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Tag: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

  • Zelensky and Rishi talk about intensifying military assistance to Ukraine

    Zelensky and Rishi talk about intensifying military assistance to Ukraine

    The president of Ukraine and the prime minister of the UK have spoken about boosting the supply of military supplies in light of the ongoing conflict with Russia.

    On Friday morning, No. 10 claims that Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky conducted the call.

    The leaders discussed ways to expedite military assistance to Ukraine, according to a Downing Street official.

    The Prime Minister stated that in order for Ukraine to build on its most recent victories on the battlefield, the UK and its allies must continue to put Ukraine in the best possible position.

    ‘That included increasing interoperability with Nato both in the short and long term, the Prime Minister added.’

    The spokesperson added: ‘The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.’

    It follows after a leak of classified documents from inside the US intelligence services suggested Ukraine could run out of air-defence missiles within a matter of weeks. 

    US authorities have since arrested Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, who’s been charged with the unauthorised removal of classified national defence information. 

    Widely condemned as endangering Ukraine’s position in the conflict, which has lasted for more than a year, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder described the leak as a ‘deliberate criminal act.’

    According to the spokesperson for Downing Street: ‘The leaders discussed the latest situation on the battlefield and the Prime Minister paid tribute to the efforts of the Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut.’

    The city, located in Eastern Ukraine, has seen some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks, and represents a key transport and logistics hub for Ukrainian forces.

    No 10 as also added that during the call, the Prime Minister had condemned a video circulating online, as yet unverified, of a Ukrainian soldier being beheaded. 

    The spokesperson said: ‘Discussing the abhorrent beheading of a Ukrainian soldier shown on social media in recent days, the Prime Minister said the video was appalling and those responsible had to be held to account.’

  • Biden and Sunak chat over tea/coffee

    Biden and Sunak chat over tea/coffee

    As they met at Belfast’s Grand Central Hotel, the two leaders posed for pictures.

    The New York Times’s description of a bilateral meeting as a “bi-latte” was disputed by Downing Street yesterday.

    After accusations that Biden was anti-British, the White House said this morning that the US president was not “anti-British.”

    US President Joe Biden’s “track record shows he is not anti-British”, a spokesperson for the country’s National Security Council has said.

    Amanda Sloat made the comment amid criticism of the truncated nature of President Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland – and reports of a brief meeting with Rishi Sunak in Belfast.

    In a media briefing, Ms Sloat said that “the UK remains one of our strongest and closest allies”, and said that comments from former first minister Arlene Foster that President Biden “hates the UK” were “simply untrue.”

    Ms Sloat said the president “is a very proud Irish-American, very proud of those Irish roots, but is also a strong supporter of our bilateral partnership with the UK, not only bilateral, but also with NATO, the G7 and the United Nations Security Council”.

    She added that the US was working “in lockstep” with the UK government on international challenges.

    President Biden has often been characterised by many in the unionist community as being biased towards Irish nationalism.

    Ms Sloat was asked if the president supported Irish unification, but said that that was a matter for the people of Northern Ireland to ultimately decide under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

    She also described the meeting with the leaders of the NI’s five main parties today as “not a formal sit-down group meeting”, but said there would be a “proper conversation”.

    But to confirm Biden’s anti-British defence claims, politics-watchers are bound to compare these pictures with the “bromance” shots we saw when Mr Sunak met French President Emmanuel Macron last year.

  • Boris Johnson “secretively cautioned”Dom Raab

    Boris Johnson “secretively cautioned”
    Dom Raab

    When Dominic Raab was a member of his cabinet, Boris Johnson reportedly privately reprimanded him about how he treated his workers.

    According to reports, the former prime minister gave Adam Tolley KC, a barrister looking into a string of bullying claims brought against Mr. Raab by top civil officials, evidence.

    The Telegraph claims that it is ‘very rare’ for a previous prime minister to be involved in a Downing Street investigation.

    It is not clear what evidence Mr Johnson gave, but his spokesman said ’it would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing inquiry.’

    The Justice secretary and Deputy PM has been accused of bullying his staff.

    But the revelation that Mr Johnson felt it necessary to warn Mr Raab about his conduct demonstrates the severity of the allegations against him.

    Mr Raab, who currently serves as both Deputy PM and justice secretary, is facing at least eight formal complaints involving 24 people connected not only to the justice department but also the Foreign Office and the Brexit department, where he previously held cabinet positions.

    Dozens of witnesses, including top departmental civil servants, are believed to have spoken to the inquiry about Mr Raab’s behaviour towards his junior staff, which broadly focus on claims of a demeaning and forthright attitude.

    Amongst the charges levelled against Mr Raab are claims he ‘belittled and demeaned’ civil servants and was ‘very rude and aggressive’ to them on multiple occasions each day.

    Raab has denied claims he mistreated his staff, and confirmed he would resign from government if an inquiry into his conduct found him guilty of bullying.

    ‘If an allegation of bullying is upheld, I would resign,’ the deputy PM previously told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge last month.

    It has been one week since Mr Raab was interviewed by Mr Tolley, indicating that the official inquiry could be drawing to a conclusion.

    For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only BBC handout photo of Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab appearing on the BBC1 current affairs programme, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Picture date: Sunday February 26, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Raab. Photo credit should read: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.
    Mr Raab said he would resign from government if the investigation found him guilty of bullying

    It was unclear how many times he had been interviewed or when.

    Rishi Sunak has resisted calls to suspend his deputy while under investigation, including from former Tory party chairman Sir Jake Berry, Labour and the FDA union which represents senior civil servants.

    If the investigation is damning, Mr Sunak will again face questions about what he knew about the allegations before bringing Mr Raab back into the Cabinet.

    Downing Street has only ruled out the Prime Minister being aware of ‘formal complaints’, but sources say he had been warned about his ally’s behaviour.

    Mr Raab ordered the investigation in November after coming under pressure following numerous claims, including that he was so demeaning to junior colleagues that many were ‘scared’ to enter his office.

    A Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘Adam Tolley KC is conducting an independent investigation into allegations against Dominic Raab. It would not be appropriate to comment further whilst that is ongoing.’

  • Chancellor’s plan looks very different to his predecessor’s

    The chancellor has hinted that he could make changes to the labour market to try and drive growth.

    Jeremy Hunt said UK unemployment is at a 40-year low, but 600,000 people have left the workforce since the pandemic, and he admitted that has put a strain on businesses as they struggle to recruit.

    He said he will address this in Thursday’s Autumn Statement. Could it mean a change to immigration rules to allow companies to recruit more people from abroad?

    He also acknowledged that Brexit has brought in more costs for businesses, but said the UK needs to embrace the opportunities.

    His central message was that inflation is the biggest factor affecting household budgets. It “insidiously” eats away at people’s spending power, he said.

    The chancellor promised to set out a balanced and fair approach to address short-term pressures like energy prices and the cost of food and household goods. But he also wants to give businesses the tools to help them grow.

    Expect his plans to be vastly different from his predecessor’s uncosted tax giveaways. “We need a plan that stands the test of time,” he concluded.

    DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana

    Source: BBC.com 

  • Sunak and his chancellor have a series of difficult decisions to take on tax and spending

    It’s sort of discombobulated because we’ve been just running 100 miles an hour.

    It has calmed down a bit, but I would describe it as the calm before the storm – because of what we’ve seen in terms of the Bank of England‘s decision on lifting interest rates.

    But inflation is going to peak, quite soon, and lower than perhaps expected.

    They are also talking about a recession – a very long, potentially quite long recession – potentially the longest recession since records began.

    So that’s all worrying for the government at a time when there is this black hole in the public finances, exacerbated by the decisions that Liz Truss took… and Jeremy Hunt, the new chancellor, has now reversed.

    So Rishi Sunak and his chancellor have got a series of very difficult decisions to take on tax and spending.

    How are you going to get that through the party? There are so many different views about what he should do.

    Source: Skynews.com

  • Foreign leaders offer condolences over deadly South Korea crush

    Foreign leaders expressed condolences over the deadly crowd surge in Seoul’s Itaewon district, with at least 20 foreign nationals from as many as a dozen countries among those killed in the crush in a popular nightspot.

    South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a period of national mourning on Sunday after the Halloween crush on Saturday night killed some 153 people.

    South Korea’s Ministry of Interior and Safety put the total at 20 foreign nationals killed. A ministry official told Reuters that among the dead were people from China, Iran, Russia, the United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Norway, with several people still unidentified.

    Two Japanese nationals, a woman in her twenties and another woman between the age of 10 and 19, were confirmed to have died in the crush, an official at Japan’s foreign ministry said.

    “I am greatly shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of many precious lives, including young people with a bright future, as a result of the very tragic accident,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a statement.

    At least four Chinese nationals were among those killed, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Chinese embassy in Seoul.

    Latest Updates

    “On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I would like to express deep condolences to the victims and extend sincere condolences to their families and the injured,” President Xi Jinping said in a letter, according to Xinhua.

    Xi said some Chinese citizens were also injured, and hoped South Korea “will make every effort to cure and deal with the aftermath.”

    Four Russian citizens died, the RIA news agency reported, citing the Russian embassy in South Korea.

    “Please convey words of sincere sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, and also wishes for the swift recovery of all the injured,” President Vladimir Putin said in a Telegram to Yoon.

    U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden sent their condolences, writing: “We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea and send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all those who were injured.”

    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: “All our thoughts are with those currently responding and all South Koreans at this very distressing time.”

    One Norwegian citizen was confirmed to have died in the crush, a spokesperson for Norway’s foreign ministry said, declining to provide any details.

    “I am devastated by news of the terrible incident in connection with Halloween celebrations in Seoul,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said in a statement. “My deepest condolences to families and friends who lost their loved ones. My thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy.”

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: “I’m thinking of everyone affected by this tragedy, and wishing a fast and full recovery to those who were injured.”

    Pope Francis, addressing the faithful in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, said “we also pray … for those, especially young people, who died overnight in Seoul due to the tragic consequences of a sudden stampede.”

    “Italy is close to the Korean people in this moment of great sorrow and profound sadness,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Twitter.

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    Reporting by Josh Smith and Reuters bureaus Editing by William Mallard and Frances Kerry

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