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PRESS RELEASE : UK Military Activity in the Middle East [April 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 April 2024.

In response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks.

We have moved several additional Royal Air Force jets and air refuelling tankers to the region. These will bolster Operation Shader, which is the UK’s existing counter-Daesh operation in Iraq and Syria. In addition, these UK jets will intercept any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions, as required.

We will continue to cooperate closely with our regional partners in the interest of de-escalation.

17/04/2024
PRESS RELEASE : £33 Million of drugs seized by Royal Navy in the Middle East [April 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 April 2024.

HMS Lancaster seizes almost £33 million worth of drugs in the Middle East.

In another blow to drug smugglers, Royal Navy warship HMS Lancaster seized drugs with a street value of nearly £33m as she struck twice against traffickers in the Middle East inside 24 hours.

Just weeks after HMS Trent struck a blow to Caribbean traffickers by seizing £17 million of illegal narcotics, their colleagues onboard HMS Lancaster pounced half a world away in the Indian Ocean.

Heroin, hashish and crystal meth were found by Lancaster’s sailors and Royal Marines – with more than two tonnes of the illegal drugs now having been destroyed.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The fantastic achievements of the crew of HMS Lancaster and Royal Marine commandos in the Indian Ocean shows the important role our Navy plays policing the oceans. Their relentless effort and professionalism have dealt another decisive blow to criminal networks.

Following HMS Trent’s similar success in seizing a substantial amount of drugs on the other side of the world, the Royal Navy continue to lead the UK’s commitment to disrupting drug smugglers across the globe.

Operating as part of the Canadian-led Combined Task Force 150, which is dedicated to stopping criminal activity across more than million square miles of ocean in the Middle East, HMS Lancaster was on the very first day of her security patrol following a period of training when her Wildcat helicopter spotted a suspect vessel during a routine sortie.

In an operation lasting eight hours, Royal Marines from 42 Commando secured the vessel, allowing Lancaster’s sailors to board the vessel. Following an in-depth search, the team recovered nearly 100 packages containing heroin and crystal meth.

Shortly after this success, the ship’s Wildcat helicopter – from 815 Naval Air Squadron – launched a dusk patrol for another sweep of the Indian Ocean.

Once again aircrew came across a suspicious vessel, with the ship tracking her throughout the night, before commandos boarded in the morning and secured the dhow before sailors joined them to conduct another search.

This time, over six hours, they recovered 2.4 tonnes of hashish – bringing the total haul to 3.7 tonnes of illegal drugs seized.

Collectively the tally from the two drugs hauls had a street value of just under £33m according to the National Crime Agency.

Commanding Officer Commander Chris Sharp said:

I am exceptionally proud of the entire team in Lancaster executing these two interdictions on the first two days of our deployment.

Complex interceptions like these in such a challenging environment require true teamwork across the entire ship’s company. This success is shared with our partners in CTF 150 who provided essential support to the operation.

17/04/2024
Rishi Sunak – 2024 Statement on the Iranian Attack on Israel

The statement made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 13 April 2024.

I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel. These strikes risk inflaming tensions and destabilising the region. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard.

The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq. Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed.

17/04/2024
Graham Stuart – 2024 Resignation Letter to the Prime Minister

The resignation letter sent by Graham Stuart to Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 12 April 2024.

Text of letter (in .pdf format)

17/04/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Russia has violated UN resolutions by procuring weapons from North Korea and Iran to use in Ukraine – UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 April 2024.

Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Thomas Phipps at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Russia requested this meeting to talk, yet again, about weapons proliferation to Ukraine. So let’s be clear about who is doing what, and who is breaking international law and undermining the UN Charter.

President, as we are all aware, Russia has repeatedly violated resolutions of this Council by procuring weapons from North Korea and Iran to use in Ukraine.

Russia has bought several dozen ballistic missiles and millions of artillery shells from North Korea, which have been used in attacks on population centres across Ukraine. Russia has procured thousands of Iranian Shahed drones and has used them in a campaign against Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure, which is intended to beat Ukraine into submission by depriving its civilians of power and heat.

Of course, Russia tries to hide its behaviour by vetoing the UN Panel of Experts, which has provided scrutiny of North Korea’s attempts to evade sanctions and advance its weapons programme. As many of us said in the General Assembly yesterday, this veto undermined the global non-proliferation architecture, as well as this Security Council. Russia does not listen to this Council, nor to the General Assembly. So instead, I urge North Korea to stop supporting Russia’s unprovoked, neo-imperial war of aggression against another sovereign state.

President, Russia does not care about arms control. As well as weapons from North Korea and Iran, it has used Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missiles, dual-capable ballistic missiles, cluster munitions, landmines, and countless more weapons from its arsenal.

While Russia might be stripping kitchenware to make its missiles, they nonetheless inflict suffering on civilians across Ukraine.

Over 40% of Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure has been destroyed, and the ICC has issued new indictments against Russian military leaders for the campaign of strikes against numerous electric power plants and substations in Ukraine.

President, what Russia wants is complete freedom to intimidate, to coerce and to kill the people of Ukraine. We are talking here about unchecked aggression.

This Council was created because the world learnt the lessons from the first half of the 20th century; that countries cannot be allowed to invade their neighbours and subjugate their people.

In that same spirit, global support is helping Ukraine defend itself, by providing air defences to protect its cities and its people, and weapons to fight back against the Russian army; an army that has been responsible for summary executions, for torture, for rape, and the atrocities committed two years ago in Bucha.

President, any country that cares about the UN Charter, the sovereignty of states and sanctity of human life should support Ukraine.

The UK has given around $15 billion to date. The UK will remain by Ukraine’s side as it fights Russia’s aggression. We will continue to replenish Ukraine’s air defences and provide the weapons needed to defend its territory. We will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to ensure that Ukraine wins.

Of course, Russia could stop this war tomorrow if it withdrew its forces from Ukrainian soil. Instead, it has begun another round of conscription; rounding up its young people and sending them to fight and die in a war of choice. Currently, around 1000 Russians are being killed or wounded in Ukraine every day. Russia has already suffered 350,000 casualties in Ukraine. This is a tragedy for Russia too.

President, the Russian delegation has told us countless lies about this war, but the truth is, today’s meeting is perhaps a new low. If I’ve heard correctly, we’ve heard today from Russia’s ambassador that Ukrainians are Nazis, acting under the cover of the Islamic State, whilst simultaneously headed by a democratically-elected Jewish president. Ambassador, that is quite the combination and, quite frankly, it is preposterous.

Thank you, President.

17/04/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Secretary Of State announces new appointment to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland [April 2024]
The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 12 April 2024.

The Secretary of State, Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has today announced the new appointment to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has announced the appointment of Jim McCooe to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Mr McCooe will take up the appointment with effect from 1 May 2024 for a period of three years.

Background

The Equality Commission was established in 1999, as part of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. It took over the functions of the Fair Employment Commission, Equal Opportunities Commission, and Council for Racial Equality and Northern Ireland Disability Council.

The Commission is responsible for policing the Statutory Duty on all public authorities in Northern Ireland to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity across a range of areas including religion, political opinion, gender, race, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability and those with and without dependants. The Commission is funded and sponsored by The Executive Office.

Further information about the work of the Commission can be found at: https://www.equalityni.org/Home

Biography of Appointee

Jim McCooe is currently a non-executive director and Chair of the Audit Committee at the Department for Health Northern Ireland. He also holds the Business Improvement Director position at Healthy Kidz. Formerly he was a senior executive at Lloyds Banking Group and held a number of board positions including Trustee of Halifax Foundation and Marlay Trust.

Terms of appointment
- This position is part-time for a period of three years ending on 30 April 2027.
- The position receives a fixed annual remuneration of £5,000.
- The position is not pensionable.
Political Activity

All appointments are made on merit and with regards to the statutory requirements. Political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories to be made public.

Mr McCooe has declared that he has not been politically active in the past five years.

Regulation

The appointment process has been regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment (OCPA) and all stages of the process were overseen by an independent panel member.

Statutory Requirements

The Secretary of State makes appointments to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in accordance with the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
17/04/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Thug who burgled pregnant woman’s house has sentence doubled [April 2024]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 12 April 2024.

A masked thug who took part in a violent burglary has had his sentence doubled after it was referred to the Court of Appeal.

Creddy Taylor, 21, from Leeds, has had his four-year sentence increased to eight years after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that a group of masked men, one wielding a machete, smashed their way into a house in Bradford during the daytime on 25 July 2023.

The victim, who was pregnant at the time, fled the scene before Taylor and the other burglars made off with expensive items, including watches, designer items, and cash.

The Solicitor General, Robert Courts KC MP, said:

I was appalled to learn of this horrific robbery and extend my sympathies to the victim who went through a traumatic ordeal.

The court’s intervention is a welcome one and this case should send a stark warning that those who commit violent burglaries will face the full extent of the law for their crimes.

Creddy Taylor was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment at Bradford Crown Court on 12 January 2024 after he was charged with aggravated burglary.

On 12 April 2024, Taylor’s sentence was increased to eight years after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

17/04/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Police Officer jailed for misconduct in public office [April 2024]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 12 April 2024.

A police officer who engaged in sexual activities with a woman whilst on duty has suspended sentence quashed and sent to jail after it was referred to the Court of Appeal.

Matthew Longmate, 47, from Derbyshire, had his 12 months’ suspended sentence overturned and has been sentenced for 11 months imprisonment after the Solicitor General referred his sentence as being unduly lenient.

The court heard that Longmate and a fellow officer engaged in sexual activity with a woman in a police vehicle whilst they were on duty.

The offence occurred after the officers gave the woman a lift home after an incident in a bar in Chesterfield.

The Solicitor General, Robert Courts KC MP, said:

Matthew Longmate’s abuse of his position for sexual gain was sickening and I extend my deepest sympathies to the victim at what must be a difficult time.

Longmate’s extended sentence sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those who carry out misconduct in a public office.

Longmate was charged for one count of misconduct in a public office. He received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for one year, at Southwark Crown Court on 15 January 2024.

On 12 April 2024, the Court of Appeal quashed Longmate’s previous sentence, and sentenced him to 11 months imprisonment after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

17/04/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Two Trustees appointed to the National Memorial Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund [April 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 12 April 2024.

The Prime Minister has appointed Anna Eavis and Roisha Hughes as Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Anna Eavis

Appointed for a three year term commencing 16 February 2024.

Anna is Chief Executive of Oxford Preservation Trust, an independent local charity dedicated to the conservation and sustainable enhancement of Oxford’s historic buildings and green spaces and to the public appreciation and enjoyment of the city’s history.

She previously worked at the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England and English Heritage. From 2012-2023 she was English Heritage’s Curatorial Director, with responsibility for the stewardship and presentation of over 400 historic sites, their collections and landscapes. She led English Heritage’s learning, youth engagement and creative programmes and managed the London Blue Plaques scheme.

Anna is a trustee of the Leeds Castle Foundation and of the Corpus Vitrearum, a British Academy-funded project dedicated to the research and publication of historic stained glass in Britain. She is a member of the fabric advisory committees at Canterbury and Salisbury cathedrals. She was formerly a trustee of the Stained Glass Museum.

Roisha Hughes

Appointed for a three year term commencing 16 February 2024.

Roisha Hughes has twenty years’ experience of working at the heart of public services in London and in national Government. She now runs her own consultancy.

Roisha was born in Belfast and grew up in South London before studying modern and mediaeval languages at the University of Cambridge.

She began her civil service career in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, working on the Government’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

She then ran the Mayor of London’s office for eight years from 2008, as the city navigated economic downturn, upgraded and developed new transport systems, and hosted the Olympic Games in 2012.

In 2016 Roisha joined the Metropolitan Police as Director of Strategy and Governance, a role which ranged from improving how the Met used data to bringing in Baroness Casey to review the Met’s culture and standards.

Roisha lives in South London with her family.

Remuneration and Governance Code

As Chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund Panel, Anna Eavis will be remunerated at a rate of £10,500 per annum. As Lead Trustee on Grant in Aid/ Non Lottery Funding, Roisha is remunerated at a rate of £10,500 per annum. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Both Anna and Roisha have declared no significant political activity.

17/04/2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK and Republic of Korea to build on legacy of Bletchley Park [April 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 12 April 2024.

UK and Republic of Korea forging ahead with plans for the AI Seoul Summit on 21 and 22 May.
- Leading AI nations to join two days of talks at AI Seoul Summit on 21 and 22 May
- summit will address capabilities of frontier AI models and further commitments from developers on AI safety
- talks to also focus on promoting innovation and how the technology’s benefits can be shared equally
The UK and the Republic of Korea are forging ahead with plans for the next wave of global discussions on the safe development of Artificial Intelligence, with the AI Seoul Summit set for 21 and 22 May.

The summit will spearhead discussions on AI safety, addressing the potential capabilities of the most advanced AI models, building on the Bletchley Declaration and wider agreements which were reached at the AI Safety Summit in the UK last November, which included commitments from developers on AI safety.

Countries will also gather for talks on how the technology can be made more inclusive, ensuring the benefits and opportunities of AI are shared equally – and how attendees can further advance innovation. AI innovations have already helped to realise important breakthroughs in areas such as healthcare and drug discovery, and is being used to increasing effect in other settings such as education and tackling climate change.

Day one of the AI Seoul Summit will see a virtual leaders’ session co-chaired by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol. A select number of global industry leaders will also be invited, to update on how they are fulfilling the commitments made at Bletchley Park to ensure the safety of their models. This comes ahead of an in-person meeting of Digital Ministers on the second day, which is co-hosted by UK Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, and Korean Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-Ho.

Next month’s summit continues the legacy of the Bletchley Park discussions, capitalising on its momentum to once again bring international governments, AI companies, academia, and civil society together to advance the global AI safety agenda. This next round of talks comes at a critical time for the technology, with increasingly capable and advanced AI models expected to be released over the course of 2024.

UK Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan said:

The summit we held at Bletchley Park in November was a generational moment. We agreed the historic Bletchley Declaration and have ensured discussions around AI safely are firmly on the international agenda.

If we continue to bring international governments and a broad range of voices together, I have every confidence that we can continue to develop a global approach which will allow us to realise the transformative potential of this generation-defining technology safely and responsibly.

I am looking forward to building on the ‘Bletchley effect’ with this next round of talks in the Republic of Korea, who are perfectly placed with their rich history of technological innovation to advance the global conversation on AI safety.

Minister Lee Jong-Ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea said:

The AI Safety Summit held in Bletchley, UK last year marked a milestone in which the government, industry and academia coming together to address the potential risks of AI, and I am pleased that the Republic of Korea takes the baton from the UK.

AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace that exceeds our expectations, and it is crucial to establish global norms and governance to harness such technological innovations to enhance the welfare of humanity.

We hope that the AI Seoul Summit will serve as an opportunity to strengthen global cooperation on not only AI safety but also AI innovation and inclusion, and promote sustainable AI development.

Innovation is a particular focus for the UK’s overall approach to AI, with projects such as the Manchester Prize marking a decade-long commitment of £1 million every year by the government to tap into the technology and advance solutions to pressing challenges such as climate change and energy efficiency.

The UK continues to drive forward international collaboration on AI safety through the AI Safety Institute – the world’s first state-backed body dedicated to AI safety. The Institute has already published a detailed approach to model safety evaluations, rapidly expanded its researcher ranks, and earlier this month put pen to paper on an historic agreement with the United States on AI safety.

The AI Seoul Summit will be accompanied by the release of the first iteration of the International Scientific Report on Advanced AI Safety – a key commitment from the Bletchley Park Summit which is being independently led by Turing Prize winner Yoshua Bengio and brings together the best existing scientific research on AI safety from across the globe. The international expert review panel for the report includes representatives from the UK, the Republic of Korea, and other leading AI nations.

The UK will continue to work closely with international governments, AI companies and civil society, to ensure people across the globe can safely realise the transformative benefits of AI to unlock new opportunities, transform productivity and public services, and power economic growth.

Notes to editors

Further details on summit attendees will be announced in due course.

The virtual Leaders’ session on day one ‘Building upon the AI Safety Summit: towards an Innovative and Inclusive Future’ will deepen the consensus on AI safety while also focusing on broader aspects of global AI governance around innovation and inclusivity.

Talks on day two will be held in Seoul, and ministers will discuss ways to ensure AI safety and explore ways to foster the sustainable development of AI.

The AI Seoul Summit is the latest international summit on AI safety, kickstarted at Bletchley Park last November and continuing with a further planned summit in France over the next 12 months.

Ahead of the AI Seoul Summit the UK has appointed Imran Shafi, Director of AI Policy at the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, and Henry De Zoete, the Prime Minister’s adviser on Artificial Intelligence, to spearhead preparations. Approaches to AI should complement a country’s existing strengths, which is why the UK has cemented its regulatory approach in the wake of the discussions at Bletchley Park. In February, the government published its response to the AI Regulation White Paper consultation.
17/04/2024