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  • NEWS STORY : Boris Johnson Resigns From Commons and Triggers By-Election

    NEWS STORY : Boris Johnson Resigns From Commons and Triggers By-Election

    STORY

    Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister, has announced that he is resigning from the House of Commons and triggering a by-election in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. His resignation comes after he received the report from the Privileges Committee which he said had recommended that he was suspended from the House of Commons. In his statement, he rejected the committee’s work, stating:

    “Their purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts. This is the very definition of a kangaroo court.”

    He concluded his statement noting

    “It is very sad to be leaving Parliament – at least for now – but above all, I am bewildered and appalled that I can be forced out, anti-democratically, by a committee chaired and managed, by Harriet Harman, with such egregious bias.”

    RESOURCES

    Boris Johnson’s Resignation Statement

  • Boris Johnson – 2023 Resignation Statement

    Boris Johnson – 2023 Resignation Statement

    The statement made by Boris Johnson, the Conservative MP for Uxbridge, on 9 June 2023.

    I have received a letter from the Privileges Committee making it clear – much to my amazement – that they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of Parliament.

    They have still not produced a shred of evidence that I knowingly or recklessly misled the Commons.

    They know perfectly well that when I spoke in the Commons I was saying what I believed sincerely to be true and what I had been briefed to say, like any other minister.

    They know that I corrected the record as soon as possible; and they know that I and every other senior official and minister – including the current Prime Minister and then occupant of the same building, Rishi Sunak – believed that we were working lawfully together.

    I have been an MP since 2001. I take my responsibilities seriously. I did not lie, and I believe that in their hearts the Committee know it.

    But they have wilfully chosen to ignore the truth because from the outset their purpose has not been to discover the truth, or genuinely to understand what was in my mind when I spoke in the Commons.

    Their purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts. This is the very definition of a kangaroo court.

    Most members of the Committee – especially the chair – had already expressed deeply prejudicial remarks about my guilt before they had even seen the evidence. They should have recused themselves.

    In retrospect it was naive and trusting of me to think that these proceedings could be remotely useful or fair.

    But I was determined to believe in the system, and in justice, and to vindicate what I knew to be the truth.

    It was the same faith in the impartiality of our systems that led me to commission Sue Gray. It is clear that my faith has been misplaced.

    Of course, it suits the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the SNP to do whatever they can to remove me from parliament.

    Sadly, as we saw in July last year, there are currently some Tory MPs who share that view.

    I am not alone in thinking that there is a witch hunt under way, to take revenge for Brexit and ultimately to reverse the 2016 referendum result.

    My removal is the necessary first step, and I believe there has been a concerted attempt to bring it about. I am afraid I no longer believe that it is any coincidence that Sue Gray – who investigated gatherings in Number 10 – is now the chief of staff designate of the Labour leader.

    Nor do I believe that it is any coincidence that her supposedly impartial chief counsel, Daniel Stilitz KC, turned out to be a strong Labour supporter who repeatedly tweeted personal attacks on me and the government.

    When I left office last year the government was only a handful of points behind in the polls. That gap has now massively widened.

    Just a few years after winning the biggest majority in almost half a century, that majority is now clearly at risk.

    Our party needs urgently to recapture its sense of momentum and its belief in what this country can do.

    We need to show how we are making the most of Brexit and we need in the next months to be setting out a pro-growth and pro-investment agenda.

    We need to cut business and personal taxes – and not just as pre-election gimmicks – rather than endlessly putting them up. We must not be afraid to be a properly Conservative government.

    Why have we so passively abandoned the prospect of a Free Trade Deal with the US? Why have we junked measures to help people into housing or to scrap EU directives or to promote animal welfare?

    We need to deliver on the 2019 manifesto, which was endorsed by 14 million people. We should remember that more than 17 million voted for Brexit.

    I am now being forced out of Parliament by a tiny handful of people, with no evidence to back up their assertions, and without the approval even of Conservative party members let alone the wider electorate.

    I believe that a dangerous and unsettling precedent is being set. The Conservative Party has the time to recover its mojo and its ambition and to win the next election.

    I had looked forward to providing enthusiastic support as a backbench MP. Harriet Harman’s committee has set out to make that objective completely untenable.

    The Committee’s report is riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of prejudice but under their absurd and unjust process I have no formal ability to challenge anything they say.

    The Privileges Committee is there to protect the privileges of parliament. That is a very important job.

    They should not be using their powers – which have only been very recently designed – to mount what is plainly a political hit-job on someone they oppose.

    It is in no-one’s interest, however, that the process the Committee has launched should continue for a single day further.

    So I have today written to my Association in Uxbridge and South Ruislip to say that I am stepping down forthwith and triggering an immediate by-election.

    I am very sorry to leave my wonderful constituency. It has been a huge honour to serve them, both as Mayor and MP.

    But I am proud that after what is cumulatively a 15-year stint I have helped to deliver among other things a vast new railway in the Elizabeth Line and full funding for a wonderful new state of the art hospital for Hillingdon, where enabling works have already begun.

    I also remain hugely proud of all that we achieved in my time in office as prime minister: getting Brexit done, winning the biggest majority for 40 years and delivering the fastest vaccine rollout of any major European country, as well as leading global support for Ukraine.

    It is very sad to be leaving Parliament – at least for now – but above all I am bewildered and appalled that I can be forced out, anti-democratically, by a committee chaired and managed, by Harriet Harman, with such egregious bias.

  • NEWS STORY : Caroline Lucas to Stand Down at General Election

    NEWS STORY : Caroline Lucas to Stand Down at General Election

    STORY

    Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, has confirmed that she is planning to step down at the next General Election. In an open letter, the former party leader said:

    “I love this city and its people, and I know how incredibly blessed I’ve been to have been given the opportunity to represent you, and to work alongside you. I have always prided myself on being, first and foremost, a good constituency MP. The people who have come to me in my regular surgeries are often desperate, feeling like they have nowhere else to turn – they’re looking for care and compassion not the tangled bureaucratic web that passes for a safety net, and that all too often just causes confusion and complication. I’ve done everything possible to help wherever I can and always worked to ensure that people feel heard, that their concerns matter, and that they are not alone.

    But the intensity of these constituency commitments, together with the particular responsibilities of being my Party’s sole MP, mean that, ironically, I’ve not been able to focus as much as I would like on the existential challenges that drive me – the Nature and Climate emergencies. I have always been a different kind of politician – as those who witnessed my arrest, court case and acquittal over peaceful protest at the fracking site in Balcombe nearly ten years ago will recall. And the truth is, as these threats to our precious planet become ever more urgent, I have struggled to spend the time I want on these accelerating crises. I have therefore decided not to stand again as your MP at the next election.”

    Lucas is the only Green MP in the current House of Commons and she currently has a majority of 19,940 over the Labour Party.

    RESOURCES

    Statement made by Caroline Lucas

  • Caroline Lucas – 2023 Statement Confirming Standing Down at General Election

    Caroline Lucas – 2023 Statement Confirming Standing Down at General Election

    The statement made by Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, on 8 June 2023.

    Dear Brighton Pavilion residents and friends,

    When I first stood to be your Member of Parliament back in 2010, I knew I was asking a lot of you. It was the closest election for a generation, in the midst of the worst recession since the war, and after people’s faith in politics had been trampled into the mud of the expenses scandal. Not the best time to come to people and ask them to take a risk and put their trust in a new kind of politics.

    But on the day of the General Election in 2010, 16,238 people in Brighton did exactly that – and with the election of Britain’s first ever Green MP, together we made history. It has been the privilege of my life to serve this extraordinary constituency and community, both those who voted for me, and those who did not, ever since – and to see my majority increase at each of the subsequent three General Elections.

    And when I think back over the past 13 years, my strongest emotion is deep gratitude. Thank you so much to all those who put your faith in me and put the politics of hope above the politics of fear. To every person who has stopped me on the bus and in the street to ask how I am and to share your personal stories, and who has offered encouragement as I have stood up in parliament to champion your concerns and to hold this government to account, thank you.

    I love this city and its people, and I know how incredibly blessed I’ve been to have been given the opportunity to represent you, and to work alongside you. I have always prided myself on being, first and foremost, a good constituency MP. The people who have come to me in my regular surgeries are often desperate, feeling like they have nowhere else to turn – they’re looking for care and compassion not the tangled bureaucratic web that passes for a safety net, and that all too often just causes confusion and complication. I’ve done everything possible to help wherever I can and always worked to ensure that people feel heard, that their concerns matter, and that they are not alone.

    But the intensity of these constituency commitments, together with the particular responsibilities of being my Party’s sole MP, mean that, ironically, I’ve not been able to focus as much as I would like on the existential challenges that drive me – the Nature and Climate emergencies. I have always been a different kind of politician – as those who witnessed my arrest, court case and acquittal over peaceful protest at the fracking site in Balcombe nearly ten years ago will recall. And the truth is, as these threats to our precious planet become ever more urgent, I have struggled to spend the time I want on these accelerating crises. I have therefore decided not to stand again as your MP at the next election.

    The reason I came into politics was to change things. Thirteen years ago it’s inconceivable that Parliament would have declared a climate emergency. And I’ve put issues like a universal basic income and a legal right to access nature on the political agenda; secured the first Parliamentary debate in a generation on drug law reform; and thanks to my work in Parliament, a Natural History GCSE will soon be on the syllabus. I have said the previously unsayable, only to see it become part of the mainstream, on coal, on the myth that endless economic growth makes us happier, on a Green New Deal.

    My determination to trying to make change is stronger than ever. I look forward to having the time to explore ever more imaginative and creative ways of helping to make a liveable future a reality. Watch this space!

    My heart will always be in this most special city, and with the inspiring communities and individuals I’ve been privileged to get to know. On election night 2010, I pledged that I would do my very best to do you proud. I can only hope that – whether you voted for me or not – you will judge that that is what I have done.

    With love and gratitude,

    Caroline Lucas.

  • Andrew Mitchell – 2023 Speech on Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act

    Andrew Mitchell – 2023 Speech on Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act

    The speech made by Andrew Mitchell, the Foreign Office Minister, on 29 May 2023.

    The UK government is appalled that the Government of Uganda has signed the deeply discriminatory Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 into law.

    Democracy depends on the guarantee of equal rights under law and freedom from discrimination for everyone in society. This legislation undermines the protections and freedoms of all Ugandans enshrined in the Ugandan Constitution. It will increase the risk of violence, discrimination and persecution, will set back the fight against HIV/AIDs, and will damage Uganda’s international reputation.

    As outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone is entitled to human rights and freedoms, without distinction of any kind. The recognition of these inherent rights has been hard-won by citizens across the globe. The strongest, safest and most prosperous societies are those in which everyone can live freely, without fear of violence or discrimination, and where all citizens are treated fairly and can play a full and active part in society. The UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances.

    We will continue to stand up for these rights and freedoms in Uganda and around the world.

  • PRESS RELEASE : African Union communiqué of 27 May 2023 on Sudan – Troika and EU response [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : African Union communiqué of 27 May 2023 on Sudan – Troika and EU response [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 May 2023.

    Special envoys and representatives from Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union have issued a statement.

    Statement by special envoys and representatives from Norway, the UK, the US and the EU:

    Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union [the Troika plus EU] welcome the African Union (AU) communiqué of 27 May following the Heads of State and Government Peace & Security Council meeting on Sudan. We agree with the AU’s condemnation of the actions of the 2 warring parties and the suffering they have caused the people of Sudan. The Troika plus EU reaffirms its support for African leadership and the AU’s Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan, and welcomes the AU’s work to establish an expanded mechanism and its Core Group to ensure inclusive and coordinated regional and international action to secure a viable peace process, and the resumption of the transition to civilian government and democracy in Sudan.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Coronation celebration in Jordan – British Ambassador’s speech [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Coronation celebration in Jordan – British Ambassador’s speech [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 May 2023.

    British Ambassador to Jordan, Bridget Brind OBE, spoke of the work the UK and Jordan are doing to advance our century-long friendship and partnership.

    Good evening Your Royal Highnesses, Ministers, distinguished guests, partners and friends. I’m honoured by your presence here tonight.

    On behalf of my family and everyone at the British Embassy and British Council in Jordan, I should like to welcome you and thank you for joining us to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla.

    As the first Coronation in the United Kingdom for 70 years, this was a historic event. It was a truly magnificent spectacle, combining centuries old traditions with new elements reflecting modern Britain.

    I was particularly struck by the emphasis on service, diversity and community. The new King said he came to serve and not to be served. Leaders of all faiths were represented, as were all parts of the UK. Guests included world leaders and distinguished guests from more than 200 countries, but also volunteers and representatives of civil society organisations. Some of the key roles in the ceremony were carried out by women.

    As a musician, I particularly enjoyed the beautiful music – from songs in Welsh and Greek, to a gospel choir and the rousing sounds of Handel’s Zadok the Priest – played at every Coronation since it was composed for the coronation of George II in 1727 – and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No.4. Of the twelve new commissions composed for the occasion by world-renowned British composers from the worlds of sacred, classical, theatre, film and television music, 5 were by women.

    I am delighted that among the guests were both Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania, and also an impressive young Jordanian woman, Sara Abu Wafa, who King Charles met during his visit to Jordan in 2021. She was one of just five representatives of Prince’s Trust International invited to attend the Coronation.

    We are honoured by His Majesty King Abdullah’s words on the occasion, sending his warmest congratulations and wishes for a glorious and prosperous reign, and looking forward to continuing to advance a century-long partnership and friendship.

    His Majesty King Charles became heir apparent at the tender age of just 3 years old. This makes him Britain’s longest ever King in waiting. We all appreciate the famous Arabic proverb: Patience is the key to everything beautiful.

    Patience is just one of the many virtues of leadership that His Majesty has projected across the globe so diligently.

    As The Prince of Wales, He represented The Queen, meeting dignitaries and travelling extensively to further British interests and raise the UK’s profile abroad. He is now the United Kingdom’s most important ambassador.

    Over decades of his remarkable public service he has championed many social, environmental and charitable causes.

    He is widely known to tackle critical global issues head on. Through his love for nature, he has been at the forefront of promoting ecological sustainability for over 40 years. He is passionate about interfaith dialogue and youth empowerment and is Patron or President of more than 400 organisations.

    He has founded nearly 20 charities, which together raise over £100 million each year for good causes.

    His Majesty’s close affinity with Jordan was marked by his, and Queen Camilla’s, visit to this country as The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in 2021, to mark the centenary of our friendship. His Majesty said then that:

    feel this friendship in the most personal of ways, as Jordan has always been a part of my life.

    And many of the initiatives and causes he has championed over the years are highly relevant to Jordan.

    In response to the threats posed by climate change and biodiversity loss, he created the Sustainable Markets Initiative, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. Its mission is to enable the private sector to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. On His Majesty’s visit in 2021, he met Jordanian academic and business leaders to discuss the vital role of the private sector in supporting the economic transition to more sustainable solutions.

    In 2006, he founded the Turquoise Mountain Foundation to revive historical areas and traditional crafts, which creates jobs and sustains heritage skills around the world. Working with artisans here in Jordan, it has supported training to develop entrepreneurship and reconnect thousands of children with their cultural heritage.

    Since Prince’s Trust International began work in Jordan in 2015, the charity has been collaborating with the government, NGOs, employers and youth groups to develop solutions to the employment challenges faced by Jordanian youth. Last year, over 12,000 students from 204 schools around Jordan participated in the Enterprise Business Challenge programme (a partnership programme with INJAZ) to develop entrepreneurial skills that boost employability.

    During his 2021 visit, His Majesty shared his admiration of Jordan’s roles in interfaith cohesion. He paid tribute to His Majesty King Abdullah’s role as Custodian of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem as a vital element in the search for peace in the region. And he underlined the UK’s admiration for Jordan as a constant voice of moderation, fostering greater understanding between different faiths and communities.

    As a Patron of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, over the years His Majesty has promoted a better understanding of the Islamic world and championed the integration of young Muslims in the UK. His Majesty cherishes the Islamic World as “one of the greatest treasuries of accumulated wisdom and spiritual knowledge available to humanity” and as “A priceless gift to the rest of the World.”

    Over the past year, as His representatives, my Embassy and the British government have continued to develop and strengthen our relationship with Jordan at all levels.

    In addition to attending the Coronation last week, we were honoured that His Majesty King Abdullah visited London last November as one of the first world leaders to meet His Majesty King Charles III, and to call on our new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. In April, His Majesty King Abdullah and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince attended the historic 200th Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst alongside King Charles. Foreign Minister Safadi made an official visit to his UK counterpart in London in March. Like others, we are looking forward to the happy occasion of the Royal Wedding here in June and wish the Royal couple a lifetime of happiness together.

    The warmth of these visits and our other many royal and political interactions over the last year is testament to the enduring closeness of our bilateral relationship, but also to the many concrete areas in which we are cooperating with Jordan in the interests of both our nations.

    • politically, we are grateful for Jordan’s tireless efforts to promote peace and stability in the region and we value our strategic partnership and joint work on the many challenging regional and international issues. We appreciate Jordan’s principled stance in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine and their support on recent evacuations from Sudan
    • our security cooperation continues to be first-class, with the Armed Forces, Public Security Directorate and other security actors, often in partnership with many of those represented here tonight
    • economically, we are working to maximise the value of our new bilateral trade agreement to boost economic prosperity in both our countries. And we are supporting Jordan to advance reforms that will help increase trade, investment and economic growth
    • we are a committed long-term partner in helping Jordan provide a safe haven to millions of refugees from Syria and the region. We are supporting the provision of education, social protection and cash assistance to the most vulnerable people in society
    • we recognise that societies can’t grow and develop unless men and women can both realise their full potential. We are proud to be supporting efforts to increase the participation of women in Jordan’s economy and security forces, whilst also providing services to survivors of gender-based violence
    • climate change is the threat of our generation and one that we must tackle together. We support Jordan in delivering the commitments they made at COP26 in Glasgow and in adapting to the impact of climate change

    In closing, let me return to the reason for this evening’s celebration and the Coronation of King Charles III. At a time of many global challenges, his leadership qualities offer us all something to admire. So I pay tribute to: His lifelong commitment to public service; His tireless promotion of charitable causes; and His championing of young people, interfaith relations and sustainability.

    And I am happy to be able to share with you all a personal message of appreciation from King Charles.

    In particular, I should like to thank all of our sponsors this evening, for making this event possible. Their names are on the screen behind me. I am proud of the GREAT British businesses, innovation and world class services we have here in Jordan. I am very grateful for your support and look forward to continuing to work closely with you and further growing our trade links.

    I would also like to thank our musicians this evening: the Jordanian group Octave, who have collaborated with the British Council and who played for His Majesty King Charles on his last visit to Jordan; the wonderful band kindly loaned to us for the evening by the Jordanian Armed Forces, and pianist Helena Lloyd who has played music from across the four nations that make up the UK, including pieces and composers represented at the Coronation itself.

    I would like to thank all of my team at the Embassy and at the Residence for their work to make this evening possible and for all their hard work throughout the year. And I would like to thank my family for all their support.

    Finally, I want to thank all of you for everything you do to contribute personally to the relationship between the UK and Jordan for the benefit of our people.

    Please join me in recognising His Majesty’s exemplary commitment and service, and in wishing him every success and strength during his reign.

    Long live King Charles. To The King!

  • PRESS RELEASE : Producers urged to address ‘flushable’ wet wipes labelling [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Producers urged to address ‘flushable’ wet wipes labelling [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 29 May 2023.

    Environment Secretary asks producers to address concerns over ‘flushable’ labelling of wet wipes.

    Government has stepped up action to tackle harmful plastics and clean up our waterways by challenging producers of wet wipes to address concerns over how they label their products.

    Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey has written to wet wipes producers setting out her concerns about the number of wet wipes that are flushed down UK toilets – between 2.1 – 2.9 billion each year – and has asked them to reconsider the use of the word ‘flushable’ on packaging to help prevent sewer blockages and water pollution.

    Wet wipes contribute to 94 percent** of sewer blockages, which can lead to damage to properties and can result in sewage-related litter entering the environment. It is estimated that water companies spend £100m each year dealing with this. The Environment Secretary has told producers that labels saying ‘flushable’ or ‘fine to flush’ may encourage consumers to dispose of wipes down the toilet, rather than disposing of them responsibly in the bin.

    Wet wipes producers have now been asked to set out how they will address these concerns.

    This week (26 May) Water Minister Rebecca Pow attended a summit in Paris, where the UK, alongside 52 other members of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) to End Plastic Pollution (HAC), has signed a far-reaching Joint Ministerial Statement that calls for a range of mandatory provisions to be included in the global plastic pollution treaty, currently under negotiation.

    Water Minister, Rebecca Pow said:

    “It is vital that producers are more transparent with their guidance on flushability, as ultimately wet wipes that are dumped down the toilet can cause damage to our environment and water quality.

    “This is alongside the wider action we’re taking on water quality, including tougher enforcement for water companies, more investment and tighter regulation to stop pollution happening in the first place.”

    This action follows on from commitments made in the government’s Plan for Water to write to producers and advertising authorities about using the word ‘flushable’ on wet wipes packaging.

    The Plan for Water also committed to a public consultation on the proposal to ban wet wipes containing plastic, responding to public calls to tackle the blight of plastic in our waterways and building on recent action from major retailers including Boots and Tesco. The government will work with industry and making sure plastic-free alternatives are always available to the public.

    These plans build on our previous efforts to eliminate avoidable plastic waste, including:

    • One of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products announced in 2018
    • Restrictions on the supply of single-use plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds in 2020.
    • Plastic Packaging Tax in April 2022 – a tax of £200 per tonne on plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into the UK, that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic.

    Following the huge success of the 5p single-use carrier bag charge, in May 2021 we also increased the minimum charge to 10p and extended it to all retailers, taking billions of bags out of circulation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK to boost tech, innovation and research ties with India [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK to boost tech, innovation and research ties with India [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 May 2023.

    Lord Ahmad is in India for a visit that will accelerate UK-India collaboration on science, technology and health, following a landmark agreement on science, research and innovation signed by the 2 countries in April.

    • Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, UK’s Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict is visiting India from 27 to 31 May, with a focus on strengthening science, research and innovation links
    • he will visit historic cultural sites and high-tech research facilities in Jodhpur, New Delhi and Hyderabad while meeting senior officials from the Indian Government
    • Lord Ahmad will announce the UK-India Health-Tech Bootcamp winners, welcoming collaboration between the health and start-up communities in both countries

    Building on the ambitions for the UK-India relationship set out in the 2030 Roadmap, Lord Ahmad will meet senior Indian ministers and officials, including Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant.

    The visit’s focus on science, technology and innovation emphasises the UK’s commitment to deepen partnerships in these areas across the globe – evidenced by the recent announcement of a new Tech Envoy to the Indo-Pacific. Strengthening the UK-India relationship is a key pillar of the UK’s long-term foreign policy, as part of its enduring engagement in the Indo-Pacific set out in the Integrated Review Refresh.

    UK Minister for South Asia Lord Ahmad said:

    The UK and India are trusted partners united by the unique living bridge that closely connects our countries and people.

    Building on the 2030 Roadmap for India-UK future relations, we are deepening our collaboration on science and technology, bringing new innovations to both our nations.

    The visit comes as the UK and India continue to make progress towards a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA). An ambitious, balanced FTA would boost our current trading relationship, worth £36 billion in 2022.

    A trade deal with India supports the government’s growth strategy to take advantage of the UK’s status as an independent trading nation, creating new trade and investment opportunities and championing free trade.

    Lord Ahmad’s visit to Rajasthan will be his first trip to his mother’s birthplace of Jodphur as Minister for South Asia and will highlight the region’s rich cultural history.  He will visit the iconic Mehrangarh Fort, and discuss education, sustainability and gender equality with emerging women leaders.

    In New Delhi, Lord Ahmad will launch the ‘English Skills for Youth’ programme, co-developed by the British Council and Microsoft India, which will enhance global employment opportunities for Indian young people, especially young women. The minister will announce the winners of the UK-India Health-Tech Boot camp boosting health-tech innovations from India.

    Concluding his visit in Hyderabad, Lord Ahmad will highlight science and tech innovations with trips to T-Hub and T-Works, the technology start-up incubator and prototyping facility which are part of the world’s largest innovation campus, and space launch vehicle company Skyroot. He will also visit the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology and discuss further potential for science and technology collaboration with Indian alumni of Chevening, the UK’s flagship international scholarship programme.

    Christina Scott, Acting British High Commissioner to India, said:

    The UK and India enjoy an invaluable partnership. As we deliver the UK-India Roadmap 2030, we are deepening and accelerating our collaboration on health, climate, trade, education, science and technology, and defence.

    With India’s Presidency of the G20, we have an opportunity also fo2r the UK and India to work together to shape and deliver solutions to global problems.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Better support for bereaved families and eyewitnesses of homicide and major incidents [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Better support for bereaved families and eyewitnesses of homicide and major incidents [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 29 May 2023.

    Homicide Service expanded to support more people impacted by homicide and tragedies such as Grenfell Tower fire.

    • access to support for children and young people impacted by homicide
    • extra investment to see thousands more people eligible for vital support

    Bereaved families and eyewitnesses of homicide or major criminal incidents like the Manchester Arena bombing will receive better support than ever thanks to important changes coming into force on Thursday (1 June 2023).

    The Homicide Service, backed by £5.27 million of government funding, provides essential services and practical support to families bereaved by murder or manslaughter – such as emotional and practical support like transportation as well as trauma and bereavement counselling and help navigating the criminal justice system.

    Currently, the service – delivered on behalf of government by charity Victim Support – provides services for people who have been bereaved through murder or manslaughter.

    But thanks to new measures coming into effect this week – and following a successful pilot in London which expanded the programme to eyewitnesses of homicide these life-changing services will be expanded to provide support to all those who directly witness a homicide or major criminal incident across England and Wales – approximately 1,200 more people.

    Figures show that 8 out of 10 bereaved family members who have accessed support through the Homicide Service have reported a better outlook on life with 6 out of 10 saying it improved their health and sleep.

    Today’s news builds on the government’s wider commitments to place victims at the heart of the justice system through the Victims and Prisoners Bill ensuring those impacted are always supported and have somewhere to turn.

    Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk KC, said:

    The Homicide Service provides vital support to the families of victims under the worst of circumstances – ensuring they have the emotional and practical help they need to cope with their loss.

    By expanding the service to include eyewitnesses and bereaved families of major incidents across England and Wales thousands more people will be able to access the support they need as early as possible.

    For the first time ever the Homicide Service will provide support to children and young people in the community after a major incident or local murder that impacts them directly such as a teacher, pupil or religious leader.

    This will ensure the most vulnerable in society can receive professional help as quickly as possible to cope with traumatic events that could adversely impact their mental health.

    Ellen Milazzo, Head of the National Homicide Service at Victim Support, said:

    We are honoured to continue to deliver the National Homicide Service, which provides such vital support to those whose loved ones are killed through murder or manslaughter. We set up the service in 2010 and it has gone from strength to strength ever since. Expanding it to include support for direct eyewitnesses to homicide or a major criminal incident where a person is killed, alongside enhanced support for children and young people, is a brilliant step. These changes will enable us to deliver the best possible service for victims and ensure everyone impacted by homicide gets the help they need.

    Justice Minister, Edward Argar, said:

    This expansion of the Homicide Service, and additional new funding, will help ensure that more people bereaved through homicides and major criminal incidents across England and Wales, and eyewitnesses to those events, know they have somewhere to turn for help, where they can get the support they need.

    The enhanced service will work alongside other government measures to help the victims and bereaved of major incidents. In March the government committed to creating an Independent Public Advocate (IPA) as part of the Victims and Prisoners Bill. This will work on behalf of families and provide dedicated support in the aftermath of major incidents like Hillsborough to guide them from as close to the incident as possible to the conclusion of any inquiry and ensure they get access to all available support services.