Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 December 2022.

The King has been pleased to appoint Mrs Beatrice Grant, DL, as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Worcestershire on the retirement of Colonel Patrick Holcroft, CVO, OBE, on 17th March 2023.

Background

Beatrice Grant has devoted much of her life to voluntary charity work.  She has been a Visitor for the Henry Smith Charitable Trust, making grants to local charities across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire; a Trustee for Maggs Homeless Day Centre in Worcester; and a volunteer for a London-based homeless charity, for St Richard’s Hospice Day Centre, and for various projects with the British Association of the Knights of Malta, helping the homeless, the sick and the disabled with which she is still involved.  She is currently a volunteer with the Alfrick and Lulsley Community Shop, Post Office and Hub; a volunteer for a local foodbank; a fund-raiser for St Richard’s Hospice; a Trustee for the Albright Grimley Charity, a local charitable trust; a committee member for Arts Worcestershire and President of Bewdley Civic Society.

Mrs Grant lives at Bransford, near Worcester, with her husband Andrew. They have two adult sons.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 December 2022.

The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Dr Emma Gwynneth Ineson, BA MPhil, Bishop to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, to the Suffragan See of Kensington, in the Diocese of London, in succession to The Right Reverend Dr Graham Tomlin following his resignation.

Background

Emma was educated at the University of Birmingham and trained for ministry at Trinity College, Bristol. She served her title at Christ Church, Dore in the Diocese of Sheffield and was ordained priest in 2001. Emma took up the role as Chaplain at Lee Abbey, Devon in 2003 before being appointed as Tutor of Practical and Pastoral Theology at Trinity College, Bristol in 2006, and Director of Pastoral Studies in 2010. She was appointed Principal in 2014. During this time she also served as Associate Minister of St Matthew’s, Kingsdown, and of St Mary Magdalene, Stoke Bishop, in the Diocese of Bristol.

In 2019, Emma was appointed Bishop of Penrith in the Diocese of Carlisle, and in 2021 she took up her current role as Bishop to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

Emma was a member of the 2022 Lambeth Conference Design Group, chairs the Church of England Minority Ethnic Vocations Advisory Group, is a member of the Commission for Theological Education in the Anglican Communion, is a member of Tearfund Theology Committee, and is Central Chaplain to the Worldwide Mother’s Union.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 December 2022.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 December 2022.

This afternoon Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to President-elect Lula da Silva.

The Prime Minister reiterated his congratulations following President-elect Lula da Silva’s victory in Brazil’s election in October, and both leaders agreed on the importance of promoting democratic values.

They discussed plans to strengthen cooperation to address shared priorities, including expanding the work they do to preserve the planet’s natural resources.

Both leaders highlighted the importance of taking action to reverse forest loss, and the President-elect updated the Prime Minister on his plans to preserve biodiversity and transition to a greener economy.

The leaders wished each other good luck in their respective upcoming World Cup matches.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 December 2022.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this afternoon.

The Prime Minister spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this afternoon.

The leaders discussed the fresh wave of Russian attacks on critical national infrastructure in Ukraine, and President Zelenskyy thanked the UK for its crucial support to help restore power through the supply of generators.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the success of Ukraine’s Armed Forces in intercepting dozens of potentially devastating missiles this week, and said the UK was thinking of the Ukrainian people as they continued to defend their country through the winter.

Updating on the latest lethal aid deliveries from the UK, the Prime Minister said that more anti-air guns and further short range air defence missiles would arrive in the coming weeks.

Both leaders agreed on the importance of pre-empting Russia’s insincere calls for a ceasefire, and the Prime Minister added that the Kremlin needed to withdraw its forces before any agreement could be considered.

The leaders agreed to speak again in the coming weeks.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 December 2022.

The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Dr Robert Munro, Rector of the Benefice of St Mary’s Cheadle with St Cuthbert’s, in the Diocese of Chester, and Rural Dean of Cheadle, to the Suffragan See of Ebbsfleet, in the Diocese of Canterbury. This is in succession to The Right Reverend Rod Thomas following his retirement in a national role previously conducted by the Suffragan See of Maidstone.

Background

Rob was educated at Bristol University and trained for ordained ministry at Oakhill Theological College. He was ordained Priest in 1994, served his title at St John the Baptist, Hartford, in the Diocese of Chester, and in 1997, was appointed Rector of St Wilfrid, Davenham.

In 2003, Rob was appointed to his current post as Rector of St Mary’s Cheadle with St Cuthbert’s, and completed his D.Min from Reformed Theological Seminary, USA. He has served three terms as Chair of the House of Clergy, and on the General Synod and the Dioceses’ Commission.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 December 2022.

The UK and US will work together to increase energy security and drive down prices, as part of an initiative announced by the Prime Minister and US President Biden today (7th December).

Under the new ‘UK-US Energy Security and Affordability Partnership’, the UK and US will drive work to reduce global dependence on Russian energy exports, stabilise energy markets and step up collaboration on energy efficiency, nuclear and renewables. The initiative will be steered by a new UK-US Joint Action Group, led by senior officials from the UK Government and the White House.

This new partnership follows the Prime Minister and President Biden’s meeting at the G20 Summit in Indonesia, where they agreed to take forward work to address our short-term energy needs and spearhead efforts to speed up our energy transition.

Putin’s war in Ukraine has caused an international spike in energy prices. To help deal with the resulting rise in the cost of living, the group will work to ensure the market delivers sustained increases in the supply of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to UK terminals from the US and will collaborate on energy efficiency measures.

As part of this, the US will strive to export at least 9-10 billion cubic metres of LNG over the next year via UK terminals, more than doubling the level exported in 2021 and capitalising on the UK’s leading import infrastructure. This will be good for both UK and European partners as we look to replenish gas storage next year. To fulfil this shared objective, both governments will work to proactively identify and resolve any issues faced by exporters and importers.

The group will also work to reduce global reliance on Russian energy by driving efforts to increase energy efficiency and supporting the transition to clean energy, expediting the development of clean hydrogen globally and promoting civil nuclear as a secure use of energy.

The Prime Minister said:

Together the UK and US will ensure the global price of energy and the security of our national supply can never again be manipulated by the whims of a failing regime.

We have the natural resources, industry and innovative thinking we need to create a better, freer system and accelerate the clean energy transition. This partnership will bring down prices for British consumers and help end Europe’s dependence on Russian energy once and for all.

The partnership will build on the work of the UK-US Strategic Energy Dialogue led by energy ministers, with a focus on gas supply, energy efficiency, civil nuclear and clean energy.

On civil nuclear, the partnership will promote nuclear energy as a safe and reliable part of the clean energy transition. This includes deepening global collaboration on nuclear fuels and advanced nuclear technologies.

The partnership will also drive international investment in clean energy technologies, from offshore wind to carbon capture. This will complement the work the UK and US are doing together with G7 partners to support the use of clean and sustainable energy in developing countries through the Just Energy Transition Partnerships.

In tandem with shoring up security of energy supply, the group will exchange best practice and work on measures to increase energy efficiency and reduce demand for gas. It is already estimated that there could be an 8% reduction in demand for gas in the UK this winter. The Joint Action Group will explore policy solutions to enhance this efficiency, building on UK Government initiatives such as the Help to Heat Programme.

The initiative will pursue innovative energy solutions, such as the decarbonisation of the aerospace industry and development of sustainable aviation fuel technologies, collaborative efforts on electric vehicles, and Energy Smart Appliances.

We will also continue our close collaboration on Carbon Capture Usage and Storage, and progress the Clean Hydrogen Mission. The UK and US are already co-leads of the Hydrogen Breakthrough Agenda, a flagship initiative to push forward clean hydrogen internationally.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 December 2022.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier today.

The leaders welcomed the strong partnership and growing economic relationship between the United Kingdom and Türkiye and committed to continue unlocking trade barriers to boost investment and collaboration.

They discussed the situation in Ukraine and the escalating and brutal attacks on civilian infrastructure. The Prime Minister shared his reflections from his recent visit to Kyiv, and they agreed on the importance of maintaining support for Ukrainians as they face a harsh winter ahead.

The Prime Minister offered his condolences for the recent abhorrent terrorist attacks in Türkiye and stressed the UK’s commitment to upholding regional security as bilateral and NATO partners. He reiterated the UK’s backing for the rapid accession of Finland and Sweden to the Alliance, and welcomed Türkiye’s support for the accession plan agreed at the Madrid NATO summit.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 December 2022.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, earlier today.

He congratulated Sheikh Tamim on hosting a successful World Cup, noting the excellent collaboration between the UK and Qatari police and armed forces to ensure a safe event, and said he looked forward to the remainder of the tournament.

The leaders also welcomed the strong trade and investment relationship between the UK and Qatar, built on solid economic foundations. They agreed to continue to develop new opportunities for investment and cooperation in the industries of the future, both bilaterally and through a future GCC trade deal.

They discussed deepening UK-Qatari defence collaboration, highlighting the importance of developing our strategic partnership in the face of global and regional threats, including Russia’s hostile and barbaric invasion of Ukraine.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 December 2022.

The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Paul Thomas, Vicar of the Benefice of St James Paddington, in the Diocese of London, to the Suffragan See of Oswestry, in the Diocese of Lichfield.

Background

Paul was born and raised in West Wales and received a BA in Medieval English from Cardiff University in 1996 and an MA in 1998. He trained for ordained ministry at Ripon College Cuddesdon, and was ordained Deacon in 2002 and Priest in 2003.

Paul served his title at St Mary with Christ Church Wanstead, in the Diocese of Chelmsford, and in 2006 he was appointed Assistant Priest, and later Associate Rector, of St Marylebone in the Diocese of London. In 2008, he was additionally appointed Chaplain at St Marylebone Secondary School and Chaplain to the Royal Academy of Music.

Paul was appointed to his current role as Vicar of St James Paddington in 2011 and additionally served as Area Dean of Paddington from 2016 to 2021. Between 2017 and 2019 Paul also served as Acting Archdeacon of Charing Cross in the Two Cities Area of the Diocese of London.