Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : How the Climate Change Act helped the Friends of the Earth hold the government to account [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Friends of the Earth on 17 October 2022.

What’s the Climate Change Act?

The UK’s Climate Change Act became the world’s first national law to require cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and hold the government accountable for these cuts. Under the Act, a scientifically informed, long-term, legally binding target was adopted, to achieve an 80% cut in emissions by 2050. In 2019 this long-term target was revised to the still more ambitious Net Zero target.

Since the pioneering UK Act was passed, there’ve been many new climate laws enacted around the world. The UK can’t claim credit for all of these, but it’s been influential: those in Northern Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and Finland were all closely modelled on the UK Act.

How does the Climate Change Act help us hold government to account?

The Climate Change Act and its implications have never been more important. Despite the chaos in Westminster, we can still make government accountable for its actions. The Act is powerful as it creates a framework in which action can and must be taken by the government.

Most significantly, the Act can be enforced through our court system if government doesn’t comply with its legal duties. This is something we’ve proved through our pioneering Net Zero Strategy legal case. The Climate Change Act may have been established in 2008, but we’re still seeing its benefits today. It’s enabled us to hold government accountable, years later, and has allowed us to carry out vital and successful legal challenges against government’s inaction.

Net Zero Strategy court case win

Alongside ClientEarth and the Good Law Project, we recently took the government to court and won. In a landmark victory, the High Court ruled in July that the UK government’s Net Zero Strategy is unlawful. This strategy is supposed to explain how emissions targets will be achieved, but we argued successfully that it was legally inadequate and didn’t contain sufficient detail. The government sought an appeal, but we’re delighted to confirm that it recently decided not to pursue this after all. That means our win in the High Court stands. Now the government has to revise its strategy and lay out a credible plan for meeting emissions targets.

The Climate Change Act directly enabled this victory. It was this very Act that allowed us to hold the government to account over its Net Zero Strategy. This is the kind of good news we desperately needed while seeing the impact of the climate crisis, through record-breaking heatwaves and fires sweeping across the country and around the world.

A lasting legacy

The journey for climate action can sometimes feel long, but we need to take a step back and celebrate our victories. The Climate Change Act has enabled us to hold government accountable for its climate inaction and win campaigns that have a lasting legacy. The Act has also enabled policy changes across the board, like the government banning the sale of fossil fuel cars beyond 2030. Thanks to a law we campaigned for and succeeded in establishing back in 2008, we’re winning more battles today.

Change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of collective action over many years of sustained campaigning. Our latest Net Zero Strategy win against the UK government can point the way to a more climate-friendly economy and a greener and healthier world for all. This win is proof that our actions can have a big impact, even if you have to wait a while to see it happen.

October 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Statement on Defence Secretary’s call with Russian Defence Minister [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 23 October 2022.

At the request of the Russian Ministry of Defence, the Secretary of State for Defence spoke with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, this afternoon. Minister Shoigu alleged that Ukraine was planning actions facilitated by Western countries, including the UK, to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary refuted these claims and cautioned that such allegations should not be used as a pretext for greater escalation.

The Defence Secretary also reiterated UK and wider international support for Ukraine and desire to de-escalate this conflict. It is for Ukraine and Russia to seek resolution to the war and the UK stands ready to assist.

The Secretary of State observed that both Ministers were professional and respectful on the call.

October 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Cost-of-living crisis [October 2022]
The press release issued by the National Association of Local Councils on 18 October 2022.

With the highest rates of inflation in decades and a collapse in the pound’s value, the UK is facing a cost-of-living crisis that will affect millions of working people across the UK.

The crisis has a disproportionate impact on low-wage households, who spend a larger proportion of their income on fuel and food. According to the Living Wage Foundation ‘Life on Low Pay’ report, there are currently an estimated 4.8m workers earning a wage below the cost of living. 42% of such workers report missing meals regularly due to financial reasons, and 56% report using food banks regularly. During the winter months, many of these workers are facing bleak choices such as whether to ‘heat or eat’.

Why is it important to address the cost-of-living crisis?

We understand that the cost-of-living crisis is having a huge impact on the mental health of workers, which is already estimated to have cost the UK private sector between £53-56bn in 2020-21. Workers under financial pressure are unlikely to perform at their best, and businesses are likely to face reduced productivity, higher turnover and increased training costs.

The government has a primary role in ensuring that people are protected, and they have introduced measures in response to rising energy costs. While these measures (to cap energy prices to £2,500 for a typical household) will make a difference, it should be noted that this is double what the average household bill was in 2020.

Businesses and specifically the largest publicly listed employers, can play an essential role in shielding their lower-paid workforce from the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis.

What are we doing?

For this reason, CCLA and the Church Investors Group have written to the largest publicly listed employers about their response and specifically asking them:
- Whether they have taken any steps to support their lowest-paid employees through this winter, or if they have any plans to be implemented over the next few weeks?
- What proportion of their workforce will be impacted by these activities, and how were they selected for assistance?
- Whether the third-party contracted staff whose principal place of work is one of your premises (such as cleaners, caterers and security guards) eligible for assistance through any ‘cost-of-living’ programme that they offer?
- If they have no plans, why are they not acting on this issue?
We will be summarising their responses on the website. Our intention for this engagement is to encourage large employers to respond and to showcase how businesses are already addressing the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis.
October 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse releases its final report [October 2022]

The press release issued by the NSPCC on 20 October 2022.

94 victims and survivors gave evidence in public hearings. For them, and for all who have experienced sexual abuse, this must be a defining moment for lasting change.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has published its final report and recommendations on how multiple organisations have failed and are continuing to fail to protect children in their care from sexual abuse.

Since 2015, IICSA has held 15 investigations with over 6,000 experiences being shared with the Truth Project and 87 recommendations for change made.

1 in 20 children in the UK has been sexually abused.1 One in three children sexually abused by an adult did not tell anyone at the time.2

IICSA was set up after investigations in 2012 and 2013 into the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal revealed widespread abuse and inadequate safeguarding by institutions and organisations responsible for child welfare.

The role of IICSA was to investigate what went wrong and why, and use its findings to make clear recommendations and prevent failures from happening in future.

In that time information was sought from the NSPCC for nine investigations. These included investigations into residential schools, the internet, religious organisations and child sexual exploitation.

We provided witness statements, helplines data, records searches, briefing papers and results from an FOI request. Our staff gave evidence at public hearings, culminating in Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, giving evidence in December 2020.

IICSA’s findings demonstrate that we need to see a wholesale change in how child sexual abuse is tackled. Reporting matters and responding effectively is crucial. We’re calling for changes that would focus on strengthening:

– prevention (through strong safeguarding policies and procedures in all organisations)
– the recognition of the signs of child sexual abuse
– the knowledge of how to report
– the availability of recovery support services
– the response from child protection agencies.

Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said:

“It would be an utter tragedy if events in Westminster completely overshadowed the report and recommendations from IICSA. This was a chance to show the survivors and victims who broke the silence that we have heard them and that their legacy will be a national mission to prevent child sexual abuse. They deserve nothing less.

“We will soon have a new Prime Minister. They must make this report a defining moment by making sure there is political leadership to translate IICSA’s recommendations into a robust system that truly keeps children safe. They must start by appointing a Cabinet Minister for Children.

“NSPCC analysis shows there were more than 85,000 child sexual abuse reports to police last year. The Government must also bring forward a strengthened a Victim’s Bill that ensures specialist support for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and deliver a robust Online Safety Bill to ensure tech firms design platforms that have child protection designed in as a legal requirement.

“Everyone has a role to play and if you ever have a concern about the wellbeing of a child, please do not hesitate to contact the NSPCC Helpline.”

October 23, 2022
$PRESS RELEASE : Banning fracking means risking freezeouts [October 2022]$

PRESS RELEASE : Banning fracking means risking freezeouts [October 2022]

The press release issued by the IEA on 21 October 2022.

Commenting on the Labour Party’s proposal to ban fracking, Andy Mayer, Energy Analyst at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“Banning fracking means risking freezeouts.

“The UK has more than enough gas under our feet to last 50 to 100 years. Gas currently supports 40 per cent of our power system, 85 per cent of domestic heating and most heavy industry. Without affordable alternatives or storage, fracking remains essential for our energy security, and this will remain true for the next 20-30 years.

“The Opposition’s proposal to ban it means substituting expensive, dirtier imports, and losing any tax revenues from development. It increases the risk of the most vulnerable freezing to death next winter. It destroys a potential source of funding for the low carbon transition and increases the national debt and our exposure to volatile international energy prices.

“Advocating this policy during an energy and debt crisis for short-term advantage in marginal seats with a vocal minority opposed to development of any kind, is exactly the kind of politics that have led to the current mess.”

October 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : IEA Director General responds to the Prime Minister’s resignation [October 2022]

The press release issued by the IEA on 20 October 2022.

Mark Littlewood, Director General at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“I’m very sorry the PM’s efforts to move the U.K. in a pro-growth, low-tax, pro-enterprise direction has failed. She had a difficult hand to play, but she also played the hand badly. However, her successor will face the same problems she did. I hope they share her analysis, but they will also need to display an ability to deliver on serious reform”

October 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Government’s strikes bill unlikely to ward off next round of industrial action [October 2022]

The press release issued by the IEA on 20 October 2022.

Commenting on the introduction of the Transport Strikes Bill, Professor Len Shackleton, labour market expert at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“This Bill has been promised for three years but despite its general intention, it is still unclear how the obligation to provide a minimum service will be determined, how the conflicting needs of different groups of customers will be reconciled and how the plan will be proof against inevitable legal challenges.

“A further period of consultation will take months, if not years, and is likely to fall foul of a general election. This effort appears to be a box ticking exercise to show that at least one government commitment has been met.

“The Department for Transport has form with putting off decisions: it has still not spelt out what shape Great British Railways will take, again something which should have been decided at least two years ago. The main lines of the Williams-Shapps report had been laid out well before it was published.

“This dilatoriness is also found in the Department’s response to the continuing strikes. Even were this Bill magically to achieve its objective in time for the next round of strikes, the public would not be satisfied with a 20 per cent service, no doubt conducted by an uncooperative staff.

“No real attempt is being made to reach a definitive settlement and the government seems content to let industrial action drag on until Christmas. Meanwhile the prospect of achieving an efficient modern railway system worsens by the week, as revenues fall through the floor and more and more customers decide that they can live without trains.”

October 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Bank of England must act urgently to bring inflation down [October 2022]

The press release issued by the IEA on 19 October 2022.

Commenting on the latest ONS inflation data, Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“Double digit inflation in September is what was expected and it will get worse before it gets better. It is particularly concerning to see food and soft drink inflation at nearly 15 per cent.

“In real terms, interest rates are currently at minus eight per cent. The Bank of England keeps saying that it will not hesitate to raise rates and yet it consistently does far too little far too late.

“The two per cent target is laughable. This inflation is clearly not transitory. People will continue to see their salaries and savings eaten away until the Bank of England starts taking it more seriously.”

October 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : IEA Director General responds to Chancellor Hunt’s emergency statement [October 2022]

The press release issued by the IEA on 17 October 2022.

Commenting on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s statement, Mark Littlewood, Director General at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:

“The Energy Price Guarantee was always an unnecessarily expensive programme, representing perhaps the single biggest welfare scheme in British history. As many of us said at the time, it is absurd to subsidise wealthy households to keep heating their swimming pools. A more targeted approach from next year is warmly welcome and will save significant money.

“There is a clear need to improve the government’s fiscal position to calm the gilt markets – it’s disappointing, however, that so much of the heavy lifting will come from higher taxes. The central lesson from this episode is that the government cannot keep living beyond its means.

“The risk of raising taxes is that they put Britain back on the path towards a high tax, low-growth economy. As Goldman Sachs warned yesterday, higher corporate tax rates could deepen any forthcoming recession and ultimately damage the government’s fiscal position.

“The Chancellor has said it was irresponsible to fund tax cuts through debt. However, we must also end the fiction that we can keep funding day-to-day public spending through debt forever more as well. The government may have abandoned much of the central tax elements of their growth strategy, but that makes it even more important to get on with regulatory reform.”

October 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Residents urged to have their say over whether Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils should reduce council tax bills by up to 100% for those on low incomes [October 2022]

The press release issued by Babergh District Council on 13 October 2022.

A public consultation is underway over a plan to cut council tax for the poorest households in Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

The consultation, which runs from October 13 to November 24, asks for views on how the councils should run their Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2023/24, and whether bills should be reduced by up to 100% for working age adults with the lowest incomes.

Proposed changes will simplify the scheme for those on Universal Credit – particularly those with fluctuating monthly earnings – and a transitional protection scheme seeks to ensure that no one will be disadvantaged as a result.

Responses to the consultation will inform a final recommendation to go to the councils’ cabinets ahead of any new scheme being introduced in April 2023. Find out more on the Council Tax page of our website.

October 23, 2022