15 AUGUST 1923
The by-election result in South Portsmouth was announced with the Unionist party holding onto the seat. Herbert Cayzer, the Unionist candidate, secured 11,884 votes and Henry Merrick Lawson, the Liberal candidate, secured 9,763 votes.
Gustav Stresemann, the new Chancellor in Germany, announced that he was willing for the question of the legality of the French occupation of the Ruhr Valley to be decided by an International Court of Arbitration.
14 AUGUST 1923
The German Government announced that it was ceasing the repayment of all war reparations saying that the country was in plight and its citizens in danger of starvation.
The French Government reacted angrily to the British note stating that their occupation of the Ruhr Valley was illegal.
Sir Charles Monro was appointed as the Governor of Gibraltar.
William Cosgrave, the President of Ireland, unveiled a memorial in Ireland to the two Irish leaders Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins.
13 AUGUST 1923
The Cuno Government in Germany resigned leaving Gustav Stresemann to become the new Chancellor.
The British Government said that the French occupation in the Ruhr Valley was both illegal and also detrimental to peace and trade.
David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, said in a speech in Conway that it would be a a great tragedy if the sacrifices of the Great War had been in vain.
12 AUGUST 1923
The British Government sent a note to the French Government saying that it disagreed with its foreign policy with relation to Germany. It stated that the occupation of the Ruhr Valley was illegal was welcomed by the German Government.
Wilhelm Cuno, the Chancellor of Germany, offered his resignation over growing problems in the country.
![PRESS RELEASE : Pupils in disadvantaged areas to benefit from new free schools [August 2023]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/education.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 22 August 2023.
Fifteen new free schools to open in areas where education outcomes are poorest to drive up school standards.
Around 12,000 young people in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country will benefit from a wave of new free schools, another major step in this government’s work to raise school standards.
The government has announced today (22 August 2023) that 15 new free schools are set to be opened in parts of the country where education outcomes are weakest, providing more opportunities for local young people.
Free schools are funded by the government but are not run by the local authority, instead, they are run by other organisations – most commonly academy trusts – but also industry and universities. They have greater freedom to innovate and drive up standards, for example more autonomy over the teachers’ pay and their curriculum.
The new schools will include 3 schools run by the high performing Star Academies and Eton College, located in Dudley, Teesside and Oldham, spreading the highest standards of education across the North East, North West and West Midlands. These schools will help rapidly increase the progression of talented local pupils into top universities including Oxford and Cambridge.
Free schools and academies have been central to this government’s work to raise school standards, with 88% of schools now rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, up from 68% in 2010. In classrooms, England’s children have shot up the international rankings for reading and our 9 and 10 year olds are now the best in the western world.
The free schools programme provides parents with more choice of good schools, helping to level up opportunity across the country. It enables strong trusts to open high-quality schools in new areas and attract fresh expertise to areas across the country that need it most.
Free schools outperformed other types of non-selective state schools in England in last week’s A level results. Around 35% of A levels taken by pupils in free schools achieved a grade A or A* compared to 22% studied by pupils in local authority schools.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:
We want to make more good school places available to families, and these 15 new free schools will bring brand new opportunities to young people from Bradford to Bristol.
Free schools bring high standards, more choice for parents and strong links to industry – and all in the areas where those opportunities are needed most.
These new schools build on this government’s work to drive up school standards since 2010, with 88% of schools now rated good or outstanding – up from 68% – and high performing academies and free schools in all parts of the country.
Star Academies chief executive Sir Hamid Patel CBE said:
The free schools programme continues to inject innovation and creativity into the school system.
We’re delighted our 3 sixth form colleges – being delivered in partnership with Eton College – will be part of the programme and we look forward to working with our local stakeholders to provide more young people with the high-quality education and aspirational opportunities they deserve.
Eton College headmaster Simon Henderson said:
We are delighted by this decision. We believe these new colleges have the potential to be transformative both for the young people who attend and for the wider communities they will serve.
Collaborative partnership will be key to this project’s success and we are very grateful for the support we have had already from the respective councils, from the local communities and from our colleagues in other educational settings.
Each Eton Star sixth-form college will create 480 schools spaces and will be run through a strong partnership between Star Academies, a highly successful academy trust, and Eton College, who will provide financial and extra-curricular support.
Plans have also been approved for the BRIT School North in Bradford, 2 University Technical Colleges (UTCs), 1 new all-through school for pupils aged 4 to 16, a primary school, 2 secondary schools and a further 5 free schools for 16 to 19 year olds.
The 2 University Technical Colleges (UTCs) have been approved for Doncaster and Southampton to support young people build the skills they need for their future careers, including in health sciences and marine engineering.
The BRIT School North will create opportunities for rising stars in the north of the country to break into the performing arts industry. It is based on the award-winning performing arts school in South London which helped to launch the careers of Adele, Amy Winehouse and Jessie J.
Free schools in this wave have been approved where there is the greatest need for good new places, prioritising Education Investment Areas (EIAs)identified in the Levelling Up White Paper and Priority Education Investment Areas (PEIAs) identified in the Schools White Paper.
These are parts of the country with the lowest education outcomes that the government is investing in to support young people to get the education and skills they need to get a good job and help the economy continue growing.
The full list of new free schools that have been approved and are expected to open in 3 or 4 years include:
![PRESS RELEASE : Armed Forces to benefit from £89 million battlefield network [August 2023]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/mod.png)
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 22 August 2023.
Military personnel deployed on the battlefield will benefit from enhanced connectivity, following the award of an £89 million contract.
Military personnel deployed on the battlefield will benefit from enhanced connectivity, following the award of an £89 million contract.
The five-year contract has been awarded to BAE Systems to design and manufacture a deployable tactical Wide Area Network (WAN) known as ‘TRINITY’ – delivering a highly secure and state-of-the-art battlefield internet capability to UK forces.
This contract named Design and Systems Integration Delivery (DSID) will directly support the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by backing 60 UK jobs based in Dorset. It will also see further investment into UK skills from BAE Systems, their partners and across the supporting supply chain.
Working together with trusted partners, including L3 Harris, KBR and PA Consulting, BAE Systems will combine its defence communications systems expertise and experience to develop, deliver and deploy world-leading network capability to the UK Armed Forces.
Trinity’s resilience is based on its composition. It is made up of a series of nodes, each able to add, access and move data in a secure network. If a number of nodes are damaged in warfare, the rest automatically re-route to maintain optimum network speed and flow of information, making it highly effective.
Replacing the existing Falcon network, due to be retired in 2026, ‘TRINITY’ will ensure UK Armed Forces on land can interact faster with allies, whether operating as a single nation or as part of an international coalition, across different battlefield domains.
In this continually evolving, multi-domain environment it is vital that our personnel have access to world-leading communications capabilities while on operations.
We remain committed to working closely with the best of British industry as they support our endeavour to better connect with our allies and their assets in theatre.
The £89 million will be dedicated to the research and development phase of the programme, with ‘TRINITY’ due to be delivered from December 2025.
In an increasingly complex and fast-paced threat landscape, Trinity will empower the UK Armed Forces with a greater and more efficient view of what is happening, enabling them to make swift, informed decisions when and where it matters most.
By providing this advantage to front-line decision makers, Trinity reinforces our commitment to equipping the UK Armed Forces with the right tools to stay ahead in the ever-evolving battlespace.
‘TRINITY’ is one part of the Land Environment Tactical Communications and Information Systems (LE TacCIS) programme, which is working to provide the next generation of tactical military communications in the land environment.
![PRESS RELEASE : One week left to extend Child Benefit claim for teenagers [August 2023]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/hmtreasury.png)
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 22 August 2023.
Child Benefit automatically stops when children reach 16 but it can be claimed for children continuing their education or training.
Parents have one week after GCSE results day to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that their 16-year-old is continuing their education or training, to continue receiving Child Benefit.
Teenagers will find out their GCSE results this week and many will be considering their future and whether to stay on in education. Child Benefit payments stop on 31 August after a child turns 16, but parents can extend their claim if their child is continuing in approved education or training.
It is easy for parents to update their Child Benefit record. They can use the online service on GOV.UK or the HMRC app to tell HMRC about their child’s plans.
HMRC recently wrote to parents about extending their Child Benefit claim. The letter included a QR code which, when scanned, directs them to GOV.UK to update their claim online. Any changes will be applied to their Child Benefit claim immediately.
Child Benefit will continue to be paid for children who are studying full time which can include:
Child Benefit will also continue for children studying on one of these unpaid approved training courses:
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:
Child Benefit can provide financial support to families, so make sure you don’t miss out if your teenager is still eligible. You can quickly and easily extend your claim online or via the HMRC app, just search ‘Child Benefit when your child turns 16’ on GOV.UK.
Parents will need a Government Gateway user ID and password to use HMRC’s online services. They will need their National Insurance number or postcode and 2 forms of ID to register on GOV.UK.
The government is offering help for households. Check GOV.UK to find out about cost of living support, including help with childcare costs.
More information on Child Benefit for 16-19 year olds
Parents cannot claim Child Benefit if their child is taking a course that is part of a job contract.
Parents can view and manage their claim quickly and easily online or on the HMRC app. This includes viewing payment information and proof of their claim, adding additional children and updating their details – all without needing to call HMRC.
![PRESS RELEASE : Major investment to transform future of English chess announced [August 2023]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/culturemediasport.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 22 August 2023.
New £1 million package will support children attending schools in disadvantaged areas across England to learn and play chess, improve visibility and availability of the game and fund elite playing.
Chess will receive a major boost, thanks to a package of measures announced today.
The package will support primary school children attending schools in disadvantaged areas across England to learn and play chess, improve the visibility and availability of chess in communities, as well as fund elite playing as part of a combined package worth almost £1 million.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will invest £500,000 in the English Chess Federation (ECF) over two years, in order to develop the next generation of world-class talent. Funds will support expert coaching, training camps and cutting-edge computer analysis for international events to assist current grandmasters and up-and-coming players.
Investment into the ECF will include funding for junior training camps and one-to-one coaching with England internationals, prioritising access for young chess players to take part in an educational, productive activity that helps develop critical thinking skills. A portion of the money will be dedicated to support visually impaired and deaf players to compete in their own elite level competitions.
This investment comes following a speech at the Onward think tank in July, where Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer set out her commitment to ensure that young people have “someone to talk to, something to do and somewhere to go” outside of school.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:
Chess is a brilliant way for young people to develop skills such as patience and critical thinking. It is something constructive on which to spend their time and feel part of. It inspires creativity and sparks the competitive spirit.
We want to give more young people the opportunity to find the thing that they love and realise their potential. So this package is focused on getting more young people playing chess and supporting them to develop their talent.
We’re also equipping our elite chess players with expert coaching to help them dominate at the highest levels of the global game and restore England’s reputation among the best in the world.
English Chess Federation Director of International Chess Malcolm Pein:
The unprecedented grant funding will be transformational for English chess, helping to train more grandmasters and beginning the process of regaining England’s former status as a force in international chess.
The funds will enable us to support a training programme and pipeline for our growing pool of young talent as well as assist our elite players, seniors, visually impaired and deaf players to compete for top honours in their respective international competitions. The funding will also enable the ECF to revitalise the chess tournament circuit here at home.
Alongside the support committed to elite players, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will provide £250,000 to 85 Local Authorities throughout England to install 100 new chess tables in public parks and outdoor green spaces, to allow more people to play, connect, tackle loneliness, and develop problem solving skills.
Local authorities which are currently receiving the Levelling Up Parks Fund (LUPF) and have been identified as communities most in need of improved quality green space will determine where to locate the chess tables.
In addition, the Government has set out plans to encourage more primary school children, particularly girls, to learn to play the game. The Department for Education will award grants of up to £2,000 to at least 100 schools in disadvantaged areas across England, subject to interest.
The grants will enable them to purchase chess sets, provide access to weekly online chess tutorials, and set up online learning platforms and curriculum planning materials for teachers. This will give even more young people access to a productive, enriching activity, helping them build relationships and develop key skills that can be used beyond the game.
Children’s Minister Claire Coutinho said:
Chess is for everyone, regardless of background. I’m thrilled that more primary school children will learn how to play, boosting their concentration, problem-solving and wellbeing in the process.
From providing in-person tuition to helping pupils enter competitive tournaments, this funding will support schools to spark a passion for chess in children across the country.
Learning to play chess is already a skill that young people aged 14-24 can choose to pick up while working towards their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE). Since 2021, 8,000 young people have pursued chess as part of the Skills section of their DofE.
Harriet Hunt, International Master and former World Girls’ Champion said:
My own journey into international chess was inspired by the world-leading England players and teams at that time. I am delighted that this government funding will enable the next generation of English talents to reach their potential and compete successfully at the highest level internationally’.
David Howell, Grandmaster and UK No.1:
Chess has been my life and, as a professional player, the news of support from the government is music to my ears. Hopefully this will inspire the next generation of chess players, as well as bringing the joys of the game that I love to an even wider audience.
Jitendra Singh, father of UK’s No.1 chess prodigy Shreyas Royal said:
I was struggling to support my son with the required chess tournaments and coaching instrumental to his development at such a young and crucial age.
With this grant from the government we will be able to help more kids flourish at the game through the hard-working organisations of the English Chess Federation and chess in Schools and Communities. I believe that it is also a very beneficial hobby and would love to see more people getting into the game from this monumental announcement.
![PRESS RELEASE : The UK is extremely alarmed by increasing settler violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fco.png)
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 August 2023.
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.
Thank you, President, and I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his briefing.
The UK is extremely alarmed by the growth of settler violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. So far in 2023, UN agencies have recorded 591 settler-related incidents resulting in Palestinian casualties, property damage or both. That is the highest monthly average of incidents since records began. This includes the murder of Palestinian Qusai Jamal Maatan by settlers, which the UK condemns.
The displacement of over 400 Palestinians across seven communities from their land due to ongoing settler violence is unacceptable. As an occupying power, Israel is obliged under international humanitarian law to properly provide security for the local population.
Israeli authorities must do more to hold to account and prevent those who have made the lives of Palestinians – such as in the communities of Al Qaboun and Al Mughayyir – intolerable. This includes thoroughly investigating every instance of settler violence to bring those responsible to justice and end the culture of impunity.
The UK condemns the abhorrent terrorist attacks in Tel Aviv on Saturday 12 August, the West Bank town of Huwara on 19 August, and the South Hebron hills just today. These attacks have taken the lives of a further four innocent Israelis. The Palestinian Authority must tackle terrorism and incitement.
We also see continued violations of international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including evictions and demolitions. On Friday 17 August, Israel demolished a West Bank Protection Consortium school in Ein Samiya. The continued demolition of Palestinian property and the evictions by Israeli authorities from their homes are contrary to international humanitarian law, it renders Palestinians at risk of forcible transfer, and causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians. This is harmful to the peace process. Israel must also urgently provide a clear, transparent route to construction for Palestinians in Area C.
President, UNRWA faces a deep funding crisis. UNRWA can only be a stabilising force in the region whilst it is able to deliver vital services to the Palestinian refugees. We call on members of the council and UN member states to work collectively to fill critical funding gaps.
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 August 2023.
The Foreign Secretary and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong had a friendly and productive meeting in Sydney today (Monday 21 August).
The Foreign Secretary welcomed progress and ongoing collaboration on AUKUS. He reiterated the UK’s full commitment to the AUKUS partnership and a free and open Indo-Pacific, as set out in the UK’s Integrated Review Refresh 2023.
The Foreign Secretary welcomed Australia’s new international development policy and acknowledged close UK-Australia cooperation on shared international development and humanitarian priorities. He also reiterated the UK’s willingness to work with Australia on climate issues, particularly to support Pacific Island Countries which are on the front line of the climate emergency.
The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK’s determination to work together with Australia to maintain the pressure on Russia and sustain support for Ukraine.
Both looked forward to seeing each other again in Australia in 2024 for the next iteration of the Australia-UK Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting (AUKMIN). They agreed that the UK-Australia relationship was modern, enduring and forward-looking, and look forward to continuing their close cooperation.