UK ‘through Covid by Spring’ but economic benefits are ‘months away’ December 2, 2020 The UK will be through the coronavirus pandemic by Spring, Matt Hancock said this morning, following news the Pfizer/BioNTech has been approved for distribution in the UK. Health minister Matt Hancock has said the UK will be ‘through this by Spring’, but despite the optimism, analysts have predicted there will not be an immediate boost [...]
Business bodies warn that three-quarters of pubs, bars and casinos could go bust under new tier system December 1, 2020 The UK’s leading business bodies have slammed MPs’ decision to vote the new tier system in place from midnight tonight as the “nail in the coffin” for many businesses, warning that it will cause three-quarters of night-time venues to shut forever. The Prime Minister this evening fought off the largest Tory backbench rebellion in his [...]
Furious Theresa May attacks PM’s political choice for national security adviser June 30, 2020 Former Prime Minister Theresa May has lashed out at Boris Johnson and his allies for appointing loyalist Brexit adviser David Frost as the country’s new national security adviser. May said Frost, who is a close ally to the Prime Minister, was a political appointment and undermined the impartial role of national security adviser. Frost was [...]
UK taking too long to administer coronavirus tests, minister admits April 1, 2020 A cabinet secretary has admitted that it may be taking too long too long for the UK to reach its coronavirus testing targets amidst anger at the lack of progress. The government missed its target of testing 10,000 people per day last week and has fallen well behind other OECD countries, such as Germany who [...]
The UK’s four nations split on Christmas Covid rules December 16, 2020 The UK’s four nations will split on plans to relax coronavirus restrictions over Christmas, as the Prime Minister faces accusations of confusing the public over the government’s messaging. Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford said the country will toughen up current guidelines allowing three households to mix over Christmas, announcing that Wales will limit gatherings to [...]
UK and EU should reach trade deal, says BoE governor Andrew Bailey October 8, 2020 Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said he believed the UK and European Union should be able to reach a trade deal. “I do think it is in the interests of both sides – let’s be blunt – to get an agreement,” he said. Read more: BoE’s Andy Haldane warns against ‘Chicken Licken’ economic pessimism [...]
‘Limited time’ left for details of post-Brexit regional funding schemes, says IFS July 13, 2020 The European regional development funding schemes will soon wind down but the government is yet to confirm details of its proposed replacement. With less than six months until the UK leaves the EU, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has called on the government to reveal its intentions for the Shared Prosperity Fund. A new [...]
Brexit: Government confirms there will be checks on some goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland May 20, 2020 The government has confirmed there will be checks on some products travelling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain from next January as a part of the EU withdrawal agreement. Checks will need to be done on agri-food and live animal arrivals from Great Britain at Belfast port, Belfast international airport, Belfast City airport and Warrenpoint [...]
Brexit trade talks: UK ‘U-turns’ on full border checks for EU goods June 12, 2020 The UK government has reportedly U-turned on its plan to implement full border checks with the EU from 1 January 2021 after Brexit. Ministers are under increasing pressure from businesses not to deliver a no-deal Brexit as the UK’s recovery from coronavirus looks likely to be a slow one. So far Boris Johnson’s government has [...]
Public trust in UK government’s coronavirus response continues to fall May 17, 2020 The public’s trust in the UK government’s coronavirus strategy is in freefall, according to the latest polling. An Opinium/Obsever poll out today shows the government now has a net -3 rating for how it has handled the coronavirus, after having a +60 rating in mid-March. A YouGov/Sky News poll out today also showed a -2 [...]