Once again there’s been plenty of positive British news this week. You might not hear about it on a lot of the other news outlets, but remember positive things are happening across our great nation.
Keep checking in with the Conservative Post to see good news every day – the resurgence of British manufacturing, how our military is flying the flag across the world, positive policy making, global trade deals, our wonderful royals and many other things to be proud of.
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Here are our 20 best read and most shared positive stories from just this week (4th – 10th December 2023):
20. UK secures £970 million of fishing opportunities for 2024
The UK fishing industry will have access to 420,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities worth up to £700 million after agreements were reached with the EU and Norway, the UK Government has announced. This brings the total fishing opportunities secured for the UK fleet in 2024 in the main negotiating forums to 750,000 tonnes – 80,000 tonnes more than in 2023 – worth up to £970 million based on historic landing prices… click here
19. Technology and innovation driving reform in UK police forces
Police forces around the country have already been reaping the benefits of new technology to catch criminals and safeguard the most vulnerable. Examples include: Facial recognition technology, which South Wales Police has found cuts down the amount of time taken to identify a suspect from weeks to just minutes, with 200 suspects identified per month. Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven automation of administrative tasks… click here
18. Ten high streets to take part in new government pilot to build on long-term regeneration plans
Ten high streets will take part in a new government pilot – the High Street Accelerators programme – to create partnerships that empower residents and community organisations to work together on long-term regeneration plans. The funding will help communities partner with local authorities and businesses to address some of the biggest challenges facing their high streets – building on wider action to tackle empty shops, anti-social behaviour and a lack of visitors… click here
17. Return of the Immortals sees second F-35 Lightning Squadron join the frontline
A second frontline F-35B Lightning stealth fighter squadron has been stood up at RAF Marham. 809 Naval Air Squadron, known as the Immortals, has a long and distinguished history and has been recommissioned as the nation’s second front-line fighter unit operating the F-35B Lightning stealth fighter. At the parade at RAF Marham, Norfolk, Commander Nick Smith formally received the Squadron Crest from his predecessor, Cdr (Ret’d) Tim Gedge, close to 41 years to the day since 809 NAS decommissioned as a Sea Harrier squadron… click here
16. Thousands of new apprenticeships and graduate jobs announced at UK’s biggest defence company
BAE Systems is set for another record-breaking recruitment drive in 2024 with almost 2,700 new apprentice and graduate opportunities available to young people across the UK. The Company has more than doubled its early careers intake in the past five years, making a significant contribution to the UK economy and offering more young people than ever the prospect of exciting long-term careers supporting the nation’s armed forces and security services… click here
15. New legislation set to ban live animal exports
New legislation will put an end to the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain. The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill – which has been introduced in Parliament this week – delivers on a key manifesto commitment to ban the export of live animals including cattle, sheep, and pigs. This legislation is only possible now we have left the European Union and will stop animals enduring unnecessary stress, exhaustion and injury on long journeys. As the highest ranked G7 nation according to World Animal Protection’s Index, the Government is committed to high animal welfare standards and ensuring all animals are treated kindly at all stages of life… click here
14. NHS online GP registration service rolled out to over 2,000 practices
An NHS pledge to roll out a new online GP registration service to 2,000 GP practices by the end of the year has been achieved ahead of schedule. The online Register with a GP surgery service, managed by NHS England, has been designed to make the process simpler and more convenient for both patients and GP practices. The service allows patients to go online at any time of day to find and register with a local GP without having to visit the practice in person. More than 750,000 patients have already used the service since its launch in 2022, with one in three GP practices now offering the service… click here
13. UK leads global action to protect rainforests, cut methane emissions and advance low carbon technologies
The UK has announced a multi-million pound package of measures to protect the world’s rainforests, encourage investment in clean energy technologies and help developing countries cut their carbon emissions. At COP28 in Dubai, Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho committed over £85 million funding for initiatives ranging from combating deforestation to cutting methane emissions and will sign new clean energy agreements with international partners, including Brazil, the US and countries across Europe… click here
12. Airbus awarded UK Space Agency grant to develop Space Catalyst in Stevenage
Airbus Defence and Space in the UK has been awarded £3.9 million from the UK Space Agency (UKSA) to create a space and connectivity catalyst at its headquarters in Stevenage. Airbus will create a range of facilities at its 14 acre site available to new and existing space players to encourage growth in the wider space ecosystem. The new Space Catalyst will be part of Airbus’ Community for Space Prosperity (CUSP) programme which aims to grow the activity of the UK space supply chain, research and outreach activities… click here
11. Defence Secretary visits Israel and occupied Palestinian Territories to explore options to boost humanitarian aid
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is pushing for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Palestinians faster – including by sea directly into Gaza – during his visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel this week. The trip sees him discuss options with leaders to provide civilians in Gaza with more aid and how the UK can support the Palestinian Authority, as well as efforts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East… click here
10. Cutting-edge chemistry from Durham University helps new laundry detergents clean up
New tools harnessing advances in fundamental chemistry are aiding the development of detergents that will deliver cleaner clothes with a lower carbon footprint. Enabling ‘invisible’ stains to be pinpointed and revealing their chemical make-up in unprecedented detail, these tools are also generating new insights into how stains and fabrics interact. Developed by Durham University, they incorporate advances in spectroscopy achieved at Durham with support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council… click here
9. British scientists develop world leading laser-based method to release tritium trapped in fusion energy tokamaks
Fusion energy scientists and engineers at JET have developed a world leading method involving lasers to release and measure tritium trapped in fusion energy tokamaks. Most approaches to creating commercial fusion favour the use two hydrogen isotopes – deuterium and tritium. Their use is preferred in tokamaks like JET and in future fusion powerplants. Deuterium is plentiful and can be extracted from seawater… click here
8. Colossal win for UK’s science, research and business communities as association to Horizon research programme officially sealed
The UK’s association to the world-leading Horizon and Copernicus programmes has been officially sealed this week as Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan visits Brussels to turbo-charge efforts to maximise UK involvement. This deal is set to create and support thousands of new jobs as part of the next generation of research talent. It will help deliver the Prime Minister’s ambition to grow the economy and cement the UK as a science and technology superpower by 2030… click here
7. UK set to become a world-leader in Sustainable Aviation Fuel production
Project Speedbird – a joint partnership between British Airways (BA), LanzaJet and Nova Pangaea Technologies (NPT) – has secured new funding totalling £9 million from the Government’s Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) competition. Project will produce 102 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) per year, reducing CO2 emissions by 230,000 tonnes per year – the equivalent of approximately 26,000 British Airways domestic flights… click here
6. BAE Systems wins $211 million production contract from United States Marine Corps
British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company BAE Systems has won a $211 million firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract by the U.S. Marine Corps for more Amphibious Combat Vehicles under the Marine Corps’ fourth order for full-rate production (FRP). In addition to vehicle production, the award covers procurement of 40 FRP ACV Personnel variants, fielding and support costs, and support and test equipment… click here
5. Government publishes £2 billion vision for engineering biology to revolutionise medicine, food and environmental protection
The government’s £2 billion vision to seize the enormous potential of engineering biology – an exciting field of biology which could transform how we sustainably grow food, create medical treatments and produce fuel – was unveiled by Science, Research and Innovation Minister Andrew Griffith this week. Engineering biology describes the application of rigorous engineering principles to biology, enabling the construction of new or redesigned biological systems, such as cells or proteins… click here
4. UK aerospace industry flying high with global orders surging worth £234 billion to the British economy
The UK’s aerospace industry makes a significant and valuable contribution to economic prosperity and after a bumper year, there are now a record 14,794 aircraft on order according to new figures from ADS, the trade association for aerospace, defence, security and space organisations. At current production rates, this global aircraft package is worth around £234 billion to the UK and represents more than 10 years of advanced manufacturing work. This is great news for the UK’s world-class aerospace industry which enjoys an annual turnover of £27 billion and employs more than 108,000 people… click here
3. England among highest performing western countries in education
England is among the highest performing European and western countries in global education study. Pupils in England have risen up the international rankings for maths, placing England as one of the top performing countries in the western world. A worldwide education study published this week shows England has significantly outperformed the international average and risen from 17th for maths in 2018 to 11th, and from 27th in 2009… click here
2. Home Secretary unveils plan to deliver biggest ever cut in net migration and curb abuse of UK’s immigration system
The Home Secretary has announced a plan to slash migration levels and curb abuse of the immigration system, delivering the biggest ever reduction in net migration. Together, this package will mean around 300,000 people who came to the UK last year would now not be able to come. The package of measures will end the high numbers of dependants coming to the UK, increase the minimum salaries that overseas workers and British or settled people sponsoring family members must earn, and tackle exploitation across the immigration system… click here
1. It is now or never’ warns Suella Braverman in rallying call to fight for UK sovereignty
Suella Braverman said the Conservative Party faces “electoral oblivion” if they fail to implement their Rwanda plan. The former Home Secretary asked MPs in the House of Commons: “Where does ultimate authority in the UK sit? Is it with the British people and their elected representatives in Parliament? Or is it in the vague, shifting and unaccountable concept of ‘international law’.” The former Home Secretary told MPs: “It is now or never. The Conservative Party faces electoral oblivion in a matter of months if we introduce yet another Bill destined to fail. Do we fight for sovereignty or let our party die? I refuse to sit by and allow the trust that millions of people have put in us be discarded like an inconvenient detail”… click here
For last week’s top 20 Great British news stories (27th November – 3rd December 2023) click here.
By Claire Bullivant
Conservative Post, Founder and Editor
If you enjoy our positive news service please consider donating to our journalism fund so we can grow our editorial team, protect conservative journalism and keep spreading the best of British news.
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