Displaying items by tag: United Kingdom

The Foreign Office is withdrawing some embassy staff and dependents from Ukraine in response to the Russian threat, stating, ‘The British embassy in Kyiv remains open and will continue to carry out essential work’. Meanwhile, supported by Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, it is accusing Russia of plotting to install Yevhen Murayev, a pro-Moscow figure, to lead Ukraine's government. Other Ukrainian politicians who maintain links with Russian intelligence were named, some allegedly working on an invasion plan. These include Mykola Azarov, who was prime minister under pro-Russian President Yanukovych; Volodymyr Sivkovych, former deputy head of national security and under US sanctions for working with Russian intelligence; and two pro-Russians who were previously Ukraine’s deputy prime ministers. The foreign secretary said, ‘The information being released shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking.’

Defence secretary Ben Wallace will soon be travelling to Moscow to meet Russia's defence minister, but he is lowering expectations of a diplomatic breakthrough. He says there is a chance a Russian invasion could be stopped, but he’s ‘not optimistic’. The UK's response to Russia's military buildup has been more muscular than most. They have supplied Ukraine with 2,000 light anti-tank weapons and troops to help train them. But not all NATO allies are willing to do the same. Germany's new government warned ‘supplying Ukraine with weapons could escalate the conflict’. Instead, Berlin is supplying Ukraine with ‘non-lethal’ field hospitals and 5,000 military helmets. Poland and Latvia have publicly criticised Germany's stance. Wallace hopes that Germany will support tough economic sanctions. After meeting NATO’s secretary general, Mr Wallace said the UK could support NATO by ‘increasing forces on land, sea or air to deter any further Russian aggression’, and could send Ukraine more weapons.

The Metropolitan Police is investigating a number of events at Downing Street and Whitehall for potential breaches of Covid restrictions after receiving information from the Cabinet Office inquiry team and Commissioner Cressida Dick. Boris Johnson says he welcomes this investigation, saying it will bring clarity on the issue. A No 10 spokesman says the PM does not believe he has broken any laws. The Met will also investigate alleged threats that would ‘seem to constitute blackmail’. MP Christian Wakeford said ministers had previously threatened to withdraw funding for a new secondary school in his constituency if he voted against the Government. Twelve Tory MPs have similar allegations of whips threatening to withdraw funding for infrastructure or schools. This has happened much more over the past ten years, and it was suggested there had been ‘a steady erosion of standards in the way funding is allocated’. See

Justin Welby and other faith leaders contributed to a symposium marking the 80th anniversary of the ‘Final Solution’ when six million Jews were murdered before the Nazis were defeated. In his message, broadcast on 27 January, he said that for centuries antisemitism has been like a volcano that from time to time erupts with absolute destruction, emitting noxious and terrible gases, poisoning the atmosphere in Europe and around the world. ‘We must constantly be vigilant against the first signs of an eruption coming. We can never ever tolerate any antisemitism. There is no acceptable level of antisemitism.’ Representing the Jewish community of Europe, Gady Gronich, said we must carefully consider the challenges facing Jewish communities. Jews are asking themselves if there is still a future in Europe. New legislation is restricting Jewish practices of religious freedom. Without circumcision and kosher slaughter there can be no religious Jewish life in Europe.

About a million children in England (one in every eight pupils) were off school last Thursday, as Covid-related absences rose. The official figures also show staffing problems worsening, with over a quarter of school’s teachers and leaders absent. The education secretary said as we transition from pandemic to endemic, he is determined to fight for children to be in school every day that they possibly can. The head teachers’ association reported pupil Covid absence figures are the worst they have been this academic year. The Association of School and College Leaders general secretary said, ‘The general message is the pandemic is over, but on the ground in schools, that isn't the case. The unexpected announcement last week that face coverings are no longer recommended in classrooms and communal areas reduced the defences available to schools to control the spread of Covid-19.’

Sainsburys, John Lewis and Waitrose will continue to ask customers in England to wear masks in their shops even though Plan B rules have now ended. Rail operators also said passengers would still be expected to wear masks. Those keeping the policy in place said they would encourage, not force, customers to comply. Plan B rules have been lifted because infections have peaked nationally. But the government is still advising people to wear masks in enclosed or crowded spaces and when meeting strangers. Retailers continue to implement many other existing safety measures such as hand sanitiser and perspex screens. The main purpose of wearing masks is to protect others, though there is some evidence they offer protection to wearers.

The mining of key metals such as cobalt for car batteries has been linked to appalling working conditions amounting to modern slavery in countries such as DRC where much of the world’s cobalt is sourced. Also, environmental damage is caused by lithium extraction in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. Responding to news that the Government will be investing £100m in Britishvolt's new 'gigafactory' in Northumberland to boost production of electric car batteries, Amnesty International said although the news is a leap forward for British industry, offering jobs and a very meaningful opportunity for the UK to decarbonise transport in the fight against climate change, it is absolutely crucial that the Government, Britishvolt, and its investors ensure there are diligence systems in place. They must be honest and transparent about the environmental and human rights Britishvolt faces in sourcing cobalt, lithium, nickel, copper and other battery metals. See

Airlines reported nearly 6,000 incidents involving unruly passengers last year and 151 in the first two weeks of this year. Most incidents involved passengers refusing to wear masks. The latest incident, on 20 January, involved an American Airlines passenger who refused to wear a mask on a flight to Heathrow from Miami, which forced the Boeing 777 carrying 129 passengers to return to Florida. The American Airlines statement said the diversion was ‘due to a disruptive customer refusing to comply with the federal mask requirement’. See also

As Boris Johnson battled through question time over parties at Downing Street, at home his baby daughter Romy was battling Covid. Pray for her full recovery and for Boris’s peace of mind. Also pray that Sue Gray will be able to understand about these parties and whether disciplinary action is needed. May her enquiry be led by God’s Spirit as she probes the morals and motives of our politicians. Pray for God’s truth and light to expose hidden deception, spoken or performed, that has invaded Whitehall. Pray for God to clean the corridors of Government from the works of the flesh, greed, folly and personal agendas. May His Spirit flow through every department releasing Kingdom plans. May mercy triumph over judgement as His purposes for this nation are released through the current shaking. On 25 January MPs can attend a lunchtime church service, giving them an opportunity for reflection in the midst of parliamentary life. May they engage with God in worship and hear Him speak.

The Nationality and Borders Bill was proposed by Priti Patel to make provisions for asylum-seekers. However the Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, said changes to the bill would make the asylum system less fair, not more so. If Patel is successful, those attempting illegal entry could face four years in prison, instead of six months; if they are stopped in the English Channel, they will be returned to France. The bill has already passed through the House of Commons and is currently in the ‘committee stage’ in the House of Lords. If the bill passes through the chamber, amendments will be considered before it is given the Royal Assent. Bishop Paul said, ‘We do not want to see any more people tragically losing their lives in the Channel. In its current form, the bill makes the asylum system more complicated, more cumbersome, and less fair; it provides fewer safe routes and is more expensive.’