Week Ahead: Ministers extend evictions ban

HOMELESSNESS FEARS

Ministers have announced a four-week extension to the evictions ban in England and Wales following warnings that hundreds of thousands of renters could lose their homes.

Evictions proceedings for social and private renters had been due to resume on Monday, after a temporary ban on evicting renters was enacted earlier this year due to the coronavirus crisis.

However, the row is likely to rumble on as the new extension only lasts until September 20.

Last month Housing Minister Lord Greenhalgh said ending the suspension “is an important step towards ending the lockdown” and will protect landlords’ rights.

But shadow housing secretary Thangam Debbonaire called for emergency legislation to protect renters from evictions during the crisis.

“The Government seems to be more interested in protecting landlords’ incomes than preventing families from losing their homes in the middle of a deadly pandemic,” the Labour MP said last month. “If things go back to business as usual, many thousands of people will find themselves sleeping on the streets this winter.”

Shelter has previously warned that lifting the suspension without protecting renters would “unleash a wave of homelessness”.

CLIMATE PROTESTS

Environmental activists from Extinction Rebellion are planning to stage “civilly disobedient” protests in towns and cities across the UK over the August bank holiday weekend, with several likely to occur in Yorkshire.

The demonstrations are due to take place ahead of their next “uprising” in London, Manchester and Cardiff beginning on September 1.

It comes after four Extinction Rebellion protesters were arrested earlier this month after they broke into Silverstone for the behind-closed-doors British Grand Prix.

It is believed that the quartet evaded security by wearing orange marshals uniforms.

ALTERNATIVE FESTIVALS

Like so many events this year, Leeds Festival which was due to take place this weekend has become a victim of coronavirus.

But for rock music fans, there may some comfort in some of the festival’s most memorable past performances being replayed on BBC television and radio between Friday and Sunday.

BBC Four will be showcasing highlights from last year’s headline set from Foo Fighters at Reading Festival on Saturday night, while a pop-up BBC iPLayer channel will be showing performances from the likes of Radiohead, Billie Eilish and The 1975. Special shows are also planned on Radio 1.

Notting Hill Carnival is another event that was due to take place this Bank Holiday weekend but it is going online, with a free digital screening replaces the annual street event.

Meanwhile, the Proms’ live performances are to begin on Friday at the Royal Albert Hall, albeit without an audience. However, the two weeks of live performance will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer. In long-standing Proms tradition, the BBC Symphony Orchestra will open and close the series culminating in a Last Night of the Proms.

FOOTBALL KICKS OFF (AGAIN)

While it may feel that the football season has only just ended, the next one is getting under way from Saturday when the traditional Community Shield curtain-raiser takes place at Wembley between league champions Liverpool and FA Cup winners Arsenal.

This week will also see the start of the T20 Blast cricket competition, with Yorkshire taking on Nottinghamshire on Thursday and Derbyshire on Sunday.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson