In UN address the PM will call on democracies to harness the power of cooperation seen since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to constrain authoritarianism.
PM will argue the free world must prioritise economic growth and security – including ending dependency on authoritarians – to win the new era of strategic competition.
UN speech will also stress the need to properly invest in our physical security and will recommit to spending 3% of UK GDP on defence by 2030.
Prime Minister Liz Truss will use a speech in New York today (Wednesday) to warn fellow democratic leaders against any complacency when it comes to defending our values and preserving a world order that rewards freedom.
At the first ever session of the UN General Assembly held in the shadow of a large-scale war of aggression in Europe, the Prime Minister will highlight the threat from authoritarian states working to undermine security and stability around the world.
She will outline her vision for this new, more competitive era, which will require likeminded democracies to fight to defend our ideals. This fight begins with ensuring the UK and its partners have the strong economic foundations they need to constrain authoritarianism.
The Prime Minister will outline her plans to build a British economy which attracts growth by rewarding innovation, championing investment and enterprise, and welcoming the best talent around the world.
She will also set out the steps the Government is taking to ensure the British economy is free from malign interference. This includes increasing our energy independence and safeguarding the security of our supply chains.
In her speech, the Prime Minister will tell the UN: “The commitment to hope and progress must begin at home – in the lives of every citizen that we serve…
“We want people to keep more of the money they earn, because we believe that freedom trumps instruction…
“…We are reforming our economy to get Britain moving forward once again. The free world needs this economic strength and resilience to push back against authoritarian aggression and win this new era of strategic competition…
“…We will no longer be strategically dependent on those who seek to weaponise the global economy.”
As the UK boosts the dynamism and resilience of our own economy, the Prime Minister will also make the case for democracies working together to protect one another’s economic security.
The strength of democratic economies, rooted as they are in the aspirations of their people, is a clear counterpoint to autocratic states, which sow the seeds of their own demise by stifling aspiration and creativity.
The Prime Minister will make the case for harnessing that strength and denying authoritarian states the opportunity to manipulate the global economy.
She will tell the UN General Assembly that the G7 and other likeminded partners must act as an economic NATO, collectively defending our prosperity and coming to the aid of any partner targeted by an aggressive regime.
This economic security goes hand in hand with physical security. The Prime Minister will therefore reiterate her commitment to protecting the UK and our allies, including by increasing defence spending to 3% of UK GDP on defence by 2030.
The Prime Minister is expected to say: “Just as we are building a plan for growth at home, we are also developing a new blueprint for our engagement with the world.
“We will build resilience and collective security – because they are vital for freedom and democracy. We will be a reliable, trustworthy and dynamic partner.”
To ensure the UK’s diplomatic, military and security architecture is keeping pace with evolving threat posed by hostile nations, the Prime Minister has commissioned an update to the Integrated Review.
The UK’s Integrated Review of security, defence, development and foreign policy was published in March 2021 – before Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine created the greatest security challenge ever experienced by NATO.
Professor John Bew, the Prime Minister’s special adviser for foreign affairs and defence, will lead a Downing Street process to update the review.
The refreshed strategy will ensure we are investing in the strategic capabilities and alliances we need to stand firm against coercion from authoritarian powers like Russia and China. The update is expected to be published by the end of this year.
By properly investing in defence, the Prime Minister will ensure that the UK maintains our position as the leading security actor in Europe, so that we are ready to stand up for peace, prosperity and freedom across the world – just as we have done in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister will highlight these efforts in her speech. She will pay tribute to the bravery and determination of the Ukrainian people, and commit to continue standing up for human rights and democracy around the world.
The Prime Minister is expected to say: “This is a decisive moment in British history, in the history of this organisation, and in the history of freedom.
“The story of 2022 could have been that of an authoritarian state rolling its tanks over the border of a peaceful neighbour and subjugating its people.
“Instead, it is the story of freedom fighting back …
“But this must not be a one off … Britain’s commitment to this is total.
“Together with our friends and allies around the world, we will continue to champion freedom, sovereign and democracy.
“And we will define this new era as one of hope and progress.”
Eleven trade unions, coordinated by the TUC and represented by Thompsons Solicitors LLP, have began legal proceedings to protect the right to strike.
The unions – ASLEF, BFAWU, FDA, GMB, NEU, NUJ, POA, PCS, RMT, Unite and Usdaw – have taken the case against the UK government’s new regulations which allow agency workers to fill in for striking workers and break strikes.
The unions come from a wide range of sectors and represent millions of workers in the UK.
The unions argue that the regulations are unlawful because:
The then Secretary of State for business failed to consult unions, as required by the Employment Agencies Act 1973.
They violate fundamental trade union rights protected by Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The change has been heavily criticised by unions, agency employers, and parliamentarians.
The TUC has warned these new laws will worsen industrial disputes, undermine the fundamental right to strike and could endanger public safety if agency staff are required to fill safety critical roles but haven’t been fully trained.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which represents suppliers of agency workers, described the proposals as “unworkable”.
The Lords Committee charged with scrutinising the legislation said “the lack of robust evidence and the expected limited net benefit raise questions as to the practical effectiveness and benefit” of the new laws.
The TUC also recently reported the UK government to the UN workers’ rights watchdog, the International Labour Organization (ILO), over the recent spate of anti-union and anti-worker legislation and proposals, including the government’s agency worker regulations, which it says are in breach of international law.
TUC affiliated unions UNISON and NASUWT are also launching separate individual legal cases against the government’s agency worker regulations.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty. But the government is attacking it in broad daylight.
“Threatening this right tilts the balance of power too far towards employers. It means workers can’t stand up for decent services and safety at work – or defend their jobs and pay.
“Ministers failed to consult with unions, as the law requires. And restricting the freedom to strike is a breach of international law.
“That’s why unions are coming together to challenge this change in the courts.
“Workers need stronger legal protections and more power in the workplace to defend their living standards – not less.”
Richard Arthur, Head of Trade Union Law at Thompsons Solicitors LLP, said: “The right to strike is respected and protected by international law including the Conventions of the ILO, an agency of the United Nations, and the European Convention on Human Rights.
“The Conservative government should face up to its legal obligations under both domestic and international law, instead of forever trying to undermine the internationally recognised right to strike.”
The TUC’s annual Congress has been rescheduled for 18-20 October 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth. The three-day event will take place at the Brighton Centre.
From today (20 September) around six million disabled people in the UK will start to receive their one-off £150 Disability Cost of Living payment
Six million people who are paid certain disability benefits will begin to receive a one-off payment of £150 from today
Payments are part of the government’s wider £37 billion support package, including the Energy Price Guarantee and cost of living payments totalling £650
Those who had confirmed payment of their disability benefit for 25 May will receive the £150 automatically, with the vast majority to be paid by early October.
The payment will help disabled people with the rising cost of living, acknowledging the higher disability-related costs they often face, such as for care and mobility needs.
The cost of living payments from the government are part of a £37 billion package of support, which will see millions of households receive at least £1,200 this year to help cover rising costs, and follows the Prime Minister’s announcement of a new Energy Price Guarantee for the next two winters saving households on average £1,000 a year on their energy bills.
Work and Pensions Secretary Chloe Smith said: “We know disabled people face additional costs and this government is listening and taking decisive action to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
“In addition to the £150 Disability Cost of Living payment, households will save an average of £1,000 a year through our new Energy Price Guarantee and the lowest-income households will receive at least £1,200 to help with the rising cost of living this year.
“This multi-billion-pound package of support reinforces our commitment to help UK households, particularly those with disability challenges, through the tough times ahead.”
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The government is providing vital support to shield the most vulnerable from rising prices caused by global economic challenges.
“From today, a one-off £150 payment will automatically land in over six million disabled peoples’ accounts. This is in addition to the decisive action we took last week to hold down energy bills over the next two years, saving the average household £1,000 a year.
“The government is standing behind people this winter, and in the longer term we are focusing on driving economic growth – the only way to permanently boost everyone’s living standards.”
His Majesty The King and the Royal Family wish to send their sincere gratitude for the messages of condolence received from around the world.
The Royal Family has been deeply moved by the global response and affection shown for The Queen as people join them in mourning the loss of Her Majesty.
Her Majesty The Queen’s State Funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19 September, followed by a Committal Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Elements of the State Funeral Service and the associated ceremonial arrangements will pay tribute to The Queen’s extraordinary reign, and Her Majesty’s remarkable life of service as Head of State, Nation and Commonwealth:
Presently, a continuous Vigil of Her Majesty’s Coffin is being kept by The King’s Body Guards at the Palace of Westminster. Each Watch lasts for six hours, with individuals within those Watches keeping Vigil for 20 minutes.
The Coffin is draped with the Royal Standard, on which lie the Instruments of State, the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre, where they will remain for the duration of the State Funeral and Committal Service.
A Vigil around the Coffin will be held by The King, The Princess Royal, The Duke of York, and The Earl of Wessex at 1930hrs this evening, Friday 16th September.
On the morning of the State Funeral, the Lying-in-State will end at 0630hrs as the final members of the public are admitted.
At 1044hrs the Coffin will be borne in Procession on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral.
Immediately following the Coffin will be The King, Members of the Royal Family and members of The King’s Household.
The Procession will arrive at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey at 1052hrs where the Bearer Party will lift the coffin from the State Gun Carriage and carry it into the Abbey for the State Funeral Service.
The State Funeral Service will be attended by Heads of State and Overseas Government Representatives, including Foreign Royal Families, Governors General and Realm Prime Ministers.
Other representatives of the Realms and the Commonwealth, the Orders of Chivalry including recipients of the Victoria Cross and George Cross, Government, Parliament, devolved Parliaments and Assemblies, the Church, and Her Majesty’s Patronages will form the congregation, along with other public representatives.
Almost 200 people who were recognised in The Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this year will also join the congregation, including those who made extraordinary contributions to the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and have volunteered in their local communities.
The State Funeral Service will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster.
During the Service, the Prime Minister and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth will read Lessons. The Archbishop of York, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the Free Churches Moderator will say Prayers.
The Sermon will be given by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who will also give the Commendation. The Dean of Westminster will then pronounce the Blessing.
Towards the end of the Service, at approximately 1155hrs, Last Post will sound followed by Two Minute’s Silence to be observed in the Abbey, and throughout the United Kingdom.
The National Anthem will bring the State Funeral Service to a close at approximately 12 noon.
After the Service, Her Majesty’s Coffin will be borne through the Abbey, returning to the State Gun Carriage for the Procession to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, arriving at 1300hrs. The King and Members of the Royal Family will again follow The Queen’s Coffin in Procession.
The Procession will include detachments from the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth. Minute Guns will be fired in Hyde Park by The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and Big Ben will toll throughout the duration of the Procession.
At Wellington Arch, the Coffin will be transferred to the State Hearse to travel to Windsor. As the State Hearse departs Wellington Arch, the Parade will give a Royal Salute and the National Anthem will be played. His Majesty The King and Members of the Royal Family will then depart for Windsor.
When the Coffin reaches Windsor, the State Hearse will slow to join a Procession to be formed up on Albert Road to travel via the Long Walk to St George’s Chapel, Windsor for the Committal Service. Members of the Royal Family will join the Procession in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle. Minute Guns will be fired on the East Lawn, Windsor Castle by The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, and Sebastopol Bell and the Curfew Tower Bell will be tolled.
The Procession will halt at the bottom of the West Steps of St. George’s Chapel where a Guard of Honour, found by the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, will be mounted. The Queen’s Coffin will be borne in Procession into the Chapel.
The Committal Service will begin at 1600hrs, and alongside His Majesty The King and Members of the Royal Family, the congregation will be made up of past and present members of The Queen’s Household, including from the private estates. Also in attendance will be Governors General and Realm Prime Ministers.
The Service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with prayers said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park. The Choir of St George’s Chapel will sing during the Service.
Prior to the final Hymn, the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre will be removed from Her Majesty The Queen’s Coffin, and placed on the Altar. At the end of the final Hymn, The King will place The Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on Her Majesty’s Coffin. At the same time, The Lord Chamberlain will “break” his Wand of Office and place it on the Coffin.
As The Queen’s Coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault, the Dean of Windsor will say a Psalm and the Commendation before Garter King of Arms pronounces Her Majesty’s styles and titles.
The Sovereign’s Piper will play a Lament and The Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the Blessing. The National Anthem will be sung at the conclusion of the Service.
A Private Burial will take place in The King George VI Memorial Chapel later that evening, conducted by the Dean of Windsor.
The Queen is to be buried together with The Duke of Edinburgh.
Bank holiday arrangements in Scotland
Guidance has been issued by the Scottish Government for the bank holiday on Monday 19 September for the State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen.
Schools should close as a mark of respect. This advice also applies to other education settings that would normally be closed on a bank holiday. Most local authority-run early learning and childcare (ELC) services are expected to close.
Health boards have been given guidance to support their planning for the holiday which underlines the importance of essential healthcare services continuing. This includes pre-planned treatments, and the winter vaccination programme. Patients should visit their local NHS board website for further information.
Most public transport services are currently expected to run as normal. Passengers should contact operators for information.
Not everyone is entitled to paid leave on bank holidays. If in doubt, check the position with your employer.
Private and voluntary ELC providers and independent schools will make their own decisions on bank holiday arrangements.
The charity René Cassin – ‘the Jewish voice for human rights’ – is calling on MPs to vote against the government’s proposed Bill of Rights, which was due to receive its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday 12 September.
In its briefing for MPs, René Cassin concludes that the Bill:
reduces rights instead of enhancing them
weakens the ability of ordinary people to challenge decisions made by public authorities
undermines a legacy that needs to be upheld
The briefing goes on to recommend that MPs vote against the Bill of Rights.
Explaining this recommendation, Mia Hasenson-Gross, René Cassin’s Executive Director says: “The so-called Bill of Rights actually reduces people’s rights. In particular, it reduces the rights of those who need them most.
“It results in marginalisation, threatens the right to freedom of religion, and prevents human rights law keeping up to date with current social mores. All these aspects have a resonance for the Jewish community, particularly through the lived experience and history of past persecution and genocide.
“We urge MPs to vote against this regressive Bill.”
Prime Minister Liz Truss’s opening speech on the energy policy debate in the House of Commons yesterday:
Earlier this week I promised I would deal with the soaring energy prices faced by families and businesses across the UK. And today I am delivering on that promise.
This Government is moving immediately to introduce a new Energy Price Guarantee that will give people certainty on energy bills.
It will curb inflation and boost growth.
This Guarantee – which includes a temporary suspension of green levies – means that from 1st October a typical household will pay no more than £2,500 per year for each of the next two years, while we get the energy market back on track.
This will save a typical household £1,000 a year. It comes in addition to the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme.
This Guarantee supersedes the Ofgem price cap, and has been agreed with energy retailers.
We will deliver this by securing the wholesale price for energy, while putting in place long-term measures to secure future supplies at more affordable rates.
We are supporting this country through this winter and next, and tackling the root cause of high prices, so we are never in this position again.
For those using heating oil, living in park homes or those on heat networks, we will set up a fund so that all UK consumers can benefit from equivalent support.
We will also support all businesses, charities and public sector organisations with their energy costs this winter – offering an equivalent guarantee for 6 months.
After those 6 months we will provide further support to vulnerable sectors, such as hospitality, including our local pubs.
My Rt Hon Friend the Business Secretary will work with businesses to review where this should be targeted to make sure those most in need get support. This review will be concluded within 3 months, giving businesses certainty.
In the meantime, companies with the wherewithal need to be looking for ways they can improve energy efficiency and increase direct energy generation
We will be bringing forward emergency legislation to deliver this policy. And my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will set out the expected costs as part of his fiscal statement later this month.
I can tell the House today that we will not be giving in to calls for this to be funded through a windfall tax.
That would undermine the national interest by discouraging the very investment we need to secure home-grown energy supplies. You can’t tax your way to growth.
Instead, we are taking an approach which is pro-growth, pro-business and pro the investment we need for energy security.
This is the moment to be bold. We are facing a global energy crisis and there are no ‘cost-free’ options.
There will be a cost to this intervention. However we are also acting immediately to defray the cost of this intervention in three ways.
Firstly, by ramping up supply.
Following on from the successful vaccine taskforce, we have created a new Energy Supply Taskforce under the leadership of Maddy McTernan.
They are already negotiating new long term energy contracts with domestic and international gas suppliers to immediately bring down the cost of this intervention.
We are also accelerating all sources of domestic energy, including North Sea oil and gas production.
We will be launching a new licensing round, which we expect to lead to over 100 new licences being awarded.
And we will speed up our deployment of all clean and renewable technologies including hydrogen, solar, carbon capture and storage, and wind… where we are already the world leader in offshore generation.
Renewable and nuclear generators will move onto Contracts for Difference to end the situation where electricity prices are set by the marginal price of gas.
This will mean generators are receiving a fair price, reflecting their cost of production, further bringing down the cost of this intervention.
Secondly, today’s action will deliver substantial benefits to our economy, boosting growth which increases tax receipts and gives certainty to business.
This intervention is expected to curb inflation by up to 5 percentage points, bringing a reduction in the cost of servicing government debt.
Thirdly, this morning, together with the Bank of England, we will set up a new scheme, worth up to £40 billion, to ensure that firms operating in wholesale energy markets have the liquidity they need to manage price volatility.
This will stabilise the market and decrease the likelihood that energy retailers need our support, like they did last Winter.
By increasing supply, boosting the economy and increasing liquidity in the market we will significantly reduce the cost to government of this intervention.
As well as dealing with the immediate situation we face, we are also dealing with the root causes.
Energy policy over the past decades has not focused enough on securing supply.
There’s no better example than nuclear, where the UK has not built a single new nuclear reactor in 25 years.
It’s not just about supply. The regulatory structures have failed, exposing the problems of having a price cap applied to the retail but not the wholesale market.
All of this has left us vulnerable to volatile global markets and malign actors in an increasingly geopolitical world.
That is why Putin is exploiting by weaponising energy supplies as part of his illegal war on Ukraine.
So as well as the action we are taking today on bills, we will use the next 2 years to make sure that the United Kingdom is never in this situation again.
I will be launching two reviews.
Firstly, a review of energy regulation to fix the underlying problems. We want a new approach which will address supply and affordability for the long term.
Secondly, we will conduct a review to ensure we deliver net zero by 2050 in a way that is pro-business and pro-growth. This review will be led by my Rt Hon Friend the member for Kingswood.
We are delivering a stable environment that gives investors the confidence to back gas as part of our transition to net zero.
We will end the moratorium on extracting our huge reserves of shale, which could get gas flowing in as soon as six months, where there is local support.
We will launch Great British Nuclear later this month – putting us on the path to deliver up to a quarter of our electricity generation with nuclear by 2050.
As a result of these steps on shale and nuclear and the acceleration of renewables, I am today setting a new ambition for our country.
Far from being dependent on the global energy market and the actions of malign actors, we will make sure the UK a net energy exporter by 2040.
And my Rt Hon Friend the Business Secretary will set out a plan in the next two months to make sure we achieve this.
I know businesses and families are very concerned about how they will get through this winter.
That’s why I felt it was important to act urgently to provide immediate help and support, as well as setting out our plan about how we are going to secure the UK’s future supplies.
This is part of my vision for rebuilding our economy.
Secure energy supply is vital to growth and prosperity. Yet it has been ignored for too long.
I will end the UK’s short-termist approach to energy security and supply once and for all.
That is what I promised on the steps of Downing Street.
Today we are acting decisively to deliver that pledge.
This will help us build a stronger, more resilient and more secure United Kingdom.
I commend this motion to the House.
UK GOVERNMENT BORROWING MORE TO BOLSTER OIL COMPANY PROFITS
Environmental campaigners have reacted to the UK Government plans for an energy price freeze funded by borrowing.
The UK Government will open a new licensing round for the North Sea next week, and is expected to give out over 100 permits for companies to look for more climate-wrecking oil and gas. This is despite climate science and energy experts warning that any new oil and gas projects will push the world well past dangerous climate limits.
Independent advisors have made it clear that increasing UK supply of oil and gas will have almost no impact on UK bills as prices are set by the international market.
Liz Truss also announced that her Government will lift the moratorium on shale gas. Scotland has a de facto ban on fracking.
In the first 6 months of 2022, 5 oil companies made over £80 billion in profits: Shell £16.6bn, BP £12.2bn, Exxonmobil £21.7bn, TotalEnergies £15.2bn, Chevron £14.5bn.
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s head of campaigns Mary Church said: “The impact of measures announced today to stop the immediate rise in household bills is welcome, but the approach taken by the new Prime Minister singularly fails to address the fundamental problems of a broken energy system that serves only to enrich oil company bosses and shareholders.
“The money the UK Government is borrowing will be pumped straight into the coffers of oil companies when it could have helped deliver the transition to clean, reliable renewables. People in the UK are being robbed by fossil fuel companies but instead of making them pay for the harm they are causing, Liz Truss has decided to borrow more money to keep paying the robbers.
“This energy price crisis is being driven by the price of fossil fuels and the only sure fire to prevent this happening again is a rapid and fair transition to renewable energy and a scaling up of energy efficiency.”
+ NORTH SEA OIL & GAS LICENCES “Burning oil and gas is driving the climate emergency that sees tens of millions displaced by floods in Pakistan and has brought extreme heatwaves and drought across the UK. The UK Government is denying the reality of climate change by encouraging companies to seek out more fuel for the fire that is engulfing the world.
“The Scottish Government must be willing to stand up to these reckless plans to expand fossil fuels and hand out more licences for oil and gas companies to explore and drill in the North Sea. Ministers at Holyrood must speak out and use all the tools at their disposal to block any plans to further lock us into the oil and gas that is driving both the climate and cost of living crises.”
+ FRACKING “The move to try reopen and force through fracking is a disgrace. Not only is the industry incredibly harmful in climate terms it also brings with it serious local health and environmental risks. Its laughable to suggest that fracked gas will deliver within 6 months. Communities have already successfully fought and stopped it in Northern Ireland, England and Scotland so wherever this dirty dangerous industry is proposed, it will be opposed once again.”
Commenting on the proposals announced by the government today to support households and businesses with energy bills, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Freezing energy bills this autumn is essential for families and to protect jobs and businesses.
“But the Prime Minister is making the wrong people pay. She should have imposed a much larger windfall tax on profiteering oil and gas giants. And she should have required all firms getting help with energy bills to commit to no lay-offs for the lifetime of the help, to protect livelihoods.
“And it’s not just energy bills soaring – so she needs to do more to help families get through the winter. That means a real plan to get wages rising, a big boost to universal credit, child benefit and pensions, and a massive rollout of home improvements to cut bills. And it’s time to bring energy retail into public ownership to make sure this crisis never happens again.”
The TUC says that the government should set out a programme to make UK living standards more resilient and the UK economy more resistant to a future crisis. This should include:
Increase the windfall tax to a fairer level relative to the excess profits oil and gas firms are making.
Rapid rollout of home energy efficiency and taking the energy retail companies into public ownership – including a new approach to energy pricing with a free band of energy to cover basic lighting, heating, hot water and cooking.
A plan to get pay rising for all workers – including stronger pay bargaining rights so that working people and their unions can make fair pay agreements across whole industries.
Increase the minimum wage to £15 an hour as soon as possible – by returning the UK to normal wage growth and having a more ambitious minimum wage target.
Social security that prevents poverty – universal credit and benefits should be raised to 80 percent of the national living wage, along with a significant boost to support for families with children.
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s decision to end the moratorium on fracking, Tom Fyans, director of campaigns and policy at CPRE, the countryside charity, said: ‘Giving fracking the green light is a hideous mistake.
“If the purpose is to tackle bank busting gas prices, it’s an exercise in futility. Even if we were to go full steam ahead on fracking, which nobody wants, least of all rural communities, it wouldn’t make a dent on the cost of energy anytime soon, or ever.
‘Any move to industrialise the countryside and belch yet more fumes into our carbon-soaked atmosphere will prompt a furious response from local communities, drawn out planning delays and nationwide protests. Hardly a proposal to keep families warm this winter, or lower bills in the future.
‘The new Chancellor got it right in March, when he said fracking “would take up to a decade to extract sufficient volumes — and it would come at a high cost for communities and our precious countryside.” Nothing has changed.
‘Proposals to offer local people discounts on their bills in exchange for environmental destruction on their doorsteps need to be seen for what they are – a feeble attempt to bribe vulnerable rural communities to accept an unpopular, unsafe and polluting process that will destroy their tranquility. Local communities need to make their voices heard loud and clear – they were right to resist before and should continue to do so.
‘The answer to the fossil fuel price crisis is to reduce usage with a mass insulation drive, alongside a clean energy sprint. There has never been a better time to transform our energy infrastructure to ensure a future of abundant green power.
‘Renewables are around nine times cheaper and far quicker to plug in than any alternative. Families facing the biggest drop in living standards on record need renewable energy to become the central pillar of a modernised energy system. And they need it to happen fast.’
A LEADING property association has praised the Government’s package of measures to help those unable to afford rising energy costs.
The National Association Of Property Buyers said the Prime Minister’s “swift and decisive intervention” would help many.
Spokesman Jonathan Rolande said: “Looking at the energy and inflation crisis from the perspective of the property market, we welcome the swift and decisive intervention by the government to help households and businesses with the cost of energy by capping annual expenditure at an average of £2500.
“The impact of higher increases jeopardised so many facets of the economy it was almost impossible to over-exaggerate the terrible consequences there might have been – bankruptcies, unemployment, increased inflation, a house price crash – all were very possible.
“Bills and inflation still look set to rise. Interest rates may well do so too. But the cliff-edge has, for now, been avoided. Businesses and homeowners now have certainty about their budgets and can plan accordingly.
“There will of course be a price to pay, perhaps with higher bills or taxes in the future. But today at least, homeowners, businesses, charities and everyone in the property sector will be breathing a huge sigh of relief.”
Under proposals outlined today, a typical household energy bill will be capped at £2,500 annually until 2024.
The huge support scheme could cost up to £150bn, but Ms Truss refused to put a figure on it, saying “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures”.
Businesses will get support, with bills capped for six months, a shorter period of protection than many had hoped for.
The help will be for everyone in England, Scotland and Wales with equivalent help for Northern Ireland.
But there are concerns the measures are not targeted enough, with no additional support for the most vulnerable. As a result, millions are still expected to be in fuel poverty this winter.
The energy price cap – the highest amount suppliers are allowed to charge households for every unit of energy they use – had been due to rise to £3,549 in October.
To limit the amount customers’ bills go up by, the government will compensate energy firms for the difference between the wholesale price for gas and electricity they pay and the amount they can charge customers.
The final cost of the scheme will depend on the cost of energy on the international energy markets, which can be extremely volatile.
The money to cover the support will be borrowed by the government, adding to the UK’s already large debt pile.
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.
A statement has been issued by the Royal Family on behalf of Charles III, the new King:
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother.
“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth and by countless people around the world.
“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held.”
Prime Minister Liz Truss paid the following tribute:
We are all devastated by the news we have just heard from Balmoral.The death of Her Majesty The Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.
Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built.
Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.
Britain is the great country it is today because of her.
She ascended the throne just after the Second World War.
She championed the development of the Commonwealth – from a small group of seven countries to a family of 56 nations spanning every continent of the world.
We are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation.
Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed.
She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure.
She has been our longest-ever reigning monarch.
It is an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.
Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories.
In return, she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.
She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons. Her devotion to duty is an example to us all.
Earlier this week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out her duties as she appointed me as her 15th Prime Minister.
Throughout her life she has visited more than 100 countries and she has touched the lives of millions around the world.
In the difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends…
….across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world…
…to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service.
It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy.
Today the Crown passes – as it is has done for more than a thousand years – to our new monarch, our new head of state: His Majesty King Charles III.
With the King’s family, we mourn the loss of his mother.
And as we mourn, we must come together as a people to support him.
To help him bear the awesome responsibility that he now carries for us all.
We offer him our loyalty and devotion just as his mother devoted so much to so many for so long.
And with the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country, – exactly as Her Majesty would have wished – by saying the words … God save the King.
Flags are flying at half-mast on all Scottish Government buildings, and on behalf of the people of Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has sent a message of condolence to the new King and other members of the Royal Family.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Her Majesty The Queen gave decades of her life in service and has died today here in Scotland as our longest-serving monarch.
“Our condolences are with The King, The Queen Consort and the wider Royal Family. Millions around the world will share their grief but only they will feel the loss of a mother and grandmother.
“The Queen was unflinching in her dedication to duty, unwavering in her commitment to public service and unmatched in her devotion to the people of this country and the wider Commonwealth.
“We are all saddened by today’s news and will come together in the days ahead to mourn. But it is right and proper that we celebrate the unparalleled contribution she made in her 70 years as Sovereign.
“The Queen came to the throne following the Second World War, reigned through decades of social change and lived to be the monarch who opened our Scottish Parliament in the age of devolution.
“Largely through her belief in the value of diverse nations coming together to celebrate humanity, The Queen played a leading role in creating the modern Commonwealth – 53 countries across six continents working together.
“Scotland was special to her and she was special to Scotland. Throughout her life, she had a particular fondness for Aberdeenshire and her home there at Balmoral, where she spent her final days.
“But her contribution to Scottish public life extended throughout our country and abroad and was deeply felt by thousands.
“In the coming days there will be ample opportunity for people to pay their respects by attending events across the country.
“Today is a day for reflection and remembrance. It is also a day for giving thanks to The Queen for her devotion to duty and the decades of public service she gave to the people of Scotland.”
The royal household’s representative in Edinburgh, the Lord Lieutenant Robert Aldridge, has led Edinburgh’s tributes to the Queen following the news of her death from Buckingham Palace today.
The Lord Provost said: “Throughout HM the Queen’s extraordinary reign, she showed great appreciation for her ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland. During her countless visits to Edinburgh, she reached out to our charities, veterans, serving personnel, hospitals and children and won a very special place in the hearts of Scottish people.
“Over her seven-decade reign, she has shown unwavering and inspirational dedication to the nation and I pay tribute to her years of service. I’m sure her legacy will be special and longstanding.
“I had the pleasure of meeting her in June at our historic Ceremony of the Keys and it has been my privilege and honour to be her personal representative in Edinburgh. To many she is the nation’s mother and grandmother and it is with great sadness that I convey, on behalf of the Scottish capital, our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to all the members of the royal family at this very sad time.
“Queen Elizabeth II, born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in London on April 21 1926, ascended to the throne in 1952.
“She became the longest-reigning British monarch in history when she opened the Borders Railway line 9 September 2015, where she was greeted and congratulated by (then) Lord Provost, Donald Wilson.
“On that day in an address to the people of Scotland, the Queen said: “Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones; my own is no exception. But I thank you all and the many others at home and overseas, for your touching messages of great kindness.”
LOCAL MSP Alec Cole-Hamilton said: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been a bedrock of and grace in the life of our nation. Her constancy and devotion to the people of these islands have carried us through many dark times.
“I share the sentiment of grief and the profound sense of gratitude felt by so many tonight”.
LABOUR Party leader Sir Keor Starmer said: “Today we mourn the passing of a remarkable sovereign. It is a deep private loss for the Royal Family and our first thoughts are with them at this time. The nation shares in their grief.
Queen Elizabeth II created a special, personal relationship with us all. A relationship based on service and devotion to her country. Nobody under the age of 70 has known anything other than Queen Elizabeth II on the throne. For the vast majority of us, the late Queen has been simply the Queen. The only Queen. Above all else, our Queen.
As we mourn her loss, we should also treasure her life. Our longest-serving and greatest ever monarch. Above the clashes of politics, she stood not for what the nation fought over but what it agreed upon. In crisis, she reassured us. Reminding us that we are all part of something that stretches back through time. A symbol of the best of us. I saw it for myself when I led the Crown Prosecution Service.
Every time I had the privilege to meet the late Queen, she would ask the most searching questions because she wanted to understand the lives and struggles of her people. And as Britain changed rapidly around her, this dedication became the still point of our turning world. An example that taught us that whatever the challenges we face, the value of service always endures.
And the obvious love the late Queen displayed for Britain, the British people gave back in return. That is why there is such an outpouring of grief across the nation today. As there is across the Commonwealth to which the late Queen was so devoted.
Around the world, people are united in mourning. And united in celebrating her life. This togetherness is a reminder of what she achieved. A reminder of our shared values. Values which I know will be upheld by her beloved son, Charles, our new King.
So as our great Elizabethan era comes to an end, we will honour the late Queen’s memory by keeping alive the values of public service she embodied.
For seventy years, Elizabeth II stood as the head of our country. But, in spirit, she stood amongst us.
Prime Minister Liz Truss’s statement on the steps of Downing Street:
Good afternoon,
I have just accepted Her Majesty The Queen’s kind invitation to form a new government.
Let me pay tribute to my predecessor.
Boris Johnson delivered Brexit, the Covid vaccine, and stood up to Russian aggression.
History will see him as a hugely consequential Prime Minister.
I’m honoured to take on this responsibility at a vital time for our country.
What makes the United Kingdom great is our fundamental belief in freedom, in enterprise, and in fair play.
Our people have shown grit, courage and determination time and time again.
We now face severe global headwinds caused by Russia’s appalling war in Ukraine and the aftermath of Covid.
Now is the time to tackle the issues that are holding Britain back.
We need to build roads, homes and broadband faster.
We need more investment and great jobs in every town and city across our country.
We need to reduce the burden on families and help people get on in life.
I know that we have what it takes to tackle those challenges.
Of course, it won’t be easy. But we can do it.
We will transform Britain into an aspiration nation…with high-paying jobs, safe streets and where everyone everywhere has the opportunities they deserve.
I will take action this day, and action every day, to make it happen.
United with our allies, we will stand up for freedom and democracy around the world – recognising that we can’t have security at home without having security abroad.
As Prime Minister, I will pursue three early priorities.
Firstly, I will get Britain working again.
I have a bold plan to grow the economy through tax cuts and reform.
I will cut taxes to reward hard work and boost business-led growth and investment.
I will drive reform in my mission to get the United Kingdom working, building, and growing.
We will get spades in the ground to make sure people are not facing unaffordable energy bills and we will also make sure, that we are building hospitals, schools, roads, and broadband.
Secondly, I will deal hands-on with the energy crisis caused by Putin’s war.
I will take action this week to deal with energy bills and to secure our future energy supply.
Thirdly, I will make sure that people can get doctors’ appointments and the NHS services they need. We will put our health service on a firm footing.
By delivering on the economy, on energy, and on the NHS, we will put our nation on the path to long-term success.
We shouldn’t be daunted by the challenges we face.
As strong as the storm may be, I know that the British people are stronger.
Our country was built by people who get things done.
We have huge reserves of talent, of energy, and determination.
I am confident that together we can:
Ride out the storm,
We can rebuild our economy,
And we can become the modern brilliant Britain that I know we can be.
This is our vital mission to ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations. I am determined to deliver. Thank you.
CABINET APPOINTMENTS:
The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP as Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
The Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. She will also be Deputy Prime Minister (below).
The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP as Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
The Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP as Secretary of State for the Home Department
Wendy Morton MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip). She will attend Cabinet
The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP has been re-appointed as Secretary of State for Defence
The Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MP as Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice
The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and Minister for Equalities
The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP as Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons
Lord True CBE as Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords
The Rt Hon Jake Berry MP as Minister without Portfolio
The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP has been re-appointed as COP26 President
The Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
The Rt Hon Simon Clarke MP as Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Kemi Badenoch MP as Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade
Chloe Smith MP as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP as Secretary of State for Education
Ranil Jayawardena MP as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP as Secretary of State for Transport
The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
The Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP has been re-appointed as Secretary of State for Scotland
The Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KBE QC MP has been re-appointed as Secretary of State for Wales
Chris Philp MP as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He will attend Cabinet
Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP as Attorney General. He will attend Cabinet
Edward Argar MP as Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office. He will attend Cabinet
Vicky Ford MP as a Minister of State (Minister for Development) in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. She will attend Cabinet
Tom Tugendhat MBE MP as a Minister of State (Minister for Security) in the Home Department. He will attend Cabinet
James Heappey MP has been re-appointed as a Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence. He will be Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans and will attend Cabinet.
Graham Stuart MP as a Minister of State (Minister for Climate) in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. He will attend Cabinet.
Boris Johnson gave his final speech as Prime Minister on the steps of Downing Street
Well this is it folks, thanks to all of you for coming out so early this morning.
In only a couple of hours from now I will be in Balmoral to see Her Majesty The Queen and the torch will finally be passed to a new Conservative leader: the baton will be handed over in what has unexpectedly turned out to be a relay race – they changed the rules half-way through but never mind that now – and through that lacquered black door a new Prime Minister will shortly go to meet a fantastic group of public servants.
The people who got Brexit done
the people who delivered the fastest vaccine roll out in Europe
and never forget – 70 per cent of the entire population got a dose within 6 months, faster than any comparable country
That is government for you – that’s this Conservative government – the people who organised those prompt early supplies of weapons to the heroic Ukrainian armed forces, an action that may very well have helped change the course of the biggest European war for 80 years.
And because of the speed and urgency of what you did – everybody involved in this government – to get this economy moving again from July last year in spite of all opposition, all the naysayers we have and will continue to have that economic strength to give people the cash they need to get through this energy crisis that has been caused by Putin’s vicious war.
And I know that Liz Truss and this compassionate Conservative government will do everything we can to get people through this crisis.
And this country will endure it and we will win.
And if Putin thinks that he can succeed by blackmailing or bullying the British people then he is utterly deluded and the reason we will have those funds now and in the future is because we Conservatives understand the vital symmetry between government action and free market capitalist private sector enterprise.
We are delivering on those huge manifesto commitments:
making streets safer – neighbourhood crime down 38 per cent in the last three years
13,790 more police on the streets
building more hospitals – and yes we will have 50,000 more nurses by the end of this parliament and 40 more hospitals by the end of the decade
putting record funding into our schools and into teachers’ pay
giving everyone over 18 a lifetime skills guarantee so they can keep upskilling throughout their lives
3 new high speed rail lines including northern powerhouse rail
colossal road programmes from the Pennines to Cornwall,
the roll-out of gigabit broadband up over the last three years, since you were kind enough to elect me, up from 7 per cent of our country’s premises having gigabit broadband to 70 per cent today.
And we are of course providing the short and the long term solutions for our energy needs – and not just using more of our own domestic hydrocarbons but going up by 2030 to 50 GW of wind power, that is half this country’s energy electricity needs from offshore wind alone, a new nuclear reactor every year.
And looking at what is happening in this country, the changes that are taking place: that is why the private sector is investing more venture capital investment than China itself, more billion pound tech companies sprouting here than in France, Germany and Israel combined and as a result unemployment as I leave office, down to lows not seen since I was about ten years old and bouncing around on a space hopper.
And on the subject of bouncing around and future careers let me say that I am now like one of those booster rockets that has fulfilled its function and I will now be gently re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down invisibly in some remote and obscure corner of the pacific.
And like Cincinnatus I am returning to my plough and I will be offering this government nothing but the most fervent support.
this is a tough time for the economy, this is a tough time for families up and down the country – we can and we will get through it and we will come out stronger the other side – but I say to my fellow Conservatives it is time for the politics to be over folks and it’s time for us all to get behind Liz Truss and her programme and deliver for the people of this country.
Because that is what the people of this country want, that’s what they need and that’s what they deserve.
I am proud to have discharged the promises I made my party when you were kind enough to choose me,
winning the biggest majority since 1987 and the biggest share of the vote since 1979.
delivering Brexit
delivering our manifesto commitments – including social care
helping people up and down the country
ensuring that Britain is once again standing tall in the world
speaking with clarity and authority
from Ukraine to the AUKUS pact with America and Australia
because we are one whole and entire United Kingdom whose diplomats, security services and armed forces are so globally admired
and as I leave I believe our union is so strong that those who want to break it up, will keep trying but they will never ever succeed
thank you to everyone behind me in this building for looking after me and my family over the last three years so well including Dilyn, the dog
and if Dilyn and Larry (the Downing Street dog and cat)can put behind them their occasional difficulties, then so can the Conservative party.
And above all thanks to you, the British people, to the voters for giving me the chance to serve all of you who worked so tirelessly together to beat covid to put us where we are today.
Together we have laid foundations that will stand the test of time, whether by taking back control of our laws or putting in vital new infrastructure: great solid masonry on which we will continue to build together, paving the path of prosperity now & for future generations.
And I will be supporting Liz Truss and our new government every step of the way.
HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Edinburgh Regional Centre and UK Government hub was formally opened yesterday (1 September 2022) by Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack MP.
Mr Jack unveiled a plaque at the flagship office, named Queen Elizabeth House, alongside HMRC’s Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, Jim Harra. Among those also attending the event were Scotland Office Director, Laurence Rockey, and the Advocate General for Scotland, Lord Stewart of Dirleton QC.
The state-of-the-art building at 1 Sibbald Walk is home to around 2,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) HMRC staff and around 640 civil servants from 24 other UK Government departments and agencies. Departments sharing the building with HMRC include the Scotland Office, Office of the Advocate General for Scotland and Department for International Trade.
The seven-storey UK Government Hub initially opened its doors to some civil servants during the pandemic on 1 September 2020 and on its second anniversary, the building has now formally been declared open.
Staff working from the site have already made a huge contribution to the country by working on the on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) which helped protect more than 910,000 jobs in Scotland, including 87,500 jobs in Edinburgh.
Alister Jack MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, said:“It’s a privilege to officially open Queen Elizabeth House, the UK Government’s state-of-the-art hub in the heart of Edinburgh.
“This flagship building will provide a base for more than a dozen UK Government departments which all have a key role in Scotland.
“It is a fantastic facility and a huge asset as we engage with stakeholders, invest in communities and serve the people of Scotland.”
Jim Harra, HMRC’s Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, said:“It has been fantastic to finally celebrate the official opening of our Edinburgh Regional Centre and UK Government hub today.
“This modern development promotes an inclusive working environment and is an important part of HMRC’s transformation into a digitally-advanced tax authority.
“Queen Elizabeth House provides HMRC a greater opportunity to work closely with other UK Government departments to deliver our priorities such as supporting families through the cost-of-living crisis.”
HMRC also has a regional centre in Glasgow and a specialist site at Gartcosh. Earlier this year, the department announced they would retain a long-term presence in East Kilbride, which will become Phase 2 of the Glasgow Regional Centre.
