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  • 2024 General Election Candidate Database : Gillian Tebberen (Conservative and Unionist Party) contesting Aberdeen North

    2024 General Election Candidate Database : Gillian Tebberen (Conservative and Unionist Party) contesting Aberdeen North

    2024 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE DATABASE

    CANDIDATE NAME : Gillian Tebberen

    CONSTITUENCY : Aberdeen North

    PARTY : Conservative and Unionist Party

  • 2024 General Election Candidate Database : Lynn Thomson (Labour Party) contesting Aberdeen North

    2024 General Election Candidate Database : Lynn Thomson (Labour Party) contesting Aberdeen North

    2024 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE DATABASE

    CANDIDATE NAME : Lynn Thomson

    CONSTITUENCY : Aberdeen North

    PARTY : Labour Party

  • 2024 General Election Candidate Database : Ian Bailey (Liberal Democrats) contesting Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

    2024 General Election Candidate Database : Ian Bailey (Liberal Democrats) contesting Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

    2024 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE DATABASE

    CANDIDATE NAME : Ian Bailey

    CONSTITUENCY : Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

    PARTY : Liberal Democrats

  • 2024 General Election Candidate Database : Andy Brown (Labour Party) contesting Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

    2024 General Election Candidate Database : Andy Brown (Labour Party) contesting Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

    2024 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE DATABASE

    CANDIDATE NAME : Andy Brown

    CONSTITUENCY : Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

    PARTY : Labour Party

  • 2024 General Election Candidate Database : Jo Hart (Reform UK) contesting Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

    2024 General Election Candidate Database : Jo Hart (Reform UK) contesting Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

    2024 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE DATABASE

    CANDIDATE NAME : Jo Hart

    CONSTITUENCY : Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

    PARTY : Reform UK

  • NEWS STORY : Warrington Council Fails to Find an Auditor for its Accounts

    NEWS STORY : Warrington Council Fails to Find an Auditor for its Accounts

    STORY

    Warrington Council has been unable to find an auditor to sign of its accounts, leading to the removal of a credit rating from Moody’s. The council has £1.8 billion of debt and is under questioning for its investment strategy, but the the Chief Executive of the Council, Steven Broomhead, rejected the crisis and said earlier this month:

    “We haven’t been borrowing money to invest for a return. We’ve been borrowing money for regeneration. What the hell is wrong with that?”

    Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has appointed an inspection team to investigate the council, with the department stating:

    “The Secretary of State decided to commission this inspection to provide him with direct, independent assurance that the council is complying with its Best Value Duty. This duty requires councils to make sure they are continuously improving the way their functions are exercised, with regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness.”

    The lead inspector is Paul Najsarek, who has held numerous senior positions at local councils, with the report expected to be submitted to the Secretary of State by the end of August 2024.

  • NEWS STORY : Rishi Sunak Calls for the International Community to Support Ukraine

    NEWS STORY : Rishi Sunak Calls for the International Community to Support Ukraine

    STORY

    Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has called on the international community to support Ukraine against the illegal occupation of the country by Russia. Speaking at the Summit on Peace, Sunak rejected the peace terms suggested by the Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying:

    “I recall my first visit to Kyiv where I saw the explosive devices that departing Russian soldiers had placed in children’s toys and footballs.

    There can be no justification for that.

    There can be no justification for escalating nuclear rhetoric.

    There can be no justification for disrupting food supplies to tens of millions of vulnerable people.

    Now there will be of course a diversity of views round this table, but I commend and thank everyone for their participation here today, demonstrating that you all seek a genuine peace to this conflict.

    Because Putin has no interest in genuine peace.”

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement after the summit:

    “We are responding to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine not only with a full-scale defense of human life, but also with full-scale diplomacy. These days united one hundred and one countries and international organizations, – big success for Ukraine and for all partners, – and our fair objective is to get all countries of the world to join this noble cause.

    Previous political generations have left us the UN Charter as a basis for the cooperation of peoples. We will pass to the next generations an effective mechanism to implement the UN Charter. And the communiqué adopted at the Summit these days fully reflects our intention, and remains open for accession by everyone who respects the UN Charter.

    It’s important that all participants of the Summit supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity because there will be no lasting peace without territorial integrity.”

    RESOURCES

    Rishi Sunak’s Statement at the Summit on Peace

  • Rishi Sunak – 2024 Speech at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine

    Rishi Sunak – 2024 Speech at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine

    The speech made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 15 June 2024.

    Thank you President Amherd, President Zelenskyy.

    Colleagues, Russia chose to wage war on Ukraine, and we come here united because we choose peace.

    Peace based on the foundational principles of the United Nations Charter.

    The Ukrainian people did not ask for this fight.

    But, in defending their country, their valour and their sacrifice has been truly humbling to witness.

    It is a cruel paradox…

    …that the things that make life worth living…

    …are also the things for which brave men and women are prepared to die.

    For family.

    For freedom.

    For the ability to shape one’s own future.

    We salute them all…

    …just as we abhor all of those who have pushed this fate upon them.

    I recall my first visit to Kyiv where I saw the explosive devices that departing Russian soldiers had placed in children’s toys and footballs.

    There can be no justification for that.

    There can be no justification for escalating nuclear rhetoric.

    There can be no justification for disrupting food supplies to tens of millions of vulnerable people.

    Now there will be of course a diversity of views round this table, but I commend and thank everyone for their participation here today, demonstrating that you all seek a genuine peace to this conflict.

    Because Putin has no interest in genuine peace.

    He has launched a sustained diplomatic campaign against this very summit, ordering countries to stay away.

    And we should ask, why does Russia feel that they are so threatened by a summit discussing the basic principles of territorial integrity, food security and nuclear safety?

    Instead, Russia’s representative at the United Nations said recently that:

    “The only topic for any international meetings on Ukraine will be the unconditional surrender of the Kyiv regime”.

    Well that will never happen.

    Because aggression cannot and will not prevail.

    Instead, we must set out the principles for a just and lasting peace, based on international law and the UN Charter.

    That is the path to a permanent cessation of hostilities.

    Showing that we will always protect the right of all nations to determine their own future.

    This summit is a chance to start down that path…

    To respond together to the global impacts of the war in Ukraine, to send a strong message from the international community to Russia and beyond, that we want to end the suffering.

    We want to see an end to this war.

    And we want to make this the day that the path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine became that much closer.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with President Biden of the United States [June 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with President Biden of the United States [June 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 June 2024.

    The Prime Minister met with Joe Biden, President of the United States, at the G7 Summit in Italy today.

    They discussed the strength of the US-UK relationship and their shared commitment to international security.

    The leaders welcomed the progress at the G7 on making Russia pay for its illegal war in Ukraine.

    They discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed that Hamas should accept the deal and release the hostages.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change-makers and innovators recognised in HM The King’s Birthday 2024 Honours list [June 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change-makers and innovators recognised in HM The King’s Birthday 2024 Honours list [June 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 14 June 2024.

    HM The King’s Birthday Honours List 2024 recognises selfless and innovative service to others from people across the UK.

    Over 1,000 people from across the UK have received honours in HM The King’s Birthday Honours List 2024, published today by the Cabinet Office.

    The focus of this List is individuals who have had an immeasurable impact on the lives of people across the country – such as by creating innovative solutions or driving real change in public life.

    Many are active community champions, innovative social entrepreneurs, pioneering scientists, passionate health workers and dedicated volunteers.

    Alan Bates, founder of Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, receives a Knighthood for services to justice. Tracey Emin receives an DBE for services to art, as does Imelda Staunton for services to drama and to charity.

    The youngest recipient in the List is Shamza Butt, who is 20 years old and receives a BEM for her work as a Member of the National Citizens’ Service Trust Youth Voice Forum. Harold Jones is the oldest recipient, who at 100 years old receives a BEM for his fundraising for charities relating to Motor Neurone Disease and the community in Sutton Coldfield.

    Innovators and change makers

    Michael Palmer, Andrew Airey and Timothy Owen, who founded the 3 Dads Walking campaign after losing their young daughters to suicide, each receive an MBE for services to the prevention of young suicide. The three dads have walked all across the UK to raise awareness of suicide in young people and raise funds for charity Papyrus UK.

    Eight people are recognised for their contributions to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Angus Heddle from the Orkney Islands receives an MBE for 73 years of voluntary service to the RNLI, and David Nicoll from Cornwall receives a BEM for his 43 years of service, having started volunteering at the age of 18.

    Clodagh Dunlop from Northern Ireland receives an MBE for services to stroke survivors and the reform of stroke services. In 2015 Clodagh suffered from a brain stem stroke, leaving her with locked in syndrome. She has made an incredible recovery over recent years and has returned to work as a serving detective. She is a Stroke Association ambassador and has educated and inspired many stroke survivors in the UK and worldwide.

    Patrick and Karen McCourt from Larne, County Antrim, both receive BEMs for services to foster care in Northern Ireland. Both over 70 years old, together they have fostered more than 331 children in the last 45 years.

    Rebecca Redfern from Droitwich receives an MBE for her services to young people and to the community in Worcestershire. She was diagnosed aged 7 with Retinitis Pigmentosa, and at the age of 14 was discovered as a para swimmer by British Swimming. She has since won medals at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics as a GB paralympic swimmer and has visited hundreds of schools throughout Worcestershire speaking to children about overcoming obstacles to achieve success.

    Deborah Pezzani from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, receives a BEM for services to teenagers and young adults with cancer. In 2007, she set up Teens Unite to bring together young people aged 13-24 who are living with cancer. The charity hosts over 100 beneficiary activities and events annually, has almost 100 volunteers and has raised just over £1 million.

    Sally Bourton receives a BEM for services to the community in Cornwall. She is the Postmistress for Trewoon and has been at the heart of her community for 24 years. She runs her Post Office alongside local fundraising activities and, during the pandemic, she was instrumental in rallying local volunteers who were willing to help the community. For the Coronation of HM King Charles, she organised for every child in the village to receive a mint coin with The King’s head on it.

    Dean Jackson from Derbyshire receives an MBE for services to business and innovation through setting up his own wetsuit company, HUUB. This first came about in 2011 when Dean noticed a gap in the market after seeing little advancement in wetsuit design and performance. HUUB has since expanded its products into cycling gear as well, and is now worn by many of the world’s top athletes, including the Brownlee brothers.

    Alison Baverstock from Kingston upon Thames receives an MBE for charitable services to families in the British Armed Forces community. She created the charity Reading Force in 2011, developing a scheme that supports parents in the military read with their children while on deployment or during training. The scope of the scheme has since expanded across the whole of the UK as well as UK Armed Forces overseas. To date, over 250,000 people have requested reading scrapbooks or received reading books, improving children’s reading ability.

    Anyone can freely nominate someone for an honour.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors:

    The honours system strives to be inclusive of all of the UK society. Of the 1,077 people who receive an award:

    • 948 candidates have been selected at BEM, MBE and OBE level:
    • 300 at BEM
    • 425 at MBE
    • 223 at OBE- 692 (64%) of the recipients are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity;
    • 713 (66%) of the recipients live outside of London and the South East
    • 509 women are recognised in the List, representing 48% of the total:
      • 40% of recipients at CBE level and above are women;
    • 10% of the successful candidates come from an ethnic minority background:
    • 4.6% of recipients are from an Asian ethnic group;
    • 3% of recipients are from a black ethnic group;
    • 1.6% of recipients with a mixed ethnic background;
    • 0.4% of recipients come from another ethnic background;

    The full Birthday Honours List 2024 on gov.uk.