Domestic Politics
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a three-week nationwide lockdown in the United Kingdom in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Non-essential stores have been closed, alongside libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, and places of worship. People will only be allowed to leave their house to shop for basic necessities, exercise, meet medical needs, and travel to and from work. He has also given the police force increased powers to enforce these new rules. [The Independent]
Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, echoed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's statement, saying that the new restrictions “amount to a lockdown” amid the “biggest challenge of our lifetime”. [The Scotsman]
Similar to Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, also welcomed Boris Johnson's announcement of a three-week lockdown across the UK, saying, “It won't be easy but it's for the best.” [Belfast Telegraph]
International Relations
Reports have emerged that UK PM Boris Johnson ordered his Brexit team to “get around” the Northern Ireland protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement. Johnson wishes to minimize checks at the ports and airports in Northern Ireland so that the UK can avoid Irish Sea checks on goods passing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. However, both the Republic of Ireland and the European Union quickly moved to ask the British government to honor all the terms of the agreement. [Irish News]
Health
Prior to PM Boris Johnson’s announcement of a nationwide lockdown, health experts warned that unless the UK government takes stricter measures, between 35,000 and 70,000 citizens could die, adding that directives of social distancing and self-isolation are not enough. It remains to be seen whether the three-week lockdown has come too late, as some are suggesting. [The Independent]
Law
Landlords have been banned from evicting commercial tenants for at least three months amid a severe economic fallout from the coronavirus. Thousands of retail, hospitality, and leisure firms welcomed the move, as it postpones their quarterly rental payment, which was originally due on Wednesday. [The Telegraph]
Scotland's former first minister, Alex Salmond, who was charged with 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape by nine women, was cleared of all charges. However, he now faces a new investigation into fresh allegations made by four other women. [The Times]
In order to limit the spread of the coronavirus in tightly-packed prisons, the Northern Ireland Prison Service is set to release a number of inmates from Maghaberry and Magilligan prison and Hydebank Wood detention center. These emergency measures will not apply to prisoners convicted of terrorist offenses, sex offenses, or domestic violence.
Image Source: Axios
