Grant Shapps ‘optimistic’ of TfL bailout deal, but signals potential fare rises May 14, 2020 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has said he is “optimistic” a deal can be struck to rescue struggling Transport for London (TfL), while signalling that fare hikes may be a condition of any bailout. Shapps said at today’s press briefing that a bailout was on its way for TfL, just hours after Sadiq Khan said he [...]
UK government kick starts £2bn transport spending spree May 14, 2020 The government has begun a £2bn spending spree on the UK’s transport infrastructure, according to transport secretary Grant Shapps. Shapps said at today’s press briefing that the government had begun a slew of road and rail projects, which were first announced in the Conservatives’ 2019 election manifesto. Shapps said the government was in the process [...]
UK criticises EU for ‘lack of movement’ on key issues in Brexit trade talks May 14, 2020 The UK government has again slammed Brussels negotiators for their failure to compromise on key issues, signalling little progress in the post-Brexit trade negotiations as the third round of talks near a close. The UK’s chief Brexit negotiator David Frost attended cabinet today, telling members that the EU has not budged on some of the [...]
Coronavirus: What is the antibody test and how does it work? May 14, 2020 The prime minister’s official spokesperson today hailed an “important breakthrough” after the UK approved a Covid-19 antibody test. The test has been tipped as a potential tool for helping the UK to ease the coronavirus lockdown. But what is an antibody test, how does it work and why do we need one? What is an [...]
UK coronavirus deaths rise by 428 to 33,614 May 14, 2020 The number of coronavirus deaths in the UK has risen by 428 to 33,614 people, according to the Department of Health. The latest death toll counts those who tested positive for coronavirus and died by 5pm on 13 May. The health department said there have been 2,219,281 coronavirus tests as of 9am today, with 126,064 [...]
Tory MPs call for trade bill overhaul amid fears over UK’s reliance on China May 14, 2020 Two dozen Tory MPs have called for a revamp of the UK’s trade bill amid concerns that Britain is too reliant on China for imports to critical national infrastructure. The group, which includes former Brexit secretary David Davis and party leader Iain Duncan Smith, today penned a letter to trade secretary Liz Truss urging the [...]
UK to order approved antibody coronavirus tests ‘as quickly as we can’ May 14, 2020 The government will be ordering the first batch of approved coronavirus antibody tests from Swiss manufacturer Roche “as quickly as we can”, according to a health minister. The test, which it is believed will show if someone has immunity from Covid-19, has been described as “a game changer” by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a [...]
Government creates coronavirus ‘taskforces’ to aid reopening May 14, 2020 The UK government has created five new “taskforces” to develop guidelines on how businesses across Britain can safely reopen. It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the weekend laid out the government’s “roadmap” for lifting coronavirus restrictions. Non-essential shops could be opened from 1 June, so long as it is safe and they can [...]
UK ready to slash tariffs on US agricultural imports in free trade talks – report May 14, 2020 The UK is ready to cut tariffs on US agricultural imports in order to move talks closer to securing a free trade deal, it is reported. The Department for International Trade is looking at a “big concession package” to US negotiators in the next few months to cut the cost of some agricultural imports, the [...]
Housing market at the forefront of UK’s economic revival, says minister May 13, 2020 The housing market will be key to reviving the British economy and needed to be re-opened, according to housing secretary Robert Jenrick. At today’s press briefing, Jenrick said the “pressure for some to move was becoming acute”, with the government estimating that 450,000 buyers and renters have been unable to move house since March. The [...]