UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Speeches

  • John Whittingdale – 2021 Statement on the Regulation of Football Index

    John Whittingdale – 2021 Statement on the Regulation of Football Index

    The statement made by John Whittingdale, the Minister for Media and Data, in the House of Commons on 20 April 2021.

    I am announcing today that DCMS will appoint an independent expert to conduct a review of the regulation of the Football Index gambling product, up to the point where its operator’s licence was suspended in March, and to make recommendations to the Government and the regulators.

    Football Index’s operator, BetIndex Ltd, was granted a licence to provide online betting by the Gambling Commission in September 2015. The Commission began a formal review of this licence in May 2020 and suspended it in March 2021. The company is currently in administration. At the time of suspension, the product allowed customers (called traders) to place bets (shares) on the future performance of footballers. These bets lasted for three years, with payments called dividends being made according to a player’s performance. The product evolved to let customers buy and sell bets with prices fluctuating according to demand.

    The Government are taking the situation regarding Football Index and the concerns of those affected by it very seriously. It is reported that many thousands of customers are affected by the product’s collapse, with some having lost very large sums. This review will aim to establish both how this situation came about and what lessons we can learn from it.

    A principal purpose of the review will be to take an objective look at the decisions and actions of the Gambling Commission and any other relevant regulators, to provide a clear account of how the company’s activities were regulated and identify if there are potential areas for improvement in how complex products are treated.

    Its findings will form part of the evidence informing the Government’s review of the Gambling Act 2005, which was announced in December 2020. The review is considering whether changes are needed to the regulatory framework around gambling, including the Commission’s powers and resources and how it uses them. It is also looking at how novel and complex products should be licensed and regulated.

    The Commission’s regulatory investigation into BetIndex Ltd is continuing. This independent review is separate to that investigation and will be carried out and report in a way which will not compromise it. It will also be without prejudice to the ongoing administration proceedings, which among other things are looking at assets and liabilities of the company and recompense to customers.

    Further details of the independent reviewer and terms of reference will be announced in due course. It is intended that the review will report publicly in the summer and will inform the wider Gambling Act Review. The Government aim to produce a White Paper setting out their findings from the review of the Gambling Act 2005 by the end of the year.

  • Kwasi Kwarteng – 2021 Statement on Baglan Operations Limited and Baglan Group Companies

    Kwasi Kwarteng – 2021 Statement on Baglan Operations Limited and Baglan Group Companies

    The statement made by Kwasi Kwarteng, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in the House of Commons on 20 April 2021.

    I am tabling this statement for the benefit of hon. and right hon. Members to bring their attention to the details of a contingent liability following the provision of an indemnity from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to the Official Receiver acting in the insolvency of Baglan Operations Limited (BOL) and the wider Baglan Group companies.

    It is normal practice when a Government Department proposes to undertake a contingent liability of £300,000 and above, for which there is no specific statutory authority, for the Department concerned to present Parliament with a minute, giving details of the liability created and explaining the circumstances.

    BOL entered liquidation on 24 March 2021 and owns a site hosting a gas generation plant—now closed—and operates a private wire which provides electricity to the Baglan Energy Park in Port Talbot. The energy park accommodates various businesses—primarily a paper product manufacturer, Intertissue—public sector buildings —local authority offices and a NHS medical centre—and a water pumping station.

    The departmental minute I lay today is to notify Parliament retrospectively of the provision of an indemnity to the OR.

    Departmental officials and I are aware of the presence of several chemical substances at the site that will require safe disposal. There is also a gas plant and 12 km of pipeline that will require decommissioning. BOL supplies the electricity through a private electricity wire, which is exempt from being licensed. As it is licence-exempt, BOL is not capable of being covered by the energy regulator Ofgem’s supplier of last resort arrangements or any energy special administration regime.

    My Department has been monitoring this fast-moving situation since December 2020, working closely with the Welsh Government, Wales Office, the Insolvency Service, UK Government Investments (UKGI) and HM Treasury.

    My Department has provided the OR with an indemnity in respect of:

    carrying out the proper performance of the OR’s duties as liquidator of the Baglan Group companies;

    seeking the appointment of, engaging and instructing the special managers in respect of the Baglan Group companies; and

    maintaining, securing and funding the ongoing operation of the Baglan Group companies undertakings, and distributing the assets of the companies in the ordinary course of the OR’s duties as liquidator of the Baglan Group companies.

    HM Treasury has approved the proposal and I will be laying a departmental minute today containing a description of the liability undertaken.

  • Boris Johnson – 2021 Speech at Leaders Summit on Climate

    Boris Johnson – 2021 Speech at Leaders Summit on Climate

    The speech made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 22 April 2021.

    I’d like to begin by thanking President Biden very much for bringing us together today in the way that he has and for setting out the problem in the eloquent way that he did at the beginning, and of course for returning the United States to the front rank of the fight against climate change.

    I’m really thrilled by the game-changing announcement that Joe Biden has just made. And I’m proud that the UK is doing the same.

    We were first country to pass legislation for net zero. We have the biggest offshore wind capacity of any country in the world, the Saudi Arabia of wind as I never tire of saying. We’re halfway to net zero.

    We have carbon emissions lower than at any point since the 19th century, we’re ending support for fossil fuels overseas and doubling our international climate finance.

    We’re actually speeding up because we see the obligations for developed countries to do more, we’re legislating to deliver 78% of the reductions needed to reach that goal by 2035.

    As host of COP26, we want to see similar ambitions around the world and we’re working with everybody, from the smallest nations to the biggest emitters to secure commitments that will keep change to within 1.5 degrees.

    And I think we can do it. And to do it we need the scientists and all of our countries to work together to produce the technological solutions that humanity is going to need. Whether it’s carbon capture and storage or solving the problems of cheap hydrogen delivery or getting to jet zero flying, getting to net zero flying, making sure that we can roll out EVs properly, making sure that our homes stop emitting such prodigious quantities of CO2, moving to sustainable domestic living.

    We can do this together across the world. It’s going to mean the richest nations coming together and exceeding the $100 billion commitment that they already made in 2009 and I stress how important that is.

    Plus, I think what President Xi had to say about the harmony with nature was absolutely vital. If we’re going to tackle climate change sustainably, we have to deal with the disaster of habitat loss and species loss across our planet and we want to see even more examples of government and private industry working hand in hand as with the newly launched LEAF Coalition to reduce deforestation and the multi-trillion dollar Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero.

    To do these things we’ve got to be constantly original and optimistic about new technology and new solutions whether that’s crops that are super-resistant to drought or more accurate weather forecasts like those we hope to see from the UK’s new Met Office 1.2bn supercomputer that we’re investing in.

    I’m not saying any of this is going to be easy. There is obviously going to be a political challenge. It’s important to go back to the original words of President Biden, it’s vital for all of us to show that this is not all about some expensive politically correct green act of ‘bunny hugging’ or however you want to put it. Nothing wrong with ‘bunny hugging’ but you know what I’m driving at.

    This is about growth and jobs and the President was absolutely right to stress that. I want to leave you with the thought that we can build back better from this pandemic by building back greener.

    Don’t forget that the UK has been able to cut our own CO2 emissions by about 42% on 1990 levels and we’ve seen our economy grow by 73%, you can do both at once. Cake have eat is my message to you.

    Let’s work together on this. Let’s go to Kunming in October and Glasgow in November armed with ambitious targets and the plans required to reach them.

    And let’s use this extraordinary moment and the incredible technology that we’re working on to make this decade the moment of decisive change in the fight against climate change and let’s do it together.

  • Alok Sharma – 2021 Speech at Leaders Summit on Climate

    Alok Sharma – 2021 Speech at Leaders Summit on Climate

    The speech made by Alok Sharma, the COP26 President, on 22 April 2021.

    Your Excellencies, Ladies, Gentlemen, Friends.

    Before a baby born today has even finished primary education, the future will be set.

    We all know that the next decade will be make, or break, for planet earth.

    And the warning lights are flashing bright red.

    And that is why the decisions world leaders are taking today, and, indeed, on the road to COP26, are going to be absolutely critical.

    So I want to thank President Biden for bringing us together, and for the US’s own ambitious new nationally determined contribution.

    And, indeed, I am grateful to everyone who has made announcements.

    And moved us closer to our clean, green future. To creating jobs and prosperity without harming the planet.

    And with today’s announcements from the US, Canada and Japan, every G7 country now has an NDC that puts them on a path to net zero by 2050.

    This is a significant step towards keeping 1.5 degrees within reach, from a group of countries who have a responsibility to lead.

    As you’ve heard, Net zero commitments now cover 70 percent of the global economy.

    And this is real progress. But we have much further to go.

    Because, as I said at the Climate Ambition Summit in December, the key question is:

    Have we collectively as a world community done enough to put the world on track to limit warming to 1.5 degrees.

    To protecting ourselves from climate change.

    And making the Paris Agreement a reality.

    Friends, the answer to that question is still: no, not yet.

    Between now and COP26 there will be more opportunities for countries to raise their ambition. And so we must.

    Because if we are serious about 1.5 degrees, we must be serious about NDCs. And we must be serious about acting now to reduce emissions. And we must be serious about supporting developing countries.

    The next IPCC report will show us again the urgency of our situation.

    And the world is looking expectantly to its leaders to respond.

    And we must prove that we are up to the challenge. And we must make COP26 the turning point where we get on track to make the goals of the Paris Agreement a reality.

    And that means, firstly, putting the world on a path to net zero through long term targets and aligned NDCs.

    And taking immediate action to meet those targets – by, for example, phasing out coal.

    So, I welcome South Korea’s commitment to end overseas coal financing.

    Second, we must boost adaptation.

    Third, we need finance, as we have heard about in this section. And we must all see ourselves as champions of developing countries. Whose calls for action we have heard loud and clear today.

    Climate change, we all know, does not respect borders. And tackling it is absolutely a global effort.

    So, developed countries must mobilise the promised $100billion a year.

    And I very much welcome the US return to the fold following today’s initial climate finance commitment. And we will continue to work with all donors to increase ambition towards our collective goal.

    Finally, we must work together to deliver a low carbon world, and make the negotiations in Glasgow a success.

    Friends, today, we have made progress on our goals.

    But we need a further step change.

    We need world leaders to mount a global response that matches the scale and the urgency of the crisis we face.

    This is the defining issue of our political age.

    The one against which future generations will judge us above all others.

    But I do believe we can and we must rise to the occasion.

  • Nigel Huddleston – 2021 Comments on a Fan Led Review of Football

    Nigel Huddleston – 2021 Comments on a Fan Led Review of Football

    The comments made by Nigel Huddleston, the Sports Minister, on 22 April 2021.

    Football begins and ends with fans and we have seen that passionately displayed this week. It must be a watershed moment in our national game. We must capitalise on this momentum. Clubs are the beating heart of their local communities and this important review will help put football on a surer footing for the future where supporters voices are heard.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2021 Comments on the Global Screen Fund

    Oliver Dowden – 2021 Comments on the Global Screen Fund

    The comments made by Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on 23 April 2021.

    The United Kingdom has an independent screen industry to be proud of. World renowned, our film, TV, video game and animation industries create jobs and growth the length and breadth of the UK.

    The UK Global Screen Fund will export the extraordinary talent and creativity of the UK to audiences across the globe, supporting our talented filmmakers and screen businesses to compete and grow.

  • Liz Truss – 2021 Comments on the UK/Australian Trade Deal

    Liz Truss – 2021 Comments on the UK/Australian Trade Deal

    The comments made by Liz Truss, the Secretary of State for International Trade, on 23 April 2021.

    We have made major breakthroughs over the past few days and an agreement is now in sight. I want to thank Dan personally for the contribution he has made and for his desire to get this deal done.

    This is a deal that will deliver for Britain and all parts of our economy. It is a win-win for both nations. It is a fundamentally liberalising agreement that will support jobs across the country and help us emerge stronger from the pandemic, strengthening ties between two democracies who share a fierce belief in freedom, enterprise and fair play.

    We will spend the next few weeks ironing out details and resolving outstanding issues, with a view to reaching a deal by June.

  • Robert Jenrick – 2021 Comments on Self Building

    Robert Jenrick – 2021 Comments on Self Building

    The comments made by Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on 24 April 2021.

    Building your own home shouldn’t be the preserve of a small number of people, but a mainstream, realistic and affordable option for people across the country. That’s why we are making it easier and more affordable – backed by over £150 million new funding from the government.

    The scheme we have launched today will help the thousands of people who’d like to build their own home but who’ve not yet considered it or previously ruled it out.

    Our plans will help get more people on to the housing ladder, ensure homes suit people’s needs like home working or caring for relatives, whilst providing an important boost to small builders and businesses too.

  • Ed Miliband – 2021 Comments on Government’s Texts for Access

    Ed Miliband – 2021 Comments on Government’s Texts for Access

    The comments made by Ed Miliband, the Shadow Secretary of State for Business, on 23 April 2021.

    It’s time Ministers stood up for businesses in this country, even if they don’t have the Prime Minister’s mobile number. The path to recovery will be long and difficult for many businesses, and a big challenge facing these firms is the debt overhang built up to keep themselves afloat in the crisis.

    The Government has refused to introduce the kind of flexibility these businesses need, yet Ministers have acted quickly and flexibly to address issues raised by their personal connections. Rather than fast-tracking the concerns of their friends, Ministers should be listening to businesses of all sizes across the country struggling to deal with debt.

    Forcing businesses to repay debt while they are still in the red makes no economic sense. The Government must give our businesses the time to get back on their feet by linking repayments to profits, or risk businesses going to the wall and taking their debt with them – threatening many good businesses and inflicting further damage on our high streets.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Downing Street Refurbisment

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Downing Street Refurbisment

    The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 24 April 2021.

    The Ministerial Code clearly states ‘Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament and the public’. This has not happened.

    Given we know it only takes a text message from a friend to get the full attention at the top of your government, many people will wonder what personal goodwill could be generated by a secret donation to the redecoration of your living quarters.

    Any external financial aid to a Prime Minister’s lifestyle must of course be fully declared at the time and as the Ministerial Code makes clear, real and perceived conflicts of interest must be avoided.

    I believe there needs to be a full investigation given the gravity of the new accusations from your former Chief Adviser and the serious implications of other irregularities of this concerning episode.