Once again there’s been plenty of positive British news this week. You might not hear about it on the BBC or most 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.
Here are our 20 best read and most shared positive news stories from just this week (29th May – 4th June 2023):
20. Great Britain tops medal table at European Rowing Championships
The British Rowing Team have topped the medal table with 5 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals at the European Rowing Championships on Lake Bled, Slovenia. Great Britain’s Rowing Team ended the championships once again at the top of the table for the second consecutive year. Louise Kingsley, Director of Performance for the GB Rowing Team said: “This has been a solid start to the 2023 season and there have been some stunning performances out on the lake but there is still work to be done as we progress towards the World Championships later this year”… click here
19. Cutting-edge UK farming projects to get share of £30 million
Projects include genetic research to reduce methane emissions from cows and the use of drones to monitor animals. Up to £30 million has been awarded to cutting-edge farming projects across the UK that will boost food production, move towards net zero, and create a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector. Alongside the £30 million set to be awarded to more than 50 successful projects, the government has also made a further £12.5 million available to fund innovative projects helping to deliver a more productive, resilient and sustainable agricultural sector… click here
18. Better support for bereaved families and eyewitnesses of homicide and major incidents
Bereaved families and eyewitnesses of homicide or major criminal incidents like the Manchester Arena bombing will receive better support than ever thanks to important changes coming into force this week. The Homicide Service, backed by £5.27 million of government funding, provides essential services and practical support to families bereaved by murder or manslaughter – such as emotional and practical support like transportation as well as trauma and bereavement counselling and help navigating the criminal justice system… click here
17. Environment Agency invests in 220 projects to benefit England’s fisheries
Nearly £1 million of rod licence income has been invested to improve fisheries across England in the last year, the Environment Agency announced this week, with 220 projects delivering benefits to anglers and supporting sustainable fish stocks. Projects supported with £925,000 through the Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP) include creating habitat for coarse fish and trout, and improving angling access facilities so that more people are able to enjoy the sport. Since FIP was established in 2015, over 1000 projects have been successfully completed… click here
16. Government backed programme helps children living with alcohol-dependent parents
A government-backed programme has delivered improved quality of life for families affected by alcohol misuse, with children better able to access support and alcohol dependent parents encouraged to seek treatment, according to an independent evaluation published this week. The Children of Alcohol Dependent Parents Programme Innovation Fund provided £5.7 million over four years, ending March 2022, to nine areas across England… click here
15. New NHS measures to improve eye care and cut waiting times across England
The NHS has this week published new clinical guidance which could reduce waiting times for eye care services for patients in England. As part of a wide-ranging list of evidence-based interventions designed to improve the quality of care, the guidance proposes patients get access to more sophisticated diagnostic imaging before they are referred to a consultant. As well as reducing a patient’s anxiety while waiting for a hospital appointment… click here
14. Princess Royal celebrates the Royal Logistic Corps’ 30th anniversary
Her Royal Highness, Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps, celebrated their anniversary with a freedom parade in Winchester yesterday (1 June 2023). During the special anniversary event, Her Royal Highness was welcomed with a Royal Salute, before inspecting the Parade which involved over 500 personnel. It was the Royal Logistic Corps first parade in Winchester since they had been granted freedom of the city. The RLC are currently based at Worthy Down Barracks, which is near Winchester, and was opened by The Princess in 2021… click here
13. Crack down on rogue firms targeting children with free vapes
A loophole that allows retailers to give free samples of vapes to children in England is set to be closed under new plans announced this week to clamp down on youth vaping. This comes as recent NHS figures for 2021 showed that 9% of 11 to 15 year old children used e-cigarettes, up from 6% in 2018. Selling vapes to under 18s is illegal, however it is clear from this recent rise in teenage usage of vapes and the recent surge in the use and promotion of cheap, colourful products that businesses are targeting children, which has prompted today’s action to crack down on this…. click here
12. British manufacturer flying high with orders from 59 countries for first light helicopter for private owners
British manufacturer Hill Helicopters has secured orders for 830 helicopters from customers in 59 countries and submitted plans to build a new factory in Staffordshire. The team at Hill Helicopters say after working on their new revolutionary HX50 model for almost 20 years, they will be ready to unveil the first completed HX50 during an event at the Imperial War Museum later this year. The HX50 is the first light helicopter to be specifically designed for private owners… click here
11. Next steps taken to ensure age-appropriate sex education in England’s schools
Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, has announced the formation of an independent expert advisory panel who will advise on the review of the Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum. This is the next step in progressing the government’s mission to ensure that RSHE is taught in an age-appropriate and factual way in England. The panel will provide expert advice to the Education Secretary on what is appropriate to be taught in RSHE and at what age… click here
10. Over 1 million NHS staff to receive pay rises
Eligible workers on the Agenda for Change contract, which includes nurses, paramedics and 999 call handlers, will receive the pay rise, backdated to April. From this week, more than one million NHS workers will start to receive a pay rise following an agreement between the government and unions. As part of the deal, eligible workers on the Agenda for Change contract, which includes nurses, paramedics, 999 call handlers, midwives, security guards and cleaners, will receive the pay rise, backdated to April… click here
9. UK scientists to improve forecasting of extreme weather events
UK scientists are working on ways to improve the forecasting of extreme weather events. £11 million funding is being invested by the Met Office and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), including the funding of five projects that will each investigate key scientific questions. Extreme weather events include storms, floods, droughts and extreme temperatures. According to Met Office data, the number and severity of some types of extreme weather event are increasing, impacting our health, infrastructure and causing huge disruption… click here
8. King Charles honours Royal Navy personnel
His Majesty The King presented Royal Victorian Order honours to around 150 Royal Naval personnel at Windsor Castle this week. The King presented the honours to the Royal Navy personnel who took part in Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral Processions as part of a special parade and medal presentation on Tuesday, 30th May 2023. The service personnel recognised by His Majesty for their role included over 100 Naval Ratings who drew the State Gun Carriage, bearing Her late Majesty’s coffin, during the Funeral Processions in London on 19th September 2022… click here
7. UK commitment to Indo-Pacific reaffirmed as global summit takes place in Singapore
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, have met with global leaders in Singapore for the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue this week. Their participation reconfirms the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, a region critical to the UK’s economy, security, and our commitment to an open and stable international order. The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s foremost defence summit for global leaders and ministers to debate the region’s most pressing security challenges with a series of plenary sessions and bilateral discussions… click here
6. Huge boost to childcare payments marks first step in largest ever expansion of childcare
As part of the Government’s biggest ever expansion to childcare provision, low-income families will be able to access increased childcare support worth a total of £900 million from 28 June. Universal Credit’s maximum childcare payments will rise nearly 50% – up to £1,630 per month. Later this month, the Department for Work and Pensions will raise the amount that parents in Great Britain can claim back monthly for their childcare costs on Universal Credit up to £951 for one child and £1,630 for two or more children… click here
5. Trooping the Colour rehearsals wow crowds in London
Trooping the Colour rehearsals continue with the Brigade Major’s (Lt. Col Shaw) Review this week. Hundreds of Household division including the Household Cavalry Regiments and King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery Regiment took to central London’s Horse Guards Parade square. Members of the Household Division took to Horseguards Parade square for the he first of many rehearsals for the King’s Birthday Parade. Every year, Soldiers from the Household Division put on a show-stopping performance in honour of the King’s birthday… click here
4. Pioneering UK clinical trial shows promising results in identifying cancer with blood test
An NHS cancer director has commented on the promising results of an early clinical trial into the Galleri blood test, which was correctly able to identify two out of every three cancers among 5,000 people who had visited their GP with symptoms. The findings are set to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference and published in The Lancet Oncology journal. NHS National Director for Cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, said: “This study is the first step in testing a new way to identify cancer as quickly as possible, being pioneered by the NHS”… click here
3. UK already taking ‘full advantage of rich bounty of opportunities’ with US state-level trade agreements
Since leaving the European Union in January 2020, Britain has sought to define a new independent trade policy, keen to cast itself as defender of free trade and eager to drive manufacturing growth by promoting exports of premium ‘Made in Britain’ products. The UK is currently working with about 20 US states to secure individual trade deals, with the first eight alone accounting for about 20% of the U.S. economy… click here
2. University Freedom of Speech Bill becomes law
Landmark legislation will ensure universities protect and promote freedom of speech on campus, fulfilling a manifesto promise to bolster academic freedom. A huge step forward was taken for protecting free speech in our universities as Professor Arif Ahmed has been appointed as the new Director overseeing free speech at the Office for Students. While there are already statutory duties on universities to protect free speech – the newly passed Freedom of Speech Act will ensure that universities promote this fundamental value… click here
1. BREXIT LIFT-OFF: UK’s first post-Brexit trade deals go live
The UK’s trade deals with Australia and New Zealand come into effect this week. UK businesses will now be able to sell to Australia and New Zealand more easily as the UK’s trade deals with the countries, the first negotiated from scratch since we left the EU, come into force. Under the deals’ beneficial terms tariffs on all UK goods exports to Australia and New Zealand will be removed, unprecedented access to these markets for services unlocked, and red tape slashed for digital trade and work visas. Each region and nation of the UK is expected to benefit… click here
For last week’s Top 20 Great British news stories (22nd – 28th May 2023) click here.
By Claire Bullivant
Conservative Post, Founder and Editor
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Main photo credit: Photographer: Sgt Donald C Todd UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023 – MOD News Licence.
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