Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : UK first major economy to halve emissions [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 6 February 2024.

New official statistics confirm UK has cut emissions by 50% between 1990 and 2022.
- The UK has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% between 1990 and 2022, while growing the economy by nearly 80%
- UK has over-achieved on the third carbon budget
The UK is the first major economy to halve its emissions – having cut them by 50% between 1990 and 2022, while also growing its economy by 79% – new official statistics released today confirm. This compares to a 23% reduction in France and no change in the USA between 1990 and 2021.

With renewables now accounting for more than 40% of the country’s electricity – up from just 7% in 2010, this shows the UK is leading the way on cleaner energy.

These reductions are largely due to cutting emissions from energy generation, through the shift away from using coal to using renewables. In 2012, coal provided almost 40% of UK electricity, but later this year, this will be zero.

The UK is over-delivering on its commitment to reduce emissions, having already slashed emissions by 50%. We have also cut emissions faster than any other G7 country over the last decade. This has allowed us to take a more realistic approach while reaching our green targets, to ease the burden on hardworking families.

But work isn’t stopping here – since September alone companies have announced plans for £30 billion of new investment across the energy sector, including to advance green technologies and support green industries of the future.

Not only has the UK cut emissions faster than any other major economy since 1990, but also has some of the most ambitious legally binding targets. We have also set more stretching targets for 2030 than most countries. We plan to cut emissions by 68% by 2030, which is more than the EU, Japan or the United States.

Today’s statistics also confirmed the UK has over-achieved on the third carbon budget – making this the third carbon budget target in a row for which the UK has over-achieved, as it did for the first and second carbon budgets.

Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:

The UK is the first major economy – of the top 20 countries – to halve its emissions. This is an enormous achievement by itself but also because we have done this in a pragmatic way – growing our economy by 80% at the same time and protecting family finances.

We have also increased our renewables electricity generation from just 7% in 2010 to nearly 50% now.

With some of the most ambitious targets in the world, we should be proud that we’ve over-achieved on our carbon budget for the third time in a row. We will continue to meet out targets but in a pragmatic way that doesn’t clobber extra costs onto hard working families.

Today’s publication covers greenhouse gas emissions statistics up to 2022, and show total greenhouse gas emissions were 50% lower in 2022 than in 1990. Despite rises in some sectors from 2021 levels, as the UK continued to recover from COVID-19, 2022 saw an overall fall in greenhouse gas emissions in the UK – with a decrease of 3.5% from 2021, and 9.3% lower when compared to 2019, the most recent pre-pandemic year.

These statistics show the UK is making significant progress towards net zero. While statistics from recent years remain impacted by the unprecedented economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the long-term trend shows that UK is rapidly driving down emissions – meeting and exceeding its carbon targets.
February 7, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New data sharing powers save taxpayers £137 million since introduction [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 6 February 2024.

The government will retain data sharing powers introduced in the Digital Economy Act (2017) after a statutory review published today finds they have saved taxpayers at least £137 million since coming into force.
- The government will today announce that it is retaining the Digital Economy Act (2017) following a statutory review of the legislation.
- The statutory review finds the Act has enabled more than 100 data sharing pilots across 70 local authorities and 17 government departments or agencies.
- Baroness Neville-Rolfe hailed the decision as “a vital step that will help to keep public money safe for years to come.”
The government will retain data sharing powers introduced in the Digital Economy Act (2017) after a statutory review published today finds they have saved taxpayers at least £137 million since coming into force.

The Act was introduced to provide a permissive legal gateway for data sharing between public bodies in order to combat fraud against the public sector and reduce debt owed to the public sector.

The statutory review shows the powers have enabled more than 100 data sharing pilots across 70 local authorities and 17 government departments or agencies since 2018. These pilots typically involve public bodies pooling and comparing datasets to identify anomalies that indicate suspicious activity.

Savings of £137 million were identified through a number of pilots enabled by the Digital Economy Act, including:
- £99.5 million of fraud was identified in Covid-19 loan schemes through an ongoing pilot run by the Cabinet Office on behalf of HM Treasury, the Department for Business and Trade, and the British Business Bank – the Covid-19 Loan Schemes Fraud Analytics Programme – using HM Revenue and Customs data to identify companies who have misrepresented their trading status, such as annual turnover, to fraudulently receive loans;
- £14.9 million of fraud was identified in council tax and housing benefit systems by the National Fraud Initiative, who compared 20 million local authority records with data from HM Revenue and Customs;
- £5.1 million of fraud was identified in shadow company accounts by using data from HM Revenue and Customs to identify companies fraudulently misstating their accounting and corporate practices to avoid paying tax; and
- £5 million of overdue council tax was recovered by 29 local authorities using data from HM Revenue and Customs to identify debt owed by those in employment.
The statutory review is based on a formal consultation into the effectiveness of the legislation and evidence from completed data sharing pilots. It was commissioned to fulfil a requirement to review sections of the Act to ensure it works effectively. The review had been due to take place in 2021 but was delayed by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Based on the conclusions of the review, Baroness Neville-Rolfe has decided to retain the fraud and debt powers in the Digital Economy Act, rather than amend or repeal them. The government will today simultaneously lay a report summarising the conclusions of the statutory review in the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, and Northern Ireland Assembly.

An overwhelming majority (95%) of consultation respondents who have used powers said they were useful to combat fraud. Already, four of the pilots have been converted to standard practice, with plans for further pilots to be converted, including onboarding over 300 local authorities to a scheme identifying overdue council tax.

The consultation found respondents had no privacy concerns about the new powers. This finding backs up a recent report published by the Information Commissioner’s Office which concluded the Digital Economy Act has mechanisms in place to ensure robust scrutiny is applied to all data sharing agreements.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State, Cabinet Office, said:

Retaining the Digital Economy Act – rather than allowing it to sunset – is a vital step that will help to keep public money safe for years to come. The review we have conducted shows that data sharing between public bodies saves taxpayers millions, which is why increasing the integration of data across the public sector is a priority for this government.

Through the Public Sector Fraud Authority we are already stepping up our fight on fraudsters using these powers – and there is still more work to do as we take the long-term decisions to build a brighter future for Britain.

The statutory review into the Digital Economy Act was overseen by the Public Sector Fraud Authority, which was set up by Rishi Sunak in 2022 as part of a step change in the way the government fights fraud against the public sector. In its first year of operation, the Authority far surpassed its initial savings target of £180 million, delivering total savings of £311 million for taxpayers, according to figures released in its 2022-23 Annual Report.

Mark Cheeseman, Chief Executive, Public Sector Fraud Authority, said:

To fight fraud, we need to continually challenge ourselves to use data and technology to its fullest extent in an ethical manner. These powers, and their use, have delivered significant savings for the taxpayer by supporting public bodies to prevent, detect and recover money stolen by fraudsters.

The Public Sector Fraud Authority will continue to challenge itself, and the public sector to use the latest data and analytics tools to find and prevent fraud against the public sector.
February 7, 2024
Kwasi Kwarteng – 2024 Statement on Standing Down at General Election

The statement made by Kwasi Kwarteng, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 6 February 2024.

Yesterday I informed my Association Chair of my decision not to stand at the next General Election. It has been an honour to serve the residents of Spelthorne since 2010, and I shall continue to do so for the remainder of my time in Parliament.

February 6, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : We condemn the multiple attacks by Iran-aligned militant groups in Syria and Iraq – UK statement at the UN Security Council [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 February 2024.

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

Thank you, President and Under Secretary General DiCarlo for your briefing.

The United Kingdom fully supports all efforts to maintain and enhance international peace and security, including in Iraq and Syria. We are committed to de-escalating tensions in the Middle East.

We condemn the multiple attacks since October 2023, by Iran-aligned militant groups against the Global Coalition and Iraqi military bases in Syria and Iraq. Despite warnings, those strikes have continued and intensified, with an attack on 26 January killing three American personnel and injuring many more. We fully support the US right to self-defence and their right to respond.

Daesh continue to pose a grave threat to those countries and to the wider region and conducted its biggest attack in years last month in Iran. Its ability to direct, enable and inspire attacks continues to represent one of the most significant global terrorist threats and the sole objective of the Global Coalition, of which the UK is a leading member, is to counter Daesh.

The UK remains committed to working with our counter terror partners in Iraq and Syria to tackle the threat from Daesh and prevent their resurgence.

President, Iran’s political, financial and military support to militant groups is destabilising the region and threatens our collective ability to counter Daesh. So, we call on the regime to rein these groups in and act now to prevent further attacks by its proxies and partners in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. As I said earlier, we are committed to de-escalation of regional tension.

President, the Houthis’ continued attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea are illegal and unacceptable.

This Council is clear in resolution 2722 that we condemn Houthi attacks and call on them to stop. This Council has supported international efforts to enhance protection of shipping in the Red Sea.

Our actions and presence in the Red Sea is designed to protect innocent lives, preserve freedom of navigation and deter further attacks on shipping. We acted alongside our US allies, and with the support of many international partners, in self-defence and in accordance with the rule of law.

We are committed to working with all members of this Council and the international community to protect international peace and security in the Middle East and throughout the world.

Thank you.

February 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Key step for UK-Saudi defence relationship [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 5 February 2024.

Ministers progress talks on new strategic partnership during meetings at the World Defense Show in Riyadh.
- Decades-long defence relationship between the UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to deepen following bilateral meetings
- Ministers agree to continue work towards building a partnership to explore development of advanced new weapons systems, including precision-guided missiles and armoured vehicles
The defence relationship between the UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has deepened, after the Defence Secretary and Minister for Defence Procurement met their counterparts in Riyadh, where they agreed to progress work on creating a partnership to develop advanced new capabilities.

Alongside bilateral meetings at the World Defence Show, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, met their counterparts, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud and His Excellency Talal Al-Otaibi, to discuss ways in which both countries could combine industry expertise and capabilities.

Further bilateral engagement will continue to build on our strategic defence partnership through equipment collaboration, the exchange of ideas, joint training and doctrine, industrialisation, and human capital development.

Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps said:

In an increasingly contested world, where we can no longer rely on a peace dividend and must be prepared to respond to growing threats, reinforcing our key defence relationships with allies and partners is more important than ever.

The UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia share a decades-long defence partnership, founded in mutual security interest, reliable UK support, and longstanding industrial collaboration.

We will continue working to build our relationship even further, strengthening and deepening our collaboration for the future.

A particular focus for planned collaboration will be land-based systems including air defence capabilities and armoured vehicles, and uncrewed aerial systems along with complex weapons including precision-guided missiles.

This would be achieved through the creation of a Strategic Capability Partnership Committee, with a focus on developing cooperation in equipment and industry, research and development, and training.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:

This is a significant moment as we work towards laying a foundation for closer collaboration between the UK and Saudi Arabia, drawing on the expertise of our defence industries.

Strengthening our relationship in the long term will invigorate the UK defence industry, and allow us to go even further in building the advanced new capabilities which will keep us safe from the threats of the future.

The UK and KSA share a decades-long defence partnership, founded in mutual security interest, reliable UK support and longstanding industrial collaboration.

The visit provided an opportunity for the Defence Secretary to hold bilateral meetings with his counterpart, and to reaffirm the relationship between both countries.
February 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : We strongly condemn the ongoing violence harming civilians in Myanmar – joint statement at the UN Security Council [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 February 2024.

Joint statement by the United Kingdom, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the United States.

This morning the Security Council will convene a private meeting to discuss the situation in Myanmar. We will hear from Special Envoy Alounkeo Kittikhoun on Laos’ plans, as chair of ASEAN, to address the Myanmar crisis, and from Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for an update on the UN’s efforts in this regard.

I am making the following statement on behalf of Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

The first of February marked three years since the Myanmar military overturned the democratically elected government. The situation in the country remains dire.

We strongly condemn the ongoing violence harming civilians, including the military’s continued use of indiscriminate air strikes. We echo the call of ASEAN in urging the Myanmar Armed Forces, in particular, to cease its attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Three years in, more than 18 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 2.6 million have been and remain displaced from their homes. We reiterate the Council’s repeated call for full, rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to all people in need, including women, children, and members of ethnic and other minority populations.

We remain deeply concerned about the situation in Rakhine State, which has further deteriorated following the breakdown of the ceasefire within the State. Rohingya, who have faced systematic discrimination for decades, continue to be disproportionately affected by the conflict.

We are increasingly concerned by the restrictions on freedom of movement, as well as the denial of access to medicine and medical care. We underscore the need to create conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees and internally displaced persons.

As set out in UN Security Council resolution 2669, we demand an immediate end to all forms of violence and urge restraint and de-escalation of tensions. We continue to urge the Myanmar military to immediately release all arbitrarily detained prisoners, including President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

We urge all parties to respect human rights, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, and the democratic will and interests of the people of Myanmar. W

e remain deeply concerned at the continued lack of progress on these issues and once again call for the full implementation of resolution 2669.

We reiterate our strong support for ASEAN and the efforts of the ASEAN Chair, and acknowledge ASEAN’s central role in pursuit of a peaceful, comprehensive, and durable solution to the ongoing crisis.

We call on the Myanmar military to fulfil its commitments to effectively and fully implement the ASEAN Five Point Consensus. We look forward to the timely appointment of a Resident Coordinator and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar to enable close coordination between ASEAN and the UN. We continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their desire for a peaceful, inclusive, and democratic future.

Thank you.

February 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on Senegal’s delayed presidential elections [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 February 2024.

The UK has made a statement following the announcement of Senegal’s delayed presidential elections.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

As a close friend to Senegal, the United Kingdom deeply respects Senegal’s strong tradition of democracy. We are concerned about the uncertainty created by postponing the Presidential elections. We join with ECOWAS in urging the Senegalese authorities to swiftly set a new date for elections, and in encouraging all participants to work together peacefully towards a transparent, inclusive and credible election process.

February 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Cabinet Office announces new appointments to the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 5 February 2024.

Seven people have been appointed to the Committee responsible for recommending proposals for a permanent memorial and legacy programme to remember Queen Elizabeth II.
Committee will consider Her Late Majesty’s life of public service and make recommendations for a permanent memorial and national legacy programme.

Appointees include Baroness Valerie Amos LG CH PC, Dame Amelia Fawcett DBE CVO and Sir William Shawcross CVO.

SENIOR figures from across British public life have been appointed to the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, the Cabinet Office has announced.

Seven people have been appointed to the Committee responsible for recommending proposals for a permanent memorial and legacy programme to remember Queen Elizabeth II. These new appointments follow the announcement of Lord Janvrin, former Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth, as Chair last year.

The new appointees are:

Baroness Valerie Amos LG CH PC

Dame Amelia Fawcett DBE CVO

Joe Garner

Alex Holmes

Anna Keay OBE

Sandy Nairne CBE FSA

Sir William Shawcross CVO

Each member will bring unique knowledge and experience to the project. Further appointments will be made to the Committee in due course, to provide particular expertise and advice.

The Committee will meet for the first time this month.

Over the next two years the Committee will consider Her Late Majesty’s life of public service throughout her long reign and the causes she supported. In doing this they will also engage with the public to ensure ideas and suggestions from across the whole of society are captured.

One of the Committee’s first activities will be to engage and consult with experts in relevant fields in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure expertise from across the UK is shared.

The plans will be unveiled to coincide with what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s hundredth birthday year in 2026.

The UK Government will support the successful proposals, and will work closely with the Committee as proposals develop.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

For seventy years Queen Elizabeth II was our greatest public servant and it is fitting that we develop a lasting memorial to her legacy. These new committee members bring a range of unique expertise and experience to this important project.

Committee Chair Lord Janvrin said:

These appointments bring together a very talented group of people with a wide range of expertise, experience and contacts to manage this important national project. I very much look forward to working with them.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee is an independent advisory body jointly supported by the UK Government and Royal Household.

Biographies of members being appointed

Lord Janvrin GCB GCVO PC

The Committee is chaired by Lord Janvrin GCB GCVO PC. Robin Janvrin joined the Royal Household in 1987 and served as Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II between 1999 and 2007, having served as her Press Secretary, Assistant Private Secretary and Deputy Private Secretary between 1987 and 1999.

Before entering the Royal Household he served in the Royal Navy between 1964 and 1975 and in the Diplomatic Service between 1975 and 1987, taking postings in NATO Brussels and New Delhi.

Since leaving the Royal Household, Lord Janvrin served as Chairman of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry from 2010 to 2016, and a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery from 2008 to 2016 and of the Gurkha Welfare Trust from 2010 to 2016. He was Senior Adviser to HSBC Private Bank (UK) between 2008-2019. He has been a Member of the British Library Board since 2017, a Trustee of the Normandy Memorial Trust since 2018 and is Secretary of the Order of Merit. He was ennobled in 2007 and sits as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords.

The members of the Committee are:

The Rt Hon Baroness Valerie Amos LG PH PC

Baroness Valerie Amos has been the Master of University College Oxford since September 2020. Prior to this she was the Director of SOAS, University of London. She was a Cabinet Minister, 2003-2007, including serving as Secretary of State for International Development and Leader of the House of Lords.

Baroness Amos has also served as UK High Commissioner to Australia and was the United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator from 2010 -2015.

Lady Amos’s interests include, foreign policy and development matters, social justice, equality and inclusion as well as education. . She is on the board of the Mastercard Foundation, UN Foundation and Institute for Government and is also a member of the advisory board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and Patron of the Amos Bursary.

Dame Amelia Fawcett DBE CVO

Dame Amelia is Lead Director of State Street Corporation in Boston, Massachusetts. She was a Governor of the Wellcome Trust from 2019-2023, a Non-Executive Director and then Chairman of Kinnevik AB in Stockholm from 2011 – 2021 and of the Guardian Media Group plc from 2007 – 2013. She worked for Morgan Stanley for 20 years, joining in London in 1987 and becoming Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of the European, Middle East and Africa operations in 2002. Dame Amelia started her career at the US law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell, first in New York and then in Paris.

Dame Amelia is Co-Chair of the International Advisory Panel for Biodiversity Credits, Chair of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and a Trustee of Project HOPE UK. Until recently, she was Chairman of the Standards Board for Alternative Investments, a Non-Executive member of the Board of HM Treasury, Chairman of The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation, Deputy Chairman and a Governor of the London Business School and a Commissioner of the UK-US Fulbright Commission. She also has been a member of the Court of the Bank of England and Deputy Chairman of the National Portrait Gallery.

Dame Amelia was appointed a Commander of The Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in Her late Majesty The Queen’s 2018 Birthday Honours List, an honour solely in the gift of the Monarch, She was appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours List and a CBE in 2002, in both cases for services to the financial services industry. She received The Prince of Wales’s Ambassador Award in 2004.

Johnson (Joe) Garner

Joe led Nationwide Building Society through Brexit and COVID as CEO from 2016 to 2022. His career started with Procter & Gamble in 1991 based predominantly in Romania. In 2001 he joined Currys Plc before moving to HSBC in 2004 where he progressed to lead the UK. In 2014 he became Chief Executive Officer of BT’s Openreach.

Joe was a non-executive director of the Financial Ombudsman Service from 2008-2010 and served on the Board of the UK Finance and the Financial Regulator’s Practitioner Panel. Joe now works as an advisor to CEO’s and recently completed the independent Future of Payments Review for the Chancellor.

Joe is a Patron of British Triathlon and a GB age group competitor finishing 16th at the 2022 World Championships. He was Chair of the British Triathlon charity from 2013 to 2021 and since 2023 is Chair of the charity Tennis First.

Alex Holmes, Queen’s Young Leader

Alex currently serves as the Deputy CEO at The Diana Award, a non-profit organisation inspired by Princess Diana’s belief in the transformative power of young people. He leads initiatives to recognise and support global changemakers, providing them with the skills to amplify their social impact. In addition to his role at The Diana Award, Alex serves as a Director at BBC Children In Need, where he focuses on the ‘We Move’ fund.

Holmes was driven by personal experiences with bullying, and in 2004 founded the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors program. This peer-to-peer support initiative has trained over 50,000 young people across the UK, Ireland, Greece, and Miami. He plays a crucial role, sitting on the global safety advisory boards of major social media companies, including Spotify, Meta, TikTok, Twitch, Yubo, and Snapchat. He provides valuable insights and advice on approaches to safety and mitigating online harms. Alex is a regular expert on ITV This Morning, CBBC Newsround and a trusted government advisor.

A Queen’s Young Leader, Alex is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and a recipient of The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award. He was also part of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Advisory Board, contributing to their Sustainable Development Goals ‘Goalkeeper program.’ Holmes was Named on the Independent on Sunday’s Happy List as one of the ‘100 people who make Britain a happier place to live.

Alex was recognised as a ‘Queen’s Young Leader’ in 2017 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his exceptional work in combating bullying and fostering a positive environment for children. The Queen’s Young Leaders programme ran from 2014 to 2018 and recognised and celebrated exceptional young leaders aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth.

Dr Anna Keay OBE

Dr Anna Keay OBE is a historian, curator and broadcaster born and brought up in the West Highlands of Scotland. She read Modern History at Magdalen College, Oxford and has a Ph.D. from Queen Mary, University of London. She was formerly a Curator of Historic Royal Palaces and the Curatorial Director of English Heritage.

Dr Keay is currently Director (CEO) of the historic buildings charity the Landmark Trust, which works to save and repair endangered historic buildings. The charity’s project to revive derelict Astley Castle in Warwickshire won the Stirling Prize for architecture in 2013.

Anna is a Trustee of the Royal Collection Trust and the Pilgrim Trust. She has written and broadcast widely on British history and culture including contributing to BBC coverage of the Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of HM The King. Her most recent book, The Restless Republic (William Collins, 2022) won the Duff Cooper Prize for Non-Fiction and was The Sunday Times History Book of the Year, 2022.

Alexander (Sandy) Nairne CBE FSA

Sandy Nairne is a writer and curator and until 2015 was Director of the National Portrait Gallery. He has previously worked at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Arts Council, and as Director of Programmes at Tate.

He is Deputy Chair of the National Trust, Chair of the Fabric Advisory Committee at St Paul’s Cathedral and supports Maggie’s cancer care centres as art advisor. He is a member of the Bank of England Banknote Character Advisory Committee and the arts and humanities panel of the Wolfson Foundation. For several years he was Chair of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group.

His publications include State of the Art, 1987, the anthology Thinking about Exhibitions, 1996, The 21st Century Portrait, Art Theft and the Case of the Stolen Turners, 2011, and The Coincidence of Novembers, 2020. He is the co-author of a biography of Lord Desborough being published by Unbound in early 2024.

In 2011 he was appointed CBE and elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

Sir William Shawcross CVO

Sir William Shawcross has dedicated a significant portion of his life to the field of writing, with a particular focus on subjects related to our constitutional monarchy. In 2002, he authored “Queen and Country,” a book that complemented his BBC1 television series, serving as the flagship publication for the Golden Jubilee.

In 2003, Sir William was honoured with Her late Majesty The Queen’s gracious invitation to pen the Official Biography of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, which was subsequently published in 2009. In 2014, with the Queen’s permission, he undertook the editing and publication of a selection of the Queen Mother’s letters, titled “Counting One’s Blessings.”

Transitioning to public service in 2012, Sir William assumed the role of Chairman of the Charity Commission, a position he held until 2018. Subsequently, he conducted a study for the Foreign Secretary, focusing on Colonel Gaddafi’s covert military and financial support for the IRA.

Sir William was appointed by the Home Secretary to serve as the Independent Reviewer of the Home Office’s counter-extremism programme, Prevent, in 2021. He currently holds the position of Commissioner for Public Appointments.
February 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Fatal domestic abuse reviews renamed to better recognise suicide cases [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 5 February 2024.

Domestic Homicide Reviews will be renamed to Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews following calls to better recognise deaths from domestic abuse related suicide.

The government is taking action to better recognise the often hidden victims of domestic abuse who die after suicide, coercive and controlling behaviour, and economic abuse.

Publishing its response to a public consultation today (5 February) on reviews conducted after fatal domestic abuse cases, the government is strengthening the law to highlight that these reviews can take place when a death has occurred as a result of domestic abuse, including in suicide cases, in line with the legal definition of domestic abuse as introduced in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

This means that a Domestic Homicide Review can be commissioned whenever there is a death that has, or appears to have, resulted from domestic abuse. As well as physical abuse, this includes controlling or coercive behaviour and emotional and economic abuse. It will help to ensure that lessons are learned from fatal domestic abuse cases.

The government has also announced that the name of these reviews will be changed from ‘Domestic Homicide Review’ to ‘Domestic Abuse Related Death Review’, to better reflect all deaths which fall within their scope.

Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, Laura Farris said:

This government has made significant progress addressing fatal domestic abuse, including through our landmark Domestic Abuse Act.

However, there is more to do, and we also need to focus on hidden victims who die from domestic abuse related suicide.

These changes to will enable agencies to contextualise these horrific offences even if the domestic abuse was not physical in nature, better identify the warnings signs and ultimately, save lives.

A Domestic Homicide Review is a multi-agency review which seeks to identify and implement lessons learnt from deaths which have, or appear to have, resulted from domestic abuse.

Their aim is to better protect victims in future and prevent further tragedies – by highlighting to the police and other agencies what can be done in future to strengthen the response.

Last year, the Home Office published a library on GOV.UK making previous reviews available online. This will make it easier to analyse the reports and understand key trends, factors and risks relating to domestic homicides.

The new changes are being made after concerns were raised by charities and bereaved families that the previous definition did not fully reflect the range of domestic abuse related deaths.

Through an 8-week public consultation, charities, professional bodies, front-line agencies, and individuals bereaved by domestic homicide or by suicide linked to domestic abuse were invited to consider the changes.

The changes will be brought into law via an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill.

February 5, 2024
NEWS STORY : King Charles III Confirms Cancer Diagnosis

STORY

Buckingham Palace has today confirmed that King Charles III has cancer and is temporarily stepping back from his public duties. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said:

“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.

His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.

The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”

February 5, 2024