Tag: 2023

Andrew Mitchell – 2023 Statement on Gabon

The statement made by Andrew Mitchell, the Minister for Africa, on 30 August 2023.

The UK condemns the unconstitutional military takeover of power in Gabon and calls for the restoration of constitutional government. We acknowledge concerns raised regarding the recent electoral process, including restrictions on media freedom, and urge all parties and citizens to commit to and follow legal and constitutional processes to resolve any electoral disputes. We continue to monitor the situation in Gabon.

August 31, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The UK strongly supports the renewal of the Mali sanctions regime and Panel of Experts mandate – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 August 2023.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Mali.

The United Kingdom thanks France and the UAE for their efforts on this resolution.

Despite having to make a number of difficult compromises, we voted in favour of the resolution because of our strong support for the renewal of the Mali sanctions regime and Panel of Experts mandate. These are important tools in support of peace and stability in Mali.

For this reason, the United Kingdom deeply regrets Russia’s reckless use of the veto. This will reduce the Council’s oversight and engagement on Mali’s peace process at a critical juncture.

Against the backdrop of MINUSMA’s withdrawal from Mali, what we need now is renewed commitment to maintain the Peace Agreement in the face of violations of the ceasefire in Timbuktu and Kidal regions.

The United Kingdom cannot support Russia’s proposal to dissolve the Panel of Experts on Mali, nor its attempt to predetermine the termination of sanctions measures. We pay tribute to the dedication of the members of the Panel; whose rigorous work in challenging circumstances we firmly support.

We remain deeply concerned about the worsening political, humanitarian and security situation in Mali. Despite the outcome of today’s vote, the UK remains committed to supporting Mali’s Peace Agreement and pursuing accountability for human rights violations and abuses.

August 31, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Legal powers given to Lucy Letby inquiry [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 30 August 2023.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay announces that the inquiry into the circumstances around crimes committed by Lucy Letby will become statutory.
Government announces inquiry into murders and attempted murders at Countess of Chester hospital will become statutory

After listening to the views of families of the victims, the move will give the inquiry legal powers which include compelling witnesses to give evidence under oath

The inquiry will look at the circumstances surrounding the murders and attempted murders committed by Lucy Letby

The inquiry into circumstances around the horrific crimes committed by former neonatal nurse, Lucy Letby, will become statutory, the Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay announced today (Wednesday 30 August).

While statutory inquiries traditionally take longer to conclude than non-statutory inquiries, moving to a statutory footing will mean the inquiry will have legal powers to compel witnesses, including former and current staff of the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust, to give evidence. It will also mean that evidence must be heard in public, unless the inquiry chair decides otherwise.

Announced shortly after Letby was convicted of murdering and attempting to murder babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, it will ensure vital lessons are learned and will provide answers to the parents and families impacted.

The Health and Social Care Secretary has been clear from the outset that he wants the families impacted in this tragic case to have the opportunity to engage with and shape the scope of the inquiry. Following a meeting with them yesterday, the government has acted swiftly to respect their wishes and put the inquiry on a legal footing.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

The crimes committed by Lucy Letby are truly harrowing, and my thoughts remain with the families of her victims.

Following her conviction, we announced an inquiry and said the nature of this inquiry would be shaped by the families.

Having now discussed this with the families, we will launch a full statutory inquiry giving it the legal powers to compel witnesses to give evidence.

This statutory public inquiry will aim to give the families the answers they need and ensure lessons are learned.

The statutory inquiry will investigate the wider circumstances around what happened at the trust, including the handling of concerns and governance. It will also look at what actions were taken by regulators and the wider NHS.

We will publish the inquiry’s terms of reference – setting out the scope of the work – in due course.

The government has indicated that it will look to appoint a judge to chair the inquiry, and the Health and Social Care Secretary is working with colleagues across government to identify a suitable candidate as soon as possible.
August 31, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Indo-Pacific Minister visits Laos and Malaysia [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 31 August 2023.

Focus on climate cooperation and development as UK Minister for Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan visits Laos and Malaysia.
- Minister for the Indo-Pacific will be in Laos and Malaysia for talks on climate cooperation, regional security and economic development
- Anne-Marie Trevelyan will visit UK-supported charities in Laos aimed at clearing unexploded mines and youth empowerment
- Visits to a green transport project and biodiversity conservation site will also be a focus for Minister Trevelyan while in Malaysia
Regional security, economic development and cooperation on climate issues will be the focus of discussions for UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan during a week-long visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Malaysia from 1 September.

The UK’s Integrated Review Refresh, published in March 2023, made increased engagement with the Indo-Pacific a long-term pillar of the UK’s foreign policy. With over half of global growth projected to come from the Indo-Pacific by 2050, the region is vital to the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the UK’s economy. The UK officially signed its Accession Protocol to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trading bloc (CPTPP) in July 2023. The partnership positions the UK at the heart of the fast growing and dynamic economies across the Indo-Pacific. Minister Trevelyan’s visit to the region follows the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Philippines and China this week.

In Laos, the Minister will visit UK government-supported charity Mines Advisory Group (MAG) International to see their life-saving work clearing unexploded mines. She will meet with the Governor in Xiang Khoang and visit Lone Buffalo centre, a UK-supported development programme aimed at upskilling and empowering young people in Laos.

While in Vientiane, Trevelyan will meet with the Vice-Foreign Minister, H.E Bounleua Phandanouvong, the Minister for Energy and Mines H.E. Phosay Sayasone and Minister for Agriculture and Forestry H.E Phet Phomphiphak to discuss clean energy transition and sustainable growth. The Minister will also visit the Lao Rugby Federation, an organisation that promotes female participation in sports, and English-language teaching charity Lone Buffalo.

Minister Trevelyan will travel to Malaysia on 5 September for engagements focused on security, trade, climate and nature protection, with Malaysia ranked the 12th most biodiverse country in the world.

In Kuala Lumpur, the Minister will meet Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution and Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry Liew Chin Tong to deepen our bilateral cooperation. The Minister will also deliver a speech on businesses and climate action at the Climate Governance Summit SME Workshop event.

She will meet the Sarawak community indigenous to Borneo, where she will tour a refuelling site for hydrogen-powered buses, and see biodiversity conservation in action with a visit to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.

Ahead of the visit, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

We must work together with our partners in the Indo-Pacific to address the shared global challenge of climate change.

Through our partnerships in Laos and Malaysia, the UK is supporting sustainable growth and accelerating the clean energy transition to secure a resilient and prosperous future.

As Laos prepares to take up ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, the UK will continue working with partners across the region to advance prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner.
August 31, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Flu and COVID autumn vaccine programmes brought forward [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 31 August 2023.

Precautionary measure taken to protect those most vulnerable from illness during winter following the identification of COVID-19 variant BA.2.86.
Vaccinations are now set to start on 11 September 2023 in England with adult care home residents and those most at risk to receive vaccines first

Eligible people urged to come forward for their jab as soon as they’re invited

This year’s autumn flu and COVID-19 vaccine programmes will start earlier than planned in England as a precautionary measure following the identification of a new COVID-19 variant.

The precautionary measure is being taken as scientists from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) examine the variant BA.2.86, which was first detected in the UK on Friday 18 August 2023.

According to the latest risk assessment by UKHSA, BA.2.86 has a high number of mutations and has appeared in several countries in individuals without travel history.

While BA.2.86 is not currently classified as a variant of concern, advice from UKHSA suggests that speeding up the autumn vaccine programme will deliver greater protection, supporting those at greatest risk of severe illness and reducing the potential impact on the NHS.

The decision means those most at risk from winter illness – including people in care homes for older people, the clinically vulnerable, those aged 65 and over, health and social care staff, and carers – will be able to access a COVID vaccine in September.

The annual flu vaccine will also be made available to these groups at the same time wherever possible, to ensure they are protected ahead of winter.

Vaccinations are now set to start on 11 September 2023, with adult care home residents and those most at risk to receive vaccines first. NHS England will announce full details of the accelerated roll-out soon, and those who fall into higher-risk groups are being encouraged to take up the jab as soon as they’re invited.

There is no change to the wider public health advice at this time.

Health Minister, Maria Caulfield said:

As our world-leading scientists gather more information on the BA.2.86 variant, it makes sense to bring forward the vaccination programme.

It is absolutely vital the most vulnerable groups receive a vaccine to strengthen their immunity over winter to protect themselves and reduce pressure on the NHS.

I encourage anyone invited for a vaccination – including those yet to have their first jab – to come forward as soon as possible.

Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, Dame Jenny Harries said:

As we continue to live with COVID-19 we expect to see new variants emerge.

Thanks to the success of our vaccine programme, we have built strong, broad immune defences against new variants throughout the population. However, some people remain more vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19. This precautionary measure to bring forward the autumn programme will ensure these people have protection against any potential wave this winter.

There is limited information available at present on BA.2.86 so the potential impact of this particular variant is difficult to estimate. As with all emergent and circulating COVID-19 variants – both in the UK and internationally – we will continue to monitor BA.2.86 and to advise government and the public as we learn more. In the meantime, please come forward for the vaccine when you are called.

For operational expediency and in line with public health recommendations, wherever possible flu and COVID-19 vaccines should be administered at the same time.

The vaccination campaign was previously due to commence in early October 2023. This is because the best protection is usually provided by getting vaccinated with as short a gap as possible before exposure to circulating influenza and COVID-19 viruses.

The advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) for this autumn, is to offer the vaccine to those at high risk of serious disease from COVID-19 and who are therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination.

Those eligible for vaccination are encouraged to take up the offer of the vaccine as soon as they are called to ensure they head into winter with the best protection.
August 31, 2023
Grant Shapps – 2023 Statement on Becoming Defence Secretary

The statement made by Grant Shapps on his appointment as Defence Secretary on 31 August 2023.

I’m honoured to be appointed as Defence Secretary by Rishi Sunak. I’d like to pay tribute to the enormous contribution Ben Wallace has made to UK defence & global security over the last 4 years.

As I get to work at DefenceHQ I am looking forward to working with the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who defend our nation’s security. And continuing the UK’s support for Ukraine in their fight against Putin’s barbaric invasion.

August 31, 2023
James Cleverly – 2023 Speech to the International Crimea Platform Summit

The speech made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 30 August 2023.

Thank you, President Zelenskyy, for bringing us together for this important discussion.

When you established the International Crimea Platform two years ago, the UK committed its support to this important initiative to strengthen the global response against Russia’s illegal annexation.

Our commitment to that undertaking hasn’t just endured, it has increased.

Two years ago, none of us imagined the challenges we would all now face.

But we have risen to the occasion, no one more so than the Ukrainian people.

We are more united, more determined and more emboldened than ever before.

As Crimea is a crucial part of the focus on Ukraine, it is only right that it remains at the centre of our discussions.

As with Russia’s wider presence in Ukraine, it is civilians who have had to bear the brunt in Crimea.

Houses searched, arbitrary arrests, illegal conscription, continuous abductions and reports of torture have revealed Putin’s chilling indifference to human life.

You don’t liberate a country by sending its children to re-educations camps abroad. You don’t free people by suppression, subjugation, and the curtailing of democracy.

The moral contract between Kyiv and the Kremlin is stark.

Ukraine offers democracy, Russia tyranny.

Ukraine strives to protect human rights. Russia disregards them.

Like our Ukrainian friends, the UK works tirelessly to promote and protect human rights in Crimea by supporting human rights defenders and the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission.

Together, we will hold those responsible for human rights violations and abuses to account. Just as we will hold Putin to account for withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative – an act that deprives the world’s most vulnerable of desperately needed food and supplies.

Be in no doubt, the UK and the international community will never recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, or any Ukrainian territory, and will stand with you for as long as it takes.

Let me end by wishing Ukraine a happy Independence Day for tomorrow. Your defiance, your strength and your resilience are an inspiration to us all.

August 31, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary address to International Crimea Platform Summit [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 August 2023.

The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly addressed the International Crimea Platform Summit 2023 via a pre-recorded video.

Thank you, President Zelenskyy, for bringing us together for this important discussion.

When you established the International Crimea Platform two years ago, the UK committed its support to this important initiative to strengthen the global response against Russia’s illegal annexation.

Our commitment to that undertaking hasn’t just endured, it has increased.

Two years ago, none of us imagined the challenges we would all now face.

But we have risen to the occasion, no one more so than the Ukrainian people.

We are more united, more determined and more emboldened than ever before.

As Crimea is a crucial part of the focus on Ukraine, it is only right that it remains at the centre of our discussions.

As with Russia’s wider presence in Ukraine, it is civilians who have had to bear the brunt in Crimea.

Houses searched, arbitrary arrests, illegal conscription, continuous abductions and reports of torture have revealed Putin’s chilling indifference to human life.

You don’t liberate a country by sending its children to re-educations camps abroad. You don’t free people by suppression, subjugation, and the curtailing of democracy.

The moral contract between Kyiv and the Kremlin is stark.

Ukraine offers democracy, Russia tyranny.

Ukraine strives to protect human rights. Russia disregards them.

Like our Ukrainian friends, the UK works tirelessly to promote and protect human rights in Crimea by supporting human rights defenders and the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission.

Together, we will hold those responsible for human rights violations and abuses to account. Just as we will hold Putin to account for withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative – an act that deprives the world’s most vulnerable of desperately needed food and supplies.

Be in no doubt, the UK and the international community will never recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, or any Ukrainian territory, and will stand with you for as long as it takes.

Let me end by wishing Ukraine a happy Independence Day for tomorrow. Your defiance, your strength and your resilience are an inspiration to us all.

August 31, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary’s meetings with China’s Foreign Minister and Vice President [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 August 2023.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has held bilateral meetings with senior Chinese government figures during his visit to Beijing.

He met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng for the second time, and Chinese Foreign Minister and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi, for the third time.

The Foreign Secretary set out the UK’s approach to China, in line with his Mansion House speech and the Integrated Review Refresh – outlining the protect, align and engage pillars of the UK’s China strategy.

The Foreign Secretary was clear about the UK’s position on China’s malign cyber activity. In detailed discussions on Hong Kong, he stressed the damage caused by the Beijing-imposed National Security Law to rights and freedoms and consequently to China’s international reputation and raised the case of Jimmy Lai.

He also emphasised the importance to the international community of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. And he called for the immediate lifting of sanctions against Parliamentary colleagues. The Foreign Secretary made clear the UK’s strength of feeling about the mass incarceration of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang.

The Foreign Secretary agreed with Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the importance of direct cooperation between the UK and China on the biggest global challenges, such as climate change.

He made clear the UK position on key geopolitical issues including the conflict in Ukraine, the situation in North Korea and nuclear non-proliferation.

They agreed on the potential of AI to unlock huge opportunities but stressed the need for global coordination to mitigate risks and put protections in place.

The Foreign Secretary stressed the need for open dialogue, as well as the need for constructive engagement, when this is consistent with UK interests.

August 31, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government bans machetes and zombie knives [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 30 August 2023.

The government has introduced a new ban on zombie-style knives and machetes that have no practical use and will give police more powers to seize knives.

Machetes and zombie-style knives with no practical use will be banned and police will have more powers to seize them in a bid to crack down on their use in devastating street violence.

Under the measures, machetes and knives that are designed to look intimidating and threatening, known as zombie-style knives, will be made illegal.

The maximum penalty for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of these newly proscribed weapons will also be increased from six months to two years, as will the maximum penalty for sales to under-18s.

Police will also be given new powers to seize and destroy knives found on private premises if there are reasonable grounds to believe the blade will be used in a serious crime. Previously, police could not seize knives found during a search on a property, even if they had suspicions of criminal use.

In addition, the Home Office will introduce a new offence for possession of bladed articles with the intention to endanger life or cause fear of violence, and will ask the Sentencing Council to consider amending sentencing guidelines for the possession of bladed articles and offensive weapons so these are treated more seriously than possession of a non-prohibited weapons.

Policing Minister Chris Philp said:

One life lost to knife crime is one too many, and we must do all we can to stop the vile thugs who carry dangerous weapons from their campaign of intimidation and violence.

Zombie-style knives and machetes serve no other purpose but to inflate criminal egos and endanger lives. There is no reason to own these types of weapons.

That is why we are banning these knives and making sentencing more severe, so our communities can be reassured that this violent criminality will face the punishments they deserve, and lives will be saved.

Today’s announcement builds on the government’s action taken to take dangerous weapons off our streets, banning zombie knives in 2016 and cyclone knives in 2019.

On the back of the 2016 ban of zombie knives, some retailers continued to sell these kinds of weapons but evaded breaking the law by removing the threatening wording on the blade or handle that incites violence. Today’s announcement closes this loophole, banning these ‘zombie style’ knives and machetes that do not have this threatening writing, but are just as dangerous.

Steel Warriors Head of Operations Christian d’Ippolito said:

Steel Warriors approve of the new measures regarding the ban of machetes and certain types of knives; weapons like these should not be available to young people, they have no place in modern society and should not be glorified.

At Steel Warriors we believe that lives should be built by steel, not destroyed by it. We melt down confiscated knives and recycle them into outdoor gyms, we then provide free community classes to transform the lives of young people affected by crime, violence and social exclusion, giving them the confidence they need to create positive futures.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Knife Crime Lead, Commander Stephen Clayman, said:

Every day as police officers we see first-hand the devastating effects of these deadly weapons on the lives of individuals, particularly young people, and we must always look at what action can be taken to prevent access to knives that are used for violence, intimidation and harm.

The proposals in the consultation followed extensive collaboration between the Home Office and the NPCC National Knife Crime working group. Together, we worked to develop practical, sustainable solutions to remove these lethal weapons from our streets.

These five proposals will all offer additional robust measures to deal with those who seek to use knives for violence. Ultimately, when used appropriately, they provide a greater means to protect the public and safeguard our communities.

We look forward to working with government on the next steps for making these proposals a reality, strengthening our fight against knife crime.

Under a new definition included in these measures, a zombie-style knife is any bladed weapon over eight inches in length with a plain cutting edge and sharp pointed end that also has either a serrated cutting edge, more than one hole in the blade, or multiple sharp points like spikes.

The measures come as the government responds to a public consultation launched in April this year, which carefully considered responses from individuals, manufacturers, retailers and trade organisations that rely on bladed items. Specific exemptions will be made for legitimate articles such as objects of historical importance and those that are hand-made, in order to avoid negative impacts on the antiques market and British-made industries that rely on top-end, high-value blades that are highly unlikely to end up in the hands of criminals.

The new measures are part of the government’s drive to rid communities of serious violence, and follows the removal of 100,000 knives and offensive weapons from our streets through stop and search, surrender initiatives and other targeted police action since 2019.

The government’s Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) are bringing together local partners to tackle the drivers of violence in their area by delivering early intervention and prevention programmes to divert young people away from a life of crime in the 20 areas worst affected by serious violence. They have reached over 215,000 vulnerable young people in their third year of funding alone, with the government investing £170 million into their development.

The measures will be legislated when Parliament allows.

August 31, 2023