A new law will allow the government to move forward with its Rwanda policy by letting ministers ignore certain human rights laws.
The Home Office said the bill, which will be introduced to Parliament on Thursday, states in UK law that Rwanda is a safe country for asylum seekers.
The new agreement was signed by Home Secretary James Cleverly with a country in East Africa.
The treaty and bill aim to tackle the issues raised by the Supreme Court.
The top court in the UK said it was not allowed to send some people seeking asylum to Rwanda.
In April 2022, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a plan to stop people from crossing the Channel in small boats.
Legal issues have caused delays, so no one seeking asylum has been sent to Rwanda from the UK.
The bill needs to be approved by Parliament and it removes certain parts of the Human Rights Act.
However, it doesn’t go as far as some Conservative MPs on the party’s right would have wanted.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and her supporters wanted to get rid of the Human Rights Act and other international laws.
Someone who knows Mrs. Braverman well said the bill has serious problems and will be stuck in the courts for a long time.
“The prime minister has allowed all illegal migrants to make human rights claims if they are being sent back, and they can appeal if their claims are denied,” according to the source.
“It’s another letdown for the Tory voters and the normal patriotic people who want to stop this madness. ”
The new law admits that it might not follow basic human rights rules.
Laws don’t usually come before members of parliament with a legal warning.
This is the second time this year that the government has asked Parliament to vote on laws that might not be legal – the first time was with the Illegal Migration Act.
Lawyers have warned government officials that the new laws in Rwanda could be challenged in court and might not be compatible with human rights obligations.
Rwanda’s foreign minister, Vincent Biruta, said that the country cannot continue with the plan unless the UK behaves according to the law.
He said: “Rwanda and the UK both think it’s really important that our partnership follows international law and requires both countries to act in a lawful way. ”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that with the new emergency law, we will be able to control who comes into our country, stop people from making dangerous trips across the channel, and reduce the number of lawsuits in our courts.
Tag: James Cleverly
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Rwandan migration bill violates certain human rights laws – Lawyer
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Emergence of Tory divisions precedes Rwanda’s immigration law
There are disagreements in the Conservative party about Rishi Sunak‘s big Rwanda law that will be published soon.
The head of the Home Office, James Cleverly, signed a new agreement with Rwanda on Tuesday, because the Supreme Court said that the old plans were not allowed.
His predecessor, Suella Braverman, said that the UK should ignore human rights laws in order to carry out the plan.
Some MPs in the party said this is a very important issue.
The Prime Minister will announce new laws very soon, Home Office minister Chris Philp stated on BBC Radio 4.
Mr Sunak said he will make changes to the law that the Supreme Court was worried about. The law was about sending people seeking safety to east Africa.
It is made to work with the new agreement where the UK will give money to Rwanda to help them process asylum requests for people who come to the UK.
The UK will now pay for British and Commonwealth judges to oversee a new appeals process in Rwanda, as well as cover the legal fees for anyone sent there.
Conservative breaks up.
Mr Philp said to the BBC that the bill will do anything necessary to make the Rwanda plan happen.
The BBC knows that moderate Conservative MPs are concerned that Mr. Sunak may be thinking about Mrs. Braverman’s plans to ignore human rights laws.
Mrs Braverman, who used to be in charge of laws, has said before that the bill should not follow the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as well as other international rules like the Refugee Convention.
The One Nation Caucus, which is made up of 106 Conservative MPs, asked the prime minister to not listen to these requests.
Ex-deputy prime minister Damian Green, who now leads the One Nation Caucus, said the government should reconsider before going against the ECHR and HRA.
Mr Green said that Conservative governments have been very important in making and keeping the ECHR and the Refugee and Torture conventions.
“We still value these agreements and they are important for protecting the UK’s democratic history. ”
Matt Warman, an important member of the group, said: “Many Conservatives will not accept going against the ECHR. ” Any Conservative government should focus on making institutions better and protecting human rights.
Mark Francois, the leader of the ERG, said the group won’t support any new laws that don’t “completely respect the power of Parliament, with clear wording”.
The ERG, a powerful group of MPs who support Brexit, said they will only support the bill if it is approved by a group of legal experts led by MP Bill Cash. -
Rwandan pact addresses legal issues – Cleverly
The person in charge of keeping the UK safe says a new agreement with Rwanda solves the problems the UK’s highest court had with the government’s plan, which the court said was not allowed last month.
The court said that the plan to send migrants to Rwanda could cause problems with people’s rights.
James Cleverly said that Rwanda had promised to keep people safe when they come to the country.
The policy is part of the government’s plan to stop migrants from coming to England by crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that stopping the boats is one of the five most important things for his government before the next general election.
The plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, announced in April 2022 by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has been delayed many times because of legal problems. No asylum seekers have been sent to Rwanda yet.
The highest court in the UK said no to the policy because they were not sure if the Rwandan government would follow a law called non-refoulment.
The rule says that a country cannot send back people seeking asylum to their home country if it would be dangerous for them.
After the decision, Mr. Sunak said his government will make a new agreement with Rwanda and create new laws to show that the country is secure.
The new law is expected to be brought to Parliament this week.
Legal worries in a courtroom.
Mr Cleverly went to Kigali and signed a new important agreement with Rwanda’s foreign affairs minister Vincent Biruta on Tuesday.
He is the third person in charge of the home department to visit Rwanda, after Priti Patel and Suella Braverman.
The British government says the new agreement makes sure that people moved to Rwanda are safe and won’t be sent back to a place where they could be harmed.
The agreement creates a new group of judges from different countries who are experts in asylum cases. They will listen to and decide on individual cases.
The government says a committee will watch over Rwanda’s asylum system. This committee will have more power to enforce the rules.
The government says a committee will create a way for people who have moved and their lawyers to report problems.
At a press meeting, Mr Cleverly said that Rwanda is a safe country. He also stated that he believes the treaty satisfies the concerns of the judges in the Supreme Court.
He said that this would be shown in the country’s laws very soon.
The asylum policy has already cost the UK government at least £140 million. Cleverly said the UK has not paid Rwanda any extra money for the new treaty.
The home secretary said he doesn’t see any good reason to doubt Rwanda’s ability to handle asylum cases. He wants the program to start as soon as possible.
He said Rwanda is known for being kind and was not happy about the way people were criticizing Rwanda.
Rwanda’s foreign affairs minister said that the UK may have blocked the asylum policy because of their own political issues.
But Biruta said that there is always a way to make any system made by people better, whether it is from Rwanda or Britain.
“We worked on this treaty because of this reason. ” To ensure we can make our asylum system better and have a fair and clear asylum system in place.
Conservative members of parliament who have strong beliefs are pushing Mr Sunak to stop boats carrying migrants from coming into the country.
In 2022, over 45,700 people came to the UK by crossing the Channel, the most ever recorded.
The UK government is being asked to reduce the number of people coming to live in the country, as it has reached a record high of 745,000 in 2022.
The Conservatives have promised many times to reduce the number of people coming to live in the UK since they started running the country in 2010. They also want to have more say over who can come into the UK after the Brexit vote.
On Monday, the government said they will make it harder for skilled foreign workers to come to the UK by raising the minimum salary they must earn from £26,200 to £38,700.
Mr Cleverly said that last year, 300,000 people who could have come to the UK will not be able to come in the future. -
Rwanda’s home secretary to ratify new asylum agreement
James Cleverly, a government official, is in Rwanda to make a new agreement with the country about where people who need protection can go.
The new rule will send some people seeking asylum to Rwanda to apply for asylum there. It was first talked about in April 2022.
The government wants to improve the treaty and create new laws to make sure its plan doesn’t face more legal problems.
The BBC was told that the new agreement might mean British lawyers will work in Rwandan courts to help with the concerns of the Supreme Court.
Before he left for his trip, Cleverly said that Rwanda is a safe country. He also said he wants to stop people from crossing the English Channel in small boats.
The UK government gave £140m to Rwanda for the plan, but no migrants have gone there yet.
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UK foreign affairs minister James Cleverly visits Israel amid Gaza explosions
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has just arrived in Israel, according to the government.
A spokesperson said that the foreign secretary has come to Israel today to show the UK’s strong support for the Israeli people after the terrorist attacks by Hamas.
“He will meet with people who survived the attacks, as well as important leaders of Israel, to explain that the UK supports Israel‘s right to protect itself. ” -
Jewish schools increase in security makes parents anxious
Jewish schools are increasing their safety measures because they are worried that there might be more hatred and discrimination against Jewish children.
More police are watching over certain schools in London and Manchester. Parents are worried about their children’s safety.
Some students have been told that they don’t have to wear blazers in public places, so people won’t know they are Jewish.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that protecting the safety of the Jewish community in the UK is of utmost importance.
He said to the BBC that in the past, Jewish people in the UK have been unfairly targeted because of things happening in the Middle East.
Three days after Hamas attacked Israel with the intention to kill, over 900 people have been reported dead. Almost 690 people have been killed in retaliatory attacks on Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities.
Students at the Jewish Free School in Kenton, north London, were informed that there will be no after-school punishments and they can choose whether or not to wear a blazer with the school’s logo.
Headteacher David Moody said in an email to parents that the main priority is to make sure students are safe when traveling to and from school. It is also important to ensure that the school can take care of our children during the school day.
Suzi, whose son is 14 years old and goes to the school, said: “The effects of what’s happening are not just limited to the school, they also impact the community. ”
As a parent, it can be difficult because you want to keep your children safe and make sure they are okay in their feelings and bodies.
Her older daughter, who is 18 years old, used to go to the same school as Nathanel Young. He was killed in the attack by Hamas on Saturday.
“He was walking in the same hallways as her,” Suzi said, but we are not using her full name.
She mentioned that it was unfortunate that, as a Jewish community, they were accustomed to having strong security measures in public places.
This has become more important because of what happened. “We are all feeling very shocked and sad,” she said.
In another Jewish school in Manchester, fewer students are coming to school and there are more police officers in the area.
The headteacher of King David School, John Dalziel, said that the police came to the school on Tuesday morning in order to make the students and parents feel safer.
He is telling students to think about removing their blazers or hiding the crest on their uniform when they are out in public.
He said that he told students to be happy with themselves and to tell someone if they experience any attacks against Jewish people.
Another mother named Michal has three children who attend Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School in Salford. She mentioned that there has been an increase in patrols in her neighborhood.
She said that they have added more security, canceled school trips, and are making sure all doors are locked while school is in session.
The scariest part is that there are people in Manchester who are celebrating the killing of Jewish people.
Michal, who we won’t say her last name, said that although the school is trying hard to keep the children safe, she’s still worried about their wellbeing.
The local police and an organization called Community Security Trust, which supports Jewish people in the UK with security and antisemitism issues, are working together to increase security.
It said that it was working together with the government to help organize and plan security, particularly in schools.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the government is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of the UK’s Jewish community.He said on Tuesday that he wanted to remind everyone that Hamas was a banned terrorist group, and anyone caught helping them would be held responsible.
The Home Secretary Suella Braverman has sent a letter to police chiefs in England and Wales, asking them to increase the number of patrols and use their authority to stop actions that cause trouble and worry to our communities.
She said that British streets should not have any demonstrations, convoys, or people waving flags that support terrorism or bother the Jewish community.
On Monday, the police arrested three people after a protest in support of Palestine happened near the Israeli embassy in Kensington, which is in west London.
At the same time, British Jewish people came together in Downing Street to hold a vigil. They lit candles to remember the victims and prayed for the people who were missing and those who were being kept captive.The phrase “Free Palestine” has been written on bridges in the popular Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green in north London. The authorities are currently looking into this graffiti.
“British Transport Police stated that it is wrong to hurt or bother someone because of their identity. ”
During the BBC interview, the foreign secretary advised British citizens in Israel who want to leave to use regular transportation options. He also stated that the UK government was not currently organizing any special evacuations.
When asked if the policy could change, Mr. Cleverly said that things are changing quickly and he doesn’t want to guess what might happen in the future.
He said the situation in Israel is different from many other diplomatic issues because there are a lot of British-Israeli citizens who consider Israel their permanent home or are in the military. -
Breaking relations with China not credible – Cleverly
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has explained that it is important to have discussions with Chinese officials in Beijing, as completely disconnecting from them would not be seen as believable or reliable.
When Cleverly met China’s vice president, he said that this trip, which is the first one by an important UK representative in five years, would help prevent misunderstandings and mistakes.
However, before his visit, some UK members of parliament criticized the government’s way of dealing with China as confusing.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a senior member of the Conservative party, said that it is like appeasing someone.
The relationship between the UK and China has gotten worse in the past few years because of worries about people’s rights in Hong Kong, China’s attempts to spy and influence people in the UK, and China supporting Russia when it invaded Ukraine.
Mr Cleverly spoke to the BBC and said that his visit was a chance to talk clearly about their differences and collaborate when it benefits both parties.
He said it would let the UK to “reopen communication” and added that not meeting in person could create “more chances for misunderstandings, lack of trust, and mistakes”.
He said that one call, one visit, or one meeting won’t completely change things. However, if we communicate patiently, consistently, and reliably, it could make a difference.
I talk about human rights, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and individual cases whenever I meet with Chinese government representatives.
When asked about China’s support for Russia in Ukraine, Mr. Cleverly said that China wants the war to end fairly and successfully.
I don’t believe China wants people to think that they support what Putin is doing, whether actively or without doing anything.
I believe Beijing pays attention to what the world thinks about them. They know that their future depends on other countries around the world.Difficult to find or catch.
On Wednesday, Mr. Cleverly had a meeting with China’s Vice President Han Zheng at a big building called the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. He is also supposed to have discussions with China’s foreign affairs minister Wang Yi.
The relationship between the UK and China has changed a lot since 2015 when David Cameron’s government called it a “golden era”.
Back then, Chancellor George Osborne said the UK had become China’s top partner in the West, and Prime Minister Cameron took Chinese President Xi Jinping to a pub for a drink.
However, since then, disagreements about various problems have caused relations to become very bad.
The UK government has expressed dissatisfaction with China’s treatment of a specific group of Muslims called Uyghurs who live there. In 2021, the UK government also decided to prohibit a Chinese company named Huawei from participating in the country’s 5G network due to worries about safety and security.
In the same year, China stopped five Members of Parliament (MPs) from entering the country. One of them was Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former leader of the Conservative party. China accused them of spreading false information and lies.
Liz Truss, who was the prime minister, was said to be considering labeling China as a danger to the UK.
Rishi Sunak didn’t want to go that far, but in 2022 he said that the good times of relations with China were over and trying to improve relationships had been foolish.
MrCleverly is visiting at a time when the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Commons has expressed criticism towards the government’s dealings with China in a recent report on UK’s policies in Indo-Pacific region.
The report says that the Chinese Communist Party’s activities are seen as a danger to the UK and the things it cares about.
This statement raises worries that the government doesn’t have a clear plan and it asks for a version of its strategy on China to be published in a way that everyone can understand, so it can help both the public and private parts of society.
The committee also says that all important ministers should be told about the more important version of the plan.
The Conservative chairwoman of the committee, Alicia Kearns, said: “The secret China plan is hidden in the government offices and not shared with important ministers. ”
How can people who create rules and laws do it without knowing the big plan.
When asked if Mr. Cleverly should be going to Beijing, she told the BBC on Tuesday: “It is more important for us to be in the same place with them, even if we strongly disagree, instead of ending our relationship. ”
‘Weak’ means not strong or not having a lot of power or ability.
But former leader of the Conservative party and minister Sir Iain called the visit the most recent part of “Project Kowtow”.
He said to the PA news agency that the UK’s stance “strongly suggests giving in to avoid conflict”.
“He said that we want to increase our business, so we don’t want to make the Chinese too angry. ”
What happens is that they believe we are not strong enough.
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, accused the Conservative government of being divided, inconsistent, and complacent towards China for over ten years.
He said the government needed to achieve real victories in diplomacy, like stopping Chinese sanctions on British parliament members. -
Saudi Crown Prince invited to the UK – government source
Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince, has been invited to the UK, a government source claims.
According to the official diary, No. 10 would confirm the Prime Minister’s engagements in the usual way.
A different government source said there is no reason to think the visit won’t happen.
This would be the first visit since the journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
At the time, the Western world condemned the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi Arabian regime.
US intelligence agencies came to the conclusion that the prince must have approved the killing despite the prince’s assertions that he was involved in it.
In recent months, UK politicians have expressed a desire for tighter ties with the kingdom. To diversify its economy away from oil, the country built an office in London for its trillion-pound investment fund.
Grant Shapps, the secretary of energy security, met with Saudi Arabia earlier this year to discuss expanding cooperation in areas like space, technology, and essential minerals.
Additionally, the administration has been considering whether to back a trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council. James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, recently visited Kuwait, Jordan, and Qatar.
In the course of discussions with Gulf officials about reducing dependency on Russian oil and gas, the then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson met the crown prince in the Saudi capital of Riyadh last year.
He was invited to the Queen’s burial in September, but declined, sending a senior Saudi royal in his stead.
Six months before to Mr. Khashoggi’s death, in March 2018, Theresa May was the prime minister when he last travelled to the UK.
The prince, who serves as the de facto head of state for the largest oil exporter in the world, received praise from Western leaders for implementing certain changes in the traditional Gulf state, such as removing the ban on women driving.
However, the murder of Mr. Khashoggi seriously harmed his standing internationally.
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UK Foreign Secretary visits Trashy Bags Africa
The United Kingdom (UK) Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, James Cleverly, conducted a working visit to Trashy Bags Africa
during his recent visit to Ghana.The company is a social enterprise that specializes in upcycling discarded drinking water sachets into eco-friendly bags.
The company processes and upcycles used sachets into fashion accessories such as backpacks and tote bags.
Officials
Mr Cleverly was accompanied by the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, and other officials of the British High Commission.During the visit, he met with teachers and students of FutureStars Charity, a UK-registered organisation.
The Manufacturing Manager of Trashy Bags Africa, Elvis Aboluah, who conducted Mr Cleverly around the facility, told the Daily Graphic that the company was also into educating people and creating awareness of the negative impact of plastic on the environment aside from recycling them.
“So in terms of the materials, we build collaboration with people who collect the materials,” he said.
These, he said, included companies, other individuals and partners such as Inspired to Rise and Futurestars Charity.
The Country Manager of Futurestars Charity, Emmanuel Okyne-Tetteh, said the organisation used the power of sports to promote education.
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£3.9 million UK-Ghana Gold Mining Programme launched
On Monday 31st July, 2023, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor, MP, partnered with the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, James Cleverly, has launched the UK-Ghana Gold Mining Programme.
This new initiative aims to support Ghana in its efforts to combat illegal mining activities.
The UK-Ghana Gold Mining Programme focuses on eliminating illegalities associated with the small-scale mining sector by enhancing community resilience, promoting regulatory reforms, and providing support to law enforcement agencies.
The program will be implemented in the Ashanti, Savannah, and Western Regions of Ghana.
During the launch ceremony held at the Kotoka International Airport, Minister Jinapor highlighted the historic relationship between Ghana and the United Kingdom.
He emphasized that both countries have collaborated on various socio-economic policies and initiatives that have greatly benefited their citizens.
The gold mining program is yet another joint effort to address a pressing issue.
Minister Jinapor emphasized the importance of the small-scale mining sector in Ghana’s economic development.
He acknowledged that several interventions have been undertaken by the government to address the challenges in the sector and promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
He praised the UK Government for its support, describing the initiative as a significant boost to the government’s ongoing fight against illegal mining.
He assured the UK team of his ministry’s full cooperation and commitment to achieving the program’s objectives.
The UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs commended the Ghanaian government’s efforts in cracking down on illegal mining. He recognized the fight as a bold step to protect Ghanaians from the negative environmental impacts caused by illegal mining.
The three-year illegal gold-mining program will see the UK government contribute £3.9 million to complement Ghana’s efforts in the Western, Ashanti, and Savannah Regions.
Experts and officials from the UK government will collaborate with a technical team from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to ensure the effectiveness and success of the program.
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UK supports Ghana to sanitize small scale mining sector
On Monday, 31st July, 2023, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, teamed up with the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the Rt. Hon. James Cleverly, to launch an innovative program aimed at supporting Ghana’s efforts to combat illegal mining.
Named the UK-Ghana Gold Mining Programme, this initiative seeks to eradicate illegal activities associated with small-scale mining by enhancing community resilience, advocating for regulatory reforms, and bolstering law enforcement efforts.
The program’s implementation will focus on the Ashanti, Savannah, and Western Regions of Ghana.
The Minister expressed the historical bond between Ghana and the United Kingdom, highlighting their collaborative efforts in executing impactful socio-economic policies and initiatives for the benefit of their citizens.
The gold mining program represents another significant joint endeavor by the two nations to address an important issue.
Hon. Samuel Jinapor pointed out that this initiative will complement existing government measures in the fight against illegal mining, such as the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), Community Mining Schemes, and various law enforcement strategies.
Furthermore, he emphasized the strategic importance of the small-scale mining sector in Ghana’s economic development. The government’s interventions aim to address the sector’s challenges and promote sustainable and environmentally-friendly small-scale mining practices.
“The relationship between Ghana and the UK has been long-standing. The Ghanaian government has taken the issue of illegal mining seriously because apart from the impact o on our economy, its impact on the environment is dire. The government has taken some very bold steps like NALEP, Community Mining Scheme to ensure that we have community miners who adhere to be highest level of operational measures,” he said.
He commended the UK Government for the initiative, describing it as a ‘huge impetus’ and boost to the fight waged by Government against illegal mining.
He assured the preparedness of his Ministry to work effectively with the UK team to deliver in the programme.
The UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs praised the Ghanaian government for its strong actions against illegal mining, recognizing it as a courageous effort to serve the best interests of Ghanaians and protect them from the adverse environmental effects of illegal mining.
Expressing pride in the association with Ghana’s fight, the UK government pledged its commitment to provide necessary resources and personnel to support the cause.
Under the newly launched illegal gold-mining program, the UK and Ghanaian governments will collaborate closely to enhance community resilience, advocate for regulatory reforms, and bolster law enforcement efforts.
Over the course of three years, the UK government will contribute £3.9 million to complement Ghana’s endeavors in curbing illegal gold-mining activities in the Western, Ashanti, and Savannah Regions.
To ensure the program’s success and effectiveness, experts and officials from the UK government will collaborate with a Technical Team at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Together, they will work towards achieving the program’s objectives and creating a positive impact on the small-scale mining sector in Ghana.
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China sacks consul general and five others over Manchester consulate protests
During a peaceful protest about Hong Kong, which he fled last year, Bob Chan was dragged into the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester. He was pulled by his hair and suffered severe bruising on his face and body.
A general consul and five other Chinese government employees who were involved in assaulting a Hong Kong protester inside its Manchester consulate have been “removed” by the Chinese government.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that his department had given the Chinese government a deadline of December 14 to lift the diplomatic immunity of six of its officials so that they could be questioned by British police.
He said: “In response to our request, the Chinese government have now removed from the UK those officials, including the consul general himself.
“This demonstrates that our adherence to the rule of law, the seriousness with which we take these incidents, has had an effect, and we will continue on the world stage and domestically to abide by the rule of law, and we expect others to do likewise.”
He said the consul general has already returned to China, as have some of the officials while the rest will do shortly. The consul general’s wife remains in the UK.
Hong Kong pro-democracy protester Bob Chan, who fled Hong Kong last March, was demonstrating peacefully outside the consulate in October when he was pulled into the groundsand beaten up by staff.
Zheng Xiyuan, the consul general who has been removed, was pictured pulling Mr Chan’s hair before yanking him inside the consulate.
Mr Chan told Sky News he thought he was going to die and was left with injuries to his body and face from being kicked and punched before a British police officer pulled him out of the gates.
The incident caused a row between MPs as some accused ministers of not reacting proportionately because of trade possibilities with China.
But Mr Cleverly said on Wednesday: “When China behaves in a way that we fundamentally disagree with, we raise it directly with China.
“I did so earlier on this year when I had a meeting with [Chinese foreign minister] Wang Yi highlighting our objection to Chinese behaviour in Xinjiang with the Uyghur Muslim minority, their failure to abide by the commitments made over Hong Kong, and indeed the sanctioning of my parliamentary colleagues here in the UK.
“We also did so in response to this incident,and it is right that the Chinese government have now removed these officials from the UK.”
Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: “The foreign secretary should be congratulated for taking this action.
“It’s just a shame it took so long when the footage of the assault was so clear for all to see from day one. We should not be so fearful of holding China to account for its abuses in the future. Hong Kong-ers seeking refuge in the UK will sleep a little easier tonight.”
‘Outrageous’ response to videos where Mr Chan was dragged and hit
Greater Manchester Police have been investigating the alleged assault and in November said they had identified a number of offences during what they described as a “complex inquiry”.
Diplomatic staff at foreign embassies usually have immunity from arrest and prosecution, especially if an incident happens in their consulates or embassies.
But senior MPs, including Tory Iain Duncan Smith, who is sanctioned by China, said the British government’s response was “outrageous” after Mr Cleverly said he had spoken to China’s charge d’affaires, Yang Xiaoguang over the incident.
He and other MPs from across the Commons called for ministers to expel the diplomats identified in videos dragging and hitting Mr Chan, and also pulling his hair.
“I think it’s an emergency situation – that guy threatened my colleague’s life, and we tried to control the situation. I wanted to separate him from my colleagues – that’s a very critical point.”
Asked why the peaceful demonstration turned violent, Mr Zheng claimed it was because of the “rude banners” that had been put on display.
In a letter sent to Greater Manchester Police, he stated the banners featured a “volume of deeply offensive imagery and slogans”, including a picture of the Chinese president Xi Jinping with a noose around his neck.
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UK sanctions 30 more people and organizations sanctioned in UK for corruption and human right violation
As James Cleverly approved the most sanctions the UK has ever combined in one package, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that the UK has a responsibility to “promote free and open societies.”
New sanctions have been imposed by the UK on 30 people and organisations that it deemed to be “corrupt political figures, human rights violators, and perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence.”
People involved in the mobilisation of troops to rape civilians and the torturing of prisoners are included in the sanctions.
The number of individuals sanctioned from 11 nations—including Russia, Iran, Myanmar, and South Sudan—is the highest number the UK has ever gathered in a single package.
In order to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day and Global Human Rights Day, the government claimed that the sanctions were planned with international partners.
approved the most sanctions the UK has ever combined in one package, James Cleverly stated that the UK has a responsibility to “promote free and open societies.”
New sanctions have been imposed by the UK on 30 people and organisations that it deemed to be “corrupt political figures, human rights violators, and perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence.”
People involved in the mobilisation of troops to rape civilians and the torturing of prisoners are included in the sanctions.
The number of individuals sanctioned from 11 nations—including Russia, Iran, Myanmar, and South Sudan—is the highest number the UK has ever gathered in a single package.
In order to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day and Global Human Rights Day, the government claimed that the sanctions were planned with international partners.
“It is our duty to promote free and open societies around the world,” Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.
“Today our sanctions go further to expose those behind the heinous violations of our most fundamental rights.”
As part of the package, eight individuals involved in serious human rights abuses and violations have been designated under the Global Human Rights regime, which allows the UK to stop them from entering the country, channelling money through UK banks or profiting from the British economy.
Geographical sanctions have been placed on Iran and Russia, while five “corrupt actors” from Serbia, Moldova and Kosovo have been placed on the list.
The UK has now sanctioned more than 1,200 individuals in Russia, including members of the military. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov were sanctioned in February when Russia invaded Ukraine.
All sanctioned individuals will have their assets frozen and a travel ban imposed, while entities are subject to asset freeze.
Image:More than 1,200 Russians have now been sanctioned by the UK, including Vladimir Putin Those included in the latest wave of sanctions are:
• Ten Iranian officials connected to Iran’s judicial and prison systems, including former directors of Evin Prison where Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was held, and those responsible for handing out death penalties to protesters
• Russian Colonel Ibatullin, commander of the 90th Tank Division, who has been on the front line of the Ukraine invasion
• Two county commissioners in South Sudan who mobilised troops to rape civilians during conflicts earlier this year
• Mali’s Katiba Macina group, also known as the Macina Liberation Front, who are known for sexual violence, including forced marriages
• Divisions of the Myanmar armed forces for sexual violence and Myanmar’s office of the chief of military and security affairs following reports of torture, rape and sexual violence
• Muslim cleric Mian Abdul Haq for forced conversions and marriages of girls and women from religious minorities in Pakistan
• Uganda’s former inspector general of police, general Kale Kayihura, for overseeing human rights violations, including torture
• The mayor and deputy mayor of Matagalpa in Nicaragua for promoting and supporting grievous human rights violations
• Russian federal security service member in Crimea, Andrey Tishenin, and Artur Shambazov, a senior detective in Crimea, for torturing Ukrainian activist Oleksandr Kostenko in 2015
• Russian Federation major of justice Valentin Oparin and Oleg Tkachenko, head of public prosecutions in Rostov for obstructing complaints of torture and using torture to extract testimony.
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Iran protests: Armed Met Police guard Iranian journalists facing death threats
Armed police officers are stationed in a tree-lined business park in Chiswick, West London. Jankels, black, multi-role armoured vehicles, are stationed at regular intervals alongside Met Police armed response vehicles, which are fully crewed with armed officers inside.
They are stationed at every entrance to the plate-glass structure that houses the offices of Iran International, an independent Farsi-language news channel that has enraged Iran’s regime.
“This has to be the biggest armed police operation around a commercial building in this country that I can think of,” says a spokesman for Iran International.
It is certainly reminiscent of Tony Blair’s deployment of armoured vehicles to Heathrow in February 2003 in response to a perceived terror threat.
Founded in 2017 by a former BBC Persian journalist, Iran International broadcasts into Iran by satellite. It has been providing 24-hour rolling news coverage of the huge street protests that have engulfed Iran since the death in police custody of 22-year old Mahsa Amini, allegedly arrested for not wearing her hijab head covering correctly.
Many of the protests have been calling for an end to the oppressive rule of the Islamic Republic.
But instead of listening to people’s demands, the authorities in Iran have arrested thousands and accused Western nations and the free media they host of stirring up the protests and provoking unrest.
So far, so familiar. That has been the refrain each time protests in Iran have erupted, but this time it’s different.
Not only are the protests significantly more widespread, but the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, the real power behind the regime, has been targeting Iranian opposition journalists based in Britain.
“Iran projects threat to the UK directly, through its aggressive intelligence services,” says Ken McCallum, the director-general of MI5, the UK security service.
“At its sharpest, this includes ambitions to kidnap or even kill British or UK-based individuals perceived as enemies of the regime. We have seen at least 10 such potential threats since January alone.”
The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has called on Iran to stop its intimidation of UK-based journalists. Iran has called the accusations “ridiculous”.
Working closely with MI5, the Metropolitan Police has responded to the threats with a large show of force to protect the 100 or so employees of Iran International in Chiswick, some of whom have personally received death threats.
“The Met Police have been outstanding”, the Iran International spokesman tells me as we sit in an office next to their newsroom. “Their response has been swift and effective.”
So what form do these threats take exactly?
Initially they were just text messages, sent to the mobile phones of journalists, often warning them that if they don’t stop their critical coverage of the regime then their families and relatives in Iran will suffer.
That apparently has been going on for years, targeting not just Iran International but BBC Persian as well, to the point where Iran’s behaviour has been raised at the UN.
But this year Iran has gone further.
It seems that planning discussions of actual attacks have been intercepted by UK intelligence. There has also been hostile surveillance spotted outside both the offices of Iran International and the homes of some of its staff.
“We’re talking here about low-grade Tier 3 operatives being hired and directed by Tier 1 operatives,” says the Iran International spokesman.
“They are easily recruited from drug gangs or from the fringes of an Islamic centre.”
The hostile surveillance has not always been that sophisticated, he says. One example he gives is of two men and a woman wheeling a pram up and down outside the building on a cold evening while taking photographs – at 11pm.
“Who takes a baby in a pram for a walk at that time of night?”
There have also been attempts to interfere, unsuccessfully, with Iran International’s satellite broadcasts, as well as the usual cyber activity.
He shows me a text from an employee who has just been alerted to attempts to hack into his Twitter account. Then, abruptly, our meeting ends.
“I’ve got two CTSAs (counter terrorism security advisers) coming in from the Met to discuss what more still needs to be done,” he tells me.
“This problem is not going away.”
Source: BBC.com
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Qatar World Cup: LGBT football fans told to be respectful
LGBT football fans attending the World Cup in Qatar should show “a little bit of flex and compromise,” according to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
On Wednesday, he told LBC that fans travelling from England and Wales should be “respectful of the host nation,” where same-sex activity is illegal.
Within hours, the prime minister’s official spokesman stated that LGBT World Cup fans should not be expected to “compromise who they are” if they visit Qatar.
Labour called Mr Cleverly’s remarks “shockingly tone-deaf”.
In a separate interview with Sky News, the foreign secretary reiterated his message when asked how the government was pushing for LGBT equality in Qatar.
He said: “These are Muslim countries, they have very different cultural starting points for us. I think it’s important when you’re a visitor to a country that you respect the culture of your host nation.”
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, During England matches, Harry Kane wears a white One Love captain’s armband, with a rainbow design in support of the LGBT community The decision to stage the World Cup in Qatar, a country where homosexuality can be punishable by death, has been criticised by LGBT groups.
England and Wales have both qualified for the tournament, meaning they will each play three group matches, plus knock-out matches if they progress.
England’s three initial matches are being played in Doha, Al Khor, and – against Wales – in Al Rayyan. Wales are playing all three of their matches in the latter city.
Earlier this year, LGBT organisations engaging with Fifa said “progress has been slow” in ensuring the safety of LGBT fans – and that reassurances from Qatar had “not been adequate”.
Some footballers have been taking a defiant stand in support of the LGBT community in the run-up to the World Cup. Footballer Harry Kane has said he intends to wear his OneLove rainbow captain armband during World Cup matches, even if it is not approved for use by the football’s global governing body, Fifa, which runs the World Cup.
Fifa regulations state that a player’s kit and other “basic compulsory equipment. must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images”.
Some politicians, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, said they would not attend the tournament due to Qatar’s human rights record.
Wales’s First Minister, Mark Drakeford, is still expected to be there.
Mr Cleverly said he would be attending the World Cup, adding that the UK has “incredibly important partners in the Middle East”.
Mr Cleverly’s remarks come as Qatari officials stopped UK campaigner Peter Tatchell from staging an LGBT rights protest in Doha on Tuesday.
Mr Tatchell said he was “surrounded and interrogated” by authorities following the one-man protest, believed to be the first LGBT rights protest to take place in any Gulf state.
The campaigner said the foreign secretary should not attend the World Cup, and instead “highlight the abuses being carried out by the regime”.
By planning to be at the event, Mr Cleverly would be “colluding with a homophobic, sexist and racist regime“, he said.
Shadow digital, culture, media, and sport secretary Lucy Powell hit out at the foreign secretary’s remark, describing it as “shockingly tone-deaf”.
She said: “Sport should be open to all.
“Many fans will feel they can’t attend this tournament to cheer on their team because of Qatar’s record on human, workers, and LGBT+ rights.
“The government should be challenging Fifa on how they’ve put fans in this position, and ensuring the full safety of all fans attending, not defending discriminatory values.”
IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES Image caption, James Cleverly was appointed as the foreign secretary on 6 September by Liz Truss – and retained his position under Rishi Sunak Liberal Democrats MP Layla Moran criticised Mr Cleverly’s remarks and said: “The World Cup should be a celebration of the beautiful game, instead it’s being used by countries like Qatar to sport-wash their atrocious human rights records.
“Any UK officials who attend should be using their position to highlight human rights abuses, not endorsing the regime.”
The Foreign Office, which is now headed by Mr Cleverly, has always issued and updated official online travel advice for Britons when they travel to any country in the World. For Qatar, the relevant page says: “Homosexual behaviour is illegal in Qatar.
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UK: Who got the big jobs?
In British politics, the Great Offices of State refers to the four top jobs in politics: prime minister, chancellor, foreign secretary, and home secretary.
We know Rishi Sunak is the first, so let’s look at who the other three are.
Chancellor
ReutersCopyright: Reuters In a move that many expected, Sunak decided to keep Jeremy Hunt as chancellor after he was brought in to undo the mess caused by former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s September 23 mini-budget.
His was the first appointment to be announced by Sunak’s team.
Foreign Secretary
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Another person who stayed in their cabinet role was James Cleverly, made foreign secretary by Truss a few weeks ago.
It was reported that Penny Mordaunt, Sunak’s rival in the leadership race, had made it clear this was the job she wanted – but she instead remained in her current post as leader of the House of Commons.
Home secretary
EPACopyright: EPA A controversial addition was Suella Braverman, who were both appointed and re-appointed as home secretary yesterday.
Braverman was made home secretary by Truss in September, but she later resigned after it was revealed she had broken the rules by sending an official document from her personal email account.
In her resignation letter, Braverman claimed it was “not serious politics” for MPs to make mistakes and carry on. Many saw this as a reference to Truss, who was under intense pressure to stand aside, which she did – the next day.
Stay tuned for a full list of everyone Sunak hired yesterday.
Source: Sky News.com
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Inflation figures will cause concern – foreign secretary
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has acknowledged that the inflation figures are “concerning” for people across the country.
He says the figure of 10.1% is in the range the government was expecting, adding that the government’s energy price support will have helped to lower inflation overall.
Under the energy price guarantee – made in response to soaring energy prices – a typical annual household bill will be limited to £2,500 until April.
“I think the response to the energy price increases that we brought out in the statement a few weeks ago will have helped to suppress some of that inflation, but of course it is still something which is concerning,” Cleverly tells the BBC.
He adds that global factors – such as the war in Ukraine – have played a part in the rise in inflation.
“We want to make sure that we take action to try and limit the rate of inflation.
“That’s why it’s so very important that we protect people in businesses from those energy price rises, but we also try and address some of the core drivers of inflation, including the war in Ukraine, which has pushed up energy prices, and that’s had a knock-on effect for the prices in so many people’s baskets.”
Source: BBC
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UK Foreign Secretary: James Cleverly refuses to commit to mini-budget tax cuts
As a result of the government’s £45 billion in unfunded tax cuts, which were revealed last month and caused havoc in the markets, Prime Minister Liz Truss is facing an open uprising inside her own party.
The foreign secretary has declined to guarantee that the government will implement all of the tax cuts outlined in the disputed mini-budget presented by the chancellor.
James Cleverly told Sky News “the package the chancellor put forward is pro-growth and is the right answer”.
He refused to rule out further changes, however, dodging multiple questions on whether the government will stick with its plan to scrap the rise in corporation tax.
Asked if there will be no more reversals of policy, Mr Cleverly told Kay Burley: “The chancellor is making a statement on the 31 October which gives a more holistic assessment of the public finances and our response to the global headwinds that every democracy, every economy in the world is facing.
“But as I say, the foundations of that mini-budget, protecting people from energy bill prices, letting people keep more of their earnings, protecting businesses from those energy prices, making sure we are internationally competitive, all those things are really key for the growth agenda the PM is putting forward.”
Probed again on whether the government will be sticking to its tax-cutting mini-budget, the foreign secretary replied that “ultimately, that mini-budget was about protecting tens of millions of people from unaffordable energy prices”.
Pressed specifically on the government’s plan to axe the increase in corporation tax from 19% to 25% in April, Mr Cleverly said: “Well, I mean the chancellor will come to the dispatch box…”
The foreign secretary added it is “absolutely right” the government helps businesses to “stay competitive” and “stay afloat”
“We have got to make sure we can compete internationally with the other places businesses can choose to locate. We have got to make sure we are tax-competitive.”
Prime Minister Liz Truss faces open revolt in her party over the government’s £45bn package of unfunded tax cuts, which unleashed chaos in the markets after it was announced last month.
Ms Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng, the chancellor, have said the cuts are needed to get Britain’s economy growing again, as data published on Wednesday suggested the country is heading for a recession.
Mr Kwarteng will meet with International Monetary Fund (IMF) leaders in Washington DC today after the institution’s chief economist said tax cuts threatened to cause “problems“ for the UK economy.
The IMF has said Britain’s priority should be tackling inflation rather than adding to the price problem through tax giveaways to achieve economic growth.
The prime minister and her chancellor have already been forced into reversing one of the many tax-cutting policies within their plan – scrapping the 45p tax rate for the highest earners.
In her first PMQs since the mini-budget last month, Ms Truss yesterday pledged not to cut public spending to balance the books – despite a leading economics-focused think tank warning the government is billions short of the sums needed.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned the government would have to cut spending or raise taxes by £62bn if it is to stabilize or reduce the national debt as promised.
On Wednesday, Mel Stride, the Tory chairman of the Commons Treasury Committee, said that given Ms Truss’s commitments to protecting public spending, there was a question over whether any plan that did not include “at least some element of the further row back” on the tax-slashing package can reassure investors.
“Credibility might now be swinging towards evidence of a clear change in tack rather than just coming up with other measures that try to square the fiscal circle,” Mr Stride warned.
While David Davis, the Tory former minister, called the mini-budget a “maxi-shambles” and suggested reversing some of the tax cuts would allow Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng to avert leadership challenges for a few months.
The foreign secretary later warned Tory MPs against attempting to replace Ms Truss as prime minister.
“Changing the leadership would be a disastrously bad idea not just politically but economically,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Mr Cleverly also rejected an attack by former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith – who described Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey as “stupid”.
“Of course, he is not stupid. You don’t get to be governor of the Bank of England if you are stupid,” the foreign secretary told Sky News.
“The job of the Bank of England is to intervene. He is doing his job. It doesn’t mean we always agree with everything the Bank of England governor says or does.”
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James Cleverly: Keep views on government policy “around the cabinet table” – ministers urged
The 45p tax rate was introduced in Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s tax-cutting mini-budget last month and overturned last week. On Tuesday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman accused Tory MPs of launching a “coup” against the PM.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has urged his ministerial colleagues to keep their views on government policy “around the cabinet table” as Liz Truss faces an open split within her top team over the 45p tax rate U-turn.
The senior cabinet member warned his peers that it is “always better to feed straight into the boss” if there are any issues regarding “policy or the relationship with other ministers”.
On Tuesday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman accused Tory MPs of staging a “coup” against the PM over the 45p tax rate – a policy which was unveiled in Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s tax-cutting mini-budget last month and reversed last week.
“She chose the words that she chose,” the foreign secretary told Sky News, responding to Ms Braverman’s comments.
“My view is anything to do with policy or the relationship with other ministers – always better to feed straight into the boss”.
Fellow cabinet minister Simon Clarke also publicly disclosed his objection to the reversal of the policy.
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities secretary posted on social media: “Suella speaks a lot of good sense, as usual.”
The tax cut for the wealthiest 1% was one of a raft announced by Mr Kwarteng in his mini-budget less than two weeks ago that led to market turmoil – with the pound plummeting, the Bank of England having to step in to rescue pension funds, and mortgage products being withdrawn.
Despite standing by the policy in the opening days of the conference, Mr Kwarteng confirmed on Monday it would no longer go ahead, saying the measure had become a “distraction” from his objective to grow the economy.
Yesterday, Ms Truss told Sky News’ political editor, Beth Rigby, she had “absolutely no shame” in performing the dramatic U-turn.
Mr Cleverly told Kay Burley that “a lot of discussions weren’t able to be had” over the chancellor’s mini-budget proposals because of the death of the Queen.
The foreign secretary also disputed that a U-turn took place, adding: “What you’re describing as a U-turn is the smallest element of a really big and significant support package to families, a tax cut to families, the stimulus package for the British economy.”
Ms Truss is also facing the threat of another major split within her top team over the level of benefits.
On Tuesday, Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt joined backbench rebels in calling for welfare payments to be raised in line with inflation, which has been at around 10%, rather than earnings at 5%.
The PM has refused to commit to raising benefits in line with inflation, saying she has “not made a decision” on whether to stick to the benefit uprate promised by her predecessor Boris, Johnson.
Two additional cabinet ministers have also told Sky News that they believe benefits should be uprated in line with inflation.
Sky News understands that Chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs Sir Graham Brady has warned Ms Truss any attempt to uprate benefits by average earnings rather than by inflation is unlikely to get through Parliament.
At around 11 am, Ms Truss is due to deliver her keynote speech at the Conservative Party’s conference in Birmingham as she battles to save her premiership just one month into the job.
The PM will wrap up the event by defending her approach and pledging a “new Britain for the new era” after a week of U-turns and infighting.
The prime minister will tell her audience: “Whenever there is change, there is disruption. Not everyone will be in favour.
“We need to grow the pie so that everyone gets a bigger slice.”
She is expected to say: “I am determined to take a new approach and break us out of this high-tax, low-growth cycle.”
Ms Truss will also put her government forward as having an “iron grip” on the UK’s finances that will help everyone.
The hall in Birmingham is not expected to be full as many MPs said they were leaving on Tuesday evening ahead of train strikes on Wednesday.
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Months of suffering ends after release of Britons says UK foreign secretary
The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, has welcomed the safe release of five British citizens who had been held as POWs in eastern Ukraine by forces backed by Russia.
“This brings to an end many months of uncertainty and suffering, including the threat of the death penalty, for them and their families, at the hands of Russia,” he said.
He said that was “tragically” not the case for British man Paul Urey who was captured by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine and died in detention in July.
“I would like to express my gratitude to President Zelensky and his team for their efforts to secure their release, and to HRH Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman and his team, for their assistance.”
He reiterated a call on Russia to comply with international humanitarian law and not exploit prisoners of war and civilian detainees for political purposes.
