Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : 42nd Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Argentina [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2023.

The UK’s International Ambassador for Human Rights gave a statement during Argentina’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council.

Thank you, Mr President,

I wish to thank Argentina for its invaluable contribution to the work of this Council through the recent stewardship of H.E. Ambassador Federico Villegas.

The United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of Law 27.610 on the voluntary termination of pregnancy and encourages the Government to pursue its full implementation.

We also commend the current Bill on a comprehensive approach to institutional violence in law enforcement. Accountability mechanisms are essential as we remain concerned by excessive use of force and arbitrary detentions.

We recommend that Argentina:
1. Work across the political spectrum to appoint an ombudsperson and fill other vacant important posts in the justice system without delay;
2. Systematically collect disaggregated data on any cases of human rights violations by law enforcement officials;
3. Strengthen healthcare services at all levels to meet the demand for sexual and reproductive healthcare, including access to abortions, in line with Law 27.610.
Thank you.
January 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : 42nd Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Czech Republic [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2023.

The UK’s International Ambassador for Human Rights gave a statement during the Czech Republic’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council.
Madam President,

The United Kingdom commends the Czech Republic’s longstanding commitment to promoting and protecting human rights including through their Presidency of this Council.

In particular, we welcome the Government’s commitment to address gender-based violence through the 2030 Gender Equality Strategy.

We welcome too its Strategy for Education Policy, and encourage the Government to end segregation for Roma students and consider anti-discrimination training for teachers.

We recommend:

Ratify the Istanbul Convention, and implement it into domestic law.

Amend the legal definition of rape within the criminal code to be based on a lack of consent rather than use of force or threat.

Pass legislation recognising same-sex unions, ensuring same-sex and heterosexual couples enjoy equal rights and freedoms.

Thank you.
January 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK condemns Assad for using chemical weapons in Douma, Syria, in 2018 [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2023.

New report from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirms Assad’s regime responsible for 2018 Douma attack.

The Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, has condemned the Assad regime for its use of chemical weapons following the publication of a report by the OPCW which determined that the Syrian Arab Armed Forces used chlorine as a chemical weapon in an attack on Douma in April 2018.

Minister for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, responded to the report:

Today’s report from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons provides compelling evidence that this heinous chemical weapons attack in Syria was carried out by the Assad regime against its own people.

We share the OPCW’s assessment on Bashar al-Assad and his regime’s culpability and commend their resilience, professionalism and expert independent analysis in the face of desperate attempts by Syria and Russia to block this investigation.

We remember the victims of the Douma attack and remain committed to pursuing the justice they deserve. We are steadfast in our commitment to holding all those who use chemical weapons to account.

This is the third report by the OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) into chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Following a lengthy and meticulous investigation and despite Syria’s attempts to block investigation, the OPCW report has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Syrian Arab Air Forces were the perpetrators of the chemical weapons attack on 7 April 2018 in Douma, Syrian Arab Republic.

Previous reports from the IIT had found the Assad regime responsible for carrying out three separate attacks with sarin and chlorine in Ltamenah in March 2017 and using chlorine in Saraqib in February 2018. Both are prohibited under international law.

The United Kingdom is determined to identify those responsible for chemical weapons attacks and hold them to account. Following the attack in 2018, the UK and allies identified that a significant body of information indicated the Syrian regime’s responsibility for the attack.

The UK, France and the US also carried out a limited and targeted strike to degrade and deter the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. We are clear that we will not allow the use of chemical weapons to be normalised and remain firm in our resolve to respond appropriately.

The OPCW’s meticulous investigations have now confirmed the UK’s assessment that the Assad regime was responsible. The UK fully supports the OPCW’s investigations.

The OPCW membership has suspended Syria’s voting rights and privileges in the OPCW until it complies with its chemical weapons obligations. Syria must fully declare and destroy all aspects of its chemical weapons programme.

January 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Launch of the Energy Markets Finance Scheme [January 2023]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 27 January 2023.

HM Treasury and the Bank of England are opening the Energy Market Financing Scheme (EMFS) for applications.

Update: 27 January 2023

The joint Bank of England – HM Treasury Energy Markets Financing Scheme (EMFS) application window opened on 17 October and closed on 27 January. As the scheme did not receive any applications, the EMFS has now formally closed with no guarantees issued.

HM Treasury and the Bank of England worked closely with commercial lenders and the sector to deliver the scheme, and made several technical changes to the scheme on 7 December 2022 in response to feedback.

Since the launch of the scheme, prices in the wholesale gas markets have declined markedly and this has reduced some of the pressure facing eligible energy firms.

HM Treasury and the Bank of England will continue to monitor developments in energy markets.

The EMFS was announced on 8 September, and in The Growth Plan the then Chancellor confirmed that it will provide a 100% guarantee to commercial banks to provide additional lending to energy firms.

Delivered with the Bank of England, this scheme addresses the extraordinary liquidity requirements faced by energy firms operating in UK wholesale gas and electricity markets as a result of margin calls.

Energy prices have been high and volatile this year. As a result, large amounts of collateral are required to enter into contracts firms use to effectively insure themselves from price fluctuations, or otherwise firms must accept large credit exposures to their counterparties.

The details of the scheme were announced on 17 October, and firms can apply via the Bank of England.

The application window will remain open until noon GMT on 27 January 2023; however, guarantees will last for 12 months from when an application is approved. Firms are encouraged to engage the Bank of England in advance of the deadline if considering an application as part of forward planning at: EMFS-Applications@bankofengland.co.uk.

The scheme is aimed at providing a backstop to support energy firms facing large and unexpected margin calls. Pricing and conditions will reflect this objective. The scheme will provide resilience to energy markets and therefore help to reduce the eventual cost for businesses and consumers.

Further details on the structure of the scheme can be found on the Bank of England’s website and the market notice. To apply to the scheme please contact EMFS-Applications@bankofengland.co.uk

Scheme Eligibility

As part of the application process, firms will need to demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria.

The EMFS is intended to support energy firms who are facing short term liquidity challenges but would be otherwise in sound financial health. Eligibility will be considered based on the following criteria:
- Firms must demonstrate they are in sound financial health (firms must be otherwise solvent and solvency will be assessed through robust due diligence processes)
- Firms must be licenced by either Ofgem (or have an entity in the Energy Firm’s group that is Ofgem-licenced) or the Utility Regulator in Northern Ireland (or have an affiliate of the Energy Firm that is licenced by the Utility Regulator of Northern Ireland)
- Firms must also have a pre-existing relationship with an approved commercial bank or banks
In addition, firms must also demonstrate they are making a material contribution to UK energy markets, in line with criteria set out in the market notice.

Eligibility will be assessed by the Bank of England and an Advisory Committee convened by HMT, who will make a recommendation for the Chancellor to make a decision to approve or reject each application.

Eligible firms who wish to apply for a guarantee will be required to comply with a set of policy conditions, such as restrictions on executive pay and capital distributions, when they draw down on the facility. For the full list of conditions, please refer to the market notice.

Energy firms that are ultimately owned by banks, building societies, insurance companies, and other financial sector entities regulated by the Bank of England or the Financial Conduct Authority will not be eligible. Firms within groups that are predominantly active in business subject to financial sector regulation will also not be eligible.

Energy firms will not be eligible if state-owned entities, national governments, regional governments and/or municipalities hold, directly or indirectly, more than 25 per cent of its issued securities and/or voting rights, and/or if such entities exercise direct or indirect control over the energy firm.

If the ownership of the firm changes so that the above criteria for exclusion are met, no further loans shall be advanced under the scheme.

Application process

Firms can apply to the scheme for the next three months. Each loan facility agreement will last up to 12 months and will begin from when the guarantee is issued by the commercial lender.

Applications will be assessed initially by the Bank of England, and then by Advisory Committee, who will make a recommendation for the Chancellor to decide whether to approve or reject an application.

To apply for the scheme, please email EMFS-Applications@bankofengland.co.uk. For further details on the scheme, please visit here.
January 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Chris Skidmore MP to support Patrick Vallance’s emerging tech review [January 2023]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 27 January 2023.

Chris Skidmore has been appointed to help accelerate the development and deployment of emerging technologies in key UK growth sectors.
- Rt Hon Chris Skidmore MP has been appointed by the Chancellor to support Sir Patrick Vallance’s work to accelerate the development of emerging tech
- a former Minister for Energy and Clean Growth, Chris Skidmore will advise on new regulations to promote innovation
- Chris Skidmore’s appointment comes shortly after he published Mission Zero, the independent review of net zero
Five leading experts have already been appointed to support Sir Patrick Vallance, working with industry to identify any barriers to innovation and getting emerging technologies to market.

Chris Skidmore will support Jane Toogood on green industries, such as Zero Emissions Vehicles and energy infrastructure.

Chris Skidmore is Chair of the government’s independent Net Zero Review and the Conservative MP for Kingswood. He has previously held positions as Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, at the Department for Education, and at the Department of Health and Social Care.

His Mission Zero review identified the critical role that technologies such as hydrogen, fusion, and carbon capture and storage will have in achieving net zero, and these all will require agile regulatory approaches so that they can be deployed rapidly and safely in the UK. Chris Skidmore will bring insights from his review to Sir Patrick Vallance’s work.

As set out at the Autumn Statement, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and National Technology Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, is reviewing existing rules to develop a pro-innovation regulatory approach that allows the UK to fulfil its ambition to become a science superpower and world leader in key growth sectors, including green industries.
January 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Levelling Up Secretary in North East England to sign historic £1.4 billion devolution deal [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 27 January 2023.

A landmark devolution deal has been signed in North East England today by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and eight local leaders in the region.

The devolution deal will transfer new powers to local leaders in the North East to deliver skills, transport and housing, supported by £1.4 billion of funding. The Levelling Up Secretary, the Mayor of North Tyne and representatives from all seven local authorities covering the region signed the deal in an historic ceremony at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

In the deal, the government guarantees the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) more than £1.4 billion over the next 30 years which will enable the new Mayor and the councils to plan for the long term, with certainty, and unlock the benefits of devolution for 2 million people living in the area. This will support the leadership of the Mayor of Tees Valley, which has already revived Teesside International Airport, created a new freeport and established a free school with leading educationalists.

The signing continues the government’s devolution revolution with England moving closer to being 50% covered by bespoke regional devolution deals. What’s more, the new agreement reaffirms the government’s commitment in the Levelling Up white paper to offer a devolution deal to any area that wants one by 2030.

A local consultation on the deal is now open and if approved, people across Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, and County Durham will be given the power to elect directly a Mayor of the North East. This person can act as a local champion who can help attract investment to the area and act as a powerful local voice in discussions with central government and other bodies.

The historic deal will also give the Mayoral Combined Authority control over the multi-million pound Adult Education budget, so local leaders, colleges and training providers can work together to arm local people with the skills needed to drive local growth. It will also give control to the region of over half a billion pounds to upgrade public transport through a new City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and provide immediate support to build new affordable homes on brownfield sites.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

I am proud to sign this historic devolution deal for the North East today, which will give local leaders the flexibility and freedom they need to tackle the most pressing issues affecting the day-to-day lives of people in the area.

Levelling up the North East remains an absolute priority for the government, and I look forward to working closely with local leaders to unlock fresh opportunities that create tangible benefits for people right across the region.

The proposed deal sets out the government’s plans to devolve more power to the North East through:
- Education and skills: The deal provides the region with powers to better improve local skills through full devolution of the Adult Education budget and a greater say over the Local Skills Improvement Plan, which brings together local businesses, colleges, and training providers to identify the skills needed to support local growth.
- Housing and regeneration: The North East will receive £17.4 million to support and accelerate the building of new homes on brownfield land, as well as £20 million to level up and kick start regeneration, delivering new affordable homes and green economic growth across the region.
- Transport: A new City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement with government will give the North East control of up to £563 million to help shape and improve local rail services across the region, as well as the ability to introduce bus franchising.
- Local leadership: From 2024, the North East will have a directly elected mayor who can champion the area, help drive investment to the region, and can represent local people in conversations with national government.
Building on existing collaboration across the region and with central government, the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority will replace the existing North of Tyne MCA and Mayor, as well as the non-mayoral North East Combined Authority. This will bring the region together and provide a more strategic economic geography, which encompasses the whole Tyne and Wear region, as well as Northumberland and Durham. These changes are subject to the statutory processes, including local consultation and Parliamentary approval. The deal is being published today to allow necessary governance steps to proceed and will be signed in in the early new year.

The North East deal means that government has now made devolution agreements with areas representing over 7 million people since the Levelling Up White Paper was published in February and agreed devolution deals with 8 of the 11 areas that were prioritised for devolution.
January 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Sexual offender’s, Jamie Moreno, sentence increased to 5 years’ imprisonment [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 27 January 2023.

Jamie Moreno was previously sentenced to 3 years and 2 months’ imprisonment for sexual assault.

A man who sexually assaulted a woman returning home after a night out has received an increased prison sentence after his case was referred under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

Jamie Moreno’s victim woke to find him sexually abusing her in the back of his car when trying to return home after a night out.

Moreno, who was 55 at the time of the assault, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by penetration.

On 30 June 2022 at Wood Green Crown Court, Moreno, aged 58, was sentenced to 38 months’ imprisonment.

The court ordered this was to run consecutive to a separate sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment passed down by the Crown Court at Inner London on 8 April 2022 for attempted assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.

Following the sentencing, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

On 27 January 2023, the Court of Appeal found Moreno’s original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 5 years’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP said:

Moreno took advantage of the victim’s vulnerable state and subjected her to a sickening sexual assault.

This increased sentence sends a clear message that sexual assault is never acceptable and will be met with robust punishment.

January 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Fishing fund gears up to help industry go green

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 January 2023.

Grants of up to £40,000 on offer through £100m UK Seafood Fund to trial greener engine technology, helping to create a safe and sustainable fishing sector whilst tackling rising fuel costs.

The UK fishing industry is to benefit from an initial £2 million investment to trial new, greener engines and help create a safer, more sustainable fishing fleet as the latest round of the £100m UK Seafood Fund opens today (27 January 2022).

OIder vessel engines are some of the industry’s biggest polluters and, according to a report by MARFISH, over half of the boats across the UK fishing fleet are now more than 30 years old, meaning that the annual energy use of the fleet is equivalent to that of 110,000 homes.

From today, vessels in the small-scale coastal fleet can bid for up to £40,000 to trial hybrid and electric engines, and up to £20,000 to fund replacement petrol and diesel engines that are more environmentally friendly.

As well as supporting the fishing industry to deal with rising fuel costs, the trial aims to gather new data and evidence to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve efficiency and reliability, and help the fishing industry to reach net zero.

Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

Our small-scale fishing fleet is vital for food security, the economy, and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

This trial could help make vessels safer, more reliable, and more cost efficient as well as helping the fishing sector make the transition to net zero.

I encourage all those eligible to apply so we can gather the data we need to move towards a greener fleet that will benefit the fishing industry and our environment.

Katy Ware, Director of UK Maritime Services said:

We fully support this scheme to trial new, greener engines in the fishing industry and will assist owners participating in the scheme to ensure that the engines are safely installed.

Everyone taking part will be making a significant contribution towards achieving net zero in the fishing industry.

This round will be administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), more details on how to apply can be found on gov.uk.

This latest round of applications to modernise and improve the small-scale fishing fleet is part of the £100m UK Seafood Fund, a landmark government investment supporting the long-term future and sustainability of the UK fishing and seafood industry.

Overall, at least £65 million in grant funding is available through the infrastructure scheme to fund projects that improve the UK seafood sector supply chain. This includes investment in fleet modernisation and improved capability at ports, harbours, processing and aquaculture facilities.

£20 million has already been awarded in Round 1 of the scheme for projects including the expansion of processing facilities for popular British fish like Scottish salmon and Cornish sardines, alongside money to bring an ageing dry dock back to life. In December last year, the Government confirmed a further £30 million will be made available for infrastructure projects as the latest round of funding opened for bidding.

There is also up to £10 million in funding available through the Skills and Training scheme, the second round of which will be open to applicants shortly. The scheme will fund training projects and facilities for workers in the seafood and aquaculture industry, and recreational angling sector.

January 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023 – UK statement to the OSCE [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2023.

Ambassador Neil Bush marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and stresses the need to stand against antisemitism in all its forms.

Thank you Mr Chair, thank you Ambassador Ann Bernes, for your introductory comments, and your work as President of International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

Tomorrow we will mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, to remember and honour the lives of the six million Jewish men, women and children as well as, Roma, Sinti and others who lost their lives at the hands of the Nazi regime during World War II. This was one of the darkest moments in human history.

The UK’s theme for this year highlights the role of “ordinary people” – as perpetrators, victims, and rescuers. These people actively had choices to make – whether or not to perpetrate genocide; whether or not to stand by and actively ignore what was going on around them. There were those who took a stand against hatred, by coming forward to help those in need – whether by hiding people, providing food, or helping people to escape. They were ordinary people too… doing extraordinary things. It remains an extraordinary and uplifting fact that ordinary people in Denmark managed to save almost all of their countries Jewish populations. They were hidden in churches, hospitals and family homes, and spirited to coastal towns, from where they were taken to safety in Sweden. Sadly, there were also many who stood by silently and did nothing.

We will soon reach a point when the march of time means that the Holocaust will no longer be part of our living history. With that comes a growing concern about the rise of Holocaust denial and distortion – recasting history to erase the devastating horrors faced by the Jewish people. We have a duty to remember them and keep their testimony alive for future generations.

Holocaust distortion feeds the despicable scourge of antisemitism, which has no place in any society. We must continue to stand against it in all its forms, and to reject any attempts to deny the facts of the Holocaust. History is too important to be politicised.

We will continue to drive international efforts to promote Holocaust education, and counter Holocaust denial and distortion when the UK takes the Chairpersonship of IHRA in March 2024. To ensure we never forget the horrors, or forget the hard lessons we learnt – the UK has committed to building a new national Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in London, expected to open in 2027.

As we mark this poignant day, Mr Chair and the six million people who were not saved during World War II – let us reflect. Let us remember. And let us never forget.

Thank you.

January 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor sets out long-term vision to grow the economy [January 2023]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 27 January 2023.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt today set out his vision for long-term prosperity in the UK, calling on businesses in key growth areas to invest in the UK and expressing his desire to make the UK an attractive site for innovators and entrepreneurs.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt called on businesses to invest in the UK and promised long-term thinking to make the UK the next Silicon Valley

– he outlined a vision to drive for growth as one of the government’s five priorities – doing so by encouraging enterprise, tackling poor productivity, and getting more people into better paid jobs right across the country

– digital technology, green industries and life sciences among those identified as growth sectors that can help realise a more innovative economy

Speaking at Bloomberg’s European headquarters in London, the Chancellor opened his speech on the economy by highlighting one of the UK’s major growth sectors – technology – before revealing that the opening section of his speech had been written by ChatGPT, the AI software that was released late last year.

Getting the economy growing faster is one of the government’s five priorities, as set out in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s New Year address. Mr Hunt outlined how he intends to deliver upon that over the coming years, ahead of the Spring Budget due on 15th March.

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said:

“Our plan for this year remains to halve inflation, grow the economy and get debt falling.

“But all three are essential building blocks for much bigger ambitions for the years beyond.

“World-beating enterprises to make Britain the world’s next Silicon Valley.

“An education system where world-class skills sit alongside world-class degrees.

“Employment opportunities that tap into the potential of every single person so businesses can build the motivated teams they need.

“And opportunities spread everywhere just as our talent is spread everywhere.”

The Chancellor went on to call on businesses in the key growth sectors of Digital Technology, Green Industries, Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing and Creative Industries to increase their investment in the UK, with the Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance already leading work on how we should change regulation to better support safe and fast introduction of new emerging technologies.

The Chancellor added:

“If anyone is thinking of starting or investing in an innovation or technology-centred business, I want them to do it in the UK. I want the world’s tech entrepreneurs, life science innovators, and clean energy companies to come to the UK because it offers the best possible place to make their vision happen.

“And if you do, we will put at your service not just British ingenuity – but British universities to fuel your innovation, Britain’s financial sector to fund it and a British government that will back you to the hilt.”

Digital Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

“I believe that Britain is uniquely placed in the world to become the number one home for tech – one where entrepreneurs have both the stability, but also the freedom, to invest and innovate.

“We have a clear vision for where this country is going, and a government that is prepared to match that ambition with action. That’s why this year we’re bringing forward new laws to transform digital markets, free up businesses to innovate with data, and set out our strategy for globally important semiconductors.”

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“We stand at the cusp of a new age, facing a technological revolution that will transform the world as deeply as the industrial revolution did in the nineteenth century.

“The UK has an opportunity to be at the forefront of this revolution, building upon our world-class research infrastructure and open markets to scale up the business titans of the future here in Britain, in everything from AI to quantum, from robotics to biotechnology.”

The Chancellor set out his aim to increase enterprise, supporting businesses by using our new-found Brexit freedoms to review regulations in key growth sectors to make it easier for companies to innovate, alongside the importance of competitive business taxation.

He reiterated the importance of employment and tackling economic inactivity, helping more people into work and filling the vacancies in the jobs market. He also outlined ambitions to help more disabled people and those with mental illnesses into work, and a pensions system that encourages continued workforce participation. The Work and Pensions Secretary is thoroughly reviewing issues holding back workforce participation, with a report due to conclude shortly.

The Prime Minister and the Chancellor have both placed enormous importance on education, with £2.3 billion of additional funding for 23-24 and 24-25 announced at the Autumn Statement and continued implementation of the government’s skills reforms. The government has already made progress with T-levels, boot camps and apprenticeships.

And finally the aim of levelling up everywhere across the UK, ensuring that all areas feel the benefits of economic growth with empowered local areas and reducing the time it takes to build new infrastructure. Already the Levelling Up Fund has awarded £3.8 billion to projects across the UK and the UK Government is working to launch Freeports in every country in Britain, with several already operating in England and the locations of two having recently been announced in Scotland.

The Secretary of State for BEIS Grant Shapps and Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport also delivered keynote speeches at the event.

January 27, 2023