The ‘Golborne Link’, part of the HS2 Crewe – Manchester scheme, is a proposed circa 13 mile connection that would branch off the main HS2 line towards Manchester near Knutsford, in Cheshire, to rejoin the West Coast Main Line (WCML) near Golborne, just south of Wigan. Construction was due to start in the early 2030s and it was due to open in the late 2030s or early 2040s as part of the second stage of HS2 services to Scotland.

In October 2020, the government established the independent Union Connectivity Review, led by the chairman of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy, to consider how best to improve transport connectivity between the nations of the UK.

Sir Peter’s final report, in November 2021, set out that the Golborne Link would not resolve all the rail capacity constraints on the WCML between Crewe and Preston. He recommended that the government should reduce journey times and increase rail capacity between England and Scotland by upgrading the WCML north of Crewe and by doing more work on options for alternative northerly connections between HS2 and the WCML.

Ahead of the government’s response to the Union Connectivity Review, we can confirm the government will look again at alternatives which deliver similar benefits to Scotland as the Golborne link, so long as these deliver for the taxpayer within the £96 billion envelope allocated for the Integrated Rail Plan. We will look at the potential for these alternatives to bring benefits to passengers sooner, allowing improved Scotland services from Manchester and Manchester Airport, as well as from Birmingham and London. HS2 trains will continue to serve Wigan and Preston, as well as Lancaster, Cumbria and Scotland.

Government, therefore, intends to remove the Golborne link from the High-Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill after second reading. That means that we will no longer be seeking the powers to construct the link as part of this scheme. The Crewe-Manchester HS2 mainline will remain in the Bill as before. Plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail will also be unaffected.

Our plans for the first-stage HS2 services to Scotland in Phases 1 and 2a of the scheme (between London and the West Midlands, and the West Midlands and Crewe) will also be unaffected, with HS2 trains operating from London to Scotland when services begin running, in the late 2020s or early 2030s.

We will publish a Supplement to the January 2022 HS2 Crewe – Manchester scheme strategic outline business case, setting out the implications of removing the Golborne Link, prior to second reading.

I am also publishing revised safeguarding directions for the Crewe – Manchester scheme to reflect the Bill’s limits and protect the land that may be required for the construction and operation of the high speed railway.

I am maintaining safeguarding along the Golborne Link while alternatives are considered. This means we plan to keep existing compensation programmes in place for affected homeowners so that they can still access support as needed. The government periodically reviews land requirements needed for the project and updates the extent of safeguarding accordingly.

A copy of the safeguarding directions will be placed in the libraries of both houses and made publicly accessible online.

The United Kingdom welcome the adoption of resolution 2636 renewing UNITAMS mandate and enabling the Mission to provide essential support to Sudan at a time when the country faces economic, humanitarian and security crises exacerbated by the 25 October coup and when the country’s future hangs in the balance.

As penholder, our preference would have been for the Council to adopt a substantive resolution that voiced support for UNITAMS’ vital efforts. In particular, its role in facilitating, alongside the African Union and IGAD, a Sudanese-led process to restore a civilian-led transition towards democracy. A substantive resolution would also have enabled UNITAMS’ priorities to be updated to reflect Sudan’s own request for additional support on issues such as DDR, transitional justice and civilian protection.

It is regrettable that the Council was not able to agree a substantive resolution on this occasion. In future, we hope that all Council members will prioritise support for the missions this Council establishes, to enable them to most effectively implement the mandates we provide them with.

The actions and decisions made by Sudanese stakeholders in the coming weeks and months will determine whether Sudan slides back into dictatorship and violence, or whether Sudan re-establishes a clear path towards the democracy, stability and prosperity its people so deserve.

We welcome the recent lifting of the state of emergency and release of detainees as important steps to create a favourable environment for political dialogue. But we reiterate our call on the Sudanese authorities to go further in ensuring civil and political freedoms are respected, and ending the use of excessive force against protestors. This is particularly significant as the country marks the anniversary of the 3 June massacre.

The United Kingdom also reiterates its full support for the UN-AU-IGAD facilitated process and calls on all stakeholders to engage unconditionally to ensure that Sudan’s people have the democratic, peaceful and prosperous future they continue to demand.

Thank you, President. Let me start by thanking SRSG Patten, Ms Karbowska and Ms Rollins Westin for their powerful briefings. I also welcome the Representative of Ukraine and European Council President, Michel, amongst the participants in this meeting

President, Friday marked 100 days since Russia launched its illegal war against Ukraine.

During that time, we have witnessed death and destruction on a scale not seen in Europe since World War 2. Thousands have been killed or injured. Over 6.6 million people have fled Ukraine. And, millions inside the country remain displaced, stranded in conflict-affected areas, and in dire need of humanitarian support. As we have heard, women and girls are the most affected.

We have seen evidence of serious breaches of international law, including atrocities in places such as Bucha and Irpin. And attacks on schools, hospitals, railway stations, apartment buildings, journalists – even on Kyiv while the Secretary-General was visiting.

We have seen a disturbing increase in conflict-related sexual violence, including horrific reports of rape and sexual violence committed by Russian armed forces. And a significant increase in human trafficking.

Russia’s actions, including destroying or blockading key ports, have also exacerbated one of the most severe worldwide food crises in recent history.

President,

We applaud the work of the UN and the humanitarian and civil society organisations seeking to address the suffering wrought by this war, including efforts to secure grain exports from Ukraine.

The United Kingdom is committed to supporting these efforts in every way we can. We have pledged $500 million to help Ukraine — this includes funding to the UN, and to civil society organisations helping survivors of gender-based violence, including sexual violence.

Accountability is vital to upholding the rule of law and the rights of all States. The United Kingdom is assisting with the important task of evidence collection and preservation, including on sexual violence. We are collaborating closely with the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General and have deployed specialist UK war crimes and conflict-related sexual violence experts to Poland to provide support.

At the Open Debate on 13 April, we launched the ‘Murad Code’ designed to support safe evidence-collection from survivors of sexual violence. A Ukrainian-language translation has been shared with the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General. We continue to look at all international options to tackle these heinous crimes and hold perpetrators to account.

President, this war is as appalling and unjustified after 100 days as it was on its first. Russia is ignoring all our calls for peace, continuing attacks in eastern Ukraine, and yet again striking Kyiv this weekend.

We must not allow Russia to normalise its illegal aggression with its disinformation, distraction and lies.

We must instead demand that Russia ends the suffering it is causing. This means immediately ceasing its invasion and withdrawing its forces, as the Secretary-General, members of this Council and the General Assembly have demanded, and as the International Court of Justice has ordered.

Thank you.

The Queen’s Baton for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games made an appearance in Downing Street as the four-day Platinum Jubilee events drew to a close yesterday. It marked the end of the Relay in London following an epic four-day tour around major landmarks in the capital, including iconic venues across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Hosted by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston, attendees included young people from cadets, scouts, beavers, cubs, girl guides and brownie groups, as well as recipients of the Points of Light Award, Commonwealth athletes and representatives of Age UK.

Schoolchildren from St Mary Cray Primary Academy in Orpington were also in attendance, with some of the children having recently arrived in the UK after fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Athletes in attendance included current and former Commonwealth Games England sporting stars – Paralympic athlete and medalist Thomas Young, squash players Alison Waters, Gina Kennedy and Sara-Jane Perry and beach volleyball players Javier Bello and Joaquin Bello.

The Batonbearers bringing the Baton to Downing Street today were Kash Gill – a world champion kick boxer and Courtney Hughes, who received a Point of Light award for her services to the elderly and vulnerable, through a charity she founded at age 13 to support lonely and isolated people in crisis at Christmas.

As part of the event today, the Culture Secretary awarded Kash Gill a Point of Light award to acknowledge his community spirit. Since lockdown, Kash has been running free martial arts, fitness classes and community running groups in Handsworth Park Birmingham for people of all ages.

Alongside this, he also runs anti-gang and anti-knife campaigns and works with the West Midlands Police to promote unity in the community through sports.

After today, the Baton will continue its relay around the Commonwealth, passing through the Falkland Islands, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man before touring through Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and England ahead of its return to the Midlands for the Commonwealth Games’ Opening Ceremony in Birmingham on July 28.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:

We are delighted to round off the incredible Platinum Jubilee celebrations with the arrival of the Queen’s Baton Relay to Downing Street. It’s been fantastic to see Britain come out in force this weekend to mark 70 years of Her Majesty The Queen’s reign.

There is still so much more to look forward to in 2022. Next month, Birmingham and the West Midlands will host a fantastic Commonwealth Games and UNBOXED continues to bring world-class art and culture to communities nationwide.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will take place from 28 July to 8 August 2022 and will be the biggest sporting and cultural event ever held in the city featuring thousands of world-class athletes and over a million spectators. Home to more than 187 nationalities, Birmingham 2022 will be a home Games for every nation.

Backed by £778 million of public funding, Birmingham 2022 will deliver 11 days of amazing sport. Alongside the sport programme, the Games will be accompanied by a six-month cultural festival and the Queen’s Baton Relay will travel around the Commonwealth and the UK before arriving in Birmingham for the Opening Ceremony. A £24 million business and tourism programme will convert the excitement and interest generated by the Games into increased trade, tourism and investment opportunities for the West Midlands, promoting the region and the UK to the world.

Find out more at www.birmingham2022.com

Points of Light Award

The Points of Light Award recognises outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community. Every week day the Prime Minister recognises an inspirational volunteer with the Daily Point of Light award. For more information, please go to:

About Points of Light – Points of Light