Government looks ahead to re-opening UK leisure and travel sectors May 20, 2020 The government has stepped up its plans to get the leisure, travel and technology sectors up and running, with the announcement of a new taskforce. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden announced today that the taskforce will be made up of experts in the fields of sport, technology and the arts in a bid to get these [...]
UK coronavirus death toll up 363 to 35,704 May 20, 2020 A further 363 people died yesterday from coronavirus, bringing the UK’s total to 35,704. The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is now at 9,953, which is a 13 per cent decrease from this time last week. Digital secretary Oliver Dowden made the announcement at today’s press briefing, along with news that the UK [...]
Boris Johnson sparks cabinet reshuffle confusion with PMQs comments May 20, 2020 Boris Johnson said today that he wanted more women in government before appearing to say that a cabinet reshuffle may be on the way. When asked about the potential for increased involvement of women in government, the Prime Minister said he had “taken dramatic action even before a reshuffle” and pointed out two female appointments [...]
Brexit: Government confirms there will be checks on some goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland May 20, 2020 The government has confirmed there will be checks on some products travelling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain from next January as a part of the EU withdrawal agreement. Checks will need to be done on agri-food and live animal arrivals from Great Britain at Belfast port, Belfast international airport, Belfast City airport and Warrenpoint [...]
Boris Johnson hints at NHS worker pay rise in fiery PMQs May 20, 2020 Boris Johnson has hinted that NHS workers will be given a pay increase in a heated back-and-forth with Sir Keir Starmer at today’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). Johnson said he wanted “to see our NHS staff paid properly, the NHS supported” and that it would “be warmly welcomed across the whole of our establishment of [...]
UK: Brexit trade deal demands ‘go beyond’ other EU agreements May 20, 2020 The government released legal texts for the proposed EU free trade deal yesterday, with some trade experts claiming the UK’s demands are in excess of what Brussels has allowed in previous deals. Talks between the EU and UK are at a crossroads, after little progress has been made on several key areas in the first [...]
Arise Sir Tom: Colonel Tom Moore to get knighthood May 19, 2020 Colonel Tom Moore will be awarded a knighthood after being nominated for the honour by Boris Johnson in light of his fundraising efforts. Moore, who has become a much loved national figure after raising £33m for the NHS, will be honoured in the coming months, after the knighthood was approved by the Queen. The 100-year-old [...]
Brexit: Minister won’t rule out prospect of City losing EU access over fishing policy row May 19, 2020 A senior minister has refused to rule out the prospect of the UK’s financial services industry losing access to EU markets over a row with Brussels over fishing policy. Environment secretary George Eustice at today’s press briefing said the government would not “get into saying you have to sacrifice one industry in order to give [...]
UK government scientists looking at how to ease coronavirus lockdown faster for remote areas May 19, 2020 The government’s top scientists are looking at ways of lifting the lockdown at a faster rate in remote parts of the UK that have very few or no coronavirus cases. The chief scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence Dame Angela Maclean today said location “was a huge focus” for government scientists when looking at [...]
Michael Gove: Brexit deal can be struck if EU loses its ‘ideological fastness’ May 19, 2020 Michael Gove has said a zero tariff, zero quota trade deal can be done with the EU if its negotiators shed their “ideological fastness” during talks. The Cabinet Office Minister updated MPs today on Brexit trade negotiations, claiming the EU “wants us to obey the rules of their club, essentially, even though we are no [...]
