Category: News Story

STORY

10 Downing Street has confirmed today that four new Government departments will be created:

(i) Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

(ii) Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

(iii) Department for Business and Trade

(iv) Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, said:

“The changes will ensure the right skills and teams are focussed on the Prime Minister’s five promises: to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats”.

The Cabinet members for the new departments will be:

Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP as Secretary of State for Business and Trade. She remains as President of the Board of Trade, and Minister for Women and Equalities

Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP as Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport

Ed Miliband, the Shadow Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, said:

“So seven years after the disastrous decision to abolish the Department of Energy, the Conservatives now admit they got it wrong, but a rearranging of deckchairs on the sinking Titanic of failed Conservative energy policy will not rescue the country”.

RESOURCES

Government Press Release on New Departments

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Guardian News Story

STORY

Tom Gordon, the current leader of the Liberal Democrats on Wakefield Council, has been selected as the party’s candidate for the Parliamentary constituency of Harrogate and Knaresborough. He said in a statement:

“I am truly honoured to have been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough. I will fight tirelessly to give local people a strong voice, both here and in Westminster. This is a beautiful and iconic part of the country with a strong sense of community”.

The constituency was won by Phil Willis for the Liberal Democrats in 1997, but was won by Andrew Jones for the Conservatives in 2010. The constituency is a target seat for the Liberal Democrats, with Jones currently having a majority of 9,675. The local Liberal Democrats said in a statement:

“The local Liberal Democrats are on a winning streak across Harrogate and Knaresborough. In last year’s council elections, the Liberal Democrats won the popular vote and the most seats across the constituency.

Tom Gordon, who hopes to be the next Liberal Democrat MP for the constituency, has a strong record of leading campaigns across the region. Tom has stood up for local health services, fought for Yorkshire devolution and for better transport links across the region.

Tom works as an advisor for a national carers charity. As a former young carer himself, he is passionate about giving a pay rise to carers and giving them the support and recognition they deserve. Tom will be running a passionate campaign to improve health services, tackle sewage and uncleanliness in our local environment and fighting for infrastructure and investment into our local services”.

RESOURCES

Harrogate and Knaresborough Constituency

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Yorkshire Post News Story

STORY

On 6 February 2023, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries including Syria, Jordan, and Israel. The earthquake happened in the early hours of the morning while people were asleep, with over 2,000 feared killed. The earthquake caused widespread damage and led to the collapse of many buildings, leaving many trapped inside. The earthquake was reported to have originated in Gaziantep, which is located in Turkey’s southeastern region and is a major provincial capital. A second significant wave of the earthquake occurred around 12 hours after the first causing further devastating impact and hampering rescuer workers looking for survivors in collapsed buildings. A large number of historic buildings are also confirmed to have been lost following the earthquakes.

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, said:

“My thoughts are with the people of Türkiye and Syria this morning, particularly with those first responders working so valiantly to save those trapped by the earthquake. The UK stands ready to help in whatever way we can”.

James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, added:

“The UK is sending immediate support to Türkiye including a team of 76 search & rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs. In Syria, the UK-funded White Helmets have mobilised their resources to respond”.

RESOURCES

Comments Made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister

Comments Made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Guardian News Story

Daily Sabah

STORY

Ann Thomson, the Labour Leader of Barrow Council, has died following a short period of illness. Anne Burns, a fellow Labour councillor, said:

“Ann spent the best part of her adult life caring for people, battling for the feminist cause and organising for the Labour movement. She was also a real character whose trademark chuckle would lighten many a political discussion”.

She was a long-serving member of the borough council, having first been elected in 1990, Cllr Thomson served as the Mayor of Barrow between May 2015 and May 2016 before becoming its Leader in 2019. The council is being abolished on 1 April 2023 and merging with other districts to become the Westmorland and Furness Unitary Authority.

RESOURCES

Press Release Issued by Barrow Council

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

NWE Mail News Story

STORY

Liz Truss, the Prime Minister between September and October 2022, has written an article in the Sunday Telegraph defending her time in office and repeating her economic vision. Truss defended her plan for economic growth, but said that:

“At no point during any of the preparations for the mini-Budget had any concerns about liability-driven investments (LDIs) and the risk they posed to bond markets been mentioned at all to me, the chancellor or any of our teams by officials at the Treasury”.

She added that “astonishingly, it turns out that the value of total assets in LDI strategies is equivalent to around 60 per cent of the UK’s GDP” and that the workings of these mechanisms helped to damage her economic plans. Truss added that “knowing what I know now, undoubtedly I would have handled things differently. I underestimated the extent to which the market was on edge and, like many others, was not aware of how fragile our system had become”, also admitting that she wasn’t a slick communicator.

In an attempt to salvage her economic plans, she condemned in the article a number of figures, including the President of the United States and other establishment figures, adding:

“I assumed upon entering Downing Street that my mandate would be respected and accepted. How wrong I was. While I anticipated resistance to my programme from the system, I underestimated the extent of it”.

RESOURCES

Section of Liz Truss’s Article

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Full Article in the Sunday Telegraph

STORY

Chris Heaton-Harris, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has ordered an inquiry into the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998. 29 people lost their lives in the attack in the Northern Ireland town, with 220 being injured in the bombing. The bombing was carried out by the Real IRA, a dissident group that opposed the Good Friday Agreement and was opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process. The attack was widely condemned by political leaders and the public, and it led to increased cooperation between the Irish and British governments in their efforts to combat terrorism. The Omagh bombing remains one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in Northern Ireland’s history.

Heaton-Harris said:

“The Omagh bomb was a horrific terrorist atrocity committed by the Real IRA, which caused untold damage to the families of those who were tragically killed and injured. Its impact was felt not just in Northern Ireland, but across the world.

Having carefully considered the judgment of the High Court, I believe that an independent statutory inquiry is the most appropriate form of further investigation to address the grounds identified by the Court.

I would like to thank the victims and survivors and all those affected by the Omagh bomb for their patience whilst I have reflected on the judgment and taken into account a range of sensitive, complex and technical factors”.

RESOURCES

Government Press Release

DUP Press Release

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Guardian News Story

STORY

The Bank of England has confirmed that interest rates will increase by 0.5% to 4%, its highest level in 14 years. The Bank said in a statement:

“The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment. At its meeting ending on 1 February 2023, the MPC voted by a majority of 7–2 to increase Bank Rate by 0.5 percentage points, to 4%. Two members preferred to maintain Bank Rate at 3.5%”.

RESOURCES

Bank of England Press Release

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

Guardian News Story

STORY

Kim Johnson, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, has apologised after earlier on calling Israel a “fascist state” during questions to the Prime Minister today in the House of Commons. After a meeting with the Labour Chief Whip, Johnson said she wanted to withdraw the comments and said that they were “insensitive”.

RESOURCES

Kim Johnson MP

Text of Remarks in Commons

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

BBC News Story

STORY

The British Medical Association, BMA, have issued a report which has warned that hospitals have become “unsafe and undignified” under current conditions. They warned that “there were 1,593 excess deaths in England and Wales in the week to 30 December. Deaths in hospitals were 14.8 per cent above the five-year average” and that “the urgent and emergency care system is broken”.

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has said earlier in the month during a keynote speech that:

“At a time when we’re putting record sums into the NHS and recruiting record numbers of Doctors and Nurses healthcare professionals are still unable to deliver the care they want and patients aren’t receiving the care they deserve. So we need to recognise that something has to change”.

RESOURCES

BMA Press Release

Rishi Sunak’s Speech

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

BMA

NB – The British Medical Association (BMA) is a professional organisation and trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1832, it represents over 160,000 doctors and medical students across the country. The BMA provides support, advice and representation for its members, and works to promote the interests of the medical profession and improve healthcare for patients. It also provides a voice for doctors in debates about health policy and medical ethics. The BMA is a leading advocate for the rights and well-being of doctors and patients, and plays an important role in shaping healthcare policy and practice in the UK.

STORY

Peray Ahmet, the Labour leader of Haringey Council has defended renaming Black Boy Lane in the borough with the new name of La Rose Lane following vandalism of new signage. After the signage was repaired by the council a new large sign with the street’s old name was placed above the council’s new sign. Ahmet said in a statement:

“Now is the time to move forward and come together to honour the legacy of John La Rose and the many other black residents who have made such a huge contribution in the borough. I fully understand that this is a decision that has generated passionate responses and our Corporate Committee took those full range of views into consideration when deciding to change the name of the road”.

Robert Poll, the founder of Save our Statues had said that £180,000 had been spent on the renaming, adding:

“This move is representative of the current impulse to hunt out racism and offence where there is none as a performative display of virtuousness”.

An investigation by Full Fact found that the expected cost of the name change was likely to be less than £100,000, but earlier estimates published by Haringey Council had been higher and did approach £180,000.

RESOURCES

Councillor Database – Peray Ahmet

EXTERNAL NEWS LINKS

BBC News Story

Devon Live – Exeter Council Refuses to Rename Blackboy Road

Haringey Council – Decision and Background of Changing Road Name

Full Fact – Investigation into Cost