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 (19th – 25th June 2023):
20. SIX GOLDS see Great Britain finish top of medal table at World Cup Rowing
It was two world best times and six gold medals for the GB Rowing Team on finals day in Varese. GB Rowing Team added six gold medals, three silver and a bronze to the bronze won by Olivia Bates placing GB at the top of the medal table at World Rowing Cup II. Highlights from an entertaining day of racing include a ‘clean sweep’ of golds for the men’s sweep squad and two World Best times for the Paralympic squad. “Off the back of a solid European Championships we’ve been away, done more work, refined the crews”… click here
19. Over £200 million funding for cutting-edge UK aerospace projects
Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani has announced more than £200 million in funding for cutting-edge UK aerospace projects at the 2023 Paris Air Show. Projects to help the UK lead the way on greener air travel and deliver on one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities to grow the economy, are to receive more than £200 million in funding, Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani has confirmed this week. A total of £218 million combined government and industry funding has been announced to develop new green innovative landing gear, and lower carbon and more efficient aircraft wings, engines and sensors… click here
18. UK’s new Hospital Programme boosts efficiency as new leaders graduate
Nearly 50 project leaders graduated this week from Cranfield School of Management – thanks to the support of New Hospital Programme. The government’s New Hospital Programme commitment to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030 has been bolstered as nearly 50 senior leaders from the programme team and hospital trusts in England formally graduated from a prestigious Project Leadership Programme at a ceremony at Cranfield this week. The senior leaders working directly on the New Hospital Programme have been studying for the last 12 months… click here
17. UK and Denmark commit to closer ties on foreign policy, trade and security
The UK is strengthening cooperation with its North Sea neighbour Denmark, committing to deeper ties to counter threats to Europe’s security, grow our economies and defend our shared values. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly signed a joint statement on bilateral cooperation with his Danish counterpart Lars Løkke Rasmussen this week (20 June), ahead of their attendance at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London. Both Foreign Ministers underlined their commitment to strengthen peace and security in Europe in the face of Russian aggression… click here
16. Free sight tests for special schools
Free NHS sight tests will be made available within all special school settings, the government and NHS England has confirmed. Additional testing in special education day schools will be rolled out next year, adding to the commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan to offer sight tests within residential special schools. Pupils at special schools can face additional challenges in accessing sight testing services via opticians and a successful pilot scheme has proven the benefits of receiving tests and personalised advice in their familiar learning environments. Backed by a more than £10 million investment… click here
15. UK machinery giant JCB champions a new generation of British women in engineering
A prestigious Staffordshire school is putting careers for women in engineering centre stage with a series of innovative and fun education days. In the run up to International Women in Engineering Day, The JCB Academy at Rocester has joined forces with world-renowned digger maker JCB to encourage girls from across the county to consider careers in engineering. The JCB Academy is the first school of its kind in the UK. It was established in 2010 and is governed by a charitable trust, established by JCB… click here
14. £21 million to roll out artificial intelligence across the NHS
New AI technology will help diagnose patients more quickly for conditions such as cancers, strokes and heart conditions. NHS staff will be given the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology to diagnose and treat patients more quickly thanks to a new £21 million fund announced by the Health and Social Care Secretary this week. NHS Trusts will be able to apply to the AI Diagnostic Fund to accelerate the deployment of the most promising AI imaging and decision support tools to help diagnose patients more quickly for conditions such as cancers, strokes and heart conditions… click here
13. Over six million disabled people start receiving Cost of Living payment
More than six million disabled people across the UK are set to receive a £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment from today. The one-off payments, issued by the Department for Work and Pensions throughout a two-week window, will help disabled people with the extra costs they face. It comes as part of a wider package of Cost of Living support worth up to £1,350 to the most vulnerable households, underlining the Government’s commitment to supporting these those most in need. The Government say it is also working hard to ease cost of living… click here
12. MADE IN UK: Axminster Carpets rebuilds its largest loom for most ‘complex’ commission in its 268-year history
For the first time in more than 40 years, visitors can enjoy one of Britain’s finest early Georgian interiors as its designer intended, after its spectacular Axminster carpet was recreated by the firm whose founder wove the original in the same Devon town in 1770. Historic local firm Axminster Carpets rebuilt its largest loom to enable the weave, the most complex commission it has undertaken in its 268-year history… click here
11. UK Space Agency funding to boost propulsion, imaging and solar technologies
New funding from the UK Space Agency will boost UK-based space technologies, such as harnessing solar power for reusable spacecraft and new propulsion systems. This is the first round of investment from the UK Space Agency’s Enabling Technologies Programme, part of the National Space Innovation Programme dedicated to supporting UK companies breaking ground in technologies to enhance spaceflight capabilities. The £2.1 million total is divided between 9 projects and will be followed by a series of funding rounds… click here
10. UK boosts Ukraine’s recovery at major London summit
The UK has this week announced a wide-ranging package of support for Ukraine’s recovery effort to bolster its resilience in the immediate term and enable the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine as a modern, stable and resilient democracy. These measures follow the major package of financial support announced by the Prime Minister to bolster Ukraine’s economic stability as it continues to push back Russian forces. The announcements were made at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in London this week. The event represents a coalition to rebuild Ukraine, bringing together a broad variety of businesses… click here
9. Proud moment as Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigate HMS Cardiff emerges on Govan skyline
The forward end of HMS Cardiff, the second Type 26 City Class frigate, has emerged from BAE Systems’ ship build hall at Govan for the first time this week. The emergence of HMS Cardiff is an important and “very proud” moment for the programme as they deliver the most advanced anti-submarine warfare capability available to the Royal Navy. The aft section will follow in the coming days as the company’s engineers prepare to join the whole ship together on the hardstand… click here
8. BREXIT BRITAIN: UK introduces brilliant new post-Brexit trading scheme for developing countries
UK’s landmark scheme to boost trade with developing countries started. The UK has this week radically simplified trading rules and cut tariffs on products from developing countries, saving UK businesses and consumers millions of pounds a year. The UK’s new post-Brexit Developing Countries Trading Scheme – entering into force this week – covers 65 countries that are home to over 3.3 billion people, and over half are in Africa. It removes or reduces tariffs and simplifies trading rules so that more products qualify for the scheme, making it more generous than the EU scheme the UK was previously a member of… click here
7. British Army delivers combat medical course to Ukrainian armed forces
Armed Forces of Ukraine Personnel are learning life-saving medical techniques and strategies for providing battlefield trauma care. Members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are learning vital life-saving battlefield skills in the first combat medical training course of its kind to be delivered by the British Army and its international partners. The five-week course, which began on the 29 May, has seen both current and new Ukrainian Armed Forces medics being trained in critical techniques such as providing medical care under fire, controlling heavy blood loss, and giving crucial pre-hospital emergency care… click here
6. UK pays tribute to military personnel for Armed Forces Day 2023
Events were held across the United Kingdom to celebrate Armed Forces Day yesterday, highlighting the work that the UK Armed Forces do in keeping the people of the United Kingdom safe. In Falmouth, the location of this year’s National Event members of the Armed Forces took part in a tri-service parade which featured more than 1,000 military personnel, veterans and cadets. Watched by The Duke of Gloucester, service personnel presented His Royal Highness with the Royal Salute, before a flypast by the RAF Red Arrows, A400M, Merlin and Avenger aircraft bring the formal proceedings to a close… click here
5. UK bounces back from pandemic with record amount of foreign investment in financial services
New figures published by the City of London Corporation, show that in 2022 the UK attracted 263 financial and professional services (FPS) projects valued at £2 billion, the highest amount of investment in four years and more than any other country in Europe. The study also revealed that London continues to hold the top spot in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in FPS, attracting 779 projects over the past five years – well clear of Dubai (592 projects), Singapore (586), New York (424) and Paris (332)… click here
4. London conference unites international community on Ukraine’s future and global security
The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), held in London this week, has galvanised international backing for the country in the face of Putin’s ongoing attacks and raised over $60 billion towards Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. This includes the UK’s new updated commitments of a further $3 billion of guarantees to unlock World Bank lending to Ukraine and £240 million of bilateral assistance. The World Bank estimates Ukraine’s total recovery and reconstruction needs stand at $411 billion, with $14 billion required for priority reconstruction and recovery… click here
3. PAYBACK: Fly-tippers, vandals and litterers on clean-up duty in anti-social behaviour crackdown
Offenders will be on call to swiftly clean up egregious instances of fly-tipping, vandalism and littering as part of a new government plan to tackle the scourge of anti-social behaviour. Rapid deployment teams – made up of offenders serving Community Payback sentences, kitted out in high vis jackets – will be sent to communities up and down the country to carry out local clean-ups, called upon within 48 hours of cases being reported to the Probation Service. The pilot will see offenders carry out up to 20,000 hours of hard graft in just 6 months, ensuring that they are paying for their crimes… click here
2. BREXIT BRITAIN: UK signs 5th US state-level trade agreement
The UK has this week signed a new Memorandum of Understanding designed to grow trade with Utah, a US state with a GDP of £201 billion in 2022 – equivalent to the economy of New Zealand. The pact, which was signed by International Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston and Utah Governor Spencer Cox, is the fifth arrangement of its kind between the UK and a US state and signifies a milestone in the UK’s trade ties with Utah. The pact aims to strengthen our trading relationship with Utah, establishing a framework to unlock export opportunities for UK businesses… click here
1. UK has saved £191 billion by not being in the EU’s COVID recovery scheme, confirms Jacob Rees-Mogg
“The key thing was that we have our own democracy back” and “we no longer have our laws made for us in secret in Brussels,” says Jacob Rees Mogg. Speaking to GB News about how Britain has done since exiting the EU he said: “Well, the key thing is that we have our own democracy back. And can, when we vote, change all our laws. We no longer have our laws made for us in secret in Brussels. And this is such a reconfirmation of our belief in democracy and of the authority of the British people, over their politicians that we’ve got that embedded”… click here
For last week’s Top 20 Great British news stories (12th – 18th June 2023) click here.
By Claire Bullivant
Conservative Post, Founder and Editor
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Main photo Photographer: Cpl Phil Dye – MOD News Licence. UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023
