BoE Postpones Policy Meeting as UK Event Timings Reassessed Amid Royal Mourning
2022.09.09 11:25
The Bank of England has delayed its September policy meeting to honor the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, joining a slew of other organizations pushing back events during a period of national mourning.
The latest decision from the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee will now be announced on September 22, the central bank said.
The move comes as the timetables for events in a variety of areas of British life and business are being reassessed in the wake of the monarch’s death at age 96 on Thursday, which brings to an end a reign that lasted for seven decades.
The U.K. government has said that organizations are under “no obligation” to suspend operations, but officials say some firms “may wish” to consider postponing or canceling events.
A yearly gathering of the Trades Union Congress, due to start in Brighton next week, has been pushed back. Unions have called off strikes by postal and rail workers set for this month, as well.
In sports, all professional soccer matches this weekend in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have been postponed.
In a statement, the Premier League – England’s mega-popular top-flight soccer competition – said it wanted to show respect for the Queen, adding that it is a “tremendously sad time” for both the U.K. and for her admirers around the world. The league said it would provide updates about the status of upcoming games “in due course.”
A Test cricket match between England and South Africa was also delayed, while the final stages of the Tour of Britain cycling race have been scrapped.
Elsewhere, the British Fashion Council has said its annual London Fashion Week will go forward as planned, citing its importance for designers keen to show off their collections at a specific moment in the calendar year. However, U.K. luxury brand Burberry canceled its Spring/Summer 2023 show scheduled for September 17.
Meanwhile, the BBC reports that theater performances across the country are expected to go on, but will include a minute’s silence.
The Queen’s state funeral is currently expected to happen in less than two weeks, though the exact day has yet to be confirmed by Buckingham Palace. When the funeral does take place, reports in the U.K. suggest that the London Stock Exchange will close for at least the day and could remain shuttered for a longer period of time.
