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PRESS RELEASE : ‘Executive needed now to support mother and babies’ – Flynn [October 2022]

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 10 October 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn has said an Executive must be formed now to secure funding for a specialised unit for mothers and babies.

The West Belfast MLA said:

“I stood with women and families today in support of their campaign for a specialised unit to support mothers and their babies and help those suffering from severe mental illness during or after pregnancy.

“We need to see the establishment of a properly staffed unit that provides support to people in what can often be a very challenging time.

“Our doctors and nurses need immediate support to deal with the challenges facing health and social care.

“Sinn Féin is ready to form an Executive today to deliver a three-year budget for health and invest an extra £1 billion in health, to tackle waiting lists, to recruit more doctors and nurses, and fund cancer and mental services.”

October 10, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Readout of President Joe Biden’s Call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine [October 2022]

The press release issued by the US President on 10 October 2022.

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. He expressed his condemnation of Russia’s missile strikes across Ukraine, including in Kyiv, and conveyed his condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured in these senseless attacks. President Biden pledged to continue providing Ukraine with the support needed to defend itself, including advanced air defense systems. He also underscored his ongoing engagement with allies and partners to continue imposing costs on Russia, holding Russia accountable for its war crimes and atrocities, and providing Ukraine with security, economic, and humanitarian assistance.

October 10, 2022
Joe Biden – 2022 Statement on Russian Attack on Ukrainian Civilians

The statement made by Joe Biden, the President of the United States, on 10 October 2022.

The United States strongly condemns Russia’s missile strikes today across Ukraine, including in Kyiv. These attacks killed and injured civilians and destroyed targets with no military purpose. They once again demonstrate the utter brutality of Mr. Putin’s illegal war on the Ukrainian people.

We offer our condolences to the families and loved ones of those who were senselessly killed today, as well as our best wishes for the recovery of those who were wounded.

These attacks only further reinforce our commitment to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. Alongside our allies and partners, we will continue to impose costs on Russia for its aggression, hold Putin and Russia accountable for its atrocities and war crimes, and provide the support necessary for Ukrainian forces to defend their country and their freedom.

We again call on Russia to end this unprovoked aggression immediately and remove its troops from Ukraine.

October 10, 2022
Anas Sarwar – 2022 Comments on Division

The comments made by Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour, on Twitter on 10 October 2022.

You don’t beat division with more division.

There isn’t a majority for a referendum next year.

There isn’t a majority for independence.

There is a majority for change – in Scotland and across the UK.

It’s time for change – it’s time for Labour.

October 10, 2022
Nadhim Zahawi – 2022 Comments about Moderna Vaccine

The comments made by Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 10 October 2022.

In an interview yesterday I misspoke and said the Moderna vaccine protects against Covid and flu. What I meant to say was that Moderna is bivalent, which means it protects against both variants of Covid. You still need your flu vaccine too so please get jabbed if you’re eligible.

October 10, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : We must ensure that our efforts to promote and protect the rights of children leave no child behind – UK Statement at UN Third Committee [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 October 2022.

Statement by Richard Croker, UK Ambassador to the General Assembly, at the Third Committee meeting on the Rights of the Child.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The UK is committed to the promotion, protection and realisation of the rights of all children. Disparities between children continue to grow, and we must ensure that our efforts to promote and protect the rights of children leave no child behind.

Following the COVID pandemic, this work is now more urgent than ever. As the Special Representative for the Secretary-General on Violence against Children noted in her annual report, violence against children increased during the pandemic while also becoming less visible. We also know that normal prevention and response mechanisms were disrupted – leaving many children without vital support networks. These challenges illustrate the critical importance of strong, pre-existing child-sensitive and gender-sensitive systems as a basis for effective responses.

In the recent Secretary General’s report on the issue of Child, Early and Forced Marriage highlights how COVID is likely to lead to an additional 10 million child brides ahead of 2030, particularly those from poor households and rural areas. To help protect our collective hard-won gains, the UK pledged £18 million of funding to accelerate efforts through the UN Global Programme to End Child Marriage, last year.

But it is not just the impacts of COVID. We are also deeply concerned by the impact of conflict and humanitarian crisis on children’s rights, safety and wellbeing. According to the Secretary General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict, cases of sexual violence and abduction have increased significantly, by over 20%. The abduction of girls has also increased by 41%. We recognise that protecting children from the effects of armed conflict is a moral, legal and strategic imperative and an essential element to break the cycle of violence.

As I’ve said in other sessions, tackling sexual violence in conflict remains a top priority for the UK. We will host an international Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference next month. And in November last year, the UK launched the Call to Action to Ensure the Rights and Wellbeing of Children Born of Sexual Violence in Conflict. This call was a first step in galvanising international action to support tens of thousands of children who are marginalised and stigmatised by families and communities. Since then, we have also been collaborating with experts and children born of conflict-related sexual violence to develop a detailed framework, called the Platform for Action. We are calling upon Governments to formally endorse the Call to Action and develop their own concrete commitments under the platform to support this vulnerable group.

Finally, threats to children online continue to grow and evolve at a horrifying rate. At any given moment 750,000 people are looking to connect online with children across the globe for sexual purposes. The UK is proud to have recently been identified as a global leader in tackling all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse and to have led a UN resolution recognising the role of the private sector and robust, coherent regulation in protecting children from sexual abuse online.

Mr. Chair, protecting the rights of children is a central part of the UK’s work at home and overseas. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting children everywhere, hearing their voices, and ensuring that no child is left behind. Thank you.

October 10, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Nearly twice as many Londoners support expansion of the ULEZ [October 2022]
The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 10 October 2022.
- 51 per cent of Londoners believe the proposed expansion of the ULEZ should be implemented compared with 27 per cent who think it shouldn’t.
- Same percentage of Londoners as last year see the ULEZ as positive (54 per cent), demonstrating that support has not been affected by the cost-of-living crisis
- There are a quarter of million people with asthma in outer London who are still breathing toxic air
Nearly twice as many Londoners believe the Mayor’s proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone should go ahead than oppose it, a representative YouGov poll commissioned by City Hall has revealed. [1].

Tackling toxic air in London is a top priority for the Mayor, which is why he is proposing to expand the ULEZ London-wide. The proposed expansion would come into effect in August 2023 and would improve air quality for five million more Londoners and help tackle the climate emergency.

Polling shows 51 per cent of Londoners believe the ULEZ expansion should go ahead, compared to 27 per cent who do not.

Almost two thirds (62 per cent) of Londoners without access to a garden or private outdoor space are keen for the ULEZ to expand and half of these want it to be implemented sooner.

Implementation of the ULEZ expansion is even more popular among those under 50, where 56 per cent say they support it compared to 21 per cent who oppose.

Overall, fifty four per cent of Londoners see the ULEZ as positive, and this percentage hasn’t changed since polling in 2021, revealing that the ongoing cost of living crisis has not swayed the support of Londoners for the ULEZ.[2]

Around 4,000 Londoners died prematurely in 2019 because of long-term exposure to air pollution, with the greatest number of deaths attributable to air pollution in outer London boroughs.[3] Air pollution is also permanently stunting children’s lungs and leading adults to suffer a range of illnesses, including lung and heart disease. Over 500,000 Londoners live with asthma and are more vulnerable to the impacts of toxic air, with more than half of these people living in outer London boroughs. While those living in central London are breathing cleaner air due to the ULEZ, with roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels down by 44 per cent, those in outer boroughs are not benefiting to the same extent. The Mayor has been called on to make this fairer by expanding the ULEZ London-wide.

The Mayor believes air quality is also a matter of social justice, with air pollution hitting the poorest communities as well as Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities the hardest. The polling reveals a clear majority (55 per cent) of ethnic minority Londoners think the ULEZ expansion should be implemented – almost three times (20 per cent) those who don’t.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said:

“Air pollution in our city is contributing to children growing up with stunted lungs and older Londoners developing dementia.

“The ULEZ has already made a big difference – reducing air pollution by nearly half in central London and helping us to tackle the climate emergency. It’s clear that Londoners now want the zone to be expanded given the immense harm air pollution is still causing in our city – from cancer to dementia. Expansion of the ULEZ would lead to five million more people being able to breathe cleaner, less polluted air.

“In making my decision I will carefully consider all responses to the public consultation and Londoners’ views.”

“I don’t want us to miss out on any opportunities to protect Londoners from toxic air so that we can continue building a healthier, cleaner and greener London for everyone.”

Ruth Fitzharris, Mums for Lungs said “As a parent of a six-year-old child with asthma in outer London, I am really glad to see that many Londoners are in favour of a bigger ULEZ, which will benefit the health of so many children living here. One in ten kids in London have asthma. One third of those cases are caused by air pollution! All kids in London are negatively affected by air pollution and they really need to breathe clean air now”.
October 10, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Support from Londoners for ULEZ

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 10 October 2022.

Air pollution in our city is contributing to children growing up with stunted lungs and older Londoners developing dementia.

The ULEZ has already made a big difference – reducing air pollution by nearly half in central London and helping us to tackle the climate emergency. It’s clear that Londoners now want the zone to be expanded given the immense harm air pollution is still causing in our city – from cancer to dementia. Expansion of the ULEZ would lead to five million more people being able to breathe cleaner, less polluted air.

In making my decision I will carefully consider all responses to the public consultation and Londoners’ views.

I don’t want us to miss out on any opportunities to protect Londoners from toxic air so that we can continue building a healthier, cleaner and greener London for everyone.

October 10, 2022
Keir Starmer – 2022 Statement on Russian Attack on Ukrainian Civilians

The statement made by Keir Starmer on 10 October 2022.

I’m deeply concerned for the people of Kyiv and Ukraine as Russia escalates its unjustifiable attacks.

The loss suffered by Ukrainians is immeasurable.

The UK is firmly united in condemning Putin’s latest wave of violence and destruction. We stand with Ukraine, today and always.

October 10, 2022
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement to People of Ukraine Following Russian Attack on Civilians in Cities

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 10 October 2022.

Ukrainians!

The morning is tough. We are dealing with terrorists.

Dozens of missiles, Iranian “Shaheds”. They have two targets.

Energy facilities throughout the country. Kyiv region and Khmelnytskyi region, Lviv and Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy region, Kharkiv region, Zhytomyr region, Kirovohrad region, the south of the country.

They want panic and chaos, they want to destroy our energy system. They are incorrigible.

The second target is people.

Such a time and such goals were specially chosen to cause as much damage as possible.

But. We are Ukrainians. We help each other. We believe in ourselves. We restore everything destroyed.

There may be temporary power outages now, but there will never be an outage of our confidence – our confidence in victory.

Why such strikes exactly? The enemy wants us to be afraid, wants to make people run. But we can only run forward – and we demonstrate this on the battlefield. It will continue to be so.

Rescuers are working now. Our air defense system is working. 38 aerial targets have already been shot down.

Please stay in shelters today. Thanks to the help of our military, everything will be fine.

Always follow the safety rules. And always remember: Ukraine existed before this enemy appeared, and Ukraine will exist after it.

Glory to Ukraine!

October 10, 2022