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  • Edward Timpson – 2022 Comments on the Resignation of Liz Truss

    Edward Timpson – 2022 Comments on the Resignation of Liz Truss

    The comments made by Edward Timpson, the Conservative MP for Eddisbury, on Twitter on 20 October 2022.

    I am genuinely sorry for the instability and concern caused by the question of the Conservative Party leadership in recent months.

    As an MP for a constituency such as Eddisbury, which has so much to offer to—and so much to gain from—a good government, I have also found this deeply frustrating, including as one of Her Late Majesty’s law officers during that interim period.

    I am pleased that Liz Truss has recognised this uncertainty cannot continue.

    I am grateful that a new Prime Minister will take office so quickly, with the aim of rectifying the economic and cost-of-living challenges the last several weeks have highlighted to the British people and markets.

    Periods of flux can also be opportunities for Members of Parliament to make their case for their constituencies even more strongly.

    Cheshire residents can be assured that I will be doing so on crucial issues including broadband rollout, healthcare, bus connections and agriculture that I promised them I would advance in 2019.

    Whatever the Westminster maelstrom, I have always kept my head down, and those who elected me uppermost in my thoughts. That will not be changing.

  • Kieran Mullan – 2022 Comments on Penny Mordaunt Becoming Prime Minister

    Kieran Mullan – 2022 Comments on Penny Mordaunt Becoming Prime Minister

    The comments made by Kieran Mullan, the Conservative MP for Crewe and Nantwich, on Twitter on 20 October 2022.

    I hope Penny Mordaunt decides to run, she is best placed to unify the party so we can get on with delivering.

  • Michael Howard – 2022 Comments on Boris Johnson Returning as Prime Minister

    Michael Howard – 2022 Comments on Boris Johnson Returning as Prime Minister

    The comments made by Michael Howard, the Leader of the Conservative Party between 2003 and 2005, on LBC on 20 October 2022.

    I really don’t think we can afford to go back to that psychodrama. Boris [Johnson] had his chance and he failed to retain the confidence of Conservative Members of Parliament. That I’m afraid, for all his undoubted talents, I think that has to be bad in terms of Boris Johnson and the leadership of the Conservative Party.

  • Andrew Murrison – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    Andrew Murrison – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    The comments made by Andrew Murrison, the Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire, on Twitter on 20 October 2022.

    It has to be Rishi Sunak – his economic plan had been completely vindicated and he’s best placed to unify the Conservatives.

  • Dominic Raab – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    Dominic Raab – 2022 Comments on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

    The comments made by Dominic Raab, the Conservative MP for Esher and Walton, on Twitter on 20 October 2022.

    I back Rishi Sunak to be our next PM. He has the plan and credibility to:

    – restore financial stability, help get inflation down and deliver sustainable tax cuts over time; and

    – unite the Conservatives by bringing the best talent into govt to deliver for the British people.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Strengthening women’s resilience and leadership as a path to peace in regions plagued by armed groups [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Strengthening women’s resilience and leadership as a path to peace in regions plagued by armed groups [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 October 2022.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the Annual Women, Peace and Security UN Security Council Open Debate: Strengthening Women’s Resilience and Leadership as a Path to Peace in Regions Plagued by Armed Groups.

    Thank you, President. Let me thank the Deputy Secretary General and all our briefers today for your testimony, your advocacy and your leadership.

    As we mark the anniversary of Resolution 1325, the UK is proud to be a leading champion of the Women Peace and Security agenda in the UN and around the world. And yet the stark reality presented by our briefers speaks for itself. Despite our collective efforts of 22 years, we all need to do more to deliver on the promise of 1325. Today I’d like to highlight three of our priorities.

    First it is clear that we need to strengthen the global response to conflict-related sexual violence. A 20% increase in sexual violence against children and a 41% increase in the abduction of girls as reported in the Secretary General’s 2022 report on children in armed conflict cannot be ignored.

    That is why the UK will host an International Conference on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict on 28-29 November. We will gather countries together to galvanise the response to CRSV, and we will launch a political declaration to send a strong message that we will support survivors, help prevent future violence, and hold perpetrators to account. We urge member states to endorse this declaration, and make a national commitment outlining practical steps they will take to prevent and respond to CRSV, for example implementing the Murad Code.

    Second, we continue to support women’s participation in peace efforts. Women are integral to building lasting peace and security, and their full, equal and meaningful participation in peace processes is the cornerstone of our approach to WPS. But progress here has been too slow as we’ve heard today.

    There has been no significant increase in women’s participation in peace processes since 2000, despite all the rhetoric. So the UK’s fifth WPS National Action Plan will focus on concrete and practical ways to reflect the contribution women make to peace in a changed strategic environment, from Afghanistan to Ukraine, from climate security to cyber threats.

    Third, President, we need to create an enabling environment for women to participate. A major barrier to women’s engagement in political life is the rising risk of reprisals. The Secretary-General’s latest WPS report highlights that since 2018, over a third of the women briefers to the Security Council have faced reprisals. This is simply not acceptable. The UK is committed to protecting women human rights defenders and briefers who courageously speak in this chamber. In partnership with OHCHR, we developed Guidance for Member States to mitigate reprisals against civil society briefers.

    President, Women’s place at the peace table is not only their right, it is essential to building and sustaining peace and security. Every absence will be our collective loss.

    Thank you.

  • Jonathan Evans – 2022 Letter to Government Over Rejecting Much of Committee’s 2019 Report on Local Government Ethical Standards (Baron Evans of Weardale)

    Jonathan Evans – 2022 Letter to Government Over Rejecting Much of Committee’s 2019 Report on Local Government Ethical Standards (Baron Evans of Weardale)

    The letter written by Jonathan Evans, Baron Evans of Weardale, to Simon Clarke, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on 20 October 2022. Lord Evans expressed disappointment that many of the Committee’s recommendations had not been accepted by the government despite clear evidence that the sector backed our call to strengthen the arrangements in place to support high ethical standards. Lord Evans urged the government to the reconsider the Committee’s recommendations.

    Letter (in .doc format)

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government Office for Technology Transfer launches with events in London and Manchester [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government Office for Technology Transfer launches with events in London and Manchester [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 20 October 2022.

    The science, innovation and business community came together this week at London’s Royal Institution and Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum to launch the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT).

    GOTT, which forms part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), has been established to unlock the value of public sector knowledge assets, estimated to be worth over £106 billion, delivering economic, social and financial outcomes for the UK economy and taxpayers.

    Science and Investment Security Minister Nusrat Ghani said:

    The UK is an exceptional research, knowledge and innovation base, cementing its position as a genuine global science superpower.

    However, British discoveries are too often brought to market elsewhere, taking the expertise and financial benefits from UK research to foreign economies.

    This is why the work of excellent new Government Office for Technology Transfer, launching today, will be so important. I look forward to seeing this new office work to commercialise the UK’s outstanding home-grown knowledge assets to benefit our country’s economy, society, and position as an Innovation Nation.

    GOTT CEO Dr Alison Campbell said:

    I’m delighted to be able to mark the launch of the Government Office for Technology Transfer – as a dedicated team with a cross-government remit, it’s a first of its kind.

    Our purpose is to raise awareness across government of the value of intangible knowledge assets and to provide practical advice and support to enable such opportunities to be properly exploited.

    There is a wealth of knowledge, resources and intellectual property across the portfolio of government investments that has the power to drive innovation across business and the public sector. There are already many exciting examples of how these are contributing to the British economy. We want to enhance the scale and pace of knowledge asset development across the public sector.

    Headquartered in Salford, GOTT hosted the second of its 2 launch events on Thursday at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum, where BEIS Non-Executive Board Member, Vikas Shah, joined Alison Campbell to welcome invitees from the innovation ecosystem in the North, as well as showcasing the city as a centre for government innovation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Sanctions Iran over kamikaze Russian drones [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Sanctions Iran over kamikaze Russian drones [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 October 2022.

    The UK is implementing new sanctions on Iranian individuals and business responsible for supplying Russia with kamikaze drones used to bombard Ukraine.

    • UK measures target Russian drone supplies used to attack civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Ukraine
    • Today’s sanctions target Iranians responsible for supplying Russia with kamikaze drones
    • Procurement is further evidence of Iran’s destabilising role in global security and a clear violation of a UN Security Council Resolution

    The UK is today (October 20) implementing new sanctions on Iranian individuals and business responsible for supplying Russia with kamikaze drones used to bombard Ukraine.

    Russia is using the drones to attack both civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Kyiv and across Ukraine, with the intention of cutting off Ukrainian people from energy, heating, and water.

    By supplying these drones Iran is actively warmongering, profiting off Russia’s abhorrent attacks on Ukrainian citizens, and adding to the suffering of the people and the destruction of critical infrastructure. Both Russia and Iran are violating a UN Security Council Resolution that controls the transfer of these weapons from Iran.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    Iran’s support for Putin’s brutal and illegal war against Ukraine is deplorable. Today we are sanctioning those who have supplied the drones used by Russia to target Ukrainian civilians. This is clear evidence of Iran’s destabilising role in global security.

    These cowardly drone strikes are an act of desperation. By enabling these strikes, these individuals and a manufacturer have caused the people of Ukraine untold suffering. We will ensure that they are held to account for their actions.

    Today’s sanctions target the individuals and business personally responsible for providing the drones that have been used in these barbaric strikes. They are:

    • Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri – the Chairman of the armed forces General Staff who has overseen the army branches supplying Russia with drones. Bagheri is subject to an asset freeze and travel ban
    • Brigadier General Seyed Hojjatollah Qureishi – the key Iranian negotiator in the deal that has provided Russia with the Iranian produced drones. Qureishi is subject to an asset freeze and travel ban
    • Brigadier General Saeed Aghajani – the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian armed forces, Aerospace Force UAV Command – the IRGC are reported to have been in the temporarily controlled territories of Ukraine advising Russian forces on how to use the drones. Aghajani is subject to an asset freeze and travel ban.
    • Shahed Aviation Industries – the Iranian manufacturer of the Shahed drones which have been used by Russia during its illegal invasion of Ukraine. Shahed Aviation Industries is subject to an asset freeze.

    Procuring these weapons shows Russia is turning to countries such as Iran out of desperation in order to continue fighting their illegal war.

    Open-source evidence has shown Russia’s own defence company and drone producer Kronshtadt struggle to maintain production since they were sanctioned (24 March 2022), with fridges and dishwashers being cannibalised in order to create military equipment, and Soviet-era tanks have also been sent to the front line as they strain to maintain their military equipment.

    Background

    The UK has previously designated close to 300 Iranian individuals and entities for their role in weapons proliferation, human rights abuses, and terrorism. These include those involved in Iran’s drone programme, including Iran’s Ministry of Defence Armed Forces Logistics and the Iran Aviation Industries Organisation and its subsidiaries including Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Company and Qods Aviation Industry and individuals including Amir Hajizadeh, the IRGC Aerospace Force Commander.

    Iran has one of the largest and most diverse drone and missile arsenals in the Middle East and continues to increase the sophistication, range and accuracy of its weapons systems. It also has a long-standing track record of proliferating drones, missiles and missile technology, including to non-state actors. The missiles and drones are under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

    Iran’s and Russia’s action violates UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which provides that the transfer from, or to, Iran of specified items require prior approval from the Security Council.

    In response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the UK and our international partners have implemented the most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. The UK has sanctioned over 1,200 individuals and 120 entities since the start of the invasion as well as introducing unprecedented trade measures.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Defence accommodation set to improve through new strategy [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Defence accommodation set to improve through new strategy [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 20 October 2022.

    Serving personnel and their families will be better supported through the Defence Accommodation Strategy that will prioritise needs over military ranks.

    New strategy introduces minimum standards to Single Living Accommodation

    Long-term relationships treated equal to marriage and civil partnerships

    Housing allocation based on family needs rather than military rank

    This holistic approach prioritises the needs and personal circumstances of individuals, and ensures the most suitable accommodation is allocated.

    The Government is also extending the eligibility requirements of the Service Families Accommodation to make sure the same level of support is offered to those in long term relationships. As a result of this change, the Ministry of Defence will be able to offer more service people access to a larger variety of housing leading to the reduction in excess housing.

    During a visit to Combermere Barracks, Windsor, Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families Sarah Atherton also confirmed that the Ministry of Defence will raise the standards of Single Living Accommodation through a number of measures set out in the Defence Accommodation Strategy, delivering on a wider commitment to ensure the needs of serving personnel are met.

    Setting out a clear vision to improve accommodation for those serving in the Armed Forces and their families, the strategy promotes the fair allocation of accommodation, seeks to improve the quality of accommodation, and ensure better value for money whilst promoting environmental sustainability.

    Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families Sarah Atherton said:

    “Our Armed Forces dedicate their lives to our nation and deserve a decent standard of accommodation. The changes I have announced today will ensure we maximise the support we provide.

    Serving personnel and their families make significant sacrifices to adapt to the various demands of service life. We must do all we can to give them the right accommodation that meets their needs, now and into the future.”

    The strategy focuses on:

    The introduction of a minimum standard for Single Living Accommodation which will raise the baseline quality across the entire defence estate, which all SLA accommodation must adhere to. This is in addition to mandatory safety and legal compliance measures that SLA must offer individuals including appropriately private, quiet, secure, dry, appropriately ventilated and heated space with access to hot water.
    Adapting the allocation of accommodation to take into account individual needs rather than basing decision on rank.

    Recognising long-term relationships as equal to marriage or civil partnerships, allowing serving personnel to apply for accommodation in the same manner as those who are married and in civil partnerships.

    Chief of Defence People Lieutenant General James Smith said:

    “The world has changed dramatically over the past few decades and the accommodation needs of our Service people and their families have changed with it.

    This strategy makes a commitment that in the future accommodation need will be based on the individual family and that all established long term relationships are treated equally. A modern offer for a modern military providing access to high quality, affordable accommodation for those who help protect the nation.”