GREAT BRITISH NEWS: Top positive news stories from across the UK this week

Of course most of the doom and gloom mainstream media may not be interested in featuring any positive British news stories, but we certainly are.

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 (17th – 23rd July 2023): 

20. UK leading the world as engineering biology firms revolutionise medicine, food and environmental protection

The UK is a leader in engineering biology thanks in part to early, forward-thinking investment by the government over the last decade.  This includes more than £100 million being invested through UK Research & Innovation’s Synthetic Biology for Growth programme. A further £73 million is being invested into Engineering Biology Missions Hubs and Mission Awards that will build on our country’s reputation as a hub of innovation in the field. The UK has clusters of strength in engineering biology across the country, stretching from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Bristol and Norwich… click here

19. UK’s mission to become space superpower and Europe’s leading provider of small commercial launches by 2030

The National Space Council met this week as part of the UK’s mission to become a true space superpower and fulfil the country’s ambition to become Europe’s leading provider of small commercial launches by 2030. This builds on the already extraordinary growth of the UK space sector, which employs almost 49,000 people and generates an income of £17.5 billion. The Council was co-chaired by the Science and the Defence Secretaries, flanked by other Cabinet Ministers and with insights from astronaut Tim Peake, amongst other expert support. The Council also saw an exhibition of lunar rocks… click here

18. New plan to deliver high quality PE and sport for all pupils

Government confirms two-year plan to boost quality and equal access to PE and sport. More girls are also set to benefit as the Government publishes a two-year plan to improve equal access and the quality of PE and sport in schools for all pupils. The School Sport and Activity Action Plan will support teachers and schools to deliver two hours of high-quality PE and provide competitive and extra-curricular opportunities to both girls and boys. This is set to encourage more children to follow in the footsteps of their heroes, such as footballer Millie Bright leading the Lionesses in the World Cup this summer, Katie Boulter representing Great Britain at Wimbledon or Sarah Hunter and Marlie Parker… click here

17. Seahorses and natterjack toads set to be benefit as six nature recovery projects are launched across England

Curlews, seahorses and natterjack toads set to be benefit as six nature recovery projects are launched. An area bigger than the size of Hertfordshire is to be dedicated to fast tracking nature recovery as six new landscape-scale nature recovery projects are launched by Natural England and the government. The multi-partnership collaborative projects covering 176,000 hectares of land across England – from the Tees Estuary to the South Downs – will create improved and better-connected habitats for wildlife and improve public access to nature… click here

16. UK and Turkey to negotiate new trade deal

The UK and Turkey have this week announced plans to begin talks on an updated free trade agreement (FTA). The deal would replace the existing UK-Turkey FTA, which was rolled over from when the UK left the European Union and doesn’t cover key areas of the UK economy like services, digital and data. The UK is the second biggest services exporter in the world – behind only the US, and the services sector contributes around 80% of the UK’s GDP. A new deal could boost trade and help UK companies maximise opportunities in this area, driving economic growth – one of the Prime Minister’s priorities… click here

15. Top water quality at Devon and Cornwall beaches

The majority of designated bathing waters across Devon and Cornwall have a good or excellent rating for water quality. It is officially the summer holidays, and as millions of people flock to the coast, the Environment Agency is flying the flag for top-notch bathing waters in Devon and Cornwall. Area Environment Manager Bruce Newport said: “There are 150 designated bathing waters across our patch and the majority have a good or excellent rating for water quality.  Our work to improve water quality has really paid off – we now have miles of unpolluted coastline for everyone to enjoy. Our scientists carry out water sampling and monitoring seven days a week throughout the summer…” click here

14. Royal Air Force wow crowds at world’s greatest military air show

The Royal Air Force enjoyed a fantastic weekend of aviation as The Royal International Air Tattoo 2023 [RIAT] celebrated 100 years of air-to-air refuelling.  To mark the anniversary, the RAF’s refuelling aircraft — Voyager — flew with colleagues from a range of countries to demonstrate the aircraft’s capability.  The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world’s largest, annual military air show. RIAT was held at Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford and the event boasted over 250 aircraft. Over 200,000 visitors attended during the three days of the show, with aircraft from around 40 air arms on display in the air and on the ground… click here

13. Overhaul of laws to protect women from domestic killers

Controlling ex-partners who lash out at the end of their relationship will face longer than ever behind bars under new government plans to tackle domestic homicide. The change, announced by the Lord Chancellor, is part of a wide-ranging response to Clare Wade KC’s Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review published this week which will overhaul the law to better protect vulnerable women. Building on measures already announced in the interim response in March, today’s reforms will create a new aggravating factor for murder at the end of a relationship while also introducing a mitigating factor in cases where the perpetrator has been subjected to a campaign of controlling… click here

12. Refreshed plan to improve warfighting readiness of the British Armed Forces

A £2.5 billion investment in stockpiles and a Global Response Force are behind a refreshed plan to improve the warfighting readiness of the British Armed Forces. The Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCP23), published this week, takes learnings from the war in Ukraine – and wider threats to our security – and sets out a plan to deliver a credible warfighting force that will keep us on track to act as a global heavyweight both now and in the future. It follows the publication of the Integrated Review Refresh earlier this year, which identified Russia as the most acute threat to our security, recognised China as a long-term systemic challenge, and predicted a more adversarial international system… click here

11. BRITISH INNOVATION: Impressed Energy Minister sets JCB a hydrogen engine challenge

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has challenged JCB to have its super-efficient hydrogen machines working on building sites and farms by next year – declaring himself “impressed” with the company’s early success in developing engines powered by the zero-carbon fuel. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero visited JCB Power Systems in Derbyshire this week to see the progress a team of more than 150 engineers have made in developing hi-tech hydrogen combustion engines for use in construction and agricultural machinery.  More than 50 prototype engines have been produced so far… click here

10. Susan Hall selected by members to become Conservative mayoral candidate for London

Susan Hall has been selected by Conservative members to become the Conservative party’s mayoral candidate for London. Susan, who has been a London assembly member since 2017, will now go up against incumbent Sadiq Khan on 2 May next year. As part of Hall’s pledges, she has promised to halt the ULEZ expansion on day one if she is elected London mayor before turning her attention to “hunting down and locking up” petty criminals. As the former leader of the Conservative Group in the London Assembly, Ms Hall has also announced she would invest £200 million in the Met Police to sort out crime… click here

9. UK Government seizes post-Brexit freedoms for fishing industry

The UK Government has today set out further steps to deliver a thriving, sustainable fishing industry and healthy marine environment for generations to come. Seizing the opportunities of our freedoms outside the EU, the UK is introducing a world class system of fisheries management which draws on the best available science and the expertise of our fishermen to ensure our fish stocks are healthy and sustainable long into the future This new system will be underpinned by Fisheries Management Plans – blueprints for how best to manage fish stocks – with the first six published today, including bass, king scallops, crab and lobster; amazing produce which we are renowned for around the world… click here

8. Ofgem announces 10 funded projects to turn Britain into centre of global energy innovation

Ten innovative large-scale demonstrator projects worth a total of £95.3 million have been approved and will begin this month. These projects are part of £450 million Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. SIF aims to help accelerate the transition to more homegrown, decarbonised energy at the lowest cost to consumers and turn the UK into a centre of global energy innovation. SIF projects are led by energy network companies working with a range of partners in technology, innovation, and research. The 10 projects announced… click here

7. Record funding for schools in England

Schools in England are set to receive their highest ever funding in real terms, totalling almost £60 billion for 2024-25 as the government this week announces the extra funding they will receive through the National Funding Formula (NFF). Mainstream schools in England will receive an average of around £6,000 for each pupil from next year through the NFF, with additional funding for teacher pay coming on top of that.  More money than ever before is being invested in schools, ensuring every child gets a world class education. Overall, funding will be at its highest ever level in real terms per pupil in 2024-25, as measured by the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)… click here

6. Great British nuclear revival to move towards energy independence

A massive revival of nuclear power gets underway this week, placing the UK at the forefront of a global race to develop cutting-edge technologies to rapidly deliver cleaner, cheaper, more secure energy. Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps has announced how Great British Nuclear (GBN) will drive the rapid expansion of new nuclear power plants in the UK at an unprecedented scale and pace. This will boost UK energy security, reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel imports, create more affordable power and grow the economy, with the nuclear industry estimated to generate around £6 billion for the UK economy… click here

5. Major business leaders join new Business Council to turbocharge UK economic growth

Fourteen business leaders, from a range of sectors across the UK economy, join the new Business Council. A new business council has been appointed to report from the business frontlines as the Government continues to boost stability and growth in the UK economy. Chief Executives from AstraZeneca, NatWest Group and BAE Systems are among the fourteen business leaders joining the council, alongside SSE, Google Deepmind, Sainsbury’s and Vodafone. Other companies represented on the council include GSK, Aviva, Shell, Sage, Taylor Wimpey, Diageo and Barclays… click here

4. Government clamps down on unfair bank account closures

Banks will be forced to explain and delay any decision to close an account under new rules, protecting freedom of expression. The government has stepped in to address fears that banks are terminating accounts because they disagree with someone’s political beliefs. The changes will increase the notice period to 90 days – giving customers more time to challenge a decision through the Financial Ombudsman Service, or find a replacement bank. Banks will also be required to spell out why they are terminating a bank account – boosting transparency for customers and aiding their efforts to overturn decisions… click here

3. BREXIT BRITAIN: UK close to signing 6th US state-level trade agreement with Illinois

Illinois is the fifth largest US state by GDP, on a par with economies like the Netherlands. 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. The UK already has MoUs in place with Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Utah through which the UK is helping companies meet new commercial partners to develop their businesses… click here

2. Conservatives HOLD Boris Johnson’s former seat in Uxbridge by-election victory

Voters went to the polls this week in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Selby and Ainsty and Somerton and Frome. The Conservatives pulled off a by-election victory in Boris Johnson’s former seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. After polling suggested a comfortable win for Labour in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Conservatives defied the odds and candidate Steve Tuckwell retained Boris Johnson’s former seat for the Tories in a huge blow to Sir Keir Starmer. Conservative Steve Tuckwell campaigned heavily on the expansion of the Ulez driving tax to all of Greater London which struck a chord with voters and saw him win with a majority of 495 against all expectations… click here

1. Tata Group to invest over £4 billion in UK gigafactory creating thousands of jobs

Tata Group confirmed the UK had secured one of the largest ever investments in the UK auto industry this week. The gigafactory will secure UK-produced batteries for another Tata Sons investment, Jaguar Land Rover, as well as other manufacturers in the UK and Europe. The new gigafactory, at 40GWh, will be one of the largest in Europe. It will create up to 4,000 highly skilled jobs, as well as thousands of further jobs in the wider supply chain for battery materials and critical raw minerals, helping grow the economy and take forward the UK’s… click here

For last week’s Top 20 Great British news stories (10th – 16th July 2023) click here.

By Claire Bullivant

Conservative Post, Founder and Editor

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Main Photo: Photographer: Sgt N Tanuku UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023