UKPOL.CO.UK

Blog

  • PRESS RELEASE : O’Neill holds virtual meeting with First Minister of Wales [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : O’Neill holds virtual meeting with First Minister of Wales [October 2022]

    The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 19 October 2022.

    First Minister designate, Michelle O’Neill MLA held a virtual meeting with First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford MS today to discuss their shared priorities in protecting people, businesses and public services.

    Speaking afterwards, Michelle O’Neill said:

    “I welcome the opportunity to engage with the First Minister of Wales, and to discuss our shared priorities in protecting people, businesses and public services. Each of the devolved administrations face challenges as a result of this chaotic Conservative Government in London who are doing huge damage daily, which is impacting us all.

    “I briefed First Minister Drakeford on the present realities where six months after the historic election, power-sharing has not been restored because the DUP refuse to respect the outcome.

    “We also discussed the fact that caretaker Ministers will vacate Departments in only ten days time with nobody at the helm, and I made it clear that I am ready to form and lead an Executive today to support workers, families and businesses through the cost-of-living crisis.”

  • Ellie Reeves – 2022 Comments on Fracking Vote

    Ellie Reeves – 2022 Comments on Fracking Vote

    The comments made by Ellie Reeves, the Labour MP for Lewisham West and Penge, on Twitter on 19 October 2022.

    She [Liz Truss] walked past me in the chamber as I was on my way to the voting lobby with a big grin on her face whilst her MPs were literally in tears. You could not make this stuff up. General Election now.

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2022 Comments on the State of the Government

    Catherine McKinnell – 2022 Comments on the State of the Government

    The comments made by Catherine McKinnell, the Labour MP for Newcastle North, on Twitter on 19 October 2022.

    This desperate cling to power at all costs is degrading parliament, our democracy, the country and MPs themselves. The Government have to get a grip, set out their stall & let the public decide how we go forward in a General Election. The alternative is that this chaos persists.

  • Ian Blackford – 2022 Comments on the State of the Government

    Ian Blackford – 2022 Comments on the State of the Government

    The comments made by Ian Blackford, the SNP leader in Westminster, on Twitter on 19 October 2022.

    Liz Truss needs to go – and she needs to go now.

    This utter chaos can’t continue any longer. If she had an ounce of decency, or any self-respect, she’d put her resignation in before she’s inevitably forced from office.

  • Ed Davey – 2022 Comments on the State of the Government

    Ed Davey – 2022 Comments on the State of the Government

    The comments made by Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, on Twitter on 19 October 2022.

    This is the most chaotic and incompetent government I’ve seen in my lifetime.

    How much longer will they cling on to power while the country suffers?

    General Election now.

  • James Duddridge – 2022 Comments on Fracking Vote

    James Duddridge – 2022 Comments on Fracking Vote

    The comments made by James Duddridge, the Conservative MP for Rochford and Southend East, on Twitter on 19 October 2022.

    To be clear following tonight’s vote, I supported Liz Truss and the government this evening. Appears that my card did not scan as I walked through the lobby.

  • Alexander Stafford – 2022 Comments on Government Whips During Fracking Vote

    Alexander Stafford – 2022 Comments on Government Whips During Fracking Vote

    The comments made by Alexander Stafford, the Conservative MP for Rother Valley, on Twitter on 19 October 2022.

    Lots of rumours flying around tonight. This vote was never about fracking but about Labour trying to destabilise the country, and take control of Parliament. I had a frank and robust conversation outside the voting lobbies confirming my opposition to fracking, with members of the government, nothing more, reconfirming my position which I spoke about in the Chamber this evening.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2022 Statement on the Casey Report

    Sadiq Khan – 2022 Statement on the Casey Report

    The statement made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 17 October 2022.

    When I asked the Met to establish this independent review a year ago following a series of shocking scandals involving serving police officers, I was concerned that a serious cultural problem had developed within the Met which was allowing racist, sexist and homophobic behaviour to be downplayed or left unchallenged. The interim findings of this review not only confirm my concerns, but reveal a situation even worse than feared.

    It’s clear the Met’s misconduct system is simply not fit for purpose. I now expect nothing less than every single recommendation of this review to be implemented in full, and quickly. All misconduct allegations must be acted upon, cases must be resolved much faster and the disproportionality in the way allegations are dealt with must be eliminated. The majority of those serving in the Met will be appalled by these latest findings and the decent officers who want to speak out – who have clearly been let down for far too long – must be properly supported.

    As Mayor, I’ve ensured the Met is now set on a path of far-reaching systematic and cultural reform, with the appointment of a new Commissioner who acknowledges the scale of the problems within the Met. I want to assure Londoners that I will continue to hold the Met to account as I support Sir Mark in taking urgent action to reform the culture and systems of the Met and to root out all police officers found to be responsible for sexism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, bullying or harassment.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on the Chancellor’s Economic Statement

    Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on the Chancellor’s Economic Statement

    The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 17 October 2022.

    With the markets in turmoil, high inflation and interest rates soaring, the Chancellor had no choice but to take immediate action to prevent even more economic chaos. But so much damage has already been done, with Londoners and people up and down the country paying higher mortgage and borrowing costs as a direct result of the Government’s failed approach.

    The Government is also still refusing to take the basic steps required to help those who need the most support during the worst cost-of-living crisis we have seen in decades. I will continue to call on Ministers to provide free school meals to all primary school children, to uplift Universal Credit by inflation and to ensure that the most vulnerable receive a basic amount of free energy this winter. They should also grant City Hall the power to freeze private rents in London, which would save people £3,000 over two years.

    The Chancellor has massively scaled back the Government’s energy bill support scheme. He should now do what should have been done all along – introduce a windfall tax on energy producers to help foot the bill.

    The Chancellor was also wrong to scrap the reintroduction of tax free shopping for tourists. This is something I have repeatedly called for to help boost sales and growth and to make London and the UK a more attractive place for international tourists to visit, bringing in far more money to the Treasury than it costs.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Planned care waiting times in Scotland [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Planned care waiting times in Scotland [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 19 October 2022.

    Significant progress in clearing two year waits.

    The number of people waiting two years for a scheduled hospital appointment has significantly reduced, helping ease pressure on the NHS ahead of the winter.

    This follows intensive work from Health Boards to clear backlogs caused by the pandemic.

    The national target to clear two year inpatient waits in most specialities by the end of September was set in summer to address the impact of the pandemic on long waiting times for planned care.

    New figures show that by the end of September, 60% (18 out of 30) of all inpatient specialities had fewer than 10 patients waiting over two years for treatment.

    The Scottish Government continues to work closely with Health Boards to clear remaining waits as soon as possible, with a specific focus on specialities and areas where there are larger amounts of people waiting.

    This includes maximising and re-allocating NHS Golden Jubilee University National Hospital’s capacity, a new mobile operating theatre at Stracathro to support long waiting patients in Grampian and the development of a new Urology Hub in Fife. New National Treatment Centres opening in NHS Fife, Forth Valley and Highland next year will also create significant additional capacity to treat patients in orthopaedics.

    Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said:

    “It is through the dedication and resilience of NHS staff that we have been able to clear a significant amount of two year inpatient waits.

    “This is a positive step forward in our recovery from the pandemic and will help ease pressure on the NHS over winter.

    “But challenges remain and there are still unacceptable waits in Orthopaedics, General Surgery and Urology – I am determined to provide the support necessary to drive improvements in these specialities.”