Domestic Politics
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made his first public appearance since returning to work after recovering from the coronavirus. He said that it is still too early to ease lockdown restrictions as the UK is still at its “moment of maximum risk”. He also pointed to cause for optimism, saying that there are now fewer hospital admissions, fewer COVID-19 patients, and “real signs now that we are passing through the peak”. [The Independent]
UK PM Boris Johnson will meet with key ministers this week to discuss how different sectors could potentially resume working without risking a second wave of coronavirus infections. [The Telegraph]
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that she wishes to discuss adopting a different lockdown exit strategy in Scotland and the “power to close [Scotland’s] border” with the UK government. However, amid criticism from pro-unionists, she later backtracked, saying that she was referring to the “external, international UK borders”, not Scotland's borders with England. [The Scotsman]
International Relations
Minister for the Cabinet office Michael Gove reiterated the UK government’s position that it will not require an extension to finalize the Brexit agreement by the end of the year. MEPs in the European Parliament have previously urged UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to delay the Brexit deadline of December 31, 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis. [The Times]
The trade ministers of the UK, Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand warned against “increased protectionism” as a COVID-19 economic recovery strategy, saying that it would “undo decades of progress”, “erode business confidence”, and “slow investment”. Liza Truss, the UK’s International Trade Secretary, joined her counterparts in saying that “diverse supply chains” increase “efficiency” and “resilience”. [Belfast Telegraph]
Economy
Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed a 100% guarantee on “bounce back loans” of up to £50,000 for small businesses affected by the coronavirus crisis. However, he refused to increase the current 80% guarantee on loans under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), which businesses and banks say has led to a limited provision of emergency credit. [The Independent]
Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) warns that 30,000 workers in the industry could lose their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing oil price crisis and plummeting demand. [BBC]
Health
Ireland has 19,648 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 1,102 deaths. Meanwhile, the UK has 157,149 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 21,092 deaths. [buzz.ie, BBC]
Image Source: Sky News
Britain and Ireland in Review: April 28, 2020
Read more about the latest events in Britain and Ireland.
April 28, 2020
