Category: News Story

STORY

A by-election will be held in the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire following the resignation of Nadine Dorries. The vote will be held on 12 or 19 October, with the Government expected to confirm the exact timing imminently. Dorries took the unusual decision to refuse to resign until an explanation was given to her as to why she wasn’t elevated to the House of Lords, but following public pressure she submitted a formal resignation in late August. Dorries had represented the constituency from 2005 and at the last election there was a Conservative majority of 24,664.

RESOURCES

Mid-Bedfordshire Constituency

Nadine Dorries

STORY

Grant Shapps has been appointed as the new Defence Secretary, replacing Ben Wallace who announced he was standing down from his role and from Parliament at the next General Election. Claire Coutinho, who was the Minister for Children, will take Shapps’s role of the Secretary of State for Energy Security.

Shapps said in a statement:

“I’m honoured to be appointed as Defence Secretary by Rishi Sunak. I’d like to pay tribute to the enormous contribution Ben Wallace has made to UK defence & global security over the last 4 years. As I get to work at DefenceHQ I am looking forward to working with the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who defend our nation’s security. And continuing the UK’s support for Ukraine in their fight against Putin’s barbaric invasion.”

John Healey, the Shadow Home Secretary, said:

“I congratulate Grant Shapps today. The first duty of any government is to keep our country safe & I will always work with the new Defence Secretary on this basis, especially on Ukraine. But after 13 years of Tory defence failures, a change at the top will not change this record.”

STORY

Downing Street has confirmed that the Prime Minister used a helicopter to visit Norwich, despite the availability of a regular rail service from London to Norwich. A spokesperson for Downing Street said in a statement:

“The Prime Minister regularly uses all forms of travel. His travel plans will vary and are always decided with consideration to the most efficient and best use of his time, in the interests of the taxpayer.”

STORY

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has met with Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, at Downing Street. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said that they discussed a new UK-Kuwait Investment Partnership as well as opportunities to partner in defence.

RESOURCES

Government Press Release

STORY

Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport, has apologised for the difficulties with air traffic control at the weekend which caused long delays to flights. He said that although the issue had been resolved promptly, there had been substantial delays and he pledged to ensure that there was no repeat of the incident.

Harper said:

“I echo the apology offered by NATS to everyone caught up in the disruption following yesterday’s technical issue with air traffic control. My priority continues to be making sure passengers get where they need to be as quickly as possible. I am grateful to airlines, airports and Border Force for the work being done to get passengers to their destinations and to provide support while they wait.

Airlines are clear about their responsibilities to their customers and I stand ready to provide further appropriate support from the government should the industry request it. Although the air traffic control system is back up and running, the knock-on effects of yesterday’s disruption are likely to continue over the coming days. Passengers due to travel should check with their airlines before heading to the airport.”

RESOURCES

Government Press Release

NATS Press Release

STORY

James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, has confirmed that he will be attending the Women’s World Cup Final in Australia this weekend as Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, will be unable to make it. Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, will also be attending the final when England take on Spain. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said that he would have liked to have attended, but his diary engagements meant that it wasn’t possible.

STORY

Angus MacNeil, the MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles), has confirmed on Twitter that he has been expelled from the SNP following a disagreement with the party’s chief whip Brendan O’Hara.

MacNeil said in a statement:

“The Summer of Member Expulsion, has indeed come to pass. As I have been expelled as a rank & file SNP member by a ‘member conduct committee.’ I didn’t leave the SNP – the SNP have left me. I wish they were as bothered about Scottish independence as they are about me!”

MacNeil had been the SNP MP for the constituency since 2005 and in 2019 he secured a majority of 2,438 over the Labour Party.

RESOURCES

Speeches by Angus MacNeil

Na h-Eileanan an Iar

STORY

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, has called for the rebuilding of the Crooked House pub in Himley following its surprise demolition. The building caught fire just days after it was taken over by new owners, with allegations that the access road to the property was blocked to prevent the fire brigade from being able to tackle the blaze.

Street said in a letter to Roger Lees, the Leader of South Staffordshire Council:

“We ask that you consider ensuring the property is rebuilt brick by brick (using as much original material as possible) before any further discussions about the future of the site take place.”

The pub had been built in 1765 to be used as a farmhouse, but part of the building sank in the nineteenth century due to coal mining subsidence. It was turned into a pub and was sold earlier this year by Marston’s who said in a statement:

“We are shocked and disappointed to learn about the fire which has caused so much damage to a landmark building which is so well known in the area”.

RESOURCES

Andy Street’s Comments

Andy Street’s Letter to Staffordshire Fire Brigade

STORY

Julie Harrison has been confirmed as the new Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, replacing Madeleine Alessandri who has become the new Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee and Head of the Joint Intelligence Unit.

Chris Heaton-Harris, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said in a statement:

“I am delighted Julie has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary to the Northern Ireland Office. She is an outstanding civil servant, has a passion for the place and will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the post.”

Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, added:

“I would like to congratulate Julie on her appointment. Julie brings a wealth of experience from her time in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and I look forward to working with Julie in her new role as Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office.”

Julie Harrison said of her new role:

“I am looking forward to working with the Secretary of State, the team in the NIO and a wide range of community, business and political voices to create solutions that enable Northern Ireland and the people who live here to prosper.”

RESOURCES

Government Press Release

STORY

Jeffrey Glekin has been appointed to become the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Seychelles, replacing Patrick Lynch who is taking up another role in the Foreign Office. Since 2019, he has held the role of His Majesty’s Ambassador to La Paz and was previously the Head of Mission in Bogota. He will begin his new role in October 2023.

RESOURCES

Foreign Office Press Release