was knighted by the Queen, feted by Prime Ministers, and rubbed shoulders with A-listers like supermodel Kate Moss and actor Sylvester Stallone.

Based in Monaco, home of the super-rich, he was regularly photographed by media on his £100million superyacht, Lionheart, and even hired Beyonce to perform at his son's bar mitzvah party.

Sir Philip bought department store chain BHS for £200million in 2000, then Arcadia for £850million two years later and twice tried to buy Marks & Spencer.

His flagship brand, Topshop, was the go-to destination for teenagers and affordable fashion lovers. In 2009, he took the brand to the US, opening a big New York store.

When he sold a 25 per cent stake in Topshop to US private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners in 2012, that brand alone was valued at £2billion, cementing his oft-cited nickname of 'king of the high street'.

What followed was a series of business missteps that saw his empire unravel, and also trashed the personal reputation of a businessman whose street-smart public image belied a more genteel start in life.

Sir Philip went to the boarding school Carmel College, but he left at 16 with no formal qualifications and, backed by a loan from his family, threw himself into the rough and tumble of the London rag trade. A bricks-and-mortar retailer, he failed to adapt his fast-fashion brands when competitors emerged.

They were undercut by new players like Inditex's Zara, H&M and Primark, while their failure to successfully develop online businesses saw them outflanked by e-commerce specialists such as ASOS and Boohoo.  

The hammer blow for Sir Philip's reputation came in 2015 when he sold BHS to a collection of little-known investors, including former bankrupt Dominic Chappell, for a nominal sum of £1. A year later BHS went out of business, with 11,000 jobs lost and a £571million hole in its pension fund. 

Up until then, politicians, the public and press had often admired Green, even with his extravagant lifestyle. In 2005 when Arcadia paid Sir Philip's wife Tina, the group's ultimate owner, a £1.2billion dividend, some people decried the payout while others saw it as the fruits of his success. After BHS's collapse, however, all bets were off.

MPs branded him the 'unacceptable face of capitalism', saying his greed and disregard for corporate governance led to the company's demise and called for him to be stripped of his knighthood. 

After the pensions regulator pursued him, Sir Philip wrote a cheque for £363million in 2017 to plug the BHS pensions fund hole. But his reputation was further tarnished when he was named in Parliament as having tried to prevent publication of allegations of sexual harassment by him against Arcadia staff. He denies the allegations. 

All the while, trading continued to deteriorate at Arcadia, which owns the Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Miss Selfridge, Evans, Burton and Outfit brands, and has more than 500 stores. A restructuring last year provided only temporary respite. Covid-19 lockdowns proved the final straw.

The collapse of the group is a bitter blow to Sir Philip, who has long prided himself on his financial acumen.

During an interview with Reuters in 2012 he pulled out a wad of fifty-pound notes from his trouser pocket. 'I'd rather talk about things I understand,' he said. 'This is money.' 

 

ARCADIA'S MOST FAMOUS BRANDS: HOW THEY GREW TO DOMINATE BRITAIN'S HIGH STREET 

Topshop/Topman

Topshop is arguably the most recognisable of Arcadia's current brands but grew from the humble beginnings of the basement floor of a Sheffield department store.

In 1964, the brand started life as a concession line called Peter Robinson's Top Shop as the department store chain sought new sales with younger customers.

The new line quickly became popular with large concessions across the nationwide department store chain, before bagging the first standalone Topshop in 1970. 

In the same year, it launched the Topman brand which soon garnered its own rapidly expanding network of stores.

In 1992, Topshop and Topman joined forces to open their flagship store on Oxford Street, which claimed at the time to be the largest fashion store in the world.

Topshop continued to grow and reached the height of its popularity after striking the first of 14 collaborations with supermodel Kate Moss in 2007.

Moss was the face of the brand for another three years in which Topshop crossed the Atlantic to open its first store outside the UK, in New York.

However, the chain's US stores all shut last year as part of a major restructuring designed to secure Arcadia's long-term future.

Topshop is arguably the most recognisable of Arcadia's current brands but grew from the humble beginnings of the basement floor of a Sheffield department store. Pictured, a woman walking past a Topshop store on Oxford Street in London

Topshop is arguably the most recognisable of Arcadia's current brands but grew from the humble beginnings of the basement floor of a Sheffield department store. Pictured, a woman walking past a Topshop store on Oxford Street in London 

Burton

The foundations of menswear brand Burton, and the entire Arcadia Group, were laid when 15-year-old Meshe David Osinsky joined the thousands of Jews fleeing westward from Russian persecution and made his way to the UK.

Four years later, he opened his first store in Holywell Street, Chesterfield, after borrowing £100 from a relative to set up The Cross-Tailoring Company.

The founder, who changed his name to Montague Burton in 1909, steadily expanded his business after tapping into growing demand for affordable and smart menswear, working with the mantra that 'good clothes develop a man's self-respect'.

The business changed from making suits to uniforms during the First World War and continued its expansion efforts in post-war Britain to achieve 400 stores by 1929, when it went public on the London Stock Exchange.

The group, which then became known as House of Burton, continued to grow as it turned its attentions to snapping up rivals or merging with competitors to become a mainstay of the high street.

It purchased Jackson The Tailors in 1954 before making deals with a raft of other stores after rebranding as Arcadia Group in 1967.

It sealed deals with Dorothy Perkins, in 1979, and Debenhams, six years later. However, Debenhams - which is currently in administration itself - split away from the retail empire in 1998.

The business changed from making suits to uniforms during the First World War and continued its expansion efforts in post-war Britain to achieve 400 stores by 1929, when it went public on the London Stock Exchange. Pictured, a store in Portsmouth

The business changed from making suits to uniforms during the First World War and continued its expansion efforts in post-war Britain to achieve 400 stores by 1929, when it went public on the London Stock Exchange. Pictured, a store in Portsmouth

Dorothy Perkins

First incorporated on December 6, 1909 as HP Newman & Co, the company changed its name to Dorothy Perkins in 1919. The name comes from a rose type and was said to be the suggestion of the wife of one of the company directors.

Initially it had 12 stores and by the start of the Second World War, this had grown to 75 sites, aimed at women on a budget looking for blouses and knitwear.

The retailer kept up with the fashion of the day and regularly turned out dresses, lingerie and hosiery for its loyal customer base. By 1966, the retailer opened its 250th shop and cash registers were put into all its stores.

At around that time it was owned by Alan Farmer and his family, and he would regularly visit stores and had his picture in the booklet for new employees.

The company also assisted with London fashion store Biba's launch in 1964 on High Street Kensington in the famous Barkers building and subsequently owned a stake in the firm during the 1970s.

By 1979, it was bought by the Burton Group - subsequently Arcadia - and continued to grow with the launch of a maternity range, loyalty cards and expensive advertising campaigns.

At its peak, there were close to 1,000 Dorothy Perkins on UK high streets and as recently as 2007, 600 remained open, including stores across Spain, Cyprus, Tukey and Singapore.

At its peak, there were close to 1,000 Dorothy Perkins on UK high streets and as recently as 2007, 600 remained open, including stores across Spain, Cyprus, Tukey and Singapore. Pictured, shoppers walk past a Dorothy Perkins in Oxford Circus

At its peak, there were close to 1,000 Dorothy Perkins on UK high streets and as recently as 2007, 600 remained open, including stores across Spain, Cyprus, Tukey and Singapore. Pictured, shoppers walk past a Dorothy Perkins in Oxford Circus 

Miss Selfridge

Miss Selfridge has similar roots to its Topshop sister business, as it also started life in a famous department store, sprouting from the young fashion section of Selfridges in London in 1966.

The business got its name when Charles Clore, the owner of Selfridges at the time, saw a window display in the Bonwit Teller store in New York which showed 'Miss Bonwit' dresses aimed specifically at teenagers.

The first of Miss Selfridge's mannequins were based on Sixties model Twiggy, with the first dresses made from paper and designed to be worn once and then thrown away.

In 1967, Miss Selfridge concessions were opened more widely before it opened its first independent stores in Croydon, Brighton, Regent Street and Brompton in 1969.

It focused on innovation aimed at young shoppers and became the first fashion retailer to launch its own make-up range, Kiss & Make Up, in 1978.

In 1999, it was sold to Arcadia as part of the Sears Group, alongside Wallis and Outfit.

Miss Selfridge has similar roots to its Topshop sister business, as it also started life in a famous department store, sprouting from the young fashion section of Selfridges in London in 1966. Pictured, a Miss Selfridge sign in Oxford Circus, London

Miss Selfridge has similar roots to its Topshop sister business, as it also started life in a famous department store, sprouting from the young fashion section of Selfridges in London in 1966. Pictured, a Miss Selfridge sign in Oxford Circus, London

Evans

The Evans brand was launched on February 21, 1936 as the UK's first fashion retailer aimed at plus-sized women. It was originally called Evans Outsize but the Outsize was subsequently dropped.

In 1971, it was bought by the all-powerful Burton (later Arcadia) Group but would continue to trade separately, catering to its growing audience.

At the same time, Evans launched a mail order service - one of the first dedicated to plus-sized customers - and would grow to become the dominant brand for women's clothing above a size 14.

By 1997, innovation would continue as it became the first Arcadia brand to launch an online store alongside its mail order catalogue.

It would continue to enjoy success and launched ranges with models and celebrities including Beth Ditto and Dawn French.

The Evans brand was launched on February 21, 1936 as the UK's first fashion retailer aimed at plus-sized women. It was originally called Evans Outsize but the Outsize was subsequently dropped. Pictured, a store in Andover from 2015

The Evans brand was launched on February 21, 1936 as the UK's first fashion retailer aimed at plus-sized women. It was originally called Evans Outsize but the Outsize was subsequently dropped. Pictured, a store in Andover from 2015

Wallis

Wallis was seen as the higher-end version of its sister brand Dorothy Perkins and can trace its roots back to a market stall in Chapel Market, Islington, in 1923.

Founded by Raphael Nat Wallis as NW (Costumiers), he sold coats for 19 shillings and fashionable dresses for 43s/6d, and it quickly expanded.

By 1936, it was renamed Wallis & Company (Costumiers) and would have 25 shops by the 1940s.

Taking its influence from French fashion houses Chanel and Dior, the company would thrive during the 1950s and 60s, with Christine Keeler wearing a different Wallis outfit during each appearance at the Profumo affair trial.

In 1969, Jeffrey Wallis, the son of founder RN Wallis, said of the Paris influences for the designs: 'We never adapt, we copy. Couture designers are geniuses. We only simplify.'

By 1976, the company listed on the stock market and had 54 stores, including sites in Germany, Switzerland and Sweden, and was eventually bought by Sears in 1980, before being transferred to the Arcadia brand.

By 1976, the company listed on the stock market and had 54 stores, including sites in Germany, Switzerland and Sweden, and was eventually bought by Sears in 1980, before being transferred to the Arcadia brand. Pictured, in Chichester

By 1976, the company listed on the stock market and had 54 stores, including sites in Germany, Switzerland and Sweden, and was eventually bought by Sears in 1980, before being transferred to the Arcadia brand. Pictured, in Chichester

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  • William Clark opened drapers store in 1778 in London, selling expensive fabrics, bonnets, gloves and parasols
  • William Debenham formed partnership with the store owner in 1813 and business became Clark & Debenham
  • Five years later it opened its first store outside the capital, in Cheltenham, and started to dramatically expand
  • By 1950, Debenhams was the largest department store group in the UK, owning 84 companies and 110 stores
  • But it has suffered in recent years from difficult high street conditions and had £491m pre-tax loss in 2018

Debenhams has been a mainstay on UK high streets for 242 years, but is now set to shut its doors for good.

In 1778 William Clark opened a drapers store on 44 Wigmore Street in central London, selling expensive fabrics, bonnets, gloves and parasols.

The business had a modest start in life, with Mr Clark continuing to run the single store until meeting a potential investor.

William Debenham formed a partnership with the store owner in 1813, pumping funds into the business which then became Clark & Debenham.

Five years later it opened its first store outside the capital, in Cheltenham, and started to dramatically expand.

The business became Clark & Debenham, after William Clark opened a drapers store in 1778 on 44 Wigmore Street in London. Mr Clark had initially opened the shop selling expensive fabrics, bonnets, gloves and parasols, before it was renamed

The business became Clark & Debenham, after William Clark opened a drapers store in 1778 on 44 Wigmore Street in London. Mr Clark had initially opened the shop selling expensive fabrics, bonnets, gloves and parasols, before it was renamed

Glamour model Gemma Atkinson launches an Ultimo store within Debenhams in Belfast in December 2007

Glamour model Gemma Atkinson launches an Ultimo store within Debenhams in Belfast in December 2007

Shoppers are seen charging through the doors of a Debenhams department store on the first day of the sales in 1977

Shoppers are seen charging through the doors of a Debenhams department store on the first day of the sales in 1977

Penny Lancaster models Ultimo lingerie at Debenhams on Oxford Street in October 2002
Kim Kardashian launches her 'True Reflection' fragrance range at a Debenhams store in London in May 2012

Penny Lancaster models Ultimo lingerie at Debenhams on Oxford Street in October 2002 (left), while Kim Kardashian launches her 'True Reflection' fragrance range at a Debenhams store in London ten years later in May 2012

When Clement Freebody invested in the firm in 1851 it was renamed Debenham & Freebody, and continued to grow by snapping up smaller rivals and expanding its wholesale operations.

Acquisitions continued into the next century and in 1905 Debenhams Ltd was formed.

After the First World War ended, the retailer merged with Marshall & Snellgrove, and in 1920 purchased Knightsbridge retailer Harvey Nichols.

Seven years later the Debenham family exited the business as it was listed on the London Stock exchange.

By 1950, Debenhams was the largest department store group in the UK, owning 84 companies and 110 stores.

In 1985 Debenhams merged to become part of Burton Group, which soon rebranded as Arcadia, before splitting away 13 years later after a period of rapid store expansion and the launch of its first international franchise sites. 

William Debenham (above) formed a partnership with drapers store owner William Clark in 1813, pumping funds into the business which then became Clark & Debenham. Five years later it opened its first store outside the capital, in Cheltenham

William Debenham (above) formed a partnership with drapers store owner William Clark in 1813, pumping funds into the business which then became Clark & Debenham. Five years later it opened its first store outside the capital, in Cheltenham

Shoppers browse for bargains at a Debenhams department store at the start of its sale on December 27, 1977

Shoppers browse for bargains at a Debenhams department store at the start of its sale on December 27, 1977

Crowds of shoppers pack into the Debenhams on London's Oxford Street for the post-Christmas sales in December 1982

Crowds of shoppers pack into the Debenhams on London's Oxford Street for the post-Christmas sales in December 1982 

Bargain hunters burst into Debenhams department store at 9am on December 27, 1977 for the start of the winter sales

Bargain hunters burst into Debenhams department store at 9am on December 27, 1977 for the start of the winter sales

Following demerger from the Burton Group, Debenhams was listed on the London Stock Exchange until 2003, when it was acquired by Baroness Retail.

Baroness, backed by private equity firms CVC Capital Partners and Texas Pacific Group, started to strip the company's assets, including a £450 million sale and leaseback of 26 properties and internal cost-cutting.

Three years later, Baroness almost tripled its value as it was floated on the stock market, but the retail group was now weighed down by a portfolio hamstrung with expensive rental agreements.

Nevertheless, Debenhams continued to grow, acquiring nine stores from Roches in the Republic of Ireland in 2007 and Magasin du Nord, the leading department store chain in Denmark, two years after. 

The company also had a partnerships with Michelle Mone's Ultimo bra company in the 2000s, which led to a series of photoshoots with glamour models inside its stores. 

In 2014, after a decline in company profits, retail tycoon Mike Ashley bought 4.6 per cent of the company's shares.

People queue outside Debenhams on Oxford Street ahead of the sale opening on December 27, 1978

People queue outside Debenhams on Oxford Street ahead of the sale opening on December 27, 1978

Sir Ralph Halpern is pictured in Debenhams Oxford Street in November 1985 after his latest acquisition for the Burton Group

Sir Ralph Halpern is pictured in Debenhams Oxford Street in November 1985 after his latest acquisition for the Burton Group

Businessman Sir Ralph Halpern, pictured at Debenhams Oxford Street with store manager David Elliott, in November 1985

Businessman Sir Ralph Halpern, pictured at Debenhams Oxford Street with store manager David Elliott, in November 1985

The Debenhams store at Luton in Bedfordshire is pictured in July 1987

The Debenhams store at Luton in Bedfordshire is pictured in July 1987

He steadily increased his ownership of the department store business, expanding it to 29.7 per cent by 2018.

However, the business had now felt the full effect of difficult high street conditions and sky-high rents, resulting in a £491 million pre-tax loss in 2018.

By April of 2019, the retail giant entered administration and delisted from the stock market.

It undertook a major restructuring, designed to restore it to its former glory, but now appears likely to disappear for good after Christmas, after entering liquidation.

Now, Debenhams is to start a liquidation process after JD Sports confirmed it had pulled out of a possible rescue deal, putting 12,000 workers at risk.

The 242-year-old department store chain said its administrators have 'regretfully' decided to start winding down operations while continuing to seek offers 'for all or parts of the business'. 

Michelle Mone opens the Ultimo lingerie brand's first concession at Debenhams in Liverpool in 2015

Michelle Mone opens the Ultimo lingerie brand's first concession at Debenhams in Liverpool in 2015

A Debenhams fashion campaign in 2010 featuring Shannon Murray who had been using a wheelchair since her teens

A Debenhams fashion campaign in 2010 featuring Shannon Murray who had been using a wheelchair since her teens

Lingerie designer Aliza Reger (centre) with models to launch the new lingerie department in the Oxford Street store in 2013

Lingerie designer Aliza Reger (centre) with models to launch the new lingerie department in the Oxford Street store in 2013

Debenhams chief executive Belinda Earl and finance director Matthew Roberts at their store in London's Oxford Street in 2002 ahead of annual results which saw the company's profits rise to £153.6million from the previous year's £146.1million

Debenhams chief executive Belinda Earl and finance director Matthew Roberts at their store in London's Oxford Street in 2002 ahead of annual results which saw the company's profits rise to £153.6million from the previous year's £146.1million

A person walks past a boarded up Debenhams on Oxford Street on April 16 during the first coronavirus lockdown of the year

A person walks past a boarded up Debenhams on Oxford Street on April 16 during the first coronavirus lockdown of the year

It is understood that the collapse of rescue talks were partly linked to the administration of Arcadia Group, which is the biggest operator of concessions in Debenhams stores.

Debenhams said it will continue to trade through its 124 UK stores and online to clear its current and contracted stocks.

'On conclusion of this process, if no alternative offers have been received, the UK operations will close,' the company said in statement. 

Debenhams has already axed 6,500 jobs across its operation due to heavy cost-cutting after it entered administration for the second time in 12 months.

Arcadia tumbled into insolvency on Monday evening, casting a shadow over its own 13,000 workers and 444 stores. 

Shops get set for Wild Wednesday when national lockdown ends tomorrow with huge sales and longer opening hours - as desperate shopping centres enlist celebrities to urge people to 'shop physical' on the High Street

Shops are preparing for a 'Wild Wednesday' spending spree when the national lockdown ends tomorrow.

Customers can expect sales and longer opening hours over the festive period as retailers desperately try to plug the financial black hole left by restrictions.

Some hubs have even hired extra security to deal with an influx of shoppers, with Primark and Ikea expecting crowds.

It comes as shopping centres - including Westfield in London - have drafted in celebrities to lure people back to the beleaguered high street to 'shop physical'.

Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers are also set to reopen in areas under Tier 1 and Tier 2.

Meanwhile people could be given shopping vouchers if they get tested for coronavirus under the government's mass-swabbing plans.

And Debenhams will launch a pre-Christmas fire sale of all its stock as it heads for oblivion today after 242 years of trading with 12,000 jobs set to go.

Some stores have drafted in celebrities to lure people back to the beleaguered high street to 'shop physical' (pictured, Clara Amfo in London's King's Cross)

Some stores have drafted in celebrities to lure people back to the beleaguered high street to 'shop physical' (pictured, Clara Amfo in London's King's Cross)

TV presenter Laura Whitmore teamed up with Westfield London to launch A Very Rental Christmas pop-up store

Janet Edwards hangs a festive We're Open sign designed by artist Timothy Hunt in the window of her flower shop in south London

Janet Edwards hangs a festive We're Open sign designed by artist Timothy Hunt in the window of her flower shop in south London

Dawne Tattersall updates the window display of "Just Books", an independent book shop, ahead of reopening in Hebden Bridge, northern England, today

Dawne Tattersall updates the window display of 'Just Books', an independent book shop, ahead of reopening in Hebden Bridge, northern England, today

Stores can open 24 hours a day in December in a desperate bid to offset the £900million a day economic hit of the tier system.

They will be fighting over a £1billion festive spending bounty when they re-open - promising huge price cuts.

But despite predictions of bumper crowds tomorrow, there are fears customers will stay away from stores due to the coronavirus rules, the Centre for Retail Research suggests.

SAGE scientist says Christmas shoppers must spend no more than 15 MINUTES in store

One of the Government's scientific advisers told Christmas shoppers they should try to spend less than 15 minutes in every shop they visit to minimise their chances of catching coronavirus

Professor Lucy Yardley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), said 'Covid-secure' sites are 'not 100 per cent risk free' and people should keep their time indoors to a minimum. 

Professor Lucy Yardley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said that 'Covid-secure' sites are 'not 100 per cent risk free' and people should keep their time indoors to a minimum.

Professor Lucy Yardley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said that 'Covid-secure' sites are 'not 100 per cent risk free' and people should keep their time indoors to a minimum.

She argued that if people wear masks and socially distance then 'nipping out for a bit of Christmas shopping is not one of the most dangerous things that you can do'. 

But she pointed to the 15 minute threshold used in the contact tracing process and said 'most of us' would not need longer than that in a shop and 'the less time that you spend in there the safer you are'. 

Her comments came just days before non-essential shops across England will be allowed to reopen in every tier as the four-week national lockdown ends on December 2.

Retailers will be hoping for a bumper run up to Christmas after they have been hammered by the Government's coronavirus restrictions. 

The suggestion from Prof Yardley that people should spend as little time as possible in shops is likely to be badly received by the industry.

Prof Yardley told Times Radio: 'Well, one thing that we have learned from analysis, the situations in which people are catching infections, is that environments that are called Covid-secure are not 100 per cent risk free, of course, they can't be, but they are safer than they would be otherwise. 

'If everybody does actually wear masks, have plenty of ventilation, keep two metres apart, not spend too long in a shop because the longer you are in there the higher the risks, then actually sort of nipping out for a bit of Christmas shopping is not one of the most dangerous things that you can do.' 

Prof Yardley was asked how long would be too long for people to spend in a shop and she replied: 'The rule that is used for contact tracing is that if you spend 15 minutes with somebody closer than two metres then you have definitely had a potentially infectious contact with them. 

'That is quite a generous amount of time. I am not sure that most of us would need that amount of time in a shop and really the less time that you spend in there the safer you are.

'If you spend time close enough to somebody and they happen to breathe on you or cough on you then it doesn't take 15 minutes to catch the virus.' 

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London's West End is expected to see a drop of 170,000 customers a day by the weekend.

Birmingham's Bullring is forecast to see 40,000 fewer people in its stores as well as a 30,000-strong reduction at the Trafford centre in Manchester and Gateshead's Metrocentre.

Despite a massive online spending splurge from Black Friday through to Cyber Monday, millions of Britons are yet to buy their Christmas gifts.

Industry analysts were expecting around £2billion to be spent online yesterday, bringing the total for web shopping over the weekend to £5.7billion.

That would be up by some 52.9 per cent on the same weekend last year, according to estimates from the Centre for Retail Research.

But the lockdown of non-essential stores meant spending through stores in the UK's ghost towns slumped by 63.7 per cent - dropping from £4.8billion to £1.74billion.

The net effect is that total spending over the four days of the Black Friday weekend was down by around £1billion on last year at a total of some £7.5billion, according to CRR estimates.

Assuming Britons go on to spend as much to celebrate Christmas in 2020 as they did last year, it would appear there is £1 billion that would normally have been spent over the weekend, which retailers will be fighting to grab a share of.

This £1billion is on top of the spending that can normally be expected in the crucial weeks before Christmas.

Massive sales are in the pipeline through into January, coupled with an unprecedented increase in trading hours.

Hundreds of stores will open until midnight and, including 11 Primark outlets, will be open 24 hours a day.

The CRR's Shopping for Christmas 2020 report, which was commissioned by VoucherCodes.co.uk, said: 'Total sales for Black Friday weekend in the UK are expected to total £7.504billion - 12.4 per cent less than 2019.

'This is the first time we have ever reported a drop in total sales for the Black Friday weekend. It is driven entirely by a reduction in in-store sales.'

Some High Street shops will open 24 hours a day in December in a desperate bid to offset the £900million a day economic hit of the new tier restrictions.

Primark has decided to open 11 shops around the clock, with other chains extending hours until late into the night.

The attempt to recoup Covid-19 losses comes as the Centre for Economics and Business Research estimates the tier system will cost the economy in England £900million daily up to Christmas and beyond.

M&S will open hundreds of stores until midnight. John Lewis, Currys PC World, Next and other big High Street names will also extend trading hours. 

CEBR research estimates that the new tiers will result in England's gross domestic product being 13 per cent smaller compared with December last year. 

Overall in December, which is a short working month, the economic hit is expected to be £20billion compared with the same period in 2019.

Meanwhile ministers are said to be considering more cash support for restaurants, pubs and other businesses hit by the restrictions, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The economic case for the new tier system will be set out by ministers.

Amid threats of rebellion from Tory MPs, Downing Street will publish impact assessments to reveal how it decided what restrictions each area of the country will face when the tier system comes into force on Wednesday.

Non-essential stores and services will be able to reopen, but more than 34million people are facing tougher restrictions than before the national lockdown.

In a bid to lure customers back to the beleaguered high street, some stores have rolled out celebrities.

Thirty retailers across King's Cross in central London joined together to launch United We Shop, which is trying to get Britons to 'shop physical' this Christmas.

BBC Radio 1 presenter and Strictly contestant Clara Amfo is the face of the initiative, with her posing outside stores in the busy railway station.

The shops are offering up to 30 per cent off in store as well as gifts with items bought in person to boost their 'Shop Out to Help Out' idea.

The onerous tiered system will be in place across England from December 3 until the end of March, the Prime Minister said

The onerous tiered system will be in place across England from December 3 until the end of March, the Prime Minister said

Amfo said: 'There is absolutely nothing better than shopping in-store and having that personal interaction, especially over Christmas.

'As a Londoner and a local to King's Cross, I know that you can't beat the buzz of shopping in the capital and that's why United We Shop is so important.

'It's about supporting our retail community after a tough year and embracing that unique in-store.'

TV presenter Laura Whitmore teamed up with Westfield London to launch A Very Rental Christmas pop-up store.

It allows people to rent what they need over the holiday period following research saying 44 per cent of millennials were looking to give their homes rental makeovers.

Whitmore said: 'I'm so excited to have curated A Very Rental Christmas at Westfield London, the first ever Christmas rental store, to bring together the most amazing seasonal trends in one place.

'I love the idea of renting things we only use once a year - it's more sustainable and also means you can try out new styles of decorations each year, which I love to do.'

Bill Deakin, owner of Silly Billy's independent toy shop, prepares their stock ahead of reopening in Hebden Bridge, northern England

Bill Deakin, owner of Silly Billy's independent toy shop, prepares their stock ahead of reopening in Hebden Bridge, northern England

Galina Sherri of Gigi's Dressing Room hangs a festive We're Open sign designed by artist Timothy Hunt in her shop window in east London

Galina Sherri of Gigi's Dressing Room hangs a festive We're Open sign designed by artist Timothy Hunt in her shop window in east London

Remzi Sasma, owner of an independent emporium shop, prepares their stock ahead of reopening in Hebden Bridge, northern England

Remzi Sasma, owner of an independent emporium shop, prepares their stock ahead of reopening in Hebden Bridge, northern England

Meanwhile people could be given shopping vouchers if they get tested for coronavirus under Number 10's mass-swabbing plans.

Local councils in Tier 3 hotspot areas will be paid £14 for every test carried out in a bid to encourage widespread uptake.

Authorities could use the money on 'discount schemes with local businesses' to incentivise residents to get checked for the disease, an official document says.

Local health chiefs will decide whether to test entire populations or target particular age groups, ethnic minorities or residents from specific areas.

Number 10 wants to carry out 2million tests a day by the end of the year using lateral flow kits, which give results in as little as half an hour.

Boris Johnson plans to use mass swabbing of people with and without symptoms as a way to keep Covid squashed until vaccines can be distributed en masse. 

A mass testing pilot in Liverpool is credited with helping the city slash infections by two thirds, which will see it downgraded to Tier 2 when the national lockdown ends. 

But other councils have been told they will not benefit from the same level of logistical help from the army, which helped transport and administer tests as part of the pilot.

Britons could be offered shopping vouchers and lottery tickets in return for getting tested for Covid-19 under mass schemes in the most infected areas (stock)

Britons could be offered shopping vouchers and lottery tickets in return for getting tested for Covid-19 under mass schemes in the most infected areas (stock)

Under the new local testing guidance, Number 10 also makes provision for so-called 'freedom passes', where those who get a negative result could be allowed into pubs, restaurants and sporting grounds, which are supposed to stay closed in Tier 3.

The guidance says: 'Should local areas want to use community testing as a route to providing a relaxation of restrictions that would otherwise not be available in Tier 3, these proposals will need to have an assessment of impact and risks and be agreed with local Directors of Public Health, national public health advisors and the Secretary of State.'

Local authorities in Tier Three - including boroughs of Greater Manchester, Newcastle and Kent - will be able to apply to the Government scheme for funding but will be left to decide whether to test whole sections of the population.

They will be offered advice and training on how to deploy the tests, but will have to pay for logistics and staff out of their £14 per test, reports The Times.

A document, published by the Department of Health last night, suggests councils should run schemes to encourage people to get swabbed.

'Examples might include discount schemes with local businesses, partnerships with community organisations or local employers, or door knocking campaigns,' it reads.

The tests are seen as a way out of the pandemic as they can detect asymptomatic infections in individuals, when no symptoms of the virus are present.

Many pubs and restaurants are preparing their stores ready for a relaxation of restrictions tomorrow.

Shutters were being taken off watering holes in Leicester Square in the central London this morning. 

Shutters were being taken off watering holes in Leicester Square in the central London this morning

Shutters were being taken off watering holes in Leicester Square in the central London this morning

But Drinkers plotting to visit Cornwall to take advantage of the less strict tier one pub restrictions this weekend will have to dodge 'anti-pint' police patrols.

From Wednesday, Cornwall will become the only place on mainland Britain where punters can go drinking in a pub without ordering a 'substantial meal'.

But pubs in the county say they have already been fielding calls from punters in neighbouring Devon asking when they will be open and are fearful they could be overwhelmed over the weekend.

To combat this, Devon and Cornwall police has revealed it will use a fleet of ten patrol cars to target 'Covid-related matters'.

The government confirmed it is against the rules for anyone not living in Cornwall to travel into it, either by road or sea, to go to the pub.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said its patrols would ensure the new tier-based rules were all adhered to. 

Landlady Amy Newland at the White Hart in Chilsworthy, Cornwall, which is right on the Devon border, said: 'People have been ringing me up from across the border in Plymouth already saying they are going to be popping over for a beer and asking what time we open.

'It's scary as we are just a small country pub and it is going to be very difficult for us to police.

'You don't know where people are coming from.'

Landlady Amy Newland at the White Hart in Chilsworthy, Cornwall, which is right on the Devon border, is scared of drinkers flocking to her pub

Landlady Amy Newland at the White Hart in Chilsworthy, Cornwall, which is right on the Devon border, is scared of drinkers flocking to her pub

Craig Howe, owner of The Rising Sun just over the border in Gunnislake, Cornwall, added: 'We do think people are going to be jumping over the border and we might have to put on extra staff to make sure everybody is sticking to the rules.'

James Nicholson, of Saltash, Cornwall, added: 'I can imagine everyone now wanting to come into Cornwall to go to the pub. It is understandable, but too many people could cause problems.

'I am not sure we need the police patrols, that may be a bit too much, but we want to keep the rates low so we can stay in tier one.

'People have been joking that it could be like the summer on the Tamar Bridge and they may need to set up border checks to make sure you are a local resident.

'Maybe that's what the police will need to do from Wednesday to stop everyone packing out our pubs.' 

A police statement said: 'Following their successful use earlier in the year and as part of the Covid Surge Funding that the Force has received from the Government, Devon and Cornwall Police have made up to ten additional dedicated double-crewed units to be available to patrol at various locations across the force area.

'Their sole purpose will be to respond to Covid-related matters and these vehicles are additional to current response levels.

'Funding of these units remains in place until the end of March 2021, but their use will remain under constant review and will naturally reflect the localised situation and tier that the Government has placed our area within.

Devon and Cornwall police will use 10 patrol cars to target people flouting coronavirus rules - including those who visit Cornwall from higher tier regions to visit pubs (file photo)

Devon and Cornwall police will use 10 patrol cars to target people flouting coronavirus rules - including those who visit Cornwall from higher tier regions to visit pubs (file photo)

'Our policing approach from those working within these vehicles is the same as our wider approach, and that is to engage, explain and encourage people to comply, and as a last resort consider enforcement via a fixed penalty notice.' 

The announcement by the police has been ridiculed by some, however who claimed officers should have better things to do than stop someone 'going for a pint.'

Joe Sutton, who lives just over the border in Plymouth, Devon, said: 'I have never heard of anything so ridiculous.

'Surely the police have better and more important things to do than this. I know a lot of people who are talking about going over the border to the pub once lockdown ends. Are the police just going to turn them all away or arrest them?

'It's a crazy situation.' 

People in Cornwall, along with those in the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight, will be living under Tier 1 measures - which allow socialising inside homes and pubs subject to the Rule of Six - after the blanket national lockdown ends on December 2.

But nearly 99 per cent of England will be in the toughest two levels, including neighbouring Devon. 

Under tier two rules, pubs will only be able to serve alcohol with 'substantial' meals. 

Tier three will be brought in for huge swathes of the country including the bulk of the North, much of the Midlands, all of Kent, and Bristol. 

Under the rules, if you are caught meeting up with people from outside your household or support bubble, you could be handed a £100 fine.

The fine for each subsequent offence would double up to a maximum of £6,400.

If a business fails to comply with the rules, they could be hit with a £10,000 fine.    

Soon after last week's tiers announcement, worried Cornish residents took to Twitter and local media to warn people from other parts of the country to stay away. 

One wrote that it was 'beyond stupid' because 'people from high rate areas will descend' on the region, prompting another to reply, 'God help Cornwall'.   

Another concerned woman wrote, 'with Cornwall being one of three places on the lowest tier, please don't think it's ok to come here if you're in the highest tiers because it's really not.' 

A third asked other Britons, 'don't all come to Cornwall now please just let us have our moment.' 

A fourth Twitter user claimed putting Cornwall into Tier 1 was 'asking for trouble' and there would be 'tourists inbound'.

Another resident demanded, 'everyone stay away from Cornwall please, we're ok on our own down here!'

And in comments on articles by local news outlets, residents were similarly unhappy about a potential influx of Britons from elsewhere.  

One said that while people in the region should feel 'very fortunate' to be in Tier 1, they hoped people from other tiers 'treat that with the respect it deserves.' 

They added: 'Other than masks, the rule of six, self-isolation, etc we're pretty much back to a normal life or as much as a normal life can be.

'We as individuals now control our destiny in terms of can we keep ourselves in Tier 1 or will peoples actions result in moving up a Tier.'

New coronavirus tiers: which one is your home in? 

TIER THREE: VERY HIGH

North East

Tees Valley Combined Authority:

  • Hartlepool
  • Middlesbrough
  • Stockton-on-Tees
  • Redcar and Cleveland
  • Darlington

North East Combined Authority:

  • Sunderland
  • South Tyneside
  • Gateshead
  • Newcastle upon Tyne
  • North Tyneside
  • County Durham
  • Northumberland

North West

  • Greater Manchester
  • Lancashire
  • Blackpool
  • Blackburn with Darwen
  • Yorkshire and The Humber
  • The Humber
  • West Yorkshire
  • South Yorkshire

West Midlands

  • Birmingham and Black Country
  • Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
  • Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull

East Midlands

  • Derby and Derbyshire
  • Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
  • Leicester and Leicestershire
  • Lincolnshire

South East

  • Slough (remainder of Berkshire is tier 2: High alert)
  • Kent and Medway

South West

  • Bristol
  • South Gloucestershire
  • North Somerset

TIER 2: HIGH

North West

  • Cumbria
  • Liverpool City Region
  • Warrington and Cheshire
  • Yorkshire
  • York
  • North Yorkshire

West Midlands

  • Worcestershire
  • Herefordshire
  • Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin

East Midlands

  • Rutland
  • Northamptonshire

East of England

  • Suffolk
  • Hertfordshire
  • Cambridgeshire, including Peterborough
  • Norfolk
  • Essex, Thurrock and Southend on Sea
  • Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes

London

  • All 32 boroughs plus the City of London

South East

  • East Sussex
  • West Sussex
  • Brighton and Hove
  • Surrey
  • Reading
  • Wokingham
  • Bracknell Forest
  • Windsor and Maidenhead
  • West Berkshire
  • Hampshire (except the Isle of Wight), Portsmouth and Southampton
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Oxfordshire

South West

  • South Somerset, Somerset West and Taunton, Mendip and Sedgemoor
  • Bath and North East Somerset
  • Dorset
  • Bournemouth
  • Christchurch
  • Poole
  • Gloucestershire
  • Wiltshire and Swindon
  • Devon

TIER 1: MEDIUM 

South East

  • Isle of Wight

South West

  • Cornwall
  • Isles of Scilly
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2020-12-01 23:01:00Z
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Covid vaccine to be distributed by weekend as urgent preparations start - NHS on alert - Express

Military personnel have been ordered to throw up makeshift vaccine sites at 10 locations. The Nightingale temporary hospital at the London ExCel centre and Epsom race course are among those being transformed, The Telegraph reports.

It is hoped the Pfizer produced vaccine will receive regulatory approval by the weekend.

One major London hospital trust has reportedly called for volunteers to begin administering the vaccine from 7am on Monday.

Speaking to The Telegraph a Government source said: "All of these preparations are being made in advance of any decision about any vaccine being approved by the independent regulator. 

"If one vaccine is found to be safe and effective, we can move ahead quickly with distribution – because vaccinating millions of people is a significant logistical challenge."

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Covid vaccine to be distributed by weekend as urgent preparations start - NHS on alert (Image: EXPRESS)

Coronavirus

"If one vaccine is found to be safe and effective we can move ahead quickly with distribution" (Image: GETTY)

The NHS will be leading the vaccination programme but has requested support from the Ministry of Defence under the "military aid to the civil authorities" provision.

Ten major sites across the country will reportedly be turned into 'vaccine hubs' whilst 1,000 smaller sites, such as GP's surgeries, will also be used to distribute the vaccine.

Pharmacies, council owned buildings and sports centres may also be deployed for this purpose.

The Pfizer vaccine must be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before it can begin being used.

READ MORE: Piers Morgan slams Laurence Fox in furious row over Covid restrictions

Coronavirus

The military will help with distributing the vaccine (Image: GETTY)

However the vaccine is one of the more complex ones to distribute, as it must be stored at very low temperatures and can only be moved four times before being administered.

For this reason it is expected health workers will be the first to be vaccinated with the procedure taking place in hospitals.

Healthcare workers based at Imperial College NHS Trust could receive the vaccine over an intense three day period.

In an email to its employees the hospital said: "We'll be running vaccination clinics for three days from when we receive the vaccine.

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Coronavirus

"In the meantime we must continue to suppress the virus" (Image: GETTY)

Coronavirus

In total the UK has reported over 59,000 Covid deaths (Image: GETTY)

"As we are not yet sure when that will be, we are looking for volunteers to staff the clinics to deliver the first dose from 7am-8pm, Monday December 7 through to Sunday December 13.

"We will be so grateful for any time you can give."

According to Matt Hancock the UK has more COVID-19 vaccine doses per capita than any other country in the world.

The health secretary tweeted: "We've secured 355 million coronavirus vaccine doses, more per capita than any other country.

"If they pass the stringent safety tests, we will roll them out across the UK.

"In the meantime, we must continue to suppress the virus, protecting the economy, education & our NHS."

In total Britain has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Testing has shown it to be 95 percent effective against coronavirus.

Coronavirus

Matt Hancock said the UK has more Covid vaccines per capita than any other country (Image: GETTY)

However once vaccinated patients will need to be monitored for 15 minutes to ensure there are no side effects.

The Government is hoping the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is both cheaper and easier to administer than its Pfizer counterpart, will also end up receiving regulatory approval.

In total the UK has reported over 59,000 coronavirus deaths and 1.64 million cases.

Additional reporting by Laura O'Callaghan

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2020-12-01 22:39:00Z
52781220765733

Barnier faces pressure from national capitals over Brexit compromises - Financial Times

Michel Barnier will brief EU national governments on Brexit talks on Wednesday morning amid concerns in some capitals that the European Commission is poised to give away too much ground in the endgame of negotiations.

One EU diplomat said France and some other member states were becoming “nervous” and would be pressing Mr Barnier “to include them before agreeing to anything”.

French president Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday warned “France will not accept an agreement that does not respect our long-term interests.”

“An agreement must allow a balanced future relationship,” he said.

EU and UK negotiators are working in London to solve the remaining sticking points in the talks — relating to EU fishing rights in British waters, fair competition conditions for business and enforcement arrangements for any deal.

Mr Barnier briefed national ambassadors on Friday that the two sides remained far apart on issues such as “non-regression” from existing environmental and labour-market standards, and on dispute-settlement arrangements.

But the EU has recently given ground on some points in the talks relating to trade in goods, including on customs facilitations and steps to facilitate roll-on roll-off freight crossing the Dover-Calais short straits. Brussels has also softened some of its demands for how much of a good must be locally produced for it to qualify for tariff-free trade.

Diplomats said this had stoked concerns in Paris and other capitals that the bloc may pay too high a price for a deal, leaving the UK able to “cherry pick” the benefits of the single market.

The most concerned countries are among those closest geographically to the UK, a group which also contains many of the fishing nations worried about losing rights in British waters.

Speaking alongside Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo on Tuesday, Mr Macron said their two countries were “among the most impacted” by Brexit. “We will be particularly vigilant about the conditions of fair competition, today and for the long term, and the question of fish,” he said.

EU officials said Mr Barnier’s hastily arranged appearance by video link at a meeting of ambassadors on Wednesday morning is intended to steady nerves and provide an update on talks that may conclude in the coming days.

Business leaders have been told to be ready for a conference call with Michael Gove, Cabinet Office minister, on Thursday, sparking speculation that the talks could reach a climax this week. 

But even as Mr Barnier and his UK counterpart David Frost seek to push a deal over the line, Britain is preparing further measures that would violate the divorce deal on which Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, drew up with EU leaders last year.

The government is planning a new taxation bill containing clauses threatening to overwrite sections of the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit withdrawal agreement, allies of Mr Johnson have confirmed.

The decision to bring forward the bill was not intended to destabilise the talks, the allies of the prime minister said, adding that the government had always made clear it would bring forward appropriate legislation as a “safety net” in the event that no deal with the EU was possible.

However, EU diplomats and officials have repeatedly warned that tabling such legislation could risk derailing the talks.

The EU has also warned that it will not ratify any eventual future agreement if the UK does not give up on its plans to overwrite the divorce deal, agreed last year by Brussels and the UK.

A Treasury official said the precise timing of the taxation bill was still to be determined, but did not rule out that it would contain new lawbreaking clauses. The “safety net” legislation would have to be in place before the end of the transition period on January 1.

The new legislation would sit alongside similar “notwithstanding” clauses in the UK internal market bill. If the clauses became law, they would override parts of the divorce deal — a move that was condemned by many senior Tories and is the subject of legal action by the European Commission.

The clauses, which disapply sections of the Northern Ireland protocol, are designed to set limits on implementing the deal which creates a regulatory trade border in the Irish Sea and leaves the UK region following EU customs rules.

Mr Johnson has said the clauses are necessary as a “safety net” to prevent the EU from enforcing the protocol in a manner that unacceptably undermines the constitutional cohesion of the UK and its internal market.

The EU has said Mr Johnson must live up to the obligations that he agreed to in order to secure the withdrawal agreement.


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2020-12-01 22:19:00Z
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Covid tiers: MPs back tougher system for England, despite Tory rebellion - BBC News

A new tougher tier system of coronavirus restrictions for England will begin on Wednesday after the plan was approved by MPs.

The measures, which will come into force at 00:01 GMT, were supported by 291 votes to 78.

The new system will see more than 55 million people in the country placed into the top two strictest tiers.

But 55 Tory MPs voted against the government plan - the largest rebellion of Boris Johnson's premiership.

A further 16 Conservatives abstained, with many of them having expressed concerns about the tougher tiers in the Commons debate that led up to the vote.

  • Live: MPs vote on new covid tiers for England
  • Government publishes data behind stricter tiers
  • Why is so much of the North and Midlands in the top tier?

The new tier system comes into force when England's current lockdown ends in the early hours of Wednesday.

Every area of the country is in one of three tiers - medium (one), high (two) and very high (three) - with the vast majority of the population in the higher two tiers.

They are tougher than the previous tier system the country was under, before its second lockdown began in November, the government says.

In tier two, people are not allowed to mix with anyone outside their household or support bubble indoors, although they can socialise in groups of up to six outdoors.

And in tier three, people must also not mix with anyone outside their household or support bubble indoors, or at most outdoor venues.

Conservative Mark Harper, who chairs the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs, urged the government to listen to the warnings from its opponents about the "cycle of repeated restrictions".

He said they "very much regret that in a moment of national crisis so many of us felt forced to vote against the measures that the government was proposing".

But he added that the government "must find a way to... end this devastating cycle of repeated restrictions, and start living in a sustainable way until an effective and safe vaccine is successfully rolled out across the population".

Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, voted against the plans, saying: "If government is to take away fundamental liberties of the people whom we represent, they must demonstrate beyond question that they're acting in a way that is both proportionate and absolutely necessary.

"Today, I believe the government has failed to make that compelling case."

And former cabinet minister, Damian Green, whose Kent constituency is in the highest tier, also said the plans lacked public support, adding: "I've had the most angry emails over a weekend since the Dominic Cummings trip to Barnard Castle."

But Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the new tiered system would help "avoid another lockdown", and "help the UK bridge into the spring, where we hope a vaccine will move us into a whole different place".

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Analysis box by Laura Kuenssberg, political editor

It's not even a year since Boris Johnson was carried to a thumping victory on the back of months of agonising parliamentary fiasco over Brexit.

And it should, theoretically, have given Boris Johnson the kind of comfortable cushion in the Commons that no prime minister had had since the days of Tony Blair.

That has hardly gone according to plan.

Despite the prime minister making appeals in person to MPs tonight, although Downing Street had moved over the last few days to meet some of their unhappy MPs demands by publishing documents, and promising more votes in the near future, 55 Tory MPs banded together to give the Boris Johnson his biggest Parliamentary kicking yet.

With more abstaining, the message from the backbenches to the government's front row was clear - right now, Downing Street should not feel able to rely completely on their support.

Remember, the vote did actually pass. But this is a notable political moment too.

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Labour MPs were ordered to abstain in the vote, with party leader Sir Keir Starmer saying he recognised restrictions needed to continue, but he was "far from convinced" the new system would work.

He also said help for businesses moving into the toughest tiers was "nowhere near sufficient".

But 15 Labour MPs defied Sir Keir to vote against the changes.

The tiers will be reviewed every two weeks and Mr Johnson has promised MPs a vote on whether to keep the system before 2 February.

GRaphic

Opening the debate in the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Johnson urged MPs to support his proposals - offering an additional £40m for some pubs in tiers two and three.

He also said he appreciated the "feeling of injustice" many felt at their tier allocation, and pledged to "look in granular detail" at the "human geography" of the virus when the tiers are reviewed.

Closing the debate for the government, an emotional Matt Hancock described how he had been personally affected by the virus, after his step-grandfather died from Covid-19.

"We can afford to let up a little, we just can't afford to let up a lot," he told MPs.

"Let that be the message that goes out from this House. We know through repeat experience what happens if this virus gets out of control."

Despite the appeals, the government faced its largest rebellion of Mr Johnson's tenure.

The last time the number got close was when 44 Tory MPs voted against the government's 10pm curfew for pubs, although it was still approved by the Commons.

A government spokesman said they welcomed the result of the vote, which will "help to safeguard the gains made during the past month and keep the virus under control".

But they also said the government would "continue to work with MPs who have expressed concerns in recent days".

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2020-12-01 22:12:00Z
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Esther Dingley: Partner says police 'looking at non-accident options' - BBC News

Selfie of Esther on mountain top
Esther Dingley

Police searching for a British hiker missing in the Pyrenees are "looking at other options" beyond an accident, her partner has said.

Esther Dingley, 37, last messaged her partner Dan Colegate via WhatsApp on 22 November, when she was on top of Pic de Sauvegarde on the France-Spain border.

She had been due to return from her solo walking trek on 25 November.

Mr Colegate said after extensive searches the "prevailing opinion" is she is not in the mountains.

In a post on Facebook, he praised the French and Spanish search and rescue teams' efforts, but said: "Taking into account Esther's high level of experience, the nature of the terrain, the good weather she would have had, the fact she had a clearly defined route for Sunday evening and Monday, and various other factors, both search coordinators have essentially told me that the prevailing opinion in the search teams is that she isn't there.

"If she had fallen from one of the paths, they really would have expected to find her given the intensity, the closeness of the search and the fact most of the trails are really quite straightforward across open ground."

Dan and Esther in front of hot air balloons
Dan Colegate

Mr Colegate said Ms Dingley is now listed as a national missing person in Spain and her case has been passed to a "specialised judicial unit in France".

"This means they will be looking at other options beyond a mountain accident," he said.

Mr Colegate said: "While this is a terrifying development in many ways, I'm trying to focus on the fact that it leaves the door open that Esther might still come home.

"She was so utterly happy and joyful when we last spoke, I'd do anything to see her face and hold her right now."

Esther in a field on a mountain
Dan Colegate

Ms Dingley had been travelling in the couple's camper van while Mr Colegate stayed at a farm in the Gascony area of France.

Ms Dingley had started walking from Benasque in Spain on Saturday and had planned to spend Sunday night at Refuge de Venasque in France, Mr Colegate said.

The couple had lived in Durham before deciding to pack up their lives and go travelling after Mr Colegate nearly died from an infection.

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Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.

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2020-12-01 20:39:00Z
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Covid tiers: MPs back tougher system for England, despite Tory rebellion - BBC News

A new tougher tier system of coronavirus restrictions for England will begin on Wednesday after the plan was approved by MPs.

The measures, which will come into force at 00:01 GMT, were supported by 291 votes to 78.

The new system will see more than 55 million people in the country placed into the top two strictest tiers.

But 55 Tory MPs voted against the government plan - the largest rebellion of Boris Johnson's premiership.

A further 16 Conservatives abstained, with many of them having expressed concerns about the tougher tiers in the Commons debate that led up to the vote.

  • Live: MPs vote on new covid tiers for England
  • Government publishes data behind stricter tiers
  • Why is so much of the North and Midlands in the top tier?

The new tier system comes into force when England's current lockdown ends in the early hours of Wednesday.

Every area of the country is in one of three tiers - medium (one), high (two) and very high (three) - with the vast majority of the population in the higher two tiers.

They are tougher than the previous tier system the country was under, before its second lockdown began in November, the government says.

In tier two, people are not allowed to mix with anyone outside their household or support bubble indoors, although they can socialise in groups of up to six outdoors.

And in tier three, people must also not mix with anyone outside their household or support bubble indoors, or at most outdoor venues.

Conservative Mark Harper, who chairs the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs, urged the government to listen to the warnings from its opponents about the "cycle of repeated restrictions".

He said they "very much regret that in a moment of national crisis so many of us felt forced to vote against the measures that the government was proposing".

But he added that the government "must find a way to... end this devastating cycle of repeated restrictions, and start living in a sustainable way until an effective and safe vaccine is successfully rolled out across the population".

Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, voted against the plans, saying: "If government is to take away fundamental liberties of the people whom we represent, they must demonstrate beyond question that they're acting in a way that is both proportionate and absolutely necessary.

"Today, I believe the government has failed to make that compelling case."

And former cabinet minister, Damian Green, whose Kent constituency is in the highest tier, also said the plans lacked public support, adding: "I've had the most angry emails over a weekend since the Dominic Cummings trip to Barnard Castle."

But Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the new tiered system would help "avoid another lockdown", and "help the UK bridge into the spring, where we hope a vaccine will move us into a whole different place".

Labour MPs were ordered to abstain in the vote, with party leader Sir Keir Starmer saying he recognised restrictions needed to continue, but he was "far from convinced" the new system would work.

He also said help for businesses moving into the toughest tiers was "nowhere near sufficient".

But 15 Labour MPs defied Sir Keir to vote against the changes.

The tiers will be reviewed every two weeks and Mr Johnson has promised MPs a vote on whether to keep the system before 2 February.

'We just can't afford to let up a lot'

Opening the debate in the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Johnson urged MPs to support his proposals - offering an additional £40m for some pubs in tiers two and three.

He also said he appreciated the "feeling of injustice" many felt at their tier allocation, and pledged to "look in granular detail" at the "human geography" of the virus when the tiers are reviewed.

Closing the debate for the government, an emotional Matt Hancock described how he had been personally affected by the virus, after his step-grandfather died from Covid-19.

"We can afford to let up a little, we just can't afford to let up a lot," he told MPs.

"Let that be the message that goes out from this House. We know through repeat experience what happens if this virus gets out of control."

Despite the appeals, the government faced its largest rebellion of Mr Johnson's tenure.

The last time the number got close was when 44 Tory MPs voted against the government's 10pm curfew for pubs, although it was still approved by the Commons.

A government spokesman said they welcomed the result of the vote, which will "help to safeguard the gains made during the past month and keep the virus under control".

But they also said the government would "continue to work with MPs who have expressed concerns in recent days".

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2020-12-01 20:29:00Z
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COVID-19: MPs approve new coronavirus tiers to replace England's lockdown - Sky News

England's new tiered system of coronavirus restrictions has been approved by MPs, although a sizable number of Conservatives appear to have rebelled against the measures.

The system was approved by 291 votes to 78, a majority of 213.

A total of 55 Tory MPs voted against the government, according to the official division list. They were joined by 15 Labour MPs, eight DUP MPs and two independent MPs.

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PM slips over date of tier 'sunset' clause

Sky's chief political correspondent Jon Craig said he had been told by MPs in the chamber that the prime minister was "standing at the door of the 'aye' lobby" and "begging" Tory MPs to come over from the "no" lobby and vote with the government.

Labour's decision to abstain meant that Boris Johnson was never in danger of losing.

Sir Keir Starmer said that while his party has "serious misgivings" about the restrictions, it would not be in the national interest to vote them down when the virus still poses a "serious risk".

But the size of the Conservative rebellion - bigger than in the vote to approve the second national lockdown last month - demonstrates that the prime minister has a job on his hands to maintain support for the regional measures.

More from Covid-19

Now that MPs have approved the tiered system, the restrictions will come into effect when England's second lockdown ends tomorrow (Wednesday).

"We welcome tonight's vote which endorses our Winter Plan, brings an end to the national restrictions and returns England to a tiered system," a government spokesman said.

"This will help to safeguard the gains made during the past month and keep the virus under control.

"We will continue to work with MPs who have expressed concerns in recent days."

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Starmer: 'Highly unlikely' an area will drop a tier within two weeks

Tory opposition has been driven by the fact that 99% of England's population will fall under the two toughest tiers, which are stricter than the previous tiers in place before lockdown.

About 32 million people - covering 57.3% of England - will fall into Tier 2.

But 23.3 million people - 41.5% of the population - are going to be placed in Tier 3, the highest level of restrictions.

Only the Isle of Wight, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have been designated for Tier 1.

Hospitality venues will be closed in the run-up to Christmas unless they can provide takeaway or delivery services, and households will be forbidden from mixing indoors.

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PM reacts to MP's decision to oppose COVID tiers

Many MPs have questioned the basis for the tier decisions and raised fears about the economic impact.

Conservative rebel leader Mark Harper said "we very much regret" that so many MPs "felt forced to vote against" the measures.

"The House of Commons has spoken and we hope that the government will take on board the comments we have been making on the need for better data and modelling, regional cost-benefit analysis and on trusting MPs with the information they need to make such important decisions on behalf of their constituents," he said.

"We must find a way to break the transmission of the disease, recapture the public's support and confidence, end this devastating cycle of repeated restrictions and start living in a sustainable way until an effective and safe vaccine is successfully rolled out across the population."

Addressing the Commons earlier, the PM told MPs there was a "compelling case" for the tiered system.

He acknowledged "people's feelings of injustice" about the tiers they have been placed in, while also hinting that the government could look at smaller areas when deciding tiering allocations in the future.

Mr Johnson also promised pubs which do not serve food would get a one-off payment of £1,000 in December.

However, the British Beer & Pub Association has said that on its own, the money was "nowhere near enough to stave off thousands of pub closures".

And a number of his own MPs lined up to criticise the tiered system ahead of the vote.

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Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives, said: "In the absence of that serious and compelling case, I have no choice but to oppose these measures."

Former Brexit secretary David Davis told MPs that a "policy of maximum protection for minimum damage" was required and "this policy is not it".

Another former minister, Andrea Leadsom, said the restrictions will "inflict deliberate harm" on her constituency.

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2020-12-01 19:40:53Z
CBMia2h0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2NvdmlkLTE5LW1wcy1hcHByb3ZlLW5ldy1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy10aWVycy10by1yZXBsYWNlLWVuZ2xhbmRzLWxvY2tkb3duLTEyMTQ4MTUy0gFvaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2NvdmlkLTE5LW1wcy1hcHByb3ZlLW5ldy1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy10aWVycy10by1yZXBsYWNlLWVuZ2xhbmRzLWxvY2tkb3duLTEyMTQ4MTUy