Tag: 2024

Rishi Sunak – 2024 Statement on Stopping the Boats

The statement made by Rishi Sunak on 22 April 2024. Please note that this is the Downing Street press release, with redactions for political impartiality reasons. Rishi Sunak’s office were unable to supply a complete text.

Last week – yet again – Peers in the House of Lords contrived to stop the Safety of Rwanda Bill.

For almost two years our opponents have used every trick in the book to block flights and keep the boats coming.

But enough is enough.

No more prevarication. No more delay.

Parliament will sit there tonight and vote no matter how late it goes.

No ifs, no buts. These flights are going to Rwanda.

We are going to deliver this indispensable deterrent…

…so that we finally break the business model of the criminal gangs and save lives.

Starting from the moment that the Bill passes…

..we will begin the process of removing those identified for the first flight.

We have prepared for this moment.

To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.

To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting.

To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary have made available 25 courtrooms…

…and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.

The Strasbourg Court have amended their Rule 39 procedures in line with the tests set out in our Illegal Migration Act…

…and we’ve put beyond all doubt that Ministers can disregard these injunctions…

…with clear guidance that if they decide to do so, civil servants must deliver that instruction.

And most importantly, once the processing is complete, we will physically remove people.

To do that, I can confirm that we’ve put an airfield on standby…

…booked commercial charter planes for specific slots…

…and we have 500 highly trained individuals ready to escort illegal migrants all the way to Rwanda, with 300 more trained in the coming weeks.

This is one of the most complex operational endeavours the Home Office has carried out.

But we are ready. Plans are in place.

And these flights will go come what may.

No foreign court will stop us from getting flights off.

Rwanda is ready too.

And I would like to thank the government of Rwanda for their work…

…in strengthening their asylum system, passing legislation, and setting up a new appeals tribunal.

The next few weeks will be about action.

But whilst I’m conscious people want deeds not words…

…I’m not going to outline now exactly what will happen when.

There are good operational reasons for this.

There is a loud minority who will do anything to disrupt our plan…

…so we will not be giving away sensitive operational detail…

…which could hinder all the progress made to date.

Teams across government need to be able to get on and deliver without interference.

They are working flat out to deliver this genuine game changer.

The first flight will leave in 10 to 12 weeks.

Now of course, that is later than we wanted.

But we have always been clear that processing will take time…

[Please note political content redacted here.]

…and if Peers had not spent weeks holding up the Bill in the House of Lords to try to block flights altogether, we would have begun this process weeks ago.

And the success of this deterrent doesn’t rest on one flight alone.

It rests on the relentless, continual process of successfully and permanently removing people to Rwanda…

…with a regular rhythm of multiple flights every month over the summer and beyond until the boats are stopped.

Now I know there are some who will hear all of this and accuse me of lacking compassion.

But the truth is the opposite.

We are in a battle with callous, sophisticated, and global criminal gangs…

…who care nothing for the lives they risk in unseaworthy dinghies.

Nine people have died already attempting to cross the Channel just this year – including a seven-year-old girl.

That’s why we secured the largest ever deal with France to strengthen interceptions on the French coastline.

And because a third of all arrivals were coming from Albania…

…we struck a deal that reduced illegal Albanian migrants by 90 per cent.

Taken together we’re doubling illegal working raids and returning 150 hotels backto our communities…

…we got the number of small boat arrivals last year down by more than a third…

…the first time they had fallen since this phenomenon began, and at a time when European countries were seeing numbers rise exponentially.

But these sophisticated gangs are changing tactics once again.

As well as piling twice as many people into small dinghies…

….and increasing violence against French police…

…they have shifted their attentions towards vulnerable Vietnamese migrants.

Vietnamese arrivals have increased ten-fold…

…and account for almost all of the increase in small boat numbers we have seen this year.

And just as we succeeded in reducing Albanian arrivals dramatically, so I’m confident we will do the same when it comes to the Vietnamese.

President Macron and I have agreed to work with European partners on closing loopholes to enter Europe in the first place.

The Home Office have signed a Joint Statement with the Vietnamese Government committing…

…to deepen our already very strong migration relationship…

And just last week officials from the Government of Vietnam were at Western Jetfoil and Manston…

…to observe Border Force operations on the front line as they continue to manage small boat arrivals.

But we can’t keep reacting to the changing tactics of these gangs.

The truth is we need innovative solutions to address what is a global migration crisis…

…to disrupt the business model of people smuggling gangs and save lives.

And that means a systematic deterrent.

The only way to stop the boats is to eliminate the incentive to come…

…by making it clear that if you are here illegally, you will not be able to stay.

This policy does exactly that.

[Please note political content redacted here.]

I believe it should be this country and your government who decides who comes here, not criminal gangs.

And I have the plan to deliver it.

So we will start the flights – and stop the boats.

Thank you.

May 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Minister for the Middle East travels to Bahrain for talks on regional security [April 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 April 2024.

The Minister for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon visits Bahrain to discuss regional security with partners.
- Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon arrives in Bahrain today (Sunday 21 April)
- the Minister will visit the UK’s Naval Support Facility in Bahrain where the UK has supported operations against illegal and dangerous Iran-backed Houthi attacks against international shipping
- during his visit, he is expected to meet with counterparts to discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza, regional security, and the Red Sea
The UK Minister of State for the Middle East has arrived in Bahrain today (Sunday 21 April) for talks on upholding regional security and reaffirming the UK’s commitment to tackling the dangerous threat posed by Iran-backed proxies and partners.

Lord Ahmad will visit the UK Maritime Component Command at the Naval Support Facility from where the UK is supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian and Operation Poseidon Archer alongside international partners.

The operations have sought to deter Houthi aggression and protect international shipping from the Houthis’ reckless and indiscriminate attacks against commercial and military vessels, including the UK contributions to the international taskforce from Royal Navy ships HMS Diamond and HMS Richmond.

In meetings with Bahrain’s National Security Advisor, Foreign Minister and Interior Minister, Lord Ahmad will also discuss the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, reiterating the UK’s efforts towards securing an immediate pause in the fighting to get more life-saving aid into Gaza faster and through as many routes as possible.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for Middle East, said:

At this critical period, we must do all we can – including working with key partners – to strengthen regional stability and security and push for de-escalation.

The UK and Bahrain are close partners and they have a crucial role to play in the region and I look forward to discussing our ongoing efforts towards alleviating the dire humanitarian suffering in Gaza by getting more aid in through as many routes as possible and to get hostages out.

We must also work closely together to address the threat posed by the Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea and make progress towards peace and security in the Middle East, most importantly securing an irreversible pathway to delivering a two-state solution of Israel and Palestine.
May 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Stronger protections for stalking and harassment victims [April 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 22 April 2024.

The government has announced measures making it easier for police to apply for stalking protection orders, meaning more victims will be protected earlier.

It will be easier for police to protect victims and apply for a stalking protection order at the earliest opportunity under new plans announced today (Monday 22 April) by the Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, marking the first day of National Stalking Awareness Week.

Under updated statutory guidance, published today, police officers are instructed that they will no longer need to meet the high criminal standard of proof threshold in order to apply for a stalking protection order. Instead evidence which meets the lower civil standard will likely be accepted by courts to apply a stalking protection order.

Stalking protection orders were introduced in January 2020 and protect victims by addressing the perpetrator’s behaviours before they become entrenched or become more severe.

Under the orders, perpetrators can face restrictions such as having to notify the police of their whereabouts or travel. If breached, an individual faces prison time of up to 5 years.

Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, Laura Farris said:

Stalking is a complex form of abuse, and it can have a devastating impact on the lives of victims and their families. Sadly, it can end in the most tragic circumstances.

We must continue to treat stalking with the utmost gravity. Having doubled the maximum sentence and introduced a new civil order to protect victims, we know there is more we must do.

Lowering the standard of proof that must be met to grant these orders will make a big difference to how easily victims can access protection. I will continue to work closely with the police to improve how they can support victims of this disturbing crime.

In recognition of the impact of public sexual harassment on victims, especially women, the government backed the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act 2023, which introduces a specific offence for public sexual harassment.

The new offence, which will see perpetrators face up to 2 years in jail, will come into force from 1 October 2024.

To mark National Stalking Awareness week, the minister visited the Suzy Lamplugh trust to see the vital support given to stalking victims, including the National Stalking Helpline, which the Home Office funds with over £160,000 annually. This enabled them to answer more than 8,000 calls and emails from or relating to victims of stalking between April 2023 and March 2024.

In-keeping with the week’s theme of ‘multi-agency working’, the Home Office will work with criminal justice agencies such as the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and College of Policing to consider the findings of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s super-complaint into the police’s handling of stalking cases.

Together with the agencies, the government will formulate a multi-agency response to any recommendations when they are published in the summer.

Emma Lingley-Clark, Interim CEO of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said:

We welcome announcements from government that they are updating statutory guidance on Stalking Protection Orders (SPO) to instruct police officers that they will no longer need to meet the higher criminal standard of proof threshold in order to make an application. We know that this requirement can act as a barrier to victims getting immediate protection when they need it the most. However there is an urgent need to increase the use of SPOs across the country and improve understanding amongst police officers given the extremely low uptake and lack of knowledge within police forces currently. Every victim should have the opportunity to access an SPO when they choose to report stalking to the police.

NPCC’s Lead for Stalking and Harassment, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills, said:

Stalking is a highly impactive crime, which leaves victims fearful of what their stalker may do next. Without appropriate intervention and safeguarding, the potential for the risk to victims to escalate quickly is very real.

It’s important that within policing, and as a society, we recognise the patterns of stalking and acknowledge the risk that it poses to victims.

The police service is continuing to work hard to improve and standardise its response to stalking. Over the last number of years we have improved training, rolled out the use of Stalking Protection Orders and launched a new assessment tool to assist officers to identify and better act upon the signs of stalking. In addition, we have introduced embedding dedicated officers in forces to better support and safeguard victims.

However, we know that there is more to do to improve criminal justice system outcomes for victims in these cases and ensure a consistent response in all cases of stalking. We continue to work with partners, other agencies and charities to bring about these important changes.

Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Olivia Rose, national lead for stalking at the CPS, said:

Stalking impacts so much of a victim’s life, and our prosecutors carefully consider this alongside the evidence available when they’re building a robust case.

We take this offending seriously, identifying relevant protective orders and assessing whether a new offence has been committed if an order is breached. This provides added protection for victims, as it enables the court to consider the totality of offending when sentencing and to issue focused protective orders.

The CPS remains focused on bringing offenders of stalking to justice and driving improvements in these cases, which often involve violence against women and girls.

Kathleen Spencer Chapman, Director of Communications, Advocacy and UK Programmes at Plan International UK, says:

The government’s announcement that the law to tackle public sexual harassment will become legally enforceable from 1 October, alongside new measures to better protect victims of stalking, is a significant milestone towards making the UK’s streets safer for girls and women. It’s thanks to all the girls who have shared their stories and tirelessly campaigned that these stronger protections for harassment survivors are being implemented.

Public sexual harassment is an everyday reality for girls, that restricts their freedom and impacts their mental health. Girls have a right to feel safe wherever they are, and we hope this new offence will change how public sexual harassment is dealt with by the police, in our courts and in public, giving girls the route to justice they expect and deserve and helping change the attitudes that make too many perpetrators feel they can harass without consequences.

While there is more to do, this is the latest in a series of actions the government has taken to tackle stalking and harassment and protect victims.

In 2012, we created two new stalking offences in order to highlight stalking as a specific behaviour. Through the Policing and Crime Act 2017 the maximum sentences for the most serious harassment and stalking were increased from 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Our landmark Online Safety Act also includes stalking offences in the list of specified ‘priority offences’. Priority offences represent the most serious and prevalent illegal content and activity online, and companies will need to take proactive steps to tackle such content, for example preventing users from encountering it.

May 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK-wide ban on wet wipes containing plastic to be put into law [April 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 22 April 2024.

The UK Government will introduce new world-leading legislation to ban wet wipes containing plastic.
- Government announces next steps to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic following overwhelming support during the consultation process
- World-leading legislation will be introduced this year to help tackle plastic pollution and clean up waterways
- Transition period set out for businesses to help them adapt
The UK Government will introduce new world-leading legislation to ban wet wipes containing plastic, the Environment Secretary has confirmed today (22 April 2024).

Defra intend to bring forward the legislation for England ahead of summer recess, with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales following by the autumn as part of an aligned approach to bring the ban into force.

Wet wipes containing plastic break down into microplastics over time, which research shows can be harmful to human health and disrupt our ecosystems – with a recent survey showing an average of 20 wet wipes were found per 100 metres of beach surveyed across the UK*.

Once in our water environment, wet wipes containing plastic can accumulate biological and chemical pollutants, increasing the risk of harm to the animals and humans who encounter them.

Banning them will reduce plastic and microplastic pollution and reduce the volume of microplastics entering wastewater treatment sites when wrongly flushed – meaning our beaches and waterways will benefit from the ban.

Responses to the public consultation showed overwhelming support for the proposed ban – which will be introduced via secondary legislation under our Environmental Protection Act 1990 – with 95% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposals. The government’s response has been published today alongside the Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Marking Earth Day 2024, with its theme of ‘Planet vs. Plastics’, the response sets out next steps to deliver the ban, building on action taken across the UK to tackle plastic pollution.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

Wet wipes containing plastic are polluting our waterways and causing microplastics to enter the environment. Defra will introduce legislation before the summer recess to crack down on this unnecessary source of pollution, following our successful single-use carrier bag charge and ban on microbeads in personal care products.

I have been clear that a step change is needed to protect our waterways from pollution. The ban builds on a raft of actions already taken to protect our waterways and hold water companies accountable – including accelerating investment, putting water company fines back into the environment and quadrupling the number of inspections of water company sites.

Plastic-free wet wipes are readily available and several retailers have already stopped selling wet wipes containing plastic.

Steve Ager, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Boots, said:

Boots removed all wet wipes containing plastic from sale in stores and online last year as part of our long-standing commitment to sustainability and working with suppliers and customers to reduce the use of plastic.

We are pleased to see the government now taking action as a ban on all wet wipes containing plastic will have a much bigger impact than retailers taking action alone. We all have a collective responsibility to protect the environment and support a healthy planet.

Luke Emery, Plastics and Packaging Director at Aldi, said:

The removal of plastic from Aldi wet wipes two years ago has been positive for our customers and the environment.

It has removed an estimated 7,000 tonnes of unnecessary plastic from the system and has been welcomed by Aldi shoppers. We support the introduction of this new legislation and the positive impact it will have for everyone.

An 18-month transition period will start from when legislation is passed to allow businesses time to prepare. Following consultation with industry, the ban will not include the manufacture of these products, in line with other recent single-use plastic bans.

However, the government will continue to encourage manufacturers to move to a position where all their wet wipes are plastic free.

The government response also sets out exemptions to ensure that wet wipes containing plastic remain available where there is no viable alternative – such as for medical disinfectant purposes. The Government will review the need for these exemptions regularly.

Notes to editors:

Today’s announcement follows recent measures delivered to improve the water environment, including:
- A new £11m Water Restoration Fund to reinvest water company fines and penalties back into the water environment.
- Requiring companies to monitor 100% of storm overflows in England – providing a complete picture of when and where sewage spills happen.
- Removing the cap on civil penalties for water companies and broadening their scope so swifter action can be taken against those who pollute our waterways.
- Requiring the largest infrastructure programme in water company history – £60 billion over 25 years – to revamp ageing assets and reduce the number of sewage spills by hundreds of thousands every year.
- Increasing protections for coastal and estuarine waters by expanding the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan, prioritising bathing waters, sites of special scientific interest and shellfish waters.
- A targeted plan to better preserve and protect the River Wye, including £35m in funding.
- Speeding up the process of building key water supply infrastructure, including more reservoirs and water transfer schemes.
- The government also continues to support Water UK’s ‘Bin the Wipe’ campaign to address the environmental and drainage impacts of flushing wet wipes. Advice is clear that only the 3 P’s (Pee, Poo & [toilet] Paper) should ever be flushed down a toilet.
*For the period 2015 to 2020, an average of 20 wet wipes were found per 100m of beach surveyed across the UK according to Defra Beach Litter Monitoring Data.
May 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary travels to Central Asia and Mongolia in landmark visit to region [April 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 April 2024.

David Cameron will visit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia to increase engagement with this pivotal region of the world.
- David Cameron will visit Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia as part of government ambition to increase engagement with this pivotal region
- Foreign Secretary will promote opportunities for British businesses and announce £50 million of new funding to support the sovereignty and independence of states across the region
- Foreign Secretary will announce a new initiative by the British Council to promote the English language in Central Asia, with online teaching resources available to English teachers throughout the region, for the first time tailored with local content
The Foreign Secretary will visit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia to as part of government ambition to increase engagement with this pivotal region of the world. He will meet leaders across the region to deepen cooperation on shared challenges, from counter-terrorism to climate change.

He will support global opportunities for young people, by ensuring that English language teachers across the region will have access to tailored British Council English language teaching materials. He will double the amount of funding for Chevening scholarships, so more people can study at Britain’s world-class universities.

He will support British business to create jobs and growth from Bridgend to Bishkek. He will show that British business provides the sustainable, quality investment that can drive growth without compromising the region’s hard won sovereignty.

The Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, said:

We live in a contested, competitive world. If you want to protect and promote British interests you need to get out there and compete.

Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face and it’s vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity.

The Foreign Secretary will anchor top-level relationships between the UK and Central Asian states and Mongolia, solidifying our role as a long-term partner in the region. He will advance discussions on sanctions circumvention, human rights and reform.

He will use the visit to announce £50 million new development funding for the Central Asia and Eastern Neighbourhood region over the next 3 years. UK funding will not only boost regional growth and economic resilience but build trade and cooperation between our countries, making the region and the UK safer and more prosperous.

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will visit an array of important sites including a hydro-electric project in Tajikistan, a canal irrigation site in Kyrgyzstan and a cultural site in Mongolia.

David Cameron is the first British Foreign Secretary to visit Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the first to Uzbekistan since 1997. It is also the first visit to Mongolia at this level in over decade. This week’s visit underlines the UK government’s ambition to increase engagement with this pivotal region, and is a crucial moment to drive forward British values, build our geopolitical relationship and deliver opportunities for people in the region and the UK.
May 8, 2024
Keir Starmer – 2024 Article on Sadiq Khan

Part of the article by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, published in the Guardian on 1 May 2024.

One of the most important decisions taken tomorrow will be who leads our nation’s capital. Labour’s candidate for London mayor, Sadiq Khan, knows what it is like to inherit a Tory shambles. His predecessor spent eight years wasting £53m, £43m of it taxpayers’ money, on a garden bridge to nowhere, burying a report about the appalling state of London’s air and squandering taxpayers’ money on unusable water cannon.

I have known Sadiq for many years, and I am proud to call him a friend and a colleague. He is someone driven by the principle of giving people the same opportunities he had, which allowed him to go from a council estate in Tooting to leading our capital. During his tenure, Sadiq has transformed the mayoralty from a laughing stock to showing leadership. Every pupil in every London state primary school now receives a free school meal. The capital’s air is cleaner to breathe. The Hopper bus fare, allowing unlimited journeys within one hour for one price, the Superloop express bus routes and the Elizabeth Line have all been delivered. Overall housing completions recently hit their highest level in London since the 1930s and more new council homes are being built now than at any time since the 1970s. And 330,000 good jobs have been created through City Hall initiatives. This is the power of Labour in government. And let us not forget that Sadiq has managed all of this in the teeth of a Tory government; just imagine what could be achieved working with a Labour one.

May 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Terrorgram added to list of proscribed terrorist organisations [April 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 22 April 2024.

The UK is to become the first country in the world to proscribe the Terrorgram collective after a draft proscription order has been laid against the group in Parliament today (22 April), the Home Secretary has confirmed.

The Terrorgram collective is an online network of neo-fascist terrorists who produce and disseminate violent propaganda to encourage those who consume its content to engage in terrorist activity.

If agreed by Parliament, the order will come into effect on 26 April. This means that it will be a criminal offence to belong to, invite support for, or in certain circumstances, display articles associated with the network. Certain proscription offences can be punishable by up to 14 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

The Terrorgram collective spreads vile propaganda and aims to radicalise young people to conduct heinous terrorist acts. This is why we are outlawing membership or support for the group – we will not tolerate the promotion or encouragement of terrorism in the United Kingdom.

It will become the first online terrorist network to be proscribed, alongside 80 other Extreme Right-Wing and Islamist organisations, as we continue to disrupt and outlaw terrorist groups to protect the British people.

The UK is the first country to proscribe this organisation, demonstrating the government’s commitment to tackle Extreme Right-Wing terrorism and online radicalisation in all forms. It also showcases the ability of the proscription tool to be applied to an online terrorist network, and is the first time it has been used in this way.

Following an internal review, the term ‘Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism’ was adopted as the umbrella term to make it clear that those who hold mainstream right-wing views will not be in scope of any action by counter-terrorism authorities.

The Terrorgram collective glorify attacks committed by neo-fascist terrorists, who they consider to be ‘saints,’ and encourage replication of such heinous attacks including by disseminating instructional material to help others prepare to commit acts of terrorism.

In addition to the proscription offences, several other Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT) offences continue to apply to terrorist offending online. For example, section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 makes it a criminal offence for a person to collect or possess information, or to view it online, which is likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing for acts of terrorism.

The Terrorgram collective is the 6th extreme right-wing group to be proscribed, standing alongside 75 groups proscribed for extreme Islamist or other ideologies, and 14 Northern Ireland-related groups. It also subscribes to militant accelerationist and neo-fascist ideologies, notably pursuing the collapse of the Western world and a ‘Race War’ through violent acts of terrorism, and often seeks to target young individuals to adopt their ideology.

They have previously published propaganda material designed to incite violence against ethnic and religious communities, with calls for antisemitic violence. Their propaganda also contains violent narratives that glorified the perpetrator of the 2022 Slovakia attack at a LGBTQ+ nightclub shooting, which resulted in the death of 2 people, who credited Terrorgram and its publications in his manifesto.

Whilst Islamist-inspired terrorism continues to represent the greatest terrorist threat to UK interests, the threat from Extreme-Right Wing Terrorism is growing and evolving, particularly through the radicalisation of increasingly younger individuals from dangerous online content.

Proscription grants Counter Terrorism Policing the power to compel tech companies and social media platforms to remove or block the organisation’s online content for UK users, which will be now illegal.

It is also illegal under Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006 to disseminate terrorist publications including circulating, selling, or transmitting a terrorist publication online.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

The Terrorgram collective is a dangerous neo-fascist organisation that actively encourages and promotes terrorist activity.

We must do everything in our power to deter and limit the reach of hateful and terrorist ideologies, and to protect the most vulnerable in our society. Proscribing the Terrorgram collective will do just that.

The government will always use the breadth of tools available to tackle online terrorist content. The Home Office works closely with tech companies to ensure they uphold their legal obligations with regards to removing illegal terrorist content.

The Terrorgram collective will become the 81st group to be proscribed by the UK, including ISIS, National Action and the recently proscribed Wagner Group and Hizb ut-Tahrir.

May 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with King Abdullah II of Jordan [April 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 21 April 2024.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to King Abdullah II of Jordan this morning.

He reiterated the United Kingdom’s staunch support for Jordanian and wider regional security, in the face of recent threats. A significant escalation was not in anyone’s interests.

The Prime Minister said the UK’s focus remains on finding a resolution to the crisis in Gaza. The UK continues to work towards an immediate humanitarian pause to get far more aid in and bring the hostages safely home, leading to a longer-term sustainable ceasefire.

The leaders discussed joint efforts to significantly step up aid to Gaza, with the UK taking part in Jordanian-led aid drops and a humanitarian land corridor to Gaza, as well as the maritime aid corridor from Cyprus.

The Prime Minister said the UK’s ultimate goal remained a viable two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, and the leaders agreed on the importance of supporting a reformed Palestinian authority to deliver stability and prosperity across the Palestinian territories.

April 30, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Sudan is now in the grip of the world’s worst hunger and displacement crisis: UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 April 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

Thank you Presidency, and once again I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Director Wosornu for her briefing, and now I have the pleasure of thanking his Excellency Mr Ibn Chambas for his briefing and also for underling to us the value of AU-UNSC cooperation.

I would like to make three points that are grounded in the aspirations of the Sudanese people, the suffering they endure, and their hopes for a peaceful future.

First, this week marked five years since the Sudanese people demonstrated their aspirations for self-determination when their protests ended decades of dictatorship.

These hopes have been dashed by the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces.

Second, Sudan is now in the grip of the world’s worst hunger and displacement crisis. Deliberate obstruction and targeting of aid convoys is preventing life-saving supplies from reaching those most in need.

Civilians are being murdered, women and girls are being raped. Villages are being looted and burned to the ground.

Through Resolution 2724 this Council joined the UN Secretary-General, the African Union, and the League of Arab States to call on the warring parties to silence the guns during the Holy Month of Ramadan. But they ignored this united international call for peace and inflicted further hardship on the Sudanese people.

The United Kingdom is also concerned by the growing tensions in El-Fasher. The humanitarian consequences of full-scale conflict in and around the city would be catastrophic.

We call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces and also armed movements present in the city to take measures to de-escalate and we underline all parties’ obligations under international humanitarian law, including to protect civilians.

Third, it is not too late for Sudan to return from the brink. For this to happen, we need first, the warring parties should return to negotiations including through the Jeddah process, to agree a durable ceasefire, and support a political process designed to restore civilian rule.

The Sudanese authorities need to uphold their commitments to facilitate crossline and cross-border humanitarian access, and immediately restore the vital Adre border route.

Third, external actors providing material support to either warring faction are prolonging the bloodshed. Those who have influence with the warring parties need to use this constructively, to bring them to the negotiating table.

President, as we announced at the Paris conference, the United Kingdom will double its humanitarian aid to almost $110 million in the next year. But without sustained humanitarian access, it will not reach those most in need, nor help to avert famine.

This anniversary is an unacceptable milestone in an unjustifiable conflict. We once again call on the warring parties to end the fighting now, to remove barriers to humanitarian delivery, and to engage in a political process.

I thank you.

April 30, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Sharp reduction in government’s energy consumption and emissions saves millions for public estate [April 2024]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 19 April 2024.

The latest figures released today in the government’s annual State of the Estate report, highlight the significant progress being made to make the public estate more sustainable and efficient.
- Over £163 million in savings was secured last year due to reduced overall energy consumption across government buildings.
- Direct emissions from government buildings were reduced by 14% in 2022/23.
- The sale of surplus government land and property generated £1.07 billion in capital receipts, which will be invested back into the estate
A major efficiency drive has seen more than £163 million in energy cost savings secured and a significant fall in direct emissions from government buildings.

The latest figures released today in the government’s annual State of the Estate report, highlight the significant progress being made to make the public estate more sustainable and efficient.

In part through the disposal of unused property and the relocation of civil servants into modern, multi-departmental hubs, the government has been able to reduce its energy bill by £163 million and cut direct emissions by 14% compared to the baseline 2017/18.

Other achievements in the report include:
- Since March 2020, 83% (18,283 roles) of the 2027 Places for Growth target have been delivered, and 31.2% of UK-based SCS are now located outside of London.
- The One Public Estate programme, delivered in partnership with the Cabinet Office, Local Government Association, and Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, secured £63m in capital receipts, £26m in running cost savings, released land for 6,000 homes, and helped create 9,000 jobs.
- Generated £1.07bn in capital receipts from the disposal of surplus land and buildings to support regeneration and residential development in communities
To mark the report’s publication, the Manchester First Street Hub celebrated its ‘topping-out’ ceremony yesterday (April 18th) The ceremony marked the beginning of the countdown to the completion of this new UK Government Hub in the heart of Manchester city centre. The c.12,000 sq. ft. building is scheduled to be ready for fit-out by the end of 2024 and open its doors in late 2025.

Once completed, the Manchester First Street Hub will accommodate approximately 2,600 civil servants from several key government departments and support the relocation of over 700 civil service roles under the Places for Growth programme.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Alex Burghart, said:

We are committed to creating more modern and productive work environments where civil servants can be inspired and take pride in delivering the best possible service to the taxpayer.

These savings on our energy bills, alongside the income generated through the disposal of unused property, will be reinvested into improving the overall quality of the public estate.
April 30, 2024