We dedicate this week’s Great British News to Robert Kimbell who has sadly passed away.
Robert was a patriot who loved our country and saw so much good in the world. Each morning Robert would share positive news across social media and send many of the stories, especially good Brexit news to us to use on the Conservative Post. He was a news hero spreading positivity across the UK. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. We will all miss him dearly.
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.
Here are our 20 best read and most shared positive stories from just this week (11th – 17th December 2023):
20. Post Brexit freedoms to deliver more support for UK sustainable fishing
New plans to help protect and recover key fishing stocks have been published this week, seizing on the opportunities of the UK’s post-Brexit freedoms to support coastal jobs and protect the marine environment. The publication of the plans is the next step to delivering a thriving and sustainable fishing industry and healthy marine environment outside the EU… click here
19. England’s first ever kinship care strategy launches
Thousands of kinship carers are set to be better supported as the government this week launches the first ever national kinship care strategy, ‘Championing Kinship Care’. The strategy shines a spotlight on the incredible kinship carers – grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and wider family networks – that provide loving homes to children who cannot live with their parents, and who will now receive greater financial stability and support from local authorities and schools… click here
18. Britain’s Great British Army horses hoofing a lovely time this Christmas
As London gears up for the festive season, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment horses have been relocated from the capital to the Defence Animal Training Regiment for their annual winter break. Over 150 horses have been relocated to the DATR in Melton Mowbray for some well-deserved rest and recuperation. The HCMR horses are an iconic sight on royal and ceremonial occasions and enjoy a three-week vacation every winter at the DATR where they spend time grazing or galloping in the fields… click here
17. Major boost for hydrogen as UK unlocks new investment and jobs
Over 700 jobs will be created across the UK in a world-leading hydrogen industry from the South West of England to the Highlands of Scotland, backed by £2 billion in government funding over the next 15 years. Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho announced this week the backing for 11 major projects to produce green hydrogen – through a process known as electrolysis – and confirmed suppliers will receive a guaranteed price from the government for the clean energy they supply… click here
16. Nearly £21 million invested in fisheries across England through fishing licence sales
The Environment Agency has this week revealed how the money generated from over 900,000 licence sales has been reinvested into fisheries across the country. The report sets out how £20,900,000 in income from fishing licences, further boosted by £1,400,000 of government funding, has been reinvested to maintain, improve, and develop fisheries, carrying out surveys of fish stocks, improvements to habitats… click here
15. United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority awards £7.4 million to develop lithium technologies for fusion
Five organisations have secured six contracts worth £7.4 million in total with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to develop lithium technology for fusion energy. The four universities and one company have received contracts ranging between £700,000 and £1.5 million from UKAEA’s ‘Fusion Industry Programme’. UKAEA launched the new Fusion Industry Programme challenge ‘Realising the potential of lithium in an economic, sustainable and scalable fusion energy fuel-cycle’… click here
14. NHS boosts emergency care workforce before winter with hundreds more paramedics and call handlers
Hundreds of new staff have joined the emergency care workforce ahead of winter – including as paramedics and call handlers – with warnings of significant pressure due to winter viruses over the next few months. The numbers of both 999 and 111 call handlers are up on last December (8% and 5% respectively), meaning hundreds more staff in place to take urgent and emergency calls… click here
13. Penalty notices of up to £5000 introduced for animal health and welfare offences
New legislation laid this week will introduce the option to issue fixed penalty notices for a range of animal health and welfare related offences. The secondary legislation – which has been laid under the Animals (Penalty Notices) Act – follows a public consultation in which more than 85% of respondents supported the introduction of penalty notices as an enforcement tool. From 1 January 2024, they will be added to the existing portfolio of enforcement measures… click here
12. UK announces further support for Ukraine’s efforts to bring war criminals to justice
The UK Government has announced a further £3.7 million of funding to support Ukraine as it pursues justice for the victims of Russian atrocities. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Office of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General has recorded more than 110,000 cases of war crimes. In the face of Russian atrocities, the UK has stood with Ukraine, and played a leading role in ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable… click here
11. BAE Systems announces team for UK’s future artillery programme
BAE Systems, Babcock and Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land are joining forces to offer the ARCHER wheeled mobile artillery system to the UK MOD as the replacement for the legacy AS90. The ARCHER Artillery Alliance will offer the proven, advanced technology system, which presents the lowest risk solution for the Mobile Fires Platform programme, as the UK aims to modernise its 155mm capabilities. The three companies, each with a well-established supply chain in the UK, plan to work with other UK businesses as plans progress… click here
10. Over half a billion pounds in connectivity investment to benefit more than 330,000 homes and businesses
More than £530 million in investment this year will boost broadband for over 330,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses across the country. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country will benefit from lightning-fast broadband speeds, thanks to more than half a billion pounds’ worth in funding from the UK government over the course of this year. Over 17,000 homes and businesses across rural Derbyshire are the latest set to be connected to the fastest broadband speeds on the market… click here
9. UK and US target Hamas with new sanctions to isolate terror group
The UK and US have announced new sanctions on the leaders and financiers of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The UK has sanctioned seven further individuals linked to Hamas, to counter the ongoing threat posed by the terror organisation, cut off its access to finances and impose fresh travel restrictions on individuals linked to the group to disrupt its operations. This week’s move, coordinated with the United States, is the UK’s second round of targeted sanctions imposed on figures associated with Hamas since the October 7 attacks on Israel… click here
8. British minehunting ships to bolster Ukrainian Navy as UK launches maritime support initiative
The UK is to lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, with Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirming the transfer of two Royal Navy minehunter ships to the Ukrainian Navy. Two Royal Navy minehunter ships are being transferred from the Royal Navy to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in a move to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to operate at sea. As the UK and Norway launch a new Maritime Capability Coalition, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps… click here
7. Seizing on post Brexit freedoms UK reaches deal for continued access to fish in Norwegian waters
UK fishermen will benefit from continued access to Norwegian North Sea waters to fish for stocks such as cod, haddock and hake following the conclusion of annual fisheries negotiations, the UK Government has announced this week. Leaving the EU has meant that the UK has been able to seize post Brexit freedoms, negotiating deals as an independent coastal state which are in the best interests of the UK fishing industry… click here
6. Pennon Group to invest £850 million and create 2000 new jobs in the South West
Pennon Group, owner of South West Water, Bristol Water and Bournemouth Water, has announced plans to invest a record £850 million in the South West over the next two years. The investment will focus on building new water resources and reservoirs, reducing usage of storm overflows, and increasing the use of renewable energy, benefiting communities across the South West region. In June the group announced they planned to invest £750m in improved infrastructure, however, this week the company said it now expects capital expenditure to total more than £850m in the financial years ending 2024 and 2025… click here
5. WELCOME HOME: Thousands greet Britain’s biggest warship as HMS Prince of Wales completes US deployment
More than 2,000 friends and family welcomed home Britain’s biggest warship as HMS Prince of Wales returned to Portsmouth this week. The aircraft carrier enjoyed the largest homecoming the Hampshire Naval Base has seen in several years as she completed a three-month deployment to the United States. The ship left Portsmouth at the beginning of September for an autumn dedicated to expanding the boundaries of naval aviation. Successful trials have been carried out with small pilotless drones… click here
4. Momentous Airbus deal to provide 220 aircraft for Turkish Airlines worth billions of pounds to the UK
Deal will support thousands of highly-skilled manufacturing jobs across UK, with aircraft wings and engines made in UK. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch have welcomed a momentous deal for Airbus to provide 220 aircraft for Turkish Airlines, which will be worth billions of pounds to the UK. The agreement announced by the companies this week in Istanbul will support thousands of high-skilled jobs across the UK, helping to boost exports and grow the economy… click here
3. Government delivers on promise to ban keeping of primates
Keeping primates as pets will be banned under new legislation introduced by the Government this week, improving the welfare of thousands of animals. The legislation brings in a licensing scheme setting strict rules to ensure that only private keepers who can provide the highest welfare standards will be able to keep primates. It is estimated that up to 5,000 primates are kept as pets in the UK. These wild animals have complex welfare and social needs and, according to most experts, cannot be properly cared for in a domestic setting… click here
2. Laws passed to reduce strike disruption and protect public services
The government is ensuring key services remain accessible during strikes, as the first minimum service levels (MSL) regulations come into force. MSLs are already in force in countries such as France, Spain and the US, and the new UK regulations have been designed to help reduce the impact of industrial action by balancing the ability of workers to strike and the rights of the public to get to work and access key services. Following Parliamentary approval, the regulations are set to apply in the rail sector and border security and ambulance services… click here
1. UK to headquarter the development of one of the most advanced fighter jets in history
The UK will headquarter the development of one of the most advanced fighter jets in history. Working with our Italian and Japanese allies, the UK will build the supersonic stealth fighter we need to combat the threats of a more dangerous age. The UK has this week signed an international Treaty with Japan and Italy for a future combat air programme that aims to develop an innovative stealth fighter with supersonic capability and equipped with cutting-edge technology… click here
For last week’s top 20 Great British news stories (4th – 10th December 2023) click here.
By Claire Bullivant
Conservative Post, Founder and Editor
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