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Tag: Rishi Sunak

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Speech on Asylum and Migration Changes

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Speech on Asylum and Migration Changes

    The speech made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, at Downing Street in London on 7 March 2023.

    Today we are introducing new legislation to keep my promise to you – to stop the boats.

    My policy is very simple, it is this country—and your government—who should decide who comes here, not criminal gangs.

    The first step is understanding the nature—and scale—of what we are dealing with.

    The number of people entering the UK illegally in small boats has more than quadrupled in the last two years.

    Those illegally crossing the Channel are not directly fleeing a war-torn country… or persecution… or an imminent threat to life.

    They have travelled through safe, European countries.

    They are paying people smugglers huge sums to make this dangerous, and sometimes tragic, journey.

    The reason that criminal gangs continue to bring small boats over here is because they know that our system can be exploited…

    ….that once here…illegal migrants can make a multitude of asylum, modern slavery and spurious human rights claims to frustrate their removal.

    And the risk remains that those individuals just disappear into the black economy.

    That is the reality we must deal with…

    And with 100 million people displaced around the world…

    ….if we do not deal with it now, the situation will just get worse and worse.

    People must know that if they come here illegally it will result in their detention and swift removal.

    Once this happens – and they know it will happen – they will not come, and the boats will stop.

    That is why today we are introducing legislation to make clear that if you come here illegally you can’t claim asylum…

    …you can’t benefit from our modern slavery protections…

    ….you can’t make spurious human rights claims

    …and you can’t stay.

    We will detain those who come here illegally and then remove them in weeks, either to their own country if it is safe to do so, or to a safe third country like Rwanda.

    And once you are removed, you will be banned—as you are in America and Australia—from ever re-entering our country.

    This is how we will break the business model of the people smugglers; this is how we will take back control of our borders.

    Now, this Bill provides the legal framework needed to deliver this in a way that no other legislation has done before.

    This is tough but it is necessary and it is fair.

    This legislation will be retrospective.

    If you come on a small boat today, the measures in this bill will apply to you.

    And this is just part of what we are doing.

    I’ve always been clear this is a complex problem that can’t be solved overnight and will require us to use every tool at our disposal.

    That’s why I’ve already secured the largest ever small boats deal with France.

    And patrols on French beaches are already up 40 per cent.

    I also promised progress on enforcement and we’ve increased raids on illegal working by 50 per cent.

    I’ve also negotiated a new deal with Albania, which accounted for a third of all small boats arrivals.

    And that’s already delivering. We’ve returned 500 illegal migrants to Albania and we are seeing far fewer come as a result.

    This shows that there is nothing inevitable about illegal migration.

    Deterrence works, and with will and determination, the government can get on top of it—and we will.

    Now, this will always be a compassionate and generous country.

    It is something that we’re all rightly proud of.

    Just look at how we have welcomed Ukrainians, Syrians from refugee camps, and embraced Hong Kongers fleeing the Chinese clampdown.

    But the current situation is neither moral nor sustainable. It cannot go on.

    It’s completely unfair on the British people…

    ….who have opened their homes to genuine refugees…

    ….but are now having to spend nearly £6 million a day to put up illegal migrants in hotels.

    It’s unfair on the people who have come to this country legally to see others skipping the queue.

    And it’s devastatingly unfair on those who most need our help but can’t get it as our asylum system is being overwhelmed by those travelling illegally across the Channel.

    If we can’t stop the boats, our ability to help genuine refugees in future will be constrained.

    Full control of our borders will allow us to decide who to help, and to provide safe and legal routes for those most in need.

    I understand there will be debate about the toughness of these measures… all I can say is that we have tried it every other way… and it has not worked.

    So I say again: my policy is very simple, it is this country—and your government—who should decide who comes here, not criminal gangs.

    And I will do whatever is necessary to achieve that.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Statement on the Windsor Framework

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Statement on the Windsor Framework

    The statement made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 27 February 2023.

    Good afternoon.

    All our thoughts are with Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell and his family after last week’s abhorrent shooting in Omagh.

    A man of extraordinary courage, his first thought was to protect the children he had been coaching.

    President Von der Leyen and I stand united with the people and leaders of all communities across Northern Ireland.

    Those trying to drag us back to the past will never succeed.

    This afternoon, I welcomed President Von der Leyen to Windsor to continue our discussions about the Northern Ireland Protocol.

    I’m pleased to report that we have now made a decisive breakthrough.

    Together, we have changed the original Protocol and are today announcing the new Windsor Framework.

    Today’s agreement:

    Delivers smooth flowing trade within the whole United Kingdom.

    Protects Northern Ireland’s place in our Union.

    And safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland.

    These negotiations have not always been easy, but I’d like to pay an enormous personal tribute to Ursula for her vision in recognising the possibility of a new way forward.

    And to my colleagues the Foreign and Northern Ireland Secretaries for their steadfast leadership.

    The United Kingdom and the European Union may have had our differences in the past, but we are allies, trading partners, and friends…

    …something that we’ve seen clearly in the past year as we joined with others, to support Ukraine.

    This is the beginning of a new chapter in our relationship.

    For a quarter of a century the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement has endured because at its heart is respect for the aspirations and identities of all communities.

    Today’s agreement is about preserving that delicate balance and charting a new way forward for the people of Northern Ireland.

    I am standing here today because I believe that we have found ways to end the uncertainty and challenge for the people of Northern Ireland.

    We have taken three big steps forward.

    First, today’s agreement delivers the smooth flow of trade within the United Kingdom.

    Goods destined for Northern Ireland will travel through a new Green Lane, with a separate Red Lane for goods at risk of moving onto the EU.

    In the Green Lane, burdensome customs bureaucracy will be scrapped.

    It means food retailers like supermarkets, restaurants and wholesalers will no longer need hundreds of certificates for every lorry.

    And we will end the situation where food made to UK rules could not be sent to and sold in Northern Ireland.

    This means that if food is available on the supermarket shelves in Great Britain…

    …then it will be available on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland.

    And unlike the Protocol, today’s agreement means people sending parcels to friends and family or doing their shopping online, will have to complete no customs paperwork.

    This means we have removed any sense of a border in the Irish Sea.

    Second, we have protected Northern Ireland’s place in the Union.

    We’ve amended the legal text of the Protocol to ensure we can make critical VAT and excise changes for the whole of the UK…

    …for example on alcohol duty, meaning our reforms to cut the cost of a pint in the pub will now apply in Northern Ireland.

    The same quintessentially British products like trees, plants, and seed potatoes – will again be available in Northern Ireland’s garden centres.

    Onerous requirements on pet travel have been removed.

    And today’s agreement also delivers a landmark settlement on medicines.

    From now on, drugs approved for use by the UK’s medicines regulator…

    …will be automatically available in every pharmacy and hospital in Northern Ireland.

    Third, today’s agreement safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland.

    The only EU law that applies in Northern Ireland under the Framework…

    …is the minimum necessary to avoid a hard border with Ireland and allow Northern Irish businesses to continue accessing the EU market.

    But I know that many people in Northern Ireland are also worried about being subject to changes to EU goods laws.

    To address that, today’s agreement introduces a new Stormont Brake.

    Many had called for Stormont to have a say over these laws.

    But the Stormont Brake goes further and means that Stormont can in fact stop them from applying in Northern Ireland.

    This will establish a clear process through which the democratically elected Assembly can pull an emergency brake…

    …for changes to EU goods rules that would have significant, and lasting effects on everyday lives. If the brake is pulled, the UK government will have a veto.

    This gives the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland a powerful new safeguard, based on cross community consent.

    I believe the Windsor Framework marks a turning point for the people of Northern Ireland.

    It fixes the practical problems they face.

    It preserves the balance of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

    Of course, parties will want to consider the agreement in detail, a process that will need time and care.

    Today’s agreement is written in the language of laws and treaties.

    But really, it’s about much more than that.

    It’s about stability in Northern Ireland.

    It’s about real people and real businesses.

    It’s about showing that our Union, that has lasted for centuries, can and will endure.

    And it’s about breaking down the barriers between us.

    Setting aside the arguments that for too long, have divided us.

    And remembering the fellow feeling that defines us:

    This family of nations – this United Kingdom.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Speech at Munich Security Conference

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Speech at Munich Security Conference

    The speech made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, in Munich on 18 February 2023.

    The United Kingdom will always be on the side of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

    And the security of our European continent will always be our overriding priority.

    Now there’s no greater example of those commitments than our response to the war in Ukraine.

    Just this year we became the first country in the world to provide tanks to Ukraine – and the first to train pilots and marines.

    We gave £2.3 billion last year – and we will match or exceed that in 2023.

    Now other allies can tell a similar story – and our collective efforts are making a difference.

    But with every day that passes, Russian forces inflict yet more pain and suffering.

    Now the only way to change that is for Ukraine to win.

    So we need a military strategy for Ukraine to gain a decisive advantage on the battlefield to win the war, and a political strategy to win the peace.

    To win the war, Ukraine needs more artillery, armoured vehicles and air defence.

    So now is the moment to double down on our military support.

    When Putin started this war, he gambled that our resolve would falter.

    Even now, he is betting that we will lose our nerve.

    But we proved him wrong then.

    And we will prove him wrong now.

    Together we’re delivering as much equipment in the next few months as in the whole of 2022.

    And together we must help Ukraine to shield its cities from Russian bombs and Iranian drones.

    And that’s why the UK will be the first country to provide Ukraine with longer-range weapons.

    And it’s why we’re working with our allies to give Ukraine the most advanced air defence systems, and build the air force they need to defend their nation.

    Now of course, the UK stands ready to help any country, provide planes that Ukraine can use today.

    But we must also train Ukrainian pilots to use the most advanced jets, and that’s exactly what Britain is doing…

    So that Ukraine has the capability to defend its security for the long term.

    But to win the peace we also need to rebuild the international order on which our collective security depends.

    First, that means upholding international law.

    The whole world must hold Russia to account.

    We must see justice through the ICC for their sickening war crimes committed, whether in Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol or beyond.

    And Russia must also be held to account for the terrible destruction it has inflicted.

    We are hosting the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London this June.

    And we should consider – together – how to ensure that Russia pays towards that reconstruction.

    Now second, the treaties and agreements of the post-Cold War era have failed Ukraine.

    So we need a new framework for its long-term security.

    From human rights to reckless nuclear threats, from Georgia to Moldova, Russia has committed violation after violation against countries outside the collective security of NATO.

    And the international community’s response has not been strong enough.

    As Jens Stoltenberg has said, “Ukraine will become a member of NATO.”

    But until that happens, we need to do more to bolster Ukraine’s long-term security.

    We must give them the advanced NATO-standard capabilities that they need for the future.

    And we must demonstrate that we’ll remain by their side, willing and able to help them defend their country again and again.

    Ukraine needs and deserves assurances of that support.

    So ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius we will bring together our friends and allies to begin building those long-term assurances.

    And our aim should be to forge a new charter in Vilnius to help protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression.

    Now let me conclude with one final thought.

    What’s at stake in this war is even greater than the security and sovereignty of one nation.

    It’s about the security and sovereignty of every nation.

    Because Russia’s invasion, its abhorrent war crimes and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric are symptomatic of a broader threat to everything we believe in.

    From the skies over North America to the suffering on the streets of Tehran, some would destabilise the order that has preserved peace and stability for 80 years.

    They must not prevail. And we need not be daunted.

    As President Zelenskyy said when he addressed the UK Parliament last week, we are marching towards the most important victory of our lifetime. It will be a victory over the very idea of war.

    And we could have no greater purpose than to prove him right.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Press Conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Press Conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    The press conference with Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Dorset on 8 February 2023.

    Volodymyr, it’s a privilege to stand here with you today, and to have you here in the United Kingdom.

    The path from Ukraine to the UK has been well trodden over the past six months, with 10,000 of your soldiers making the journey for military training, and more arriving every week.

    And just a few days ago, dozens arrived to learn how to operate our Challenger 2 tanks.

    I am told they are already mastering the art of driving these sophisticated 62-ton weapons, which will soon be making a difference on the battlefields of your country.

    All over the UK, Ukrainian men and women are learning how to command and control NATO-standard weapons, whether that is in drone warfare, tank operations or basic training. Their dedication, courage and determination is a credit to you and your country.

    Volodymyr, now your visit here today underlines our two countries’ close and enduring friendship – we will always be by your side, our staunch and unwavering friends.

    We both know the people of Ukraine’s incredible strength and inspiring bravery will ultimately defeat tyranny. That is why we are training and arming them with the equipment they need to push back Russian forces.

    And as I said to you earlier today, we are also accelerating the delivery of our equipment, and the equipment of our allies, to ensure it reaches your frontline in the coming days and weeks, not months or years.

    The Ukrainian crews who arrived last week will be using Challenger 2 tanks to defend Ukraine’s sovereign territory next month.

    And I am pleased that today we have agreed that we will expand our training programme – a programme that has trained 10,000 troops in the last six months alone – to your marines and fighter jet pilots, ensuring the Armed Forces of Ukraine are able to defend their country for generations to come.

    We must arm Ukraine in the short term, but we must bolster Ukraine for the long term. Your country cannot be left vulnerable to attack ever again.

    Today we have signed the London Declaration, further deepening our cooperation, and in the coming days, we mark a year since the needless and unprovoked invasion, and Russia will see – more than ever – that their tactics are only solidifying western resolve. Only convincing us to go further, and faster, to help you, Volodymyr. And we will.

    After all, you told me last week that collective, international unity is your greatest weapon, and you can be sure that we will deliver on that, not just now, but long into the future.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Comments on the Visit of Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the UK

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Comments on the Visit of Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the UK

    The comments made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 8 February 2023.

    President Zelenskyy’s visit to the UK is a testament to his country’s courage, determination and fight, and a testament to the unbreakable friendship between our two countries.

    Since 2014, the UK has provided vital training to Ukrainian forces, allowing them to defend their country, protect their sovereignty and fight for their territory.

    I am proud that today we will expand that training from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots, ensuring Ukraine has a military able to defend its interests well into the future. It also underlines our commitment to not just provide military equipment for the short term, but a long-term pledge to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine for years to come.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Comments on Supporting Turkey Following Earthquake

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Comments on Supporting Turkey Following Earthquake

    The comments made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on Twitter on 6 February 2023.

    My thoughts are with the people of Türkiye and Syria this morning, particularly with those first responders working so valiantly to save those trapped by the earthquake.

    The UK stands ready to help in whatever way we can.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Statement on Union and Devolution Policy

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Statement on Union and Devolution Policy

    The statement made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, in the House of Commons on 26 January 2023.

    It was announced on 11 October 2022 that responsibility for Union and devolution policy would move from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to the Cabinet Office under the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

    On 25 October, I appointed the Secretary of State for Levelling Up as Minister for intergovernmental relations. This means that day-to-day responsibility for the Union and devolution policy will remain in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The Union and constitution group will also have a presence in the Cabinet Office to support me in my role as Minister for the Union.

    Strengthening the Union and delivering for all people and communities across the UK is a priority for all of UK Government. This change will allow the Levelling Up Secretary to lead the Government’s day-to-day engagement with the devolved Administrations and drive forward cross-Government efforts towards delivering tangible improvements for people across the UK, including through levelling up.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Letter to Nadhim Zahawi Following His Breach of Ministerial Code

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Letter to Nadhim Zahawi Following His Breach of Ministerial Code

    The letter sent by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, the Nadhim Zahawi, the Conservative Party chair, on 29 January 2023.

    Dear Nadhim

    When I became Prime Minister last year, I pledged that the Government I lead would have

    integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level.

    That is why, following new information which came to light in recent days regarding your personal financial arrangements and declarations, I asked Sir Laurie Magnus, the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests, to fully investigate this matter. You agreed and undertook to cooperate fully with the inquiry.

    Following the completion of the Independent Adviser’s investigation – the findings of which he has shared with us both – it is clear that there has been a serious breach of the Ministerial Code. As a result, I have informed you of my decision to remove you from your position in His Majesty’s Government.

    As you leave, you should be extremely proud of your wide-ranging achievements in government over the last five years. In particular, your successful oversight of the COVID-19 vaccine procurement and deployment programme which ensured the United Kingdom was at the forefront of the global response to the coronavirus pandemic. Your role was critical to ensuring our country came through this crisis and saved many lives. And as the Conservative Party Chairman, you have undertaken significant restructuring to Conservative Campaign Headquarters and readied us for important work in the coming months.

    It is also with pride that I, and previous Prime Ministers, have been able to draw upon the services of a Kurdish-born Iraqi refugee at the highest levels of the U.K. Government. That is something which people up and down this country have rightly valued.

    I know I will be able to count on your support from the backbenches as you continue to passionately and determinedly serve your constituents of Stratford-on-Avon and represent the many issues and campaigns you are dedicated to. Thank you for your service to this and previous governments.

    Yours sincerely Rishi Sunak

    The Right Honourable Nadhim Zahawi MP

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Comments on Not Wearing a Seatbelt

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Comments on Not Wearing a Seatbelt

    The comments made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 23 January 2023.

    Yes, I regret not wearing a seatbelt. It was a mistake and that is why I apologised straight away.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Statement on Accepting a Fine for Not Wearing a Seatbelt

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Statement on Accepting a Fine for Not Wearing a Seatbelt

    The statement issued on behalf of Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 20 January 2023 following a fine for not wearing a seatbelt.

    The Prime Minister fully accepts this was a mistake and he has apologised. He will of course comply with the fixed penalty.