Tag: News Story

STORY

Angus MacNeil, the MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles), has confirmed on Twitter that he has been expelled from the SNP following a disagreement with the party’s chief whip Brendan O’Hara.

MacNeil said in a statement:

“The Summer of Member Expulsion, has indeed come to pass. As I have been expelled as a rank & file SNP member by a ‘member conduct committee.’ I didn’t leave the SNP – the SNP have left me. I wish they were as bothered about Scottish independence as they are about me!”

MacNeil had been the SNP MP for the constituency since 2005 and in 2019 he secured a majority of 2,438 over the Labour Party.

RESOURCES

Speeches by Angus MacNeil

Na h-Eileanan an Iar

STORY

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, has called for the rebuilding of the Crooked House pub in Himley following its surprise demolition. The building caught fire just days after it was taken over by new owners, with allegations that the access road to the property was blocked to prevent the fire brigade from being able to tackle the blaze.

Street said in a letter to Roger Lees, the Leader of South Staffordshire Council:

“We ask that you consider ensuring the property is rebuilt brick by brick (using as much original material as possible) before any further discussions about the future of the site take place.”

The pub had been built in 1765 to be used as a farmhouse, but part of the building sank in the nineteenth century due to coal mining subsidence. It was turned into a pub and was sold earlier this year by Marston’s who said in a statement:

“We are shocked and disappointed to learn about the fire which has caused so much damage to a landmark building which is so well known in the area”.

RESOURCES

Andy Street’s Comments

Andy Street’s Letter to Staffordshire Fire Brigade

STORY

Julie Harrison has been confirmed as the new Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, replacing Madeleine Alessandri who has become the new Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee and Head of the Joint Intelligence Unit.

Chris Heaton-Harris, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said in a statement:

“I am delighted Julie has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary to the Northern Ireland Office. She is an outstanding civil servant, has a passion for the place and will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the post.”

Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, added:

“I would like to congratulate Julie on her appointment. Julie brings a wealth of experience from her time in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and I look forward to working with Julie in her new role as Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office.”

Julie Harrison said of her new role:

“I am looking forward to working with the Secretary of State, the team in the NIO and a wide range of community, business and political voices to create solutions that enable Northern Ireland and the people who live here to prosper.”

RESOURCES

Government Press Release

STORY

Jeffrey Glekin has been appointed to become the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Seychelles, replacing Patrick Lynch who is taking up another role in the Foreign Office. Since 2019, he has held the role of His Majesty’s Ambassador to La Paz and was previously the Head of Mission in Bogota. He will begin his new role in October 2023.

RESOURCES

Foreign Office Press Release

STORY

The Government has called on the Black Sea to become open, saying that Russia’s gestures are inadequate. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, speaking at the UN Security Council on famine, said that the number of people facing acute food insecurity had increased from 193 million to over 250 million in just two years. She criticised recent interventions by Russia, saying:

“The Black Sea Grain Initiative got nearly 33 million tonnes of grain into world markets. Russia’s decision to end the initiative has raised food prices hitting the world’s hungriest people. Russia’s offer to give 50,000 tonnes of grain to each of six countries will not bring grain prices back down, nor help those facing famine in other countries.”

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States and Council President for the month, said that hunger must not be used as a weapon by the Russians. Every member of the United Nations should tell Moscow “enough using the Black Sea as blackmail, enough treating the most vulnerable people as leverage, enough of this unjustified, unconscionable war”.

RESOURCES

Foreign Office Press Release

STORY:

Margaret Ferrier, the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West has lost her Parliamentary seat after 11,896 people in her constituency signed a recall petition to remove her. Ferrier, who broken lockdown rules, was suspended from the SNP in 2020 and she has sat in the House of Commons since as an independent MP. Just under 15% of the 81,124 constituents voted to remove her which will led to a by-election to be held later on in the year. Although Ferrier is allowed to contest the by-election, she said in a statement that she didn’t intend to do so:

“I respect the outcome of the petition. It has been the privilege of my life to serve as the Member of Parliament for Rutherglen & Hamilton West. I have always put my job and my constituents first, and I am disappointed that this will now come to an end. I decided some time ago that I would not stand in the upcoming by-election. This has been a difficult and taxing process that has now come to its conclusion and I do not wish to prolong it further.”

RESOURCES

Speeches by Margaret Ferrier

News Story – Ferrier Suspended from Commons for 30 Days

Rutherglen and Hamilton West

STORY:

The Government has formally acknowledged acts of genocide which were committed by Daesh against the Yazidis in 2014. The decision follows the judgement of a German court where a former Daesh fighter was found guilty of acts of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Lord Ahmed, the Minister for the Middle East, said in a statement:

“The Yazidi population suffered immensely at the hands of Daesh nine years ago and the repercussions are still felt to this day. Justice and accountability are key for those whose lives have been devastated. Today we have made the historic acknowledgement that acts of genocide were committed against the Yazidi people. This determination only strengthens our commitment to ensuring that they receive the compensation owed to them and are able to access meaningful justice.”

RESOURCES:

Government Press Release

STORY

The British Government has said that it is fully supporting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its tough approach to the situation in Niger. The group of African nations has imposed political and economic sanctions on Niger following the military coup earlier in the week which has displaced the democratically elected Government.

Andrew Mitchell, the Foreign Office Minister, said in a statement:

“The UK wholly supports the immediate political and economic measures announced today by ECOWAS and will suspend long-term development assistance to Niger. We will however continue to provide critical humanitarian assistance to the people of Niger. The UK is a committed partner of Niger’s democratically elected government and calls for President Bazoum to be immediately reinstated to restore constitutional order.”

RESOURCES

Government Press Release

Text of ECOWAS Communique

STORY

The Ministry of Justice has said that thirty cases have been broadcast in the first year since filming has been permitted in courts. The first TV broadcast was on 28 July 2022, when the sentencing remarks from the Old Bailey were filmed when capturing the sentencing of Ben Oliver for the manslaughter of his grandfather. Parliament is currently consulting on extending the filming to make the court process more open to the public.

Mike Freer, the Justice Minister, said:

“Today marks one year since this landmark change opened up the Crown Court to television cameras, seeing them broadcast judges’ sentencing remarks for some of the most serious offenders for the first time. It has allowed the public to see justice being done in their courts and to understand the complex decisions judges make, building confidence in the justice system.”

RESOURCES

Ministry of Justice Press Release

STORY

The Government has condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on 24 July and said that they are “in breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions”. The action by North Korea involved two missiles being sent into the sea and is thought to be in retaliation for the US military hardware support for South Korea. A spokesperson for the South Korean Government said that the action was a “grave provocation”.

Joe Biden, the President of the United States, said in May 2023 that “over the past seven decades, our alliance has grown stronger and more capable, and the cooperation between our people, our commitment to one another has grown deeper across every aspect of our partnership”, with 27 July 2023 marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement.

RESOURCES

Foreign Office Press Release