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July 2021 in United Kingdom, Politics and Government

 


  • 1 July –
  • 3 July – UEFA Euro 2020: England beat Ukraine 4–0 in Rome to reach the semi-final of the Euros for the first time in 25 years.[237]
  • 5 July
    • COVID-19 in the UK: In a televised address, the prime minister, Boris Johnson says he expects that the final lifting of restrictions in England will proceed from 19 July, but this will be confirmed on 12 July after a review of the latest data.[238]
    • The House of Commons passes the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill by 365 votes to 265.[239]
  • 7 July – UEFA Euro 2020: England defeat Denmark 2–1 after extra time at Wembley in the semi final. This marks the first time England have reached the final of a major international tournament since 1966.[240] Almost 24 million people are reported to have watched the match on ITV and ITV+1, with a peak of 25.7 million during the last five minutes.[241]
  • 8 July – UEFA Euro 2020: UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) charges England following match incidents the previous night. In one, a laser pointer was allegedly shone in the face of Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel as he prepared for a penalty. UEFA also notes a "disturbance" during Denmark's national anthem and fireworks being set off.[242]
  • 9 July – Southern Water is fined a record £90m for illegally dumping an estimated 16 to 21 billion tons of raw sewage between 2010 and 2015.[243]
    Supporters at the UEFA Euro 2020 final
  • 11 July – UEFA Euro 2020: England lose 2–3 on penalties to Italy, following a 1–1 draw after extra time, in the UEFA European Championship final at Wembley Stadium.[244] The game, broadcast live on both BBC One and ITV, has an estimated peak TV audience of almost 31 million, making it the most-watched UK event since the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997.[245]
  • 12 July
    • Home Secretary Priti Patel announces that white supremacist hate group The Base will be the fifth extreme right-wing group to be proscribed in the UK under anti-terror laws.[246]
    • COVID-19 in the UK: Johnson confirms that the fourth and final stage of the government's conditional lockdown easing will proceed as planned on 19 July.[247]
    • Unforeseen floods cause travel chaos in parts of London.[248]
  • 13 July – The House of Commons votes by 333 to 298 (a majority of 35) to keep the budget for international development at 0.5% of national income, below the previous commitment of 0.7%.[249]
  • 14 July
    • John Lewis and Waitrose announce that they plan to cut one thousand jobs.[250]
    • The Health and Care Bill passes its second reading in the House of Commons.[251]
  • 15 July –
    • Europe's largest battery storage project, a 100-megawatt system delivered by Shell-owned Limejump, begins operations at Minety in Wiltshire.[252]
    • Five people are arrested after England footballers were racially abused online following their Euro 2020 final defeat.[253]
    • The selection process for eight new hospitals in England is launched.[254]
  • 16 July – COVID-19 in the UK: The daily infection count from the virus exceeds 50,000 for the first time since mid-January, with 51,870 new cases reported.[255]
  • 17 July –
    • COVID-19 in the UK: Health Secretary Sajid Javid tests positive for the virus.[256]
    • COVID-19 in the UK: Welsh lockdown rules ease further, allowing six people to meet in private homes and holiday accommodation, while organised indoor events can include 1,000 seated and up to 200 standing. Ice rinks are also allowed to reopen.[257]
    • Four people are arrested as a protest by Animal Rebellion continues outside one of McDonald's main UK suppliers.[258][259]
    • Northern Ireland experiences its hottest day on record, reaching 31.2 °C in County Down, above the previous high of 30.8 °C set in the summers of 1976 and 1983.[260]
  • 19 July –
    • COVID-19 in the UK: Most remaining legal restrictions on social contact in England are removed.[261]
    • COVID-19 in the UK: Restrictions are further relaxed in Scotland with changes including 15 people from different households being allowed to meet outdoors, 8 adults indoors and 10 at a pub or restaurant. Booking restrictions at catering facilities are also relaxed and soft play centres can reopen.[262]
    • COVID-19 in the UK: The COVID-19 vaccine roll out is expanded to many more under 18s in the UK. Based on scientific advice, the minimum age for vaccinating vulnerable adolescents or those who live with adults that are in a high risk group is reduced from 16 to 12. All young people will now also be eligible for their first dose three months before their 18th birthday.[263]
    • The Met Office issues its first ever "Amber Extreme Heat Warning", as temperatures exceed 30 °C across large swathes of the UK, with conditions expected to continue for several days.[264][265]
    • The FTSE 100 falls by 150 points, dropping below the 7000 mark and to its lowest level for several months, as part of a global sell-off.[266][267]
    • Thousands of racehorses are killed in slaughterhouses.[268]
    • Iceland and Greene King shut sites due to staff being forced to isolate by the NHS COVID-19 app.[269]
  • 21 July
    • Liverpool is stripped of its UNESCO World Heritage status after developments along the city's waterfront.[270]
    • COVID-19 in the UK: Retail industry leaders warn of supermarkets being under increasing pressure to keep shelves fully stocked, due to thousands of shop workers having to self-isolate.[271]
  • 22 July
  • 25 July
    • COVID-19 in the UK: Health Secretary Sajid Javid is criticised for using the word "cower" when he tweeted "Please – if you haven’t yet – get your jab, as we learn to live with, rather than cower from, this virus".[274] He later deletes the tweet and issues a public apology.
    • 2021 European floods: Torrential rain causes flooding in many parts of London. East London's Whipps Cross and Newham hospitals declare major incidents, and tell patients to use other A&Es for urgent care, while ambulances are redirected.[275]
  • 27 July – COVID-19 in the UK: The daily number of new infections falls for the seventh day in a row, roughly halving from the previous week to 23,511. However, 131 deaths are reported, the highest figure since March.[276]
  • 28 July
  • 29 July
  • 30 July – The High Court of England and Wales rules that the approval of the Stonehenge road tunnel was unlawful

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