Tag: 2022

PRESS RELEASE : New King’s Counsel welcomed by Lord Chancellor [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 23 December 2022.

His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of 95 barristers and solicitors as new King’s Counsel (KC) in England and Wales.

His Majesty has also approved the appointment of 9 legal figures to receive Honorary King’s Counsel awards.

The title of KC is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy.

Honorary KCs are awarded to those who have made a major contribution to the law of England and Wales, outside practice in the courts.

The Lord Chancellor will preside over the appointment ceremony at Westminster Hall on 27 March 2023, where he will formally bestow the titles.

Biographies of honorary King’s Counsel

John Battle is a leading figure and driving force behind the issue of filming court proceedings, leading the broadcast industry group (BBC, ITN, Sky, PA), and is recognised for his commitment to his extensive work between the media, MoJ and senior judiciary.

Lionel Bently is a universally respected professor of intellectual property law at the University of Cambridge. He was nominated for his publications which rank among the most influential texts in intellectual property law and for playing a crucial role in influencing intellectual property law in this jurisdiction and beyond.

Richard Edwin Ekins is a legal academic and Professor of Law and Constitutional Government at the University of Oxford. He is the author of a number of highly influential books and journal articles. Since 2015, he has led Policy Exchange’s Judicial Power Project and has made a major contribution to public debate, and parliamentary deliberation, about the constitutional role of the courts.

Rosemary Hunter is Professor of Law and Socio-Legal Studies and Head of the Law School at the University of Kent. She is a leading scholar in the study of the Family Justice system and sits as the Academic Member of the Family Justice Council. Her work in the important field of domestic abuse has directly affected legislative developments.

Dr Ann Olivarius is an American British lawyer widely recognised for her leading role in the fields of women’s rights, sexual harassment and sexual abuse. She has been at the forefront of the fight against image-based sexual abuse and privacy violations. She played an instrumental part in lobbying Parliament to pass laws against the disclosure of non-consensual private images

Richard Susskind OBE FRSE holds professorships at the University of Oxford, Gresham College and Strathclyde University. He has worked in technology and law for 40 years and has written many related books. He has been recognised for his work promoting technology and innovation in legal and court services across England and Wales.

James Wakefield was instrumental in establishing the Council of the Inns of Court as a charity and founding the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. The College introduced a new two part Bar Course. He also helped to write new sanctions guidance for the Bar. These demonstrate his commitment to promoting access to the profession and encouraging retention of those from under-represented groups.

Julian Vincent Roberts is Emeritus Professor of Criminology at the University of Oxford and Executive Director of the Sentencing Academy. He is recognised as a leading academic authority in England and Wales on sentencing theory, policy, and practice; his work has made a major contribution to the analysis and development of sentencing worldwide.

Sir Michael Wood has contributed much to the progressive development and codification of international law. He is a long-serving member of the UN International Law Commission (ILC). As a prominent member of the ILC he has made an invaluable and lasting contribution to international law as it is taught and applied in the UK and beyond.

Applicant
No Title Applicant Name
49846 Ms Apps, Katherine
42582 Dr Armstrong, Nicholas James Buchanan
48545 Mr Atrill, Simon Paul
42169 Mr Baker, Richard
34422 Mr Balysz, Mark
50235 Mr Baradon, Adam Hedley
38501 Ms Bhogal, Kuljit
45365 Mr Bowe, Timothy Michael
48787 Mr Brinsmead-Stockham, John
41463 Mr Brooks, Duncan John Macfarlane
34548 Mr Buckingham, Paul Richard
48956 Mr Casey, Noel
48215 Mr Cloherty, Adam
54004 Mr Cook, Alexander James
49022 Ms Darwin, Claire Louise
28984 Mr Davis, Richard Jolyon Harold
41776 Mr Davy, Neil Geoffrey
42844 Ms Den Besten, Ruth Michelle
49361 Mr Dhar, Siddharth
480409 Ms Donnelly, Kathleen
49192 Mr Dracos, Marcos Gregorios
36149 Mr Easton, Jonathan Mark
42560 Mr Edwards, Owen Meirion
32782 Ms Ellin, Nina Caroline
53334 Mr Eschwege, Richard John
48601 Miss Ferber, Iris
40351 Mr Fetto, Niazi Peter
41636 Mr FitzGerald, Benedict Andrew
47489 Ms Gartland, Dorothea Susan
46431 Mr Goodman, Alexander David Edmund
40822 Miss Greaney, Nicola Clare
40394 Mr Green, Garry Anthony
35693 Mr Grieves, Edward James
46760 Mr Horne, James Michael
23979 Mr Jarman, Mark
53340 Mr Jones, Michael David
42189 Mrs Karaiskos, Maria
46308 Mr Lask, Benjamin Bela David
46879 Mr Lavy, Matthew Montague
36408 Mr Lennon, John
24653 Mr Leonard, James
34786 Mr Lewis, Jonathan Mark
21818 Mr Lewis, Meyric
42670 Ms MacLynn, Claire Louise
393501 Mr McClure, Michael John
52684 Mr McCourt Fritz, Daniel William
Applicants recommended for appointment 2022
37878 Mr Middleton, Joseph
42888 Ms Misra, Eleena
49661 Miss Morris, Anna
53417 Mr Morrison, Craig David
47029 Ms Motraghi, Nadia Artemis
40197 Miss Mulholland, Helen Maureen
15941 Ms Murphy, Fiona Clare
32271 Miss Murray, Judith Rowena
47388 Mr Newton, Benjamin
49276 Ms Ní Ghrálaigh, Blinne Nessa Áine
45145 Miss Nolten, Sonia Jayne
57267 Ms Omeri, Sheryn
40343 Ms Paget, Henrietta Frances
45335 Ms Paterson, Fiona
52720 Mr Pearce, Luke Ricardo
39289 Mr Peters, Edward James Hedley
37509 Miss Phipps, Sarah Elizabeth
57539 Mr Piccinin, Daniel Peter Clement
51894 Ms Piercy, Catherine
36056 Mr Pliener, David Jonathan
37163 Miss Prager, Sarah
45841 Ms Prince, Laura Margaret
44696 Ms Reed, Lucy Emma
35901 Mr Rees, Christopher Lloyd
22445 Mr Reeve, Matthew Francis
40464 Ms Reindorf, Anna Katerina Awurakua
49817 Mr Richards, Thomas Alexander
34605 Mr Rose, Stephen Paul
44069 Mr Roy, Andrew Robert
30817 Ms Ruck, Mary Ida
42759 Mr Rule, Philip David
44461 Ms Sabic, Irena
31642 Mr Seddon, Duran
37247 Miss Shannon, Nicola Elizabeth Jane
44901 Mr Shaw, Benjamin Christopher
33072 Mr Simkin, Iain
36636 Mr Singh, Talbir
47872 Dr Smith, Henry Forbes
48532 Mr Spencer, Shaun Anthony
50369 Miss Sutton, Emma Naomi
42339 Mr Thomas, Michael James
39004 Mr Troup, Alexander William
45856 Miss van Overdijk, Claire Orit
45662 Miss Wade, Rebecca Lucy
48431 Mr Webb, William Rupert Nicholas
67261 Ms Welsh, Angeline Marie
45376 Ms Whitelaw, Francesca Lucy Kaye
41385 Mr Williams, Guy Donald Irwin
38700 Mr Worsley, Nicholas Frederick Avery

December 23, 2022
Mark Drakeford – 2022 Statement on Senedd Reform

The statement made by Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, on 16 December 2022.

Following the Senedd’s endorsement in June of the recommendations made by the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform (SPC), the Welsh Government issued its formal response, committing to prepare and introduce legislation to take those recommendations forward.

As the Welsh Government response noted: “In some cases, the Senedd’s Business Committee is also asked to consider the recommendations. The Welsh Government will work with the Business Committee on these specific areas”.

I am grateful to the Business Committee for its recent work in respect of Senedd Reform, and for the conclusions set out in its report published on 9 December. We will take into account these conclusions – which relate to the number of Welsh Ministers, Presiding and Deputy Presiding Officers, and Senedd Commissioners, as well as issues related to Senedd Members seeking to change party between elections – as we develop the relevant legislation and the associated policy and delivery work.

The Welsh Government continues to progress the overall programme of work required to translate the SPC recommendations into the legislation necessary to implement the reforms, in line with the timescales outlined in the Co-Operation Agreement. In doing so, we will continue to work in partnership with the Senedd Commission and with other partners in developing the overall delivery programme for the reforms. Further engagement with external partners is planned for the new year.

We will provide a further update to the Senedd on progress with this work by Easter 2023.

December 23, 2022
Rebecca Evans – 2022 Statement on the Welsh Consultation on a Fairer Council Tax

The statement made by Rebecca Evans, the Welsh Minister for Finance and Local Government, in the Welsh Parliament on 16 December 2022.

I am pleased to publish today a summary of responses to the Welsh Government’s Phase 1 consultation on A Fairer Council Tax. The consultation outlined an ambitious programme of reforms as the starting point on our journey towards meeting the Programme for Government and Cooperation Agreement commitment to deliver a fairer and more progressive council tax for Wales.

We know that council tax helps to fund essential public services, like schools and social care, from which we all receive huge benefits. Council tax is also a key policy lever for ensuring important financial contributions from households are fairly distributed. I am committed to reforming the system so that it reflects our current and future economic circumstances, funds services that benefit everyone, builds in regular updates to keep the tax fair in the future, and remains a local tax that connects people with communities.

The consultation sought early views from individuals, organisations and key stakeholders on three broad areas of reform including: a proposed property revaluation and rebanding exercise with regular updates in the future; a review of council tax discounts, disregards, exemptions and premiums; and a review of our national Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The consultation was clear that reforms would not seek to increase the total amount of council tax raised overall from council taxpayers.

The consultation ran from 12 July to 4 October 2022 and received over 1,000 responses, reflecting a wide spectrum of views and interests. I am grateful to everyone who participated.

I have carefully considered the consultation responses and we will now reflect on the information provided in response to the consultation alongside detailed evidence about the operation of the council tax system and our ambitions for the reform of council tax. These considerations will inform the next steps we take to make council tax fairer. Where we intend to make future changes, I am committed to outlining these in detail in a Phase 2 consultation later in 2023.

The summary of consultation responses is available here.

This important reform agenda is part of our Cooperation Agreement with Plaid Cymru. I will continue to work closely with the Designated Member, Cefin Campbell, as well as with key stakeholders including local government, property valuation and socioeconomic specialists, and a range of organisations that represent the people of Wales. I am also committed to continuing to engage with citizens about the purpose and delivery of a fairer system.

It remains my ambition to achieve meaningful reform over the course of this Senedd term, as Wales continues to face unprecedented challenges and a cost-of-living crisis. The benefits of a more progressive system are well-documented and we must continue our work to reduce wealth inequalities and disparities across Wales.

I will keep Members informed of developments as the work progresses.

December 23, 2022
Eluned Morgan – 2022 Statement on Community Care Capacity Building

The statement made by Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services, on 16 December 2022.

Our health service is facing unprecedented demand this winter. Some people are staying in hospital longer than they need to and this, in turn, has a severe knock-on effect for planned care and creates delays for the ambulance service. Most importantly, every unnecessary extra day in hospital has a detrimental effect on peoples’ own recovery and longer-term outcomes.

Earlier this year we knew that the coming winter would be very challenging, and that is why NHS organisations and local authorities have been working together for many months to develop extra community capacity to help people get care closer to home this Winter. We have been jointly chairing a Care Action Group of senior NHS and local government leaders to drive progress. As a result of this joint endeavour across health and social care, a minimum of 508 extra community beds and home care packages will be available, and this will have a positive impact on releasing hospital beds in every part of Wales.

Step Down beds, and community packages of care arranged through micro care and more extensive use of Direct Payments, will support people to return to their communities when they no longer need treatment in hospital but may require more time, support, and care. An extra 508 beds and community care packages have been confirmed by local health boards and local authorities so far, with more currently being developed. The additional capacity is being funded from the Welsh Government’s Regional Integration Fund and local authorities and health boards’ own resources.

Alongside this, prevention of poor health and wellbeing is a top priority, which will also help to reduce demand on our acute services. The NHS and local authorities continue to help individuals and communities to access information, advice and support locally, as early as possible to prevent their needs escalating. For example, community connector schemes and social prescribing programmes are helping people to access the many resources in their community to help them stay well at home.

There are many ways to get the right care, in the right place, first time. From pharmacists to minor injury units and mental health helplines to online consultations, there are many ways to access the NHS in Wales. So, it’s easier to get care, help and advice with new or existing conditions, even without leaving your home or workplace.

Our commitment in the draft Budget to allocate an additional £70m to ensure social care workers in Wales will receive the Real Living Wage demonstrates Welsh Government’s commitment to the care system, and we will build on this to develop stronger community health and social care services.

December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Hundreds of extra community beds to help people leave hospitals in Wales quicker this winter [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 16 December 2022.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan and WLGA leader Andrew Morgan have announced more than 500 extra step-down beds and community care packages for Wales this winter, to help people get care closer to home and free up hospital beds.

The ‘Step Down’ service will support people to return to their communities when they no longer need treatment in hospital but may require more time, support, and specialist care. Care at home services are also being boosted to enable more people to return to their own home.

An extra 508 beds and community care packages have been confirmed by local health boards and local authorities so far, with many more currently being negotiated.

They are being provided by funding from the Welsh Government’s Regional Integration Fund and local authorities and health boards’ own resources.

The Welsh Government this week also announced an extra £70m to ensure social care workers in Wales will receive the Real Living Wage. That is part of wider efforts to recruit and retain social care workers and strengthen the sector to help support eh NHS as it faces one of its toughest winters.

Health Minster Eluned Morgan said:

Our health service is facing unprecedented demand this winter. But we know some people are staying in hospital longer than they need to. This in turn, has a severe knock-on effect for people waiting for operations and creates delays for the ambulance service. We have been working hard with health boards and local authorities for months to make sure we have enough community beds this winter and there is still work going on to secure more beds. I hope to be able to announce more beds soon. Through this new initiative we can not only care for people closer to home but also free up more beds in our hospitals.

Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan said:

We know everyone wants to return to their community as soon as possible, following a hospital stay. But the current social care workforce shortages mean that’s not always possible at the moment. A short-term stay in a Step Down facility, is the next best thing, with review and transfer to home as soon as possible.

This week we also announced a £70m investment for social workers to receive the Real Living Wage. This is part of our longer-term strategy to boost the recruitment and retention of social care staff in Wales and to make sure the care system can meet future demand.

Councillor Andrew Morgan (Rhondda Cynon Taf), WLGA Leader said:

We know the health sector and social care services are both under severe strain. These innovative packages will help to build move-on capacity and improve flow across the health and social care system and to free some of the areas under pressures, such as discharges from hospitals and the impact this can have on ambulance waiting lists and admittance to hospitals.

This increased capacity in the community, that councils have created working in partnership with health and supported by our social care providers, is an example of the practical solutions that happen as a product of co-operation across the health sector, Welsh Government and local government, which we hope will have tangible benefits and positive impacts for individuals, particularly over the Winter period when services remain under significant pressure.

People who are referred to ‘step down’ facilities include those who are medically fit to leave hospital, no longer meet the criteria for an acute hospital bed but require care and support services which cannot be provided in their own homes or require a short-term stay as they are deemed unsafe to return to their home pending a start date for community packages of care.

Individuals, their families and carers will be provided with information on their care plans.

December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Greens urge UK to step up action on biodiversity loss after COP15 deal announced [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Green Party on 19 December 2022.

The Green Party has welcomed the deal to halt biodiversity loss announced at the UN’s COP15 summit in Canada today, but warned the UK government and others must now step up to the plate to make the promises a reality.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:

“Now that we have reached this point, it is vital that governments step up with the money and the plans to not only halt the destruction of Earth’s ecosystems but actually restore the natural world we all depend upon.

“Here in the UK, we have one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, yet the government has made no progress on its own commitment to restore 30% of land for nature by 2030. Instead, it has gone in the wrong direction with its foolish and short-sighted attacks on the natural world that have rightly been condemned by charities.

“With this international deal now in place, it is incumbent on the UK government to start taking the necessary action on the ecological emergency which currently poses real threats to human society – to food and water supplies, to clean air, to our ability to adapt to a warming world.

“This starts with richer nations contributing money and resources to start taking action to deliver on this deal – as many of the world’s most important countries for biodiversity are also some of the poorest. But it also requires serious attention to the biodiversity loss here in the UK.

“If the government wants to demonstrate a genuine commitment to halting and reversing species decline, it will show leadership by introducing a Rights of Nature Act. This would provide legal protections for wildlife and habitats in England and Wales and be enforced by an independent Commission for Nature. It would also ensure that the regeneration of nature is at the heart of all policy considerations.

“The government must also immediately stop dragging its feet on introducing the promised nature-friendly farming payments scheme, publish a clear pathway to meet its commitment to restore 30% of land for nature by 2030 and scrap plans to weaken protections for nature in the Retained EU Law (revocation and reform) Bill.”

December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : New report shines the spotlight on councils innovative work in adult social care [December 2022]
The press release issued by the County Councils Network on 20 December 2022.

Today the County Councils Network (CCN) has released its latest County Spotlight publication, which shines a light on best practice across the CCN membership on adult social care.

The publication, CCN’s fifth and final Spotlight of the year, aims to showcase how the network’s member councils have stepped up in what has been a challenging year in adult social care with demand continuing to soar and inflation rising to a 40-year high – impacting on councils’ and care providers’ budgets.

Download the publication here.

The network’s County Spotlight publication sets out the challenges faced by county local authorities in delivering social care, but also shines a light on their innovative and transformative work carried out by its member councils, including successful campaigns to recruit and retain staff, using cutting-edge technology, and working with health partners to reduce demand.

The report contains 16 case studies across four themes:
- Helping to ensure that those in care live independent and fulfilling lives
- Helping to attract and retain staff to create a vibrant social care workforce
- Working in close collaboration with health partners to reduce pressure on the NHS
- Using new technology to innovate services and improve care for those who need it
The report comes as councils brace themselves for one of their toughest winters yet in social care – with the latest data contained in the report showing the number of requests for care reaching almost two million as demand continues to rise.

Local authorities in England saw 1.97m requests from people for social care services in 2021-22 – which is an average of 5,402 requests a day for each council. This is a rise of 65,000 individuals compared with pre-pandemic levels in 2020. As we head into the winter period, councils say demand shows no sign of abating.

The analysis by the County Councils Network (CCN) shows 55,000 (85%) of the rise in new requests came from people living in England’s county and rural areas. Councils in these areas say care provision is under significant pressure heading into the winter period where services are at their most stretched.

The CCN says health and social care services face a perfect storm of post-pandemic demand for care services, including requests for short-term care packages and community care, care providers closing down, and wider pressure on the NHS.

It comes as these councils await to find details of how they can spend £2.3bn of additional funding next year announced by Chancellor for care services in the Autumn Budget, with the government expected to place conditions on how councils spend some of the money to speed up hospital discharge and free up bed capacity to reduce the NHS backlog.

Latest data shows that the number of beds occupied by people fit to be discharged from hospital is a quarter higher than last December – and many of these individuals will be waiting a social care package or bed in their community.

With demand showing no sign of abating and with inflation still running high, council leaders say they are bracing themselves for a challenging winter. This is despite the government providing extra funding for local authorities to address social care pressures and improve hospital discharges.

CCN say the government should ‘minimise’ the conditions placed on how councils spend this additional funding next year to allow councils to work most effectively with local NHS partners.

The figures are released in a new report, published today by the CCN. The network’s County Spotlight publication sets out the challenges faced by county local authorities in delivering social care, but also shines a light on their innovative and transformative work carried out by its member councils, including successful campaigns to recruit and retain staff, using cutting-edge technology, and working with health partners to reduce demand.

This good work has been done despite services remaining under strain and yearly rises in demand for care services, which has forced councils to tighten their eligibility for services. Of the 1.97m requests for care nationally last year, 1.087m requests did not result in a service being provided – some 55% of all cases. The proportion not receiving a service is higher in county and rural areas – 58% of all requests.

However, nationally 662,615 people received short-term services – 25,910 more than in 2019-20. These include short-term care packages or reablement services. Those going into residential or nursing care has declined – dropping from 33,790 in 2019-20 to 31,440 in 2021-22.

Cllr Martin Tett, Adult Social Care Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said:

“The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement provided vital funding for local authorities, but the scale of the challenge facing the health and social care system means that were still facing one of our toughest winters yet.

“Figures show that demand for social care services continues to rise – with the number of requests almost totalling two million. Add in a further decline of social care beds this year, inflationary cost pressures, and longer hospital discharge times and you have a perfect storm of pressures on the system.

“We will be doing all we can, working in close collaboration with our health partners, to ensure that pressure on local health systems are kept to a minimum and that people are not waiting too long for a care package. The delay to social care reforms, and the additional funding provided by the Chancellor, gives us a fighting chance, but there is no doubt significant challenges remain.

“With new reporting requirements and grant conditions in relation to the new adult social care grant and the Better Care Fund expected, we would urge the government to minimise conditions to ensure this funding can be used flexibility to meet the most acute pressures across both social care and the health service.

“Despite all these challenges however, county local authorities have a track record in delivery and innovation when it comes to adult social care. As today’s report shows, there are numerous examples of best practice across the country where county authorities are working hard to improve the lives of those in care and ease workforce and wider health pressures.”
December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Rail Dispute – Open Letter from Welsh Government and the Wales TUC [December 2022]

The press release issued by the TUC on 16 December 2022.

The Welsh Government and the Wales TUC have today published a joint letter calling on the UK Government to learn from the approach taken in Wales and to allow the rail companies to negotiate a deal that is fair and acceptable to workers.

In the open letter, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, has said:

“Due to the confrontational attitude towards industrial relations displayed by this UK Government, the UK-wide rail dispute is having a knock-on impact on rail services operated by Transport for Wales, and passengers continue to face severe disruption as a result.”

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We welcome this intervention from the Welsh Government.

“The fact that we have been able to reach agreements with rail companies where the Welsh and Scottish Government governments have responsibility clearly shows that it is the actions of the UK government that is blocking a resolution to the UK wide rail disputes.”

Shavanah Taj, Wales TUC General Secretary, said: “The UK Government’s decision to block a resolution to the rail disputes is harming Wales’s economy. Welsh Government and the national rail operator (Transport for Wales) have successfully negotiated a settlement – the UK Government must now follow their lead.

The full text of the letter is below.

Rail dispute between RMT and Network Rail and UK train operating companies

The Welsh Government wants to see an end to the long-running dispute between the RMT and Network Rail and the UK Government-controlled train operating companies.

On Transport for Wales services, rail workers have voted to accept a negotiated fair pay offer, which has not been conditional on cuts to staffing and services.

However, due to the confrontational attitude towards industrial relations displayed by this UK Government, the UK-wide rail dispute is having a knock-on impact on rail services operated by Transport for Wales, and passengers continue to face severe disruption as a result.

To protect business, passengers, and rail workers, it is imperative that the UK Government acts quickly to bring this dispute to an end.

It can do this by learning lessons from the collaborative, social partnership approach adopted in Wales and allow the rail companies and RMT to negotiate a deal that is fair and acceptable to Network Rail employees and employees of the UK train operating companies.

December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Teachers and School Leaders Demand Better [December 2022]

The press release issued by the TUC on 15 December 2022.

Each of our unions (NASUWT, NEU, NAHT, and UCAC) is balloting members for industrial action on pay and the Wales TUC is fully supporting these ballots. We are united on the need to protect your pay against current inflation and to restore its real terms value, and for those pay rises to be fully funded by Local Authorities and the Welsh Government.

Since 2010, a series of below inflation pay awards, ‘caps’ and ‘affordability’ criteria have cut your pay by more than 20 per cent. At every salary point across the main, upper and leadership pay ranges the cumulative losses over this twelve-year period run into many tens of thousands of pounds.

These losses also affect the future value of your pension. Lower salaries mean lower contributions, which produce lower pensions at retirement.

CPI inflation currently stands at a staggering 11 per cent, and RPI at 14 per cent. Food prices are soaring and energy costs rocketing. Teachers and school leaders are facing yet another real terms cut to their pay.

Our unions are continuing to press governments and employers for an improved pay award, highlighting the damage that falling real pay risks to children’s and young people’s education. Wales TUC is working with the Welsh Government and other public sector employers to find solutions that work for everyone.

Responsibility also lies with the UK Government. Westminster has the capacity to ensure that all public sector workers get the settlements that they deserve, and the TUC will be pressing the UK Chancellor to increase funding to the Welsh Government.

We need fair funding for Wales – funding that properly reflects the serious pressures that our public services are confronting. Wales TUC is also seeking a meeting with the new Secretary State for Wales, to ensure he is fully behind in supporting the Welsh Government and WTUC ‘asks’ in seeking fairer funding for Wales that delivers for the people and communities of Wales.

At this critical moment, now is the time to stand together and send a clear and unequivocal message that the teaching profession demands and deserves better.

Please complete your union’s ballot paper and get it in the post box today to strengthen our demand for a better deal for teachers and school leaders.

December 23, 2022
Doug Beattie – 2022 Comments on Leo Varadkar and Political Relations with Unionists

The comments made by Doug Beattie, the Leader of the Ulster Unionists, on 16 December 2022.

The change in Taoiseach in the Republic of Ireland this weekend comes at a pivotal time in negotiations between the European Union and United Kingdom, and in Anglo-Irish relations.

I wish Micheál Martin well as he steps down from the role. We have had a good and constructive relationship during his time in office. I believe he listened in good faith to what Unionism had to say and understood the importance of having a good working relationship with his country’s nearest neighbours.

As Leo Varadkar takes up the office again there will undoubtedly be apprehension from Unionism. His contribution during his first term, particularly when it came to Brexit and the Protocol, was not positive and I hope to see early indication that he has learned and matured on these particular issues in the intervening years. He will have a lot of work to do in rebuilding relations with Unionism in Northern Ireland, there is simply no escaping that fact, but we will continue to reach out and engage in good faith.

December 23, 2022