CBI calls for government to consult business more widely to draw up lockdown exit plan February 1, 2021 One of the UK’s mot influential business bodies has called on the government to reach out to the country’s private sector for advice on how to reopen the economy post-lockdown. The CBI has written to business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to ask the government to outline six elements when drawing up its lockdown exit strategy, including [...]
New UK Covid cases down 33 per cent over the past week January 31, 2021 The UK recorded another 21,088 Covid cases today, with the seven-day average falling by 32.5 per cent this week. Government figures also showed another 587 people died from Covid in the UK today, which brings the seven-day figure to 8,219 – a 5.3 per cent week-on-week drop. Patients admitted to hospital over the past seven [...]
Von der Leyen under pressure to resign as EU Commission President over vaccine debacle January 31, 2021 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is reportedly under pressure to resign her post, after a disastrous and shortlived decision to block vaccines traveling to the UK. The call to block vaccines entering the UK, after a dispute with drugmaker AstraZeneca over supplies of its vaccines, would have breached the Belfast Good Friday peace [...]
Social distancing may not end in 2021 even with successful vaccine rollout January 31, 2021 Social distancing in the UK could be in place until the end of the year unless a vaccine is 85 per cent effective in stopping the transmission of coronavirus. A sub-group of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has reportedly given Downing Street modelling that suggest a third spike in Covid deaths will [...]
Liz Truss: ‘Too early’ for UK to consider giving vaccines away to other nations January 31, 2021 It is “too early” for the UK to consider the prospect of giving away excess Covid-19 vaccines to other countries, according to international trade secretary Liz Truss. Truss said the UK was on track to vaccinate every adult in the UK by autumn and that the UK was committed to ensure “vaccines are there to [...]
EU rows back on Irish border vaccine controls January 30, 2021 The European Union amended its controversial measures seeking to limit exports to Northern Ireland on Friday evening. The bloc had moved to restrict exports of vaccines into Northern Ireland by overriding parts of the Brexit deal, sparking widespread anger from politicians in Belfast, after an escalation in the vaccine row. Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster described the move [...]
Liz Truss makes de-escalating trade disputes with US a top priority January 29, 2021 Trade minister Liz Truss has said she will make it her top priority to de-escalate trade disputes over steel and aircraft subsidies with the United States. Speaking at this year’s virtual Davos summit, Truss said countries must “resist protectionism”, and that there should not be tariffs between the UK, the EU and the US. “On [...]
What next for Biden’s climate and social agenda? January 29, 2021 | City Talk Joe Biden ran on one of the most progressive platforms the US has ever seen, with climate ambition at its heart. His victory will result in a sea-change in US climate ambition. That said, the narrow margin of victory will pose challenges for the more ambitious elements of his agenda. Below we assess the policy [...]
China will no longer recognise Hong Kong citizens’ British overseas passports January 29, 2021 China said today it will “no longer recognise” British National Overseas (BNO) passports for Hong Kong citizens as the UK prepares to welcome those fleeing the National Security Law. A foreign ministry spokesperson for the Chinese government said: “From January 31, China will no longer recognise the so-called BNO passport as a travel document and [...]
EU approves Astrazeneca vaccine for all over-18s January 29, 2021 The EU drugs regulator has approved the use of the Astrazeneca Covid vaccine for all people over the age of 18. The green light from the European Medicines Agency means Astrazeneca vaccine is the third to be approved by the EU, after those developed by Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna. The move follows an increasingly bitter dispute [...]