Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 August 2024.

The Prime Minister welcomed His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain, to Downing Street today.

His Royal Highness noted the significance of the Prime Minister’s speech today, and both agreed that growth was essential to ensure prosperity.

The Prime Minister set out his personal commitment to the UK-Bahraini bilateral relationship, and the leaders looked forward to strengthening areas of shared cooperation, including trade, investment and security and defence.

Turning to the situation in Middle East, the Prime Minister thanked His Royal Highness for Bahrain’s efforts to protecting shipping in the Red Sea and his commitment to wider regional security.

The Prime Minister underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire, the return of hostages and an immediate increase in the volume of humanitarian aid reaching civilians.

Both leaders agreed that regional security was paramount, and the Prime Minister reiterated the necessity for restraint from all parties to prevent further escalation.

They looked forward to working closely and agreed to stay in touch.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 August 2024.

The Prime Minister spoke to President Xi Jinping of China this morning.

The Prime Minister began by setting out his priorities for his government, including national security, secure borders and economic stability.

The leaders discussed areas of shared collaboration, and potential areas of cooperation between the UK and China, including on trade, the economy and education.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council, the leaders agreed on the importance of close working in areas such as climate change and global security.

The Prime Minister added that he hoped the leaders would be able to have open, frank and honest discussions to address and understand areas of disagreement when necessary, such as Hong Kong, Russia’s war in Ukraine and human rights.

The leaders also agreed on the need for a stable and consistent UK-China relationship, including dialogue between their respective foreign and domestic ministers.

They agreed to stay in touch.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 August 2024.

The King has been pleased to appoint Mr Michael Dooley, LVO, DL, as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Dorset on the retirement of Mr Angus Campbell, CVO, on 4th September 2024.

Background

Michael Dooley, LVO, DL (67) has practised as a consultant gynaecologist in London and Dorset as well as to the Royal Family and the London Olympics, and as Team Doctor to the British Equestrian Federation; he is also a visiting Professor to Bournemouth University.  Since serving as High Sheriff four years ago, he has developed and led an initiative promoting harmony in Dorset, aimed at bringing charities together to increase their impact; the project’s next stage will focus on the county’s prison population (he is a trustee of Key4Life, which aims to reduce youth reoffending).  He has raised considerable sums for charities and other good causes, including the Dorset County Hospital, a local hospice (of which he is patron), and the Royal Osteoporosis Society.

Mr Dooley lives in Broadmayne, near Dorchester, with his wife, Barbara.  They have three adult children and seven grand-children.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 August 2024.

The Prime Minister spoke to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon.

The Prime Minister started by expressing his sincere condolences to the Israeli people and the loved ones of the six hostages recovered in Gaza this morning, including British national Nadav Popplewell.

The leaders discussed diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and the Prime Minister welcomed Israel’s support for the American ‘bridging proposal’ and emphasised the need to move quickly.

Regional de-escalation was in everyone’s interests, as the impact of miscalculation would come at great costs for all sides, the leaders agreed.

The UK was steadfast in its support for Israel’s right to self defence, and would continue to work with partners to uphold regional security, the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister also urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to ensure greater access to detainees held by Israel, the increased delivery of aid to Gaza and to ensure international law was upheld at all times.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 August 2024.

The Prime Minister and Welsh First Minister will supercharge efforts to make Britain a clean energy superpower today, by investing in homegrown energy to grow the economy, create jobs, boost skills, and strengthen our energy independence.

Visiting a wind farm in West Wales which benefitted from Welsh Government funding, the Prime Minister and First Minister will pledge close cooperation to unleash the benefits of a publicly owned energy company, in the pair’s first official visit since the appointment of the First Minister.

The Prime Minister will pledge to build on work already done by the Welsh Government to establish a publicly owned energy company.

The UK government is seizing the economic opportunity to deliver Great British Energy, that will own and invest in clean power projects in regions and nations across the UK. The company will be backed by £8.3 billion of new money over this Parliament.

As part of the reset in relationship with the Welsh Government, based on a genuine partnership of collaboration and respect, the two leaders are joining forces to deliver clean energy investment across Wales and the rest of the UK. This marks a fresh start under the new Government.

The Prime Minister will reiterate the Government’s commitment to end an era of rocketing energy bills and price instability with a long-term plan to deliver clean power by 2030. Families across the country have suffered during the cost-of-living crisis, as the UK’s over-reliance on fossil fuel markets was exploited by Putin.

Great British Energy is part of the Government’s commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower, with clean power by 2030. This will boost the country’s energy independence, so that families and businesses are never left that vulnerable again, and kickstart economic growth.

Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru – a company owned by the Welsh Government – was built from scratch in just 12 months and is already boosting Wales’s green economy and setting the UK on course for energy security. This is on course to produce 1 GW of clean energy by 2040 – enough to power up to a million homes in Wales, helping reduce bills in the long term.

The Welsh Government is also already working with The Crown Estate to unlock 1,000 km2 of seabed. This will create brand new windfarms that have the capacity to produce up to 4.5 gigawatts of renewable electricity. The Crown Estate estimates this could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of every home in Wales three times over, or host 1.4 million events at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium a year.

The visit comes as The Crown Estate embarks on the latest phase of its Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5, which will see bidders set out their plans for delivering new wind farms, explaining how this will support the delivery of wider social and economic benefits for onshore communities.

The Crown Estate also estimates these planned windfarms could create more than 5,000 new jobs in construction and deliver a £1.4 billion boost to the economy.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

We have inherited an incoherent energy policy that has left homes up and down the country vulnerable to rocketing energy bills.

But the Welsh Government has made important strides that we can now build on, and I am determined that Wales is at the very heart of our mission to make Britain an energy superpower, with renewables powering homes right across the country.

Great British Energy will put the whole of the United Kingdom on the right path to deliver the independence we need, while helping to deliver lower bills for households and businesses and creating the next generation of skilled jobs.

The UK Government has recently announced plans to supercharge this work with a landmark deal between Great British Energy and The Crown Estate which has the potential to leverage up to £60 billion of private investment into the UK’s drive for energy independence.

The government has inherited acute challenges where high energy bills have placed a huge burden on people across the country. Had this work to deliver green energy started earlier, the UK would be producing more of its own homegrown energy sources. This would have left the UK’s energy supply less susceptible to price spikes caused by geopolitical and economic shocks– such as Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, said:

Our publicly-owned renewable energy developer, Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, is a long-term sustainable investment that puts net zero and the communities of Wales at the heart of the energy transition.

While the previous UK government focused on fracking and fossil fuels – opposed by most communities and incompatible with our international obligations – we took positive action to ensure we deliver on our environmental commitments.

Harvesting our wind and using it to produce power offers us, and the people of Wales, the ability to own the returns on what will be a significant investment.

The second leg of his two-day visit will focus on the government’s mission to see how green investment can power tens of thousands of homes across the South West Wales region and provide millions of pounds in funding for the neighbouring community.

As one of several renewables sites across Wales, the site they are visiting is a key contributor to the sector’s role in providing clean energy to the nation, supporting thousands of jobs, and training the workforce of the future. ‎He will also meet with apprentices and the workers running the site.

This government is wasting no time in introducing measures that will get us closer to energy independence. Already the Energy Secretary has:

• Scrapped the ban on onshore wind development
• Took planning decisions on three solar farms within days of taking office
• Introduced legislation to build Great British Energy
• Signed a deal with The Crown Estate that will build more offshore wind and could leverage up to £60 billion in investment

That is all ahead of plans to help protect consumers and introduce a Warm Homes Plan that will help homeowners insulate their houses cheaper – helping us achieve clean power by 2030.

Taken together, these steps will help prevent consumers from being beholden to price spikes abroad, while helping us achieve our Net Zero commitments.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 August 2024.

The Prime Minister has arrived in Cardiff this afternoon for his first in-person meeting with First Minister Eluned Morgan since she took up the role this month.

The Prime Minister will meet with the First Minister in the Welsh capital where they will discuss the importance of continuing to reset the crucial relationship between the UK and Welsh Governments and their joint determination to deliver for working people in every part of the country.

As the UK Government embarks on a decade of national renewal, the people and communities of Wales will be front and centre of the focus to create good quality jobs, drive down energy bills and provide the energy security we need.

The two leaders are expected to visit a renewable energy site tomorrow where they will look at how Welsh companies are investing in clean power projects to power homes and support jobs in the local community.

This comes a week after the UK Government has announced the immediate release of £13.5 million in funding to support supply chain businesses and workers affected by Tata Steel’s decision to transition to greener steel-making.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 August 2024.

The Prime Minister spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi this afternoon.

The Prime Minister thanked the President for his congratulations on the election and reiterated the UK’s commitment to a strong partnership with Egypt, especially on regional security and mutual prosperity.

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, the leaders shared their deep concern over the potential for escalation in the region and the importance of restraint.

The Prime Minister reiterated the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of hostages and more humanitarian aid to be delivered across Gaza. He underscored the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution through a peace process.

The leaders agreed to keep in touch.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 August 2024.

Government action taken following the attacks in Southport on 29 July 2024.

The Prime Minister has taken immediate action following the far-right thuggery we have seen take place after the devastating events in Southport last week.

He has promised that those taking part in this disorder – whether it be directly or online – will face the full force of the law.

The police will continue to make arrests, individuals will be held on remand, and charges and convictions will follow.

Ramp up criminal justice

Police chiefs have made clear that public order reserves will be on standby in strategic locations throughout the week, with thousands of extra officers available for rapid deployment wherever and whenever disorder arises.

There have already been hundreds of arrests, including for online offences.  Some have already appeared in court this morning. We will ensure those responsible will feel the full force of the law.

We will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities. The full force of the law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part in these activities.

Mosques to be offered new emergency security

Mosques are being offered greater protection with new emergency security that can be rapidly deployed.

The new rapid response process means mosques at risk of violent disorder can be offered additional security personnel, providing communities with vital support and reassurance.

This will boost the work already being done by local police forces to protect these important places of worship.

Under the new process now in place, the police, local authorities and mosques can ask for rapid security to be deployed, protecting communities and allowing for a return to worship as quickly as possible.

National Violent Disorder Programme

The Prime Minister has announced the immediate creation of a programme to stop criminals intent on causing violence and unrest on our streets.

The programme is bringing together the best policing capabilities from across the country to share intelligence on the activity of violent groups so the authorities can swiftly intervene to arrest them.

Local insight and data will be used to gain a national understanding of where these criminals are operating, including the British Transport Police alerting where they see a spike in train ticket sales that could be linked to organised violent disorder.

It will also consider how we can deploy facial recognition technology, which is already used by some forces, more widely across the country. This will mean criminals can be targeted, found and brought to justice quickly.

Package of support for Southport

The Prime Minister set out a package of support for Southport last week, to make sure the right support is in place for victims.

It will equip local leaders and agencies to make sure the needs of bereaved families are at the heart of the response, and to drive longer term efforts to bring the community together.

This comes alongside extensive care delivered by the NHS including specialist psychological and bereavement support services, and access to 24/7 crisis support.

To support the long-term recovery of the area, government will work with local partners on new ways to equip local leaders to help bolster community cohesion and build local resilience.

This will include setting up a programme of local community events and activities to help bring people together and create long-lasting support networks drawing from local schools, businesses, faith groups, sports clubs and other key partners.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 August 2024.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik al Said, to Downing Street this morning.

The Prime Minister began by highlighting the historic relationship between the UK and Oman, noting the special friendship, spanning over 400 years.

The leaders discussed the broad areas of cooperation between their two countries, including defence, security and trade, which they both looked forward to strengthening.

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, the Prime Minister emphasised the clear and urgent the need for de-escalation and urged all parties in the region to exercise restraint.

On Gaza, The Prime Minister reiterated the need for a ceasefire, the return of hostages and an immediate increase in the volume of humanitarian aid reaching civilians. Both agreed on the need for a two-state solution through a peace process.

They looked forward to working closely together in the future.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 3 August 2024.

This afternoon the Prime Minister convened senior Ministers including the Deputy Prime Minister, Home Secretary, Justice Secretary and the Policing Minister to discuss the incidents of public disorder and unrest we have seen in towns and cities in recent days.

The Prime Minister began by thanking the police who responded to the violence committed by a small minority of thugs in Sunderland last night which injured four officers. Addressing the scenes of disorder we have seen today, the Prime Minister set out that the police have our full support to take action against extremists on our streets who are attacking police officers, disrupting local businesses and attempting to sow hate by intimidating communities.

The Home Secretary updated on the ongoing police response to outbreaks of disorder. She said we will work with them to ensure there are consequences, arrests and prosecutions for those responsible. The Justice Secretary added that already offenders who have committed violence over the last few days have been remanded in custody and the whole justice system is ready to deliver convictions as quickly as possible.

The Deputy Prime Minister said we are working with local authorities to ensure members of the community who have been targeted by thuggish extremists have the support they need.

The Prime Minister ended by saying the right to freedom of expression and the violent disorder we have seen are two very different things. He said there is no excuse for violence of any kind and reiterated that the government backs the police to take all necessary action to keep our streets safe.