The Foreign Secretary saw first-hand the impact of UK aid on a visit to Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border yesterday, as the UK calls for significant more aid to reach Gaza, through as many routes as possible.
David Cameron met with representatives from the Egyptian Red Crescent Society, who are coordinating the relief effort at the Rafah crossing, and hear how the UK’s contributions of shelter, blankets and other vital equipment has been providing much needed relief to the people of Gaza.
Together with international partners, the UK is increasing efforts to get greater humanitarian aid into Gaza. The UK will support United Nations World Food Programme to further enhance the new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan through Kerem Shalom.
The first direct World Food Programme aid convoy, made up of 46 trucks, travelled from Jordan to Gaza on 20th December carrying over 750 tonnes of food aid. A £2 million contribution from the UK will help to get further emergency food assistance to those who need it most.
The UK continues to urge Israel to increase the flow of aid into Gaza through Kerem Shalom and are exploring other routes to increase aid reaching Gaza, including maritime options.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: “The UK is committed to alleviating the suffering of people in Gaza. We have already trebled our aid commitment to Palestinians this year and the Prime Minister and I urged Israel at the highest levels to open Kerem Shalom in order to get significantly more aid into Gaza.
“We need to use as many routes as possible to achieve this goal. We have supported Jordan to deliver a new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan into Gaza and continue to call for significantly more aid to be allowed into Gaza through Kerem Shalom.
“I am delighted to appoint Mark Bryson-Richardson as the UK’s Humanitarian Representative. He is a highly skilled diplomat official with extensive experience working in the region and will drive forward this vital work.”
The UK is stepping up its commitment for greater humanitarian aid and fuel to reach civilians in Gaza by appointing Mark Bryson-Richardson as the Foreign Secretary’s Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Mark is a former UK Ambassador to Iraq and previously headed the Department for International Development’s Middle East and North Africa Directorate and the cross-Government Stabilisation Unit.
So far, the UK has announced it will spend almost £60 million in additional humanitarian funding in Gaza, trebling our existing annual budget to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).
UK aid will make a huge difference on the ground in Gaza, for example we will be providing coverage kits which are temporary shelters including plastic sheeting and blankets that are desperately needed in the harsh winter weather.
The UK continues to reiterate the urgent need for more humanitarian pauses and sustained access for more aid and fuel to reach civilians in need.
The most recent package of £30 million funding, announced by the Foreign Secretary on his last visit to the region, has been allocated to trusted partners on the ground. This includes UNRWA, UNICEF, the OCHA Pooled Fund and the British Red Cross to support the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent Societies, who are providing vital food, shelter and medical supplies.
UK government launches interactive tool to help businesses and charities spot and tackle domestic economic abuse
Victims of domestic abuse are at an increased risk around Christmas with reports to police forces in England and Wales rising by 25%
Launch delivers on government pledge in summer to transform HMRC internal guide into a public facing resource, and coincides with £12 million of support at Autumn Statement for tackling domestic abuse
The UK government has today [Wednesday 20 December 2023] launched a free interactive guide to help businesses spot and tackle domestic economic abuse.
Survivors of domestic abuse are at an increased risk around Christmas and, on average, it is reported that police forces in England and Wales receive over 100 calls relating to domestic abuse every hour, and around 95% of domestic abuse victims experience economic abuse. During the Christmas period, the number of calls can rise by 25%.
The new tool, available on GOV.UK, aims to help call handlers at businesses and charities recognise abuse when speaking to customers and clients.
Specialist charities such as Surviving Economic Abuse will be on standby to offer training to interested organisations.
Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Huddleston, said: “We’ve made economic abuse punishable by law, but it’s just as important that we provide the support needed to help victims escape dangerous situations.
“That’s what today’s toolkit is about – the more organisations that use it, the faster we can help bring an end to abuse at home.”
In summer this year, the government announced there would be a new interactive tool to help trained advisers in businesses and charities spot and tackle economic abuse. Since then, HMRC has worked closely with Surviving Economic Abuse holding workshops with charities and financial services firms to develop the tool and help get this right.
Based on a caller’s response, a trained call handler will navigate through the interactive tool to help identify potential victims. This will support the handler to decide what help the organisation might be able to offer the customer as well as provide details of relevant charities and support networks.
The launch coincides with £12 million of support for charities working with victims of domestic abuse, announced last month by the Chancellor at the Autumn Statement, helping to tackle abuse at home and help survivors rebuild their lives.
Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs OBE, CEO and founder of Surviving Economic Abuse, said: “Economic abuse, where an abuser controls money and the things money can buy, is a devastating form of domestic abuse.
“It makes it harder for victim-survivors and their children to leave and rebuild their lives safely. Reporting abuse can be intimidating, so it’s important that whoever a victim-survivor reaches out to for help – the police, a bank manager, supermarket cashier or call handler – they can give a supportive response.
“We’re pleased the Treasury has launched this toolkit to support businesses to play their role in bringing economic abuse out from behind closed doors and supporting survivors to take safe steps to freedom.
“It’s vital that employers are properly trained in spotting the signs of economic abuse and confidently signposting to specialist support. The right response will be life changing.”
Economic abuse, which Surviving Economic Abuse estimates one in five women in the UK have experienced in the last 12 months, is when an individual’s ability to acquire, use and maintain economic resources are taken away by someone else in a coercive or controlling way.
Surviving Economic Abuse research found seven in ten front-line professionals reported the number of survivors of economic abuse coming to their organisation for help had increased since the start of the pandemic. By the end of the first Covid-19 lockdown, the charity found one in five women were planning to seek help around welfare benefits.
Tackling domestic abuse is a UK Government priority and improving the response to economic abuse is integral to this. For the first time in history, economic abuse is now recognised in law as part of the statutory definition of domestic abuse included in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
This is in recognition of the devastating impact it can have on victims’ lives.
David Cameron will travel to Paris and Rome for talks with French President Macron, Italian Prime Minister Meloni, and foreign minister counterparts
He will call for increased coordination between allies to address the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza as well as maintaining support for Ukraine
Discussions will also focus on working together to tackle illegal migration
At a time of volatile international crises, Foreign Secretary David Cameron will visit the French and Italian capitals today (19 December) to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as well as maintaining support for Ukraine over the winter period.
During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will reiterate his call for a sustainable ceasefire, leading to a sustainable peace, and for increased coordination across European allies to ensure life-saving aid can get into Gaza to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. The Foreign Secretary will also urge continued support for Ukraine to defend itself through military, humanitarian and economic means.
Tackling illegal migration is also high on the agenda, with the UK working alongside France and Italy to stop the criminal gangs. This follows the UK signing landmark deals with the two countries that have seen small boat channel crossings drop by a third.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: “As we face some of the greatest challenges to international security in a lifetime, our response must be one of strength and resilience with our European allies.
“From the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza, to Putin’s brutality in Ukraine, it is more important than ever to strengthen our alliances and make sure our voice is heard.”
In Paris, the Foreign Secretary will meet French President Emmanuel Macron, and Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to discuss maintaining support for Ukraine and finding a long-term political solution that supports Israel’s security and the rights of Palestinians to live in peace. They will also discuss how the UK and France can continue to coordinate their humanitarian responses in Gaza.
The visit will also look ahead to a milestone year for UK-France relations in 2024, which will mark 120 years since the signing of the Entente Cordiale and 80 years since the D-Day landings, two watershed moments for the two countries.
Following the Prime Minister’s visit over the weekend, the Foreign Secretary will then travel to Rome for talks with the Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and to address Italian ambassadors gathered at the Italian foreign ministry for their annual Heads of Mission conference.
The Foreign Secretary will also meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s meeting with PM Meloni this weekend. Top of the agenda for the Rome programme will be boosting the two countries’ close cooperation on illegal migration.
They will welcome a new agreement between the two countries to contribute £4 million to the International Organization for Migration’s assisted voluntary returns project in Tunisia.
The joint funding will go towards providing humanitarian assistance and support for vulnerable and stranded migrants to return home safely.
Government sets out the next stages for a number of new Workers’ Rights Acts to support UK workers
UK Government sets out next steps to improve the lives of workers across the UK
Benefits include tips worth £200 million a year in the pockets of hardworking people and more say over working patterns
Government ‘also backing British workers’ by introducing the biggest ever increase to the National Living Wage
Millions are set to benefit as the Westminster government sets out the next stages for a number of new Workers’ Rights Acts – giving more money and more say back to UK workers.
Benefits range from £200 million more back in the pockets of hard-working people, to greater flexibility over when, where and how you work.
Business and Trade Minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “As we approach Christmas, it’s more vital than ever that we do what we can to support workers and families across the country.
“I’d like to encourage businesses to be as flexible as possible and give their hard-working employees the tips they deserve.
“I want to thank the MPs who brought forward this legislation to support hard working families and shape the UK’s outstanding workers’ rights record.”
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, which became law in May this year, requires employers to pass all tips on to workers.
Most employers already pass on tips to the staff who earn them. However, there are still some unacceptable tipping practices by unscrupulous employers, which must be stopped.
Christmas is an incredibly busy season for hospitality workers, and usually a time of year when customers are more generous with their tips. All employees deserve to receive their fair share of tips, so the Government has launched a public consultation on the Tipping Act’s Code of Practice to gain feedback from employers, workers and other stakeholders on the fair and transparent distribution of tips.
Acas Chief Executive Susan Clews said: “The shift in recent years towards increased use of flexible working by organisations has allowed more people to better balance their working lives and enabled employers to attract and retain skilled staff.
“Acas has recently consulted on a new draft Code of Practice which outlines good practice around requests for flexible working and explains the forthcoming changes in the law to employers and employees.”
New rights to protect new parents from redundancy, give carers extra support and help all employees work flexibly are also a step closer as government has laid legislation with plans for the measures to come in next spring.
These measures will improve the lives of hard-working families across Britain, aiding workers who have caring responsibilities or parents at risk of redundancy and ensuring everyone is able work as flexibly as needed into the new year.
An extra 2.6 million workers across the UK will benefit from the removal of the 26 week qualifying period that is currently required before making a flexible working request.
Those with caring responsibilities will also be entitled to a brand new employment right to a week’s leave to care for a dependent.
Redundancy protections are also being extended to cover pregnancy, as well as to new parents.
The UK Government is are also backing British workers by introducing the biggest ever increase to the National Living Wage, worth over £1,800 a year for a full-time worker, fulfilling the pledge to end low pay.
When this increase comes into effect in April, the National Living Wage will be worth nearly £21,000 a year for a full time worker – almost double, in cash terms, the amount which a full time worker on the National Minimum Wage earned in 2010.
For the first time, 21 years olds will be legally entitled to the National Living Wage, which is set to reach two-thirds of average earnings.
The 2024-25 Scottish Budget will set out targeted funding for the Government’s key missions of equality, community and opportunity amid a profoundly challenging financial situation, Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said.
Next week Ms Robison, who is also Finance Secretary, will outline the Scottish Government’s financial priorities for 2024-25, including the difficult choices that have had to be made as a result of last month’s Autumn Statement.
The Deputy First Minister has described that Statement as a “worst case scenario” for Scotland, telling Parliament that it failed to provide the investment needed in services and infrastructure, reflecting the UK’s economic circumstances after Brexit.
Tuesday’s Budget will provide the funding to protect people and public services from the worst effects of these economic circumstances, Ms Robison said.
The Finance Secretary added: “In the face of a deeply challenging financial situation, this Budget will reaffirm our social contract with the people of Scotland.
“The Autumn Statement was devastating for Scottish finances. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has acknowledged that it will lead to planned real terms cuts in public service spending. Scotland is facing a 9.8% cut to our capital budget for infrastructure between this year and 2027-28.
“The £10.8 million additional health consequentials we received from the Autumn Statement for next year are enough to run NHS Scotland for just five hours, and UK Government funding for justice, housing and communities, net zero, energy, and environment are all being cut in real terms. All this comes on top of more than a decade of UK Government underinvestment that has left our public services with very little resilience.
“We refuse to follow UK Government spending decisions – indeed, we are doing all we can to mitigate them. We are proud that Scotland has a social contract which ensures people are protected by a safety net should they fall on hard times. And this contract underpins this Budget, with targeted funding to protect people and public services.
“We are unashamedly targeting resources at those most in need to support them through the cost of living crisis. We are providing funding to deliver the services that people rely on most, along with a ten-year programme of public service reform. And we are using all the powers we have to create a thriving economy while providing funding to achieve our ambitious net zero targets.”
The government has signed the Hillsborough Charter, pledging to learn the lessons and make sure no family suffers the same injustices
Bereaved families will be better supported in the aftermath of major incidents, as the government commits to making sure the experiences of the Hillsborough families are learnt from and not lost.
In response to Bishop James Jones’ report, The Patronising Disposition of Unaccountable Power, published on Wednesday 6 December, the government set a series of expectations for how public bodies should act in the aftermath of a major incident.
This comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has repeated the government’s apology to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster and their families, who have endured harrowing injustices for over thirty years.
Committing to Bishop Jones’ first recommendation – a Charter for Families Bereaved through Public Tragedy, or as it will be known, the Hillsborough Charter – the Deputy Prime Minister has signed the pledge and written to all departments to make sure everyone in government is aware of what it this means for the way they work.
By signing this Charter, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to a culture of honesty and transparency in public service and reminding all in government why these values are so important.
A duty of candour for policing will also be required by law, holding policing to the highest standards. Chief Constables must ensure their officers act with openness, and speak up on behalf of victims. This builds on existing requirements for individual officers to cooperate with official investigations and inquiries.
Anyone who fails to cooperate with a statutory inquiry could face criminal sanctions under the Inquiries Act and police officers found to have committed a serious breach of professional standards, including failing to cooperate with an inquiry, can face dismissal. Last week’s announcement follows the commitment made to create a permanent Independent Public Advocate.
The testimony of the Hillsborough Families made clear how the difficulties following a major disaster can be compounded by having no single person to turn to for support and advice. The Independent Public Advocate will help victims and families navigate the justice system in the wake of a public disaster, ensure that they know their rights, and that their needs are supported.
By making this a permanent position, the Public Advocate will be ready to be deployed immediately in the aftermath of any crisis.
The government will also take action in response to concerns raised by Bishop James that families should have legal representation at inquests.
A consultation will soon be launched to expand legal aid for families bereaved through public disaster where an Independent Public Advocate is engaged, or in the aftermath of a terrorist incident.
New guidance will also lead to greater transparency around how much is spent on lawyers representing central government public bodies’ at inquests. This will set a clear expectation that they should not hire more lawyers than are necessary and spend on legal representation should be published.
Speaking when the government published its response on Wednesday 6 December, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The Hillsborough families have suffered multiple injustices and more than thirty-four years later, there can never be too many apologies for what they have been through. And I want to repeat that apology today, and thank the Hillsborough families for their tenacity, patience and courage.
“Today, the government will publish its response to Bishop James Jones’ report on the experiences of these families, setting out how we will improve support for the bereaved in the aftermath of a public disaster and how we expect public bodies to act – which is with honesty, transparency and candour.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “The 97 lives taken by the Hillsborough disaster will never be forgotten. So many people were touched by this national tragedy and the Hillsborough families were badly let down.
“Police dishonesty, lack of accountability and obstruction were all prevalent. That is why we promised the Hillsborough families that we would honour the legacy of their campaigning and deliver lasting change.
“By signing the Hillsborough Charter and introducing a duty of candour for policing, this government will deliver that change and protect others from similar experiences in the future.”
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk KC MP said: “For far too long, but with great dignity, the Hillsborough families battled to get justice. Too many others have faced similar obstructions and it must end.
“The Independent Public Advocate we are creating, as well as the free legal advice and representation we are offering will prevent other families facing these injustices and get them the help they deserve.”
Bishop James’ report was published in 2017 and made 25 recommendations for government, the police and the Chief Coroner.
Since then, the need to avoid risk of prejudice to ongoing legal proceedings for much of that time regrettably delayed the government’s response from being published. The government has been in contact with the Hillsborough families throughout the preparation of this response, and some of the families were in Liverpool on Wednesday 6 December to read the response in advance of its publication.
In their meeting with some of the Hillsborough families earlier in the year, the Lord Chancellor and former Home Secretary apologised for the time it had taken to publish the government’s full response.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing published the police’s response to Bishop James’ report earlier this year.
The Chief Coroner also published his own independent response on Wednesday 6 December.
The UK is to lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, with Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirming the transfer of two Royal Navy minehunter ships to the Ukrainian Navy.
The UK will lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, delivering ships and vehicles to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to operate at sea.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will today confirm Ukraine’s procurement of two Royal Navy minehunter ships for the Ukrainian Navy.
New coalition will deliver long-term support to Ukraine, including training, equipment, and infrastructure to bolster security in the Black Sea.
Two Royal Navy minehunter ships are being transferred from the Royal Navy to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in a move to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to operate at sea.
As the UK and Norway launch a new Maritime Capability Coalition, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will announce the procurement of two Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) by Ukraine through UK Export Finance today in London.
He will be joined by his Norwegian counterpart to jointly launch the Maritime Capability Coalition. Alongside this new initiative, the Defence Secretary will confirm further details of UK military support to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s economy continues to be impacted by Putin’s blockade in the Black Sea, which has significantly reduced the country’s ability to move vital exports by sea. Strengthening the AFU’s maritime capabilities, in particular countering the threat from Russian sea mines, will help restore Ukraine’s maritime exports.
This builds on the UK Foreign Secretary’s visit to Ukraine last month where he welcomed the launch of the new ‘Unity Facility’ between UK company Marsh McLennan and the Ukrainian Government, which will provide affordable shipping insurance for grain and other critical food supplies globally from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, actively support international efforts to alleviate the global food crisis.
The new Maritime Capability Coalition will build the support that the UK, Norway, and others are providing to Ukraine. This will be long term to help Ukraine transform its navy, making it more compatible with western allies, more interoperable with NATO, and bolstering security in the Black Sea.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “These minehunters will deliver vital capability to Ukraine which will help save lives at sea and open up vital export routes, which have been severely limited since Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion.
“This capability boost marks the beginning of a new dedicated effort by the UK, Norway and our allies to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime capabilities over the long term, enhancing their ability to operate in defending their sovereign waters and bolstering security in the Black Sea.
“As an island nation with a proud maritime history, the UK and Royal Navy are particularly well-placed to support this endeavour, which will form part of a series of new coalitions formed between allies to ensure an enduring military commitment in support of Ukraine.”
The new maritime coalition will work closely with the Ukrainian Navy and Ministry of Defence to develop a number of capabilities, including the rapid development of a maritime force in the Black Sea, continuing to develop a Ukrainian Marine Corps, and river patrol craft to defend coastal and inland waterways.
Agreed during recent meetings of the 50-nation strong Ukraine Defence Contact Group, it forms part of a series of Capability Coalitions to strengthen Ukraine’s operations in other domains including on land and in the air.
The Prime Minister and Defence Secretary have emphasised the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine, with £4.6bn in military support allocated since Putin launched his full-scale invasion, and more than 52,000 Ukrainian troops trained since Russia first invaded Crimea in 2014.
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a speech on illegal migration yesterday (7 December 2023):
Today the government has introduced the toughest anti-illegal immigration law ever.I know it will upset some people and you will hear a lot of criticism about it. It’s right to explain why I have decided to do this.
I’m the child of immigrants … I understand why some people take the risk of getting into unsafe dinghies to cross open waters…
…it’s because the United Kingdom is an incredible country… it offers opportunity, hope and safety.
But the difference is: my family came here… legally.
Like most immigrants, they integrated into local communities…
…worked hard to provide for their family
…built lives and businesses, found friends and neighbours…
… and most of all… they were really proud to become British.
That feeling of pride… it cascades down the generations and grows… and that’s why you see so many children of immigrants sitting around the Cabinet table.
But it’s not a given… illegal immigration undermines not just our border controls… it undermines the very fairness that is so central to our national character.
We play by the rules. We put in our fair share. We wait our turn.
Now if some people can just cut all that out… you’ve not just lost control of your borders… you’ve fatally undermined the very fairness upon which trust in our system is based.
That’s why this legislation is necessary.
To deliver an effective deterrent to those who wish to come here illegally…
…to restore people’s trust that the system is fair…
… and ultimately: to stop the boats.
And so, our Bill today fundamentally addresses the Supreme Court’s concerns over the safety of Rwanda.
I did not agree with their judgement, but I respect it.
That is why I have spent the last three weeks working tirelessly to respond to their concerns…
…and to guarantee Rwanda’s safety in a new legally binding international treaty.
The Supreme Court were clear that they were making a judgement about Rwanda at a specific moment 18 months ago…and that the problems could be remedied.
Today we are confirming that they have been…
…and that unequivocally, Rwanda is a safe country.
And today’s Bill also ends the merry-go-round of legal challenges that have blocked our policy for too long.
We simply cannot have a situation where our ability to control our borders…
…and stop people taking perilous journeys across the channel…
…is held up in endless litigation in our courts.
So this Bill gives Parliament the chance to put Rwanda’s safety beyond question in the eyes of this country’s law.
Parliament is sovereign. It should be able to make decisions that cannot be undone in the courts.
And it was never the intention of international human rights laws…
…to stop a sovereign Parliament removing illegal migrants to a country that is considered safe in both parliamentary statute and international law.
So the Bill does include what are known as “notwithstanding” clauses.
These mean that our domestic courts will no longer be able to use any domestic or international law…
…including the Human Rights Act…
…to stop us removing illegal migrants.
Let me just go through the ways individual illegal migrants try and stay.
Claiming asylum – that’s now blocked.
Abuse of our Modern Slavery rules – blocked.
The idea that Rwanda isn’t safe – blocked.
The risk of being sent on to some other country – blocked.
And spurious Human Rights claims – you’d better believe we’ve blocked those too…
…because we’re completely disapplying all the relevant sections of the Human Rights Act.
And not only have we blocked all these ways illegal migrants will try and stay…
…we’ve also blocked their ability to try and stay by bringing a Judicial Review on any of those grounds.
That means that this Bill blocks every single reason that has ever been used to prevent flights to Rwanda from taking off.
The only, extremely narrow exception will be if you can prove with credible and compelling evidence…
….that you specifically have a real and imminent risk of serious and irreversible harm.
We have to recognise that as a matter of law – and if we didn’t, we’d undermine the treaty we’ve just signed with Rwanda.
As the Rwandans themselves have made clear…
…if we go any further the entire scheme will collapse.
And there’s no point having a Bill with nowhere to send people to.
But I am telling you now, we have set the bar so high…
…that it will be vanishingly rare for anyone to meet it.
And once you have been removed, you’ll be banned for life from travelling to the UK, settling here, or becoming a citizen.
But, of course, even with this new law here at home…
…we could still face challenges from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
So let me repeat what I said two weeks ago –
I will not allow a foreign court to block these flights.
If the Strasbourg Court chooses to intervene against the express wishes of our sovereign Parliament…
…I will do what is necessary to get flights off.
And today’s new law already makes clear that the decision on whether to comply with interim measures issued by the European Court…
…is a decision for British government Ministers – and British government Ministers alone.
Because it is your government – not criminal gangs, or indeed foreign courts –who decides who comes here and who stays in our country.
Now of course, our Rwanda policy is just one part of our wider strategy to stop the boats.
And that strategy is working.
I’ve been Prime Minister for just over a year now and for the first time, small boat arrivals here are down by a third….
…even as illegal crossings of the Mediterranean have soared by 80 per cent.
Let me just repeat that: small boat arrivals here are down by a third.
To help achieve that, we’ve signed returns and co-operation agreements with France, Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, and Georgia.
Illegal working raids are up by nearly 70 per cent.
50 hotels are being returned to their local communities and we are housing people in a new barge and in former military sites.
The initial asylum backlog is down from 92,000 to less than 20,000.
We’ve returned over 22,000 illegal migrants.
And as our deal with Albania shows – deterrence works.
Last year, a third of all those arriving in small boats were Albanian.
This year we have returned 5,000 people and cut those arrivals by 90 per cent.
And Albanian arrivals have far more recourse to the courts than anyone under this new legislation.
That’s why I’m so confident that this Bill will work.
Lord Sumption, the former Supreme Court Judge, believes this Bill will work.
We will get flights off the ground.
We will deter illegal migrants from coming here.
And we will, finally, stop the boats.
AN EXPENSIVE BUSINESS
The UK has given Rwanda a further £100m this year as part of its deal to relocate asylum seekers there.
The payment was made in April, the Home Office’s top civil servant Sir Matthew Rycroft said in a letter to MPs, after £140m had already been paid to Rwanda.
THE LETTER READS:
07 December 2023
Migration and Economic Development Partnership Funding
Dear Dame Diana and Dame Meg,
At the evidence sessions on 29th November and 4th December respectively, you and your Committees asked me about payments the UK Government had made to the Government of Rwanda for the purposes of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership.
As I said then, the total the UK Government paid in the financial year 2022-23 was £140m. This comprised an initial investment of £120 million through an Economic Transformation and Integration Fund (ETIF) which is for the economic development and growth of Rwanda. A separate payment of £20 million was also paid in this timeframe to support initial set up costs for the relocation of individuals.
I set out why Ministers had decided to announce payments in the 2023-24 financial year in our Annual Reporting and Accounts next summer, for reasons of balancing the public interest. I fully recognise the public interest in transparency and accountability of public authorities for expenditure and the broad public interest in furthering public understanding of the issues with which public authorities deal. However, this must also be balanced against public interests which work the other way. For example, you will recognise the importance of respecting commercial confidence and the maintenance of confidence between international partners.
Since then, Ministers have agreed that I can disclose now the payments so far in the 2023-24 financial year. There has been one payment of £100m, paid in April this year as part of the Economic Transformation and Integration Fund mentioned above. The UK Government has not paid any more to the Government of Rwanda thus far. This was entirely separate to the Treaty – The Government of Rwanda did not ask for any payment in order for a Treaty to be signed, nor was any offered. Any additional funds will be announced in our Annual Report and Accounts in the usual way.
In the 2024-25 financial year, we anticipate another payment of £50m as part of the ETIF as agreed with Government of Rwanda when the Migration and Economic Development Partnership was signed.
All of these payments are covered by the Ministerial Direction of 16th April 2022. Given the public interest, this letter will be published on GOV.UK.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will push for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Palestinians faster – including by sea directly into Gaza – when he visits the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel this week.
The trip will see him discuss options with leaders to provide civilians in Gaza with more aid and how the UK can support the Palestinian Authority, as well as efforts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East.
He will also discuss progress in recovering hostages – including a number of Britons – who were taken by Hamas terrorists during the 7 October attacks.
With Palestinian civilians experiencing a growing humanitarian crisis, the Defence Secretary will address options for providing Gaza with more medical and humanitarian aid, including potential routes via land, sea, and air. To date, four RAF flights carrying over 74 tonnes of aid have landed in Egypt with aid bound for Palestinians.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: ”My visit this week is an important opportunity to discuss efforts to accelerate the delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance into Gaza and efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages.
We are working to find the best way to get aid and support to those in desperate need in the quickest and most direct route. That includes options by land, sea and air.
We have deployed an extra 1,000 military personnel in the Middle East and our forces are there to support the humanitarian aid effort and help in stabilising the area.
“The events of 7 October horrified the world and I personally want to offer my support and condolences to Israel and its people.
“We fully support Israel’s right to defend itself, but it is important their fight against Hamas terrorists remains within international law.”
In the OPTs, the Defence Secretary is expected to meet the Interior Minister of the Palestinian Authority, General Ziad Hab Al-Reeh, to address the urgent need for measures to improve security for Palestinians in the West Bank.
In Tel Aviv, the Defence Secretary will meet Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to address the current security situation and Israel’s next steps.The UK has made clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against terror, restore its security and bring the hostages home, but it must abide by international humanitarian law and take all possible measures to protect civilians.
Since Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023, the UK has increased its military presence in the region in order to support contingency planning, monitor the evolving situation, and to be ready to react and respond to regional threats.
This included the deployment of a Royal Navy task group to the eastern Mediterranean, including RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argus, three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines.
In support of the ongoing hostage rescue activity, the UK Ministry of Defence is also conducting unarmed surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, including operating in airspace over Israel and Gaza.
In total, the UK has deployed an additional 1,000 personnel to the Middle East, bringing the total number of Armed Forces personnel deployed to the region to around 2,500 – including those deployed for counter-Daesh operations, training, and maritime security.
Last week, the Defence Secretary also announced that HMS Diamond is deploying east of Suez to join HMS Lancaster on Operation Kipion, the UK’s longstanding maritime presence in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, following increasing concerns about the security of important maritime trade routes.
On Wednesday, the Defence Secretary also travelled to the Republic of Cyprus and the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. During this visit, he met with the Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos and discussed the importance of humanitarian support for Gaza, the war in Ukraine, and shared security interests.
Home Secretary James Cleverly addressed Parliament on the Rwanda Treaty and the new Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill yesterday:
With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement about the government’s plans to stop the boats and tackle the vile trade in people smuggling across the Channel.
Three weeks ago, the Supreme Court handed down their judgment on this government’s Migration and Economic Development Agreement with Rwanda.
In that judgment, their Lordships upheld the view of the High Court and the Court of Appeal that it is lawful to relocate illegal migrants, who have no right to be here, to another safe country for asylum processing and resettlement.
But the Court upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal, meaning that the government cannot yet lawfully remove people to Rwanda. This was due to the Court’s concerns that relocated individuals might be “refouled” – i.e. removed to a country where they could face persecution or ill-treatment. We did not agree with that assessment, but of course we respect the judgement of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court also acknowledged that their concerns were not immutable, were not an aspersion on Rwanda’s intentions, and that changes may be delivered in the future which could address their concerns.
Today I can inform the House that those concerns have been conclusively answered and those changes made, as a result of intensive diplomacy by the Prime Minister, by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, by the Attorney General’s Office and of course by the Home Office.
We have created a situation which addresses these concerns.
Our Rule of Law Partnership with Rwanda sets out in a legally binding international treaty the obligations on both the UK and Rwanda within international law, and sets out to this House and to the Courts why Rwanda is and will remain conclusively a safe country for the purposes of asylum and resettlement.
This is a partnership to which we and Rwanda are both completely committed. Rwanda is a safe and prosperous country and it is a vital partner for the UK. Our treaty puts beyond legal doubt the safety of Rwanda and ends the endless merry-go-round of legal challenges that have frustrated thus far this policy and second-guessed the will of Parliament.
I want to put on record my gratitude to President Kagame, Foreign Minister Biruta, and the Rwandan government for working with us at pace to do what to takes to get this deal up and running, with flights taking off as soon as possible.
Rwanda will introduce a strengthened end-to-end asylum system, which will include a new, specialist asylum appeals tribunal to consider individual appeals against any refused claims.
It will have one Rwandan and one other Commonwealth co-president and be made up of judges from a mix of nations, selected by those co-presidents.
We have been working with Rwanda to build capacity and to make clear that those relocated to Rwanda will not be sent to another third country.
The treaty is binding in international law. It also enhances the role of the independent Monitoring Committee, which will ensure adherence to obligations under the treaty and have the power to set its own priority areas for monitoring.
It will be given unfettered access to complete assessments and reports and monitor the entire relocation process, including initial screening, to relocation and settlement in Rwanda.
And it will develop a system to enable relocated individuals and legal representatives to lodge confidential complaints directly with the Committee.
But given the Supreme Court’s judgment, we cannot be confident that courts will respect a new treaty on its own. So today the government has published emergency legislation to make unambiguously clear that Rwanda is a safe country and to prevent the courts from second guessing Parliament’s will.
We will introduce legislation tomorrow, in the form of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, to give effect to the judgement of Parliament that Rwanda is a safe country, notwithstanding UK law or any interpretation of international law.
For the purposes of the bill, a safe country is defined as one to which people may be removed from the UK in compliance with all of the United Kingdom’s obligations under international law that are relevant to the treatment in that country of people who are removed there.
It means that:
someone removed to that country will not be removed or sent to another country in contravention of any international law; and
anyone who is seeking asylum or who has had asylum determination will have their claim determined and be treated in accordance with that country’s obligations under international law.
Anyone removed to Rwanda under the provisions of the treaty will not be removed from Rwanda except to the United Kingdom in a very small number of limited and extreme circumstances.
And should the UK request the return of any relocated person, Rwanda will make them available.
Decision-makers – which both the Home Secretary and immigration officers and the courts – must all treat Rwanda as a safe country.
And they must do so notwithstanding all relevant UK law or any interpretation of international law, including:
the Human Rights Convention;
the Refugee Convention;
the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights of 1966;
the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of 1984;
the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings done at Warsaw on 16 May 2005;
customary international law; and
any other international law, or convention or rule of international law, whatsoever, including any order, judgment, decision, or measure of the European Court of Human Rights.
Where the European Court of Human Rights indicates an interim measure relating to the intended removal of someone to Rwanda under, or purportedly under, a provision of the Immigration Acts…
…a Minister of the Crown alone – and not a court or tribunal – will decide whether the United Kingdom will comply with those interim measures.
And to further prevent individual claims to prevent removal, the bill disapplies the relevant provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998, including sections 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
It is a bill which is lawful, it is fair, and it is necessary.
Because people will only stop coming here illegally when they know that they cannot stay, and they will be detained and quickly removed to a safe third country.
Because Mr Deputy Speaker, it is only by breaking the cycle and delivering a deterrent that we will remove the incentive to come and stop the boats.
This legislation builds on the Illegal Migration Act that this House passed this summer and complements the basket of other measures that the UK government is employing to end illegal immigration.
The largest ever small boats deal with France, for example, tackling the supply of boats and parts, the arrest and conviction of people-smugglers, and illegal working raids have all helped to drive down small boat arrivals. Drive them down by more than a third this year even as numbers are rising elsewhere in Europe.
Parliament and the public alike support the Rwanda plan. Other countries have since copied our plans with Rwanda. And we know from interviews that the prospect of being relocated out of the UK has already had a deterrent effect. This will be considerably magnified when we get flights off to Rwanda.
The treaty and new bill will make that a reality.
I commend this statement to the House.
IMMIGRATION minister Robert Jenrick has resigned over Rwanda legislation.
