2020 in United Kingdom politics and government

See also: 2020 in politics and government, 2020 in the United Kingdom, and 2020s in political history
List of years in the United Kingdom
In United Kingdom politics and government
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Events

January
  • 4 January – The Foreign Office warns British nationals against all but essential travel to Iran and Iraq, following a US airstrike in Baghdad the previous day in which Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was killed.[1]
  • 5 January – Boris Johnson says "we will not lament" Qasem Soleimani's death as he calls for "de-escalation from all sides".[2]
  • 6 January – Downing Street states that Britain will not support U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to bomb Iranian cultural and heritage sites.[3]
  • 7 January – The Labour Party leadership election formally begins, with the new leader scheduled to be announced on 4 April.[4]
  • 8 January – Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announce that they plan to "step back as senior members" of Britain's royal family, and divide their time between the UK and North America.[5]
  • 9 January
  • 10 January – Sinn Féin gives its backing to a deal to restore power-sharing government to Northern Ireland for the first time since 2017.[8]
  • 11 January
  • 22 January – Boris Johnson's EU withdrawal deal successfully completes its passage through parliament, with the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill being voted through without change, after several amendments proposed by the House of Lords are rejected.[11]
  • 23 January –
  • 31 January
    • The United Kingdom and Gibraltar leave the European Union,[14] beginning an 11-month transition period, during which they remain in the Single Market and Customs Union.
    • The BBC and ITV main news bulletins choose not to broadcast in its entirety a three-minute speech recorded by Prime Minister Boris Johnson scheduled for 10pm, an hour before Brexit.[15]

February
  • 4 February – In London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, naturalist Sir David Attenborough, and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte launch the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26), a major UN climate summit to be held in Glasgow in November 2020.[16] Johnson announces, subject to consultation, that coal power could be phased out by 2024, a year earlier than previously planned and the phase-out of new petrol and diesel vehicles could be brought forward from 2040 to 2035.[17][16] He also reaffirms the UK's commitment to reaching net zero carbon by 2050.[18]
  • 7 February – Buckingham Palace announces that the wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi will take place on 29 May.[19]
  • 10 February – In a "historic" decision, councillors reject a proposed expansion of Bristol Airport, by 18 votes to seven, on the grounds that it would exacerbate climate change, damage the health of local people, and harm flora and fauna.[20]
  • 11 February –
    • In the wake of the Streatham stabbing, the Terrorist Offenders Bill, designed to end the early release of prisoners convicted of terrorist offences, is presented to parliament.[21]
    • Following a review of the project, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that the controversial high-speed rail link HS2 will be built.[22]
  • 12 February –
    • The Terrorist Offenders Bill passes unopposed through the House of Commons to complete the first stage of the process to becoming law.[23]
    • The government announces plans to extend the remit of the media regulator Ofcom to include internet and social media content in the UK.[24]
  • 13 February –
  • 17 February – Business and Energy Secretary and COP26 President Alok Sharma announces £1.2 billion in funding for a new supercomputer to improve weather and climate models in the UK.[27][28]
  • 27 February – Count Binface announces he will run for Mayor of London.[29]
  • 29 February – The Home Office's top civil servant, Sir Philip Rutnam, resigns and says he plans to claim constructive dismissal by the government following a series of clashes with the Home Secretary, Priti Patel.[30]

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]

Predicted and scheduled events

March

April
  • 1 April – Plastic drinking straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers are due to be banned in England.[77]

May
  • 15 May – Plastic-stemmed cotton buds are expected to be banned in Scotland.[78]

June
  • Unknown – The BBC's ending of free television licences for over-75s is due to come into force.[79]

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.[80] 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.[81]

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.[82]

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See also

Specific situations and issues

References
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  2. "Qasem Soleimani: PM 'will not lament' Iranian general's death". BBC News. BBC. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. "UK would not back US bombing of Iran cultural sites – No 10". The Guardian. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  4. "Labour leadership: Result will be announced on 4 April". BBC News. BBC. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  5. "Harry and Meghan to step back as senior royals". BBC News. BBC. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  6. Madden, Andrew (9 January 2020). "DUP accept governments' draft agreement to restore Stormont, Sinn Fein 'studying' text". Belfast Telegraph. Independent News and Media. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  7. "MPs give final backing to Brexit bill". BBC News. BBC. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  8. "Sinn Féin agrees to rejoin NI government after deal". BBC News. BBC. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  9. "Stormont deal: Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill new top NI ministers". BBC News. BBC. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  10. "Iran plane crash: Britain condemns Tehran's arrest of UK ambassador". BBC News. BBC. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  11. "Brexit: UK has 'crossed Brexit finish line', says Boris Johnson". BBC News. 22 January 2020.
  12. "Brexit: the Withdrawal Agreement passes the first European Parliament test". News. European Parliament. 23 January 2020.
  13. David Badash (23 Jan 2020). "Watch: Prince Charles Snubs, Walks Past Vice President at World Holocaust Forum – Pence's Office Insists 'Not True'". New Civil Rights Movement.
  14. "Brexit: UK leaves the European Union". BBC News. BBC. 31 January 2019.
  15. "Broadcasters accused of bias against Brexit Day celebrations". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  16. "Petrol and diesel car sales ban brought forward to 2035". BBC News. 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  17. "Coal power to be phased out by 2024 as Boris Johnson says UK has duty to fight climate change as first industrialised nation". Telegraph. 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  18. "PM launches UN Climate Summit in the UK". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
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  20. "Plan to expand Bristol airport rejected after climate protests". The Guardian. 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
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  40. "UK advises against 'all but essential' travel to US". The Guardian. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
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  44. "Sunak says he will make £330bn available in lending to keep firms in business". The Guardian. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  45. "Coronavirus: Chancellor unveils £330bn lifeline for economy". BBC News. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  46. "Coronavirus: Schools to close until further notice from Friday". BBC News. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
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  53. "Commuters to get refund on rail season tickets". BBC News. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
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  60. "Coronavirus: Parliament shuts down for a month". BBC News. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
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  64. "New Labour leader Keir Starmer vows to lead party into 'new era'". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
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  66. "Coronavirus: Boris Johnson moved to intensive care". BBC News. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
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  68. "PM out of intensive care but remains in hospital". BBC News. 9 April 2020.
  69. "Coronavirus: Boris Johnson discharged from hospital". BBC News. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  70. "Coronavirus: UK lockdown extended for 'at least three weeks'". BBC News. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
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  74. "Coronavirus: Scottish government suggests covering face in shops". BBC News. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  75. "Boris Johnson and fiancee announce birth of son". BBC News. 2020-04-29. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  76. "NHS told to ditch 'absurd' fax machines". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  77. correspondent, Fiona Harvey Environment (2019-05-22). "Plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers to be banned in England". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  78. "Scottish government resource" (PDF).
  79. "TV licences: Up to 3.7 million over-75s to pay licence fee". BBC News. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  80. Climate Change Is Accelerating, Bringing World ‘Dangerously Close’ to Irreversible Change, By Henry Fountain, Dec. 4, 2019, NY Times.
  81. 2019 Ends Warmest Decade On Record, State Of The Global Climate Report Warns, iflscience.com
  82. Global carbon emissions growth slows, but hits record high, December 3, 2019, Stanford University via phys.org.
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