News story: Britain and Cyprus Step Up Defence Co-Operation
The UK and Cyprus will step up co-operation in areas including maritime security and officer training under a new Defence programme. read more
Tag Archives: political
Press release: Safety improvement scheme announced for A35 in Dorset
The 10-week road improvement scheme is scheduled to start in early April and will not only improve safety for road users, but will also improve crossing facilities for pedestrians.
Included in the work will be reconfigured lane markings, a signalised pedestrian crossing, the installation of speed activated signs in both directions, a new, high-friction road surface and signage.
Highways England operations and maintenance team leader Nick Reed said:
We have been liaising with our local authority partners and listening to communities to make sure we have the right junction layout in place for this scheme.
We have looked at all of the available safety measures for this junction and we are now in a position to start the safety improvement scheme.
Traffic management will be in place during the work, we will be working to keep disruption to a minimum and further details will be available in due course.
The safety improvement scheme is expected to cost around £560,000 and is due to be completed in mid-June, in time for the summer holidays.
During any roadworks, Highways England advises drivers to plan their journeys and allow extra time while they are being delivered.
Drivers can get up-to-the-minute travel information by phoning the Highways England Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or by accessing the website.
Further information regarding current and planned roadworks in the South West region plus neighbouring regions, including the programme, can be found on the Highways England website.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.
read moreGreen Party condemns Boris Johnson’s push to keep selling arms to Saudi Arabia after bombing
10 February 2017
The Green Party is horrified by the revelation Boris Johnson urged the UK to continue selling weapons to Saudi Arabia after a funeral bombing in Yemen last October [1].
The airstrike, on October 8 last year, claimed the lives of 140 people. A UN report concluded the attack had breached international humanitarian law [2].
Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:
“These letters reveal Boris Johnson’s stunning disregard for human rights. He went out of his way to ensure arms were sold to a brutal, oppressive regime knowing full well such weapons had previously been used to kill innocent Yemenis and could be again. Johnson has shown utter contempt not just for the 140 people who lost their lives in the Sana’a bombing but also for the people whose lives he put at risk with this terrible decision.
“Britain should stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia immediately. UK weapons must not be used to violate international law and human rights.”
Notes:
- https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/10/boris-johnson-urged-uk-to-continue-saudi-arms-sales-after-funeral-bombing
- http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi-un-idUSKCN12K2F1
An arbitrary cap on the number of children the Government will support is not only cruel, but is bad policy – Abrahams
Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on a letter from the Social Security Advisory Committee addressing the Government’s policy to limit child tax credits to two children, said:
“The Social Security Advisory Committee is right to raise very serious concerns over Tory plans to limit child tax credits to two children.
“An arbitrary cap on the number of children the Government will support is not only cruel, but is bad policy.
“Requiring survivors of rape to justify themselves in this way constitutes an unacceptable extension by the Government into deeply sensitive areas of women’s lives.
“That’s why Labour is calling on the Tories to scrap this pernicious policy before it takes effect in April.”
ENDS
read morePress release: Prime Minister’s Official Spokesperson appointed: James Slack
James Slack will be the new Prime Minister’s Official Spokesperson.
James Slack has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesperson.
He will replace Helen Bower, who is taking up a new role as Director of Communications in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.