British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces what looked to be the final blow for his premiership as two senior ministers resigned after trying to apologise for his administration's latest scandal.
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May 28, 2020 - 'Minor' breach of lockdown by PM adviser
British police say Johnson's senior adviser Dominic Cummings may have breached coronavirus lockdown rules by driving 26 miles to a castle with his wife and son, though they said they would take no further action.
April 28, 2021 - Probe on apartment refurbishment
Britain's electoral commission opens a formal investigation into the financing of the refurbishment of Johnson's Downing Street apartment, citing grounds to suspect an offence may have been committed.
May 10, 2021 - Foreign travel reporting probe
Parliament's standards watchdog investigates Johnson over how he reported his private foreign travel.
Oct. 26, 2021 - Lawmaker guilty of paid lobbying
Conservative lawmaker and former minister Owen Paterson faces a 30-day suspension after parliament's standards committee found he had committed an "egregious case of paid advocacy".
Nov. 3, 2021 - Government changes rules to save lawmaker
Johnson's Conservatives are accused of corruption after they vote to halt Paterson's suspension and force through an overhaul of the process of investigating lawmakers.
Nov. 4, 2021 - U-turn on Paterson
After unhappiness in his own party and newspaper headlines accusing Johnson's administration of sleaze, the government U-turns on the plans and Paterson quits parliament.
Nov. 22, 2021 - Peppa Pig speech
After losing his place during a speech, Johnson regales business leaders with an anecdote about visiting a Peppa Pig children's theme park, prompting some to raise concerns about his leadership.
Nov. 30, 2021 - Lockdown Christmas party report
The Mirror newspaper publishes the first of many media reports about Christmas parties in government departments, including Johnson's Downing Street office, in December 2020, when such gatherings were banned under COVID-19 restrictions.
Dec. 7, 2021 - Video of staff joking about party
Hours after Johnson says he is satisfied no COVID rules were broken, ITV publishes a leaked video showing his staff joking about a Downing Street gathering during a mock news conference.
Dec. 8, 2021 - Johnson apologises, aide resigns
Johnson apologises for the video, saying he is furious. Allegra Stratton, most recently Johnson's COP26 spokeswoman but his press secretary at the time of the footage, resigns.
Dec. 9, 2021 - Conservatives fined over apartment refurbishment
The Conservatives are fined 17,800 pounds ($23,500) by the electoral watchdog for failing to accurately report a donation that helped fund a luxury refurbishment of Johnson's official residence.
Dec. 14, 2021 - Conservative lawmakers rebel
More than 100 Conservatives vote against new coronavirus restrictions, dealing a blow to Johnson's authority.
Dec. 17, 2021 - The Conservatives lose a parliamentary seat
Johnson's Conservatives lose an election to fill Paterson's vacant seat, substantiating fears among some that the party's reputation and electoral prospects are suffering.
Dec. 17, 2021 - Lead investigator steps down
Britain's top civil servant, Simon Case, steps down from leading an investigation into the alleged parties after it emerges an event was held in his own office. Senior civil servant Sue Gray takes over the inquiry.
Dec. 18, 2021 - Brexit minister resigns
Brexit minister David Frost, an architect of Johnson's tumultuous Brexit strategy, resigns, saying he is disillusioned with the government's direction.
Dec. 19, 2021 - Garden party photo published
The Guardian newspaper publishes a photograph of Johnson and more than a dozen others drinking wine in the Downing Street garden that it said was taken during lockdown on May 15, 2020.
Jan. 12, 2022 - PM says he attended lockdown gathering
Johnson says he attended a gathering in the Downing Street garden on May 20, 2020 but believed it to be a work event.
Broadcaster ITV say the senior aide who organised the event signed off an invitation email "bring your own booze". Read full story
Jan. 14, 2022 - PM apologises to Buckingham Palace
Johnson's office apologises to Queen Elizabeth after it emerged staff partied in Downing Street on the eve of her husband Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021, when mixing indoors was banned.
Jan. 24, 2022 - Report of Johnson birthday gathering
ITV says up to 30 people attended a June 2020 event at which Johnson was presented with a cake while his wife led staff in singing 'Happy Birthday'. Johnson's office confirm staff gathered briefly after a meeting but dispute it was a party.
Jan. 25, 2022 - Police investigation
Police say they are investigating lockdown events that took place in Downing Street and other government departments after receiving information from Gray's inquiry.
Jan. 31, 2022 - Gray publishes initial findings
Gray publishes a limited report, curtailed by the ongoing police investigation. It condemns some of the behaviour in government as "difficult to justify" and says some of the events should not have taken place. Johnson says sorry.
Jan. 31, 2022 - Jimmy Savile accusation
Johnson falsely accuses opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, of failing to prosecute late sex offender Jimmy Savile.
Feb. 3, 2022 - Johnson clarifies remarks about Savile
Following calls from opponents and some of his Conservatives to withdraw his Savile remarks, Johnson says he wants to clarify them. His head of policy quits, saying the Savile barb was a "scurrilous accusation".
Feb. 7, 2022 - Starmer hounded by protesters
Starmer is confronted by angry protesters, some of whom reference Savile, prompting fresh pressure on Johnson to withdraw his claim.
July 1, 2022 - Conservatives suspend lawmaker
Johnson's Conservatives suspend lawmaker Christopher Pincher, who became embroiled in accusations of sexual misconduct.
July 5, 2022 - Finance and health ministers quit
Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Minister Sajid Javid resign, taking aim at Johnson's ability to run an administration that adheres to standards.
July 5, 2022 - Accusations of lying about minister
A former top Foreign Office official accuses Johnson's office of lying over whether the prime minister knew about sexual misconduct complaints against Pincher.
UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.
Investment gap
Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.
Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.
Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive, noted “The UK can lead globally in medicines and vaccines, unlocking billions in R&D investment and improving patient access but only if barriers are removed and innovation rewarded.”
The UK invests just 9% of healthcare spending in medicines, compared with 17% in Spain, and only 37% of new medicines are made fully available for their licensed indications, compared to 90% in Germany.
Expert reviews
Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Pharmacy Business, pointed that “The government’s own review shows the sector is underfunded by about £2 billion per year. To make transformation a reality, this gap must be closed with clear plans for investment in people, premises and technology.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold £20,000 to £30,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) — has remained unchanged for over two decades, delaying or deterring new medicine launches. Raising it is viewed as vital to attracting foreign investment, expanding patient access, and maintaining the UK’s global standing in life sciences.
Guy Oliver, General Manager for Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland, noted that " the current VPAG rate is leaving UK patients behind other countries, forcing cuts to NHS partnerships, clinical trials, and workforce despite government growth ambitions".
Reeves’ push for reform, supported by the ABPI’s Competitiveness Framework, underlines Britain’s intent to stay a leading hub for pharmaceutical innovation while ensuring NHS patients will gain faster access to new treatments.
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