Starmer and the City: Labour’s battle to win back the trust of UK business April 6, 2020 After what feels like the longest three months in history, the Labour Party finally has a new leader. Sir Keir Starmer trounced his leadership rivals to win a commanding majority, leaving no doubt about his mandate to recreate the party in his own image. The former human rights lawyer is now tasked with the job [...]
UK sticks to December 2020 Brexit deadline despite coronavirus April 6, 2020 The UK government has said it remains “absolutely committed” to Brexit negotiations and the December 2020 transition date despite the coronavirus outbreak limiting talks between the two sides. The UK and EU have until the end of this year to thrash out a comprehensive free-trade agreement. Keen to deliver on his “get Brexit done” election [...]
UK coronavirus deaths hit 5,000 but daily rate slows April 6, 2020 The UK coronavirus death toll has risen past 5,000, but the daily rate of growth slowed for the second consecutive day. A total of 5,373 have now died after a further 439 deaths were recorded, the Department of Health has confirmed. However, it marks the second consecutive day that the number of daily deaths have [...]
Ed Miliband returns to Labour shadow cabinet under Keir Starmer April 6, 2020 Former Labour leader Ed Miliband has returned to the frontbench as shadow business and energy secretary in Sir Keir Starmer’s new look shadow cabinet. Miliband will join Anneliese Dodds, announced as shadow chancellor yesterday, and new shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry in Labour’s key economic and business portfolios. Starmer appears to have purged the [...]
Boris Johnson still ‘in charge of government’ from his hospital bed April 6, 2020 Boris Johnson is still in charge of government from his hospital bed and is continuing to receive his daily red box of briefing papers. The Prime Minister was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in Westminster last night due to “persistent symptoms” of coronavirus and “had a comfortable night”, according to an official Number 10 spokesman. [...]
UK coronavirus: Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in hospital April 6, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson remained in hospital this morning with a high temperature after first testing positive for coronavirus 10 days ago. “The PM is still at hospital,” a government source told Reuters. “He spent the night in hospital.” Johnson was taken to hospital last night with a high temperature for additional coronavirus tests. He [...]
Coronavirus: The Queen’s speech to the nation in full April 5, 2020 The Queen tonight gave an historic televised address to the nation, calling on Brits to band together in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. In the speech — only her fifth peacetime address outside her annual Christmas message — the Queen thanked frontline medical staff and said Britain would overcome the crisis. She also made [...]
‘We will overcome it’: Queen calls for unity as she thanks NHS staff April 5, 2020 The UK will overcome the coronavirus crisis if it remains “united and resolute”, the Queen said today as she thanked frontline medical staff for their efforts in fighting the pandemic. In an historic televised address from Windsor Castle this evening, the Queen acknowledged the “very challenging time” for the country, but insisted that “we will [...]
Excel centre u-turns on charging NHS for temporary hospital April 5, 2020 Owners of the Excel London have decided to not charge the NHS to use the convention centre as a temporary hospital after a barrage of criticism. Excel centre chief executive Jeremy Reeves released a statement today to say the building’s owners, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec), would waive the fixed costs it had previously [...]
Anneliese Dodds named as Keir Starmer’s shadow chancellor April 5, 2020 Anneliese Dodds has been named shadow chancellor under new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, less than three years after being elected to parliament. Leadership rival Lisa Nandy has been named shadow foreign secretary, former Oxford don Nick Thomas-Symonds has been named shadow home secretary and Jon Ashworth has retained the shadow health portfolio. Newly elected [...]