We’re ending 2023 with yet another week of great British news that most of the mainstream media loves to ignore.
You might not hear about it on a lot of the 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.
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Thank you to everyone who has read, commented on or shared one of our stories this past year. You’ve helped pump some positive press back into Britain. Wishing you a very happy New Year and we can’t wait to keep bringing you all the good news in 2024!
Here are our 20 best read and most shared positive stories from just this week (24th – 31st December 2023):
20. Record number of offenders facing sober festive season
A record number of offenders with alcohol problems are being forced to stay dry this festive season in a bid to cut booze-fuelled crime. Statistics released this week show around 2800 offenders have been made to wear an alcohol tag, with the devices able to detect if an offender has been drinking by analysing their sweat. This is an increase of around 1000 offenders from the same time last year and follows the Government’s drive to double the number of people on tags at any one time by 2025 and protect communities from the violence and disorder often caused by alcohol… click here
19. International Fund for Agricultural Development thanks UK for generous contribution to global farming
The UK is boosting support to poor rural farmers around the world to boost food security for the future. Nearly half of the world’s population lives in the rural areas of developing countries and rely on small farms for their livelihoods. These small farms are critical to feeding the world, producing up to 70% of food eaten in low- and middle-income countries. To protect these livelihoods and global food security, the UK is pledging £66.7 million to the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the UN agency dedicated to supporting those living in extreme poverty rural areas… click here
18. Storm overflows monitoring hits 100% target across England
Every storm overflow across England’s water network is now monitored. 100% of storm overflows across the water network in England have now been fitted with Event Duration Monitors, meeting the ambitious target set by the government to do so by the end of 2023. EDMs increase transparency by measuring how, when and for how long a storm overflow is in operation. This shows the public when discharges are happening, and helps the government and regulators to better hold water companies to account for illegal sewage spills and improve knowledge of overflow operation to identify where improvements can be made… click here
17. NHS App reaches record users on fifth anniversary
The NHS App has twice as many users as Netflix’s 16.7 million subscribers with three quarters of adults in England now signed up, new figures show today. As the app marks its fifth birthday, new data shows it has 33.6 million registered users, with monthly traffic to the app rising by more than half in the past year. The total number of monthly logins has increased by 54% over 12 months, from 16.8 million in November 2022 to 25.8 million in November 2023 – the equivalent of 10 logins a second… click here
16. Charities providing food, shelter and warmth given support
Over 800 charities and community organisations struggling with increased demand have been awarded funding as part of a £76 million package to help vulnerable people. Projects tackling food poverty, homelessness charities and services offering financial advice are amongst those to benefit from funding, providing a much needed funding boost for those meeting increased demand for their critical services. The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, will continue to make awards from the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund throughout December and January… click here
15. Government reforms set to spark greater reuse and recycling of electrical goods
The Government is set to make it easier for households to recycle electrical cords, devices and white goods under new UK-wide plans announced this week. Shocking statistics show an estimated 155,000 tonnes of smaller household electricals such as cables, toasters, kettles and power tools are wrongly thrown in the bin each year. UK homes are thought to hoard a further 527 million unwanted electrical items containing valuable materials such as gold, silver and platinum. The waste generated during the festive period demonstrates the scale of the problem: 500 tonnes of Christmas lights are discarded every year in the UK… click here
14. Welsh Secretary says UK Government has never been more active in its delivery for Wales
The UK Government has never been more active in its delivery for Wales than in 2023, Welsh Secretary David TC Davies has said. In a New Year message, Mr Davies said that huge progress was being made in growing the economy and delivering major projects to spread jobs, prosperity and investment right across the country. The UK Government has stepped up to invest in projects across the breadth of Wales, from Pembroke to Ynys Môn, Monmouthshire to Port Talbot – with a relentless focus on empowering and improving communities and people’s opportunities… click here
13. Ukrainian pilots learn to fly F-16 fighter jets after completing basic training in the UK
The UK has been providing basic training to Ukraine’s combat air pilots as a contribution to the international Air Force Capability Coalition for Ukraine. The first cohort of Ukrainian pilots to receive training from the Royal Air Force are now learning to fly F-16 fighter jets in Denmark, having completed a basic programme of training in the UK. The RAF began delivering flying and English language training in August as part of the UK contribution to the international Air Force Capability Coalition for Ukraine, which sees allies and partners working together to bolster Ukraine’s air capabilities… click here
12. British business leaders, innovators and international trade champions recognised in the King’s 2024 New Year Honours List
“IN 2023 WE’VE SIGNED AMBITIOUS TRADE DEALS, REMOVED MARKET ACCESS BARRIERS, AND SUPPORTED BRITISH BUSINESSES TO START UP, SCALE UP AND GROW.” The Secretary of State for Business and Trade is congratulating entrepreneurs, innovators and Department for Business and Trade staff who have been awarded for their extraordinary service to businesses, investment, exporting and UK economic growth. Those honoured represent a diverse range of exceptional individuals who have championed a wide range of sectors across the UK economy at home and overseas… click here
11. £2.9 billion for levelling-up, 2 Freeport’s and 2 investment zones for Scotland this year from UK Government
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack looks back on 2023 and ahead to 2024... As another New Year dawns, I’d like to pass on my best wishes for 2024 to my fellow Scots at home and abroad. As we get ready to make our resolutions for the year to come, it is also time to take stock of the departing 12 months. Looking back, we have worked hard on our mission to level up communities across Scotland. Creating equality of opportunity for all – regardless of background – has been our ambition… click here
10. UK takes lead of NATO Rapid Response Force
UK forces are taking lead of NATO’s rapid response force on 1 January 2024, placing thousands of soldiers on standby and ready to deploy within days. NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) was created after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and deployed for the first time for the collective defence of the Alliance after Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Taking leadership of the VJTF will see the UK provide the majority of forces in the task force. The United Kingdom’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps will serve as the land component command… click here
9. MADE IN BRITAIN: UK car production grows with record electric vehicle production levels
Output year-to-date increases 16.5% to 843,345 units with record EV production levels. UK car production rose 14.8% in November, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 91,923 cars rolled out of factory gates, an increase of 11,832 on November last year, representing the best performance for the month since 2020 as supply chain challenges moved firmly into the rear-view mirror… click here
8. UK celebrates service to others in HM The King’s New Year Honours
More than 1,200 recipients have been awarded for their exceptional achievements, with a focus on those who have given with generosity to others in need. Individuals have been recognised for being dedicated community champions, role models in sport, pioneers in the arts, passionate health workers, and supporters of young people. The Prime Minister is committed to ensuring that honours are awarded to people across the whole of the UK, so that the honours system captures and celebrates the fantastic contribution of people throughout the country… click here
7. Government exceeds target as over 2,100 more county lines closed
More than 2,000 county lines have been dismantled in the last 18 months, as the government hits its target of closing thousands of these criminal networks early. Data published this month shows the ambitious three-year target, made in the government’s 10-year drug strategy, has been achieved in just a year and a half, with dedicated police taskforces from the County Lines Programme arresting senior line holders and breaking the gangs that terrorise communities. Between April 2022 and September this year, over 4,000 arrests have been made, whilst 4,800 vulnerable people caught up in these vile operations have been offered support to turn their lives around… click here
6. British-made air defence missiles shipped to Ukraine to protect civilians and infrastructure from bombing
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that hundreds of British-made air defence missiles are being shipped to Ukraine to protect civilians and infrastructure from drones and bombing. Delivery of a new package of sophisticated air defence missiles for Ukraine has commenced, rounding off a landmark year for the UK’s support for Ukraine – having been the first country to provide modern Western tanks, as well as long-range precision strike capability… click here
5. British vineyards set to benefit from new freedoms since leaving the European Union
‘Pint’ size wine stocked on Britain’s shelves for the first time ever thanks to new freedoms from leaving the European Union. Brits will soon be able to purchase ‘pint’ sized bottles of still and sparkling wine, as a new 568ml size is introduced to Britain’s supermarket shelves, pubs, clubs and restaurants, the Department for Business and Trade has announced this week. The UK’s wine sector is set for the boost as part of the Government’s smarter regulation programme to ensure regulations are up to date and agile… click here
4. MADE IN BRITAIN: UK commercial vehicle production to record best year in more than a decade
Year-to-date output surges 15.5% to 111,863 units with new production facilities boost to volumes. UK commercial vehicle (CV) production grew again in November, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Factories produced 13,253 vans, buses, trucks, coaches and taxis, up 16.8% on the year before, in the best November performance since 2007 and representing the ninth month of growth in 2023. Overseas demand is up 18.3% while orders for UK buyers have risen 13.4%… click here
3. Contrary to Remain forecasts UK trade with the EU has risen since we left, says John Redwood
Many of us who voted for Brexit stressed that we wished to be friends with the continent, to trade with our neighbours using most favoured nation terms under the WTO, and to do many things with them by mutual agreement in sport, culture, defence, foreign affairs and the rest. What we voted to end was EU control over us, EU law making, a relationship driven by immutable Treaties and by a foreign court…. click here
2. British alcohol and chocolate companies in high spirits after CPTPP sales soar
UK food and drink exporters are toasting success this Christmas as demand from consumers in CPTPP, the massive trade bloc in the Indo-Pacific the UK signed up to in July, has boomed ahead of the festive season. Latest figures show luxury British staples such as Scotch Whisky, chocolate and sparkling wine are being ordered en masse by CPTPP countries including Singapore, Japan, Mexico and Malaysia. Over the past year, UK chocolate exports to Singapore have increased by 220% in current prices to over £26 million while UK sparkling wine exports to Japan have increased by 140%… click here
1. Conservatives plan to end inheritance tax in spring
Downing Street has said it is considering axing inheritance tax next Spring, a move which will surely give the Conservatives a boost before next year’s General Election. Inheritance tax is charged on the part of someone’s estate above the tax-free threshold of £325,000. However, this can rise to £500,000 if a home is given to a child or grandchild. The news that inheritance and income tax cuts are being considered has been welcomed by many Conservative MPs. David Jones MP, a former Wales secretary added: “Both income tax and inheritance tax need to be cut. Inheritance tax, in particular, should be abolished…” Click here
For last week’s top 20 Great British news stories (18th – 24th December 2023) click here.
By Claire Bullivant
Conservative Post, Founder and Editor
If you enjoy our news service please consider donating to our journalism fund so we can grow our editorial team, protect conservative journalism and keep spreading the best of British news.
