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

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

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 May 2023.

    Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad will visit India from 27 to 31 May to accelerate science and technology ties.

    • Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, 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

    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.

    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 for the UK and India to work together to shape and deliver solutions to global problems.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Violence in the north of Kosovo – joint statement [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Violence in the north of Kosovo – joint statement [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 May 2023.

    This joint statement on violence in the north of Kosovo is by France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

    Joint statement by France, Italy, Germany, the UK and the US:

    We condemn Kosovo’s decision to force access to municipal buildings in northern Kosovo despite our call for restraint. We call on Kosovo’s authorities to immediately step back and de-escalate, and to closely coordinate with EULEX and KFOR.

    We condemn attacks on EULEX in Zvecan.

    We are concerned by Serbia’s decision to raise the level of readiness of its Armed Forces at the border with Kosovo and call all parties for maximum restraint, avoiding inflammatory rhetoric.

  • NEWS STORY : Charles Michel, President of European Council, Says Destruction of Dam in Ukraine is a War Crime

    NEWS STORY : Charles Michel, President of European Council, Says Destruction of Dam in Ukraine is a War Crime

    STORY

    Charles Michel, the President of European Council, has said that the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine by Russian soldiers is a war crime that needs urgent investigation. Posting on Twitter, Michel said:

    “Shocked by the unprecedented attack of the Nova Kakhovka dam. The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime – and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable.”

    The Russia Government denied that they were responsible for the destruction of the dam, but international authorities have begun an investigation into what would be a breach of the Geneva Convention. Tens of thousands of people have already been evacuated and the environmental damage is expected to be extensive and potentially last for decades.

    Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, said in a statement:

    “A dam near a nuclear power plant is misused as a weapon of war and human lives are put in grave danger”.

    A spokesperson for NATO said that they were beginning investigations into the incident, but said that there was no evidence for an air strike on the dam and it appeared to have been destroyed by a series of explosions. They added that Russia would have a motive for the action and that flooding would continue for the next two to three days.

  • NEWS STORY : Margaret Ferrier Suspended From the House of Commons for 30 Days

    NEWS STORY : Margaret Ferrier Suspended From the House of Commons for 30 Days

    STORY

    Margaret Ferrier, the former SNP MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, has been suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days due to her breach of Covid-19 regulations. In September 2020, she travelled from Scotland to the House of Commons and back again by train while she was aware that she had likely contracted coronavirus. The suspension was approved by a majority vote of MPs in the Commons of 185 to 40, with 32 Tories voting against it. This sanction opens the likely possibility of a by-election if 10% of Ferrier’s constituents add their names to a recall petition. If triggered, the by-election would test Labour’s chances of making gains in Scotland in the next General Election and be the first major electoral test for Humza Yousaf, the new SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, with the SNP winning the constituency at the 2019 election with a majority of 5,320. Ferrier’s suspension has received mixed reactions, with supporters of Boris Johnson accused of planning to block the motion, fearing it could set a precedent.

    RESOURCES

    Margaret Ferrier MP

    Rutherglen and Hamilton West

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 29 May 1923

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 29 May 1923

    29 MAY 1923

    Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, was formally elected Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party.

    Laming Worthington-Evans was appointed as the Postmaster General.

    Éamon de Valera stated that the Republic of Ireland could no longer successfully be defended by arms.

    Hugh Pollock, the Minister of Finance, submitted his Budget Statement in the Northern Ireland Parliament.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 28 May 1923

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 28 May 1923

    28 MAY 1923

    At the Conference of Lausanne, Ismet Pasha agreed that the Karagatch Triangle should be ceded to Turkey in lieu of reparations payable to Greece.

    Austen Chamberlain, writing in reference to the “complete reunion of the Conservative Party”, said in a letter to constituents that “no opportunity was given to us to make our contribution to party loyalty, and no communication from the Prime Minister was made to me until he formed his Ministry”.

    Viscount Grey, in a letter to Captain Robson who was the Liberal candidate at Berwick, stated that he believed the restoration of the Liberal Party to a strong position in public affairs is a most urgent and necessary thing for wholesome, sound and progressive policy.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 27 May 1923

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 27 May 1923

    27 MAY 1923

    The Turkish and Greek armies agreed at the Lausanne Conference that they would not enter into a conflict with each other.

    Violent disorder broke out in Bochum, in French occupied German territory, when rioters stormed shops in the towns. The French military refused to intervene and the local police force, controlled by the French, were also told not to take action. In Dusseldorf, the French authorities executed Schlaegeter after a military trial found him guilty of sabotage.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK strengthens pledge to end plastic pollution by 2040 [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK strengthens pledge to end plastic pollution by 2040 [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 May 2023.

    UK signs Ministerial Statement calling for an ambitious global plastic pollution treaty to tackle plastic pollution and protect the marine environment.

    The UK, alongside 52 other members of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) to End Plastic Pollution, has signed a far-reaching Ministerial Statement, calling for an ambitious global plastic pollution treaty to tackle plastic pollution and protect the marine environment.

    The HAC is a coalition of over 50 governments that have since agreed to end plastic pollution by 2040.

    The Joint Ministerial Statement, published today, calls for a range of mandatory provisions to be included in the global plastic pollution treaty, currently under negotiation. These include reducing the production and consumption of primary plastic polymers to sustainable levels; eliminating and restricting unnecessary, avoidable or problematic plastics, chemicals and products; and eliminating the release of plastics into nature, amongst others.

    The statement comes ahead of the second Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) taking place in Paris next week and sets out the HAC’s key ambitions for INC-2, taking the UK one step further towards the ambition of ending plastic pollution by 2040.

    Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats that we currently face and is interlinked with climate change and biodiversity loss. This Joint Ministerial Statement builds on the UK government’s commitment to help to develop an ambitious, international legally binding treaty that demands urgent action on plastics and drives forward our mission to protect at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.

    Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

    Plastic pollution continues to have a devastating effect on our world’s ocean, people and the wider environment. That’s why it’s more important than ever to step up, take action and drive forward the change needed to bring an end to plastic pollution globally.

    I am proud to be amongst other HAC members signing this statement that calls for ambitious new measures within the global plastics treaty and look forward to some productive and high-reaching discussions in the upcoming INC-2 meeting in Paris.

    The HAC statement builds on the UK’s wider commitments and work to protect and enhance the marine environment.

    Earlier this year, delivering on the Environmental Improvement Plan the government announced the designation of the first three Highly Protected Marine Areas in English waters and launched a consultation on proposed management measures for sandeel fishing with the aim to reduce further negative impacts on important marine biodiversity.

    Building on our existing single-use plastic bans and carrier bag charge, the Government is introducing further bans from October on a range of single-use plastic items – including plates, cutlery, balloon sticks and expanded and extruded polystyrene drinks containers. In April, we also announced that we will ban the sale of wet wipes containing plastic subject to public consultation.

    The INC- 2 meeting taking place in Paris is the second out of five sessions with United Nations member states. A global plastic pollution treaty is hoped to be finalised by the end of 2024.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Sundar Pichai [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Sundar Pichai [May 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 26 May 2023.

    The Prime Minister met with Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet – the parent company of Google – at the Government’s Darlington Economic Campus.

    The Prime Minister thanked Mr Pichai for Google’s role at the heart of the UK’s technology ecosystem, and they spoke about opportunities for growth in the industry.

    They discussed the UK’s strengths and ambitions in cementing its position as a science and technology superpower, reflecting on recent government announcements, including the publication of the AI White Paper.

    On Artificial Intelligence, they spoke about striking the right balance to ensure the right regulatory guardrails are in place, whilst driving forward innovation. They discussed possible opportunities for industry and international collaboration on safe and responsible AI development and agreed to remain in touch on this issue.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy programme appointments [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy programme appointments [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 26 May 2023.

    The Prime Minister has today made one re-appointment and one new appointment to his Trade Envoy programme.

    • Theo Clarke MP has been re-appointed as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Kenya.
    • Rt Hon Conor Burns MP has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the US for Regional Trade and Investment.

    Background:

    • Trade Envoys support the UK economy by supporting British businesses to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the UK’s global trade agenda. They champion Global Britain and promote the UK as a destination of choice for inward investment across all regions of the UK, helping to level up the country.
    • This new appointment will extend the total number of Trade Envoys to 37 parliamentarians, covering 67 markets.
    • The role as a Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy is unpaid and voluntary with cross-party membership from both Houses.