The following is a list of notable events, births and deaths from 2020 in the United Kingdom. The COVID-19 pandemic largely dominated events in the UK during this year, as in most of the world.
Incumbents Monarch – Elizabeth II Prime Minister – Boris Johnson (Conservative)
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. 6 January 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. Downing Street states that the UK will not support US President Donald Trump's threat to bomb Iranian cultural and heritage sites. 7 January – The Labour Party leadership election formally begins, with the new leader scheduled to be announced on 4 April. 8 January – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, announce that they plan to "step back as senior members" of the United Kingdom's royal family, and divide their time between the UK and North America. 9 January The House of Commons gives its third and final backing to the European Union Withdrawal Agreement Bill, voting 330 to 231 in favour; the bill now passes to the House of Lords for scrutiny. The British and Irish governments publish a deal aimed at restoring the Northern Ireland Executive; the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) gives its backing to the agreement. 10 January – Sinn Féin gives its backing to a deal to restore power-sharing government to Northern Ireland for the first time since 2017. 11 January The Northern Ireland Assembly reconvenes after a three-year hiatus; DUP leader Arlene Foster is appointed Northern Ireland's first minister, while Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill is appointed deputy first minister. Robert Macaire, the British ambassador to Iran, is briefly detained in Iran after attending a vigil for those killed on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. Iran summoned him to appear at its foreign ministry the following day after saying he had been "an unknown foreigner in an illegal gathering". 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. 14 January The government agrees to a rescue package for troubled regional airline Flybe to stop it going into administration. Boris Johnson formally rejects Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's request for a second independence referendum. 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. 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. 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. 21 January – The Office of Rail and Road announces that Network Rail is being investigated over its poor performance on routes used by train operators Arriva Rail North and TransPennine Express. 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. 23 January – Parliamentary ratification of Boris Johnson's EU withdrawal deal is completed with Royal Assent being given to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill. 24 January The UK's EU withdrawal agreement is signed by both parties; firstly in the morning in Brussels by European Council president Charles Michel and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for the EU, then after travelling on the Eurostar in a diplomatic case, in London in the afternoon by Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the UK. Police announce that live facial recognition technology will be rolled out across London. 25 January – A newly appointed member of the Grenfell Tower fire public enquiry panel resigns after being linked to the company which supplied cladding for the block. 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. 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. 29 January British Airways suspends all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
February 1 February – Austria, Germany, and Slovenia confirm they will not extradite their nationals if they are accused of crimes in the UK.Three European countries say they will refuse UK extradition requests now Brexit has happened by Thomas Colson, Business Insider, 1 February 2020 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 (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. He also reaffirms the UK's commitment to reaching net zero carbon by 2050. 6 February – COVID-19 in the UK: A third case of infection with SARS-CoV-2 is confirmed in the UK. 7 February – Buckingham Palace announces that the wedding of Princess Beatrice of York and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi will take place on 29 May (later postponed to 17 July). 8–9 February – Storm Ciara hits the United Kingdom, bringing winds of up to . 9 February – A British Airways Boeing 747-400 aircraft makes the fastest ever subsonic New York 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. 10 February The government confirms it has begun to study the feasibility of a Scotland-Northern Ireland bridge, with project cost estimates of £15–20bn. 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. 11 February The Terrorist Offenders Bill, designed to end the early release of prisoners convicted of terrorist offences, is presented to parliament. Following a review of the project, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that the controversial High Speed 2 rail link (HS2) will be built. 12 February The Terrorist Offenders Bill passes unopposed through the House of Commons to complete the first stage of the process to becoming law. The government announces plans to extend the remit of the media regulator Ofcom to include internet and social media content in the UK. 13 February Boris Johnson carries out a cabinet reshuffle. Sajid Javid resigns as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He is succeeded by Rishi Sunak. 16 February – Storm Dennis: A record high number of flood warnings are declared over England, with 600 in place by the evening. 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. 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. 20 February – A new £20 polymer 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. 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 SARS-CoV-2 in the UK; the sample tests positive when examined months later in August. She is also probably the first person in the UK to die with COVID-19. 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 inequities are growing wider than a decade ago. The study says that this can largely be attributed to the United Kingdom government austerity programme. 27 February Campaigners win a Court of Appeal ruling over controversial plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, on environmental grounds. A study is released that links increases in psychological distress and clinical depression with Universal Credit. 28 February – COVID-19 in the UK: The first British death from COVID-19 is confirmed by the Japanese Health Ministry; a man quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. 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. 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. Boris Johnson announces that he and his partner, Carrie Symonds, are expecting a baby in the summer, and that they are engaged.
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. 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. 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. 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.