Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 April 2010.

The Prime Minister has wished those celebrating Easter all over Britain and the world a happy Easter.

Gordon Brown said how “incredibly grateful” he was to Christian churches for all that they do.

The PM said this year was a particular reason to celebrate, as 2010 will see the first official visit of His Holiness the Pope to Britain.

The PM said:

“Easter is the most important date in the Christian calendar, because it is when we reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Christians all over Britain and the world will be celebrating in their homes and churches and thinking about the redeeming power of faith.

This year we have particular reason to celebrate, as 2010 will see the first official visit of His Holiness the Pope to Britain and also the 5th anniversary of the Gleneagles G8 summit where Christians of every denomination were instrumental in the securing greater justice for the poor.

The Christian churches are the conscience of our country, always ready to bear witness to the truth and to remind us of our responsibilities to what the Bible calls ‘the least of these’. I am incredibly grateful for all that you do to ensure our public square is more than a place of transaction and exchange and remains always, as it should be, a place of shared values and social justice.

With warm best wishes to you and your families for a Happy Easter,

Gordon.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 4 January 2023.

In the short time I have been Prime Minister, we have made progress:

We’ve protected the most vulnerable and lowest paid with cost-of-living support worth £26 billion.

Stabilised the economy and people’s mortgage rates.

A better future is one where our economy is growing faster so that everybody, everywhere has new opportunities for better paying, good jobs.

The most powerful plan for sustainable growth is to position the UK to fully benefit from the incredible scientific and technological change the world is seeing.

That’s why we’re:

• Increasing public funding in R&D to £20bn to enhance our world leading strengths in AI, life sciences, quantum computing, financial services, and green technology.
• Seizing the opportunities of Brexit to ensure our regulatory system is agile and supports innovation.
• Making sure entrepreneurial and fast-growing companies get the finance they need to expand.
• Spreading a culture of creative thinking and doing things differently across every part of the UK.

If we’re going to deliver this better future, people will have to work hard.

I believe good, well-paid jobs are about more than just financial security.

They give people purpose, confidence, dignity – the chance to build a better life for themselves.

But I also believe that if you work hard and play by the rules – you should be rewarded.

Which is why as soon as we can, the Government will reduce the burden of taxation on working people.

And it is staggering that at a time when businesses are crying out for workers, and when so many people are working so hard, a quarter of our labour market is inactive.

So our growth plan will look again at how we can support those who can, to move back into work – including through the welfare system.

All of this innovation will make this country a beacon of science, technology, and enterprise and lift our productivity, raise our growth rate, create new jobs for decades to come.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 4 January 2023.

As your Prime Minister, you need to know what my focus will be, so you can hold me to account directly for whether it is delivered.

So I’d like to tell you my five immediate priorities.

These are the five foundations I know can build a better, more secure, more prosperous future that this country deserves.

• We will halve inflation this year to ease the cost of living and give people financial security.
• We will grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.
• We will make sure our national debt is falling so that we can secure the future of public services.
• By March, NHS waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly.
• We will pass new laws to stop small boats, making sure that if you come to this country illegally, you are detained and swiftly removed.

These are five pledges to deliver peace of mind, so that you know things are getting better, that they are actually changing.

That you have a government working in your interests, focused on your priorities, putting your needs first.

And I fully expect you to hold my government and I to account on delivering those goals.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 4 January 2023.

The press release issued by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 3 January 2023.

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this afternoon.

The leaders discussed the abhorrent drone attacks on Ukraine in recent days, and the Prime Minister said the thoughts of the UK were with the Ukrainian people as they continued to live under such bombardment.

The Prime Minister said Ukraine could count on the UK to continue to support it for the long term, as demonstrated by the recent delivery of more than 1000 anti-air missiles.

Work was also underway to provide further equipment in the coming weeks and months to secure Ukraine’s victory on the battlefield, the Prime Minister added.

Discussing the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in Latvia last month, the Prime Minister thanked the President for joining virtually and said the UK and JEF partners were working closely to provide the vital equipment requested.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch in the coming weeks.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 January 2023.

The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:

• Viscount Younger of Leckie as a Parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions (previously a Lord in Waiting (Lords Whip));
• Lord Evans of Rainow as a Lord in Waiting (Lords Whip).

This follows the departure from government of Baroness Stedman–Scott OBE DL.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 December 2022.

PM called dedicated diplomats, military personnel and childcare providers to personally wish them a Merry Christmas and thank them for their work.

The Prime Minister surprised public servants working across the world this Christmas, calling them to personally thank them for their sacrifice and dedication in an unprecedented year of global challenge.

Alongside the FCDO Permanent Under-Secretary, Sir Philip Barton, and First Sea Lord Admiral Ben Key, the Prime Minister made surprise calls to diplomats in Pakistan, Somalia and Ukraine, as well as a Royal Navy ship sailing in Antarctica. He told them the work of diplomats and armed forces this year, against a backdrop of such global instability, demonstrated the very best of the United Kingdom overseas.

And closer to home, the Prime Minister surprised Chris Mitchell who runs Smart Play, an award-winning government-funded Holiday Activities and Food programme in Barnet. The PM heard first-hand how Chris and the team are supporting vulnerable children across the area with fun activities and nutritious meals throughout the school holidays.

Speaking to diplomat Nic Guffog, who is based in Mogadishu, the Prime Minister heard how the dedicated foreign office staffer had been using her breather breaks and flights from the UK back to Somalia to bring in Christmas decorations for the UK’s diplomatic compound in Mogadishu. She told the Prime Minister how staff in Mogadishu were living in containers under the threat of terror attacks, and would spend Christmas supporting efforts to counter the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and helping the Somalian government deal with the hunger crisis facing the country.

Nic, who looks after the embassy compound in East Africa, said the order for Christmas dinner had to be placed in the spring, and had recently arrived by container ship. This year’s celebrations were particularly special for the embassy after a Covid outbreak last year meant staff couldn’t sit together in the compound on Christmas Day. Nic hoped to add festive cheer this year with handmade Santa stockings and Christmas jumpers, despite the 40C heat, she added.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Whether you are working in Mogadishu or Milton Keynes this Christmas, I want you to know that I am personally grateful for your sacrifice. This year has been an extraordinary year for so many reasons, but most of all, it’s been a year in which the true spirit and resilience of the United Kingdom has been on show, from the support given to our Ukrainian friends, to the work being done to ensure essential aid reaches the most vulnerable overseas.

And closer to home, those who have checked on friends and neighbours, volunteers, public servants and essential service staff all working over Christmas – I am truly humbled by your dedication and I know your selflessness this festive season will spread cheer across the country.

The Prime Minister also spoke to Sherwan Asif, from Pakistan, who has worked for the British High Commission in Islamabad for more than 12 years, and was at the forefront of the United Kingdom’s response to the devastating floods that ravaged the country in June. Sherwan identified areas in critical need and ensured UK funding reached the most vulnerable.

The Prime Minister also called Svita Yavorska, who has spent the year working for the UK’s embassy in Ukraine from Kyiv, Warsaw and now Lviv.  Svita told the Prime Minister how she had to flee to Poland following Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine, before setting up the Embassy’s temporary base in Poland. Svita also volunteered translating for refugees pouring over the border into Poland, and helping them secure new homes. Svita has since returned to Lviv, Ukraine, to help set up a new UK base in the city. She is also working closely with humanitarian partners to get vital UK aid into the country. The Prime Minister told Svita how grateful he was for her hard work, and said the UK would continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it took.

Finally, the Prime Minister spoke to some of the crew of HMS Protector, which is currently deployed off the coast of the South Sandwich islands, updating navigational charts using the latest sonar technology, monitoring the retreat of glaciers and ice shelves, and supporting the British Antarctic Survey scientists by delivering vital supplies and fixing any engineering issues.

The Prime Minister heard how the shipmates are experiencing 20 hours of sunlight a day, and had seen whales, penguins and endangered turtles during their deployment, as well as surveying underwater volcanos, and losing 7-1 to members of the Monserrat national football team during a friendly game on shore.

Asking about their Christmas plans, the sailors told the Prime Minister they had planned a number of celebrations between keeping watch on the ship, including a fancy dress party and Christmas dinner for the ship’s company.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 22 December 2022.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen this afternoon.

The leaders agreed that the UK and the EU would remain steadfast in our military economic and diplomatic support for Ukraine and in countering Russian aggression.

They looked forward to working closely together in 2023 in the G7, under the Japanese presidency, and the G20, under the Indian presidency.

On the Northern Ireland Protocol, they agreed on the importance of working together to agree a solution.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 22 December 2022.

Sir Laurie Magnus CBE has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s new Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests.

The Independent Adviser performs an important role, rooted in the Ministerial Code, as a source of impartial advice on the proper management of Ministers’ private interests and on adherence to the Code itself.

The Code has also today been re-issued, with the inclusion of a new Foreword by the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has been clear that he expects the Government to have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level. Sir Laurie will carry out the role in line with the established Terms of Reference, published in May 2022, which set out the core functions of the role as:

• Advising Ministers on their private interests, including overseeing the publication of the List of Ministers’ Interests
• Investigating alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code
• Providing advice on amendments to the Ministerial Code to the Prime Minister
• Providing ad hoc advice, at the request of a Minister, in relation to the Ministerial Code

Sir Laurie Magnus was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests on 22 December 2022.

Sir Laurie is Chairman of Historic England (formerly known as English Heritage), having been appointed in September 2013 to lead its relaunch under the Historic England brand name and the transfer of management of its properties to a new charity, the English Heritage Trust. This role is a regulated public appointment, overseen by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. He was previously Deputy Chairman of the National Trust from 2005 to 2013.

Sir Laurie will bring to the role of Independent Adviser over 40 years’ experience in the financial services sector, with particularly relevant professional experience of audit, compliance and corporate governance. He holds a number of advisory and non-executive roles within the finance sector, drawing on this expertise.

In the not for profit sector, Sir Laurie was until recently Chairman of the Windsor Leadership Trust, an independent charity providing experiential leadership programmes for senior leaders across all sectors of society, and Deputy Chairman of the Benefact Trust, providing charitable financial support to churches and Christian charities in the UK and Ireland. Sir Laurie also served as a member of the Board of the Culture Recovery Fund, established by Government to provide financial support to the culture and heritage sectors during the COVID pandemic.

Sir Laurie is also a member of Historic England’s Business and Finance Committee, Remuneration and Appointments Committee, and is a member of the English Heritage Board of Trustees.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 December 2022.

The King has approved that Mr Christopher “Kif” Hancock be appointed a Church Commissioner for five years effective from 1 January 2023, in succession to Mr Duncan Owen who resigns on 31 December 2022.

Background

Christopher “Kif” Hancock is a partner and CIO International at Brown Advisory. He is a highly credible and experienced capital allocator and Chair of Brown’s International Investment Committee. His professional experience includes time living and working in Europe, Asia and North America with both for-profit and non-profit organisations. Since joining Brown in 2008, Kif has obtained considerable knowledge of working with and advising both institutional and private clients (including international experience) and a strong track record of capital allocation across equities, alternatives, and fixed-income investments. He is an American but he and his family have been residents in England for many years.

Kif is a Committed Christian and volunteers for his local churches in London and Oxfordshire (St. Michael’s Chester Square and St Andrew’s Church, Kingham).