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 [...]
Boris Johnson accused of misleading the House of Commons on care homes May 13, 2020 Boris Johnson has been accused of misleading parliament after being asked about the government’s coronavirus guidance on care homes. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked the Prime Minister today why the government’s advice up to 12 March was that it was unlikely that care home residents would be infected with coronavirus. Johnson denied this was [...]
Public support for government handling of coronavirus falls May 13, 2020 Public support for the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis has fallen, according to research published today. A survey by polling firm Kantar found 49 per cent of respondents thought the government was doing fairly or very well on coronavirus, down from 61 per cent in April. Forty three per cent said its handling of [...]