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 including the UK signing a treaty to join the vast Indo-Pacific trade group this morning.
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 (10th – 16th July 2023):
20. UK Ministry of Defence invests £280 million in frontline battlefield munitions creating over 200 UK jobs
“This is good news for the Army and British jobs, creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs in the North of England and Wales, and ensuring our military can deliver maximum effect on the battlefield.” BAE Systems has secured new orders for the supply of munitions to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). The orders, worth £280 million, with the option to increase to more than £400 million, will create more than 200 new jobs in the North of England and South Wales, boosting the Company’s 1,200-strong UK munitions workforce… click here
19. UK becomes epicentre of global fusion community as world’s scientists gather in Oxford
The UK and Oxford is the epicentre of the global fusion community this week as hundreds of scientists and engineers gathered to progress fusion energy powerplant development. IEEE SOFE 2023 is taking place in the UK for the first time – only the second time the event has been hosted outside of the US – and has record attendance for its 30th year with over 700 delegates from 26 countries hosted by United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). Fusion energy could be transformative for energy security… click here
18. Strengthening British trade and investment links Foreign Secretary visits Jakarta
Southeast Asia is on course to be equivalent to the fourth largest economy by 2030, with total trade in goods and services between the UK and ASEAN worth £46.5 billion to the end of 2022, helping deliver on the government’s priority of growing the economy. The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is today this week visiting Jakarta, meeting ASEAN partners to advance shared priorities of security, stability and prosperity. The UK and ASEAN are working together to deliver the ‘Plan of Action 2022-2026’ to improve lives across the region, such as ensuring girls across southeast Asia can access quality education… click here
17. 193 organisations awarded for their support towards the UK Armed Forces community
Nearly 200 organisations have been recognised by the UK Government for supporting the Armed Forces community, a record high since the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme launched in 2013. The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, the highest badge of honour, recognises the positive role that employers play in supporting the Armed Forces community. This year, organisations across a range of sectors including transportation, education, finance, and healthcare have been recognised in the awards… click here
16. New arrangement expands work opportunities for British and Canadian youth
The Government have increased opportunities for young Brits to live and work in Canada through the Youth Mobility Scheme. From 2024 there will be: Increased age range: 18-35, new application streams and increased duration to 3 years. This week, Robert Jenrick, UK Minister of State for Immigration and Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in Canada announced the signing of a new Canada–United Kingdom (UK) Youth Mobility Arrangement… click here
15. Beavers released in Northumberland
A family of Eurasian beavers have been released on the National Trust’s Wallington Estate in Northumberland this week as part of plans to boost wildlife and increase the landscape’s resilience to a changing climate. Beavers were once a mainstay of British rivers but became extinct in the 16th century due to being hunted for their fur, meat and scent glands. In recent years, they have been reintroduced at a growing number of sites in Britain. The Wallington Estate is the location for the conservation charity’s third beaver release, following successful introductions on Exmoor in 2020 and the South Downs in 2021… click here
14. New campaign to boost free bus travel this summer
Older and eligible disabled people are being urged to make the most of free bus travel to meet friends, connect with nature and visit new places this summer, through a new government campaign launched this week. The new ‘Take the Bus’ campaign is targeting people aged 66 and above, and disabled people who are eligible for a concessionary pass, to encourage them to use the free bus travel available. The move comes as statistics show concessionary journeys are down by more than a third since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign reminds passholders of the benefits of using bus travel, including staying active, visiting new places, taking up hobbies and seeing friends and family… click here
13. £20 million UK Space Agency funding to support aerial connectivity
Drones and high-altitude aircraft could boost connectivity in remote areas and support emergency services, following new government funding. Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Chloe Smith announced the £20 million funding from the UK Space Agency – the biggest investment into these types of services to date – to support the development of future telecommunications technologies and aerial connectivity projects, which would be used onboard drones or high-altitude platforms to provide wireless coverage. Companies can bid for the funding to develop innovative aerial services… click here
12. New jobs “passport” for injured or disabled veterans
New support scheme to help smooth the way for injured or disabled ex-military to return to work. New Adjustments Passports will support hundreds of sick and disabled Armed Forces leavers’ to start and stay in work, delivering on a key Government priority to remove barriers to the labour market and grow the economy. The scheme, announced by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Defence this week, will help those leaving service with an injury, disability or health condition move more smoothly into employment. The passport provides a transferable record of any workplace adjustments the service leaver may need, such as changes to working hours or specialist equipment… click here
11. NHS steps up battle against life-threatening infections following successful world-first pilot
“The UK is leading this fight by developing a pragmatic new approach to help secure the antibiotics the world needs.” The NHS has launched plans to expand pioneering subscription-style drug contracts to develop lifesaving antibiotics of the future. It comes as data shows more people are contracting drug-resistant superbugs than ever before, with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) predicted to cause 10 million global deaths each year by 2050 if no action is taken. NHS England is building on its world-first pilot to incentivise the pharmaceutical industry to develop new antibiotics that could be offered to NHS patients when they need them the most… click here
10. First Battalion London Guards receive their Colours at Buckingham Palace
A year after The London Regiment, London’s Army Reserve, was redesignated the 1st Battalion London Guards, the Battalion received its new set of Colours in a sacred ceremony at Buckingham Palace this week. The Colours (Ceremonial Regimental flags) were presented by The Colonel 1st Battalion London Guards, HRH Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh. The new Colours replace those of The London Regiment, which were presented in 1997. The traditional ceremony which is based on the format of religious services held on the battlefield for centuries, where soldiers are blessed from a makeshift altar of drums… click here
9. Victims’ rights and needs at centre of transformative new approach to rape investigations and prosecutions
All 43 territorial police forces across England and Wales and the 14 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Areas will now begin implementing a transformative new approach to rape investigations and prosecutions, improving support for victims and putting the focus on the suspect. Known as Operation Soteria, and piloted in 19 police forces and 9 CPS Areas already, the programme brings together police forces and prosecutors with academics to use evidence and insight to change the way rape and sexual offences are dealt with… click here
8. New research highlights defence’s contribution to British jobs and the economy
Last year, BAE Systems’ operations supported 132,000 full-time equivalent jobs nationwide, benefiting every region of the UK and the Company contributed £11 billion to GDP – equivalent to 0.4% of the domestic economy. Research by Oxford Economics has revealed the extent to which BAE Systems contributes to the UK economy through jobs, research & development and national supply chains. BAE Systems is delivering some of the world’s most advanced defence programmes, from Dreadnought submarines to next-generation combat air systems… click here
7. Historic security framework for Ukraine set to be agreed in major step toward ending the war
A significant international framework for Ukraine’s long-term security arrangements is expected to be agreed by G7 partners in the margins of the NATO Summit this week. The joint declaration, expected to be signed by all members of the G7, will set out how allies will support Ukraine over the coming years to end the war and deter and respond to any future attack. It is the first time that this many countries have agreed a comprehensive long-term security arrangement of this kind with another country… click here
6. Disadvantaged UK students to benefit from government’s Turing Scheme Over
Over 40,000 people across the UK will get the transformational opportunity to study or work abroad in over 160 destinations across the world. Disadvantaged students are set to take up the two-thirds of the international study and work opportunities available from September, as part of to the government’s flagship Turing Scheme. Over 40,000 people across the UK will get the transformational opportunity to study or work abroad in the next academic year. Building on the success of the previous two years, nearly two-thirds of these placements… click here
5. State ceremonial welcome in Windsor for US President
A large Guard of Honour of almost one hundred soldiers from The Prince of Wales’s Company of The Welsh Guards paraded in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle this week with The King’s Colour (ceremonial flag) to welcome the US President and First Lady to the UK. Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II met 13 American Presidents during Her reign, and His Majesty King Charles III is beginning his own relationship as Monarch with America’s leaders as he welcomed President Biden to Windsor Castle on Monday. In preparation for the arrival of the VVIPs, the Band played equal tributes to both nations… click here
4. British engineers successfully complete solar-electric unmanned stratospheric flight
British engineers have successfully completed a stratospheric flight trial of BAE Systems’ PHASA-35. Pushing the boundaries of aviation technology, PHASA-35 successfully completed a stratospheric flight trial in June 2023, exceeding an altitude of 66,000ft, before landing safely. PHASA-35 is a novel, ultra-light weight, solar-electric High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Uncrewed Air System (UAS) which provides an alternative and flexible approach to conventional systems such as satellites or conventionally powered aircraft for the provision of persistent and cost-effective imagery and communications… click here
3. UK’s first Advanced Manufacturing Investment Zone: South Yorkshire to benefit from £1.2 billion of investment
Communities in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley are set to benefit from thousands of new jobs and £1.2 billion of investment as part of the UK’s first Advanced Manufacturing Investment Zone. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has this week hailed the first Advanced Manufacturing Investment Zone in South Yorkshire for bringing opportunity into areas which have traditionally underperformed economically. Twelve Investment Zones will be established across the UK based around a university and clusters of high growth industries… click here
2. Liz Truss launches Growth Commission to boost wealth in the UK
The former PM has launched the first Growth Commission report this week and appeared to hint that her mini-Budget would have worked. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss has launched a new think tank that will aim to influence Government tax policies and improve forecasting. In a discussion with Liam Halligan she said: “Of course, no one can predict the future. But what we do know is if we have too much regulation, if we have very high taxes, then that leads to people being less likely to go out to work, businesses being less likely to be established. What I want to see from the Growth Commission…” Click here
1. BREXIT BONANZA! UK signs treaty to join vast Indo-Pacific trade group
The UK has formally signed the treaty confirming the UK’s accession to CPTPP – the Indo-Pacific trade bloc now worth £12 trillion in GDP – in New Zealand this morning [Sunday 16th]. The UK is the first European member and first new member since CPTPP was created, which would have been impossible had we remained in the EU. Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch formally signed the treaty to accede to CPTPP trade group, kickstarting the UK’s membership of a modern and ambitious trade deal spanning 12 economies across Asia, the Pacific, and now Europe… click here
For last week’s Top 20 Great British news stories (3rd – 9th July 2023) click here.
By Claire Bullivant
Conservative Post, Founder and Editor
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