Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Byers – UK Fine Without Euro (2001)

The press release issued by the Conservative Party on 19 February 2001.

BYERS: UK FINE WITHOUT EURO

Cabinet member concedes that Britain is thriving outside the single currency

TRADE supremo Stephen Byers yesterday performed an incredible U-turn on the single currency.

Mr Byers – the Cabinet’s euro cheerleader – admitted it will be virtually impossible to persuade voters to ditch the Pound because it would jeopardise the economy.

And for the first time, the Trade Secretary declared there is no end in sight to the record number of foreign firms rushing to set up shop in Britain.

His change of heart shows the massive doubts at the highest level of government over the crucial issue of signing up to the euro.

And it is a bitter blow to pro-euro campaigners but a clear sign Tony Blair wants to kill off discussion about the Pound’s future in the run-up to the election.

Mr Byers had warned that £51billion-a-year of foreign investment in Britain would dry up and millions of jobs would be at risk unless we scrapped the Pound.

But yesterday Mr Byers said: “It is a great irony that in terms of convincing the British people to join the single currency, one of the problems is the success of our economy.

“Because people will say we are the fourth biggest economy in the world, inflation is down at 1.8 per cent, interest rates are coming down, unemployment is down to the lowest it has been for 25 years. And people will say, ‘Are you going to put all that at risk by joining the single currency?’”

He added: “I think it will be a hard campaign – if there is a campaign – when the tests are met, to persuade people joining the single currency is going to be in the long-term interests of our country.

“I genuinely can’t see any sign of inward investment dropping off because of Britain not being in the euro. How long that will last for, I don’t know.”

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : 56,000 WEIGH IN WITH `KEEP THE POUND’ CALL (2000)

The press release issued by the Conservative Party on 24 November 2000.

56,000 WEIGH IN WITH `KEEP THE POUND’ CALL

Conservative MP Richard Shepherd today presented a Keep the Pound petition signed by a massive 56,286 people to the Commons

The petition, carried into the chamber in boxes marked Keep the Pound, urges the Government to listen to the people and retain Britain’s currency.

We the people are being led into a federal state which we do not wish to be part of. We wish to remain an independent sovereign state with the economy run for the benefit of our own citizens,” the petition said.

Mr Shepherd (Aldridge Brownhills) said: “The petition has been gathered and signed by people supporting all the political parties and those supporting none.

It is a genuine expression from across the West Midlands of deep concern for democracy and our control over the economy. It expresses a sense of country.”

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Eddie George warns of dropping £ (2000)

The press release issued by the Conservative Party on 29 November 2000.

Eddie George warns of dropping £.

The euro would mean a return to the dark days of the 70s, warns Bank of England boss Sir Eddie George.

Workers face being thrown back to the dark days of the ’70s if Tony Blair dumps the Pound, Britain’s leading moneyman suggested yesterday.

Bank of England boss Sir Eddie George warned there could be tough rules on wage rises and higher taxes as the Government battled the inflation caused by a switch to the euro.

Experts said it would be just like the depressed ’70s when Britain was the sick man of Europe.

Then, the Government had to introduce rules to keep WAGES down as inflation soared to 26 per cent.

There was a year-long waiting list for MORTGAGES and HOLIDAYMAKERS were only allowed to take £50 out of the country.

Even getting a LOAN for a car, like the popular Ford Capri, became a problem due to restraints.

Unemployment rose to more than a million for the first time since the 1940s.

The crisis was fuelled by outrageous pay demands from hardline union bosses.

Britain ended up on a three-day week, there were picket lines and power cuts.

Then in 1976, Labour Chancellor Denis Healey went cap in hand for a loan of $2.3billion to the IMF to avoid bankruptcy.

Sir Eddie, giving evidence to the Treasury Select Committee, said that once Britain joined the euro “the techniques for influencing domestic inflation would have to look more to fiscal rather than monetary policy.”

He said that would bring about a “need to control inflation.”

His remarks are the clearest sign yet that he believes the euro zone’s one-size-fits-all economy – where interest rates are set for 11 countries by bankers in Frankfurt – would be a disaster for Britain.

Andrew Haldenby, of Business for Sterling, said: “In a few crisp sentences Eddie George has summed up the entire case against joining the euro.

“Giving up control of interest rates, the central lever of economic management, would take us back to 1970s-style tax rates and pay policies.

“If we had joined at the start, Britain would now be suffering a job-destroying inflationary boom.”

And Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo said: “If we joined the euro, Britain would be forced into adopting these failed policies that produced boom and bust in the 1970s.”

Ireland has already been forced to strike a three-year wage restraint deal with unions after joining the euro. The country has seen its inflation rocket to a 15-year high of 6.8 per cent since it signed up.

Sir Eddie recently blew a hole in the PM’s drive to ditch sterling when he insisted Britain MUST keep the Pound. He told world bankers the UK is thriving and the Pound’s future is a purely political issue.

Mr Blair says the decision to join the euro will only be based on economics. This week a poll showed a record 71 per cent of Britons want to keep sterling.

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Firms Flocking to Britain (2000)

The press release issued by the Conservative Party on 30 November 2000.

Foreign Firms Flocking to Britain

New report shows Britain is no.1 for overseas investment – proving we can thrive outside the euro.

The latest research from leading business information group Dun and Bradstreet concludes that 28,777 foreign-owned companies are doing business in Britain compared to 23,300 in 1998. The report knocks Tony Blair’s warnings that we risk our economy unless we ditch the £.

The number of French firms doing business in Britain rocketed by a third and Dutch business rose by a quarter.

Investment in Britain from Holland, France and Germany has shot up since they joined the euro 18 months ago as high taxes and red tape cripple businesses. American firms make up the biggest slice of foreign input, followed by Holland, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, Australia and Canada.

This report comes only 2 days after Honda decided to double car production at Swindon. Last year outside companies ploughed £252.2 billion into Britain – up from £204 billion in 1998.

This trend is echoed by finance experts who predict that Denmark’s economy will be boosted by a No vote in next month’s euro referendum.

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary praises ‘true’ football fans and urges respect at games

The press release issued by the Home Office on 20 August 2022.

The Home Secretary Priti Patel has visited Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium to see the valuable work that football clubs, the police and sport bodies are doing to prevent antisocial behaviour and increase fans’ enjoyment of the game after disorder at matches last season.

The Home Office is working closely with the police and football bodies to ensure the matchday enjoyment of the majority of fans and families is not ruined by the selfishness of a few who invaded football pitches, threw flares, and abused players and fans at matches in England and Wales last season.

The Home Secretary met officials from the Premier League and Brentford Football Club, which came top of a recent Premier League survey for matchday fan experience, and saw the new safe standing areas within the Gtech Community Stadium for fans, toured the control room and spoke with the security team about the valuable work they do to ensure match days are positive experiences for spectators.

She also spoke with staff members who work on programmes such as Premier League Kicks, which has been working in local communities to inspire thousands of young people. Premier League Kicks started in 2006 – with Brentford one of 4 pilot clubs – and has a long history of using the power of football and the value of sports participation to help youngsters in some of the country’s most high-need areas.

The Home Secretary urged football fans across England and Wales to respect others’ enjoyment of the game, and the law, or risk receiving a football banning order (FBO) preventing them from attending home and away matches, including potentially the World Cup in Qatar, if they attack or abuse other fans, staff, players or managers.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said:

“There is no place for the ugly scenes we saw at some matches in England and Wales last season and it is good to see the positive work being done by clubs like Brentford to ensure our stadia are safe places for families and children to enjoy the beautiful game.

I am determined not to let a small minority ruin matches for true fans as the football season gets under way and we are working closely with the police and the football authorities to tackle antisocial and criminal behaviour.

I wholeheartedly support the extra measures all football bodies and clubs are bringing to keep fans safe and would encourage police and the courts to make full use of Football Banning Order legislation which we have recently extended to online abuse and will be shortly bringing in to root out class A drugs at matches.”

FBOs are a preventative behavioural order designed to prevent violence, disorder and harm and are imposed by a court, following an application or on conviction for a football-related offence.

Nearly 1,400 troublemakers have already been targeted by FBOs and banned by the courts.

In the last 12 months the government has significantly expanded the scope of FBOs in order to crack down on disorder by:

– adding football-related online hate crime to the list of offences for which a FBO can be imposed on conviction so that those who are convicted of online racism and other hate crimes connected to football can be banned from stadia, in the same way that violent offenders are barred from grounds

– committing to add football-related class A drugs crimes to the list of offences for which a FBO can be imposed on conviction, sending a strong signal to those who use class A drugs in and around football matches that their behaviour will not be tolerated and that they will no longer be able to attend games

In addition, FBOs have recently been extended to the women’s domestic game, showing that regardless of which games fans are attending, violence and hate will not be tolerated.

Recently the Football Association (FA), Premier League and English Football League (EFL) announced they were introducing new measures and stronger sanctions across the game to tackle the increased antisocial and criminal behaviours seen at football grounds last season and to underline the importance of a safe matchday environment. The football bodies are making it clear such acts are dangerous, illegal and have severe consequences.

From the start of season 2022 to 2023, all offenders will be reported by clubs to the police and prosecution could result in a permanent criminal record, which may affect their employment and education, and could result in a prison sentence. The FA will also be enforcing a tougher charging and sanctioning policy for clubs, which will reinforce these measures.

Furthermore, anyone who enters the pitch, and those carrying or using pyrotechnics or smoke bombs, will now receive an automatic club ban. These bans could also be extended to accompanying parents or guardians of children who take part in these activities.

Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Masters, said:

“Everyone should feel safe and able to enjoy a football match. In coming together with clubs and partners across football, we are making clear the type of incidents we saw last season must stop. If we don’t take collective and sustained action, it may only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured, or worse.

The new measures introduced at the start of this season are a strong response to a significant increase in fan behaviour issues, but we know it is the minority who have behaved unacceptably and unlawfully.”

Premier League football should be a fantastic experience for everyone and we don’t want matches to be marred by these sorts of events.

Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries, said:

“We are on the side of football fans and understand the passion and emotion that comes with supporting a team.

As the new season gets into full swing we want to remind people we will not tolerate antisocial behaviour and have strengthened the powers under our football banning order legislation to tackle drug use and hate crimes.

Together with the work being done by the football authorities, we are helping root out those who seek to disrupt match days so proper fans can enjoy a fantastic football experience.”

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : £130 million to protect bus services across the country

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 19 August 2022.

Buses across England will benefit from up to £130 million of government support, ensuring services keep running and millions of passengers can continue using affordable transport.

The funding package announced today (19 August 2022) will cover 6 months from October 2022 to March 2023, and builds on almost 2 years’ worth of unprecedented government support to keep bus networks running. Today’s funding means almost £2 billion has been made available to over 160 bus operators during the pandemic.

The additional funding will help to protect bus services and routes, which are particularly important to people facing pressures due to the rising cost of living. The government is using every tool at its disposal to help people, from ensuring they can access affordable travel, to providing £37 billion of support for the most vulnerable households.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“This funding will ensure millions across the country can continue to use vital bus services, and brings the total we’ve provided to the sector throughout the pandemic to almost £2 billion.

At a time when people are worried about rising costs, it’s more important than ever we save these bus routes for the millions who rely on them for work, school and shopping.”

The government is also investing £3 billion in bus services by 2025, including over £1 billion to improve fares, services and infrastructure, and a further £525 million for zero emission buses.

August 19, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Role of Defence Training Estate recognised in commando memorial unveiling

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 19 August 2022.

The plaque has been installed at Worbarrow Bay, which is part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)-managed military training estate. The land provided a vital training area for the commando unit, which carried out the ‘splinter’ operation, known as Operation Cauldron, to immobilise German heavy artillery that posed a threat to the beach landing areas in France during WW2.

Following specialist training in Scotland, 4 Commando returned to Worbarrow to carry out crucial cliff scaling exercises in preparation for their task. On 19 August 1942, the commandos launched their raid alongside a Canadian unit, which came ashore under fire from mortars and machine guns. There were 5,000 casualties that day.

There is already a commemorative plaque at West Bay to remember the Canadian troops involved, but up until now, there has been no memorial to acknowledge the role of 4 Commando. Further to the memorial on the Defence Training Estate, a duplicate memorial, unveiled on the same day, will sit in the Weymouth memorial garden, which is used for local remembrance services.

DIO Regional Commander Colonel Tim Jalland, who unveiled the Worbarrow Bay memorial, said:

“These Ranges, one of only two sites available for Armoured Fighting Vehicle Fire and Movement Exercises, remain one of the busiest Range complexes in the UK. In addition to their operational importance, the Ranges are located in a beautiful, historically significant and environmentally diverse part of the landscape, which the MOD takes pride in sustaining and maintaining for the Armed Forces and general public alike.”

Naval historian and former Chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Residents Association, Alvin Hopper, is the inspiration behind the plaque, which he said will serve as an important reminder of the coastline’s history as well as acknowledge the vital role played by the unit.

Mr Hopper said:

“We should educate the younger people about their history. They don’t get taught this at school, there’s a lot that’s missed out, especially the local history. Lots of visitors to the area will now be aware of the history. Hopefully, when they see the plaque, they will go and look it up. With the use of modern-day technology, they can get on-the-spot information.”

In his naval role, Mr Hopper served in the mine warfare service, which became the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, and he knows the Dorset coastline very well. He added that military training areas are as vital for troops today as they were then.

He said:

“To have somewhere to train is vitally important. These dedicated training areas give our forces the edge, somewhere to hone their skills. Worbarrow Bay was crucial for 4 Commando because the terrain almost identically matched the terrain they would be facing on the raid.”

The duplicate memorial plaque in Weymouth was unveiled by the Mayor of Weymouth, Councillor Ann Weaving and Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell.

The Lulworth Ranges have provided armoured and dismounted live fire and manoeuvre training facilities for the UK Armed Forces since WW1. The land is part of the Defence Training Estate, which covers around one per cent of land in the UK and plays a vital role in preparing UK and visiting troops for operations across the globe. The UK training area covers 157,000 hectares and includes 9,000 buildings, 21m trees, 3,500km of tracks and more than 70 Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

The estate supports training scenarios that include practising fighting in built-up areas, firing artillery, amphibious landings and assaults, driving tanks and firing from naval vessels and aircraft.

August 19, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Government to set up strategic futures panel to support growth and lead Liverpool to bright future

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 19 August 2022.

Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark has today (19 August 2022) announced he will set up a strategic advisory panel to develop a long-term plan to guide Liverpool City Council out of the current government intervention and help shape the future of the city, alongside confirming he is “minded to” expand the intervention in the council, in response to the latest report from commissioners.

The Liverpool Strategic Futures Advisory Panel will work closely with the City Mayor Joanne Anderson and her Cabinet, and also with the commissioners, to help the council make the right decisions and to develop a plan to give long term confidence in the future of the city, beyond the current temporary intervention. The panel will have a particular focus on driving growth in skills, jobs and opportunities for the city.

The Panel will be chaired by Steve Rotheram, metro Mayor of Liverpool City Region. He will be joined by two of the most experienced people in city leadership, Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of the City of Manchester from 1999 to 2017, and Baroness Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council from 2015 to 2021. The Panel will be asked to nominate an experienced business leader to join them.

Using their expertise and knowledge, the Panel will work closely with Mayor Joanne Anderson and her Cabinet, members, and wider partners, as well as with the commissioners to support the council to make the right decisions and employ its resources to bring long-term confidence and meet the ambitions of the people of Liverpool.

This further step comes after the report on the council’s progress revealed serious shortcomings, particularly around financial management and senior leadership. It also criticised the slow progress made in driving improvement measures that were highlighted in the commissioners’ second report.

Four commissioners were sent into Liverpool City Council in June 2021 to oversee the Council’s highways, property and regeneration functions. They submitted a second report into the council’s progress on 10 June 2022.

Following the report, in addition to setting up the new Strategic Futures Panel, the Secretary of State is announcing that he is minded to appoint a commissioner to oversee the authority’s financial management and to transfer functions associated with governance and financial decision-making to the commissioners together with powers regarding recruitment to improve the running of the organisation.

Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark said:

“I am determined to help do everything I can to help Liverpool come out of the current intervention stronger and able to achieve its ambitions.

The commissioners’ report shows that there are still serious shortcomings that need to be sorted out, especially in financial management. But I want this to be a turning point at which the City of Liverpool can see a bright future that lives up to the power this great city embodies.

So following talks I had in person in Liverpool with Mayor Joanne Anderson and Mayor Steve Rotheram in recent weeks, I am appointing a new panel, chaired by that same Mayor Rotheram and supported by some of the wisest, and most experienced people in city leadership, to lead this transition from current interventions to a successful future.”

Lead Commissioner Mike Cunningham QPM CBE said:

“Our report outlines the challenges the council has faced over the past year in their improvement journey, and highlights some of the areas that need urgent improvement. We welcome the Secretary of State’s decision to expand the directions, and the creation of the Strategic Futures Panel. We have confidence that the council can now address these challenges.”

Liverpool City Council and other interested parties will have until 2 September to provide representations on these proposed intervention measures.

August 19, 2022

PRESS RELEASE : New data shows small businesses received £21.3 billion in COVID-19 local authority business support grants

The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 19 August 2022.

Smaller businesses across the whole of England received £21.3 billion through the government’s COVID-19 Local Authority Business Support Grants scheme, a new report has shown.

Micro, small, and medium sized firms across different business sectors benefited from the funds available under the scheme, which was created to support businesses during and to recover from the impact of the global pandemic.

The new data – which includes a sector breakdown for the first time – shows over one-third of all available funding was allocated to the accommodation and food services sector, a part of the economy hit hardest by the pandemic.

The grant scheme was created by the UK government and administered by local authorities, with all regions in England found to have allocated most of their total available funds to businesses in need.

Small Business Minister Jane Hunt said:

Our amazing small businesses are the backbone of our economy and their efforts both during and since the pandemic have been heroic.

In many cases, Local Authority Business Support Grants were essential to businesses who found themselves really struggling and who are now able to recover, grow, and look to the future.

By putting billions of pounds into business recovery, we have stood by our commitment to our small businesses and the communities, families, and livelihoods they form a key part of.

Data shows the accommodation and food services sector received the most funding. Businesses in this sector have also seen significant support from the government’s Hospitality Strategy, published in July 2021.

Firms operating in wholesale retail, arts and entertainment, recreation, and other services industries were also among the different business sectors to receive substantial help under the scheme. A full breakdown of allocations is below.

Sector	Percentage of funds	Value of funds
Accommodation and Food Services	36%	£8.2 bn
Other Services*	19%	£4.3 bn
Wholesale and Retail Trade	16%	£3.5 bn
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation	14%	£3.2 bn
Transportation and Storage	10%	£2.2 bn
Manufacturing	1%	£0.2 bn
All other sectors	4%	£0.9 bn

*Other Services includes the activities of membership organisations, the repair of personal and household goods and a variety of personal service activities not covered elsewhere in classifications.

Small businesses and others have also been supported through initiatives including the government’s Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS), which has backed almost 19,000 firms with average support of £202,0000 each, as well as the increase in Employment Allowance, slashing of fuel duty, and the introduction of business rates relief for high street businesses.

The government remains committed to supporting small businesses, and firms of all sizes, as they recover from the impact of COVID-19 and prepare themselves for a bright, prosperous, and innovative future.

August 19, 2022

PRESS RELEASE : Self-driving revolution to boost economy and improve road safety

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 19 August 2022.

UK roads could see self-driving vehicles rolled out by 2025 thanks to new government plans – backed by £100 million – which prioritise safety through new laws and create thousands of new jobs in the industry.

Some vehicles, including cars, coaches and lorries, with self-driving features could be operating on motorways in the next year, and today’s (19 August 2022) plans set out new legislation which will allow for the safe wider rollout of self-driving vehicles by 2025. This enables the UK to take full advantage of the emerging market of self-driving vehicles – which could create up to 38,000 jobs and could be worth an estimated £42 billion.

The government’s vision for self-driving vehicles is backed by a total of £100 million, with £34 million confirmed today for research to support safety developments and inform more detailed legislation. This could include researching the performance of self-driving cars in poor weather conditions and how they interact with pedestrians, other vehicles, and cyclists.

The government is also today confirming £20 million, as part of the overall £100 million, to help kick-start commercial self-driving services and enable businesses to grow and create jobs in the UK, following an existing £40 million investment. Successful projects could help see, for example, groceries delivered to customers by self-driving vehicles, or shuttle pods assisting passengers when moving through airports. £6 million will also be used for further market research and to support commercialisation of the technology.

Self-driving vehicles could revolutionise public transport and passenger travel, especially for those who don’t drive, better connect rural communities and reduce road collisions caused by human error. Further in the future, they could, for example, provide tailored on-demand links from rural towns and villages to existing public transport options nearby. They could also provide more direct and timely services that enable people to better access vital services such as schools and medical appointments.

Vehicles that can drive themselves on motorways could be available to purchase within the next year, which users would need a valid driving licence for, so they can drive on other roads. Other self-driving vehicles, for example used for public transport or delivery, expected on the roads by 2025, would not need anyone onboard with a driving licence because they would be able to drive themselves for the whole journey.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“The benefits of self-driving vehicles have the potential to be huge. Not only can they improve people’s access to education and other vital services, but the industry itself can create tens of thousands of job opportunities throughout the country.

Most importantly, they’re expected to make our roads safer by reducing the dangers of driver error in road collisions.

We want the UK to be at the forefront of developing and using this fantastic technology, and that is why we are investing millions in vital research into safety and setting the legislation to ensure we gain the full benefits that this technology promises.”

The government is today consulting on a ‘safety ambition’ for self-driving vehicles to be as safe as a competent and careful human driver. This ambition would inform standards that vehicles need to meet to be allowed to ‘self-drive’ on the roads, and organisations, such as manufacturers, could face sanctions if standards are not met.

The new laws for the safe rollout of self-driving vehicles by 2025 will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.

The legislation will build on existing laws, and state that manufacturers are responsible for the vehicle’s actions when self-driving, meaning a human driver would not be liable for incidents related to driving while the vehicle is in control of driving.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

“Self-driving vehicles have the potential to revolutionise people’s lives, particularly by helping those who have mobility issues or rely on public transport to access the jobs, local shops and vital services we all depend on.

This funding will help unlock the incredible potential of this industry, attracting investment, developing the UK’s growing self-driving vehicle supply chain, and supporting high-skill jobs as these new means of transport are rolled out.”

AA president, Edmund King, said:

“The automotive world is changing rapidly and so the government is right to embrace the positive changes offered by this new technology and back it by funding research and putting forward legislation. Assisted driving systems, for example, autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, are already helping millions of drivers stay safe on the roads.

It is still quite a big leap from assisted driving, where the driver is still in control, to self-driving, where the car takes control. It is important that the government does study how these vehicles would interact with other road users on different roads and changing weather conditions. However the ultimate prize, in terms of saving thousands of lives and improving the mobility of the elderly and the less mobile, is well worth pursuing.”

Today also sees the publication of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation’s (CDEI) Responsible Innovation in Self-Driving Vehicles report, which sets out proposals for a trustworthy approach to the regulation and governance of self-driving vehicles.

August 19, 2022