Brexit trade talks to continue virtually as UK sticks to 2020 deadline April 8, 2020 The UK’s chief Brexit negotiator David Frost will speak with his Brussels counterpart Michel Barnier next week to outline a timetable for trade negotiations. Frost and Barnier will speak on Wednesday with the aim of setting out dates to carry on negotiations remotely through April and May. There has been much speculation that the UK’s [...]
Government to ask UK businesses to develop antibody testing kits April 8, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock is set to issue a rallying cry for British businesses to make antibody testing kits after millions purchased by the government had to be thrown away. The government will ask UK companies to help develop millions of the DIY finger prick testing kits to distribute to homes across the country. The [...]
Boris Johnson stable after second night in intensive care April 8, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent a second night in intensive care but is in a stable condition after receiving oxygen support. Johnson tested positive for coronavirus nearly two weeks ago and was admitted to St Thomas’ hospital in London on Sunday night. On Monday evening he was admitted into intensive care after his condition deteriorated. [...]
Firms struggling to access coronavirus loan scheme, says BCC April 8, 2020 Almost two-thirds of British businesses do not have enough cash to last three months as firms continue to struggle to access the government’s coronavirus loan scheme. A British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) survey showed that 57 per cent of businesses polled did not have enough cash to survive past three months and only one per [...]
Exclusive: Just 2,000 UK firms given coronavirus business loans April 7, 2020 Just 2,022 loans have been made to the UK’s small and medium-sized firms through the government’s coronavirus business lending scheme. There have been around 300,000 enquiries so far, meaning a paltry 0.65 per cent have resulted in coronavirus business loans. The latest figures, which were compiled by industry body UK Finance but obtained independently by [...]
Dominic Raab says ‘fighter’ Boris Johnson will beat coronavirus April 7, 2020 Dominic Raab has paid tribute to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saying “he’s a fighter” and will beat his coronavirus diagnosis. Raab, who is now deputising for Johnson, said at today’s press briefing that the Prime Minister would be “back at the helm” in “short order”. Johnson went into intensive care last night after his coronavirus [...]
UK coronavirus death rate spikes as toll rises by 786 to 6,159 April 7, 2020 The number of patients who have died from coronavirus in the UK has risen by 786 to reach 6,159. The figures are a sharp increase on the 439 deaths that were recorded yesterday and mark the UK’s largest rise in daily deaths. As of 9am this morning 213,181 people have been tested, of whom 55,242 [...]
Coronavirus: Rishi Sunak to run government if Dominic Raab becomes incapacitated April 7, 2020 Rishi Sunak will take over prime ministerial duties if Dominic Raab becomes incapacitated while Boris Johnson is unable to lead government. Raab, as first secretary of state, is deputising while the Prime Minister is intensive care with coronavirus. A Downing Street spokesman today said that next in the “order of precedence” is chancellor Rishi Sunak [...]
England coronavirus death toll jumps by 758 to 5,655 April 7, 2020 A further 758 people have died from coronavirus in England, bringing the total number to 5,655. The figures, released by NHS England, mark a sharp increase from the 403 deaths recorded in the country yesterday. It is also higher than the 439 deaths reported across the whole of the UK yesterday. Earlier today first minister [...]
Dominic Raab and the cabinet have power to make national security decisions April 7, 2020 Foreign secretary Dominic Raab and the cabinet collectively have authority over national security decisions while Boris Johnson is unable to fulfil his role as Prime Minister. Johnson asked Raab, as first secretary of state, by Johnson last night to deputise for him after the Prime Minsiter was sent intensive care as his condition worsened. A [...]