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ISSUE OF THE WEEK 5 : Should Belarus Play in the 2024 Euros?

ISSUE 5 – SHOULD BELARUS PLAY IN THE 2024 EUROS?

INTRODUCTION

The matter of whether Belarus should be playing in the qualifiers for the Euro 2024 football competition has continued to cause controversy, as some politicians believe it should be prevented from taking part because of their role in the war in Ukraine. Although the country has been prevented from hosting international games, UEFA has stated that it doesn’t currently expect to take further action to stop them playing in the football tournament and its qualifiers being held in Germany in June 2024. Russia have been prevented from taking part, with UEFA having expelled their football teams from all international competitions that they organise, following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Currently, Belarus are playing in Group I of the qualifying round for Euro 2024, with other teams in their group including Switzerland, Israel, Romania, Kosovo, Belarus and Andorra. The top two teams in the group will qualify for the main part of the tournament in June 2024, with the first qualifying match for Belarus taking place against Switzerland behind closed doors in Serbia on 25 March 2023. UEFA hope that the inclusion of the Belarus team will be helpful to raise awareness of the issues by forcing them to play behind closed doors, whilst also allowing the country’s professional football players a chance to play for their national team.

TIMELINE

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched an invasion on Ukraine with some of their troops entering the country via Belarus. Given this escalation, UEFA met and on 3 March 2022 they issued a statement about Belarus, stating:

“The UEFA Executive Committee met today and decided that all Belarusian clubs and national teams competing in UEFA competitions will be required to play their home matches at neutral venues with immediate effect. Furthermore, no spectators shall attend matches in which the teams from Belarus feature as host”.

UEFA went further with Russia and suspended them from all international tournaments and matches, issuing a press release saying:

“All Russian teams are currently suspended following the decision of the UEFA Executive Committee of 28 February 2022 which has further been confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 15 July 2022”.

It has been suggested that Russia could instead move to join the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) and in March 2023 the Tajikistan Football Federation formally invited the country to join CAFA’s inaugural men’s tournament being held from 9 to 21 June 2023. Russia indicated that they were interested in the proposals, but final details have yet to be confirmed.

Nigel Huddleston, responding to a Parliamentary question asked by Matt Vickers in March 2022 on whether Russia and Belarus should be taking part in international sports events, said:

“Following the international summit, a joint statement was signed by 37 nations and published on Tuesday 8 March, affirming the position outlined below: Russia and Belarus should not be permitted to host, bid for or be awarded any international sporting events. Individual athletes selected by Russia and Belarus, administrators and teams representing the Russian or Belarusian state should be banned from competing in other countries, including those representing bodies, cities or brands that are effectively representing Russia or Belarus, such as major football clubs”.

In September 2022, Nancy Faeser, the German Minister of the Interior wrote to Aleksander Čeferin, the UEFA President, asking for Belarus to be removed from taking part in the qualifications for the tournament. She commented that “not only Russia, which is waging a war of aggression in violation of international law, but also Belarus as an essential supporter of the Russian leadership should be excluded from all international football matches and tournaments”.

Lord Foulkes wrote to Aleksander Čeferin in February 2023 noting that UEFA’s proposed ban didn’t go far enough noting that Russia had been excluded from the competition and “Belarus served as a base for Russia’s initial invasion of northern Ukraine last February”. UEFA have made limited formal responses to these requests, but have stated that the situation remains under review. A spokesperson for Lord Foulkes said that his letter was acknowledged by UEFA, but that he didn’t receive a reply.

In March 2023, a letter was sent to UEFA signed by over 100 MEPS from the European Parliament which mentioned “the very fact of participating in UEFA Championship by the Belarusian national team will be later used by Lukashenko and his propaganda team to prove he is well-received in the international community”.

On 15 March 2023, 30 Swiss Parliamentarians wrote to Aleksander Čeferin mentioning:

“This choice of UEFA is in contradiction with the decision of the International Olympic Committee. The IOC has excluded both Russia and Belarus from the 2024 Olympic Games following the war of aggression against Ukraine. This decision therefore takes into account the fact that Belarus is an accomplice of Russia, because it provides Russia with a deployment area and bases for its attacks against neighbouring Ukraine. We support this clear position of the IOC and ask you to follow this example and to also exclude Belarus from all competitions by UEFA”.

We contacted UEFA but they refused to comment.

The debate continues about whether sport allows people to come together, or whether a country’s actions are so serious that it would be wrong for their national football team to take part in international tournaments.

RESOURCES

PRESS RELEASE : Belarus teams to play on neutral ground in UEFA competitions [March 2022]

George Foulkes – 2023 Letter to UEFA (Lord Foulkes of Cumnock)

Matt Vickers – March 2022 Letter Asking Government’s Policy on Russia and Belarus Taking Part in International Sporting Events

Nancy Faeser – 2023 Letter Asking for Belarus to Be Removed from 2024 Euros

Swiss Parliamentarians – 2023 Letter Asking for Belarus to be Removed from 2024 Euros

EXTERNAL LINKS

UEFA

UEFA Page on Belarus

Football Federation of Belarus

Council of Europe – Football governance: business and values report

Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights

Petition to Remove Belarus from Euro 2024

House of Commons Briefing Note on Belarus

20/03/2023
Matt Vickers – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Belarus and Russia Taking Part in Sporting Events

The parliamentary question asked by Matt Vickers, the Conservative MP for Stockton South, in the House of Commons on 24 March 2022.

QUESTION

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help prevent Russia and Belarus participating in international sporting events.

ANSWER BY NIGEL HUDDLESTON

On Thursday 3 March, the Secretary of State and I convened a summit with 24 international ministerial counterparts – or senior representatives on their behalf – to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the response of international sport.

The summit followed bilateral meetings that I held with counterparts from Canada, Poland and Germany.

Following the international summit, a joint statement was signed by 37 nations and published on Tuesday 8 March, affirming the position outlined below:

Russia and Belarus should not be permitted to host, bid for or be awarded any international sporting events.

Individual athletes selected by Russia and Belarus, administrators and teams representing the Russian or Belarusian state should be banned from competing in other countries, including those representing bodies, cities or brands that are effectively representing Russia or Belarus, such as major football clubs.

Wherever possible, appropriate actions should be taken to limit sponsorship and other financial support from entities with links to the Russian or Belarusian states.

20/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions top Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps financiers [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 March 2023.

The UK has sanctioned five members of the Board of Directors of the IRGC Co-operative Foundation, the organisation which funnels money into the regime’s repression.
- UK sanctions financiers within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and senior commanders.
- Those sanctioned include five members on the Board of Directors of the IRGC Co-operative Foundation, the body responsible for managing the IRGC’s investments.
- Two senior IRGC commanders operating in Tehran and Alborz provinces also sanctioned for gross human rights violations.
The UK has imposed sanctions on senior officials of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, it announced today.

The IRGC, the branch of the Iranian Armed Forces responsible for the internal and external security of Iran, has been at the forefront of the repression of protest in Iran which has seen more than 500 killed and tens of thousands imprisoned.

The UK has sanctions in place on the IRGC in its entirety. Since October, the UK has imposed new sanctions on more than a dozen senior IRGC officials under our Iran human rights regime, most recently on a number of senior commanders on 20 February.

As a result the UK has sanctioned five members of the Board of Directors of the IRGC Co-operative Foundation, an economic conglomerate established by senior IRGC officials to manage the group’s investments in the Iranian economy.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

Today we are taking action on the senior leaders within the IRGC who are responsible for funnelling money into the regime’s brutal repression.

Together with our partners around the world, we will continue to stand with the Iranian people as they call for fundamental change in Iran.

Established initially to support IRGC service members, the Foundation has broadened out its remit to funding the IRGC’s repressive activities in Iran and abroad.

The Foundation is also responsible for funding militant groups associated with the IRGC’s external operations arm, the IRGC-Quds Force. The Quds force is responsible for carrying out lethal activities outside of Iran by, for example, providing training, funding and weapons to groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. It has been accused of setting up fake companies in Syria to support the development of Quds Force activities in Syria.

The UK also imposed sanctions on further IRGC provincial commanders for their roles in overseeing human right violations against protestors. Today’s designations include Ahmed Zulqadr, Commander of the IRGC Seyyed al-Shohada provincial corps in Tehran province and Deputy Commander of IRGC corps in Tehran City, and Alireza Heydarnia, Commander of the IRGC for the Alborz Province.

These sanctions constitute an asset freeze and UK travel ban on the individuals concerned and send a wider signal on the UK’s commitment to backing condemnation with action.

Further information:

The full list of those sanctioned today is as follows:
- Ali Asghar Nourouzi, Chairman of the Board of Directors the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation.
- Seyyed Aminollah Emami Tabatabai, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation.
- Yahya Ala’Oddini, Director of the Board of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation.
- Jamal Babamoradi, Director of the Board of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation.
- Ahmad Karimi, Director of the Board of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation.
- Ahmed Zulqadr, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Seyyed al-Shohada Provincial Corps in Tehran Province and the Deputy Commander of IRGC Corps in Tehran City
- Alireza Heydarnia, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for the Alborz Province.
20/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : HRC52 – Statement on Myanmar [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 March 2023.

The UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, delivered this statement on Myanmar at the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Thank you Mr President,

Special Rapporteur,

Thank you for your sobering update and passionate commitment.

It has been over two years since the military seized power in a coup, plunging Myanmar into crisis.

Myanmar’s people have shown extraordinary resilience in the face of unspeakable atrocities, demonstrating their commitment to democracy and human rights. We continue to stand with them. They are indeed not forgotten, they are not alone.

Across Myanmar, the junta is committing brutal human rights violations and abuses including against Rohingya and other minorities. Thousands of civilians, including children, jailed, tortured and killed. Gender and sexual-based violence rife. Civic space virtually non-existent. Over 17 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, and nearly 2 million people displaced.

Since the coup, the UK has provided over £100 million to support those in need. We must collectively ensure that all responders on the front line are supported and that we innovate to channel resources for the humanitarian response.

Special Rapporteur,

How can the international community ensure access to displaced population inside and outside Myanmar?

Thank you.

20/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : More people set to benefit from free support to help claim Universal Credit [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 20 March 2023.

An extra £22 million is being invested to extend free and impartial support for people making a Universal Credit claim.
- Over three quarters of a million people have already received support though Help to Claim.
- The support, now in its fifth year and delivered by Citizens Advice, provides support to guide people through the Universal Credit claim process.
- DWP is extending this with a further £22 million of investment to support people to make a new Universal Credit claim.
The ‘Help to Claim’ support will continue to be delivered independently for another year by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, following a further £22 million investment by the department. Citizens Advice have provided the Help to Claim support since its inception in 2019.

This additional investment will ensure that support is available to help people make a new Universal Credit claim and manage their claim until they receive their first payment.

Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP, said:

Help to Claim continues to assist thousands of people every year with over 800,000 people already receiving support since its introduction.

This additional investment will allow Citizens Advice to continue to provide this vital support following its extension for a further year.

This high quality and independent support comes in addition to the support already provided through our network of Jobcentres, with our staff standing ready to assist those in need of support.

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

As the cost of living continues to put household finances under pressure, our top priority is supporting the many people coming to us for help.

We’re glad to continue this important support. We’ve seen first-hand the difference our advisers make in helping people access Universal Credit.

We’ll continue to use our frontline insights and unique data to suggest enhancements to the benefits system, further helping the people we support.

People will be able to access the support and advice online or by telephone. For those who are unable to access support via these channels, individuals will be able to contact their local Jobcentre, where staff will help to identify the right support to meet their needs.

DWP remains committed to providing the best possible support for all claimants, including the most vulnerable in society, in both making and maintaining their Universal Credit claim.

Find out more about Help to Claim and how to access support online.
20/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government supports new Ofwat powers to tackle water company dividends [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 March 2023.

New powers made possible through the Environment Act will enable Ofwat to clamp down on excessive cash pay-outs and hold water companies to account.
The government has today (20 March) backed new plans for the water regulator Ofwat to take action against water companies that pay out dividends to their shareholders despite failing to meet the required performance standards.

The changes have been made possible by the government’s Environment Act 2021 which gave Ofwat new powers to change water company licences without consent from water companies.

As such, Ofwat is now modifying licences to require companies to:

Take account of environmental performance and customer delivery when deciding whether to pay dividends.

Hold a strong credit rating and stop them paying dividends if their financial health is at risk.

If a company falls short, Ofwat will be able to take enforcement action.

These changes will improve the environmental performance and financial health of water companies, as well as providing greater transparency with customers and stakeholders.

Water Minister Rebecca Pow said:

It is wrong for water companies to be responsible for environmental damage and poor performance but not face the penalties. It has been happening too often and it needs to stop.

These new powers, made possible through our Environment Act, will enable Ofwat to clamp down on excessive cash pay-outs and make sure companies put customers first. This will apply when a company is not meeting expectations on performance or is facing questions over its financial resilience – and ultimately means we go further in holding water companies to account.

The government has taken further action in recent years to hold water companies to account for pollution, including:

Hugely increasing monitoring of discharges, from approximately 10% of storm overflows monitored in 2015 to 100% by the end of this year. While storm overflows have existed for over a century, the government was the first to require water companies to comprehensively monitor so that the issue can be tackled.

Making it easier and quicker for regulators to enforce civil penalties for companies that breach their licence conditions, with a consultation set to launch in the spring. Funding from all penalties and fines will also now be invested in schemes that benefit our natural environment.

Securing record fines for water companies that break the law. Since 2015, the Environment Agency has secured fines of over £142m through criminal proceedings.

Publishing the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, which will require water companies to deliver the largest infrastructure programme in water company history – £56 billion capital investment over 25 years. Water companies are already investing £3.1 billion in storm overflow improvements between 2020 and 2025. This includes £1.9 billion investment into the Thames Tideway Tunnel super sewer, with the rest used to undertake over 800 investigations and over 800 improvement schemes to storm overflows.

Demanding a clear assessment and action plan on every storm overflow from every water and sewerage company in England, prioritising those that are spilling more than a certain number of times a year, and those spilling into bathing waters and high priority nature sites.

The majority of licence changes will be implemented eight weeks after publication – by 17 May 2023.
20/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK signs historic trade deal with Ukraine as part of enhanced support [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 20 March 2023.

The UK today signed a pivotal digital trade deal with Ukraine that will support the country’s economy and greatly enhance our trade and investment relationship.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and Ukrainian First Minister sign UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement to provide vital support for Ukrainian economy

Department for Business and Trade mobilises UK businesses to engage in future reconstruction projects in Ukraine with major conference

UK pledges to extend the removal of tariffs on all Ukrainian products until March 2024

The UK today [Monday 20 March] signed a pivotal digital trade deal with Ukraine that will support the country’s economy and greatly enhance the UK-Ukraine trade and investment relationship.

The Department for Business and Trade today hosted a number of Ukrainian ministers, as well as 200 UK and international businesses and officials, at Mansion House to lay the foundation for closer future co-operation.

The Road to Ukraine Recovery Conference, geared towards supporting Ukraine’s National Recovery Plan and mobilising UK businesses to engage in future Ukraine reconstruction projects, opened with a welcome from the Business and Trade Secretary. This event, and our mobilisation of UK industry, is a key stepping stone on our route to the Ukraine Recovery Conference that will be hosted in London in June.

Badenoch, alongside Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Yulia Svyrydenko, virtually signed a ground-breaking new Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) that will help Ukraine support its economy through the current crisis and lay foundations for its recovery and revival.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch MP said:

The historic digital trade deal signed today paves the way for a new era of modern trade between our two countries.

We are also extending tariff free trade on imports from Ukraine to early 2024, providing much needed support to Ukrainian businesses.

These initiatives will help protect jobs, livelihoods and families now and in Ukraine’s post-war future.

Since June 2022, UK negotiators worked at record pace with their Ukrainian counterparts to deliver a deal after President Zelenskyy highlighted the important role Ukraine’s first ever digitally focused trade agreement could play in bolstering his country’s economy.

Ukraine will have guaranteed access to the financial services crucial for reconstruction efforts through the deal’s facilitation of cross-border data flows. Ukrainian businesses will also be able to trade more efficiently and cheaply with the UK through electronic transactions, e-signatures, and e-contracts.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy for Ukraine, Yuliia Svyrydenko said:

This digital trade agreement illustrates that Ukrainian IT companies operating in Ukraine are in demand around the world despite all the challenges of war.

The UA-UK Digital Trade Agreement has enshrined core freedoms for trade in digital goods and services. Ukraine believes that an open and free framework for the digital economy is the best investment in future oriented development.

The UK’s total military, humanitarian and economic support pledged since 24 February 2022 now amounts to over £4 billion. The UK is a key partner for Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts. We hosted the UK-Ukraine Infrastructure Summit in June 2022, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreeing to play a leading role in the reconstruction of Kyiv Oblast and set up the Infrastructure Taskforce to implement this agreement.

Stuart Senior, Member of the Supervisory Board, Gleeds said:

As international construction consultants, Gleeds has had a presence in Ukraine for many years. We welcome this new agreement which strengthens UK-Ukraine relationships and helps Ukraine’s increasing development as a modern, open economy.

The DTA will remove barriers to digital trade and enable partnership initiatives and collaborative working to be delivered more effectively. It will also further enhance the acceleration of economic recovery through the faster delivery of critical infrastructure reconstruction projects by implementing better processes and standards.

In the margins of the Road to URC event, the UK confirmed its intention to extend the removal of tariffs on Ukrainian products until March 2024. This follows the UK’s world-leading decision in May 2022 to cut tariffs on all goods from Ukraine to zero and will provide much needed support to Ukrainian businesses given the impact of the war on Ukraine’s ability to export goods.

The UK also continues to support Ukraine through decisive sanctions against Russia. The UK and its allies have introduced the most severe economic sanctions ever imposed on a major economy, including on £20 billion (96%) of UK-Russia goods trade from 2021.

Sanctions are having deep and damaging consequences for Putin’s ability to wage war. Since the start of the invasion, UK goods imports from Russia have fallen by 99% and goods exports to Russia have fallen by 80%.

20/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Avanti West Coast contract extended for a further 6 months following recent service improvements [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 20 March 2023.

Avanti West Coast contract extended with further work to restore reliability and punctuality to come.
- Avanti West Coast’s new contract will run until 15 October 2023
- follows significant improvements including running 40% more services and cancellations falling to 4.2%
- further improvements will be needed over the next 6 months
The Department for Transport has today (20 March 2023) extended Avanti West Coast’s contract for a further 6 months after significant improvements have been made since October.

This decision comes almost 6 months after the operator was initially put on a short-term contract by the government and ordered to develop a recovery plan aimed at addressing poor performance on vital West Coast Main Line routes, including between Manchester, Birmingham and London.

Shortly after being placed on this contract, the Transport Secretary travelled to Manchester to meet with stakeholders to further understand what could be done to address the situation and improve services. This led to the decision to introduce a recovery timetable which has significantly reduced reliance on overtime working and has seen services increase from 180 trains per day to 264 on weekdays – the highest level in over 2 years.

Since the introduction of this timetable on 11 December, Avanti West Coast has seen very significant improvements across services including:
- weekday services have risen to the highest level in over 2 years
- reducing cancellations from nearly 25% of the service in August 2022, to 4.2% in early March 2023 – the lowest in over 12 months
- 90% of trains now arriving within 15 minutes of the booked time
- over 100 additional drivers have been recruited, reducing reliance on union-controlled overtime working
Transport Secretary, Mark Harper said:

The routes Avanti West Coast run are absolutely vital, and I fully understand the frustrations passengers felt at the completely unacceptable services seen last Autumn. Following our intervention, Rail Minister Huw Merriman and I have worked closely with local leaders to put a robust plan in place, which I’m glad to see is working.

However, there is still more work to be done to bring services up to the standards we expect, which is why over this next 6 months further improvements will need to be made by Avanti West Coast.

Although Avanti West Coast has made significant progress in the past 6 months, further work needs to be done to restore reliability and punctuality to the standards that passengers rightly expect. This will include delivering more reliable weekend services, continued reductions in cancellations and improvements in passenger information during planned and unplanned disruption.

The 6-month contract was initially introduced after major operational issues primarily caused by a shortage of available drivers and a ban on rest day and overtime working. Last July, drivers for Avanti West Coast, who overwhelmingly belong to the ASLEF union, simultaneously and with no warning stopped volunteering to work overtime.

To help address this, the government continues to support the industry – including through setting a mandate – as they negotiate with unions to ensure we can take forward much-needed reform, including introducing a reliable 7 day a week service to secure the future of our railways.

The Transpennine Express contract expires on 28 May and will be considered separately with a further announcement in due course.
20/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Sector leaders to drive progress on national Dame Barbara Windsor Mission to beat dementia [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 20 March 2023.

The UK Government has named two leaders in dementia research to spearhead the ambitious national Mission to tackle dementia.
- Hilary Evans and Nadeem Sarwar to chair national Mission to tackle dementia, launched in memory of Dame Barbara Windsor
- Dementia Mission brings industry, academia and the NHS together to speed up dementia research, using the successful approach of the Covid Vaccine Taskforce
- Government backing for dementia research to reach £160 million by 2024
The UK Government has named two leaders in dementia research to spearhead the ambitious national Mission to tackle dementia, which was launched in memory of the late Dame Barbara Windsor.

Hilary Evans is the Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, the largest charitable funder of dementia research in Europe. Nadeem Sarwar is currently a senior leader at Eisai, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. Together, they will convene industry, the NHS, academia and families living with dementia, to tackle this devastating illness.

Announcing the appointments at the World Dementia Council Summit today (Monday 20 March) Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman said:

“Dementia is an especially cruel condition for both patients and their loved ones; as Dame Barbara’s brave campaigning made powerfully clear for all. Breakthroughs in neuroscience like the Nobel Prize-winning work of John Gurdon and his team, combined with patient cohort studies and the integration of genomics, big data and clinical research offers hope of new diagnostics, treatments and cures.

“The UK is determined to help lead this by harnessing the power of the NHS as a research engine. That’s why as 1st UK Minister of Life Science we hosted the first G20 Dementia Summit in London, and launched the Dementia Research Institute and Dementia Research Fund. Patient engagement is key, which is why our new Dementia Mission is patient centred with a key role for dementia charities.

“Hilary and Nadeem will be instrumental in that, by driving this project in the spirit of Dame Barbara and all those desperate for hope of a cure. As cancer has become a treatable and increasingly curable disease in our lifetime, so too can dementia.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said:

“Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK but cutting edge research into new technologies that can help to detect and measure indicators of the condition has the potential to improve diagnosis, treatment and care – and today we’re taking another step forward to spearhead efforts into beating this disease and potentially help many people across the UK.

“Hilary Evans and Nadeem Sarwar will be crucial to accelerating the development of the latest treatments and technologies, as well as driving collaboration across partners in industry, the NHS, academia and people affected by dementia.”

The ‘Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission’ was launched in August 2022, in honour of Dame Barbara and the millions of other people and their loved ones who have had their lives ruined by dementia. This national Mission will develop innovative research tools and boost the number and speed of clinical trials in dementia and neurodegeneration. This contributes to the commitment to double funding for dementia research to £160 million a year by 2024 to 2025.

The Mission will follow the successful example set by the Covid Vaccine Taskforce, and forms one of eight Missions in the Government’s Life Sciences Vision and Drugs Strategy. These other Missions will also harness the power of the UK’s life sciences sector – which is Europe’s largest – to unlock new treatments and diagnoses for cancer, obesity, addiction and mental health problems.

Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

“I’m delighted to take on this vital role as co-chair of the UK’s Dementia Mission, alongside Nadeem. Over the last decade, I have developed partnerships with industry, academia and the NHS and will be ensuring that people with dementia are at the heart of this Mission. This significant initiative will drive forward progress in dementia research and bring us closer to a cure.

“Dementia research has made great strides in recent years, but there is still important progress to be made on multiple fronts, and this needs effective collaboration across the whole dementia landscape. From researchers, to regulatory bodies responsible for making sure patients can access safe and effective treatments without delay, and of course the NHS and research workforce. I look forward to working closely with Nadeem to make this happen, and help ensure the UK is at the forefront of dementia research for years to come.”

Professor Nadeem Sarwar said:

“Driven by rapid and ongoing scientific advances, we have arrived at a true inflection in dementia research and innovation. We now have an unprecedented scientific foundation upon which to build, to deliver transformative solutions for people with and at risk of dementia. The UK – anchored by its world-class scientific ecosystem that intersects scalable human biology, health technology and data sciences – has the opportunity to serve as a global catalyst and help lead the fight against dementia. I am humbled, and inspired, therefore to serve as the Co-Chair of the UK Dementia Mission, and look forward to working with Hilary to help realize this vision.”

Health Minister Will Quince said:

“We’re harnessing the best of UK innovation to change the lives of people with dementia, as well as their families and loved ones.

“Building on the success of the Covid Vaccine Taskforce, Hilary Evans and Nadeem Sarwar will co-chair the Dementia Mission to enhance collaboration across the sector, accelerate promising research and develop ground-breaking new ways to diagnose and treat this terrible disease.”

One million people are predicted to be living with dementia by 2025, and 1.6 million by 2040. It is the leading cause of death in the UK. Up to 40% of dementia cases are potentially preventable but causes are still poorly understood. Dementia can affect the brain years before people show any symptoms, which means treatments need to be tested on people far earlier.

The new national Mission will build on recent advances in biological and data sciences, including genomics, AI and the latest brain imaging technology, to test new treatments from a growing range of possible options. The Mission will work in partnership with industry and other key system partners and leverage the rich research ecosystem in the UK.
20/03/2023
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 20 March 1923

20 MARCH 1923

A new political organisation was established in the Irish Free State which sought to support the Government.

17,000 miners in South Wales went on strike over the question of non membership of a trade union, with 67,000 men potentially being ultimately involved.

There was a large majority in the building trade ballot who supported strike action.

The French Government said that they were not seeking hegemony in the Ruhr Valley, just security and an agreement for the Germans to pay war reparations.

20 tons of surplus fish was destroyed at Edinburgh fish market as the railways refused to transport it south.

Ben McCarthy, reported as a 16 year old boy, was taken from his home in Ardagh, Bantry and executed by four members of the Irregulars who wanted reprisals for executions which had taken place of their members across the Irish Free State. [further information at https://www.ucc.ie/en/theirishrevolution/collections/cork-fatality-register/register-index/1923-28/]

20/03/2023