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 (22nd – 28th May 2023):
20. UK’s world-leading ban sees five new species set to be protected under Ivory Act extension
Hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, killer whale (orca) and sperm whale are set to receive greater legal protections under the UK’s world-leading ban on importing, exporting and dealing in items containing ivory, the Government has announced this week – delivering on a key animal welfare manifesto commitment. Hippopotamus is the species most at risk from the trade in its ivory after elephants. The other species are already threatened… click here
19. 650,000 families cut childcare costs using Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare has saved 649,935 families on their childcare costs during the 2022 to 2023 tax year, an increase of more than 137,500 from the previous year according to the latest statistics released by HM Revenue and Customs this week. With thousands more families benefitting from the government top up year on year, HMRC is reminding eligible working families of the financial support available to pay for approved childcare including holiday clubs, breakfast and after school clubs… click here
18. First dedicated government fund to build space infrastructure launched with £50 million
The UK Space Agency is launching a £50 million fund to support the development of cutting-edge research and development facilities, the government announced this week. The Space Clusters and Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) – the first dedicated fund for UK space infrastructure – will award match funding to UK organisations to develop the R&D infrastructure needed to make space products mission-ready and sell them into commercial markets… click here
17. £72 million boost for train services in Manchester and the north
Passengers across the north are set to benefit from more reliable trains after the government announces a £72 million package in Manchester this week. At Manchester Victoria Station, Rail Minister Huw Merriman will reveal the latest of four infrastructure upgrades to improve day-to-day journeys for passengers across the region while supporting productivity and economic growth… click here
16. Thousands more ex-prisoners in work following major drive to boost employment
New statistics show rapid progress has been made to boost employment for prison leavers, with the number of ex-offenders who have been successfully steered into jobs within six months more than doubling from 14% to 30% since April 2021. It is helping to cut crime and tackle the £18 billion annual cost of reoffending as ex-prisoners in steady jobs are known to be up to 9 percentage points less likely to commit further crimes… click here
15. England’s first national Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code launched
The government has this week launched England’s first-ever national Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code which offers friendly advice and guidance to help people visit the coast responsibly. Home to around 95% of Europe’s grey seal population and around 25% of Europe’s breeding seabirds, the British coastline supports many iconic species and habitats. It is also a special place for people to visit, and ongoing work to establish the King Charles III England Coast Path… click here
14. UK offers world-first test to curb transfusion side-effects for thousands with inherited blood disorders
The NHS is set to introduce a new genetic blood-matching test for thousands living with sickle-cell disease or thalassemia that could reduce painful side-effects of transfusion treatments. As it marks its 75th year, the NHS is to become the first healthcare system in the world to provide blood group genotyping – a detailed DNA analysis of each patient’s blood group – to more accurately match those in need of transfusions to donated blood… click here
13. Access to vital legal support extended to millions of vulnerable people
Domestic abuse victims and children are among millions more people who will have access to legal aid under major government investment to support those who need it most. The move will see over 6 million more vulnerable people and families able to access funded legal support as the government pledges £25 million to boost the legal aid system every year. It means domestic abuse victims on universal credit and seeking a protective order for themselves or their children against their attackers can access legal aid funding more easily without facing a means test… click here
12. Schools, warehouses and car parks could be at the forefront of a UK revolution in affordable solar power
Schools, warehouses and car parks could be at the forefront of a UK revolution in affordable solar power, under plans discussed at the first meeting of the government’s new Solar Taskforce. The government has a clear target to increase solar capacity by nearly fivefold to 70GW by 2035 as part of wider plans to power up Britain with cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy sources. Even when this is met, the UK would be using only a very small proportion of its land mass for solar panels… click here
11. Five major hospitals in England to be rebuilt as part of over £20 billion new hospital infrastructure investment
Patients and staff will benefit from safe, state-of-the-art new facilities and improved care as the government announced its commitment this week to rebuild five major hospitals by 2030, as part of the New Hospital Programme. For the first time, the government has confirmed a record investment of over £20 billion is expected to be spent on new hospital infrastructure… click here
10. £650 million war-chest to fire up UK’s life sciences sector announced
A £650 million war-chest to fire up the UK’s life sciences sector and drive forward the government’s priority to grow the economy has been unveiled this week. The multi-faceted ‘Life Sci for Growth’ package brings together ten different policies including £121 million to improve commercial clinical trials to bring new medicines to patients faster, up to £48 million of new money for scientific innovation to prepare for any future health emergencies, £154 million to increase the capacity of the UK’s biological data… click here
9. Over £450 million investment to improve school buildings
Over 1,000 school building improvement projects will receive the green light today as part of plans to boost the condition of the school estate. 859 academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary aided schools every region of the country will receive a share of a £456 million pot created to help refurbish and repair school buildings. The funding will ensure that pupils can learn in safe, warm and energy efficient classrooms. Overall, the government has committed £1.8 billion of capital funding… click here
8. Almost 10,000 knives taken off the streets during Operation Sceptre Week
Operation Sceptre, the national police initiative to tackle knife crime which took place last week has seen 9,737 knives removed from our streets and 1,693 people arrested, of which 829 were related to knife crime offences. Operation Sceptre brings together all 43 police forces across England and Wales in a week of intensified action with forces coordinating activity which targets knife crime from the root cause right through to enforcement… click here
7. Record numbers of doctors and nurses to help cut waiting lists
There are more doctors and nurses working in the NHS than ever before, with hundreds more doctors in general practice and thousands more primary care staff. For the second consecutive month, there are record numbers of doctors and nurses working in the NHS helping to deliver extra appointments, speed up diagnoses and tackle the Covid backlog, according to data published today by NHS England. Over 1.28 million full-time equivalent staff are working in NHS trusts and commissioning bodies… click here
6. UK’s world-leading animal welfare standards to be enhanced with launch of Animal Sentience Committee
The first-ever animal sentience committee was formally launched yesterday with the appointment of five new members, the government has announced this week. The Animal Sentience Committee is fully independent and will support Parliament in assessing how well policy decision-making across Government effectively considers animal welfare. The appointment of the five new members marks the next step in the delivery of a key government manifesto commitment to legislate for sentience and builds on the government’s strong track record on animal welfare… click here
5. UK to boost tech and innovation ties with India
Lord Ahmad is in India for a visit that will accelerate UK-India collaboration on science, technology and health, following a landmark agreement on science, research and innovation signed by the two countries in April. Building on the ambitions for the UK-India relationship set out in the 2030 Roadmap, Lord Ahmad will meet senior Indian Ministers and officials, including Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant… click here
4. UK leads the world marking one year free from Russian gas
The UK has gone a full year without importing any Russian gas – in a boost for the country’s energy security and blow to Putin’s war machine. New figures published this week show the UK did not import any Russian gas in the 12 months to end of March 2023, while UK gas exports to Europe tripled over the same period. It comes as Ofgem announced a reduction in the energy price cap, which will see household bills fall by around £430… click here
3. Brexit Britain beats Spain to build multi-billion-pound Jaguar Land Rover gigafactory in UK
Brexit Britain is set to win a battle with Spain to host a multi-billion-pound electric car battery plant in Somerset. The UK was battling it out with Spain to host the gigafactory, which has been described as the most significant investment in the UK automotive industry since the 1980s. The boss of Jaguar Land Rover-owner Tata is expected to fly to London next week to seal the deal… click here
2. Changes to student visa route will reduce net migration
New government restrictions to student visa routes will cut net migration while protecting the economic benefits students bring to the UK. New government restrictions to student visa routes will substantially cut net migration by restricting the ability for international students to bring family members on all but post-graduate research routes and banning people from using a student visa as a backdoor route to work in the UK. The ONS estimated that net migration was over 500,000 from June 2021 to June 2022… click here
1. Brexit will help us ‘take back control’ and reduce migration numbers, says Jacob Rees-Mogg
“One of the perks, advantages and benefits of leaving the EU means that we can take back control and we have clear data on who is coming in and out of this country and this makes it possible for the numbers to be reduced.” Former Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said the numbers can be reduced ‘very sharply’ with ‘tough action’ over the next two years… click here
For last week’s Top 20 Great British news stories (15th – 21st May 2023) click here.
By Claire Bullivant
Conservative Post, Founder and Editor
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