Reynhard Sinaga, described as "the most prolific rapist in British legal history", is sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 30 years, after being found guilty of raping or sexually assaulting 48 men in Manchester. Police believe he may have been responsible for assaulting a total of nearly 200 victims.[2]
Downing Street states that the UK will not support US President Donald Trump's threat to bomb Iranian cultural and heritage sites.[3]
13 January – Following a meeting of senior royals, the Queen agrees to a "period of transition" during which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend time in Canada and the UK.[11]
14 January
The government agrees a rescue package for troubled regional airline Flybe to stop it going into administration.[12]
16 January – Legislation is drafted before Parliament allowing the use of television cameras during trials at Crown Courts in England and Wales, but only the judges will be filmed.[14]
17 January – Construction begins on Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will become the world's largest offshore wind farm when complete, with 260-metre high turbines generating a combined 3.6 gigawatts and supplying 4.5 million homes.[15]
18 January – Buckingham Palace confirms that from spring 2020 the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer use their royal titles and will no longer receive public funds for their royal duties.[16]
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.[18]
23 January – Parliamentary ratification of Boris Johnson's EU withdrawal deal is completed with Royal Assent being given to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill.[19]
27 January – The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, tells the House of Commons that 200 British citizens trapped in Wuhan, China, will be offered repatriation to the UK, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei.[24]
28 January – The Prime Minister approves a limited "non-core" role for China's Huawei in the United Kingdom's 5G mobile network, resisting U.S. pressure to exclude the company on fears China could use it to steal data.[25]
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announces that troubled train operator Arriva Rail North will be brought under government control from 1 March following a prolonged period of delays and poor performance.[27]
The Guardian announces that it will no longer accept advertising from oil and gas companies, becoming the first major global news organisation to institute an outright ban on taking money from the fossil fuel industry.[28]
The European Parliament ratifies the Brexit withdrawal agreement in Brussels, ensuring that if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, as scheduled, at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020, they will do so with a deal.[29]
30 January – COVID-19 in the UK: The first two known cases of infection with SARS-CoV-2 (at this time known as 2019-nCoV) in the United Kingdom, two Chinese nationals staying in York, are confirmed.[30][31]Файл:Westminster (49470120328).jpgCelebrations in Westminster on the day of the UK's withdrawal of the EU
31 January – The United Kingdom leaves the European Union, beginning an 11-month transition period, during which it remains in the Single Market and Customs Union.[32]
February
1 February – Austria, Germany, and Slovenia confirm they will not extradite their nationals if they are accused of crimes in the UK.[33]
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[34] (later postponed to 2021). 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.[35][34] He also reaffirms the UK's commitment to reaching net zero carbon by 2050.[36]
6 February – COVID-19 in the UK: A third case of infection with SARS-CoV-2 is confirmed in the UK.[37]
9 February – A British Airways Boeing 747 aircraft makes the fastest ever subsonic New York JFK to London Heathrow crossing, achieved in 4 hours 56 minutes. It reaches ground speeds of up to 825 mph by riding the jet stream bringing Storm Ciara to the UK.[40]
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.[44]
11 February
The Terrorist Offenders Bill, designed to end the early release of prisoners convicted of terrorist offences, is presented to parliament.[45]
Following a review of the project, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that the controversial High Speed 2 rail link (HS2) will be built.[46]
12 February
The Terrorist Offenders Bill passes unopposed through the House of Commons to complete the first stage of the process to becoming law.[47]
The government announces plans to extend the remit of the media regulator Ofcom to include internet and social media content in the UK.[48]
16 February – Storm Dennis: A record high number of flood warnings are declared over England, with 600 in place by the evening.[51][52] Police declare major incidents in a number of regions, including south Wales, after towns and villages north of Cardiff receive more than a month's worth of rainfall in 24 hours.[53]
20 February – A new £20polymer banknote enters circulation. Featuring the face of painter J. M. W. Turner, it joins the updated and more secure £5 and £10 notes that were introduced in 2016 and 2017, respectively.[56]
21 February – COVID-19 in the UK: A sample is taken from a 75-year-old woman from Nottinghamshire later identified as the earliest person known to have been infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the UK: the sample tests positive when examined months later in August.[57] She is also probably the first person in the UK to die with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).[57]
25 February – A landmark study shows that life expectancy in England has stalled for the first time in more than 100 years and that health inequalities are growing wider than a decade ago. The study says that this can largely be attributed to the United Kingdom government austerity programme.[58][59]
27 February
Campaigners win a Court of Appeal ruling over controversial plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, on environmental grounds.[60]
28 February – 1 March – Storm Jorge brings more flooding, heavy rain and strong winds to the UK, the third significant storm to hit the country in three weeks.[64]
Boris Johnson announces that he and his partner, Carrie Symonds are expecting a baby in the summer, and that they are engaged.[66]
March
2 March – COVID-19 in the UK: The government holds a COBRA meeting to discuss its preparations and response to the outbreak, as the number of British cases jumps to 133.[67][68]
3 March
COVID-19 in the UK: The government publishes its action plan for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.[69][70]
The Met Office reports that last month was the wettest February in the UK since records began in 1872 with an average of 209.1mm of rainfall.[71]
5 March
COVID-19 in the UK:
The airline Flybe collapses into administration, due in part to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international travel.[72]
What is at this time thought to be the first death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the UK is announced, with 295 people now having tested positive.[73] England's Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, tells MPs that the UK has now moved to the second stage of dealing with SARS-CoV-2 – from "containment" to the "delay" phase.[74]
6 March – COVID-19 in the UK: The Prime Minister announces £46 million in funding for research into a COVID-19 vaccine and rapid COVID-19 testing.[75]
8 March – COVID-19 in the UK: A third death from COVID-19 is reported, at North Manchester General Hospital, as the number of cases in the UK reaches 501, the largest single-day increase so far.[76]
9 March – COVID-19 in the UK: The FTSE 100 plunges by more than 8%, its largest intraday fall since 2008, amid concerns over the spread of SARS-CoV-2.[77]
10 March – COVID-19 in the UK: Health minister Nadine Dorries tests positive for SARS-CoV-2.[78]
11 March
COVID-19 in the UK: The number of British cases crosses 1,000, with 403 new cases bringing the total to 1,317.[68]
The Bank of England cuts its baseline interest rate from 0.75% to 0.25%, back down to the lowest level in history.[79]
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, presents the Johnson Government's first budget, which includes £30 billion in measures to protect the economy from the effects of the pandemic.[80][81][82]
12 March – Following a series of recent major falls, the FTSE 100 plunges again, this time by over 10%, its biggest drop since 1987.[83][84] Other markets around the world are similarly affected by ongoing economic turmoil.
A further 10 people are reported to have died from COVID-19, almost doubling the British death toll from 11 to 21. Government data later reveals the figure was even higher at this time.[68] The government's aim for a "herd immunity" approach generates controversy.[87][88][89]
Modellers within 10 Downing Street, using the latest data from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, convince the Prime Minister that the pandemic is spreading faster than expected and will overwhelm hospitals unless drastic action is taken.[90]
British retailers release a joint letter asking customers not to panic buy products after some supermarkets sell out of items such as pasta, hand gel and toilet paper.[91]
Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, announces the US is to extend its European travel ban to include the UK from 16 March.[92]
15 March
COVID-19 in the UK:
The Foreign Office advises against "all but essential travel" to the US.[93]
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says that every British 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 infection with SARS-CoV-2.[94]
The government announces plans to hold daily televised press conferences to update the public on the pandemic, starting on Monday 16 March.[95]
16 March
COVID-19 in the UK:
The British death toll from the COVID-19 is reported to have reached 55, with the number of cases of the illness passing 1,500.[96] Government data later reveals the figure was even higher at this time.[68]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson advises everyone in the UK against "non-essential" travel and contact with others to curb SARS-CoV-2, 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.[96]
The BBC delays its planned changes to TV licences for the over-75s from June to August because of the pandemic.[97]
17 March
COVID-19 pandemic in England: NHS England announces that all non-urgent operations in England will be postponed from 15 April to free up 30,000 beds to accommodate COVID-19 patients.[98]
The British coronavirus-related death toll rises to 199, while the number of confirmed cases of the illness rises to 4,457.[102][103]
18 March
COVID-19 in the UK:
The British death toll from COVID-19 is reported to have exceeded 100, with 32 new cases taking the total to 104.[104] Government data later reveals the figure was even higher at this time.[68]
The government announces that all schools in the United Kingdom will close from the afternoon of Friday 20 March except for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, and that no exams will take place in England and Wales this academic year.[105]
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.
19 March – In an emergency move, the Bank of England cuts interest rates again, from 0.25% to 0.1%. This is the lowest in the Bank's 325-year history.[109]
20 March
COVID-19 pandemic in England: Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow declares a "critical incident" due to a surge in patients with COVID-19.[110]
COVID-19 in the UK:
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.[111]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson orders all cafes, pubs and restaurants to close from the evening of 20 March, except for take-away food, to promote social distancing. All the UK's nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres are told to close "as soon as they reasonably can".[112]
The Nursing and Midwifery Council announces that more than 5,600 former nurses have registered to offer their services in the pandemic.[115]
Boris Johnson warns that "tougher measures" may be introduced if people do not follow government advice on social distancing.[116]Файл:COVID-19 - Piccadilly Circus, London UK.jpgEmpty streets in central London at the end of March 2020
23 March
COVID-19 in the UK:
In a televised address, Boris Johnson announces a UK-wide lockdown with immediate effect, to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2. 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.[117][118][119]
Pride in London, the UK's largest LGBT Pride festival, scheduled for 27 June, is the latest event to be postponed. It is one of a hundred pride events to be postponed or cancelled in the UK.[120]
The government announces emergency measures to safeguard rail transport in England, 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.[121][122]
Alex Salmond is cleared of sexually assaulting nine women while he was Scotland's First Minister.[123]
24 March
COVID-19 in the UK:
The UK records its highest number of COVID-19 deaths in one day, after another 87 people die across the country, bringing the total to 422.[124] Government data later reveals the figure was even higher at this time.[68]
For the first time, all of the UK's mobile networks send out a government text alert, ordering people to stay at home. The message reads: "GOV.UK CORONAVIRUS ALERT. New rules in force now: you must stay at home. More info and exemptions at gov.uk/coronavirus Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives."[125]
British Transport Police deploys 500 officers to patrol Great Britain's rail network, in an effort to discourage non-essential journeys. New measures are also introduced on the London Underground to reduce passenger numbers.[129]
26 March
COVID-19 in the UK:
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.[130]
At 8 pm, millions of people around the country take part in a "Clap for Our Carers" tribute, applauding the NHS and other care workers.[131] The gesture is repeated every Thursday for ten weeks.[132]
27 March
COVID-19 in the UK:
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for COVID-19, and will self-isolate in 10 Downing Street.[133]
Health Secretary Matt Hancock tests positive for COVID-19 and reports that he is working from home and self-isolating.[134]
31 March – COVID-19 in the UK: A significant rise in anxiety and depression among the British population is reported following the lockdown.[135]
The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26), a major UN climate summit which was to be held in Glasgow in November 2020, is postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[138][139]
Queen Elizabeth II makes a rare broadcast to the UK and the wider Commonwealth, something she has done on only four previous occasions. In the address she thanks people for following the government's social distancing rules and pays tribute to key workers, and says the UK "will succeed" in its fight against the epidemic but may have "more still to endure".[142][143]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is admitted to hospital for tests after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 ten days earlier.[144]
6 April
Debenhams, one of the UK's largest and oldest department stores, goes into administration for the second time in a year.[145]
COVID-19 in the UK:
The death toll from COVID-19 in the UK is reported to have exceeded 5,000. The total number of reported cases is nearly 52,000.[146] Government data later reveals the figure was even higher at this time.[68]
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.[149]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is moved out of intensive care, but remains in hospital.[150]
11 April – COVID-19 in the UK: Queen Elizabeth II makes her first ever Easter message to the nation, in which she states "coronavirus will not overcome us" and that "we need Easter as much as ever."[151]
12 April
COVID-19 in the UK:
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is discharged from hospital after being treated for COVID-19 and will continue his recovery at Chequers.[152]
The number of people who died in hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infections in the UK passes 10,000, after a daily rise of 737.[153]
16 April
COVID-19 in the UK:
A 99-year-old war veteran, Tom Moore, raises over £13 million (subsequently over £25 million) for NHS Charities Together after walking more than 100 laps of his garden, with hundreds of thousands (subsequently over a million) of people donating to his JustGiving page.[154]
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.[155]
19 April – COVID-19 in the UK: 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 personal protective equipment to China in February.[156]
21 April – COVID-19 in the UK: Data from the Office for National Statistics show the number of deaths in England and Wales has risen to its highest in 20 years. Figures show 18,500 deaths were recorded in the week up to 10 April, 8,000 more than usual for this time of year, with one in three linked to COVID-19.[158]
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty says it is likely the UK will have to live under some disruptive social distancing measures for at least the rest of the year.[160]
24 April – COVID-19 pandemic in England: The government launches a website for key workers to apply for SARS-CoV-2 tests at drive-through centres and for home delivery.[162]
25 April – COVID-19 in the UK: The number of people who have died in hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infections in the UK exceeds 20,000.[163]
27 April
COVID-19 in the UK: Boris Johnson returns to work after three weeks of illness. In his first speech outside 10 Downing Street since recovering from COVID-19, he urges the public not to lose patience with the lockdown, warning that the UK is at the moment of "maximum risk".[164]
A minute's moment of silence is held across the UK to commemorate the key workers who have died from COVID-19.[166]
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show a third of deaths in England and Wales from COVID-19 are occurring in care homes, with 2,000 recorded in the week up to 17 April.[167]
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland: The Scottish Government recommends that people cover their faces in certain enclosed public spaces like shops and public transport. British ministers are reported to be considering the issue.[168]
29 April
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds announce that she has given birth to their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson in the early hours of the morning.[169][170]
COVID-19 in the UK: The British death toll from the virus becomes the second highest in Europe at 26,097.[171]
30 April
COVID-19 in the UK: Boris Johnson says the UK is "past the peak" of the epidemic, but that the country must not "risk a second spike", and announces that he will set out a "comprehensive plan" to restart the economy next week.[172]
COVID-19 in the UK: The ONS reports that more than 25 million people – 49.6% of over-16s in the United Kingdom – rated their anxiety as "high" after the lockdown, more than double the number who did so in December 2019. Overall measures of well-being are reported to be at their lowest levels since records began in 2011.[175]
5 May
COVID-19 in the UK:
The British death toll from COVID-19 becomes the highest in Europe at 32,313 (including suspected) after exceeding the death toll of 29,029 (excluding suspected) in Italy.[176]
The government confirms that 400,000 gowns ordered from Turkey to protect NHS staff from SARS-CoV-2 have been impounded, after failing to meet the required safety standards.[181][182]
The Bank of England warns that the economy is on course to shrink by 14% in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, pushing the UK into its deepest recession on record.[183]
10 May – COVID-19 pandemic in England: The government reveals that its lockdown slogan "Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives." is to be replaced, in England, with the new message, "Stay alert. Control the virus. Save lives", while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are sticking with "stay at home".[185] A new alert scale system for England is also announced, ranging from green (level one) to red (level five), similar to the UK's Terror Threat Levels.[186]
12 May
COVID-19 in the UK:
The official death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 40,000 – including almost 10,000 care home residents.[187]
The British furlough scheme is extended until October, with employees continuing to receive 80% of their monthly wages up to £2,500. A quarter of the workforce, some 7.5 million people, are now covered by the scheme, costing £14bn a month.[188]
14 May – COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland: The first minister Arlene Foster announces that scientific data is sufficiently encouraging to begin easing the lockdown on Monday 18 May.[190]
Loss of smell or taste are added to the UK's official list of symptoms of COVID-19 that people should look out for and self-isolate with.[191]
Testing for the virus is extended to everyone aged five and over in the UK with symptoms. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announces that 100,678 tests were conducted the previous day.[192]
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland: First minister Nicola Sturgeon announces that lockdown restrictions in Scotland will be eased from 28 May and that anyone over the age of five can now be tested for SARS-CoV-2.[193]
COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland: The first easing of lockdown in NI is rolled out, with garden centres and recycling facilities reopening.[194]
19 May
Captain Tom Moore, who raised £32m for NHS charities, is to be knighted for his fundraising efforts following a special nomination from Boris Johnson.[195]
COVID-19 in the UK: Cambridge University becomes the first British institution to announce it is moving all lectures online until summer 2021.[196]
COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland: the Northern Ireland Executive announces the first stage of its lockdown-ending policy will go fully into effect, re-opening certain entertainment and sports facilities.[197] Arlene Foster announces contact tracing will begin in Northern Ireland.[197]Robin Swann announces all residents and staff of care homes are to be tested by the end of June.[198][197]
20 May – COVID-19 in the UK: Rolls-Royce announce plans to cut 9,000 jobs as a result of the pandemic, predominantly affecting its British base in Derby, and warns that it could take "several years" for the airline industry to recover.[199]
21 May
COVID-19 in the UK:
Antibody tests to check if someone has had SARS-CoV-2 infection will be made available on the NHS after a deal is agreed between the government and the pharmaceutical company, Roche.[200]
The NHS Confederation warns that time is running out to finalise a test, track and trace strategy to avoid a possible second wave of COVID-19 cases.[201]
A surcharge for overseas NHS staff and care workers to use the health service (on top of National Insurance and income tax) is scrapped after mounting pressure from MPs.[202]
23 May – Dominic Cummings scandal: Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's senior adviser, faces calls to resign after a joint investigation by the Daily Mirror and The Guardian asserts that he travelled 260 miles from London to his parents' home in Durham whilst he was displaying COVID-19 symptoms, during lockdown.[204]
24 May – Dominic Cummings scandal: After The Observer and the Sunday Mirror print allegations that Dominic Cummings made a second trip to the North East during lockdown, Boris Johnson expresses his support for his senior adviser during the government's coronavirus daily briefing, saying he had acted "responsibly, legally and with integrity".[205]
25 May – Dominic Cummings scandal: Dominic Cummings says "I don't regret what I did" as he addresses criticism for his actions in an unprecedented public statement from a senior adviser in the 10 Downing Street Rose Garden.[206]
26 May – Dominic Cummings scandal: Junior minister Douglas Ross resigns, saying that Dominic Cummings' view on lockdown guidance is "not shared by the vast majority of people who have done as the government asked."[207][208]
27 May – Dominic Cummings scandal: Boris Johnson appears before the House of Commons Liaison Committee for the first time, during which he rules out an inquiry into Dominic Cummings' actions during lockdown.[209]
28 May
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland: First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon confirms an easing of the lockdown in Scotland from Friday 29 May with people able to meet friends and family outside in groups of no more than eight, but keeping two metres apart.[210]
EasyJet announces plans to cut up to 4,500 jobs as it struggles with a collapse in air travel caused by the pandemic.[212]
The government approves Cleve Hill Solar Park on the north Kent coast, the UK's biggest ever solar farm at 900 acres in size and 350MW of capacity, enough to power over 91,000 homes.[213][214]
Dominic Cummings scandal: Durham Constabulary conclude that no offence had been committed by Dominic Cummings in travelling from London to Durham during lockdown. They also say that a minor breach of the lockdown rules might have occurred at Barnard Castle, but because there was no apparent breach of the social distancing rules, no further action would be taken.[215]
29 May
COVID-19 in the UK: Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirms that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will end at the end of October, with employers having to pay National Insurance and pension contributions from August, 10% of pay from September, and then 20% in October.[216]
30 May – COVID-19 pandemic in England: Boris Johnson announces a relaxing of restrictions in England for the 2.2 million clinically extremely vulnerable individuals who have been "shielding" in their homes, allowing them to spend time outdoors for the first time in ten weeks from 1 June.[218]
31 May
COVID-19 pandemic in England: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab defends the government's decision to ease lockdown restrictions after concerns from scientists that there could be a new spike in SARS-CoV-2 infections, insisting that England "can't just stay in lockdown forever".[219]
Thousands of people gather in London, Manchester and Cardiff to protest following the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed black man murdered by a white police officer in the U.S.[220]
May 2020 is reported as the sunniest on recent record in the UK, with 266 hours of sunshine.[221] It is also the warmest and driest May ever recorded, beating the previous record set in 2018. The Met Office confirms that Spring 2020 as a whole broke numerous other records.[222]
June
1 June – COVID-19 pandemic in England: Some primary schools in England reopen to pupils from Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, with head teachers reporting "highly variable" levels of attendance ranging from 40% to 70%.[223]
COVID-19 pandemic in England: Public Health England releases its "Disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19" report, finding that age, gender, health and ethnicity are significant factors in determining the outcome following COVID-19 infection.[226][227]
Home Secretary Priti Patel confirms plans to force almost all arrivals to the UK to self-isolate for 14 days from 8 June, and warns that failure to adhere to quarantine conditions in England could result in a £1,000 fine.[229]
Business Secretary Alok Sharma, after sweating profusely during a statement to the Commons self-isolates at home, but tests negative for COVID-19 a day later.[230][231]
A significant increase in sleep problems among the British population is reported by King's College London researchers, attributed to the ongoing effects of the lockdown.[232]
4 June
COVID-19 pandemic in England: Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announces that wearing face coverings will be made compulsory on public transport in England from 15 June.[233]
German prosecutors say that they believe Madeleine McCann is dead, and are investigating a 43-year-old German convicted sex offender, identified as Christian B, on suspicion of murder.[234]
COVID-19 in the UK: BP announces plans to cut 10,000 jobs following a global drop in demand for oil.[239]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledges the "undeniable feeling of injustice" motivating anti-racism protests caused by the murder of George Floyd, but urges the country to "work peacefully, lawfully" to defeat racism and discrimination, and condemns those who have flouted social distancing rules to attend them during a time of "national trial".[240][241]
9 June
COVID-19 pandemic in England: Education SecretaryGavin Williamson drops plans for all primary school children in England to return to school before the end of the summer term.[242]
COVID-19 in the UK: Figures released by the Treasury show that 8.9 million workers are now covered by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, more than a quarter of the British workforce, costing £19.6bn to date.[243]
10 June – COVID-19 in the UK: The OECD says the British economy is likely to be the hardest-hit by COVID-19 among developed countries, with a projected economic slump of 11.5% in 2020.[245]
11 June
COVID-19 pandemic in England: Figures from the Department of Health show that in NHS England's NHS Test and Trace's first week of operation, 31,700 contacts were identified, of whom 26,900 (85%) were reached and asked to self-isolate.[246]
COVID-19 in the UK: Centrica, the owner of British Gas, announces plans to cut 5,000 jobs by the end of 2020 to "arrest the decline" of the company.[247]
12 June – COVID-19 in the UK: Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that the British economy shrunk by 20.4% in April, the largest monthly contraction on record.[248]
13 June – Large crowds, including far-right protesters, clash with police in central London, in response to recent anti-racism rallies and the tearing down of statues.[249]
15 June
COVID-19 pandemic in England:
Long queues of shoppers are reported across England as all non-essential retailers are allowed to reopen.[250]
Face coverings become mandatory on public transport in England.
COVID-19 in the UK: The UK's COVID-19 alert level is reduced from four to three, meaning the virus remains in general circulation but transmission is no longer "high or rising exponentially."[257]
The UK's national debt exceeds 100% of GDP for the first time since 1963.[258]
23 June – COVID-19 pandemic in England: Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces an easing of the two-metre rule in England in favour of a "1-metre-plus" approach so two different households will be able to eat, drink or dine together from 4 July as long as they stick to physical-distancing guidelines. Households will also be able to visit each other which includes staying overnight.[259]
24 June – 22 police officers are injured and their vehicles damaged after breaking up an "unlicensed music event" in Brixton. Four people are arrested.[260]
The UK experiences its hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching as high as 33.3 °C (92 °F).[264]
Liverpool F.C. are confirmed as champions of 2019–20 Premier League after Manchester City lose at Chelsea, meaning that Liverpool now have an unassailable 23-point lead with 7 matches left to play. It is their first League Title for 30 years, 19th overall, and first Premier League title.[265]
26 June
Jonty Bravery, 18, is jailed for 15 years minimum after throwing a six-year-old boy off a 200 ft balcony at London's Tate Modern gallery, leaving him with a bleed to the brain and life-changing injuries.[266] A review found that, Bravery’s case involved, “appropriate efforts by professionals from across agencies to access assessment and treatment” but efforts, “were stymied due to the lack of services, placements and provisions that were suitable for his needs as an autistic young person with a coexisting conduct disorder diagnosis”.[267]
Shopping centre owner Intu, whose portfolio includes Merry Hill in the West Midlands and the Trafford Centre in Manchester, falls into administration after failing to secure an agreement with its creditors.[268][269]
29 June – COVID-19 pandemic in England: Following a spike in COVID-19 cases in Leicester, the UK's first full local lockdown is introduced in the city, with non-essential retailers told to shut from the following day and schools told to close from 2 July.[271]
30 June – The British government announces that rental e-scooters in the UK will be made legal from 4 July as an alternative which promotes social distancing compared to public mass transport, while privately owned e-scooters will remain illegal. This will be a rapid acceleration to a plan, first announced in March where scooters would be allowed in only four "future transport zones": Portsmouth and Southampton, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), Derby and Nottingham, and the West Midlands.[272]
"No DSS" letting bans are ruled unlawful by a judge in York County Court.[274]
2 July – The National Crime Agency (NCA) reports that a Europe-wide operation lasting over three months, which involved the interception of messages on EncroChat, has had the biggest impact on organised crime gangs it has ever seen. More than 800 arrests are reported, including major crime figures, with over two tonnes of drugs, several dozen guns and £54m in suspect cash being seized.[275][276]
4 July – COVID-19 pandemic in England: A major easing of the lockdown in England – subject to modified physical distancing conditions – allows the reopening of bingo halls, cinemas, galleries, hairdressers, hotels, pubs, restaurants and theme parks.[277][278]
6 July
The government announces a £1.57bn support package to help British theatres, galleries, museums and other arts/cultural venues during the economic downturn.[279]
The UK is warned by China not to interfere with its new Hong Kong national security law and to stop "making irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs."[280]
7 July – The British Government announces that it will resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia after a review finds "no clear risk" that they would be used in violation of international humanitarian law. Sales had been suspended in 2019 after a legal challenge by campaigners.[281]
8 July – COVID-19 in the UK: Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils a £30bn spending package aimed at mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a temporary reduction in VAT for the hospitality sector, a scheme to pay firms £1,000 for each employee brought back from furlough, a scheme to get young people into employment, and a temporary rise in the stamp duty threshold.[282]
9 July – COVID-19 in the UK: Boots and John Lewis announce job losses as a result of the pandemic, with Boots cutting 4,000 jobs, while John Lewis says it is shutting down eight of its stores, putting 1,300 jobs at risk.[283]
Brexit: Plans are revealed for the emergency purchase of a 1.2m square foot "Mojo" site near Ashford, Kent, to be used for a new customs clearance centre for the 10,000 lorries crossing the English Channel to Calais every day.[285]
11 July
COVID-19 pandemic in England: Further easing of the lockdown is introduced in England, as outdoor pools and water parks are allowed to reopen, while indoor gyms, pools and leisure centres can reopen from 25 July.[286]
Work begins on the Viking Link, a 475-mile submarine power cable between England and Denmark, set to become the world's longest interconnector upon its completion in 2023.[289]
14 July – British mobile providers are ordered to remove 5G equipment by Chinese firm Huawei from networks by 2027, over security fears.[290]
COVID-19 pandemic in England: Boris Johnson announces further easing of lockdown restrictions, with plans for a "significant return to normality" by Christmas. The new rules allow people to use public transport for non-essential journeys with immediate effect, while employers will have more discretion over their workplaces from 1 August.[292] From 18 July, local authorities will have the power to enforce local lockdowns.[293]
MPs vote against New Clause 11, which intended to protect and maintain standards on animal health and welfare, food safety and the environment in the UK in any post-Brexit trade deal, by 337 votes to 251.[298]
MPs vote against New Clause 17, which intended to protect the NHS and publicly funded health and care services in other parts of the UK from any form of control from outside the UK.[299]
22 July – The UK and US agree to amend an "anomaly" that allowed Harry Dunn death suspect Anne Sacoolas to claim diplomatic immunity.[301]
24 July – COVID-19 pandemic in England: Face coverings in shops and supermarkets become mandatory in England.[302]
25 July
COVID-19 in the UK: Following a rise in COVID-19 cases in Spain, and concerns of a second wave, the British government[303] and the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland,[304] announce that travellers returning from Spain will be required to quarantine for 14 days from 26 July.
COVID-19 pandemic in England:
Public Health England warns that being obese and overweight puts people at greater risk of severe illness or death as a result of COVID-19.[305]
Indoor gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities in England reopen in the latest easing of the lockdown.[306]
Police investigate grime artist Wiley over a series of antisemitic posts on his social media accounts, in which he describes Jewish people as "cowards" and "snakes" and compares them to the KKK.[307]Home SecretaryPriti Patel later probes Twitter and Instagram on their delay in removing the "abhorrent" posts.[308]
27 July
COVID-19 in the UK: The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer confirms that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, has been detected in a pet cat – the first known case of infection in an animal in the UK.[309]
The government announces a ban on junk food advertising before 21:00 for the whole UK, along with restrictions in England on how foods high in fat and sugar can be promoted in-store, and new rules for displaying calories on menus.[310]
29 July
COVID-19 in the UK:
The government sign a deal with GSK and Sanofi to provide 60 million doses of their potential COVID-19 vaccine. This follows three previous deals with other companies, taking the UK's potential vaccine availability to 250 million doses.[311]
BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James completes his 'Up Yours Corona' challenge by getting 193 countries in the world to tell the coronavirus to "do one" in one week.Шаблон:Importance inline
30 July
Argos announces an end to its printed catalogue after almost 50 years of publication.[312]
COVID-19 in the UK: The isolation period for those with COVID-19 symptoms is extended from seven to 10 days, in line with guidance from the World Health Organization.[313]
Former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke is found guilty of sexually assaulting two women, in 2007 and 2016. His wife Natalie Elphicke, Member of Parliament for Dover, says the verdict has ended their marriage.[314]
With a series of opinion polls showing majority support for Scottish independence, Jackson Carlaw resigns as Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party after only six months in the job.
31 July
COVID-19 pandemic in England: A further easing of the lockdown in England, due to begin on 1 August, is postponed for at least two weeks, because of an increase in SARS-CoV-2 cases.[315]
The UK experiences its hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures of 37.8 °C (100.04 °F) recorded in London.[316]
The UK records its first case of babesiosis, a rare tick-borne disease.[317]
An unnamed Conservative MP and former minister, described as a man in his 50s, is arrested on suspicion of rape. As he has not had the whip withdrawn by the party, he can continue to represent them.[319]
7 August – The UK has its hottest August day in 17 years, with temperatures surpassing 36 °C in south-east England.[322]
12 August
Stonehaven derailment: A train derailment kills three people near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, caused by heavy rain triggering a landslide.[323]
Economy of the United Kingdom: The Office for National Statistics reports that the United Kingdom's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 20.4% in the second quarter of 2020, the biggest quarterly decline since records began in 1955, and the worst economic figure of any G7 nation.[324][325]
13 August – A-level results are published in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. This year's exams were cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic, so results were instead calculated using predictions submitted by teachers, called centre assessed grades (CAGs). The predictions were then moderated by the regulator, Ofqual, using an algorithm designed to eliminate grade inflation. This gave an overall pass rate 0.7% higher than in 2019, with more students being accepted for their first choice university course than in that year. Following concerns that 39% of results predicted by teachers in England were downgraded by the moderation process, Ofqual accuses some teachers of submitting "implausibly high" predictions. University data shows that 79% of the 2019 university intake did not achieve their predicted grades in exams.[326][327][328]
In a reversal of the previous decision, the government announces that A-levels and GCSE grades in England will be based on unmoderated teacher predictions.[330] Similar reversals also take place in Wales and Northern Ireland.[331][332]
21 August – UK government debt is reported to be over £2 trillion for the first time. This also marks the first time the debt-to-GDP ratio has exceeded 100% since the 1960–61 financial year.[337]
25 August – COVID-19 in the UK: Scientists identify the earliest person known to have been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 in the UK; a 75-year-old woman from Nottinghamshire, who tested positive on 21 February.[57]
26 August – A disastrous fall in wheat production is reported due to extreme weather, with yields expected to be 40% lower, the worst British harvest in 40 years.[338]Файл:Official portrait of Sir Edward Davey.jpgNewly elected Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey
COVID-19 in the UK: 1,522 positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 are reported in a day – the highest daily figure since mid-June, after trending back upwards in recent weeks. This is partly due to the increasing number of people being tested.[340]
September
1 September – KPMG speculate that the British economy is unlikely to reach its pre-COVID level until early 2023.[341]
1–4 September – The majority of schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland reopen at full capacity, following those in Scotland that did so last month, ending almost half a year of closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[342][343][344]
4 September
Construction work officially begins on the HS2 high-speed rail network.[345]
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is appointed as an unpaid trade adviser to the British government. The decision causes controversy over his past comments regarding women and LGBT people that have been labelled misogynistic and homophobic. A group of equality activists including Ian McKellen and Russell T Davies write an open letter against the appointment.[346]
6 September – COVID-19 in the UK: Almost 3,000 people in the UK test positive for SARS-CoV-2, a 50% increase in a single day and the highest daily total since May.[348]
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis states the then unpublished Internal Market Bill could "break international law" in a "very specific and limited way".[350]
11 September – COVID-19 in the UK: The R number escalates to between 1.0 and 1.2 for the first time since March.[355]
12 September – COVID-19 in the UK: Sir Mark Walport, former chief scientific adviser and member of SAGE, warns that the UK is "on the edge of losing control" as recorded cases of COVID-19 exceed 3,000 for the second day in a row.[356]
14 September
COVID-19 in the UK: The new "rule of six" law comes into force.[357] In England, unless one of the exceptions applies, such as team sports, sailing, angling, shooting, polo, dodgeball, floorball and goalball,[358] the law provides authority to limit the number of persons in a gathering to a maximum of six.[359] Equivalent rules also begin in Wales and Scotland, with some differences including exemptions for children under the ages of 11 and 12 respectively.[360]
Conservative MP Rehman Chishti resigns as Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief over the Government's Internal Market Bill, saying it unilaterally breaks the UK's legal commitments.[361]
The Internal Market Bill clears its first hurdle in the Commons by 340 votes to 263.[362]
15 September – Former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke is jailed for two years for sexually assaulting two women, in 2007 and 2016.[363]
16 September – The UK returns three antique bronze sculptures to India more than 40 years after they were stolen from a Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu. They were found in London after one was offered for sale in 2019.[364]
18 September – COVID-19 in the UK: Prime Minister Boris Johnson states the UK is "now seeing a second wave" of COVID-19, with the R number now at 1.1 to 1.4 and cases rising around the country among all age groups.[365][366]
20 September
COVID-19 in the UK:
The SARS-CoV-2 genome later identified as part of the lineage of Variant of Concern 202012/01 – later dubbed the Alpha variant – is collected for the first time in a sample from Kent. The same genome is also identified for the second time in a sample from Greater London.[367]
21 September – COVID-19 in the UK: The Joint Biosecurity Centre recommends that the COVID-19 alert level for the UK should be increased to Level 4, meaning that transmission of the virus is "high or rising exponentially".[368]
29 September – MPs give their final backing to the Internal Market Bill, by 340 votes to 256. It now moves to the House of Lords.[374]
October
1 October
After the British government ignored its early September demands to scrap parts of the Internal Market Bill by the end of the month, the European Commission launches legal action against the UK in response to the bill, which could be used to override sections of the Brexit divorce deal.[375]
Margaret Ferrier, MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West is suspended from the British parliamentary Scottish National Party after travelling from London to Scotland after being confirmed positive for COVID-19.[376]
2 October
Cumbria County Council approves the first new deep coalmine for 30 years, voting 12–3 in favour. Opponents, which include Extinction Rebellion, argue that it contradicts the UK's pledge to be carbon neutral by 2050.[377]
Plans for 40 new hospitals by 2030 are confirmed as part of a package worth £3.7 billion, with a further eight planned.[378]
3 October – The wettest day on record occurs, with an average of 31.7 mm (1.24 in) of rain across the entire country.[379]
A huge spike in new cases occurs from a backlog of unreported positive results, caused by an IT glitch. This results in the daily figure almost doubling on 3 October, and then nearly doubling again on 4 October.[380][381]
The cumulative total number of COVID-19 cases in the UK exceeds half a million.[382]
7 October – British Airways' last two Heathrow-based Boeing 747 planes depart from the airport on their final flight.[383]
9 October
COVID-19 pandemic in England: The ONS reports that SARS-CoV-2 infections in England have "increased rapidly" with one in 240 people infected. Science advisers warn that hospital admissions are now "very close" to levels seen at the start of the crisis in early March.[384]
COVID-19 in the UK: Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces that workers will get two-thirds of their wages paid for by the government if their employer is forced to shut because of the British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[385]
12 October – COVID-19 pandemic in England: Boris Johnson tells the Commons there will be a new three-tier alert system for local authorities in England – medium (tier 1), high (tier 2), and very high (tier 3).[387]
13 October – Unemployment reaches 4.5 per cent, as redundancies are reported to be at their highest level since 2009.[388]
16 October
Brexit: Boris Johnson contends that trade talks with the EU are effectively "over", and that the UK should "get ready" for arrangements with the EU to be "more like Australia's" from 1 January 2021.[389]
COVID-19 pandemic in England: With SARS-CoV-2 infections in Greater Manchester increasing rapidly, and mayor Andy Burnham refusing to accept further restrictions, Boris Johnson warns he may "need to intervene" if new measures cannot be agreed.[390]
20 October – The House of Lords rejects the Internal Market Bill, voting by 395 to 169 (a majority of 226) for a "regret" amendment.[391]
23 October – COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon confirms that Scotland is to enter a new five-level system of social distancing restrictions.[392]
COVID-19 pandemic in England: A major study by Imperial College London suggests that nearly 100,000 people are catching the virus every day in England, a figure now doubling every nine days. The study authors warn that "something has to change" at this "critical stage".[394][395]
COVID-19 pandemic in England: In a televised address, PM Boris Johnson announces a new four-week lockdown for England, to be enforced from 5 November until 2 December.[397]
COVID-19 in the UK: The UK exceeds 1 million cases.[398]
COVID-19 pandemic in England: A second lockdown comes into force in England in attempt to curb rising COVID-19 cases. The lockdown is scheduled to last four weeks.[400]
Boris Johnson congratulates Joe Biden on being elected President of the United States, saying: "The US is our most important ally and I look forward to working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security."[405]
9 November – The House of Lords votes by 433 to 165 to remove a section of the Internal Market Bill which allowed the government to break international law.[406]
10 November
A record high level of redundancies is reported by the ONS, with about 314,000 people made redundant in the three months to September, more than during the peak of the Great Recession.[407]
COVID-19 in the UK: Following the first successful phase III trial of a COVID-19 vaccine,[408]Health SecretaryMatt Hancock states that the NHS is ready to start providing doses in the UK "as fast as safely possible", with a mass roll-out expected "in the first part of next year".[409]
11 November – COVID-19 in the UK: The number of deaths from COVID-19 in the UK exceeds 50,000.[410]
COVID-19 in the UK: Boris Johnson is told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace after meeting MP Lee Anderson, who later tested positive for COVID-19.[415] Downing Street says that the PM does not show any symptoms and will continue working from Number 10 whilst self-isolating.[416]
16 November – COVID-19 in the UK: The government orders five million doses of a new COVID-19 vaccine by American biotech company Moderna, after a phase III trial shows it to have almost 95% efficacy.[417]
A plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2040 is brought forward to 2030 under Boris Johnson's 10-point plan to tackle climate change.[420]
19 November
The government announces an extra £16.5 billion in defence spending over the next four years to "extend British influence".[421]
The PlayStation 5 is released in the UK. Delivery problems are reported, due to huge demand.[424]
20 November
Sir Alex Allan resigns as the Prime Minister's adviser on the Ministerial Code, after Johnson rejects his findings and expresses "full confidence" in Priti Patel.[425][426]
COVID-19 in the UK: Matt Hancock announces that vaccination centres are being established across the UK in preparation for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that, if approved, could begin distribution in December.[427]
21 November – A Whitehall source reports that Sir Alex Allan had resisted pressure from Boris Johnson to make his findings from the inquiry into Priti Patel more "palatable".[428]
COVID-19 in the UK: AstraZeneca's AZD1222 vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford's Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group, is shown to be 70% effective in protecting against COVID-19. The efficacy can be raised to 90% if an initial half dose is followed by a full dose a month later, based on interim data.[430][431]
24 November
Harry Dunn's parents lose a High Court battle against the Foreign Office over whether their son's alleged killer, Anne Sacoolas, had diplomatic immunity at the time of the road traffic collision in 2019.[432]
COVID-19 in the UK: The leaders of the three devolved nations of the UK agree with the prime minister on plans that will permit up to three households to form a "Christmas bubble" during a five-day period from 23 to 27 December, allowing them to mix in homes, places of worship, and outdoor spaces.[433]
25 November
Rishi Sunak says that the "economic emergency" caused by COVID-19 has "only just begun" during his Spending Review announcement to the House of Commons, as figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility show that the economy is forecast to shrink by 11.3% in 2020, the UK's biggest economic decline in 300 years.[434]
27 November – COVID-19 in England: Following three weeks of lockdown in England, the R number for SARS-CoV-2 in the UK is reported to have fallen to between 0.9 and 1 for the first time since mid-August.[438]
Debenhams stores are set to close with the loss of 12,000 jobs after attempts to find a buyer for the retailer fell through when JD Sports pulled out.[444]
2 December – COVID-19 in the UK: The UK becomes the first country to approve the new Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. 800,000 doses are planned for arrival in the coming days, with a further 40 million in 2021, enough to vaccinate 20 million people. The BBC reports that the jab is "the fastest vaccine to go from concept to reality, taking only 10 months to follow the same steps that normally span 10 years."[445]
3 December
Four people are killed after a large explosion at a waste water treatment works in Avonmouth, Bristol.[446]
The first batch of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine arrives in the UK, and is stored at an undisclosed location ready for distribution to hospitals and vaccination centres around the country.[447]
4 December – Mayor of LiverpoolJoe Anderson is arrested, along with four others, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation, related to the awarding of building contracts in the city.[448]
COVID-19 in the UK: A 90-year-old British woman, Margaret Keenan, becomes the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 jab as part of a mass vaccination programme. The injection of BNT162b2 is the first of 800,000 doses to be offered to people in the UK, with millions more expected to be ready by 31 December.[450]
A group of former rugby players including Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson begin a claim against the game's authorities after being diagnosed with early signs of dementia, saying that repeated blows to the head from playing the sport are to blame.[451]
12 December – Silverstone Circuit announces the renaming of the "International Pits Straight" the "Lewis Hamilton Straight" after he won his seventh world title and broke the record for most wins.[452]
14 December
COVID-19 in the UK: Health SecretaryMatt Hancock tells MPs that a new variant of COVID-19, the Alpha variant, has been identified that is spreading faster in some areas of the country.[453] The variant shows changes to the spike protein which could make the virus more infectious.[454]
Singer Jesy Nelson leaves the band Little Mix, saying that being in the group had taken a toll on her mental health and that she found the pressure of being in a girl group and living up to expectations very difficult.[455][456]
Criteria on blood donations will focus on individual behaviours instead, and lift a ban on men who have sex with men in the last three months from donating blood. The changes will take effect in summer 2021.[457]
16 December
COVID-19 in the UK: London is one of several areas in the South East of England placed into tier 3 of the country's COVID-19 tier system, following a sharp rise of infections in the capital.[458]
COVID-19 pandemic in England: Boris Johnson announces a new 'tier 4' lockdown for London and much of South East England from midnight, as the Alpha variant is identified with a 70% higher transmission rate.[461]
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon announces "firm preventative action" – a ban on travel to the rest of the UK over the festive period; the relaxation of rules on meeting households indoors to only apply on Christmas Day; all of mainland Scotland moving into the toughest level four from 26 December; and schools returning later than originally planned after the Christmas holidays.[462]
20 December
COVID-19 in the UK:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands announce the banning of flights from the UK, in response to SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant.[463]
A new record high daily case figure is reported, with 35,928 new infections, double the number of the previous Sunday.[464]
France announces it will stop freight lorry movements from the UK for 48 hours because of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant in the UK.[465]
21 December – COVID-19 in the UK: The number of countries halting travel from the UK exceeds 40.[466]
22 December
COVID-19 in the UK:
The UK and France reach an agreement to reopen their border the following day, allowing freight drivers and EU citizens to travel between the two countries, subject to a recent negative COVID-19 test.[467]
Tesco reintroduces a purchasing limit on some items, including eggs, rice, soap and toilet rolls to ensure there is not a shortage of products due to panic buying.[468]
A new mineral, dark green in colour and named kernowite, is discovered in Cornwall.[469]
23 December
COVID-19 in the UK:
A new highly infectious strain, originating from South Africa, is confirmed to be present in London and the North West of England.[470]
Another record high daily case figure is reported, with 39,237 new infections.[471]
COVID-19 pandemic in England: Tier 4 restrictions are announced for more areas in England from Boxing Day.[470]
24 December
COVID-19 in the UK: The government suspends travel from South Africa.[472]
COVID-19 in the UK: The United States becomes the latest country to impose travel restrictions on the UK in response to SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant, forcing all passengers travelling to the US to produce a negative COVID-19 test before being allowed to travel.[474]
Following her traditional address to the nation, Channel 4 airs a deepfake video of the Queen's speech, to offer "a stark warning about the advanced technology that is enabling the proliferation of misinformation and fake news in a digital age."[475]
Another record high daily case figure is reported, with 41,385 new infections.[478]
The number of patients with the virus in hospitals exceeds 20,000, surpassing the peak of the first wave in April.[479]
29 December – COVID-19 in the UK: Another record high daily case figure is reported, with 53,135 new infections.[480]
30 December
COVID-19 in the UK: The UK approves its second vaccine against COVID-19, developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca, with the first doses due to be given on 4 January 2021.[481]
Brexit: The post-Brexit trade agreement with the EU is passed in the House of Commons by 521 votes to 73, a majority of 448.[482]
31 December
COVID-19 in the UK: Another record high daily case figure is reported, with 55,892 new infections.[483]
The government approves planning consent for the 2.4 GW Hornsea Project Three wind farm.[484] Concerns are raised over the impact on bird colonies in the region.[485]
Brexit: The transition period expires at 23:00 GMT as the UK completes its final separation from the EU, four and a half years after the referendum.[486][487]
Rinat Ibragimov, Russia-born British orchestral double bassist and past principal double bass of the London Symphony Orchestra, 60 (from COVID-19).[887]
.jpg){kind=link}
_(2).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPEG){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
,_London,_2012.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
