UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: 2024

  • Chris Heaton-Harris – 2024 Statement on Public Sector Pay

    Chris Heaton-Harris – 2024 Statement on Public Sector Pay

    The statement made by Chris Heaton-Harris, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on 18 January 2024.

    Today’s strike will be disruptive for people across Northern Ireland. I understand the serious concerns that people across Northern Ireland have about the impact this action will have on vital public services.

    While public sector pay is devolved, the UK Government has offered a fair and generous package worth over £3bn which would address public sector pay and provides more than £1bn to stabilise public services. This will require Ministers being back to work in Stormont so that decisions on governing can be taken in the round.

    I am deeply disappointed that the significant funding offer from the UK Government to address such issues has not been taken up. This package has been on the table since before Christmas and will remain there, available on day one for an incoming Northern Ireland Executive.

    It is regrettable that the NI Parties were unable to come together yesterday to elect a Speaker and restore the executive. The people of Northern Ireland deserve local political leadership from representatives they have elected to govern on their behalf.

    The UK Government has made a significant offer that would help address the challenges facing public sector pay and Northern Ireland’s finances. It is time for the NI Parties to take decisions on how they will best serve the interests of the people of Northern Ireland.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary’s meeting with the Foreign Minister of Iran [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary’s meeting with the Foreign Minister of Iran [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 January 2024.

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 17 January.

    A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

    The Foreign Secretary met the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian today (17 January) at the World Economic Forum.

    The Foreign Secretary condemned the attacks in Erbil in Iraq, which killed UK-Iraqi dual national Karam Mikhael. Attacks like this violate the sovereignty of other states.

    He also made clear that the Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea are illegal and unacceptable, and that Iran must use its influence with the Houthis to prevent further threats.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on third anniversary of the arrest of Alexei Navalny [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on third anniversary of the arrest of Alexei Navalny [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 January 2024.

    The UK has issued a statement on the third anniversary of the arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

    Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty said:

    Today marks three years since Alexei Navalny was arrested.

    His continued imprisonment is an indictment of Russia’s deteriorating human rights record, and demonstrates Russia’s contempt for freedom of speech and its international obligations. The Russian state’s increasing repression at home both enables and is driven by its aggression abroad.

    Alongside our partners, we reiterate our call for Russia to immediately and unconditionally release Alexei Navalny and all those imprisoned on political grounds.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary’s meeting with the President of Argentina [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary’s meeting with the President of Argentina [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 January 2024.

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Argentine President Javier Milei met for the first time at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 17 January.

    A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

    The Foreign Secretary met the President of Argentina Javier Milei at the World Economic Forum in Davos today [17 January 2024]. It was a warm and cordial meeting, setting out mutual support for a more constructive relationship between the UK and Argentina.

    The Foreign Secretary and President Milei discussed how to enhance UK-Argentina relations through greater cooperation on areas of mutual interest including trade, education, culture and enhancing people to people links.

    On the Falkland Islands, the Foreign Secretary and President Milei said they would agree to disagree, and do so politely. The UK position and ongoing support for the Falkland Islanders’ right to self-determination remains unchanged.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New official portrait of King Charles III released for public authorities [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New official portrait of King Charles III released for public authorities [January 2024]

    The press release issued by Cabinet Office on 17 January 2024.

    New official portrait of The King in Naval uniform taken at Windsor Castle last year.

    The Cabinet Office has released a new official portrait of His Majesty The King that will soon hang in public buildings the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.

    The portrait, taken at Windsor Castle last year by photographer Hugo Burnand shows His Majesty wearing a Royal Navy uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet and official medals and decorations.

    A copy of the portrait is being offered to public authorities across the United Kingdom free-of-charge as part of a scheme to celebrate the new reign.

    Applications are open for eligible institutions – including principal Local Authorities, courts, schools, police forces and fire and rescue services – to apply for the new portrait under the scheme. In February, the scheme will be extended to include town, parish and community councils and Ministry of Defence-sponsored cadet forces.

    Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

    The accession of His Majesty The King marked a new chapter in our national story.

    Displaying this new portrait will serve as a reminder to us all of the example set by our ultimate public servant and I hope as many eligible organisations as possible will wish to continue this proud British tradition and honour our King’s reign.

    His Majesty’s accession has marked the beginning of a new reign and the UK Government considers it right that public authorities, as part of the fabric of our nation, have the opportunity to commemorate this moment, strengthen civil pride and reflect the new era in our history.

    Official portraits of Queen Elizabeth II are currently on display in many public institutions, and the offering of the new official portrait of His Majesty will enable organisations across the UK to carry on that tradition.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State statement on the recall motion for the Northern Ireland Assembly [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State statement on the recall motion for the Northern Ireland Assembly [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 17 January 2024.

    The statement follows the failure to elect a speaker for the NI Assembly.

    Commenting on the failure of the Northern Ireland Assembly to elect a speaker Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton Harris said:

    “It is disappointing that the Assembly was unable to elect a speaker and restore the Northern Ireland Executive today.

    “The return of a locally elected, accountable and effective devolved government is the best way to govern Northern Ireland.

    “However, in the absence of an Executive, the Government will proceed with a pragmatic and reasonable approach to support Northern Ireland.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ministers see Denbighshire levelling up projects [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ministers see Denbighshire levelling up projects [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 17 January 2024.

    Wales Office Minister Fay Jones joined Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young to see how £20 million in UK Government funding is benefiting North Wales.

    • Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young was joined by Wales Office Minister and the MP for Vale of Clwyd during a tour of Rhyl town centre following the Levelling Up Fund Round 3 announcement.
    • Minister Young also visited the recently renovated Salusbury Arms in Tremeirchion which received £175,000 thanks to the Community Ownership Fund (COF).

    UK Government ministers have been to Denbighshire to see how tens of millions of pounds of levelling up money is regenerating the area.

    Jacob Young, the Levelling Up Minister and Fay Jones, Wales Office Minister, saw first-hand how transformational regeneration projects in Rhyl, made possible by UK Government funding, will benefit the local community.

    Denbighshire County Council was awarded £20 million in the most recent round of the Levelling Up Fund, with £11 million committed to regenerating Rhyl. Local people will benefit from a regeneration of the town centre, creation of more community centres, and improvements to cycle and footpaths and routes between the town and coast.

    This latest funding from the third round of the Levelling Up Fund follows two previous rounds which invested just under £1.7 billion and £2.1 billion into projects across the UK – bringing the total fund to £4.8 billion. These infrastructure investments aim to improve everyday life for people by regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.

    Alongside the transformation of Rhyl’s high street, the Ministers also saw where money is being used to revive Queens Market and Central Promenade. Queens Market will be turned into a mixed used retail development to boost business, while improved travel routes will reconnect the town centre with the promenade and beach.

    Ministers also visited the Salusbury Arms pub, a much-loved pub in Tremeirchion which recently reopened its doors thanks to £175,000 from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund, which protects beloved community places at risk of closure. The 200-year-old pub, which is an integral part of the community and only remaining pub in the village, is now renovated and community-owned with the help of UK Government funding – preserving a cherished place for families and residents to enjoy.

    UK Government Minister for Levelling Up Jacob Young said:

    I loved being in North Wales to see first-hand how levelling up will be made a reality here thanks to millions of pounds of UK Government support.

    I was also delighted to visit the Salusbury Arms, a much loved pub in Tremeirchion with a great deal of history, that has been saved through a mix of the local community’s brilliant campaigning work and our Community Ownership Fund support.

    These projects show how committed we are to levelling up in Wales and it is heartening to see how the money will positively impact communities for generations to come.

    Wales Office Minister Fay Jones said:

    It was fantastic to see these wonderful projects that will make a huge difference to local people’s lives. The ambitious plans for the regeneration of Rhyl will be a huge boost for the town, helping to attract businesses, create jobs and grow the local economy.

    And I much enjoyed meeting the people behind saving the Salusbury Arms who have worked so hard to safeguard the pub for future generations – congratulations to them.

    Vice Chair of the Salusbury Arms pub Jane Marsh said:

    Securing the Community Ownership Fund to support our bid to own The Salusbury has meant that we were able to purchase the building outright not only without taking on debt but also to convey to almost 200 shareholders that the Government had confidence in our vision for the future of this treasured Community asset.

    The process was straightforward and I would urge other Communities like ours to apply”.

    Notes to editors:

  • PRESS RELEASE : People on low incomes urged to check if they can get £150 energy bill discount [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : People on low incomes urged to check if they can get £150 energy bill discount [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 17 January 2024.

    Eligible low income households urged to make sure they get £150 in Warm Home Discount before 29 February.

    • Low income households who qualify for the Warm Home Discount are urged to make sure they get the £150 discount
    • most of the 3 million households who qualify will automatically receive this energy bill support
    • households who need to confirm their details must do so by the end of February

    People on low incomes could benefit from a £150 rebate on their energy bills – and are being urged to act now where they need to, so they can get the support before this year’s scheme closes.

    The help is available to over 3 million households across Great Britain that are most at risk of fuel poverty, with many receiving the discount automatically. However, some customers in England and Wales have been sent a letter asking them to confirm their details by calling the Warm Home Discount Helpline so they can check their eligibility and get the rebate.

    To mark Big Energy Saving Week, Minister for Affordability and Skills Amanda Solloway is today urging any of these households who need to provide more information to call the helpline by 29 February and get the support they are entitled to.

    The scheme forms part of measures to keep costs down for families and put more money in their pockets. It targets support to protect those most at risk of fuel poverty this winter, following a significant drop in energy prices since their peak last year and the government delivering on its pledge to halve inflation – which is now at a 2-year low of 3.9%.

    Tax cuts announced at the start of the year will also support 27 million people across the UK, meaning a household with 2 average earners will save nearly £1,000 a year.

    Minister for Affordability and Skills Amanda Solloway said:

    We will always act to support the most vulnerable – and this means making sure those most in need are getting the right support.

    Today, I am urging people on low incomes who have been notified about the Warm Home Discount to make sure they act now to get £150 off their energy bill.

    Please check your letter and call our helpline before the end of February if you need to provide more information.

    The government’s Warm Home Discount offers targeted energy bill support for those most in need. This includes low income pensioners and households in England and Wales with high energy costs.

    These customers received a letter at the end of last year explaining the discount and instructions on any action they may need to take.

    For the vast majority of these customers, the discount is automatically applied to bills between October 2023 and March 2024, or is available as a top-up voucher for those with a prepayment meter.

    However, some people in England and Wales who received a letter and could qualify for the support have been asked ring the government helpline number provided in their letter to confirm their details. Customers can also find out more on the government’s Warm Home Discount gov.uk page and use the online eligibility checker to see if they qualify, or call the general Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322.

    In Scotland, customers on low incomes who have not received a letter may still be eligible and should apply via a different route, by contacting their energy supplier as soon as possible.

    The support comes on top of wider action to protect vulnerable households, including a £900 payment for those on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioner households and an extra £150 available for those on disability benefits.

    The government has also invested over £2 billion into the Household Support Fund over the last 2 years, increased the Local Housing Allowance Rate so £1.6 million private renters on Housing Benefit or Universal Credit gain an average of nearly £800 a year and £600 in tax-free cash for pensioner households to help with energy bills through Winter Fuel Payments.

    Cold Weather Payments have also been triggered to help households receiving certain benefits to stay warm this winter. The scheme – which runs until March 2024 – provides low-income households with an automatic payment of £25 following periods of cold weather.

    Anyone can access advice on how to reduce energy costs and heat their home for less via the government’s Help for Households website. This includes energy saving tips as part of the It All Adds Up campaign, which helped British households an estimated £120 million on their energy bills last winter.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New First Senior Treasury Counsel confirmed [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New First Senior Treasury Counsel confirmed [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 17 January 2024.

    Tom Little KC has been appointed as First Senior Treasury Counsel to the Crown, the Attorney General has today announced.

    Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP, has announced the appointment which will come into effect on 1 April 2024.

    Senior Treasury Counsel, who operate from the Central Criminal Court, prosecute some of the most complex cases in the country, advising and appearing on behalf of the Law Officers, other government departments, and principal prosecuting authorities.

    Treasury Counsel are appointed by the Attorney General in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

    Tom Little KC takes over from Oliver Glasgow KC, who was appointed as First Senior Treasury Counsel in 2021.

    The Attorney General Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP said:

    I am delighted to announce that Tom Little KC will become First Senior Treasury Counsel to the Crown at the Central Criminal Court. Tom’s years of legal experience on some of the country’s most significant cases make him the ideal candidate to take on this crucial role.

    He follows in the footsteps of Oliver Glasgow KC who I would like to thank for his valuable years of service in this important role.

    Tom Little KC was appointed Junior Treasury Counsel in 2012, and Senior Treasury Counsel in 2017. He was Junior Counsel to the Crown between 2014 and 2018.

    The title ‘Treasury Counsel’ derives from the days when all Crown Counsel at the Central Criminal Court were instructed by the Treasury Solicitor. That procedure was changed in 1908, and since then the Director of Public Prosecutions has instructed the permanent counsel there.

    Treasury Counsel are appointed by the Attorney General. They are divided into two groups: Senior Treasury Counsel and Junior Treasury Counsel.

    Tom Little KC, the next First Senior Treasury Counsel said:

    I am honoured to be the appointed the next First Senior Treasury Counsel. Treasury Counsel play a vital role prosecuting the country’s highest profile cases. I look forward to building on Oliver Glasgow KC’s excellent work and along with all of the Treasury Counsel team representing the Law Officers, government departments, and principal prosecuting authorities.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary at Davos to reiterate support for Ukraine and call for security and stability in the Middle East [January 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary at Davos to reiterate support for Ukraine and call for security and stability in the Middle East [January 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 January 2024.

    Lord Cameron will meet world leaders to mobilise international support and cooperation on the world’s biggest challenges at World Economic Forum.

    The Foreign Secretary, Lord David Cameron, will call for greater action from world leaders at this year’s World Economic Forum in a bid to mobilise international support and cooperation on the world’s biggest challenges.

    As part of a 2-day programme, the Foreign Secretary will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Bill Gates, and others to discuss the need for continued collaboration and fresh thinking, including to tackle ongoing conflicts.

    The Foreign Secretary will reiterate his support for Ukraine in a discussion with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, which will focus on the need for unity to lay the foundations for Ukraine’s long-term future and to win the war.

    Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said:

    The world has changed significantly since I first entered government, and we live in very unstable, uncertain and dangerous times. The global impact of conflicts, diseases and climate change is sadly growing. But as the challenges increase, so too must our efforts.

    In my discussion with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, I will make clear the UK will continue to be a steadfast supporter of Ukraine, so it not only wins the war, but emerges from it as a strong, sovereign, and free country.

    Ukraine is standing up for the rules that keep us all safe. This is why the UK has provided almost £12 billion in support to Ukraine. We will stand with them for as long as it takes to achieve victory.

    The meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister comes as the UK’s Development Finance Institution, British International Investment (BII), launches its first investment in Ukraine, committing $25 million to ensure Ukraine remains connected to a global economy.

    This previously announced investment to the International Finance Corporation (IFC)’s Global Trade Finance Programme, alongside investments from the US International Development Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, will open access to financing for $1 billion of Ukrainian imports and exports, including vital food supplies.

    Russia’s aggression has disrupted Ukraine’s cross-border trade and hit its economy. The commitment of $25 million through British International Investment comes ahead of the investment of £250 million of new capital for BII which the Prime Minister announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in June 2023.

    It also follows the announcement that the UK will increase military funding for Ukraine in the next financial year to £2.5 billion, an increase of £200 million on the previous 2 years. The funding will help leverage the best of UK military expertise and defence production to ensure Ukraine’s victory on the battlefield, including in critical areas like long-range missiles, air defence, artillery ammunition and maritime security.

    While at Davos, the Foreign Secretary will also emphasise the need for security and stability in the Middle East and reiterate the 4 things that must happen for a peaceful solution to the Israel-Hamas war: a Palestinian-led government in Gaza and the West Bank, a concrete plan to help reform and support the Palestinian Authority, a major reconstruction plan for Gaza, and a political horizon towards a two-state solution.

    The Foreign Secretary will also have meetings covering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, multilateral development banks, and greater international cooperation to tackle global threats – such as diseases and climate change.