Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab urge world leaders to avoid protectionist trade policies April 5, 2020 Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab have warned world leaders not to implement protectionist policies during the coronavirus crisis after Donald Trump halted millions of face masks being exported to Germany. Raab wrote an article on behalf of himself, Johnson and international trade secretary Liz Truss to urge G7 and G20 leaders to “keep trade routes [...]
Matt Hancock threatens complete outdoor exercise ban April 5, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock has threatened to ban exercise as a part of the government’s social distancing measures if people do not follow the rules. Pictures have emerged today of people picnicking or lounging in parks and beaches across the country as some continue to flout the government’s Covid-19 lockdown rules. Hancock told the BBC [...]
Matt Hancock denies claims of Rishi Sunak feud April 5, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock has denied reports of a feud between himself and chancellor Rishi Sunak over the government’s coronavirus strategy. The Mail on Sunday reported today that the pair were engaged in a feud over when to lift the UK’s lockdown and get the economy back to normal. Sunak reportedly had made presentations to [...]
Coronavirus: Keir Starmer says ‘serious mistakes made’ by government April 5, 2020 Newly crowned Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said “serious mistakes” have been made in the UK’s response to Covid-19 and has set out four targets for the government going forward. Starmer, who won the Labour leadership race yesterday, said the Covid-19 pandemic was not a time for “scoring political points or opposing for the [...]
Coronavirus: Boris Johnson to stay in self-isolation with high temperature April 3, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will remain in self-isolation after continuing to exhibit coronavirus symptoms first diagnosed last week. “Although I feel better and I’ve done my seven days of self-isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom. I still have a temperature,” Johnson said in a Twitter video. [...]
Labour asks how Hancock’s coronavirus testing pledge will be met April 3, 2020 The government is under pressure to explain how it will increase its coronavirus testing ten-fold by the end of the month. Yesterday health secretary Matt Hancock said he wants 100,000 tests to be carried out every day, up from the 10,000 currently. However the Labour Party has said there is little detail on how this [...]
Chancellor shakes up coronavirus loan scheme after criticism of banks April 2, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak said tonight that he is extending a coronavirus loan scheme for small businesses and introducing a new loan scheme for businesses with revenue up to £500m. The Treasury also said it would ban lenders from requesting personal guarantees for loans under £250,000. And Sunak pledged “operational changes” to speed up lending approvals. [...]
Matt Hancock sets target of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by end of April April 2, 2020 The government has struck a deal to work with the private sector and universities to reach a tenfold increase in daily coronavirus tests by the end of the month. Health secretary Matt Hancock unveiled a five-point plan at today’s daily press briefing to increase testing rates to 100,000 tests per day in just a few [...]
Coronavirus: Premier League clubs should face ‘windfall tax’ April 2, 2020 Premier League clubs that furlough non-playing staff during the Covid-19 crisis should be slapped with a windfall tax, according to the chair of Westminster’s sports select committee. Tottenham, Newcastle and Norwich City have taken steps to furlough non-playing staff so they can access the government’s wage subsidy scheme, while still paying players their full contracts. [...]
Coronavirus: Brits approve of government for first time in almost a decade April 2, 2020 The British public approves of the government for the first time in almost a decade, according to the latest research. A survey found that amid the coronavirus crisis 52 per cent of Brits said they approve of Boris Johnson’s government’s record, compared to 26 per cent who disapprove. Net approval is now 26 per cent, [...]