The Government has launched a national review and local inspection following the murder of Arthur Laninjo-Hughes
A major review into the circumstances leading up to murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes has been launched by the UK Government to determine what improvements are needed by the agencies that came into contact with him in the months before he died.
The Government has separately commissioned four inspectorates, covering social care, health, police and probation to undertake an urgent inspection of the safeguarding agencies in Solihull to whom Arthur was known.
As part of this inspection, all the agencies tasked with protecting children at risk of abuse and neglect in Solihull will be subject to a Joint Targeted Area Inspection to consider their effectiveness and advise on where improvements must be made.
In addition to this, the independent, national review will identify the lessons that must be learnt from Arthur’s case for the benefit of other children elsewhere in England, to be led by the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
Together, these two actions will mean a deep, independent look at Arthur’s case, and the national lessons to be learnt; and a joined-up inspection of how all the local agencies involved are working, including how they are working together, to keep children safe nationally and locally.
The steps announced today include:
Commissioning a Joint Targeted Area Inspection, led jointly by Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, and HM Inspectorate of Probation. It will consider where improvements are needed by all the agencies tasked with protecting vulnerable children in Solihull, including in how they work together.
A national review, led by the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, to provide additional support to Solihull Children’s Safeguarding Partnership. This will effectively ‘upgrade’ the existing local review, launched shortly after Arthur’s death in June 2020 and paused while the court case continued.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi (above) said: “Arthur’s murder has shocked and appalled the nation. I am deeply distressed by this awful case and the senseless pain inflicted on this poor boy, who has been robbed of the chance to live his life.
“I have taken immediate action and asked for a joint inspection to consider where improvements are needed by all the agencies tasked with protecting children in Solihull, so that we can be assured that we are doing everything in our power to protect other children and prevent such evil crimes.
“Given the enormity of this case, the range of agencies involved and the potential for its implications to be felt nationally, I have also asked Annie Hudson, chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, to work with leaders in Solihull to deliver a single, national review of Arthur’s death to identify where we must learn from this terrible case.
“We are determined to protect children from harm and where concerns are raised we will not hesitate to take urgent and robust action. We will not rest until we have the answers we need.”
The national review takes into account the significance and scale of the circumstances of Arthur’s murder, allowing findings to be disseminated around the country to improve practice and identify the lessons that must be learnt.
It replaces and builds on the original Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review – previously known as Serious Case Reviews – which is overseen by safeguarding leaders in a local area.
Over the next few days the Department for Education will work with both the National Panel and the Solihull Partnership to agree a timeline for publication of the national review, as well as confirming the full scope of the Joint Targeted Area Inspection with the agencies involved.
Since 2010, the Government has established stronger multi-agency working, putting a shared and equal duty on police, council and health services in local areas to work more effectively together in protecting and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children. An independent review of children’s social care is ongoing and is due to report next year.
Anyone who sees or suspects child abuse, or is worried about a child known to them, can report concerns to their local children’s services or by contacting the government-supported NSPCC helpline, which is for adults or practitioners concerned about a child or young person.
Nigeria to be added to the travel red list from 4am Monday 6 December following 21 cases of Omicron reported in England which are linked to travel from this country, with 134 UK cases now reported in total
In light of emerging evidence on the Omicron variant, from 4am on Tuesday 7 December anyone aged 12 and above wishing to travel to the UK will need to show a negative pre-departure test (LFD or PCR) as close as possible to departure and not more than 48 hours before to slow the importation of the new variant
Government working at pace to expand Managed Quarantine Service capacity, but passengers are advised that hotel bookings may be limited as new hotels are onboarded
These are temporary measures that have been introduced to prevent further Omicron cases from entering the UK, and will be examined at the three-week review point on 20 December
From 4am tomorrow – Monday 6 December – UK and Irish citizens and residents arriving from Nigeria must isolate in a government-approved managed quarantine facility for 10 days, and receive two negative PCR tests, as further precautionary action is taken against the Omicron variant.
Currently, the vast majority of cases in the UK have clear links to overseas travel from South Africa and Nigeria, and over the past week, 21 Omicron cases reported in England originate from Nigeria.
A temporary travel ban will therefore be introduced for all non-UK and non-Irish citizens and residents who have been in Nigeria in the last 10 days, meaning they will be refused entry into the UK. This does not apply to those who have stayed airside and only transited through Nigeria while changing flights.
Last weekend, 10 countries were added to the red list and it was announced that all vaccinated passengers arriving in the UK must take a day two PCR tests and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. Since then, the geographical spread of Omicron has increased considerably, with 37 countries around the world now reporting Omicron cases and over 134 cases identified in the UK.
New analysis conducted by the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that the window between infection and infectiousness may be shorter for the Omicron variant, which increases the efficacy of pre-departure testing as it is more likely to identify positive cases before travel.
In light of this emerging evidence and the changing global picture with regards to the spread of Omicron, from 4am on Tuesday, anyone wishing to travel to the UK from countries and territories not on the red list must also show proof of a negative PCR or lateral flow (LFD) pre-departure test, taken no earlier than 48 hours before departure. This applies to vaccinated passengers and children aged 12 and above.
Airlines will be required to check for pre-departure tests alongside a completed passenger locator form, and passengers will not be allowed to board a flight without providing evidence of a negative test result.
Given the reduced incubation period of the Omicron variant, passengers are advised to take the pre-departure test as close as possible to their scheduled departure to the UK and no earlier than 48 hours before travelling.
These additional measures are vital to delaying the import of additional cases and slow the rise in cases within the UK.
However, as the Prime Minister set out on 27 November, all temporary measures will be reviewed after three weeks to ensure that they remain necessary and proportionate, and this will take place on 20 December.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, said: “We knew this winter would be challenging but the arrival of a new variant means we must further strengthen our defences.
“As our world-leading scientists continue to understand more about the Omicron variant we are taking decisive action to protect public health and the progress of our COVID-19 vaccination programme.
“I urge everyone to do their bit to slow the spread by following the new travel rules, wearing masks where mandatory and most importantly getting the booster jab when called.”
Anyone arriving from Nigeria before 4am Monday [6 December] will be advised and strongly encouraged to isolate at home, and their household should also self-isolate for 10 days starting with their arrival in England.
Affected individuals will be contacted and offered free PCR tests to be taken on day 8 after their arrival.
Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “Following developments in the past week, the science shows that we must be cautious in guarding against this new variant and so, while we appreciate this will be difficult for the travel sector, it’s important we prioritise public health.
“As we learn more about the Omicron variant, we will review these temporary measures to ensure they continue to be proportionate and necessary to protect public health.”
Analysis by the UKHSA suggests there is strong indication of Omicron presence in Nigeria, and several cases identified in the UK are linked to travel from Nigeria. The country also has very strong travel links with South Africa, for example Nigeria is the second most popular flight destination from Johannesburg.
The UKHSA continues to monitor the situation closely, in partnership with scientific and public health organisations across the world, and government is working collaboratively with the WHO and countries around the world to better understand the new variant and possible mitigations.
Travellers should not attempt to travel to the UK from a red list country without a Managed Quarantine Service (MQS) booking, as they will not be able to board a flight and could be subject to a fixed penalty notice at the UK border.
The government’s advice is to keep checking the CTM website as there are significant number of cancellations happening which will free up rooms.
The MQS has contracted several new hotels to enter service this week, in response to the likely numbers of UK residents who will want to travel from Nigeria before Christmas.
British nationals in Nigeria should check Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice and follow local guidance. The FCDO will continue to offer tailored consular assistance to British nationals in country in need of support overseas on a 24/7.
The UK government is clear it will take further ‘decisive action’ if necessary to contain the virus and new variant.
The change, informed by a UK Health Security Agency risk assessment, will also take effect in Scotland.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “It is essential we take steps now to keep people safe, protect the roll out of the booster programme and reduce the chances of unsustainable pressure being placed on the NHS over the winter.
“We have always said it may be necessary to quickly implement fresh measures to protect public health in Scotland, particularly with regards to international travel, and these restrictions are proportionate and necessary to that aim.
“We fully understand the impact the changes will have on staff and businesses in the travel and aviation sectors, particularly as the new variant came at a time when we were beginning to see some signs of recovery. We will not keep the restrictions in place any longer than is necessary.”
Countries currently on the red list are: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namiba, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Pre-departure tests are currently required for red list arrivals and unvaccinated travellers from all countries of origin. This change extends the pre-departure test requirement to vaccinated travellers and requires all pre-departure tests to be no later than two days before departure.
This monoclonal antibody – the second to be authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency – is for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of developing severe disease.
Another COVID-19 treatment, Xevudy (sotrovimab), has today been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after it was found to be safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death in people with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection who are at an increased risk of developing severe disease.
This follows a rigorous review of its safety, quality and effectiveness by the UK regulator and the government’s independent expert scientific advisory body, the Commission on Human Medicines, making it the second monoclonal antibody therapeutic to be approved following Ronapreve.
Developed by GSK and Vir Biotechnology, sotrovimab is a single monoclonal antibody. The drug works by binding to the spike protein on the outside of the COVID-19 virus. This in turn prevents the virus from attaching to and entering human cells, so that it cannot replicate in the body.
In a clinical trial, a single dose of the monoclonal antibody was found to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death by 79% in high-risk adults with symptomatic COVID-19 infection.
Based on the clinical trial data, sotrovimab is most effective when taken during the early stages of infection and so the MHRA recommends its use as soon as possible and within five days of symptom onset.
Like molnupiravir, it has been authorised for use in people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infection and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness. Such risk factors include obesity, older age (>60 years), diabetes mellitus, or heart disease.
Unlike molnupiravir, sotrovimab is administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. It is approved for individuals aged 12 and above who weigh more than 40kg.
It is too early to know whether the omicron variant has any impact on sotrovimab’s effectiveness but the MHRA will work with the company to establish this.
Dr June Raine, MHRA Chief Executive said: “I am pleased to say that we now have another safe and effective COVID-19 treatment, Xevudy (sotrovimab), for those at risk of developing severe illness.
“This is yet another therapeutic that has been shown to be effective at protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19, and signals another significant step forward in our fight against this devastating disease.
“With no compromises on quality, safety and effectiveness, the public can trust that the MHRA have conducted a robust and thorough assessment of all the available data.”
Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, Chair of the Commission on Human Medicines, said: “The Commission on Human Medicines and its COVID-19 Therapeutics Expert Working Group has independently reviewed the data and agrees with the MHRA’s regulatory approval of Xevudy (sotrovimab).
“When administered in the early stages of infection, sotrovimab was found to be effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death in high-risk individuals with symptomatic COVID-19. Based on the data reviewed by the Commission and its expert group, it is clear sotrovimab is another safe and effective treatment to help us in our fight against COVID-19.”
Sotrovimab is not intended to be used as a substitute for vaccination against COVID-19.
The government and the NHS will confirm how this COVID-19 treatment will be deployed to patients in due course.
First UK cases of Omicron variant identified Prime Minister confirms new, temporary measures to respond to emergence of UK cases of the Omicron variant
All international arrivals to take a Day 2 PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative test
Face coverings to be made compulsory in shops and public transport
Measures are precautionary, and will be reviewed in three weeks
The Prime Minister yesterday today confirmed new temporary and precautionary measures following the emergence of the Omicron variant in the UK.
The Omicron variant contains a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome. Urgent work is ongoing internationally to fully understand how these mutations may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility.
Vaccines remain our best line of defence. Experts remain confident that our current vaccines will provide protection against the new variant, but the extent of this continues to be investigated.
Over 16 million people have already come forward for their booster jabs, and we have seen a fall in hospitalisations and deaths. All adults who have not yet received their first or second dose of the vaccine, or those who are eligible for their booster are encouraged to come forward to help protect themselves and others.
Targeted measures will be introduced from next week as a precaution to slow down the spread of the variant while we gather more information. These are:
All international arrivals must take a Day 2 PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination status. They will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
Face coverings will be made compulsory in shops and on public transport from next week. All hospitality settings will be exempt.
Six million booster jabs will be available in England alone over the next three weeks, and the Health Secretary has today asked the JCVI to consider rapidly extending boosters, as well as reducing the gap between the second dose and booster.
Two cases of the Omicron variant were today identified in Essex and Nottingham. Targeted testing and contact tracing is now underway.
Early indications suggest this variant may be more transmissible than the Delta variant and current vaccines may be less effective against it. A rapid rise in infections in South Africa has been attributed to the spread of this new variant of COVID-19.
International efforts are now underway to gather as much data and information as possible about this new variant, with more detailed information expected over the next three weeks. It is due to South Africa’s extensive surveillance system and transparency that the UK has been able to have early warning of this new variant and begin collecting data.
Travel restrictions have already been implemented to slow the spread of the variant and protect our borders. From 04:00 Sunday 28 November South Africa, Botswana, Lesostho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibi, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola will be added to the UK’s travel red list.
The vaccination programme and test, trace and isolate system continue to be the most effective way of reducing transmission, along with practicing good hygiene, keeping spaces well ventilated, and wearing a face covering in enclosed or crowded spaces.
The UKHSA continues to monitor the situation closely, in partnership with scientific and public health organisations across the world. The UK government thanks the government of South Africa for its surveillance of this variant and its transparency.
Scots urged to ‘redouble their efforts’
Responding to the confirmation of two cases of the Omicron variant in England, Cabinet Secretary for Health Humza Yousaf said: “News that two cases of the Omicron variant have been confirmed in England is a stark reminder that we must not drop our guard.
“No cases have yet been detected in Scotland, but the fact this new variant is on our doorstep is clearly a worry and we should act as though it is already here.
“There is still much to learn about the Omicron variant. Questions remain about its severity, transmissibility and effect on treatments or vaccines and scientists are working at pace to provide additional information. Until more is known we must adopt the precautionary principle and do everything we can to minimise the risk of spreading infection.
“Following discussions today with Health Secretary Sajid Javid and the other devolved administrations – and in light of the well known practical reasons for preferring a UK wide approach to travel restrictions – we are aligning with the new border restrictions being introduced by the UK Government which will require fully vaccinated arrivals to take a PCR test within two days of arrival and to self-isolate until a negative result is received.
“These measures will be introduced as soon as possible and kept under constant review. However, we reserve the right to go further if necessary.
“We are also adopting the expanded red list of countries identified by the UK Government. This will also be kept under review.
“Throughout the pandemic people in Scotland have been amazing in doing everything possible to get cases down, to protect ourselves, each other and the NHS, and in taking up the offer of a vaccine.
“We must now redouble our efforts to follow the basic rules that have served us well so far in the pandemic – wear a face covering on public transport and in all indoor settings for food and retail; open windows especially if you have people visiting at home; keep washing your hands regularly and thoroughly. Work from home where possible, take regular lateral flow tests and behave sensibly.
“If you have symptoms, self-isolate and take a test and and if contacted by Test and Protect or public health teams please co-operate and follow their advice. All close contacts of suspected Omicron cases will be advised to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
“And of course, if you are still unvaccinated or are yet to get your second dose, please get vaccinated now. If you are over 40, you can book your booster jab for six months after your second vaccine dose – please do so.
“As we head into winter we are facing an as yet unknown risk from this new variant. Let’s once again rise to the challenge and do everything we can to keep everyone safe.”
Scottish Government invited to work with UK Government to deliver ambitious transport improvements
Prime Minister underlines commitment to stronger transport connections between Scotland and the rest of the UK as the UK Government publishes Sir Peter Hendy’s independent Union Connectivity Review.
Prime Minister invites the Scottish Government to work collaboratively on projects that will deliver vital improvements to local, regional and national connections.
UK Government to progress creation of UKNET, a UK wide strategic transport network, to plan and deliver vital improvements that better connect all the nations of the UK.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today (Friday 26th November) committed to forging and strengthening transport bonds that will create a more cohesive and connected United Kingdom.
As the UK Government publishes Sir Peter Hendy’s final report of the Union Connectivity Review, the Prime Minister has underlined the importance of better connections – on both local and national transport networks – to bring all UK communities within closer reach of social and economic opportunities.
The Prime Minister has particularly welcomed, and intends to accept, the proposal for the creation of UKNET – a strategic transport network spanning the entire United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:“With some of the busiest travel corridors for both passengers and freight, strengthening transport connections between Scotland and the rest of the UK is critical to maximise the potential for growth and jobs.
“Sir Peter Hendy’s review identifies key areas where we can boost rail, road and air links to better support Scottish businesses and communities, and we will work closely with the Scottish Government to take these proposals forward in ways that will bring our towns and cities even closer together.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps:“Improved connections between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom are essential for driving economic growth, forging relations, and bringing communities closer together.
“I am indebted to Sir Peter for his work. We will consider his recommendations carefully, engage closely with the Scottish Government, and work collegiately to ensure these proposals strengthen the ties that bind us, now and for the future.”
The proposals for Scotland include upgrades to the West Coast Main Line, increasing capacity and cutting journey times between Scotland and London, the Midlands and North West England, which are key for both communities and businesses.
Another recommendation is for the UK and Scottish Governments to work together on developing an assessment of the East Coast road and rail transport corridor from North East England to South East Scotland, including improvements on the East Coast Main Line and the A1.
It also includes offering the Scottish Government new funding to support the upgrade of the A75 making journeys between Northern Ireland and Great Britain quicker and easier.
This would provide a major boost for jobs and further consolidate the UK Government’s commitment to improving cross-border connectivity.
The Review also encourages the Scottish Government to improve the A77 to support journeys between Belfast, Glasgow, and Aberdeen.
Independent Chair of the Union Connectivity Review, Sir Peter Hendy, said:“My recommendations provide comprehensive, achievable and clear plans forward to better connect the whole of the United Kingdom, leading to more growth, jobs, housing and social cohesion.
“I welcome the enthusiasm shown by the Prime Minister and the Government to my final report and I look forward to their formal response to my recommendations, which aim to spread opportunity and prosperity right across the United Kingdom.”
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:“I thank Sir Peter for his work and I believe his central recommendation – the creation of a UK strategic transport network – lays the foundation for linking up the home nations much more effectively, boosting our economy and levelling up opportunity around the country.
“His specific proposals for upgrades to the A75 and the West Coast Main Line, plus rail and road improvements on the east coast corridor from North East England to South East Scotland will be welcomed by businesses, commuters and leisure travellers alike. As will him encouraging the Scottish Government to improve the A77 to support journeys between Belfast, Glasgow, and Aberdeen.
“Our task is now to turn the vision into real improvements. I urge the Scottish Government to work with us to make that happen so we can deliver the benefits travellers want and businesses need.”
The independent Union Connectivity Review was launched in October 2020, led by Sir Peter Hendy CBE, to undertake how a detailed review of the quality and availability of transport infrastructure across the UK can support economic growth and quality of life.
The recommendations published today include:
The UK Government should design and implement UKNET – a strategic transport network for the whole of the UK, with funding commitments targeted at parts of the network that require the most improvements;
Improvements should be planned using multimodal corridors, which should be appraised on their ability to support the levelling up and net zero agenda;
The UK Government should support the development of sustainable aviation fuel plants in parts of the United Kingdom that are particularly reliant on aviation for domestic connectivity.
The UK Government will now carefully consider the Union Connectivity Review’s recommendations in detail, and has invited the Scottish Government to work together to identify the solutions which work best for the people of Scotland and the rest of the UK, and make tangible and meaningful progress as swiftly as possible.
The Scottish Government has yet to comment on the Review.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave this speech at the CBI conference yesterday:
Great to be here in Tyneside, the number one exporting region of the UK.
Great to be with the CBI.
And I want to begin with a massive thank you to British business.
For keeping going.
For looking after your employees.
For rising to the challenge.
For responding to the call for ventilators in those first dark days.
Dozens of you,
Kitchen appliance makers,
Hairdryer makers,
Formula one motor car manufacturers,
Turning your production lines over in days to try to save lives.
For making the masks and the gowns and the gloves at such speed.
Turning things round from that awful moment when we realised we simply didn’t have the domestic production.
So we have gone from being able to supply 1 per cent of our domestic needs to 80 per cent.
And thank you British industry, enterprise, commerce,
For producing not just one but perhaps half a dozen vaccines.
Because without you, let’s face it, we would simply not be here,
And nor would tens of thousands of people in our country and millions around the world,
Who owe their lives to your resourcefulness and inventiveness.
And while I’m on the subject, can I ask who has had your booster?
You all look far too young and thrusting to need a booster but get your booster as soon as you can.
Because it is by vaccinating our country that we have been able to get your staff back to their place of work, to open our theatres, our restaurants and to get back for longer now than any other comparator country to something like normal life.
Even if we are still bumping elbows and wearing masks.
I am not going to pretend that everything is going to be plain sailing.
We can see the state of the pandemic abroad.
The supply chain issues that we’re facing.
The pressure on energy prices that we’re all facing.
The skills shortages.
But don’t forget folks, my friends, it was only last year they were saying we would have an unemployment crisis now on the scale not seen since the 1980s or 1990s.They were forecasting 12 per cent unemployment.
And what have we got?
Thanks to you, thanks to the resilience of British business, we have employment back in work at pre-pandemic levels.
It was only last year that we experienced the biggest fall in output in a century.
As we were forced to lock down the economy.
Well look at us now.
Thanks to you and thanks to British business bouncebackability, we are forecast to have the fastest economic growth in the G7.
And I was there in the 70s and 80s and 90s.
And I remember mass unemployment.
And the misery and the drain of the human spirit.
And I would much rather have our problems today – which are fundamentally caused by a return in global confidence and a surge in demand.
Because now we have a massive opportunity to fix these supply-side problems.
To transform whole sectors of our economy and to tackle the chronic problems underlying the UK economy.
The woeful imbalance in productivity across the country.
But also the imbalance between British business.
Between the go-getting world-beaters represented by so many people in this room,
And the long comet tail whose potential is frankly yet to be realised.
That don’t have the skills – particularly the IT skills – as Rishi the Chancellor so often points out.
That don’t have the banks behind them, that don’t have the investment.
And that is the mission of this country – to unite and level up.
Of this government – to unite and level up across the whole country.
And I’ve got to be honest with you, it is a moral mission.
As you get older, the funny thing is you get more idealistic and less cynical.
It’s a moral thing, but it is also an economic imperative.
Because if this country could achieve the same kind of geographical balance and dispersion of growth and wealth that you find in most of our most successful economic comparators,
And if all our businesses could reach more balance in their levels of productivity,
Then there would be absolutely no stopping us.
And we would achieve what I believe we can.
And become the biggest and most successful economy in Europe.
And today fate has handed us an opportunity to do that.
When the first industrial revolution began 250 years ago it was British industry that had first-mover advantage.
For hundreds of years, we maintained that pace.
Right up until the beginning of the 20th century we were producing more coal, smelting more iron, building more ships and boilers and making more machines than virtually any other country on earth.
And today we are on the brink of another revolution.
A green industrial revolution.
And again there are many ways in which we have first-mover advantage.
And today I want to tell you in the CBI how Britain is going to win in the new green industrial revolution.
Provided we act and act now.
I have had some pretty wonderful jobs in my life, but among the most purely hedonistic I would rank motoring correspondent of GQ magazine.
I drove:
Ferraris
Maseratis
Nissan Skylines
Proton Sagas
You name it, I drove it.
And I learned to admire the incredible diversity of the UK specialist motor manufacturing sector, which is actually the biggest in the world.
And I have spent hours in the traffic, listening to the porridge-like burble and pop of the biggest and most sophisticated internal combustion engines ever made.
And I have heard that burble turn into an operatic roar as I have put my foot down and burned away from the lights at speeds I would not now confess to my protection officers.
In that time, that great era, I only tried two EVs – electric vehicles.
An extraordinary wheeled rabbit hutch that was so tiny you could park it sideways.
And I tried the first Tesla for sale in this country, for GQ, that expired in the fast lane of the M40.
They’ve got a lot better.
And when a few years later as Mayor of London I tried to get London motorists to go electric and we put in charging points around the city, I must confess that they were not then a soaraway success.
And they stood forlorn like some piece of unused outdoor gym equipment.
But ten years after that – the tipping point has come, hasn’t it?
UK sales of EVs are now increasing at 70 per cent a year.
And in 2030 we are ending the market for new hydrocarbon ICEs, ahead of other European countries.
And companies are responding.
Here in the north east, Nissan has decided to make an enormous bet on new electric vehicles and together with Envision there is now a massive new gigafactory for batteries.
And around the world, these cars are getting ever more affordable.
And at Glasgow two weeks ago the tipping point came, as motor manufacturers representing a third of the world market – including the EU and America – announced that they would go electric by 2035.
And of course, Glasgow was far bigger and more important than that.
250 years after we launched the first industrial revolution, we are showing the world how to power past coal.
When I was a kid, 80 per cent of our electricity came from coal.
And I remember those huge barges taking coal up the Thames to Battersea power station and those four chimneys belching fumes into the face and lungs of the city.
By the time I became mayor, Battersea was a wreck.
Closed for being simply too polluting.
And good for nothing except the final shoot out in gangster movies.
But in 2012, we were still 40 per cent dependent on coal.
Today – only ten years later – coal supplies less than 2 per cent of our power.
And by 2024 it will be down to zero
And Battersea of course is a great funkapolitan hive of cafes and restaurants and hotels and homes
Thanks to the vision of the former Mayor.
And every time I made that point to leaders in Glasgow,
About the speed of the switch that we’ve made from coal,
I could see them thinking about it and I could see them thinking: right, ok, maybe this is doable.
And when I was a kid literally zero per cent of our energy came from wind.
And it seemed faddish and ludicrous to imagine that we could light and heat our homes with a technology that dated from 9th century Persia, I think.
And yet today – look at the coast of the north east where we are today.
Row after row stretching out to the north sea, of beautiful white mills as we claim a new harvest,
Rich and green from the drowned meadows of doggerland.
And on some days we derive almost half this country’s energy needs,
With the biggest offshore wind production anywhere in the world – and growing the whole time.
And that tipping point having been reached, the pace of change is now going to accelerate like new a Tesla.
Because I can tell you as a former motoring correspondent, EVs may not burble like sucking doves, and they may not have that arum arum araaaaaagh that you love,
But they have so much torque that they move off the lights faster than a Ferrari.
And we are now embarked on a new epoch.
And in just a few years’ time, after almost a century of using roughly the same technology, we are going to change radically.
We are going to change radically:
our cars
our trucks
our buses
our ships
our boats
our planes
our trains
our domestic heating systems
our farming methods
our industrial processes
our power generation
And much else besides.
And I can tell you the force driving that change.
It won’t be government, and it won’t even be business – though business and government together will have a massive influence.
It will be the consumer.
It will be the young people of today,
The disciples of David Attenborough,
Not just in this country but around the world,
Who can see the consequences of climate change and who will be demanding better from us.
And I confidently predict that in just a few years’ time it will be as noisome, offensive to the global consumer to open a new coal fired power station as it is to get on a plane and light up a cigar.
And as the world reaches this pivotal moment, post Glasgow, it’s vital that we recognise not just the scale of the challenge, but the opportunity now for British business and industry.
Because in the end it is you, it is business people, who will fix this problem.
Governments don’t innovate.
Governments don’t produce new products and get out and sell them in the market place.
And though governments can sell, governments can spend tens if not hundreds of billions,
We know that the market has hundreds of trillions.
And yet we also know that government has a vital role in making that market, and in framing the right regulation.
And to ensure that you, the British business succeeds in this new world, we have set out a ten point plan for government leadership.
A new Decalogue that I produced exactly a year ago, when I came down from Sinai and I said to my officials the new ten commandments thou shalt develop:
Offshore wind.
Hydrogen.
Nuclear power.
Zero emission vehicles.
Green public transport, cycling and walking.
‘Jet zero’ and green ships
7: greener buildings
8: carbon capture and storage
9: nature and trees
10: green finance
And for each of those objectives we are producing a roadmap, so that you in the private sector can see the opportunities ahead and what you need to do.
And we are regulating so as to require new homes and buildings to have EV charging points – with another 145,000 charging points to be installed thanks to these regulations.
We are investing in new projects to turn wind power into hydrogen.
And the net zero strategy is expected to trigger about £90 billion of private sector investment, driving the creation of high wage high skill jobs across the UK, as part of our mission to unite and level up across the country.
Not just in the green industrial revolution of course, but in all sectors of the economy.
And to help you, and to build the platform, to give you the advantage you need, we are now waging a cross-Whitehall campaign to solve our productivity puzzle and to rebalance our lopsided economy.
Fixing our infrastructure with investment on a scale not seen since the Victorians.
And we must begin with energy and power generation,
if we are going to have, allow, our manufacturing industry to succeed, we must end the unfairness that UK, high energy-intensive manufacturing pays so much more than our competitors overseas.
And that’s why we are going to address the cost of our nuclear power and we are all now paying for the historic under under-investment in nuclear power.
Which country first split the atom?
Which country had the first civilian nuclear power plant?
It was this one.
And why have we allowed ourselves to be left behind?
Well, you tell me.
So we are investing not just in big new nuclear plants but in small nuclear reactors as well.
And we are consulting on classifying this essential technology as “green investment”, so that we can get more investment flowing in and ahead of the EU.
Lenin once said that the communist revolution was soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country.
Well, I hesitate to quote Lenin, Tony, before the CBI, but the coming industrial revolution is green power plus the electrification of the whole country.
We are electrifying our cars, we are electrifying our rail.
Last week we announced three vast new high speed lines.
Cutting the time from London to Manchester by an hour.
And creating a new Crossrail of the north
Cutting the time from Manchester to Leeds from 55 to 33 minutes.
A crossrail for the Midlands,
Cutting journey times from Birmingham to Nottingham from one hour and 14 minutes to 26 minutes.
But these plans are far richer and more ambitious than some of the coverage has perhaps suggested.
To solve this country’s transport problems, you can’t just endlessly carve your way through virgin countryside.
You have to upgrade, and to electrify.
You have to use the tracks that already exist and bring them back into service.
And we are doing the Beeching reversals – that’s putting in lines that were taken out sadly in the last century.
You have to put other transport networks as well.
You have to put in clean buses, you have to improve,
4000 new clean green buses we’re putting in.
And of course, you have to fix the roads as well.
We cannot be endlessly hostile to road improvements.
And we have to do it now, we have to fix it now.
I know that there are some people who think that working habits have been remade by the pandemic, and that everyone will be working only on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday, in an acronym I won’t repeat.
I don’t want to be dogmatic about this, but I have my doubts.
And it is not just that young people need to be in the office to learn, and to compete, and to pick up social capital.
There are also sound evolutionary reasons why mother nature does not like working from home.
So I people prophesy that people will come back, Tony – they will come to the office.
And they will come back on the roads and the rail.
But people also want choice.
And that is why we must put in the gigabit broadband – as we are – which has gone up massively just in the last couple of years from 7 per cent when I became PM to 65 per cent at the beginning of next year.
And with safer streets,
With great local schools,
With fantastic broadband,
People will have the confidence to stay nearer the place they grew up.
To start business.
And business will have the confidence to invest.
And then of course there is one thing that business wants and that this country needs,
Far more than a hundred supersonic rail links,
Far more than broadband,
And that is skills.
And the people that you all need to staff your business.
It’s an astonishing fact that the 16-18 year olds in this country are getting 40% less time and instruction than our competitors in the OECD, and so we’re turning that round.
We are focusing on skills, skills, skills,
Investing in our FE colleges, our apprentices, in the knowhow and confidence of young people.
And since, as everybody knows, 80 per cent of the 2030 workforce are already in work,
We are giving every adult who needs it the chance to get a level three skill.
£3000 for a lifetime skills guarantee.
We are supporting bootcamps for everything from IT to entrepreneurship.
And at this pivotal moment in our economic history, we are taking advantage of our new freedoms.
To deliver freeports as well as free trade deals.
And to regulate differently and better,
To lengthen our lead in all the amazing new technologies of the 21st century:
AI
cyber
quantum computing
And all the rest and all the applications of those technologies to the areas in which we excel.
So you get fin tech, ed tech, bio tech, med tech, nano tech, ag tech, green tech,
So you sound basically like 15th century Mexico.
And that is what this country is doing
There are only 3 countries that have produced more than 100 tech unicorns
and they are, as you will know, well which are they? Let’s see who’s been paying attention to any of my speeches in the last few … which 3 nations have produced more than 100 tech unicorns?
Correct. They are the US, China and the UK
And the wonderful thing about the more than the 100 tech unicorns is they are dispersed now far more evenly across the whole of the UK than the tech unicorns of some of our rival competitor economies.
And that is a fantastic thing.
We want to see the dispersal of this growth and development across the UK. That’s why this government has doubled investment in scientific research – and again, we want to see the benefits of that research across the whole of the country
But in the end
And this is the most important message of all.
There are limits to what governments can do.
And I just want to be absolutely clear about this – because this has been an extraordinary period.
There has been the financial crisis of 2008, where government had to intervene on a massive scale.
Then Covid, when government had to intervene on a massive scale.
But government cannot fix everything and government sometimes should get out of your hair.
And government should make sure there is less regulation and indeed less taxation.
And the true driver of growth is not government, it is the energy and dynamism and originality of the private sector
And Tony, yesterday, I went as we all must to Peppa Pig World.
Hands up if you’ve been to Peppa Pig World – [not enough]
I was a bit hazy about what I would find at Peppa Pig World, but I loved it.
Peppa Pig World is very much my kind of place.
It had very safe streets.
Discipline in schools.
Heavy emphasis on new mass transit systems, I noticed.
Even if they are a bit stereotypical about daddy pig.
But the real lesson for me about going to Peppa Pig World was about the power of UK creativity.
"Yesterday I went to Peppa Pig World… I loved it, it's very much my kind of place"
Who would have believed, Tony, that a pig that looks like a hairdryer, or possibly a sort of Picasso-like hairdryer,
A pig that was rejected by the BBC,
Would now be exported to 180 countries,
With theme parks both in America and in China as well as in the New Forest,
And a business that is worth at least £6bn to this country, £6bn and counting.
I think that it is pure genius, don’t you?
No government in the world, no Whitehall civil servant in the world, could conceivably have come up with Peppa.
So my final message to you.
As we stand on the brink of this green industrial revolution.
As we prepare to use our new regulatory freedoms in what I believe will be a very strong post-Covid rebound.
We are blessed,
We are blessed not just with capital markets and the world’s best universities and incredible pools of liquidity in London, the right time zone and the right language and opportunity across the whole country,
We are also blessed with the amazing inventive power and range of British business.
And that above all is what fills me with confidence, members of the CBI, for the days ahead.
Thank you very much for your kind attention this morning, thank you.
SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald has called on the Tory Westminster Government to make good on the money Scotland and Northern Ireland are owed as its share of the £20 billion from Boris Johnson’s ill-fated plan to build a bridge to Northern Ireland. Money which represents the equivalent of up to £1.4 billion for Edinburgh.
The project – promoted by Boris Johnson was costed at £20 billion, but since the plans for the bridge were canned the money has not been allocated for spending in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Now, Gordon Macdonald MSP is demanding that the money be allocated to Scotland to be spent on worthwhile transport projects that could transform connectivity in Edinburgh.
Gordon said: “Whilst the crossing was a daft idea, the SNP will engage with ideas of how funding can be distributed to ensure worthwhile investment in transport links across Scotland which will benefit communities like Edinburgh. £20 billion for a transport project in Scotland and Northern Ireland is worth up to £1.4 billion for Edinburgh.
“The Tories are up to their old tricks again as we saw last time they had control of Scotland’s money. When they diverted cash from the Highlands to try to boost dwindling Conservative support in south-east England.
“What the people of Edinburgh need is proper commitments that will make transformational changes to connectivity across the area. Edinburgh’s share of the cash would equal up to £1.4 billion and the Tories owe the community that money which would make a significant difference in how people get around.
“This also shows once again how out of touch Boris Johnson really is with people in Edinburgh and across Scotland as he has his priorities all wrong to bring about real change for people here.
“We cannot trust the Tories to act in the best interests of Scotland and that is why the people of Scotland should have the choice of a different path towards independence.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statement to the House of Commons on COP26
Mr Speaker before I begin today’s statement I would like to say a few words about the abhorrent attack that took place yesterday morning outside the Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
On behalf of the whole House I want to pay tribute to the swift and professional response by the extraordinary men and women of the emergency services, who once again showed themselves to be the very best among us.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has today raised the nationwide threat level from substantial to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. The police are keeping both myself and the Home Secretary informed on developments and we will of course in turn keep the House updated on the investigation as it continues.
And now Mr Speaker with your permission I should like to make a statement on the United Nations Climate Change Conference better known as COP26 which took place in the magnificent city of Glasgow over the past two weeks.
It was the biggest political gathering of any kind ever held in the United Kingdom. 194 countries were represented.
We had around 120 heads of state or government. 38,000 accredited delegates. And there were countless tens of thousands more in the streets and parks and venues outside. It was a summit that many people predicted would fail.
A summit that I fear some quietly wanted to fail. Yet it was a summit that proved the doubters and the cynics wrong. Because COP26 did not just succeed in keeping 1.5 alive. It succeeded in doing something no UN climate conference has ever done before by uniting the world in calling time on coal. In 25 previous COPs, all the way back to Berlin in 1995, not one delivered a mandate to remove so much as a single lump of coal from one power station boiler.
For decades, tackling the single biggest cause of carbon emissions proved as challenging as eating the proverbial elephant. It was just so big that no one knew quite where to start. But in Glasgow, Mr Speaker, we took the first bite.
Because we have secured a global commitment to phasing down coal – and as John Kerry has pointed out, you can’t phase out coal without first phasing it down as we transition to other, cleaner energy sources – and we have, for the first time, a worldwide recognition that we’ll not get climate change under control as long as our power stations are consuming vast quantities of the sedimentary super-polluter that is coal.
That alone is a great achievement, but we haven’t just signalled the beginning of the end for coal. We’ve ticked our boxes on cars, cash and trees as well. The companies that build a quarter of the world’s automobiles have agreed to stop building carbon emission vehicles by 2035 – and cities from Sao Paulo to Seattle have pledged to ban them from their streets.
We’ve pioneered a whole new model, an intellectual breakthrough, that sees billions in climate finance, development bank investment and so forth being used to trigger trillions from the private sector to drive the big decarbonisation programmes in countries like South Africa.
And we’ve done something that absolutely none of the commentators saw coming by building a coalition of more than 130 countries to protect up to 90 per cent of our forests, those great natural soakers of carbon. Mr Speaker none of this was a happy accident or inevitability.
The fact that we were there at all, in the face of a global pandemic, is in itself the result of a vast and complex effort involving countless moving parts. Right until the very end there was a very real prospect that no agreement would be reached.
And what has been achieved has only come about thanks to month after month of concerted British diplomacy, the countless meetings, the innumerable phone calls. The banging of heads at UNGA, at the Petersberg Dialogue, at President Biden’s climate summit, the Security Council, the G7, the G20. And the setting of an example, several examples by the UK.
Because again and again the task of our negotiators was made easier by the fact that the UK wasn’t asking anyone to do anything we’re not doing ourselves. We’ve slashed our use of coal so much that our last two coal-fired power stations will go offline for good in 2024. We’ve more than doubled our climate finance, providing vital support for poor and vulnerable nations around the world.
We’ve made a legally binding commitment to reach net zero, the first of the major economies to do so. We’ve set a date at which hydrocarbon internal combustion engines will reach the end of the road. And we’ve shown the world that it’s possible to grow your economy while cutting carbon – creating markets for clean technology and delivering new green jobs that reduce emissions and increase prosperity.
Every one of those achievements was not just great news for our country and our planet but another arrow in the quiver of our fantastic team in Glasgow. A team led by COP president the Rt Hon Member for Reading West. From the moment he picked up the COP reins he has been absolutely tireless in his efforts to secure the change that we need. And while I’m pretty sure that what he really needs right now is a well-deserved break
I don’t think any of us here will be able to hold him back as he sets off pushing countries to go further still and making sure the promises made in Glasgow are delivered not diluted. But success has many parents and I want to say a huge thank you to the officials in our own COP unit, in Downing Street and across government in embassies around the world, and at the United Nations who pulled out all the stops to make the event work and shepherd through the agreements that have been reached.
I also want to thank everyone on the ground at the SEC in Glasgow – security, catering, transport, the relentlessly cheery volunteers, the police from across the country who kept us safe from harm, the public health authorities who kept us safe from Covid – and everyone in the Scottish Government.
And above all I want to say thank you to the people of Glasgow, who had to put up with so much disruption in their city and welcomed the world all the same. I say to the people of Glasgow – we couldn’t have done it without you.
Is there still more to do? Of course there is. I am not for one moment suggesting we can safely close the book on climate change.
In fact I can think of nothing more dangerous than patting ourselves on the back and telling ourselves that the job is done. Because this job will not be complete until the whole world has not only set off to reach net zero but arrived at the destination.
A goal that, even with the best of intentions from all actors, cannot be achieved overnight. While COP26 has filled me with optimism about our ability to get there I cannot now claim to be certain that we will, because we have seen countries that really should know better dragging their heels on their Paris commitments.
But if, and it is still an if, they make good on their pledges, then I believe Glasgow will be remembered as the place where we secured an historic agreement and the world began to turn the tide.
Before Paris we were on course for four degrees of warming. After Paris that number fell to a still catastrophically dangerous three. This afternoon, after Glasgow it stands close to two. Still too high, the numbers are still too hot, but closer than we have ever been to the relative safety of 1.5, and with an all-new roadmap that will lead us there.
Aristotle taught us that virtue comes not from reasoning and instruction but from habit and practice. And so the success of the Glasgow Climate Pact lies not just in the promises but in the move that the whole world has now made from setting abstract targets to adopting the nuts and bolts programme of work to meet those targets and to reduce CO2 emissions.
We are now talking about the how rather than the what and getting into a habit of cutting CO2 that is catching on not just with governments but with businesses and with billions of people around the world.
It is for that reason that I believe COP26 has been a success and 1.5 is still alive.
That is something in which every person in our United Kingdom can and should take pride, and I commend this statement to the House.
Health and Social Care Secretary accepts independent advice to extend booster programme to people aged 40 and over, and offer a second dose to people aged 16 – 17.
Scotland will follow suit
The UK Government has accepted updated JCVI advice on COVID-19 vaccination programme. Scotland will also ‘follow the science’.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination roll-out has been a phenomenal success, saving countless lives, reducing pressure on the NHS and helping us stop the spread of the virus.
“All 4 parts of the UK intend to follow the JCVI’s advice.
“I have asked the NHS to prepare to offer those eligible a vaccine as soon as possible.
“We know immunity to COVID-19 begins to wane after 6 months and new data published today shows a third dose boosts protection against symptomatic infection to more than 90% – this highlights just how important it is that everyone eligible gets their top-up jabs as soon as possible.
“The JCVI will keep under review whether the booster programme should be extended to all people under the age of 40 and I look forward to receiving their advice in due course.
“This is a national mission – the vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones, and I urge everybody to get your jabs as soon as you can.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will address the Scottish Parliament tomorrow.
Prime Minister welcomes historic climate agreement reached at COP26 in Glasgow which keeps 1.5C goal alive
Global action on coal, cars, cash and trees as well as new net zero commitments secured under UK Presidency
PM urges greater action throughout our year of COP26 Presidency to drive down emissions and support countries on the frontline of climate change
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has welcomed the landmark agreement adopted at COP26 today, which keeps the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C in reach provided countries continue to take ambitious action over the next decade.
Over the last two weeks, tens of thousands of people from 196 countries have come together in the UK to make history. The ‘Glasgow Climate Pact’ reached last night commits countries to phase down unabated coal, supports a just transition for developing countries and action to tackle loss and damage, and agrees for the first time a common timeframe and methodology for national commitments on emissions reductions.
Crucially, countries are also asked to return next year with a more ambitious 2030 emissions reductions target (their Nationally Determined Contribution) in line with the 1.5C target, ensuring we maintain crucial momentum on climate action this decade.
The UK will continue to push for greater action on reducing emissions and supporting developing countries with finance and access to new green technology over the next year of our COP Presidency, before Egypt take on the mantle.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We asked nations to come together for our planet at COP26, and they have answered that call. I want to thank the leaders, negotiators and campaigners who made this pact happen – and the people of Glasgow who welcomed them with open arms.
“I also want particularly to thank COP President Alok Sharma who has worked incredibly hard to bring countries together.
“There is still a huge amount more to do in the coming years. But today’s agreement is a big step forward and, critically, we have the first ever international agreement to phase down coal and a roadmap to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
“I hope that we will look back on COP26 in Glasgow as the beginning of the end of climate change, and I will continue to work tirelessly towards that goal.”
The negotiated text agreed last night comes on the back of a series of pledges and announcements made during the COP26 World Leaders Summit and theme days, which have driven transformative action on coal, cars, cash and trees and mark a shift in the relationship between people and planet.
On coal, 65 countries have now committed to phasing out the use of coal power. All major coal financing countries have committed to end international coal finance by the end of 2021, with $20 billion in funding to support the transition to clean power announced at COP26. There is now more work to be done to ensure all major emitters sign up to phase out coal.
On cars, we worked to build consensus on the pace of the transition to zero emission vehicles. Over 30 countries and some of the world’s largest car makers committed to work together to make all new car sales zero emission globally by 2040, and by 2035 in leading markets, building on the UK’s commitment to end the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
On cash, more public and private finance has been mobilised to support climate action in developing countries than ever before and the global financial system is aligning behind a net zero world.
New pledges made at COP26 bring us closer to meeting the $100bn annual climate finance target next year and ensure we will exceed it after that, as well as mobilising billions in private finance and green investment. Governments have committed to double the overall finance for adaptation and better address the threat of loss and damage in climate-vulnerable countries – we will now work with all countries to make good on those pledges.
And on trees, more than 130 leaders, representing over 90% of the world’s forests, pledged at COP26 to end deforestation by 2030, backed by almost £14 billion of public and private funding.
The COP26 Summit follows nearly two years of intensive global climate diplomacy, led by UK COP President Alok Sharma, to listen to the needs of climate-vulnerable countries and push big economies to take greater action on cutting emissions. At least 90% of the global economy is now covered by net zero commitments, up from 30% when the UK took on the COP presidency in 2019, and 154 countries and parties representing 80% of global emissions have submitted NDCS.
The UK will continue to work with other countries to deliver on the Glasgow Climate Pact and drive further action, working closely with Egypt which will take over the COP Presidency in November 2022.
Commenting on the agreement of the Glasgow Climate Pact at the conclusion of the UN Climate Conference COP 26, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Glasgow should be very proud of the warm welcome that it has given to COP26.
“The city has truly risen to the occasion and played its part by welcoming thousands of delegates, representatives, scientists and climate activists from around the world.
“I also want to thank and pay tribute to the efforts of the UN, the UNFCCC led by Patricia Espinosa and COP26 President Alok Sharma and his negotiators for their hard work and commitment.
“The Glasgow Climate Pact does not contain everything that every country wanted and there is understandable disappointment that key issues were watered down in the final hours, but there can be no doubt that the Glasgow summit has made progress on some important issues.
“The importance of capping temperature increases at 1.5 degrees is no longer questioned and the need for countries to come back next year with higher contributions to tackling emissions may just be enough to keep 1.5 alive – if countries including Scotland really do deliver on our commitments.
“There have been significant commitments to double finance for adaptation, to take action on methane and deforestation and the beginning of proper recognition of the loss and damage that is being experienced by countries particularly in the global south. Those countries compromised on their needs today to make progress and we must not let them down.
“Over the course of COP26 Scotland has put £2 million on the table for loss and damage and, in doing so, we have become the first developed country to step up. Our action has already galvanised $3 million dollars of philanthropic funds to add to our contribution and a further one million euros from Wallonia.
“Developed countries can no longer in good conscience ignore this pressing moral issue. The demand for financial support for loss and damage must be met and I am determined that the Scottish Government will continue to support countries to achieve a financial outcome on this issue ahead of COP27.
“There is also recognition for the first time, although it is deeply disappointing that due to last minute interventions by China and India it is not as strong and clear as it should be, of the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, a journey Scotland has already embarked on – and needs to accelerate – in a way that is fair and just.
“Outside of the formal negotiations, states, regions and countries like Scotland – as well as cities like Glasgow – have boosted our collective ambition to reach net zero by 2050 and earlier where possible. Scotland has led the way with commitments to make sure women and young people are central to our efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
“While there has been much positive progress, there is no escaping the fact that COP26 has not delivered as much as global south countries, activists and campaigners rightly demanded and I firmly believe that the leaders of the rich developed countries must go further.
“In particular, the failure to close the gap and deliver the $100 billion commitment in full was not a lack of funds but a lack of political will.
“I have heard the disappointment of a number of vulnerable nations. There was more that could be done to deliver climate justice and every day of the next 12 months the UK Presidency must be focused on securing what has been agreed, ensuring historic promises do not go unmet and taking the necessary steps to put the world firmly on an irreversible path to capping temperature rises at 1.5 degrees.
“Where COP26 has succeeded, the pressure from young people, the global south and activists around the world has been critical. Where COP has more to do, it is leaders who must shoulder the responsibility.”
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg took to Twitter to record her feelings on the conference outcome: “The #COP26 is over. Here’s a brief summary: Blah, blah, blah. But the real work continues outside these halls. And we will never give up, ever.“
She added: “Unless we achieve immediate, drastic, unprecedented, annual emission cuts at the source then that means we’re failing when it comes to this climate crisis.
“‘Small steps in the right direction’, ‘making some progress’ or ‘winning slowly’ equals losing. #COP26#UprootTheSystem“
