The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on 23 May 2024.
Rishi Sunak clearly does not believe in his Rwanda plan. I think that’s been clear from this morning, because he’s not going to get any flights off.
I think that tells its own story. I don’t think he’s ever believed that plan is going to work, and so he has called an election early enough to have it not tested before the election.
The comments made by Daisy Cooper, the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, on 23 May 2024.
We have ruled out doing any deal whatsoever with this Conservative Government because it is really quite clear that there are lifelong Conservative voters who can no longer stomach voting for this Conservative Party, they simply don’t recognise it anymore.
The statement made by Sir Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on 22 May 2024.
Tonight the Prime Minister has finally announced the next General Election.
A moment the country needs – and has been waiting for. And where, by the force of our democracy power returns to you.
A chance to change for the better. Your future. Your community. Your country.
It will feel like a long campaign – I’m sure of that. But no matter what else is said and done. That opportunity for change is what this election is about.
Over the course of the last four years – we have changed the Labour Party. Returned it once more to the service of working people.
All we ask now – humbly – is to do exactly the same for our country. And return Britain to the service of working people. To that purpose.
We offer three reasons why you should change Britain with Labour.
One – because we will stop the chaos.
Look around our country. The sewage in our rivers. People waiting on trolleys in A&E. Crime virtually unpunished. Mortgages and food prices – through the roof.
It’s all – every bit of it – a direct result of the Tory chaos in Westminster.
Time and again, they pursue their own interests. Rather than tackling the issues that affect your family.
And if they get another five years, they will feel entitled to carry on exactly as they are. Nothing will change.
A vote for Labour is a vote for stability – economic and political. A politics that treads more lightly on all our lives. A vote to stop the chaos.
Two – because it’s time for change.
Our offer is to reset both our economy and our politics.
So that they once again serve the interests of working people.
We totally reject the Tory view that economic strength is somehow gifted from those at the top.
Over the past fourteen years – through all the crises we have had to face – sticking with this idea has left our country exposed, insecure and unable to unlock the potential of every community.
But a vote for Labour is a vote to turn the page on all that. A vote for change.
And finally, three – because we have a long-term plan to rebuild Britain. A plan that is ready to go. Fully-costed and fully funded.
We can deliver economic stability. Cut the NHS waiting times. Secure our borders with a New Border Security Command.
Harness Great British Energy to cut your bills for good. Tackle anti-social behaviour.
And get the teachers we need in your children’s classroom.
But most of importantly of all, we do all this with a new spirit of service.
Country first, party second.
A rejection of the gesture politics you will see in this campaign, I have no doubt from the Tories and from the SNP.
I am well aware of the cynicism people hold towards politicians at the moment.
But I came into politics late, having served our country as leader of the Crown Prosecution Service.
And I helped the Police Service in Northern Ireland to gain the consent of all communities.
Service of our country is the reason – and the only reason – why I am standing here now – asking for your vote.
And I believe with patience, determination and that commitment to service there is so much pride and potential we can unlock across our country.
So – here it is – the future of the country – in your hands.
On 4th July you have the choice. And together, we can stop the chaos.
We can turn the page. We can start to rebuild Britain. And change our country.
Thank you.
The speech made by John Swinney, the Scottish First Minister, on 7 May 2024.
Presiding Officer
When I stood down as Deputy First Minister in March last year, I believed that would be the last senior office I would hold in politics. Having served then as a senior Minister for 16 years, I felt I had – to coin a phrase – done my bit. To find myself accepting office as First Minister of Scotland today is therefore – to utter a classic understatement – something of a surprise. It is however an extraordinary privilege and it is my honour to accept the office of First Minister, committing myself to do the best I can for Scotland.
As I navigated my way through the media pack in the corridors of this Parliament last week, prior to announcing my candidacy for the SNP Leadership, I tried to explain that I was taking my time to decide whether to stand because I had to be certain it was a decision that was right for my family. For me, that was not a stalling tactic or an evasive answer from an experienced politician. For me, it was the truth.
Members will know that my wife Elizabeth has multiple sclerosis. She is indefatigable in trying to make sure that MS does not get in the way of her living life to the full. But much to her frustration, she does often have to rely on her husband for support and assistance. I could not just commit myself to become First Minister without properly working out how we will be able to manage as a family. We have talked that through and we will manage. But I cannot let this moment pass without making clear to Elizabeth my profound gratitude for the sacrifices she is prepared to make to enable her husband to serve our Country as First Minister.
I am so pleased that my Father, my wife and children, members of my family and our dearest friends, are able to be here today to see this moment. My only regret is that my beloved Mother did not live long enough to see this day. As her Parish Minister wrote to me yesterday “Your Mum would have been (quietly) proud”. My Mother’s love of literature and poetry – which rubbed off on her two sons – would have prompted her to find some words that would sum up this moment.
Yesterday, I was asked what would be the single most important policy objective for my Government. I made clear it would be the eradication of child poverty.
So, in searching for some words to sum up this occasion, perhaps my Mother would have chosen these words from one of Scotland’s greatest poets, Hamish Henderson, who was born in Blairgowrie, in the very heart of my Perthshire North constituency. In his epic anthem, Freedom Come All Ye, which I heard Henderson sing from an open top bus in the Meadows of our great Capital City during a rally that demanded the establishment of a Scottish Parliament in the early 1990s, the poet wrote :
“So come all ye at hame wi Freedom,
Never heed whit the hoodies croak for doom.
In your hoose a’ the bairns o’ Adam,
Can find breid, barley-bree and painted room.”
If there was ever an anthem that railed against child poverty, those words from Hamish Henderson echo through the straths and streets of our diverse country as a call for us to act.
So I will be unapologetic about bringing to this Parliament the measures we can take to eradicate child poverty and I look forward to seeking the support of others to achieve that aim.
Because I recognise, that is how it is going to have to work. I am leading a minority Government. I will need to reach out to others to make things happen. To pass legislation. To agree a Budget.
To pass legislation. To agree a Budget. These sound like dry technical parliamentary terms. But what they mean in reality is if we want to fund our schools and our hospitals, if we want to give our businesses a competitive edge, if we want to take climate action, if we want to eradicate child poverty, if we want to change people’s lives for the better, we have to work together to do so.
This Parliament is intensely polarised at this time. I accept my part in creating that environment – whether that is by shouted put downs from the front bench or heckling from a sedentary position. I do promise Presiding Officer that will all stop – I have changed.
This is not the collaborative place it has been in the past, a collaborative place that has done much good to improve the lives of people in Scotland. As the Parliament marks its 25 year anniversary, and as one of the now relatively small group who have been here from the start, I reflect on the major developments that have taken place by collaborative work and agreement over that time. Major developments taken forward by the Labour and Liberal Executive such as the ban on smoking in public places, or Minimum Unit Pricing by the SNP Government, or the introduction of free bus travel for under 22s by the SNP-Green partnership.
I commit my Government to working to create that agreement across the Chamber. I hope there is the space and the willingness for that to happen in the interests of the people who sent us here.
It is hardly a surprise to anyone in this Chamber that I believe that this country could do more if we had the powers of a normal independent nation. Others in this Chamber take the opposite view. That is the essence of democracy – people free to hold and express and pursue different opinions. The question we face in this Parliament today however is a more practical one.
Does our disagreement on the Constitution prevent us from working collaboratively to eradicate child poverty, build the economy, support jobs, address the cost of living crisis, improve the health service and tackle the climate crisis?
I will give all of my energy, and my willingness to engage and listen, to ensure that is not the case. I invite others to do the same.
When I pitched up at Forrester High School in this City in 1979, at the age of 15 wearing my SNP badge, and my friends and teachers wondered why I had become involved in this fringe party, I could scarcely have imagined that my journey would involve becoming the First Minister of Scotland. It is an extraordinary privilege to hold this office and I thank Parliament warmly for the honour that has been given to me.
To the people of Scotland I would simply say this.
I offer myself to be the First Minister for everyone in Scotland. I am here to serve you. I will give everything I have to build the best future for our Country.
The comments made by Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, on 22 May 2024.
It’s on!
Rishi Sunak has just called a General Election for Thursday 4th July.
Serving our communities as our MP is an absolute privilege. Together we have achieved so much, whether it’s saving local vital health services or even running our train service on the Lakes Line!
In just a few weeks time, you get to decide who will be your MP for the next 5 years – me or a Conservative.
I would be honoured if you would put your faith in me to carry on serving you as we make our own luck and get things done.
The speech made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 22 May 2024.
In the last five years our country has fought through the most challenging times since the Second World War.
As I stand here as your Prime Minister, I can’t help but reflect that my first proper introduction to you was just over four years ago.
I stood behind one of the podiums, upstairs in the building behind me.
I told you that we faced a generation defining moment, and that we as a society would not be judged by some government action, but by the small acts of kindness we showed one another.
You met that challenge and then some.
And I have never been prouder to be British.
And when I introduced the furlough scheme, I did so not because I saw a country simply in need of desperate help, albeit we were, but because I saw a country whose future hung in the balance.
I could be bold and trust in the tens of millions of you at home, that you would rise to the moment, or I could accept the inevitable, millions of job losses, and pick up the pieces.
In truth, it was no choice at all.
I have never, and will never, leave the people of this country to face the darkest of days alone. And you know that, because you’ve seen it.
As I did then, I will forever, do everything in my power to provide you with the strongest protection I possibly can.
That is my promise to you.
Because, for so many of us, it’s easy to forget the scale of what we’ve been through. We were hit by a pandemic that upended normal life.
Who would have thought the government would ever tell us how many times a day we could leave our homes.
Then, just as we were recovering from Covid, war returned to Europe, with Putin’s invasion of Ukraine sending your energy bills spiralling.
I came to office, above all, to restore economic stability.
Economic stability is the bedrock of any future success.
Whether that is rising wages and good jobs, investment in our public services, or the defence of our country.
And because of our collective sacrifice and your hard work, we have reached two major milestones in delivering that stability.
Showing that when we work together, anything is possible.
Our economy is now growing faster than anyone predicted, outpacing Germany, France and the United States.
And this morning, it was confirmed that inflation is back to normal.
This means that the pressure on prices will ease and mortgage rates will come down.
This is proof that the plan and priorities I set out are working.
I recognise that it has not always been easy, some of you may just be starting to feel the benefits, for some it might still feel hard when you look at your bank balance.
But this hard-earned economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning.
The question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family and our country.
Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future.
To decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty.
Earlier today I spoke with His Majesty the King to request the dissolution of parliament.
The King has granted this request, and we will have a general election on the 4th July.
This election will take place at a time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War.
Putin’s Russia is waging a brutal war in Ukraine; and will not stop there if he succeeds.
That war has also made all too clear the risks to our energy security. In the Middle East, the forces of Islamist extremism threaten regional and, ultimately, global stability.
These tensions are exploited by extremists who seek to undermine our values and divide our society here at home.
China is seeking to dominate the 21st century by stealing a lead in technology.
And migration is being weaponised by hostile states to threaten the integrity of our borders.
These uncertain times call for a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future.
You must choose in this election who has that plan, who is prepared to take that bold action to secure a better future for our country and our children.
I cannot, and will not, claim that we have got everything right, no government should.
But I am proud of what we have achieved together, the bold action we have taken and confident about what we can do in the future.
We have tackled inflation, controlled debt, cut workers’ taxes, and increased the state pension by £900 this year.
We have reduced taxes on investment and seized the opportunities of Brexit, to make this the best place in the world to grow a business.
Put record amounts of funding into our NHS and ensured it is now training the doctors and nurses it needs in the decades to come.
We have reformed education and our children are now the best readers in the Western world.
We prioritised energy security and your family finances over environmental dogma in our approach to Net Zero.
We have fully funded an increase in defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP.
We made a decision to invest more in local transport that you actually use rather than endlessly plough more money into HS2.
We set out a comprehensive plan to reform our welfare system to make it fair to those who pay for it as well as those who need it.
Immigration is finally coming down and we will stop the boats with our Rwanda partnership.
And we will ensure that the next generation grows up smoke free.
I hope that my work since I became Prime Minister shows that we have a plan and are prepared to take the bold action necessary for our country to flourish.
I have stuck with that plan and always been honest with you about what is needed even when that’s been difficult.
Because I am guided by doing what is right for the country, not what is easy.
I cannot say the same thing for the Labour party.
Because I don’t know what they offer. And in truth, I don’t think you know either.
And that’s because they have no plan. There is no bold action.
And as a result, the future can only be uncertain with them.
On the 5th of July, either Keir Starmer or I will be Prime Minister.
He has shown time and time again that he will take the easy way out and do anything to get power.
If he was happy to abandon all of the promises he made to become Labour leader once he got the job, how can you know he won’t do exactly the same thing if he were to become Prime Minister?
If you don’t have the conviction to stick to anything you say…
If you don’t have the courage to tell people what you want to do…
And if you don’t have a plan…
How can you possibly be trusted to lead our country, especially at this most uncertain of times?
Over the next few weeks, I will fight for every vote, I will earn your trust, and I will prove to you:
That only a Conservative government, led by me:
Will not put our hard-earned economic stability at risk.
Can restore pride and confidence in our country.
And with a clear plan and bold action will deliver a secure future for you, your family and our United Kingdom.
![PRESS RELEASE : UK Government working hand in hand with Australia to promote trade in legal and tech services [May 2024]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/justice-150x120.png)
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 May 2024.
Legal and technology professionals on opposite sides of the world are set to benefit from bolstered connections between the UK and Australia through the UK Government’s GREAT Legal Services campaign’s latest programme of events.
Taking place over the next 2 days (13 and 14 May 2024), Justice Minister Mike Freer will lead a delegation of UK professionals specialising in legal tech services – and builds on the success of last year’s conference which resulted in millions of pounds worth of business deals.
They will interact with Australian professionals through a series of workshops, roundtables and networking events arranged in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade.
This will support UK lawtechs – companies which make technology or software to provide legal services – to win business and grow their market presence in Australia. Figures show UK legal services providers already exported £88 million worth of business to Australia in 2023.
The trip will help develop a pipeline of Australian legal tech firms to be set up or expand in the UK, further cement the UK’s position as a world leader in legal services and legal technology and support smaller regional firms to trade internationally.
Built around Sydney’s annual Legal Innovation and Tech Fest, this is the second year in a row a programme of events to facilitate legal knowledge sharing between the legal sectors of both countries will take place. Companies who attended last May reported business wins of £16.5 million.
Justice Minister, Mike Freer, said:
I’m proud of our legal services’ world-leading reputation and that’s exactly why I’m visiting Australia as well as Singapore – so we can continue sharing our expertise with others and learn from them to maintain our competitive edge.
Importantly, promoting the UK’s legal and tech sectors abroad helps build connections and ultimately bring investment back to the UK – just as we’ve seen from the success of last year’s conference which resulted in millions of pounds worth of business deals.
The delegation is made up of legal tech firms from across the UK with a range of innovative solutions, including some already turning over £20 million a year. For example, Avvoka, a legal tech firm, are expert in legal document automation – meaning they create automated templates using software for legal documents such as contracts – and already have clients around the world, including in the US, Singapore and Australia.
Of particular interest to Australian counterparts is learning more about how the UK Government supports innovation in the lawtech sector and whether any initiatives such as LawtechUK – a government-backed initiative dedicated to driving digital transformation in the legal sector – could be replicated, where the UK is seen as a global leader.
British Consul General and Deputy Trade Commissioner Asia Pacific, Louise Cantillon said:
I am delighted to welcome Minister Freer and these eight UK legal tech companies, who epitomise the evolution of legal tech in the UK and are eager to understand and engage with the Australian market.
Australia and the UK have a long legal history together, and we have entered a new and exciting era in our bilateral relations as we approach the anniversary of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement’s entry into force. The FTA has created new legal and professional services opportunities for both countries, and strengthened the exchange of talent, ideas, and innovation.
A full programme of events is taking place from 9 to 17 May 2024 in Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne. In Singapore, Minister Freer will be looking at the latest technology on probate, court transcripts, AI and discussing how to reduce the legal services regulatory barriers for British lawyers. In Australia, the minister is leading a trade delegation of lawtech companies.
The visit progresses wider UK Government interests in boosting bilateral trade and cooperation with Australia, including the utilisation of a free-trade deal which came into force nearly a year ago to reduce the barriers to exchanging goods and services.
This is part of the government being able to secure unprecedented legal services market access commitments in four Free Trade Agreements (EU, EEA-EFTA, Australia and New Zealand) covering £2 billion worth of UK legal services exports.
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 May 2024.
Prisoners who break the rules while behind bars face new community payback-style punishments like repair work and litter picking, under tough prison rules to be set out this week.
For the first time, Governors will be able to impose “payback punishments” on prisoners who behave badly in jail, such as damaging prison property or being disrespectful to staff.
Punishments will vary from prison to prison, but could include repairing broken items, clearing shared or disused spaces, and litter picking. Offenders who refuse to carry out their payback punishment could have their prison work earnings blocked or privileges forfeited.
These new powers will build on the action Governors can already take if an offender commits a crime while behind bars.
It will remain the case that in the most serious incidents, for example sexual assault or selling drugs, tougher prison punishments could be handed out. In these cases, the crime will be reported to the police and perpetrators face the prospect of new convictions and time behind bars.
Prisons and Probation Minister Ed Argar said:
Discipline is the cornerstone of a prison that is safe for staff and where offenders are put on track to become law-abiding citizens.
Unruly behaviour is not tolerated and these new punishments will help force prisoners to realise their disruptive actions have tough consequences.
These punishments are inspired by the community payback schemes running in communities up and down the country where offenders are forced to clean up graffiti or fly-tipping and visibly atone for their crimes.
![PRESS RELEASE : Defra considers potential new fund in drive to maximise value from R&D and innovation spending on agriculture and nature [May 2024]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/environmentlogo-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 May 2024.
Experts can now apply to advise Defra on new ways to finance innovation and achieve a return on investment, including the possibility of a dedicated fund.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today (Monday 13 May) announced the launch of a new expert advisory group to explore possible routes to generate commercial returns for the taxpayer from the department’s R&D and innovation spending, including through a potential new fund.
Defra is inviting leading experts in academia, business and the financial sector to apply to join the group, which will explore how to best deliver funding to support innovative projects while increasing value for money for the taxpayer. Those appointed will provide constructive and open challenge on a range of potential financing mechanisms, including a new dedicated fund supporting groundbreaking initiatives in the agri-tech and environmental sectors. Other arrangements could include joint ventures, revenue sharing arrangements, and the licensing of intellectual property to maximise the benefits of Defra’s agricultural and environmental R&D and innovation spending, while boosting productivity and economic growth.
Science and technology are fundamental to strengthening our food security, enhancing nature and protecting our environment.
From new technologies driving more productive and sustainable farming to maps and models for managing invasive species, research and development has the potential to transform the way we manage our land and feed our nation.
We are now recruiting for a specialist advisory group to explore options for a more commercial approach to Defra’s R&D and innovation funding, from revenue sharing to setting up a dedicated new fund for innovation whilst offering the taxpayer a return on their investment.
I encourage anyone with expertise in the fields of finance, venture capital, intellectual property and innovation to apply.
Defra’s R&D budget supports the development of new technologies and innovation, often via grants. However, organisations can face challenges accessing finance for scaling up and commercialising their products or services, causing them to miss commercial opportunities or lose out to international competition. The new Advisory Group will explore how Defra can support innovators to overcome barriers such as these, whilst examining how taxpayers could benefit from a share in their commercial success, where this has resulted from public funding.
A Chair and seven members will be appointed ahead of an inaugural meeting later this year and an expected committee duration of three months. Apply for the Chair’s role here and/or to join the board here. The deadline for applications is midday on Monday 3 June.
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 May 2024.
Use of cameras, gear sensors and GPS units will help improve the sustainability of UK fish stocks.
The sustainability of UK fish stocks will be better safeguarded through the use of technology to monitor and manage fishing activity in English waters, the government has announced today (13 May).
The technology – known as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) – involves using camera, gear sensors and GPS units to make sure that catches are accurately recorded and fish are not unlawfully thrown back into the sea. The data captured will support the fishing industry to manage stocks sustainably and give retailers and consumers greater confidence about the sustainability of our fish.
Volunteers within five priority fisheries will begin to use REM systems from this summer, with their work helping to refine the UK’s monitoring objectives and ensure the technology works for fishers.
Once monitoring objectives have been finalised and the REM systems are demonstrated to be working well, REM systems will become mandatory for all vessels in those fisheries – including non-UK vessels.
The information delivered through REM will support the long-term profitability of the sector and help to build the UK’s food resilience and security.
Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:
Leaving the EU has given us the opportunity to take a new approach to fisheries management that is in the best interests of the UK fishing industry.
By harnessing this technology, we can sustainably manage our fish stocks, to benefit the industry, future generations, and our marine environment.
A different approach to managing discards will also be adopted in England, with changes to be made to better account for catches. From 2025, landings and discards will both be counted against quota allocations, and the amount of quota used to cover discards will vary and will depend on the type of vessel and gear types used.
In addition to this, discard reduction schemes will be established to identify ways to reduce unwanted catch in the first instance. Working collaboratively with regulators and the industry, the schemes will identify and resolve barriers to improved gears being used.
Fishers will start to see both approaches implemented at the start of next year.