Tag: 2024

Ed Davey – 2024 Apology on His Involvement with the Post Office Horizon Scandal

The comments made by Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, in the Guardian newspaper on 1 February 2024.

The Post Office Horizon scandal is the greatest miscarriage of justice of our time, and I am deeply sorry for the families who have had their lives ruined by it. As one of the ministers over the 20 years of this scandal, including my time as minister responsible for postal affairs, I’m sorry I did not see through the Post Office’s lies – and that it took me five months to meet Alan Bates, the man who has done so much to uncover it.

The Post Office is owned by the government but not run by it, so the official advice I was given when I first became a minister in May 2010 was not to meet Bates. He wrote again urging me to reconsider, and I did then meet him that October. But he shouldn’t have had to wait. When Bates told me his concerns about Horizon, I took them extremely seriously and put them to the Post Office. What I got back were categorical assurances – the same lies we now know they were telling the subpostmasters, journalists, parliament and the courts.

February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New social housing reforms to crack down on rule breakers [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 30 January 2024.

Those who commit anti-social behaviour to face a ban of up to 5 years. People with closest connections to the UK and their local areas to be favoured.

An overhaul of how social housing is allocated, to make the system fairer and not available to those who abuse it, was announced by the government today (30 January 2024).

Measures which could ban those who blight communities and repeatedly make their neighbours’ lives hell through anti-social behaviour or evict them through a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy, are part of the new consultation.

At the same time, new measures will prioritise households who have a close connection to the UK and their local area.

Housing Minister Lee Rowley said:

Today we are proposing further steps to make the allocation of social housing fairer for people. If you abuse the system, making peoples’ lives a misery or actively work against our British values, you are making a choice – such choices will have consequences and our proposals seek to stop such people getting a social home.

The message is clear: play by the rules, pay in and we will support you. If you choose not to, this country is not going to be a soft touch.

The public want to know decent and hardworking people that have contributed to this country will be prioritised for new social tenancies. People already living in social homes want to know that anyone moving near them will be respectful of their neighbours with their communities protected from those who persistently break the law.

That is why it is right that the finite resource of social housing is allocated fairly and local law-abiding citizens in need have more access to a home in their own communities.

The government is seeking views from the public, councils, social housing tenants and providers and wants to bring forward the reforms as soon as possible.

The reforms include new UK and local connection tests to determine social housing eligibility, with applicants required to demonstrate a connection to the UK for at least 10 years and their local area for at least 2 years. Prospective tenants on higher incomes could also no longer qualify for social housing, although existing tenants will not be affected.

As part of the reforms, people who have unspent convictions for certain criminal anti-social behaviour or have been subject to certain civil sanctions could be disqualified from social housing for up to 5 years.

This sits alongside measures which could disqualify terrorist offenders from benefiting from social housing.

Changes will be delivered by secondary legislation at the earliest opportunity.

The proposals build on the significant reforms already introduced by the government to improve the quality and quantity of the country’s social housing stock. This includes the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, under which the powers of the Regulator of Social Housing to hold poorly performing landlords to account have been strengthened and social housing residents’ access to redress has been improved due to new powers for the Housing Ombudsman.

This sits alongside the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, helping to deliver more of the affordable, quality homes this country needs, which will unlock a further £38 billion in public and private investment in affordable housing. It builds on the government’s record since 2010 – with over 696,000 new affordable homes delivered, including over 172,000 for social rent.

Access to most social housing is managed by local housing authorities, who only allocate homes to people who are eligible and who qualify.

These proposed new national requirements will provide greater consistency for social housing applicants and local housing authorities, ultimately providing a fairer overall service.

Further information

The consultation will run until 26 March and can be accessed via an online survey.

The policy proposals set out in the consultation apply to the social rented sector in England and will inform changes to secondary legislation regarding eligibility and qualification criteria under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996. We are not proposing to change the rules or guidance on reasonable and additional preference that local housing authorities follow to prioritise allocations.

The income test will set out a maximum household income threshold, which if exceeded, would mean households would not qualify for social housing. This will only apply to applicants and have no impact on existing tenants.

February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary underlines commitment to cut net migration [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 30 January 2024.

Rollout of new transformative legal migration measures begins, with new restrictions set to relieve the burden on British taxpayers and public services.

Measures to transform the UK’s legal migration system, bolster border security and drive down unsustainable and unfair levels of migration will come into force within weeks, the Home Secretary has announced today.

It comes after the Prime Minister and Home Secretary set out a major new package of reforms in December, delivering the biggest ever reduction in net migration and tackling exploitation across the immigration system.

The robust changes, which will curb abuse of the migration system, and ensure those choosing to make the UK their home can afford to do so, will begin to come into effect as early as March and will mean 300,000 people who came to the UK last year would now not be able to come.

They include:
- reforms that will restrict care workers from bringing dependants and require care providers to register with the Care Quality Commission if they are sponsoring migrants, which will come into force on 11 March
- the laying of Immigration Rules, which will include the removal of the 20% going rate discount for occupations on the Shortage Occupation List on 14 March
- a new increase to the minimum salary required for those arriving on the Skilled Worker visa, from £26,200 to £38,700, on 4 April
- increasing the minimum income requirement threshold in stages for family visas, starting at £29,000 from 11 April
Reforms to student visas came into force at the start of January, ending the ability of nearly all postgraduate students to bring dependants to the UK.

The measures will crack down on rising migration, help curb the abuse of the Health and Care visa route, where we have seen people come to the UK for care worker jobs that do not exist or are paid significantly less than the required salary for a migrant worker on this route, and ensure British labour is not undercut by overseas workers.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

I’ve been clear that migration is too high and we must get back to sustainable levels. Last year I set out robust measures to reduce the numbers coming into our country – tightening the rules on care workers, skilled workers, and making sure that people can support their family members that they bring over.

It is a firm approach, but a fair one, and gives those affected time to prepare whilst ensuring that migration comes down. The British people want to see action, not words. We are delivering the change we promised and which they expect, lifting pressure on public services and protecting British workers with the utmost urgency.

Tom Pursglove MP, Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, said:

Our comprehensive plan to tackle net migration will not only bring numbers down substantially, but also tackles the inherent unfairness of a system which, if left untouched, would reward employers seeking to recruit cheap labour from overseas at the expense of the British worker.

Delivering change on this scale and at such a pace is hard and challenging work, but we’re making strong headway, with further improvements to modernise and enhance the security of the UK border continuing throughout 2024.

Helen Whately, Minister of State for Social Care said:

We’re grateful to overseas care workers but I’m clear that immigration is not the long-term answer to our social care needs. That’s why alongside tightening visa rules we’re reforming social care careers to boost our homegrown care workforce.

We have launched the first ever national career path for care workers and a new care qualification is on the way. These reforms, together with international recruitment under the new rules, will build on the progress made over the last year – of lower staff turnover, fewer vacancies and more people working in social care.

From 4 April, the increase to the minimum salary required for those arriving on the Skilled Worker visa, from £26,200 to £38,700, will come into force. This 48% rise will drive down numbers, reduce pressure on public services and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers who look to recruit cheap labour from overseas. Workers on a Health and Care visa and on health and education national pay scales will be exempt from this specific threshold.

Meanwhile, the laying of the new Immigration Rules on 14 March will include the removal of the 20% going rate discount for occupations on the Shortage Occupation List, which will be abolished in favour of a new Immigration Salary List from early April. This follows a recommendation from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which will now advise government on which occupations should be temporarily added to the new list initially, in time for March.

The minimum income requirement for family visas will rise in stages to give predictability to families, starting at £29,000 from 11 April. By early 2025 this will have increased to £38,700, ensuring only dependants that can be supported financially are brought to the UK.

The major transformation to legal migration comes as the Home Office continues to deliver the Prime Minister’s priority to stop the boats and drive down illegal migration. Small boats crossings are down by 46% last year with more than 24,000 people who have no right to be in the UK have been returned.

The government also takes a significant step forward in the long-term modernisation and enhancement of the UK border’s security, with the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme opening for the remaining nationals of the Gulf states and Jordan on Thursday 1 February.

ETAs are a new requirement for passengers visiting or transiting through the UK, who do not currently need a visa for short stays or who do not already have any other UK immigration status. It will continue to be rolled out, worldwide, throughout 2024. Once fully implemented, the scheme will enable a more efficient customer experience and cement the UK as a world leader in border security.

From tomorrow (31 January), the government is also enhancing how the UK does business with the rest of the world. Reforms to the visit visa will be implemented, expanding the permitted activities to make it easier to do business in the UK.

These changes demonstrate the government’s commitment to welcome those who are here to contribute their skills and talents to our society and economy.

Those who come must be willing to contribute to the country. In keeping with this, those who use and benefit from public services, such as the NHS, should make a sufficient financial contribution towards the cost of those services. From 6 February, the Immigration Health Surcharge will be raised by 66% to £1,035. The new rate reflects increases in healthcare expenditure and better reflects the NHS use by migrants, who are provided with near comprehensive access to health services in return.
January 31, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Statement from the Secretary of State following DUP Executive meeting [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 30 January 2024.

The statement follows the news that the DUP has accepted the Government’s proposals on the operation of the Windsor Framework.

Statement from Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, following a meeting of the DUP executive last night:

“This is a welcome and significant step.

“I am grateful to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and colleagues for the constructive dialogue over the past months and to the other political parties in Northern Ireland for the patience they have shown during this time.

“I am pleased that the DUP have agreed to accept the package of measures that the UK Government has put forward and as a result they are ready to return to the Northern Ireland Assembly and nominate representatives to the Northern Ireland Executive.

“Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said this is subject to the binding commitments between the Democratic Unionist Party and the UK Government – I can confirm that we will stick to this agreement.

“I now believe that all the conditions are in place for the Assembly to return, the parties entitled to form an Executive are meeting today to discuss these matters and I hope to be able to finalise this deal with the political parties as soon as possible.”

January 31, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : We urge the Sudanese authorities and all relevant parties to cooperate fully with the ICC: UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 January 2024.

Statement by Colin McIntyre, UK Legal Adviser to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

Madam President, I thank Prosecutor Khan for his thirty-eighth report on the Situation in Darfur and for his detailed briefing today.

I also welcome the participation of the representative of Sudan at today’s Council meeting.

Let me begin with the proceedings currently ongoing before the International Criminal Court. The UK welcomes the continued progress in the trial of Mr Abd-Al Rahman. This is the first trial to come before the ICC in the Darfur Situation. The case is an important milestone for victims and for affected communities who have suffered for far too long.

We note, however, that the other suspects with outstanding arrest warrants have not yet been surrendered to the Court. To date, those in power in Sudan have failed to provide the ICC with the necessary cooperation.

We therefore call upon the Sudanese authorities to respond substantively to the Office of the Prosecutor’s request for information, as to the whereabouts of Ahmed Harun, Abdel Raheem Hussein and Omar Al-Bashir.

We also urge the Sudanese authorities and all other relevant parties to cooperate fully with the ICC, including in relation to the 35 outstanding requests for assistance referred to by the Prosecutor’s thirty-eighth report and in his briefing today.

Turning to the current situation in Sudan the UK is alarmed by the continuation of the conflict, including in Darfur. We are deeply concerned at allegations that further atrocities have been committed in recent months, including credible reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions, violence targeted at specific ethnic groups and conflict-related sexual violence.

The UK condemns alleged atrocities committed by all parties to the conflict and reminds both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces that the Prosecutor’s mandate in Darfur is ongoing.

In this very challenging context, we welcome the Office of the Prosecutor’s deployment of investigative teams to the region. We also welcome the Office’s other ongoing work on the ground, including with victims, affected communities and civil society organisations in the region.

Madam President, let me conclude by expressing our continued support to the Court in delivering justice for the people of Darfur and ending this cycle of impunity.

Thank you, Madam President.

January 31, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Veterans card rolled out to streamline access to services [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 January 2024.

Thousands of Armed Forces veterans can now apply for their HM Armed Forces Veteran Card following the launch of the service.
- Veteran Cards application service opens today
- Thousands who left the forces before December 2018 eligible to apply
- Cards confirm veteran status and simplify access to support services
After months of testing, veterans who left the Armed Forces before December 2018 can verify their veteran status online with a new digital application service to receive a Veteran Card through the post. A paper-based application process is also available as an alternative to the digital system.

With around two million veterans in the UK, Defence Minister Andrew Murrison has welcomed the rollout of Veterans Cards, and the benefit it will have for the veterans community.

Minister for Defence People and Service Families, Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison, said:

It is essential that every veteran can quickly verify their status and easily receive the support they need and deserve.

These Veteran Cards illustrate our gratitude and appreciation for those who have proudly served this country, and the incredible sacrifices they have made.

The Veteran Card will provide veterans with a clear recognition of service, a tangible link to the Armed Forces, and allow them to easily verify their veteran status to access support and services from government, charities, and local authorities.

The Veteran Card service is being delivered by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), together with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, as part of the work to improve the support available for veterans. The Ministry of Defence OD has worked with the Government Digital Service One Login team to engage with thousands of veterans to build the systems needed to process large volumes of card applications accurately and securely.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Johnny Mercer, said:

I am committed to improving the support available to our former service personnel who we owe a huge debt of gratitude.

Today is a huge step forward in helping veterans to prove their service, enabling them to access support services more easily.

I would urge all veterans to apply for their Veteran Card, and use it to access the services, such as Veteran Railcards and specialist healthcare, they are entitled to.

The Veteran Card has already been provided to all service leavers as part of the discharge process with effect from 18 February 2019, and retrospectively to those who left on or after 17 December 2018.

To apply for a Veteran Card visit www.gov.uk/veteran-card
January 29, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State announces the appointment of a Chair and two Independent Members to the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 29 January 2024.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has announced the appointment of a new Chair and independent members to the AWB.

The Secretary of State, the Rt Hon. Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has today announced the appointment of Grace Nesbitt as the new Chairperson of the Agricultural Wages Board and Gerard Laverty and Kevin McCabe as Independent Board Members. In the absence of Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive, these appointments were made possible by the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2022.

The new Chair and Members will take up their positions on 29 January 2024.

Grace Nesbitt MBE

Grace Nesbitt, OBE, brings a wealth of experience in industrial relations and negotiations gained through her professional career in human resources, formerly in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Grace is the Chair of the Board of Governance of the Jersey Audit Office and also an Independent Member of the Audit and Risk Committee in Antrim and Newtownabbey Council.

Gerard Laverty

Gerard Laverty brings significant experience in the areas of human resources, negotiations and conflict resolution across his career as a Human Resources Manager at the North-Eastern Education and Library Board. Gerard is a former member of Independent Appeals Committees at the Labour Relations Agency and is a qualified workplace mediator.

Kevin McCabe

Kevin McCabe has extensive experience in industrial relations and negotiations across his career in the public sector working for the Northern Ireland Public Sector Alliance. He is a former Fair Employment Commissioner and panel member of the Office of the Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunals. Kevin currently serves as a Board Member of the Labour Relations Agency.

Details of body

The function of the AWB is principally to set rates of wages and related conditions for agricultural workers. The work of independent members involves examining all of the relevant factors in determining fair and reasonable settlement of the annual pay award.

Terms Of Appointment
- The Chair and Member roles require a commitment of up to 5 days per annum.
- The Chair and Member appointments to the AWB are for a three-year term.
- The Chairperson post is remunerated at £294 per meeting to include preparation and attendance.
- The Member post is remunerated at £152 per meeting to include preparation and attendance.
Regulation

The procedure for these appointments is designed to adhere to the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. This means that the process will be based on merit after a fair, open and transparent process that involves independent scrutiny. A copy of the code can be found at: https://www.publicappointmentsni.org/

Political Activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. The appointees have not declared any political activity in the last 5 years.
January 29, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Criminal legal aid lawyers to receive pay boost [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 29 January 2024.

Criminal legal aid solicitors working in police stations and youth courts will receive a pay increase to reflect the importance and complexity of their work, the Lord Chancellor has announced today (29 January 2024).
Pay increase proposed for criminal legal aid solicitors carrying out vital police station work

Reforms will also see substantial increase in Youth Court legal advice spending

Funding part of Government’s response to the 2021 Criminal Legal Aid Review

The proposals are part of the government’s second phase of the response to the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR), with the additional funding allocated in 2022.

The review found that existing police station and Youth Court fee schemes are outdated and no longer reflect the complexity of the work carried out by today’s legal profession, creating unfairness and disincentivising legal practitioners from taking on more complicated cases.

Currently, fees do not appropriately differentiate between case complexity meaning a lawyer spending 30 minutes on a shoplifting case and 5 hours on a murder trial would likely receive the same fixed fee for both jobs.

The fee system is also outdated as it involves solicitors navigating over two hundred different fees across England and Wales, each representing a different police station location with the pay-out for neighbouring stations varying widely. This means solicitors can receive vastly different amounts in similar areas for working on similar cases.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Alex Chalk said:

Solicitors working in police stations play a critical role in ensuring access to justice by giving people legal advice, often at antisocial hours and at a moment’s notice. It is right that they receive a substantial pay increase to reflect the importance and complexity of their work.

This longer-term investment will also help ensure solicitors are paid more fairly in the Youth Court with the enhanced fee helping to recruit and retain solicitors who do essential work to uphold the fairness of our justice system.

The bulk of the investment – £16 million – will be used to increase fees for solicitors working in these police stations. In line with the Review’s recommendations, the consultation also proposes to simplify the different police station fees by increasing lowest charges in the scheme.

On top of this, £5.1 million has been allocated to increase the pay for solicitors taking on Youth Court legal aid work for the most serious offences by £548 per case. This will help reflect the complexity of the work done in the Youth Court which can deal with murder and sexual assault trials. These fee increases aim to encourage solicitor firms to specialise in this area to better serve the children and teenagers they represent.

This funding increase will apply to new work from summer 2024 as part of the second phase of government plans focusing on longer-term systemic reform.

Notes to editors

£548 (not inc. VAT) fee increase in the Youth Court.

The Government is consulting on these proposals for 8 weeks and the consultation can be found on gov.uk

In December 2020, the government launched an independent review into the sustainability of the criminal legal aid sector and the report was published in November 2021. It looked at ways to make the profession a more attractive career choice and attempt to make long lasting changes, with the aim of ending the ongoing back and forth on pay levels, which can lead to industrial action.

In March 2022, the Government published its response to CLAIR and launched a consultation setting out its proposals. This announcement is pre-allocated money as part of our government response to CLAIR in 2022.

In July 2022, the government published an interim response to the consultation which led to a 15% increase to most fees from 30 September 2022. The Government then published its full response in November 2022 which set out some of the proposals which it is now consulting on as part of the Crime Lower consultation. This consultation can be found here: Response to Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
January 29, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Multichannel campaign blitz begins to seize £82 billion Horizon Europe opportunities for innovation, jobs, and global impact [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 29 January 2024.

A new campaign launched to encourage UK businesses, academics and researchers to apply for Horizon Europe funding kicks off today (Monday 29 January).
- The government’s push to maximise UK participation in Horizon Europe continues today with the start of a new multichannel campaign across social media, podcasts and more in both UK and Europe
- the Science and Tech Secretary wants UK academics, researchers and businesses of all sizes to seize the enormous opportunities presented by the £82 billion scheme
- UK firms are already benefitting from Horizon funding to support their research
A new campaign launched to encourage UK businesses, academics and researchers to apply for Horizon Europe funding kicks off today (Monday 29 January). Horizon is the world’s largest programme of research collaboration, which the UK is a part of after the Prime Minister secured a bespoke deal, last year.

The average Horizon grant is worth £450,000 to a UK business, and Ministers are determined for UK researchers and businesses to capitalise on the opportunities the programme offers to support vitally important research benefitting all our lives, from health to the environment.

The multi-channel campaign will include media partnerships, content on digital audio platforms (such as podcasts), and targeted digital media investments, with a focus on paid social adverts on platforms regularly used by research professionals such as LinkedIn, and digital displays.

It will also include real-world examples, spotlighting outstanding researchers and businesses who have delivered their ideas through Horizon Europe funding. The campaign’s reach will extend both domestically and internationally, building upon an ongoing series of official-level engagements with stakeholder organisations, designed to actively promote and advocate for the programme.

UK firms are already benefitting from Horizon funding to support their research, like Nova Innovation, whose consortium won over £17 million to develop tidal energy in Orkney, and South Yorkshire tech firm The Floow who are part of a project awarded just under £3 million, looking into road safety. The campaign push will shine a light on the benefits of Horizon participation for businesses like these – particularly smaller firms involved in R&D which might not have previously considered applying – as well as academics and researchers nationwide.

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

“We listened to the research sector and secured an excellent bespoke deal associating to Horizon. Being part of Horizon is a colossal win for the UK’s science, research and business communities and we need to capitalise on this incredible opportunity, once again putting our world class researchers and businesses at the very heart of the Horizon programme, which is precisely why I have set up this campaign blitz.

“I want to ensure that every part of the country is getting the most out of this programme. From a comms blitz to ensure every business and institution that does research in the UK knows about the opportunities Horizon offers, to grants to help our researchers and businesses put in the best applications possible, we will leave no stone unturned to boost our role in the world’s largest research programme.”

The launch of this campaign builds on concrete support already being made available to encourage UK bids for Horizon funding, such as ‘pump priming’ grants delivered in partnership with the British Academy offering of up to £10,000 for selected UK researchers and businesses to help them create better applications. The aim is for this funding to encourage those researchers who have not previously had experience, including next generation researchers, to apply to Horizon.

This is just the start of a packed 2024, with plans for engagement throughout the year to ensure this message reaches businesses of all kinds, who might not have previously considered applying, as well as researchers and academics in every part of the country. More details on this will be made available in due course.

The future of the UK depends on science, innovation and technology. By leading the way in these fields, we can grow the economy, one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities, as well as unlock breakthroughs that could improve everyone’s quality of life.

We know from recent history that the UK can be a leader in this area. We have four of the top ten universities in the world, and the second-highest number of Nobel prize winners. A quarter of projects in which the UK participated, funded through Horizon’s predecessor, were UK-led.

Horizon Europe is built around three main pillars – excellent science (Pillar 1), global challenges and industrial competitiveness (Pillar 2), and innovative Europe (Pillar 3). Horizon’s Pillar 2 has the largest budget, and supports research that is aimed at tackling some of the biggest problems facing society, from improving people’s health to tackling climate change. The average Horizon grant from Pillar 2 is worth £450,000 to a UK business.

In addition to funding, collaboration with European and global partners through the programme can help unlock export markets for UK businesses.

Further information, including practical support on how to apply is available on Innovate UK’s website and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) also host regular events that help guide businesses and researchers through the opportunities on offer and the application process.

Encouraging smaller businesses to pitch for, and win, Horizon and Copernicus funding supports DSIT’s aim to help the UK’s promising science and tech firms scale-up and grow.
January 29, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Former First Minister of Scotland welcomes launch of VSO project with visit to MILF camp [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 January 2024.

This visit took place in the week marking the 5th anniversary of the founding of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

On 24 January, Lord Jack McConnell, former First Minister of Scotland, and His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils visited Camp Badre in Maguindanao del Norte to meet Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) communities and launch a new UK-funded project supporting decommissioned combatants to develop new livelihoods opportunities, for example around agriculture or eco-tourism.

Through engagements with decommissioned combatants, Lord McConnell gained insights into the needs of the community and discussed UK support to the peace process. His visit comes at a crucial time for the Bangsamoro peace process, as the region prepares for its first Parliamentary elections in 2025.

Lord McConnell was in the Philippines from 22 – 26 January 2024. In Cotabato, Lord McConnell met with MILF leadership, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), representatives of the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities, political parties and civil society. In Manila, he had constructive discussions with Senator Raffy Tulfo, Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo and Secretary Amenah Pangandaman of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and civil society.

Speaking after his visit, Lord McConnell said:

I was delighted to join the 5th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao this week in Cotabato. I was pleased to witness first-hand the progress made on delivering the peace process as we approach the important BARMM elections in 2025. The visit to Camp Badre was an opportunity to listen to the decommissioned combatants and learn more about their experiences. As we approach the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement, I congratulate all involved and I look forward to continuing to support them in delivering development, peace and inclusivity for all.

The visit marked the launch of the UK government-funded VSO ACTIVE Project, part of the UK government’s continuing programme of support to the BARMM. A spokesperson for VSO said:

The ACTIVE project in the Philippines has supported marginalised communities in MILF camps to generate livelihood opportunities, increase biodiversity, protect against the harmful impacts of climate change and hold local decision makers to account, with 380 community volunteers supporting over 20,000 people to date. The project contributes to the normalisation track and the Camp Transformation Plan and has helped decommissioned combatants and their families to establish agroecology initiatives and supported the construction of an eco-tourism area which is now protected by an ordinance. VSO and our partner, UnYPhil-Women, are delighted to have the opportunity to expand this work in Camp Badre, and we are very grateful to the FCDO for their ongoing support for the ACTIVE project.

Welcoming the launch of the project at Camp Badre, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils said:

The UK government is delighted to support the normalisation track of the peace process, and in particular the VSO ACTIVE project in MILF camps. Peace is not just the absence of war – it’s also about opportunities, development and hope. The UK reiterates its unwavering support for the Peace Process and delivering lasting and inclusive peace for all.

Since 2020, the UK government has been supporting the peace process in the BARMM through a £12 million Conflict, Stability and Security Fund programme, sharing experience in devolution, institution-building, and peace transition.

January 29, 2024