DEBATE: Given the lack of progress during the Covid-19 crisis, should the transition period be extended? June 5, 2020 Given the lack of progress during the Covid-19 crisis, should the Brexit transition period be extended? Sir Vince Cable, former leader of the Liberal Democrats and former secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, says YES. Extending the transition period will become critical as this government limps towards the end of June with no [...]
Alok Sharma tests negative for coronavirus June 4, 2020 Business secretary Alok Sharma has tested negative for coronavirus, after he was seen visibly unwell in the House of Commons yesterday. Sharma took to Twitter to announce he was Covid-free this evening, after a day of speculation that other cabinet members would have to self-isolate if the business secretary tested positive. “Huge thanks to everyone [...]
Sir Keir Starmer calls on PM to urge Trump to ‘respect human rights’ June 4, 2020 Sir Keir Starmer has called on the Prime Minister to urge the US and President Donald Trump “to respect human rights” following the death of George Floyd. In a letter to Boris Johnson, the Labour leader said the UK “must be ready to stand together with those who seek to tackle the injustice and inequality [...]
Pubs say ‘time running out’ to be ready for 4 July reopening June 4, 2020 The UK’s pub lobby has warned the government that its members urgently need clarity on how it will reopen the sector if they are going to be ready by the target date of 4 July. The British Beer and Pub Association (BPPA) said today that pubs will need at least three weeks’ notice for when [...]
Apple boss Tim Cook pens open letter on racism after ‘senseless’ George Floyd killing June 4, 2020 Apple chief executive Tim Cook has published an open letter admitting that his company must do more to tackle racism. In the letter, published on Apple’s website, Cook spoke out about the “senseless killing” of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed in police custody in Minneapolis. “To create change, we have to [...]
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak could have to self-isolate if minister tests positive for Covid-19 June 4, 2020 Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson could be told to self-isolate for 14 days after the pair had a meeting with Alok Sharma before he fell ill, Downing Street has confirmed. A spokesperson for Johnson said Sharma had a meeting with the Prime Minister and chancellor for 45 minutes on the economy, but that they all [...]
HSBC and Standard Chartered slammed for supporting China’s Hong Kong security law June 4, 2020 HSBC and Standard Chartered have today been critcised for their support of China’s new security law for Hong Kong. HSBC’s Asia-Pacific chief executive Peter Wong signed a petition backing the law, the bank said. HSBC said in a statement: “We respect and support laws and regulations that will enable Hong Kong to recover and rebuild [...]
Alok Sharma self-isolates while awaiting coronavirus test result June 4, 2020 Business secretary Alok Sharma has been tested for coronavirus after he was visibly unwell in the House of Commons chamber yesterday. Sharma is currently self-isolating as he awaits his test result, with Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis saying today that it was hopefully just severe hayfever. The business secretary was visibly uncomfortable during a House [...]
Sterling will weaken if Britain fails to ask for Brexit transition extension June 4, 2020 Sterling will lose recent gains against the dollar and weaken further if the UK does not ask for an extension of its Brexit transition period, according to a Reuters survey. The pound has strengthened this week, trading at a one-month high of $1.26 yesterday as the UK suggested it may compromise on some contentious issues [...]
Coronavirus: Public confidence in UK handling of crisis slumps June 4, 2020 Public confidence in their governments’ handling of the coronavirus pandemic has slumped the most in UK, a survey showed today. In May, in the Group of Seven nations as a whole, 48 per cent of respondents approved of how authorities had handled the pandemic, down from 50 per cent in April and 54 per cent [...]