The UK coronavirus death toll reaches 28,446 May 3, 2020 Another 315 people who tested positive for coronavirus died yesterday, bringing the UK total to 28,446. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove announced the latest figures at today’s press briefing. Gove confirmed that Boris Johnson would outline the government’s plan to ease coronavirus social distancing restrictions. “The prime minister’s comprehensive plan will explain how we can [...]
Coronavirus: Minister resigns over Dominic Cummings lockdown row May 26, 2020 A government minister has resigned over senior adviser Dominic Cumming’s lockdown trips. Douglas Ross, MP for Moray, said that while he accepted Cummings’ justification for his trips, this was “not shared by the vast majority of people who have done as the government asked”. Ross, who also served as under-secretary of state for Scotland, said [...]
Brexit: EU renews legal threat against UK over controversial bill September 28, 2020 The EU has doubled down on its threat to take legal action against the UK unless it withdraws its controversial internal market bill that could breach the Brexit withdrawal agreement. European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič said the EU would “not be shy” in using legal methods to stop the UK implementing the legislation after [...]
Breaking: Three households will be able to mix for five days over Christmas November 24, 2020 Up to three households will be able to mix indoors during a five-day Christmas relaxation of lockdown rules, UK leaders have agreed. Under new plans, members of up to three different households will be able to form an exclusive bubble between 23 and 27 December. That will not include hospitality settings, though members of three [...]
Brexit: EU not serious about restarting trade talks, says minister October 20, 2020 The EU’s offer to restart broken down Brexit trade talks amounted only to “lip service”, according to a UK business minister. Nadhim Zahawi said today that the UK still wanted a Brexit trade deal, despite Boris Johnson refusing to come back to the negotiating table, but that talks would not continue until Brussels treats Britain [...]
Liz Truss says UK’s Brexit border plans at risk of WTO legal challenge and smuggling July 9, 2020 Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit border plans risk breaking international trading rules and could result in smuggling from the EU, according to international trade secretary Liz Truss. Truss wrote a letter to chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove on Wednesday warning that the UK’s current plans put the country at risk of several political [...]
Brexit: UK ‘will not back down’ on fisheries policy October 28, 2020 The UK will not back down on its demands to the EU over fisheries in Brexit trade talks, Michael Gove has said, as the two sides hold crunch talks today in the hopes of hammering out a last-minute trade deal. Responding to concerns set out by Jeremy Miles, the Welsh minister for European transition, Gove [...]
Only a third of UK businesses have completed Brexit risk assessments September 24, 2020 Just over a third of UK companies have completed a Brexit risk assessment this year, as businesses scramble to prepare for the end of the transition period in 98 days. Only 38 per cent of eligible firms have completed Brexit risk assessments this year, compared to 57 per cent of businesses in 2019, according to [...]
Britain ‘formally confirms’ it will not extend Brexit transition period June 12, 2020 Britain has “formally confirmed” to the EU that it will not extend the Brexit transition period beyond the end of this year. Making the announcement this morning, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said “the moment for extension has now passed,” following a video meeting of the EU Joint Committee. The announcement follows a call for [...]
Spain quarantine to be cut to 10 days for returning Brits July 28, 2020 Quarantine for people arriving from Spain and other countries designated high-risk coronavirus zones will be cut to 10 days under new plans, it is reported. The government is set to introduce a fresh policy later this week requiring those arriving from high-risk countries to be tested for coronavirus eight days after they land, the Telegraph [...]