Category: News Story

STORY

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has said that the Government is supportive of the third runway at Heathrow Airport in what she called a boost for economic growth. In a keynote speech she said:

“I have always been clear that a third runway at Heathrow would unlock further growth, boost investment, increase exports, and make the UK more open and more connected as part of our Plan for Change. And now the case is stronger than ever because our reforms to the economy – like speeding up our planning system, and our strengthened plans to modernise UK airspace – mean the delivery of this project is set up for success. So I can confirm today that this Government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer.”

The first announcement of plans to build a third runway were mentioned in May 2003, with the Government of the time giving their cautious support. Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, gave approval to the plans in 2009, but they were cancelled by the incoming Cameron Government in 2010. Cameron later gave more support, but the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that the Liberal Democrats wouldn’t back it. Despite the recommendation by the Airports Commission to build a third runway and support from MPs, the runway didn’t get permission from either Theresa May or Boris Johnson, with expansion plans formally blocked in February 2020.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said that he would contest the building of the new runway, whilst the Government said that investment in the country’s future was now necessary to ensure growth and this wasn’t incompatible with net zero.

STORY

Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, spoke at length to Donald Trump, the President of the United States, by phone in what was said by both to be a productive conversation.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said in a statement:

“President Trump opened by sending his condolences to the Prime Minister on the loss of his brother. The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his kind words and congratulated him on his inauguration. The Prime Minister paid tribute to President Trump’s role in securing the landmark ceasefire and hostages deal in Gaza. The President welcomed the release of Emily Damari and sent his best wishes to her family. They discussed the importance of working together for security in the Middle East. They also discussed trade and the economy, with the Prime Minister setting out how we are deregulating to boost growth.”

Donald Trump praised the Prime Minister, saying in an interview:

“He’s liberal, which is a bit different from me, but I think he’s a very good person and I think he’s done a very good job thus far. He’s represented his country in terms of philosophy and I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him.”

STORY

The Government has announced that a deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and cans will be introduced in October 2027, in an attempt to increase recycling and reduce litter. Mary Creagh, the Minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said in a statement:

This Government will clean up Britain and end the throwaway society.

“This is a vital step as we stop the avalanche of rubbish that is filling up our streets, rivers and oceans and protect our treasured wildlife. Turning trash into cash also delivers on our Plan for Change by kickstarting clean growth, ensuring economic stability, more resilient supply chains, and new green jobs.”

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, said:

“A deposit return scheme really is a silver bullet that will get plastic drinks bottles and aluminium cans out of our parks, off our streets and away from our rivers and seas. Depressingly we litter, burn or bury millions of drinks containers each and every day. This legislation will end all that, save the taxpayer millions in clean-up costs and give recycling a real shot in the arm. Backed and paid for by producers, this method of retrieval and recycling is tried and tested the world over so at Keep Britain Tidy we are putting out the bunting that this government is committed to make it happen, for us all.”

STORY

Led by Donkeys, the British campaign group, have projected an image of controversial business leader Elon Musk with the Nazi salute he allegedly gave earlier this week whilst at a rally at the inauguration of Donald Trump as the President. The image was projected outside the Tesla gigafactory in Berlin, Germany. Musk refused to apologise or explain the incident, instead issuing a statement stating:

“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”

STORY

Tulip Siddiq has resigned as a Treasury Minister following an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh, although there is no evidence that she has acted improperly. In her resignation letter to the Prime Minister she stated:

“I am grateful to your Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards Sir Laurie Magnus for acting with speed and thoroughness in response to my self-referral, and for giving me the opportunity to share the full details of my finances and living arrangements, both present and historic. As you know, having conducted an in-depth review of the matter at my request, Sir Laurie has confirmed that I have not breached the Ministerial Code. As he notes, there is no evidence to suggest that I have acted improperly in relation to the properties I have owned or lived in, nor to suggest that any of my assets ‘derive from anything other than legitimate means’.

My family connections are a matter of public record, and when I became a Minister I provided the full details of my relationships and private interests to the Government. After extensive consultation with officials, I was advised to state in my declaration of interests that my aunt is the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and to recuse myself from matters relating to Bangladesh to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest. I want to assure you that I acted and have continued to act with full transparency and on the advice of officials on these matters.”

Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, replied:

“In accepting your resignation, I also wish to be clear that Sir Laurie Magnus as independent adviser has assured me he found no breach of the Ministerial Code and no evidence of financial improprieties on your part.”

RESOURCES

Letter from Tulip Siddiq to Keir Starmer

Letter from Keir Starmer to Tulip Siddiq

Letter from Sir Laurie Magnus to Keir Starmer

STORY

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that paved the way for the independence of South Sudan. However, the occasion is marked by disappointment as the hopes and aspirations enshrined in the agreement remain largely unfulfilled. The CPA, signed on 9 January 2005, promised peace, human rights, and a responsive government for the people of South Sudan. Yet, two decades later, the country is mired in conflict, corruption, and economic mismanagement.

Despite its vast natural resources, South Sudan’s wealth has been concentrated in the hands of a privileged few. The transitional government has failed to utilise public funds effectively, leaving essential services such as healthcare and education severely underfunded.

“The transitional government has not taken the steps necessary to create the conditions for peaceful and credible elections,” said a spokesperson for the Foreign Office. “We renew our call on the transitional government to act with urgency to meet its long overdue commitments so that South Sudan can finally realise the CPA’s promise of peace and prosperity for all its citizens.”

The international community has expressed growing concern over the lack of progress in South Sudan. The transitional government’s failure to implement key provisions of the CPA has led to renewed calls for greater accountability and transparency. As South Sudan enters its third decade of independence, the need for urgent action to address the country’s deep-seated challenges is more critical than ever. The anniversary of the CPA serves as a stark reminder of the unfulfilled promises made to the people of South Sudan, who continue to endure hardship and uncertainty.

LINKS

Government Press Release

STORY

Ten Derbyshire councillors from the Reform Party have resigned in protest at Nigel Farage’s leadership of the party and said that it had “lost its sense of direction” recently. The resignations come just days after Elon Musk, a support of the new US President Donald Trump, said that Farage was “not up to the job”.

Farage spoke on Newsnight and said:

“We had a rogue branch putting people up and I think you’ll find, in many cases, there will have to be by-elections because they were not legitimately put forward.”

The Reform Party currently has around fifty councillors.

STORY

Liz Truss, the former Prime Minister, has sent a legal threat to Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, demanding that he stop repeating that she “crashed the economy” during her period in office. The mini-budget in September 2022 led to the falling of the pound to its weakest level since decimalisation and Truss ordered a reversal of the budget, but her lawyers said in the letter that the economy did not crash as GDP or employment did not immediately fall.

Truss was forced from office after just 49 days and there was cross-party condemnation of her budget, with Rishi Sunak later stating:

“Everyone knows that two years ago I wasn’t afraid to repeatedly warn about what her economic policies would lead to, even if it wasn’t what people wanted to hear at the time.”

Lucy Powell, the Leader of the House, said in response to the unusual demand that “we won’t cease and desist from telling the truth that the Conservatives crashed the economy.”

A spokesperson for Keir Starmer said in a statement:

“I think you can ask people up and down the country what the impact of previous economic management was on their mortgages, on inflation, and I think you’ll get similar answers.”

STORY

Inspector Charles Ehikioya, head of the Metropolitan police’s Black Police Association, is facing a misconduct hearing for allegedly participating in a WhatsApp group chat where offensive messages were shared. The messages, sent between 2017 and 2020, included racist jokes about east Asian people, a video mocking Katie Price’s disabled son, and misogynistic and homophobic content. Ehikioya denies the allegations, claiming the messages were either fabricated or falsely attributed to him. If found guilty, he could be dismissed from the police force. The hearing is expected to end on 10 January 2025.

STORY

North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) on Monday, January 6th, 2025, marking its first missile test since early November 2024. The launch coincided with a visit to Seoul by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for discussions on regional security and the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The missile, launched from the Pyongyang area, flew approximately 1,100 km before landing in the Sea of Japan. This test is seen as a provocative act by North Korea, demonstrating its continued advancement of its missile capabilities despite international sanctions and condemnation.

The launch drew immediate criticism from South Korea, Japan, and the United States, with all three countries calling for North Korea to cease its missile development program and engage in meaningful dialogue. The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the launch and potential further actions. This latest missile test raises concerns about regional stability and the potential for further escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula. A Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement:

“DPRK’s ballistic missile launch on 6 January is another breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). Unlawful ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula. The UK strongly urges the DPRK to stop such provocations, return to dialogue and take credible steps towards denuclearisation.”