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Tag: James Cleverly

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Statement at the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Meeting

    James Cleverly – 2022 Statement at the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Meeting

    The statement made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 29 October 2022.

    Madame Chairman, your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    May I start by thanking India, our hosts, and Dr. Jaishankar for his key note speech.

    You are right that countries must do more nationally and internationally to counter the threat of terrorism. The UN and an effective CTC, both have a significant role to play in this endeavour.

    Just outside my office in London is an elegant memorial to those to those who were killed in the Bali bombing of 2002. 202 victims that came from more than 20 countries, including 23 from the UK.

    When terrorists struck London in 2005, one of the 52 people they murdered was 37 year old Neetu Jain, a biochemist graduate, who was born in Delhi.

    And the victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, who we honoured yesterday, came from every continent.

    Terrorism is a global problem, and a global threat, so I am incredibly grateful for Foreign Minister Jaishankar for using India’s Security Council Presidency to focus on this crucial issue, and advance his 8 point plan.

    The UK’s partnership with India is hugely important to me. And I’m pleased to be taking forward our CT cooperation this weekend. But let me now turn to the technological advances which offer terrorists new opportunities that we must counteract.

    Within the space of just two decades, terrorists have gone from circulating crackly voice recordings from the depths of Tora Bora, to global online recruitment and incitement campaigns, to live-stream attacks. And online incitement and racialisation of vulnerable people in far off countries, who have then gone on to use simple rental vans as weapons of terror. So we must continue to work together to fight terrorist ideologies online.

    In 2015 we set up the Counter Daesh Communication Cell in London, in partnership with the United States of America and the Government of the United Arab Emirates. Together we have worked with governments, civil society and communities to challenge Daesh’s narrative.

    We are also working with the G7 and Global Internet Forum to counter terrorism. And we continue to press tech companies, amongst whom are some of the internet’s biggest players, to crack down ever harder on extremist online content.

    Technologies that advance the online world also powers the real world. But both are open to exploitation. Tech designed with the best intentions can be repurposed for the worst of aims.

    From a garden – our Ambassador’s Garden – in Abu Dhabi, in January of this year, I saw the UAE’s Air Defence System interdict Houthi missiles. And only a few weeks earlier, drones had killed three people in Abu Dhabi. Drones are being used currently to target critical national infrastructure and civilian targets in Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. So from the UAE to Ukraine, unmanned aerial systems from relatively cheap and unsophisticated, to those with military specifications, are used to inflict terror, death and destruction.

    This is why we have sanctioned three Iranian military commanders and one Iranian company involved in the supply of drones and why we must also do more to stop these technologies getting into terrorists’ hands.

    In 2019 the UK government launched our Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy and we are funding new counter-drone technologies.

    And we are working through the Global Counter Terrorism Forum, to ensure we all do more to stop terrorists from misusing drones.

    The internet has also given terrorists groups murky new routes to conceal their finances and sustain their activities. We work with industry and international partners to understand and disrupt terrorist finances, including in Somalia and North Africa. We have made tackling illicit finance a core pillar of our cooperation with international partners like the UAE. And we look forward to India’s ‘No Money For Terrorism Conference’ in November.

    This is vital work. The threat from terrorism has not gone away. We know that a repressive response will only exacerbate the problem.

    And if we are to keep our people safe, we must comply with human rights, and we must continue to work together, and with industry, and all parts of our communities, to discredit the narratives of hate.

    To counter radicalisation. To infiltrate networks. To foil plots. And to starve terrorists of the finances and emerging technologies that they would use to do us harm.

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Comments Changing Support to Rishi Sunak in Conservative Leadership Contest

    James Cleverly – 2022 Comments Changing Support to Rishi Sunak in Conservative Leadership Contest

    The comments made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 24 October 2022.

    We face great challenges at home and abroad.

    I said we needed experience at the top of Government and I stand by that.

    The candidate with the most experience is clearly Rishi Sunak. He can count on my full support as our Prime Minister and I will be voting for him.

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Comments on Boris Johnson Returning as Prime Minister

    James Cleverly – 2022 Comments on Boris Johnson Returning as Prime Minister

    The comments made by James Cleverly, the Conservative MP for Braintree, on Twitter on 23 October 2022.

    The last few weeks show that being PM is tough and no other job in government is quite like it.

    I know Boris [Johnson] has learned lessons from his time in No 10 and will ensure the focus is on the needs of the country from day 1.

    I will be supporting him to return to the role of PM.

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Comments on Sanctions Against Iran

    James Cleverly – 2022 Comments on Sanctions Against Iran

    The comments made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 20 October 2022.

    Later today I will be announcing further sanctions in response to Iran’s supply of drones for use in attacking civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Ukraine. Iran cannot be allowed to violate UN resolutions.

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Comments on Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester

    James Cleverly – 2022 Comments on Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester

    The comments made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 18 October 2022.

    I’ve ordered the summoning of the Chinese Chargé d’Affaires to demand an explanation for the shocking scenes outside the Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester on Sunday.

    Peaceful protest is a fundamental right in the UK and the Chinese Government must respect that.

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Comments on the Dismissal of Kwasi Kwarteng

    James Cleverly – 2022 Comments on the Dismissal of Kwasi Kwarteng

    The comments made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on Twitter on 14 October 2022.

    The PM is right that growing the economy is the best way to secure the UK’s economic stability.

    We will get through this storm. She’s right about that.

    We’ll deliver the high growth, high wage economy that gets Britain moving.

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Statement on the UN General Assembly Vote on Ukraine

    James Cleverly – 2022 Statement on the UN General Assembly Vote on Ukraine

    The statement made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 12 October 2022.

    Today’s UN General Assembly vote is a powerful demonstration of the international community’s widespread condemnation of Russia’s outrageous, illegal attempts to annex the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

    This is an important show of international unity against an aggressor that seeks to destabilise the international norms that protect us all. In the face of President Putin’s unprovoked aggression, 143 nations across the globe have come together in defence of the UN Charter and in solidarity with Ukraine.

    The vote is indisputable evidence of what we have known for some time – Putin stands alone on the international stage and his actions are driving his country further into self-inflicted isolation.

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Speech to Conservative Party Conference

    James Cleverly – 2022 Speech to Conservative Party Conference

    The speech made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, in Birmingham on 4 October 2022.

    Thank you Conference.

    It’s great be back together,

    As a party.

    As a family.

    Big thank you to Jake Berry our chairman

    Organising conference is a mammoth task.

    And a big thank you our party staff, our volunteers,

    And you, the members.

    I loved being party chairman,

    working with you all, with Ben my co-chairman,

    And working alongside Boris.

    And if I remember rightly we did alright.

    an 80-seat majority –

    A great team of new MPs from all over our great country –

    And Boris’s leadership:

    …Delivered Brexit…

    …Got us through the Covid…

    …And he led the world in support for Ukraine.

    It’s a legacy that we should be proud of.

    And I was proud to serve under him.

    It’s a legacy that Liz Truss will build on.

    I’ve seen her take bold action as Foreign Secretary:

    …her steadfast support for Ukraine and standing up to Russia…

    …her passionate defence of our Union…

    …her determination to promote democracy and freedom around the world.

    As Prime Minister she is also being bold.

    …helping with energy bills…

    …ensuring you can see your doctor promptly…

    Reducing the taxes paid by ordinary, hardworking people across the country.

    I backed her from the start:

    And I know I made the right choice.

    I’m the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

    Wow, that still sounds strange!

    It is an honour to be the face and voice of our country overseas.

    I’m the UK’s sales guy.

    I’m pretty good at sales, it was how I paid my bills.

    But I know that the greatest salesperson that the UK ever had was her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

    Our greatest diplomat

    Our greatest advocate

    Our greatest champion

    Elizabeth the Great.

    I’ve had the honour of meeting King Charles,

    and I know he will work tirelessly and to continue her work…

    and be our new chief ambassador.

    During the funeral week of her late Majesty

    I was reminded of the standing that our country has in the world.

    When I travel on behalf of our country,

    I am lucky enough to see the UK as others see us.

    And I can tell you the view of here, from over there is really, really good.

    It’s not a terribly fashionable thing…

    To be proud of your country…

    But I am –

    So sue me!!!

    My mother chose to make this country her home.

    She was a young woman from Sierra Leone who adored this country then,

    Just as I adore this country now.

    In fact,

    I am from immigrant stock on both sides of my family:

    My mum came here from West Africa in 1966

    And my dad’s family came here from Normandy in 1066.

    There will always be people that talk our country down…

    Belittle our achievements…

    Underestimate our standing…

    Those self-loathing keyboard warriors…

    Who hate our country’s every success…

    And pray for bad news.

    Those people who aren’t happy until they’re unhappy:

    They want to stand on the side-lines,

    Never contributing,

    Only moaning and bleating.

    But that isn’t us;

    That isn’t this party;

    That isn’t this government;

    That isn’t this country.

    We aren’t commentators watching the match,

    And saying “Ohhhhh I wouldn’t have done that”.

    We are players on the pitch…

    Making a difference…

    Promoting our values…

    Competing on the world stage for what we believe is right.

    And we believe in freedom.

    We believe in the rule of law.

    We believe that an aggressor cannot invade its neighbour with impunity.

    This is why we stand shoulder to shoulder with those brave Ukrainians defending their homeland.

    And Britain has the strategic endurance to see this through to their victory.

    Back in February this year, at the United Nations I said that if Putin was foolish enough to attempt to invade Ukraine,

    The Ukrainians would defend their country ferociously.

    And they have done just that.

    Their bravery and passion has been amplified by the arms and training that we, the UK, have supplied.

    We will support them until this war is won.

    We will support them until their sovereignty is restored.

    We will support them until the last Russian tank is dragged away by a Ukrainian tractor.

    We need to have the strategic endurance to see this through to the end.

    Because, if we don’t…

    we send a message to every potential aggressor that our resolve is fragile.

    We cannot, must not, will not send that message to the world.

    And if you happen to be listening to this speech, Mr Putin, Mr Lavrov:

    Let me be clear:

    We will never recognise the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, or Crimea.

    They are Ukraine.

    And when Ukraine has won this war,

    – And it will –

    then we will support them as they rebuild their homes, their economy, and their society.

    We will work with our friends and allies around the world to hold the perpetrators to account.

    To punish those who use rape as a weapon of war;

    To punish those who knowingly target civilian infrastructure;

    To punish those who murder women and children

    We do not do this alone.

    We are a member of many international groups:

    The commonwealth, NATO, UN Security Council, AUKAS, the G7, the G20.

    We intend to build more alliances, friendships and partnerships around the globe.

    It’s why we have ambassadors, high commissioners, and diplomats in hundreds of locations.

    It’s why I and my fantastic team of ministers travel the world.

    Trust me, it isn’t to stock up on those giant Toblerones.

    When there is war, our work on the international stage is visible and obvious:

    Building coalitions of condemnation at the UN for example,

    Coordinating sanctions against those who facilitate the war,

    Working to ensure the exports of food and fertiliser from the Black Sea ports.

    But much of what the FCDO does is less visible,

    But no less important

    I have just returned from a series of meetings in East and South East Asia.

    I paid my respects at the funeral of Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

    Then I went to the Republic of Korea;

    And then to Singapore;

    In each country I met with senior ministers;

    met a number of international business people…

    I set out the details of our Indo-Pacific tilt.

    It’s a part of the world which is growing fast.

    And through trade agreements, cooperation agreements, and our ASEAN dialogue partner status,

    We are shrinking the distance between us.

    I spoke about the opportunities that at available to us all.

    And, of course, I spoke about the role that China plays in the region and globally.

    I made our position clear:

    That China could and should take a different path;

    That it should adhere to the rules and norms of the international community;

    And it should stop persecuting its people at home and stop sanctioning my friends and colleagues in parliament.

    And while I was on the other side of the world,

    FCDO ministers were in the USA, in European capitals, in Africa,

    And a number of my ministers are overseas as I speak.

    Because we have to invest in our international relationships.

    Patient, but effective diplomacy:

    We invest time,

    We invest energy,

    And yes, we invest money.

    Because that’s how we generate influence on the world stage

    And that’s how we drive improvements in the lives of people overseas,

    And how we improve the lives of people here in the UK.

    The development money that we spend,

    Our overseas development assistance or “ODA”:

    It helps women and children brutalised by conflict,

    It helps prevent starvation,

    We use our expertise in financial services through British Investment Partnerships to amplify the money that we provide to part-fund projects that generate green energy,

    And increase trade…

    And stimulate economic growth in some of the least developed countries.

    We don’t just stand idly by and watch problems happen:

    We step in to improve things,

    Not passive, but active.

    It is the right thing to do, it helps people that need our help.

    And it also helps us at home.

    Because safe, secure and prosperous countries don’t generate refugees or hundreds of thousands of economic migrants;

    Safe, secure and prosperous countries don’t export terrorism;

    Safe, secure and prosperous countries are good trade partners for us;

    So obviously we want to see more safe, secure and prosperous countries.

    That is the active role that our ODA plays.

    But just because we look to build peace and prosperity in distant places,

    we mustn’t forget the need to build prosperity closer to home.

    A good diplomatic and economic relationship with the EU and its member states is good for us all:

    we’ve worked closely on sanctions against Russians who have enabled the war in Ukraine.

    I want to see more cooperation across the channel and across the Irish Sea,

    And addressing the current problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol is key to that.

    I want to ensure that we restore the integrity of the UK internal market,

    I want to protect North/South trade,

    and restore the balance of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, which has been disrupted by the protocol.

    I want to see all the communities in Northern Ireland represented again in the Stormont executive,

    So that devolved government is re-established.

    I will work hard to get that.

    Last week I spoke to the EU’s lead negotiator Vice President Maroš Šefčovič.

    We agreed on our desire to reach a solution that works for all parts of the UK, especially the people of Northern Ireland;

    We have the Northern Ireland Protocol bill working its way through parliament.

    In the meantime, we continue to pursue a negotiated settlement which respects the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom and our single market,

    and supports the institutions of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

    As you can see my great ministers Vicky Ford, Jesse Norman, Leo Doherty, Zac Goldsmith, Tariq Ahmad, and Gillian Keegan and I have plenty to keep us busy.

    But it is a job worth doing.

    Promoting global Britain on the world stage

    And I speak for the ministers and the civil servants and diplomats in the FCDO when I say:

    It is an honour to represent the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

    It is a great country

    A country I am proud of

    A country I love

    Thank you.

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Statement on Peace in Yemen

    James Cleverly – 2022 Statement on Peace in Yemen

    The statement made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 1 October 2022.

    Yemen must not return to conflict. The truce expires tomorrow, but the Houthis continue to endanger the talks and deny Yemenis a peaceful future.

    The truce has brought tangible benefits to both Yemenis and regional security and we welcome the Government of Yemen’s commitment to extend it further if an extension can be agreed.

    We call on the Houthis to engage constructively with UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg’s efforts to broker an extension to the truce, so that serious dialogue about achieving a peaceful, inclusive and Yemeni-led future can take place.

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Comments on Latest Sanctions Against Russia

    James Cleverly – 2022 Comments on Latest Sanctions Against Russia

    The comments made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 30 September 2022.

    The UK utterly condemns Putin’s announcement of the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory. We will never recognise the results of these sham referendums or any annexation of Ukrainian territory.

    The Russian regime must be held to account for this abhorrent violation of international law. That’s why we are working with our international partners to ramp up the economic pressure through new targeted services bans.

    What happens in Ukraine matters to us all, and the UK will do everything possible to assist their fight for freedom.