Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary orders review into political activism in police [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 2 September 2023.

Inspectorate commissioned to look at police impartiality in landmark review.

The Home Secretary has commissioned a review into activism and impartiality in the police.

In a letter to policing leaders, Suella Braverman set out her expectation that the police should focus on tackling crime, rather than being involved in political matters, and her intention to continue working with policing leaders to ensure that forces’ time is always spent on the public’s priorities.

The Home Secretary has commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to undertake a review of the extent to which involvement in such activities may be impacting on the effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy of operational policing in England and Wales by influencing policing policy, priorities and practice.

The policing model in England and Wales, ensures that the police should, at all times, adopt a position of political neutrality.

In her letter to police chiefs, the Home Secretary praised forces for the hard work and dedication that they display every day, noting the extraordinary levels of bravery and commitment officers up and down the country show.

However, she highlighted cases where she believes public confidence had been damaged by police engaging in contentious issues. This includes policing gender-critical views on social media, conduct at political marches and officers taking the knee.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

The British people expect their police to focus on cutting crime and protecting communities – political activism does not keep people safe, solve crimes or support victims, but can damage public confidence.

The review I’ve commissioned will explore whether the police getting involved in politically contentious matters is having a detrimental impact on policing. I will leave no stone unturned in ensuring policing acts for the benefit of the British public.

The HMICFRS review has been asked to cover:
- policies and processes that go further than, or contravene, obligations set out in the Equality Act 2010, and how those impact operational decision making
- the quality and neutrality of associated training provided to implement such policies and processes, and by which organisation(s) this is delivered
- the selection process for groups that are consulted on revisions to policy or process, how decisions are made on which policies and processes are selected for amendment, how the views expressed by those groups are balanced against others, and what consideration is given to other groups that may be impacted as a result
- the involvement of staff networks in the development of policies and processes, and the use of police resources and time dedicated to such networks and whether they are involved in contested political matters
- communications with the public on these issues, including social media
The Home Secretary has requested that the report is published by the end of March 2024, and is part of her drive to see more common sense policing that will see police spending their time wisely and getting the basics right.

The review is part of a series of measures announced by the Home Secretary to ensure the police are acting on the British people’s priorities, by giving them the resource they need and freeing up officers’ time.

This includes reforming Home Office Counting Rules for crime to reduce back-office paperwork, rolling out nationally Right Care, Right Person so police are not attending as many mental health callouts and recruiting 20,000 additional police officers through the Police Uplift Programme, meaning England and Wales now has record numbers of officers.
September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Consultation launched into unregulated cosmetic procedures [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 2 September 2023.

People and businesses are invited to share their views on how to make non-surgical cosmetic procedures safer as thousands complain of ‘botched’ procedures.
Government to seek views on how to make non-surgical cosmetic procedures safer for consumers

Calls for views from industry and people who have undergone these procedures will be used to shape regulations

Proposals considered include restrictions on who can perform certain high-risk procedures and age limits for those undergoing cosmetic procedures

People and businesses are being invited to share their views on how to make non-surgical cosmetic procedures – including Botox, laser hair removal and dermal fillers – safer as thousands complain of ‘botched’ procedures.

The government’s first-ever consultation on treatments – also known as aesthetic procedures – will be used to shape a new licensing scheme for practitioners and cosmetic businesses which operate in England. This could include age limits and restrictions for high-risk procedures, including those involving injecting fillers into intimate parts of the body – including the breasts and buttocks.

Any new licensing scheme would protect patients from potential harm associated with poorly performed procedures. This will provide reassurance to people that wherever they go to get their treatments, they will receive the same high standards of practice.

The beauty industry is hugely important for the UK economy and is largely made up of female-owned, small and medium sized businesses, with the non-surgical cosmetic industry previously being valued at an estimated £3.6 billion in the UK.

New regulations will support businesses by introducing high standards across the sector, raising the reputation and professionalism of the industry.

Minister for the Women’s Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield said:

Whether it’s Botox, dermal fillers or even a chemical peel, we have heard too many stories of people who’ve had bad experiences from getting a cosmetic procedure from someone who is inexperienced or underqualified.

There’s no doubt that the popularity of cosmetic procedures is increasing, so it’s our role to ensure consistent standards for consumers and a level playing field for businesses and practitioners.

We want to make sure we get this right for everyone, which is why we want to hear your opinions and experiences through our new consultation.

An estimated 900,000 Botox injections are carried out in the UK each year. Save Face – a government approved register of accredited practitioners – received almost 3,000 complaints in 2022, with over two-thirds of those complaints relating to dermal fillers and almost a quarter relating to Botox.

Ashton Collins, Director, Save Face said:

Whilst we appreciate that we are still at very early stages of any potential licensing scheme being implemented in England, we are delighted to have been invited by the government to contribute our thoughts and ideas ahead of the release of this public consultation.

Being involved in the process has enabled Save Face to actively contribute to roundtable discussions with ministers, policy makers and key stakeholders.

As the largest and longest established Professional Standards Authority accredited register, we are able to provide a unique level of insight based on 10 years of gathering data from practitioner and clinic audits as well as patient reported complaints, adverse reactions, and complications.

This will enable us to help develop a fit for purpose scheme that has public safety as its primary focus. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the government and key stakeholders during the next stages of the process.

Professor David Sines CBE, Chair of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners, said:

I warmly welcome the government’s decision to consult on this new, proposed licensing scheme. It will help to ensure that people who undergo non-surgical cosmetic procedures receive treatment from practitioners who are properly trained and qualified, have the necessary insurance cover and operate from premises that are safe and hygienic.

I would urge everybody to seize the opportunity provided by this consultation and support the move towards sensible and proportionate regulation in this important sector.

Victoria Brownlie, Chief Policy Officer at the British Beauty Council:

Since its inception, the British Beauty Council has been working to raise the reputation of the beauty industry and we see greater checks and balances around aesthetic procedures as a key part of this. Having worked with the government to achieve the ban on injectables for under 18s in 2021, we are delighted that they have continued this momentum with the commitment to introduce a licensing scheme covering a raft of higher-risk aesthetic treatments, many of which are largely unregulated.

Those seeking treatments deserve to do so with confidence that their practitioner is properly qualified in the service they’re offering, to the appropriate level of government approved educational standards. The Council has worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to get to this point, so we look forward to seeing the outcome of the consultation and helping to shape the regulatory framework as it progresses.

The consultation will run for 8 weeks and will close on Saturday 28 October 2023.

It follows the passing of the Health and Care Act in April 2022, which gave the Health and Social Care Secretary the power to introduce a licensing regime.

Under the proposed scheme, which will be operated by local authorities in England, practitioners will need to be licensed to perform specific procedures, and the premises from which they operate will also need to be licensed.

The government has already made it illegal for under 18s to access Botox and filler treatments for cosmetic purposes and banned TV and social media adverts targeting under 18s with cosmetic procedures.

Anyone considering a cosmetic procedure should reflect fully on the possible impact of the procedure on both their physical and mental health and, if they decide to go ahead, take the time to find a reputable, insured and qualified practitioner.
September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : United Kingdom Minister David Rutley MP visits Belize [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 September 2023.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Minister for the Americas and Caribbean visits Belize.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Minister for the Americas & the Caribbean, David Rutley MP, will arrive in Belize on 4 September 2023. This visit underlines the strong bilateral ties and values shared by Belize and the United Kingdom.

During his visit, Minister Rutley will meet the Prime Minister of Belize, Honourable John Briceño, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration, Honourable Eamon Courtenay.

The Minister will also visit BATSUB (British Army Training Support Unit Belize) to see their jungle training and attend meetings with civil society to discuss gender, women and girls and climate.

The Minister’s visit will culminate with Coastal Plain Highway, where he will see the recently completed climate-resilient infrastructure supported by the UK, through UKCIF (UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund) funding.

Acting High Commissioner to Belize, Kate Reynolds, welcomes the Minister’s visit and stated:

I am delighted to welcome Minister Rutley on his first visit to Belize, where he will be engaging with some of our partners as we continue the work towards shared goals on climate change, protection of biodiversity, security, gender and investment.

September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Statement following Transport Secretary’s latest meeting with aviation industry on air traffic control disruption [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 1 September 2023.

Transport Secretary meets with aviation industry ahead of next week’s NATS report into air traffic control failure.

This afternoon (1 September 2023), the Transport Secretary Mark Harper chaired another meeting regarding Monday’s air traffic control failure with NATS, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), airlines, airports, trade bodies and Border Force.

He thanked the sector for their work to get operations back to normal and fly affected passengers to their destinations following the incident.

He noted the failure came during one of the busiest weeks of the year for aviation and that airlines have taken every step possible to increase capacity where possible, including adding extra flights and putting on larger aircraft.

Speaking after the meeting, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

Airlines have reported that most customers affected by Monday’s air traffic control failure have reached their destinations and I’m grateful for the steps taken by the industry to help make this happen. The government continues to support those efforts in any way we can.

On Monday, the Civil Aviation Authority will receive NATS’ initial report into the incident, which the Aviation Minister and I will study with interest. Any next steps will be set out after the initial findings are published later in the week.

All parties are working hard to understand the incident and make sure passengers don’t face this kind of disruption again, and I will be supporting them in this effort.

NATS is currently undertaking a preliminary investigation into the technical failure. In line with the established regulatory processes, a report will be sent to the CAA on 4 September 2023 and shared with the Secretary of State for Transport shortly afterwards. The findings will be published by the CAA later in the week.

September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Communities urged to apply for funding to save local institutions [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on 1 September 2023.

Community Ownership Fund opens again for applications, giving local people the chance to seize back control of prized community assets.

Pubs, community halls, gardens, sports clubs and other treasured locations across the UK can benefit from up to £2 million in government funding each through the Community Ownership Fund, which is open again for applications.

The fund gives local people the chance to save prized community assets that are at risk of being lost forever, and keep them open for future generations to enjoy.

To encourage as many applications as possible and make the process easier, the money available for applicants has doubled to £2 million, and the amount organisations need to match fund has decreased from 50% to 20%.

Minister for Levelling Up Dehenna Davison said:

We want to ensure that the community institutions which are a vital part of our social fabric, like pubs and sports clubs, can continue to play a central role in towns and villages across the UK.

By doubling the funding that organisations can receive, we are giving communities better opportunities and safeguarding the incredible local assets that are at their heart.

The Department for Levelling Up’s £150 million fund has already helped 150 community assets get back on their feet since it launched in July 2021. Recently, Bury FC played their first game since 2019 at the historic Gigg Lane stadium after fans were given £1m from a previous funding round to help them buy the ground.

Another project which benefited from £240,000 investment from the fund is Zion Bristol, a community hub that provides spaces for local people to meet and for groups to deliver vital services such as mental health and dementia support groups. Since receiving funding, the centre has been bought by a group of local residents, and now has seven paid staff members as well as a group of dedicated volunteers.

Emma Moore, Zion Bristol Centre Manager, said:

We’re proof that you can save an asset. We’re an area where things are always being taken away and not being replaced.

It’s a big boost for the local community that we can affect change and save assets – it’s an empowering thing.

So far, the Community Ownership Fund has awarded £36.9m to projects across the UK, with £25.5m allocated to 97 projects across England, £5.2m allocated to 24 projects in Scotland, £3.2m to 15 projects in Wales and £3m to 14 projects in Northern Ireland.

Applications for the latest window are open until 11.59am on 11 October 2023.

September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Grant Shapps appointed as new Defence Secretary [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 1 September 2023.

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps has been appointed Secretary of State for Defence by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

It’s a huge honour to be appointed as Defence Secretary. I pay tribute to my predecessor, Ben Wallace. His steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine is matched only by his ongoing commitment to our own brave armed forces, and their families.

I look forward to continuing the government’s unwavering support to Ukrainians at this important time for European and global security, and working with our armed forces who closely defend our nation’s security.

Permanent Secretary David Williams said:

On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, I was pleased to extend a warm welcome to our new Secretary of State for Defence, Grant Shapps MP. He brings extensive knowledge and experience from his previous Cabinet roles, including as a Foreign Office Minister, and most recently the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, and from his membership of the National Security Council.

The department and I look forward to working with the new Defence Secretary on his priorities for defence as we uphold our commitment to protecting our nation and contributing to its prosperity.

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said:

I welcome our new Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. My message to him is that the nation is safe thanks to the extraordinary commitment of our servicemen and women, and our place within NATO, the world’s largest and strongest defensive alliance.

This Coronation year has demonstrated how much the Armed Forces contribute to our nation, and we are ready to do more. I look forward to working with the Secretary of State to both learn and implement the lessons from Ukraine, and to continue our journey to become more lethal, faster at deploying, and to embrace technology at scale.

The biography for Grant Shapps can be found on gov.uk here.

September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £15 million funding to strengthen health workforce in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 September 2023.

UK delivers multi-million pound boost in Africa to strengthen health workforce and build resilience against global threats.
£15 million from government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget allocated to support healthcare workforces in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana

Funding will help upskill staff and improve health outcomes through improved administration, data collection, and training and retention opportunities

Supporting a strong international health workforce better equips UK to tackle global health challenges

The UK will provide a multi-million pound boost to support healthcare staff recruitment and retention in 3 African countries – Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana – supporting resilience against global health challenges.

Fifteen million pounds from the ring-fenced Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget for 2022 to 2025 will be committed to optimise, build and strengthen the health workforce in the 3 African countries. Recognising the importance of the health workforce in lower and middle-income countries in improving health outcomes and achieving universal health coverage, the funding will give people in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana access to the full range of health services they need, when they need it.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the need for the UK to co-operate closely with international partners to tackle global health threats, which put considerable pressure on the NHS. The pandemic also resulted in workforce retention pressures around the world, while the demand for healthcare staff has increased. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a shortage of 10 million health workers globally by 2030, which threatens achieving global universal health coverage and could worsen worldwide health inequalities.

Addressing critical workforce challenges is key to strengthening health systems and building global resilience against future pandemics so people across the world – including in the UK – can be protected.

Health Minister Will Quince said:

Highly skilled, resilient staff are the backbone of a strong health service, so I’m delighted we can support the training, recruitment and retention of skilled health workforces in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

This funding aims to make a real difference in strengthening the performance of health systems in each of the participating countries, which will have a knock-on effect on boosting global pandemic preparedness and reducing health inequalities.

The pandemic showed us that patients in the UK are not safe unless the world as a whole is resilient against health threats, and this will help us in delivering on that ambition.

Six million pounds from the ODA funding pledge will support WHO to deliver health workforce planning and capacity-building work – such as improved administration systems, and training and retention opportunities – in collaboration with local governments and health system stakeholders.

As part of this package, the Department of Health and Social Care will also run a £9 million 2-year competitive grant scheme for a not-for-profit organisation to co-ordinate delivery of partnership work in participating countries.

The partnership programmes for the health workforce include linking UK institutions with local health systems, promoting skills exchanges, and improving the curriculum, regulation and guidance in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

The delivery co-ordinator will be responsible for setting up, funding and overseeing this work to drive improvement in quality and retention of healthcare staff in the 3 countries, and ultimately help to ensure better outcomes for patients.

The funding builds on £5 million previously committed as part of the Building the Future International Workforce ODA programme in Ghana, Uganda and Somaliland, which aims to improve health workforce planning and management, provide training opportunities for refugees and displaced people, and link NHS institutions with country health institutions.

Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana were chosen for the ODA award as they showed a clear need for workforce support, evidenced by high population mortality rates and low staff numbers, as well as unemployment among their trained health workers.

Update 1 September 2023

As part of the £15 million Global Health Workforce Programme announced on 19 May 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care ran a £9 million 2-year competitive grant scheme for a not-for-profit organisation to co-ordinate delivery of partnership work in participating countries.

The partnership programmes for the health workforce include linking UK institutions with local health systems, promoting skills exchanges, and improving the curriculum, regulation and guidance in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

The grant competition closed on 23 June 2023, and 3 applications were received and assessed. The Department of Health and Social Care is pleased to announce that the grant has been awarded to the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET).

The Tropical Health and Education Trust will be responsible for setting up, funding and overseeing this partnership work to drive improvement in quality and retention of healthcare staff in the 3 countries, and ultimately help to ensure better outcomes for patients.

About the Tropical Health and Education Trust

THET is a global health organisation with a vision of a world where everyone has access to healthcare. For 35 years, it has been working to achieve this by training and educating health workers in Africa and Asia in partnership with organisations and volunteers from across the UK.

Founded in 1988 by Professor Sir Eldryd Parry, it is the only UK charity with this focus. From reducing maternal deaths in Uganda to improving the quality of hospital care for injured children in Myanmar, they work to strengthen local health systems and build a healthier future for all. In the past 10 years alone, THET has reached over 100,000 health workers across 31 countries in Africa and Asia in partnership with over 130 UK institutions.

For more information, visit the THET website.
September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Lord Chancellor calls on graduates to become prison officers [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 September 2023.

More than 750 graduates have now swapped university halls for prison walls as demand for the Unlocked Graduates scheme reached new heights.
- demand for prison officer graduate scheme soars
- 750 graduates recruited through Unlocked Graduate scheme
- Lord Chancellor met new recruits as largest ever recruitment drive gets underway
Unlocked Graduates, which encourages the best and brightest university leavers to become prison officers, is now receiving 30 applications per place on average. Since the scheme launched in 2016, successful candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds have worked with 20,000 prisoners in 37 prisons across England and Wales.

Speaking at the Summer Institute event for trainees at Leeds Trinity University on Tuesday (29 August 2023), the Lord Chancellor, Alex Chalk, thanked new officers for their hard work which will help protect the public and drive down the £18 billion a year cost of reoffending.

The rise in applications is in part due to the positive reputation of the programme – 100 per cent of participants who complete feedback surveys rated the training as good or above and 100 per cent of Governors that Unlocked work with want another cohort.

Earlier this month new statistics showed the overall number of prison officers has increased by 700 since June last year. They will join up to 5,000 extra officers in private and public prisons by the mid-2020s being recruited through the Prison Service’s largest ever recruitment drive and a major campaign beginning later this year.

The campaign comes on top of a recent 7% pay rise for frontline officers to reward current staff for their vital work. The increase adds to a major boost in starting salaries in recent years, which now stands at £30,902 compared to £22,293 in 2019.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk KC, said:

Becoming a prison officer is a hugely important and rewarding career, protecting the public and changing lives for the better.

It is encouraging to see so much talent joining our prison service, and we will build on this by continuing to improve pay and by launching our largest ever recruitment drive.

A brand-new cohort of more than 100 aspiring prison officers attended the event marking the end of a 6 week intensive training programme, preparing them for their first day on the prison wings. This is the first step of a wider two-year Graduate Development Programme.

When they arrive on prison landings the recruits will be doing more than just ensuring safety and security, many will support prisoners into employment which is vital in breaking the cycle of crime. Thanks in part to the hard work of prison staff, the number of ex-offenders who have been successfully steered into jobs within 6 months post release has more than doubled from 14% to 30% since April 2021.

As a result of programmes such as Unlocked Graduates, being a prison officer is an attractive graduate profession in the UK alongside more traditional careers such as teaching or law.

Natasha Porter OBE, Founder and CEO of Unlocked Graduates, said:

Since 2017, Unlocked Graduates has recruited, trained and supported over 750 high-flying graduates to become prison officers relentlessly focused on reducing reoffending.

High quality prisons with excellent prison officers make our streets and society safer. We want to make sure the best people join the prison service. Through our graduate programme, top talent can develop incredible leadership skills while working to reduce crime. It’s fantastic to see so many people are competing for a place on Unlocked Graduates, and I continue to be very excited about the impact the incredible people who join our programme are able to have. We can only achieve this level of success thanks to the support of the Ministry of Justice, and we are hugely grateful to the Lord Chancellor for visiting our training.

Former Unlocked Graduate Kat Gartland added:

Before I came across Unlocked, I’d never considered a career in the prison service. Now, I can’t see myself doing anything else.

Every day I know I am contributing towards breaking cycles of reoffending and helping those in my care. Applying for Unlocked Graduates was the best decision I’ve made – I got the chance to develop as a leader from day one, alongside a master’s and lifelong friends. I’d encourage everyone to apply.

Participants in the programme are supported and developed through intensive mentoring and a programme of study that results in a Master’s degree. They complete this while taking on the full duties of a frontline Band 3 Prison Officer. Graduates also have the opportunity to input into policy and create lasting change across prisons.

To learn more about the Unlocked Graduates scheme and apply, visit Unlocked Graduates (unlockedgrads.org.uk). For wider information on the role of a prison officer, go to https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/prison-officer.
September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Victoria Borwick appointed as Chair of VisitEngland Advisory Board [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 1 September 2023.

The Secretary of State has appointed Victoria Borwick as Chair of VisitEngland Advisory Board for a term of five years commencing 04 September 2023.

Victoria Borwick

Appointed from 04 September 2023 until 03 September 2028.

Following 20 years of commercial experience in the events and conference business, managing a division of the P&O group and attracting investment into the UK, Victoria Borwick had a political career building a network of connections across Westminster.

Victoria served as a local Councillor, Member of the Greater London Assembly (GLA), and Member of Parliament. Victoria worked with the Metropolitan Police and chaired their review into Public Order Policing and worked with Transport for London on improving transport accessibility. At the GLA, Victoria was Chairman of Health and Public Services, and represented the GLA on the London Health Commission.

Whilst at the GLA, Victoria served as the Statutory Deputy Mayor of London, delivering the agenda and promoting London and the Olympic games in 2012, which were held in 28 venues across the UK. Victoria has led on policy development, budgetary scrutiny, and community relations. Victoria was also a “GamesMaker” during the 2012 Olympic games.

Victoria’s love of heritage enabled her to be elected chairman of the British Antique Dealers Association for their 100-year anniversary. Victoria is Vice President of the River Thames Society and Chairman of the Thames Estuary Partnership a charity that conserves the natural heritage of the tidal Estuary, working in conjunction with the Environment Agency and Natural England. The Thames Estuary Partnership is working with stakeholders including the PLA, the GLA and riparian authorities on the Thames Estuary Strategy, to take into account all the opportunities along the tidal estuary.

For the last 5 years, Victoria has been delivering the Cherry Blossom Planting project which fulfils a MOU between Japan and UK to plant cherry blossom trees across the United Kingdom. Victoria has travelled throughout Britain and planted over 7,500 trees to date.

Recently, Victoria was working with a major utility company on regulatory affairs, stakeholder engagement and improving customer services.

Remuneration and Governance Code

The Chair of the VisitEngland Advisory Board is remunerated £345 per day. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Victoria Borwick declared that she previously was an elected local Councillor, Greater London Assembly Member and Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party. She has previously canvassed prior to elections and has not stood for or obtained any political office since 2017. She remains an ex officio Vice President of her local Conservative Association, in recognition of her role as a former Member of Parliament.

September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Joint outcome statement – UK-India round twelve of FTA negotiations [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 September 2023.

Round twelve of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of India.

A twelfth round of negotiations for the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) took place from the 8-31 August. As with previous rounds, this was conducted in a hybrid fashion – a number of UK officials travelled to Delhi for negotiations and others attended virtually.

On 24-25 August India hosted the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting in Jaipur.

The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade visited India for the meeting and met with the Honourable Minister for Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Piyush Goyal. They took stock of the FTA and agreed ways to progress the negotiations.

The thirteenth round of negotiations is due to take place in September.

September 4, 2023