‘A weekly test of showmanship’: Does PMQs shape public opinion? June 3, 2020 The greatest representation of Westminster’s gladiatorial spirit has to be Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). MPs pack themselves onto the House of Commons benches every sitting Wednesday to watch and engage in the high political drama, which often has the feeling of a schoolyard brawl. The screeching interjections, snide personal attacks and fits of laughter from [...]
NHS coronavirus track and trace programme could help ease UK’s 14-day quarantine June 2, 2020 The new coronavirus test and trace programme could be used to scrap 14-day quarantines for people coming into the UK from abroad, according to a top government scientist. John Newton, who is head of the government’s Covid-19 testing programme, said that one way of getting around the newly implemented quarantine would be to test everyone [...]
BAME people up to twice as likely to die from coronavirus, says PHE report June 2, 2020 UK residents with a black and Asian ethnic minority (BAME) background are up to twice as likely to die from coronavirus, according to a new Public Health England (PHE) report. The report found that Britons with a Bangladeshi ethnicity were twice as likely to die than White Britons from Covid-19, while “people of Chinese, Indian, [...]
Downing Street: Reports of UK compromise on Brexit talks is ‘wishful thinking’ June 2, 2020 Downing Street has dismissed speculation that the UK is preparing to compromise on fisheries and level playing field rules during Brexit trade talks with the EU. The Times reported today that EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier expected the UK begin to cave on the two major stumbling blocks to negotiations in this week’s negotiating round. [...]
UK tells China to ‘step back from the brink’ on new Hong Kong security legislation June 2, 2020 Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has told China to “step back from the brink” and to not enforce the planned security legislation in Hong Kong. Raab told MPs today that the new legislation “lies in direct conflict with China’s international obligations” and was a breach of Hong Kong’s autonomy. The UK announced last week it would [...]
MPs set to vote on parliament return after virtual proceedings June 2, 2020 MPs are set to vote on whether to drop virtual proceedings in the House of Commons amidst growing opposition to the changes. Westminster returns today after a recess, with House of Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg tabling a motion that would bring to an end the hybrid parliament of the past two months. This would mean [...]
Brexit: No breakthroughs expected in fresh round of UK-EU trade talks June 1, 2020 No major breakthroughs are expected in Brexit trade talks this week as UK and EU negotiators remain deadlocked on several major areas. Sources close to the UK negotiating team said they were not expecting much progress on the biggest flashpoints – such as EU access to UK fishing waters and business competition regulations – over [...]
UK coronavirus deaths have smallest one-day increase since start of lockdown June 1, 2020 The UK’s number of coronavirus deaths had it smallest one-day increase yesterday since lockdown was implemented on 23 March. Health secretary Matt Hancock said at the daily press briefing that 111 people died from Covid-19 yesterday, bringing the total to 39,045. On Sunday, 1,570 tested positive for coronavirus, which represented “downward progress in the number [...]
UK launches review into impact of US sanctions on Huawei June 1, 2020 The government has launched a review into US sanctions on Huawei as speculation mounts that Boris Johnson will reverse his decision on allowing the Chinese firm to help build Britain’s 5G network. The review, which has already begun, will report back to the government in a matter of weeks and will look at export controls [...]
Sadiq Khan calls for extension to Brexit transition period June 1, 2020 Sadiq Khan has called for an extension to the 31 December deadline for Brexit trade talks between the UK and EU as the two sides meet for the latest negotiating round today. The mayor of London wrote today to chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, the minister responsible for the talks, to say [...]
