2020 in United Kingdom politics and government

List of years in the United Kingdom
In United Kingdom politics and government
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Events

January

February

March

  • 2 March – The government holds a COBRA meeting to discuss its preparations and response to the coronavirus, as the number of UK cases jumps to 36.[31]
  • 3 March – The government publishes its action plan for dealing with coronavirus. This includes scenarios ranging from a milder pandemic to a "severe prolonged pandemic as experienced in 1918" and warns that a fifth of the national workforce could be absent from work during the infection's peak.[32][33]
  • 6 March – The Prime Minister announces £46 million in funding for research into a coronavirus vaccine and rapid diagnostic tests. During a visit to a laboratory in Bedfordshire, he says: "It looks like there will be a substantial period of disruption where we have to deal with this outbreak."[34]
  • 11 March – Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, presents the Johnson Government's first budget, which includes £30 billion in measures to protect the economy from coronavirus.[35][36][37]
  • 13 March – Elections including the English local elections, London mayoral election and police and crime commissioner elections, scheduled for May 2020, are postponed for a year because of the coronavirus.[38]
  • 14 March – Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, announces the US is to extend its European coronavirus travel ban to include the UK from 16 March.[39]
  • 15 March
    • The Foreign Office advises against "all but essential travel" to the US.[40]
    • Health Secretary Matt Hancock says that every UK resident over the age of 70 will be told "within the coming weeks" to self-isolate for "a very long time" to shield them from coronavirus.[41]
    • The government announces plans to hold daily televised press conferences to update the public on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, starting on Monday 16 March.[42]
  • 16 March – Prime Minister Boris Johnson advises everyone in the UK against "non-essential" travel and contact with others to curb coronavirus, as well as suggesting people should avoid pubs, clubs and theatres, and work from home if possible. Pregnant women, people over the age of 70 and those with certain health conditions are urged to consider the advice "particularly important", and will be asked to self-isolate within days.[43]
  • 17 March – The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announces that £330bn will be made available in loan guarantees for businesses affected by the coronavirus.[44][45]
  • 18 March
    • The government announces that all schools in the country will shut from the afternoon of Friday 20 March, except for those looking after the children of keyworkers and vulnerable children.[46] No exams will take place this academic year, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirms.[47]
    • The government announces emergency legislation to bring in a complete ban on new evictions for three months as part of measures to help protect renters in social and private rented accommodation.
  • 20 March
    • Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces that the government will pay 80% of wages for employees not working, up to £2,500 a month, as part of "unprecedented" measures to protect people's jobs.[48]
    • Prime Minister Boris Johnson orders all cafes, pubs and restaurants to close from the evening of 20 March, except for take-away food, to tackle coronavirus. All the UK's nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres are told to close "as soon as they reasonably can".[49]
  • 21 March – Environment Secretary George Eustice urges shoppers to stop panic buying, as supermarkets around the UK struggle to keep up with demand.[50] Tesco, Asda, Aldi, and Lidl are reported to have begun a recruitment drive for up to 30,000 new staff.[51]
  • 22 March –Boris Johnson warns that "tougher measures" may be introduced if people do not follow government advice on social distancing.[52]
  • 23 March
    • The government announces emergency measures to safeguard the nation's rail network, with season ticket holders given refunds if working from home, and rail franchise agreements nationalised for at least six months to prevent rail companies from collapsing.[53][54]
    • Alex Salmond is cleared of sexually assaulting nine women while he was Scotland's First Minister.[55]
    • In a televised address, Boris Johnson announces a UK-wide lockdown with immediate effect, to contain the spread of the coronavirus. People can leave their homes only for "very limited purposes" – shopping for basic necessities; for one form of exercise a day; for any medical need; and to travel to and from work when "absolutely necessary". A number of other restrictions are imposed, with police given powers to enforce the measures, including the use of fines.[56][57][58]
  • 24 March – Health secretary Matt Hancock announces the government will open a temporary hospital, the NHS Nightingale Hospital London at the Excel London, to add extra critical care capacity in response to coronavirus pandemic.[59]
  • 25 March – Parliament shuts down for a month.[60]
  • 26 March – The government announces that the self-employed will be paid 80% of profits, up to £2,500 a month, to help them cope during the economic crisis triggered by COVID-19.[61]
  • 27 March
    • Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for COVID-19, and will self-isolate in 10 Downing Street.[62]
    • Health Secretary Matt Hancock tests positive for COVID-19 and reports that he is working from home and self-isolating.[63]

April

  • 4 April – Sir Keir Starmer is confirmed as the new leader of the Labour Party, succeeding Jeremy Corbyn.[64]
  • 5 April – Prime Minister Boris Johnson is admitted to hospital for tests after testing positive for coronavirus ten days earlier.[65]
  • 6 April – Prime Minister Boris Johnson is taken into intensive care after being admitted to hospital for coronavirus the day before. It is announced that First Secretary of State Dominic Raab will deputise for him.[66]
  • 9 April
    • Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says the UK is "starting to see the impact" of the restrictions but that it is "too early" to lift them, and urges people to stay indoors over the Easter weekend.[67]
    • Prime Minister Boris Johnson is moved out of intensive care, but remains in hospital.[68]
  • 12 April – Prime Minister Boris Johnson is discharged from hospital after being treated for coronavirus and will continue his recovery at Chequers.[69]
  • 16 April – Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announces a three-week extension to the nationwide lockdown measures as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the UK surpasses 100,000.[70]
  • 19 April – Michael Gove, in a BBC interview with Andrew Marr, concedes that the Prime Minister missed five COBRA meetings in the early stages of the viral outbreak, and that the UK shipped protective equipment to China in February.[71]
  • 22 April – MPs take part in the first "virtual" Prime Minister's Questions, via video conferencing service Zoom.[72]
  • 27 April – Boris Johnson returns to work after three weeks of illness. In his first speech outside 10 Downing Street since recovering from coronavirus, he urges the public not to lose patience with the lockdown, warning that the UK is at the moment of "maximum risk".[73]
  • 28 April – The Scottish government recommends that people cover their faces in certain enclosed public spaces like shops and public transport: UK ministers are considering the issue[74]
  • 29 April – Boris Johnson's Fiancée, Carrie Symonds gives birth to a son.[75]

July

August

September

October

November

December

Predicted and scheduled events

March

April

May

June

  • Unknown – The BBC's ending of free television licences for over-75s is due to come into force.[94]

December

  • 31 December – Brexit transition period ends.[95]

History by issue

Note: this section is for describing issues in narrative format if desired.

Brexit

In January 2020, The United Kingdom and Gibraltar left the European Union,[14] beginning an 11-month transition period, during which they remain in the Single Market and Customs Union.

Climate change

In December 2019, the World Meteorological Organization released its annual climate report revealing that climate impacts are worsening.[96] They found the global sea temperatures are rising as well as land temperatures worldwide. 2019 is the last year in a decade that is the warmest on record.[97]

Global carbon emissions hit a record high in 2019, even though the rate of increase slowed somewhat, according to a report from Global Carbon Project.[98]

See also

Specific situations and issues

References

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