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PRESS RELEASE : UK to restart funding to UNRWA [July 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 July 2024.
- Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced that the UK will restart funding to UNRWA in order to get aid as quickly as possible to those who need it in Gaza
- in statement to MPs, Lammy said UK aid funding to Gaza is a “moral necessity in the face of such a catastrophe”
- the Foreign Secretary also reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire to secure the release of hostages and end the suffering in Gaza, following his visit to the region earlier this week
The Foreign Secretary has announced that the UK will lift the pause on funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the key aid delivery body operating in Gaza.

In his first statement to MPs, the Foreign Secretary outlined that the UK will release £21 million to support its lifesaving work in Gaza and the provision of basic services in the region.

This funding will go towards UNRWA’s flash appeal for Gaza and the West Bank, which focuses its resources on emergency food, shelter and other support for 3 million people, as well as its wider work supporting 6 million Palestinian refugees across the region.

The Foreign Secretary said to Parliament:

Humanitarian aid is a moral necessity in the face of such a catastrophe and it is aid agencies who ensure UK support reaches civilians on the ground.

UNRWA is absolutely central to these efforts. No other agency can get aid into Gaza at the scale needed.

I was appalled by the allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7th October attacks. We are reassured that after Catherine Colonna’s independent review, UNRWA is ensuring they meet the highest standards of neutrality and strengthening its procedures, including on vetting.

UNRWA has acted. Partners like Japan, the EU and Norway have now acted. This government will act too.

The UK’s funding for UNRWA was paused in light of allegations by Israel that 12 staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel. Following an independent review by Catherine Colonna and the subsequent action plan UNRWA has provided setting out detailed management reforms, the government is confident that UNRWA is taking action to ensure it meets the highest standards of neutrality.

Today’s announcement brings the UK into line with partners such as Germany, the EU, Sweden, Japan, France and other donors.

UNRWA is the main provider of humanitarian relief within Gaza, and other UN and humanitarian actors depend on UNRWA’s distribution network to get aid to those who need it most. UNRWA has provided 1.15 million people facing devastating hunger in Gaza with food parcels.

The Foreign Secretary spoke with UN Secretary General Guterres last night to confirm the UK’s decision to restart funding and discuss the UN’s vital role in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds will meet UNRWA Commissioner General Lazzarini today to discuss how the funding will support UNRWA’s work and condemn the killing of almost 200 UNRWA workers in the conflict.

International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds said:

The situation in Gaza is intolerable and unacceptable and urgent action is needed to alleviate the suffering of civilians there.

UNRWA is the only agency that can deliver lifesaving humanitarian aid at the scale needed. But it can only operate effectively if it has access to the whole of Gaza and it is safe for UNRWA staff to work there.

That’s why we are calling for unfettered access for humanitarian organisations alongside an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians, the release of all hostages and a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.

The Foreign Secretary also set out in Parliament today his wider plan to reach an end to the conflict in Gaza. He made clear the immediate priority is a ceasefire complied with by both sides, the release of all hostages and a surge of aid into Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary said to Parliament:

Britain wants to see an immediate ceasefire. The fighting must stop. The hostages must be released. Much, much more aid has got to enter Gaza…. This horror must end, now.

The Foreign Secretary raised the urgent need for the conflict to end during his meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 14 to 15 July.

As part of the visit, the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK will provide another £5.5 million this year to UK-Med to fund their life-saving work in Gaza. This funding will be used to support the ongoing work of their field hospitals and the emergency department at Nasser Hospital.

In the long-term, the Foreign Secretary outlined that the UK is focused on creating a pathway towards a two-state solution which guarantees security and stability for Israelis and Palestinians.

He made clear that any long-term solution must include a crackdown on the rise in settler violence and settlement expansion and a reformed Palestinian Authority, given the powers and resources it needs to govern effectively.

Background
- the UK will provide £6 million to the Gaza flash appeal, through which UNRWA is specifically focusing its support to address the most urgent needs of more than 3 million people in Gaza and the West Bank
- a further £15 million with be disbursed to UNRWA’s programme budget to provide basic services in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and wider region
- last week, the UK signed a joint statement alongside more than 117 member states including the US, Germany, Jordan, Kuwait and Slovenia, making clear their shared commitment and support to the “vital and indispensable role” of UNRWA in providing life-saving aid to generations of Palestinian refugees
- the UK’s funding for UNRWA was paused in light of allegations by Israel that 12 staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel. The government is assured the UN agency is taking action to ensure it meets the highest standards of neutrality, after seeing the independent investigation by Catherine Colonna, and the subsequent action plan UNRWA has provided setting out detailed management reforms
- the UK’s position is now in line with partners such as Germany, EU, Sweden, Japan, France, Canada, The Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Austria, Finland, Iceland, Romania and Estonia
09/08/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [July 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 July 2024.

The Prime Minister welcomed President Zelenskyy to Downing Street this morning, the first foreign leader to visit No10 during this government.

The leaders reflected on the NATO summit held last week, and the EPC yesterday, and agreed both meetings had underscored the strength of international support for Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy updated the Prime Minister on the situation on the battlefield. The Prime Minister said he was focused on ensuring Ukraine had the equipment and support it needed to defend its sovereignty.

Looking ahead to the next six months, the Prime Minister and President discussed the need to ensure equipment reached the front line as quickly as possible to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position ahead of the winter.

The leaders also discussed the situation in the Black Sea, and Ukraine’s success in devastating the Russian fleet. They agreed to continue to explore opportunities to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime capabilities through the Maritime Capability Coalition.

The Prime Minister said he hoped to return to Ukraine at the earliest opportunity.

09/08/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Government launches Curriculum and Assessment Review [July 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 19 July 2024.

A broader, richer, cutting-edge curriculum that drives high and rising schools standards and sets all young people up for life and work will be central to the government’s vision for education, as it launches its wide-ranging Curriculum and Assessment Review today.

Spanning from Key Stage 1 through to Key Stage 5, the independent review will be chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE, an expert in education policy, including curriculum and social inequality.

The review will look closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people, and the barriers which hold children back from the opportunities and life chances they deserve – in particular those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, or with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

High and rising school standards are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.

Following the review, all state schools – including academies who currently do not have to follow the national curriculum – will be required by law to teach the national curriculum up to age 16, giving parents certainty over their children’s education.

This was confirmed in the King’s Speech earlier this week, as the government will introduce a children’s wellbeing bill in the next year to legislate for a variety of its education policies.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

The launch of this review is an important step in this government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity, deliver better life chances and enable more young people to get on.

Our dedicated school and college staff deliver better life chances for countless children but for too long they have been held back by a curriculum and assessment system that fails to prepare enough of our children for work and for life.

That is why this government, alongside leading education experts, leaders and staff on the frontline, will breathe new life into our outdated curriculum and assessment system.

Our renewed curriculum, built on a foundation of high and rising standards, greater access to cultural learning and crucial work and life skills, will set up all our children to achieve and thrive in the workplaces of the future, and throughout their lives.

The government’s ambition is for a curriculum that delivers excellent foundations in reading, writing and maths, and ensures every young person gets the opportunity to develop creative, digital, and speaking and listening skills particularly prized by employers.

The review will also seek to make sure children benefit from a curriculum that represents them and their families, regardless of background, and equips young people to shape our response to the challenges of our changing world.

The review will build on the hard work of teachers who have brought their subjects alive with knowledge-rich teaching, to deliver a new national curriculum which is rich and broad, inclusive and innovative.

The review will look at ensuring all young people aged 16-19 have access to rigorous and high-value qualifications and training that will give them the skills they need to seize opportunity as well as ensuring they are ready for the changing workplace.

It will also look at whether the current assessment system can be improved for both young people and staff, while protecting the important role of examinations.

Professor Becky Francis said:

Ensuring all young people access a rich and fulfilling curriculum and meaningful qualifications is core to supporting them to thrive at school and later in life.

It’s a real privilege to lead this important review, which has huge potential to build a cutting-edge curriculum that works for pupils and teachers alike.

I know how stretched schools, colleges and their staff are. So it’s particularly important to me to consider how any changes could contribute to staff workload and to avoid unintended consequences.

Crucially, I want to make sure that the review and its recommendations are driven by evidence and a commitment to high standards for all our young people, irrespective of background.

The views of experts, parents, teachers and leaders will be pivotal to the recommendations and a call for evidence will be launched in September. The review will also take written evidence from key stakeholders and undertake a national roadshow, meeting and taking input from staff on the frontline.

The launch of the review marks one of the government’s first steps towards an education system driven by high and rising standards, where background is no barrier, and every young person leaves school or college with the best life chances.

In recognition of the pressure schools and colleges are already under, and the further strain that wholesale reform can bring, the review will seek evolution not revolution, and will be alive to the trade-offs required to deliver high and rising standards alongside greater breadth – in particular any recommendations that would increase workload.

Professor Francis will be supported by an expert group made up of individuals with experience right throughout the education system. The review will publish recommendations in 2025.

09/08/2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK endorses new guidelines for countering antisemitism [July 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 July 2024.

Lord Pickles endorsed the guidelines at a meeting of the World Jewish Congress Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) Forum in Buenos Aires.

On 17 July at the Argentina Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Buenos Aires, 36 countries endorsed new Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, including the UK.

The UK was one of several countries who provided examples of best practice which the US reflected in the guidelines.

Lord Pickles, the United Kingdom Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, said:

Congratulations to Argentina and the US. I am delighted that the global guidelines were one of the first documents the UK’s new government endorsed.

We need to learn from the IHRA non-legally binding definition that it is easy to adopt initiatives, but it is much harder to implement them. We must recognise the importance and protection of Jewish life. If we cannot protect our citizens, the state fails.

This is not just a responsibility for governments. Civil society has an important role to play, and these guidelines will be crucial in addressing the ongoing scourge of antisemitism.

08/08/2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK Government and defence industry stepping up support for Ukraine [July 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 19 July 2024.

The Defence and Business Secretaries met with President Zelenskyy and industry leaders in London on Thursday evening (18 July) to discuss deeper cooperation and the need to boost industrial production for Ukraine.

Since Putin launched his illegal invasion of Ukraine, the defence industry has provided vital equipment and munitions to Ukraine.

The meeting at Lancaster House with President Zelenskyy and senior representatives from UK Export Finance, BAE Systems, Thales UK, MBDA, KBR and Babcock came as two of the UK’s largest defence companies, BAE Systems and Babcock International Group confirmed updated contracts in support of Ukraine.

The developments came during this week’s European Political Community summit, hosted by the Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which has seen Ukraine’s President, visit to hold bilateral meetings, alongside his Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov.

Defence Secretary, John Healey, said:

The UK is united for Ukraine. The Ukrainians are fighting with huge courage, the military and civilians alike. Our new government has already pledged to step up support, confirming £3bn a year to help Ukraine and a new package of ammunition, anti-armour missiles and artillery guns.

Meeting with industry leaders, I emphasised the Government will continue to work in partnership with industry and the need to boost industrial production of vital military kit for both Ukraine and our own Armed Forces.

From industrial sites at home, to facilities in Ukraine, the UK defence industry has been providing critical equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Working with local partners, BAE Systems is providing maintenance and repair for weapons supplied by the UK from a facility in Ukraine.

Babcock International also announced a six-month extension to its contract with the MOD to continue to provide the maintenance, repair and asset management of vehicles.

Whilst this week, the MOD agreed to regenerate the UK’s ability to produce forgings for gun barrels, working in partnership with Sheffield Forgemasters, supporting the repair and overhaul of Ukrainian vehicles; this is the first step towards UK sovereign barrel production which has been developing for 20 years.

UK industry support of this kind will enable Ukraine’s armed forces to get maintain vital equipment, such as L119 Light Guns and the AS90 self-propelled gun, keeping it in the fight and repairing battle damaged equipment as quickly as possible.

Kevin Craven, CEO of the Defence trade organisation ADS, said:

The UK defence industry’s support to Ukraine continues and is unwavering. It is an honour for ADS and our members to work in such close collaboration with our partners.

Our industries have clear opportunities for collaboration, done so with the knowledge that we are protecting our collective security.

These industry announcements follow on from the success of the outward ADS-led trade mission earlier this month. The robust pipeline of trade missions have enabled industry, from Primes to SMEs, to contribute to Ukraine’s defence and also to learn from our allies in their turn.

It is clear that the war in Ukraine has become one of industrial production. Government and industry are united in our shared commitment to Ukraine and by working together, we are setting the building blocks for our 100-year partnership.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

We cannot have economic growth at home, without security and stability abroad.

The UK has been a steadfast friend and ally to Ukraine and they deserve our continued unwavering support. That’s why we will use our strong partnership with industry to deliver the military support essential for the country’s defence.

These announcements reaffirm the UK’s continued support for Ukraine. From recommitting to spending £3 billion a year of military support to the Government’s recent commitment to fast-track deliveries, the UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

08/08/2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories [July 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 July 2024.

The FCDO has issued a statement in response to the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion related to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development spokesperson said:

We have received the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on Friday 19 July and are considering it carefully before responding. The UK respects the independence of the ICJ.

The Foreign Secretary was clear on his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories earlier this week that the UK is strongly opposed to the expansion of illegal settlements and rising settler violence.

This government is committed to a negotiated two-State solution which can deliver a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.

08/08/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Health and Social Care Secretary visits Berkshire hospital [July 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 19 July 2024.

Secretary of State Wes Streeting spoke to staff and patients before meeting regional health leaders.
- Wes Streeting met staff and patients on visit to Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot
- The site is helping tackle backlogs of planned operations with dedicated surgical services
- Secretary of State also met with regional health leaders at ‘town hall’ event
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting underlined his mission to cut NHS waiting lists as he visited staff and patients at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot today (19 July 2024).

Mr Streeting toured the Berkshire hospital to see first hand how its work is helping patients get quicker access to planned surgery, cutting local waiting lists.

The Health and Social Care Secretary also hosted a town hall meeting with health representatives from across the region to discuss the issues facing services. It comes after he ordered an independent investigation into the NHS last week, pledging to be honest about the state of the health service and serious about fixing it.

Heatherwood Hospital exclusively performs planned surgery, diagnostics and outpatients’ services mainly focusing on high volume, low complexity surgery such as orthopaedics, ophthalmology, gynaecology and urology. The hub also performs surgery for cancer and plans to expand the specialties performed in its theatres.

It is set up to ensure patients have shorter waits for surgery, are more likely to be able to go home on the same day, and have a better patient experience – a model Mr Streeting wants to see emulated across the country.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said:

The NHS is broken. Millions of patients are waiting too long for treatment, often in pain and discomfort.

But services like those I’ve seen today at Heatherwood Hospital show that there are still great things happening in the health service. My job as Health Secretary is to take the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS. I’m talking to patients, frontline staff, and NHS leaders about what needs to change.

We are determined to turn around the NHS so it can be there for all of us when we need it, once again. The NHS saved my life when I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and I can’t think of a better way to repay my debt than to help save the NHS.

Caroline Hutton, Interim Chief Executive for Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Heatherwood Hospital, said:

We are very proud of what we have been able to achieve for our patients through new ways of working and innovation using, for example, artificial intelligence (AI), digital patient records and collaboration with health and care partners to provide better care more efficiently.

We were delighted to have the chance to share with the new Secretary of State how our dedicated planned care hospital is enabling us to reduce waiting lists, including maintaining planned surgery and procedures during winter challenges and how we are sharing our learning throughout the NHS as a Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) surgical elective hub.

Today’s visit comes exactly 2 weeks since Mr Streeting was appointed Health and Social Care Secretary.

In that time, he has:
- met with representatives of the British Medical Association and announced the start of formal negotiations to end strikes
- met with the British Dental Association to discuss contract reform
- ordered an independent investigation into the state of the NHS
- visited a London GP surgery where he pledged to “fix the front door to the NHS”
08/08/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Student protests in Bangladesh – Foreign Office Reaction [July 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 July 2024.

Following the escalating violence during the student protests about quota reforms in Bangladesh, FCDO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Catherine West gave a statement.

“The UK government is deeply concerned by the violence following protests in Bangladesh.

The UK supports fundamental freedoms and respect for human rights, including the right to protest and peaceful assembly.

We urge all sides to end the violence and find a peaceful way forward.”

08/08/2024
NEWS STORY : Rioter William Nelson Morgan Sentenced to Prison for Destroying Library

STORY

William Nelson Morgan, a 69 year old man from Linton Street in Walton, has pleaded guilty to being involved in the destruction of Spellow Lane Library in Liverpool. Morgan armed himself with a wooden cosh and was involved with the rioting and assault of police officers with the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, Andrew Menary KC, stating:

“Your actions have disgraced and damaged the reputation of that town [Southport] and this city [Liverpool].”

When sentencing, Judge Menary added:

“Your advancing years plainly did not prevent you from playing an active part in a disturbance on County Road. I think it is very sad indeed to see someone of your age and character in the dock of a Crown Court.”

Paul Lewis, defending Morgan, said his client was “sorry”. Morgan, a retired welder, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for his involvement in the destruction of the library. A community fund-raiser to help rebuild the library that Morgan helped wreck has so far reached £217,000.

08/08/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement between UK and France [July 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2024.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the President of the French Republic met today at Blenheim Palace.

In this, the 120th anniversary year of the Entente Cordiale, the two leaders discussed the full spectrum of the bilateral relationship between the UK and France, the UK’s intention to reset its relationship with the EU and wider Europe, as well as international and global issues. 80 years on from the D-Day landings and the Liberation of France the leaders remembered the immense common sacrifices that both countries have made to defend their shared values and to protect their societies. And 30 years on from the opening of the Channel Tunnel, they recalled what the UK and France can build together when they do not constrain their ambitions, allowing their economies to flourish and their people to connect.

As fellow members of the G7, G20, NATO and permanent members of the UN Security Council, the UK and France will continue to work together to provide global leadership in an era of renewed geopolitical instability. They are committed to continuing to invest in the European Political Community format to bring together Europe’s democracies and contribute to regional stability and security through political dialogue and concrete cooperation.

Looking to the future France and the UK will pursue their cooperation across the full spectrum of the relationship, at both a bilateral and at a global level. This will include through a focus on sustainable economic growth, international development, energy security and driving low carbon solutions to tackle the climate and nature emergencies. They will embrace the opportunities presented by supporting the clean energy transition, reform of the international financial system and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.

The UK and France reaffirm their deep commitment to Europe’s defence and security. This includes their steadfast support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal war of aggression, for as long as it takes, and for Ukraine’s irreversible path to NATO membership. Fourteen years on from the Lancaster House Treaty, the UK and France share the ambition to reinvigorate their defence cooperation to reflect the complex challenges of the modern era and the range of threats from hostile state and non-state actors to our shared values and interests.

The UK and France agree the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza along with the release of all hostages, unfettered access to humanitarian aid, the upholding of international law, and progress towards establishing a Palestinian State living in peace and security alongside a safe and secure Israel. They also agree on the importance of maintaining stability and security in the wider region.

The Prime Minister and President expressed their condolences for the victims of the tragic events in the channel yesterday and last week. They committed to strengthening their cooperation on irregular migration and the fight against criminal gangs responsible for this tragic loss of life through small boat crossings. The Prime Minister presented the UK’s new Border Security Command and the vital role it will play in this mission.

As a sign of the ever deeper cooperation between the UK and France, the Prime Minister and President welcomed UK support for the staging of the Olympics. They agreed to hold the next bilateral summit in the UK in 2025.

08/08/2024