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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – Statement on human rights situation in Ukraine & Crimea [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – Statement on human rights situation in Ukraine & Crimea [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 July 2023.

    UK statement on oral update of High Commissioner on human rights situation in Ukraine & Secretary-General interim report on human rights situation in Crimea.

    Thank you,

    Last week marked 500 days since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    500 days not of friendship for the Charter, but its daily flouting.

    500 days of atrocities. More than 500 children killed.

    Thousands of civilians killed. Millions displaced. Schools, hospitals and homes destroyed. Ukraine’s fertile fields flooded and mined, not producing food for the world. Tens of thousands of civilians detained, countless among them tortured. Children stolen from their families, their Ukrainian identity denied. No wonder that the ICC issued an arrest warrant against President Putin.

    Thank you, High Commissioner for the role you and your teams on the ground have played in calling out these systematic violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law. International law matters. The Charter matters. Accountability matters.

    High Commissioner,

    How can the international community support those thousands of civilians arbitrarily detained by Russia?

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Statement to Leaders at NATO Summit in Lithuania

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Statement to Leaders at NATO Summit in Lithuania

    The statement made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, in Lithuania on 12 July 2023.

    This summit stands out as a landmark in NATO’s long history.

    We arrived here faced with a more volatile and dangerous world…

    A mechanised war in Europe on a scale not seen since 1945…

    And increasing aggression from authoritarian states, challenging our security in Europe and beyond.

    But as we leave Vilnius, we are more confident and more united than ever.

    Let me set out three reasons why that’s the case.

    First, we’ve acted decisively to strengthen this alliance.

    Agreeing the most fundamental transformation to NATO’s readiness since the Cold War…

    Comprehensive warfighting plans to defend the UK and its allies…

    Scaled up defence production to boost our stockpiles, which will benefit British industry…

    And increased defence spending…

    …with all allies now committed to hitting the 2% target.

    And we did something here in Vilnius that not long ago seemed impossible…

    We welcomed Finland to the table as a NATO member…

    ….and very soon we’ll be doing the same with Sweden.

    We are stronger with them by our side… and in time we will be stronger with Ukraine as a NATO ally too.

    This is my second point…

    It is now over 500 days since Russia’s invasion.

    500 days of barbarity.

    Of innocent people being murdered in their homes.

    Of children being killed, abducted and used as human shields.

    I want to pay tribute to the Ukrainian people and to their incredible bravery and resilience.

    They’re still standing strong and defiant… and the counteroffensive is making progress.

    In the last few weeks, they’ve taken back more ground than Russia has taken in the last year.

    We are standing with them…

    …and allies are doubling down in their support.

    At the Munich Security Conference in February, I called for long-term security arrangements…

    …to protect Ukraine, break the cycle of Russian violence, and ultimately help to end this war.

    And today we have delivered.

    Together with our G7 partners we have agreed to provide the long-term bilateral security commitments that Ukraine needs.

    These commitments mark a new high point in international support for Ukraine.

    And I want to be clear, they are not a substitute for NATO membership.

    The summit communique echoes the UK’s long-held position that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO.”

    And we’ve taken a big step this week towards bringing Ukraine into the alliance.

    Together we’ve shortened their path to membership…

    …removing the need for a Membership Action Plan…

    …and holding the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council with President Zelenskyy sitting at the table, by our side, as an equal.

    Finally, I‘d like to say a word about the UK’s role here.

    I was struck once again this week by just how highly valued our contribution is.

    The British people should know that – and they should be proud.

    We are the leading European contributor to NATO.

    We were one of the first to hit the 2% target and now we’re moving towards 2.5%.

    We spend more than 20 other NATO countries combined, but it’s about much more than that.

    It’s about our incredible Armed Forces across land, air and sea.

    We’re one of the only countries that contributes to every NATO mission with RAF jets patrolling the eastern flank…

    Troops on the ground in Estonia and Poland as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence…

    And the Royal Navy, including our two aircraft carriers, providing around a quarter of NATO’s maritime capability.

    It’s about our deep partnerships…

    With Japan and Italy we’re producing a sixth-generation fighter through our Global Combat Air Program…

    …and with AUKUS, we’re working with Australia and the US to build some of the most advanced nuclear-powered submarines the world has ever known.

    And it’s about leadership.

    We’ve led the way on Ukraine… moving first on tanks and long-range missiles… training their troops for the counter-offensive.

    Just today I’ve announced we’re providing more ammunition, 70 more combat vehicles, as well as a new rehabilitation centre for injured Ukrainian veterans.

    We’re moving forward with the combat air coalition…

    …and the UK starts training Ukrainian pilots next month.

    And we’re using our leadership in technology to keep NATO at the cutting edge…

    Hosting the European Headquarters of the Defence Innovation Accelerator in the UK…

    …and holding the first global summit on AI Safety later this year.

    The UK has been there since the start of this alliance.

    In 1948, in the hope of avoiding another devastating war, we joined together with a handful of allies…

    …to pledge that we would come to one another’s defence.

    That pact was the seed of the North Atlantic Treaty.

    75 years later, faced with new threats in Europe, NATO is more important than ever.

    It has proved itself to be the most successful Alliance in history…

    …and this week we’ve shown once again that the UK is at its heart.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The destruction of the Kakhovka dam – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The destruction of the Kakhovka dam – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 July 2023.

    Deputy Ambassador Brown says Russia must bear ultimate responsibility for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

    Chairs, as we said this morning, and as we have seen in detail this afternoon, the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam is a major catastrophe with wide-reaching ecological and humanitarian consequences. Tens of thousands have been directly impacted by the resultant flooding.

    Let us be clear. Russia has controlled the area since just after the invasion and must bear ultimate responsibility: none of the suffering that we have seen or the damage caused would have happened if Russia had not launched an unprovoked and illegal war of aggression.

    We are still analysing the impact on Ukraine’s grain production, but what is very clear is that this disaster has had, and will have, an unquantifiable impact on Ukraine’s ability to maintain production. An attack on the dam is not just on Ukraine, but on all those who depend on Ukraine’s grain exports to provide food around the world.

    The destruction of the Kakhovka is abhorrent. Intentionally targeting exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime. And any targeting of innocent civilians or humanitarian workers trying to escape an ongoing humanitarian disaster is not only barbaric, but also a gross breach of the Geneva Conventions.

    The links between environmental destruction and security are alarmingly clear. And it is right that we should discuss them in this forum at the OSCE.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Collection of drawings which helped develop the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew at risk of leaving the UK [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Collection of drawings which helped develop the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew at risk of leaving the UK [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 12 July 2023.

    A collection of 18th-century drawings by botanical artist Simon Taylor (1742-1796) valued at £17,640 is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer is found.

    • 38 original drawings of flowers by Simon Taylor played vital part  in development of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
    • Collection provides a unique record of what was growing in British gardens, especially Kew, undocumented elsewhere
    • Export bar decision follows independent advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest

    A collection of 18th-century drawings by botanical artist Simon Taylor (1742-1796) valued at £17,640 is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer is found.

    Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay has placed an export bar on the collection of 38 original drawings of flowers in the hope they can remain in the UK for public study and education.

    The minister’s decision follows the independent advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest.

    The collection of original drawings was highly significant in helping John Stuart, third Earl of Bute (1713-92), in the development of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, which he helped transform into a national botanic garden of international repute for Princess Augusta.

    Watercolours by Simon Taylor

    The drawings are a significant record of the plants in the garden prior to the involvement of Joseph Banks who became Kew’s first unofficial director in 1768.

    They are significant for their aesthetic value, scientific accuracy and provide a unique record of what was growing in British gardens, especially Kew, undocumented elsewhere.The expert committee found the botanical drawings are of outstanding significance in the branches of horticultural, artistic and scientific history.

    This assessment was based on the ‘Waverley Criteria’, established in 1952 to decide on works of art and cultural objects which deserve efforts to keep them in the country.

    Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

    This collection of watercolour drawings by Simon Taylor – commissioned by the botanist and Prime Minister Lord Bute – helped to sow the seeds for the wonderful Royal Botanic Garden at Kew.

    From its earliest days, Kew was a leading hub of research and education. This collection is a significant record of its eighteenth-century origins and what could be found there before it became the garden we know and cherish today.

    I sincerely hope that a UK buyer comes forward to save this incredible collection so that the public can continue to learn from and admire it.

    Committee Member Peter Barber said:

    The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew are universally recognised as one of this country’s greatest glories. They were the fruit of a partnership between George III’s mother, Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Dowager Princess of Wales, and his tutor and later prime minister, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute. But very little survives to show what plants were originally to be found in the Gardens. An opportunity has now arisen to save some precious depictions of these plants for the nation.

    Taylor’s 38 finely executed watercolours, commissioned by Lord Bute, are much more than merely pretty pictures.  Part of a now dispersed collection of 15 volumes containing nearly 700 paintings, they have the potential to add significantly to our knowledge of Kew in its earliest days. I hope they can find a home in this country where they can most easily and appropriately be studied and enjoyed, and perhaps be joined in the future by more volumes, or at least watercolours, as they emerge.

    The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the drawings meet the first and third Waverley criteria for their outstanding connection with our history and national life and their outstanding significance to the study of history of development of botany in the UK and at Kew Gardens in particular.

    The decision on the export licence application for the drawings will be deferred for a period ending on 11 September 2023. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the drawings at the recommended price of £17,640. The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

    Offers from public bodies for less than the recommended price through the private treaty sale arrangements, where appropriate, may also be considered by the Minister. Such purchases frequently offer substantial financial benefit to a public institution wishing to acquire the item.

    Notes to editors:

    1. In December 2022, Lord Parkinson discussed the Waverley criteria in a speech to mark their 70th anniversary, and used the opportunity to invite thoughts on the way they work – for instance, whether the Committee should say more about how it has  considered items’ connection to the history of other countries as well as to the UK’s, or whether the items it considers are destined for public display rather than private collection. [Read his full speech] (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/lord-parkinson-speech-at-a-reception-to-mark-70-years-of-the-waverley-criteria)
    2. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the drawings should contact the RCEWA on 0161 934 4317.
    3. Details of the drawings are as follows: One folio volume (607 x 450 mm) containing 38 watercolours on vellum, unsigned and undated. Latin binomial names of the plant subjects neatly written on each painting in ink. Contemporary binding in red Morocco gilt, with arms of John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute. Spine title reads “Plants by Taylor. Vol. XIII”.
    4. Provenance: John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1712-1792). His executor’s sale of the Bute Library, Leigh and Sotheby, 8 May 1794, lot 1246. The Library Collection of Henry Rogers Boughton, 2nd Baron Fairhaven (1900-1973) established by him between 1927 and 1960, United Kingdom. Thence by descent to the current owner.
    5. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
    6. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Its strategic vision in Let’s Create is that, by 2030, England should be a country in which the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. ACE invests public money from the government and the National Lottery to support the sector and deliver the vision. Following the Covid-19 crisis, ACE developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90 per cent coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. It is also one of the bodies administering the government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Annual report published on water company environmental performance [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Annual report published on water company environmental performance [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 12 July 2023.

    Latest annual Environmental Performance Assessment shows some modest improvements in water companies’ performance.

    The Environment Agency has today (12 July) released its annual report on the environmental performance of England’s nine water and sewerage companies.

    The report shows some modest improvements to water company star ratings under the Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) report in 2022, compared to 2021.

    Measured against the Environment Agency’s 4-star rating, four companies have stayed the same, three have improved and two have got worse.

    • Severn Trent Water – 4 stars, the same as the previous year
    • Northumbrian Water – 3 stars, down from 4 stars
    • United Utilities – 3 stars, down from 4 stars
    • Yorkshire Water – 3 stars, up from 2 stars
    • Anglian Water – 2 stars, the same as the previous year
    • Thames Water – 2 stars, the same as the previous year
    • Wessex Water – 2 stars, the same as the previous year
    • Southern Water – 2 stars, up from 1 star
    • South West Water – 2 stars, up from 1 star

    Since 2011, the Environment Agency has used the EPA to rate each company in England from 1 star to 4 stars. The rating takes into account performance on environmental commitments such as pollution incidents and treatment work compliance. Last year, an updated reporting approach was introduced, with revised metrics and tightened performance thresholds.

    This year’s report has found that:

    • The number of serious pollution incidents has reduced from 62 in 2021 to 44 in 2022 but remains unacceptably high. More than half of serious pollution incidents were from assets of Anglian Water and Thames Water – the Environment Agency has taken enforcement action against both companies.
    • Total pollution incidents were similar to 2021 and remain too high.
    • Incident self-reporting was at 82% – the best since the start of the EPA in 2011. However, this contrasts to self-reporting on serious incidents which was only 48%.

    The results show that although there have been some improvements, all water companies need to go further and faster.

    Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said:

    Regulators, water companies, government, eNGOs and many others all want the same thing: better environmental outcomes, including cleaner rivers and seas. We need to work together and take collective responsibility to achieve it.

    While there have been some modest improvements, it is unacceptable to still be seeing this level of pollution. We have seen a distinct culture shift from the water industry in recent months and that is welcome – but that must translate to profound, long-term change.

    The Environment Agency will play its part by transforming the way we regulate the sector. We welcome this week’s announcement on unlimited penalties which will also improve our enforcement powers.

    The report comes as the government today announced new laws to allow the Environment Agency to impose unlimited civil sanctions on water companies for environmental offences. It means it will be quicker and easier for penalties to be imposed, although the most serious cases will still be taken through criminal proceedings.

    The Environment Agency has also set out how it will:

    • Create a bigger specialised workforce to focus solely on water company regulation. By autumn this year nearly 100 officers will be trained in carrying out more detailed audits of water companies to quickly identify issues and put improvement actions in place.
    • Significantly increase compliance checks for every company – making sure they are sticking to the permits agreed with the Environment Agency.
    • Recruit more data specialists to make better use of analytics and technology.
    • Transform huge quantities of monitoring data into stronger regulatory intelligence. That includes using data-driven analytics to map monitoring data against rainfall to detect potential dry weather operation of storm overflows – known as ‘dry spills’. It means the Environment Agency can quickly direct new specialist officers to any sites at risk and stop it happening.

    Water Minister Rebecca Pow said:

    Today’s report shows there is significant work to do to drive the improvements in our rivers and seas that we need to see.

    The government’s Plan for Water is focused on more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement than ever before. I am personally committed to driving that forward and demanding more from each and every water company.

    We have also put new regulatory powers in place to allow the Environment Agency to impose sanctions on water companies without always going through the courts. This will be an important tool in its armoury to hold companies to account.

    Since 2015 the Environment Agency’s prosecutions against water companies have secured fines of over £150 million. In 2022 the Environment Agency concluded nine prosecutions against water and sewerage companies with fines of more than £4 million.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Prime Minister Støre of Norway [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Prime Minister Støre of Norway [July 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 July 2023.

    The Prime Minister met Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre at the NATO Summit in Lithuania today.

    The leaders praised the extensive cooperation between the UK and Norway on defence and security, from our membership of the Joint Expeditionary Force to our consistent leadership within NATO.

    Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to providing maritime defence and security in the High North, agreeing protecting the region was critical for Euro-Atlantic security. They agreed to look to deepen defence cooperation further.

    The leaders welcomed the collaboration between the UK and Norway on energy security. The Prime Minister reflected on the importance of offshore wind farms in shoring up energy supplies across Europe, and agreed we needed to deepen collaboration to increase provision.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [July 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 July 2023.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

    The Prime Minister paid tribute to the courage and bravery of Ukraine’s Armed Forces on the front lines.

    They discussed the increasing progress of the counteroffensive, and the Prime Minister outlined a new package of UK support for Ukraine.

    The Prime Minister welcomed the fact that the MAP requirement for Ukraine had now been removed, smoothing the path to full NATO membership in the future.

    The Prime Minister and the President agreed on the importance of the security arrangements to be announced by the G7 this afternoon.

    They marked a new high point in support from the international community and would give Ukraine an even greater level of endurance against Russian aggression, the Prime Minister said.

    Both agreed the arrangements will not be a substitute for NATO membership and looked forward to building on the new security framework as soon as possible.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government and industry meet to progress the fight against fraud [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government and industry meet to progress the fight against fraud [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 July 2023.

    The Security Minister convened a meeting of the Joint Fraud Taskforce to discuss measures to tackle fraud including an online fraud charter.

    Representatives from across the private sector met at 10 Downing Street to update government on progress made to tackle fraud and protect the public from scams.

    The Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, convened a meeting of the Joint Fraud Taskforce (JFT) to drive forward delivery of the commitments made in the Fraud Strategy, published earlier this year. With several actions already implemented, members of the group agreed to use the forum to continue to monitor progress.

    Representatives discussed the development of an online fraud charter with the tech sector to respond to the growing volume of fraud originating on social media platforms. The charter will ensure that tech firms take action to block scams, make it easier to report frauds and ensure that fraudulent content is removed swiftly. The Security Minister has also called on tech firms to implement stronger measures to tackle fraud on their platforms ahead of the introduction of the Online Safety Bill.

    Anti-Fraud Champion Anthony Browne said:

    Collaboration with industry is key to blocking fraud at source.

    Since stepping into my role, I’ve worked at pace with industry to ensure we are delivering on our commitment to cut off the channels fraudsters use to target us and protect people’s hard earned money.

    I will continue this conversation with tech sector bosses to ensure they are doing everything in their power to disrupt the callous fraudsters operating online and better protect their users.

    Previous Joint Fraud Taskforce meetings have overseen the development and agreement of charters covering sectors such as retail banking and telecoms. The telecommunications charter has already resulted in massive action by the operators, with over 600 million scam texts blocked and vast numbers of scam calls filtered out before they can reach the public.

    Representatives also discussed the development of a cross-government anti-fraud public awareness campaign to streamline and simplify messaging to the public. The Security Minister encouraged partners to collaborate with government on the preparation and delivery of the campaign.

    Today’s meeting is the first since the publication of the government’s Fraud Strategy which set out a whole system response to tackling these crimes in the light of how they have evolved through modern technology.

    This included the creation of a new National Fraud Squad to overhaul how these crimes are investigated by taking a proactive, intelligence-led approach, backed by 400 new specialist investigators, working with local forces, international partners and the UK intelligence community to shut down fraud cells.

    Other measures in the strategy include:

    • banning cold calls on all financial products such as types of insurance or sham crypto currency schemes
    • working with Ofcom to use new technology to further clamp down on number ‘spoofing’, so fraudsters cannot impersonate legitimate UK phone numbers
    • banning the use of so-called ‘SIM farms’ commonly harnessed by scammers to reach thousands of people at once
    • reviewing the use of mass texting services
    • rolling out tailored support to victims at a local level across the whole of England and Wales through the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit
    • launching an independent review of the challenges in investigating and prosecuting fraud to speed up the justice process, punishing more scammers and ensuring sentences match the severity of the impact on victims
    • deploying the UK intelligence community to identify and disrupt more fraudsters overseas
    • publishing regular data on the volume of fraudulent content hosted on different websites and platforms to incentivise companies to root these out and better protect users.

    Organisations in attendance at the JFT included:

    • HM Treasury
    • National Cyber Security Centre
    • National Economic Crime Centre (NECC)
    • City of London Police
    • National Trading Standards
    • UK Finance
    • Cifas
    • OFCOM
    • Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
    • Victim Support
    • Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
    • Law Society of England and Wales
    • Association of British Insurers (ABI)
    • TechUK
    • Google
    • Communications Crime Strategy Group (CCSG)
    • Serious Fraud Office
    • Welsh Government
    • Department of Justice Northern Ireland
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on the South China Sea [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on the South China Sea [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 July 2023.

    A UK government spokesperson statement issued on 12 July on the South China Sea.

    On the 12 July 2023, HMA Manila delivered a speech organised by the Stratbase ADR Institute in Manila, noting the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal which, established in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), delivered a unanimous decision on the South China Sea Arbitration which is binding on the two parties – the Philippines and China.

    This decision contains clear rules that apply for maritime claims, the lawful uses of maritime spaces – including freedom of navigation and overflight – and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

    A UK government spokesperson said:

    “As provided for in UNCLOS, the Arbitral Tribunal’s decision is final and legally binding on both parties. We call on the Philippines and China to abide by its terms.”

    “The UK does not take a position on competing sovereignty claims, but strongly opposes any claims that are not consistent with UNCLOS. Adherence to international law, including UNCLOS, is fundamental to ensuring there continues to be a safe, prosperous and stable South China Sea. The UK will continue to encourage the resolution of disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Two Board Members reappointed to Sport England [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Two Board Members reappointed to Sport England [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 12 July 2023.

    The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has reappointed David Mahoney and Tove Okunniwa as Board Members of Sport England for terms of two years and three months. Tove Okunniwa will take up duties as Vice Chair of the Board.

    David Mahoney

    Reappointed from 28th July 2023 until 27th October 2025.

    Since April 2016, Mr Mahoney has been Chief Operating Officer for the England and Wales Cricket Board. Prior to this, he was the Director of Policy/Director of Policy and Government Affairs/Director of Content Policy at Ofcom. This role was held between April 2009 and April 2016. From October 2008 to August 2009, Mr Mahoney was Director of Digital Britain.

    Tove Okunniwa

    Reappointed from 2nd June 2023 until 1st September 2025.

    Since 2017, Ms Okunniwa has been the CEO of London Sport, a centre of excellence for sport and physical activity behaviour change in London. In 2015, Ms Okunniwa founded TVE Consulting, a consultancy advising clients and agencies on marketing and brand engagement. Ms Okunniwa was here for two years. Prior to this she worked for Havas Media Group UK from 2014 to 2015.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Remuneration for these roles is set at £218 per day. This reappointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. David Mahoney and Tove Okunniwa have not declared any significant political activity.