The statement made by Liz Truss, the Prime Minister, on 14 October 2022.
As Prime Minister, I will always act in the national interest.
Growing the economy remains our mission, ensuring people can get good jobs, new businesses can flourish and families can afford an even better life.
The statement made by Kemi Badenoch, the Secretary of State for International Trade, in the House of Commons on 13 October 2022.
The first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United Kingdom (UK) and Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) took place between 22 August and 29 September. The negotiations were conducted virtually.
In this round of negotiations the UK and GCC discussed their objectives for the FTA, and exchanged technical information. Technical discussions were held across 29 policy areas over 33 sessions. In total, more than 100 UK negotiators from across Government took part in this round of negotiations.
An FTA will be a substantial economic opportunity, and a significant moment in the UK-GCC relationship. Government analysis shows that, in the long-run, a deal with the GCC is expected to increase trade by at least 16%, add at least £1.6 billion a year to the UK economy and contribute an additional £600 million or more to UK workers’ annual wages.
Both sides have committed to secure an ambitious, comprehensive and modern agreement fit for the 21st century.
The Government remain clear that any deal will be in the best interests of the British people and the UK economy. We will not compromise on our high environmental and labour protections, public health, animal welfare and food standards, and we will maintain our right to regulate in the public interest. We are also clear that during these negotiations, the NHS and the services it provides is not on the table.
The Government will keep Parliament updated as these negotiations progress.
The statement made by Michelle Donelan, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in the House of Commons on 13 October 2022.
Public telecommunications networks and services are critical to the future prosperity of the UK. 5G offers new technical capabilities through higher data rates, reliable and low latency communications, and machine-to-machine communications. This gives 5G the potential to generate significant economic and social benefits across the digital economy. However, it brings risks as our national infrastructure becomes more dependent on these networks and services.
To manage the risks to UK national security, the Government have issued a designation notice to Huawei and designated vendor directions to 35 public telecommunications providers.
The directions place restrictions on the use of Huawei goods and services by those telecommunications providers. This follows long-standing advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Government on the use of Huawei equipment in UK public telecommunication networks. The Government have concluded a targeted consultation with telecommunications providers and Huawei and is now, following the passage of the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021, placing legal controls on the use of Huawei goods and services for the first time.
I have set dates by which telecommunications providers should meet the requirements in the direction. Having fully considered consultation responses, and following close consultation with the NCSC, the key deadline to remove all Huawei equipment in the UK’s 5G network by 2027 remains unchanged, as do eight other requirements.
For a small number of operators, the interim milestones initially proposed before the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic could have led to network outages and significant disruption for millions of customers, with delays caused by covid-19 restrictions and global supply chain issues. In light of this, while I am asking providers to continue to meet the original target dates for the removal of Huawei from network cores and the capping of Huawei in the access network to 35% wherever possible (January and July 2023 respectively), I am setting the legally required date for compliance to December and October 2023 respectively to avoid customer disruption. Providers also now have a legal requirement to report to me on progress in January and July 2023, so I can keep Parliament informed of progress. Providers will also work closely with NCSC through this period, who have confirmed that the adjustments represent a sensible balance between network disruption and network security.
![PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement by the Iraq Economic Contact Group [October 2022]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fco-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 October 2022.
The UK and Japan co-hosted a meeting on economic reform and climate action in Iraq at the Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group.
The Iraq Economic Contact Group (IECG) met today with Iraqi representatives in Washington DC. Representatives from Iraq, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and G7 discussed Iraq’s economic challenges and opportunities and the need for significant economic reform.
Despite some progress achieved under the current government in a challenging context, Iraq continues to face daunting medium and long-term economic challenges which are compounded by the negative impacts of climate change – including water scarcity, desertification, drought, and soaring temperatures. The IECG encourages the Government of Iraq to drive forward an ambitious economic reform agenda and take decisive climate action.
Iraq’s economic reform and recovery, the consolidation of its democracy, and increasing the participation of women and girls in all aspects of the country’s economic and political life, are all key to promoting stability not only in Iraq but also in the region.
Diversifying the economy and building an inclusive and dynamic private sector to complement the hydrocarbon industry will promote macroeconomic resilience and provide opportunities and livelihoods for the people of Iraq. This will require reforms that improve the business environment, modernise the financial sector, strengthen macroeconomic stability and public financial management, and fight against corruption; catalysing growth and creating the building blocks for the private sector to thrive.
Investing Iraq’s oil revenues prudently – through good governance, effective fiscal management, and transparency – will be important to rebuilding and climate-proofing infrastructure and improving basic services, creating the foundations for sustainable growth.
The IECG remains committed to supporting the Government of Iraq to tackle Iraq’s important economic and social challenges.
![PRESS RELEASE : Political Honours conferred [October 2022]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/downingstreet-150x122.png)
The press release issued by Downing Street on 14 October 2022.
The King has been pleased to approve that the honour of Knighthood be conferred upon John Whittingdale OBE MP and James (Jake) Berry MP and that the honour of Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George be conferred upon James Duddridge MP.
The Prime Minister has recommended these honours to the King, further to advice from the former Prime Minister, Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP.
Kt
Rt Hon James Jacob BERRY MP
Member of Parliament for Rossendale and Darwen; Minister without Portfolio and Chairman of the Conservative Party; former Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth. For political and public service to the North of England.
Kt
Rt Hon John WHITTINGDALE OBE MP
Member of Parliament for Maldon, former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. For political and public service.
KCMG
James DUDDRIDGE MP
Member for Rochford and Southend East; Minister of State for International Trade; former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa, for DEXEU, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. For political and public service.
The press release issued by Downing Street on 14 October 2022.
The King has been graciously pleased to signify His intention of conferring Peerages of the United Kingdom for Life upon the undermentioned:
The Prime Minister recommended this list to the King, further to advice from the former Prime Minister, Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP.
The comments made by David Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham, on Twitter on 14 October 2022.
Liz Truss went missing for days after her mini- budget and she just ran off stage as quickly as possible after her Press Conference. We really cannot have a Prime Minister who’s palpably scared, confused and out of touch. We need a General Election now.
The comments made by Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex, on Twitter on 14 October 2022.
The appointment of Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor is a wise choice. He is trusted and respected across Parliament. We must now be calm. Rash talk of ditching the PM, or calls for a general election, will not calm the financial markets.
The comments made by Therese Coffey, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 14 October 2022.
The PM is right to act now to ensure our country’s economic stability – key for families and businesses – and reassure the markets of our fiscal discipline, especially in light of the worsening global economic conditions with Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
![PRESS RELEASE : Disruptive fans banned from World Cup in Qatar [October 2022]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/homeoffice-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Home Office on 14 October 2022.
Measures to prevent disruptive and violent football fans subject to football banning orders in England and Wales from travelling to the World Cup in Qatar come into effect from today.
From 10 November the 1,308 people subject to a football banning order will be required to hand in their UK passports to the police until the end of the tournament, facing up to 6 months in prison and an unlimited fine if they fail to do so or attempt to travel to Qatar and neighbouring countries.
Passports will be returned to individuals after the final match of the tournament. If they wish to travel to other countries during this period, they will need to seek permission to hold on to their passports and will be subject to thorough checks.
As part of a targeted operation at ports, police will also be able to intercept known troublemakers who are likely to cause further disruption to stop them from attending the tournament. If they are caught attempting to travel, they will face a banning order court hearing within 24 hours.
Police officers in the UK and Qatar will gather intelligence during the tournament, with fans causing disruption during the World Cup risking arrest or being handed a football banning order on their return to the UK.
This is part of wider action the government has taken to crack down on violence and disorder at football matches, which includes extending football banning orders to cover the women’s domestic game and football-related online hate crime, and the imminent extension to Class A drug offences at matches.
The police also continue to take action, with over 2,100 arrests made and 516 new football banning orders issued in the 2021 to 2022 season.