Tag: Boris

Categories
-Top News UK News

Cornered Boris faces ‘declining popularity’

Some 41% of Johnson’s lawmakers voted to remove him this month…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Boris Johnson could this week lose two parliamentary seats that once illustrated his broad appeal, showing his declining popularity that could spur his party to try to find a way to oust him.

His Conservative Party are contesting two by-elections on Thursday: one in Tiverton and Honiton, a deeply Conservative corner of Devon in southwest England, and another in the former industrial area of Wakefield in northern England, which voted for his party for the first time in 90 years in 2019.

Defeat in either place may further dent Johnson’s vote-winning reputation, and see lawmakers who fear for their futures try to move against him despite giving him a reprieve by calling and losing a confidence vote against him earlier this month.

Johnson secured the biggest Conservative majority in three decades at the 2019 national election by upending conventional British politics and winning in both the Conservatives’ traditional southern heartlands and in more industrial areas in central and northern England.

But now, support for the party is fraying in both areas, and could prompt some Conservative lawmakers to try to reduce the 12-month grace period between calling confidence votes. Some 41% of Johnson’s lawmakers voted to remove him this month.

The by-elections were triggered by high-profile resignations of Conservative lawmakers – one who admitted watching porn in parliament, and another found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy.

In the rural market town of Tiverton, Jenny Kane, 72, a part-time yoga teacher, said she had voted Conservative, but would not do so now because of the unresolved tensions with the European Union and “partygate” when Johnson attended lockdown-breaking parties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t think he’s done Brexit at all,” she told Reuters. “Partygate is the final straw. I’m disgusted.” Kane said she would instead vote for the centrist, pro-EU Liberal Democrats.

ALSO READ-Boris calls for compromise  

Categories
-Top News UK News

Boris calls for compromise  

Network Rail CEO Andrew Haines said the government is not the constraining factor in negotiations”, amid reports that the unions had rejected a 3 per cent pay rise offer…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday called for a sensible compromise on the pay demands by workers’ unions that have resulted in the UK’s worst rail strike in 30 years, with a majority of the staff walking out to cripple the networks.

“Too high demands on pay will also make it incredibly difficult to bring to an end the current challenges facing families around the world with rising costs of living,” said Johnson, ahead of a Cabinet meeting at Downing Street.

“Now is the time to come to a sensible compromise for the good of the British people and the rail workforce,” he said.

“It is clear that the Tory government, after slashing GBP 4 billion of funding from National Rail and Transport for London, has now actively prevented a settlement to this dispute, said RMT union’s general secretary Mick Lynch.

The rail companies have now proposed pay rates that are massively under the relevant rates of inflation, coming on top of the pay freezes of the past few years. At the behest of the government, companies are also seeking to implement thousands of job cuts and have failed to give any guarantee against compulsory redundancies,” he said.

Network Rail CEO Andrew Haines said the government is not the constraining factor in negotiations”, amid reports that the unions had rejected a 3 per cent pay rise offer.

In a separate row involving London’s Tube network, London Underground network workers are also on strike on Tuesday over job cuts and change to their pensions.

“We have a responsibility to tackle inflation and stop it becoming entrenched,” Downing Street said in a statement.

“To do this we must ensure that pay settlements are sensible and do not scramble to match inflation, and as a result drive up prices as the cost of goods and service increase to incorporate pay rises,” the statement added.

ALSO READ-Political foes revel in Boris’ woes in Parliament

Categories
-Top News UK News

Political foes revel in Boris’ woes in Parliament

Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends Trooping the Colour. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson steps out of No10 Downing Street on the day of Trooping the Colour during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said any Conservatives inclined to give Johnson another chance would be disappointed…reports Asian Lite News

A defiant British Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted Wednesday that he is getting on with his job, as he faced Parliament for the first time since 41 percent of his own party’s lawmakers called for him to quit.

Johnson has been left teetering after surviving a no-confidence vote by Conservative Party legislators by a narrower-than-expected margin. A total of 148 of the 359 Tory lawmakers voted against him in Monday’s ballot.

Johnson says he plans to move on and focus on bread-and-butter issues such as clearing national health care backlogs, tackling crime, easing a cost-of-living crisis and creating high-skilled jobs in a country that has left the European Union.

“As for jobs, I’m going to get on with mine,” he told lawmakers during the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons.

But Johnson’s party opponents say they have not given up on pushing him out. They fear that Johnson, his reputation tarnished by revelations of boozy government parties that breached COVID-19 regulations, will doom the party to defeat in the next national election, which is due to be held by 2024.

Still, Conservative lawmakers dutifully cheered Johnson during a noisy Prime Minister’s Questions, while opponents relished the prime minister’s problems.

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said any Conservatives inclined to give Johnson another chance would be disappointed.

“They want him to change — but he can’t,” Starmer said.

Scottish National Party leader Ian Blackford called Johnson “a lame duck prime minister presiding over a divided party in a disunited kingdom.”

Blackford compared Johnson to comedy troupe Monty Python’s character the Black Knight, who has his limbs lopped off in battle, all the while proclaiming “It’s only a flesh wound!”

And Labour lawmaker Angela Eagle asked: “If 148 of his own backbenchers don’t trust him, why on Earth should the country?”

Johnson replied that “in a long political career so far, I have of course picked up political opponents all over the place.”

But he said “absolutely nothing and no one … is going to stop us getting on and delivering for the British people.”

While Conservative Party rules bar another no-confidence vote for 12 months, those rules can be changed by a handful of lawmakers who run a key Conservative committee. Johnson also faces a parliamentary ethics probe that could conclude he deliberately misled Parliament over “partygate” — which is traditionally a resigning offense.

With opinion polls giving Labour a lead nationally, Johnson will face more pressure if the Conservatives lose special elections later this month for two parliamentary districts where incumbent Tory lawmakers were forced out by sex scandals.

ALSO READ-Boris to promise a return to a strong economy

Categories
-Top News UK News

Boris to promise a return to a strong economy

Part of the reset includes a speech in northwest England on Thursday to “set out a clear vision to continue to tackle the rising cost of living”, his Downing Street office said…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Thursday outline plans to tackle Britain’s cost-of-living crisis, as he seeks to move on from a damaging series of scandals and a confidence vote called by his own MPs.

Johnson won the vote but with 40 percent of his own side refusing to back him, he was likened to a “Monty Python” character who refuses to admit he is mortally wounded following another harrowing week.

The Conservative leader on Wednesday faced parliament for the first time since surviving the vote, which commentators said had left his scandal-tainted premiership still in peril.

Backers in the House of Commons staged a noisy show of support at his weekly question-and-answer session. But Tory rebels sitting behind looked glum and laughed along with opposition jibes.

Johnson has called his 211-148 victory “decisive” and wants to move on from repeated calls for him to resign over the “Partygate” scandal about lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street.

“As for jobs, I’m going to get on with mine,” he reiterated in the Commons, after defending his government’s record on employment, health and Ukraine.

Part of the reset includes a speech in northwest England on Thursday to “set out a clear vision to continue to tackle the rising cost of living”, his Downing Street office said.

“We have the tools we need to get on top of rising prices. The global headwinds are strong. But our engines are stronger,” he will say.

“And, while it’s not going to be quick or easy, you can be confident that things will get better, that we will emerge from this a strong country with a healthy economy.”

Johnson faced repeated taunts on Wednesday about Monday’s vote, including comparisons to Monty Python’s “Black Knight” character, who declares “it’s just a flesh wound” when he has his arms and legs chopped off in a duel.

“No amount of delusion and denial will save the prime minister from the truth: this story won’t go away until he goes away,” said the Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford.

Johnson’s Tory opponents fear that public disgust over “Partygate” is crippling their party’s electoral chances.

Some want a return to “Conservative values” including lower taxes after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Downing Street has set the stage for a policy blitz in the coming days, including on Britain’s skewed property market, where sky-high prices have deprived younger people of the hope of home ownership.

Johnson’s enemies on his own side still appear to be manoeuvring, with reports he faces a “war of attrition” and “vote strikes” to paralyse the government’s legislative agenda.

Such “vote strikes” hurt Theresa May’s three-year stint in Downing Street, before she was brought down in 2019 by Johnson and his allies over how to execute Britain’s departure from the European Union.

The Conservatives are braced for two parliamentary by-elections this month, and an upcoming investigation by MPs into whether Johnson lied to parliament over Partygate.

“Johnson achieved a remarkable election victory in 2019. But he has let things slide since then,” former cabinet member David Davis, who voted against him Monday, wrote in The Times.

“His victory in (Monday’s) vote provides his last chance to get his act together.”

Under current Tory rules Johnson cannot be challenged again for a year, which leaves little time for any new leader to emerge before the next general election due by 2024.

ALSO READ-Boris faces Parliament for 1st time since trust vote 

Categories
-Top News UK News

Boris faces Parliament for 1st time since trust vote 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson - Weekly Cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs his weekly Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of No10 Downing Street. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street

Critics, however, have warned the political crisis is not over for the embattled prime minister after more than 40 percent of his own MPs voted against him in Monday’s no-confidence vote…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a boisterous parliament Wednesday in his first appearance before lawmakers since narrowly fending off a damaging no-confidence vote from his own Conservative MPs.

His backers are likely to stage a noisy show of support when he steps up for his weekly Prime Minister’s Questions.

Critics, however, have warned the political crisis is not over for the embattled prime minister after more than 40 percent of his own MPs voted against him in Monday’s no-confidence vote.

Johnson, who called the 211-148 vote a “convincing result”, has vowed to plough on, saying it was time to “draw a line” under questions about his leadership and the “Partygate” controversy over lockdown-breaking events at Downing Street.

The prime minister’s team has tried to regain the offensive by pointing to a setpiece speech expected in the coming days on new economic support measures, as Britons struggle with a cost-of-living crisis.

But many question whether Johnson can recover voters’ trust, as the party braces for two Westminster by-elections this month and an upcoming investigation by MPs into whether he lied to parliament over “Partygate”.

Even without any obvious candidate to succeed him, former Tory party leader William Hague this week argued that Johnson should now “look for an honourable exit”.

Comparing Monday’s margin to votes that ultimately toppled Johnson predecessors Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May, Hague said it showed “a greater level of rejection than any Tory leader has ever endured and survived”.

“Deep inside, he should recognise that, and turn his mind to getting out in a way that spares party and country such agonies and uncertainties,” Hague wrote in The Times.

‘War of attrition’

The Guardian reported Wednesday that rebel Conservative MPs were drawing up plans for “vote strikes” to paralyse the government’s legislative agenda, as happened at the end of May’s stint in office.

Johnson, 57, needed the backing of 180 of the 359 Conservatives MPs to survive the vote.

Most of Johnson’s cabinet publicly backed him in the secret ballot. But more than 40 percent of the parliamentary party did not.

The scale of the revolt “constitutes a crisis for Downing Street”, King’s College London politics professor Anand Menon said.

“I think there’s very little doubt that the vulnerability of the prime minister is going to be the single greatest factor shaping what this government does for the foreseeable future,” Menon told AFP.

Under current Tory rules, the prime minister cannot be challenged again for a year, which leaves little time for any new leader to emerge before the next general election due by 2024.

But the party’s “1922 committee” of MPs, tasked with overseeing leadership challenges, says it could easily change the rules if a majority backs it.

The Liberal Democrats are now pushing for a parliamentary no-confidence vote after Johnson survived the Tory revolt.

“Liberal Democrats are tabling a motion of no confidence in the prime minister so Parliament can finally put an end to this sorry mess,” party leader Ed Davey said.

“Every Conservative MP with a shred of decency must back our motion and give Boris Johnson the sack.”

If the government lost a no-confidence motion in the House of Commons it would have to call a snap general election.

That appears unlikely at present given the Conservative majority, but Johnson could face a challenging period in the months ahead.

Senior backbencher Tobias Ellwood, who voted against Johnson, said the prime minister was living on borrowed time.

“I think we’re talking a matter of months, up to party conference (in October),” he told Sky News.

ALSO READ-Is Boris running out of time?

Categories
-Top News London News UK News

Dead Man Walking at No10

Given the British public’s now overwhelming disapproval of Johnson, pressure is expected to be mounted on ministers in Johnson’s government to revolt against him … writes Ashis Ray

“Wounded” is the word that was widely used by a number of British newspapers in headlines about their Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, despite his win on Monday night in a confidence vote in his ruling Conservative parliamentary party.

After Johnson’s fellow MPs moved a no-confidence motion against – the minimum threshold for such a vote being letters from 15 per cent of such lawmakers – 148 of them cast their ballots against him versus 211 in favour. This was an unusually large rebellion, bigger than the number that opposed Johnson’s immediate predecessor Theresa May. Notwithstanding the latter seeing off the challenge, she was compelled to resign within a few months of this verdict. 

Given the British public’s now overwhelming disapproval of Johnson, pressure is expected to be mounted on ministers in Johnson’s government to revolt against him. Even a majority of his party rank and files, polls indicate, have turned against him. Backbench Conservative MPs could team up with the opposition Labour party to block legislation in parliament – as they did in the case of May – to paralyse governance.   

Conservative MPs are acutely aware that John Major won a confidence vote in 1995, but was crushed in a general election two years later. In other words, they realise their re-elections are endangered if Johnson remains in power.

Johnson had set the pace in a trade treaty with India. Business circles in London maintained optimism on a deal. “I don’t think it changes the speed and direction of the FTA (free trade agreement) negotiations or of the wider UK-India relationship,” an insider stated on condition of anonymity.

However, even a Conservative government under a new Prime Minister, less hostile towards the European Union (EU), is from all accounts likely to smoothen trade ties with the EU, thereby potentially reducing the urgency of a pact with India.

 Financial Times, Britain’s leading economic affairs daily, was among the morningers which used the term “wounded”. Its post-mortem of Monday night’s vote was: “Tories (Conservatives) descend into acrimony as Johnson fights for his political life.”  

The Daily Telegraph, a paper Johnson work for and which is quite supportive of him, wrote: “Boris Johnson’s hollow victory tears Tories apart.” A commentator in the publication felt “the PM looks like toast”. 

The verdict of columnists in The Times asked, is he a “dead man walking?” A sketch on another of its pages portrayed the situation as: “A PM, his party and the country left firmly in limp-in territory.”

Even the right-wing, markedly pro-Boris and hot-selling tabloid Daily Mail pronounced the “brutal confidence vote saw 148 Tory MPs try to oust him – worse than Theresa AND Maggie (Thatcher) – with loyalists admitting even ministers secretly voted against him”.

The left-of-centre Guardian described it as an “unexpectedly large rebellion” before going on to say Johnson is “badly weakened”.

BBC’s analysis was: “Boris Johnson will know his opponents are thwarted, not defeated.”

 “Who could replace Boris Johnson?” The Independent asked. It claimed: “Even before the no-confidence vote, he was odds-on at 4/9 to leave No 10 (Downing Street, his Prime Ministerial office-cum-residence) according to (betting agency) Betfair.”

 According to this bookmaker: “Jeremy Hunt, the former Health Secretary, is now the favourite to replace the PM at 9/2.” Hunt is also an erstwhile Foreign Secretary, who lost the leadership contest to Johnson in 2019.

  Liz Truss, presently Foreign Secretary, is touted as second favourite at 7/1. The third favourite being bandied about is Tom Tughendhat, MP, who has no previous ministerial experience, but is currently chair of the House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee.

 A former leader of the Conservative party Lord William Hague said Johnson’s premiership is no longer “viable”. He suggested he “should look for an honourable exit”.

ALSO READ-US mass shooter called for Sadiq Khan’s death

Categories
-Top News UK News

Boris to face no confidence vote today

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a Bilateral meeting and a Children’s mental health roundtable with the Youth Mental Health Ambassador Dr Alex George. Picture by Tim Hammond / No 10 Downing Street

Hours earlier, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had said he did not think there would be a vote this week…reports Asian Lite News

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s allies will switch their focus to winning a vote of no confidence, after conceding that they now have little chance of stopping one being triggered.

Johnson will this week launch a health and housing policy fightback in a last-ditch attempt to win over his critics, the Guardian reported.

He is widely expected to face a vote on his leadership as soon as this week, with some MPs predicting that the threshold of 54 letters asking for one has already been exceeded.

In a remarkable shift in tone, UK Business Minister Paul Scully acknowledged on Sunday night that a vote of no confidence “might well happen”, but insisted Johnson would “face it down”.

“Whatever happens, we’ve got to get back to governing, to tackle the things that people want us to do on a day-to-day basis.”

Hours earlier, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had said he did not think there would be a vote this week.

A No 10 source said Johnson would demonstrate over the coming days that he was “getting on with the job” and acknowledged it was also aimed at showing his determination not to be fatally weakened by a confidence vote, which the Prime Minister expects to win narrowly, the Guardian reported.

ALSO READ-Is Boris running out of time?

Categories
-Top News UK News

Is Boris running out of time?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Darlington town centre. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street

Should Johnson lose a confidence vote, he would be removed as prime minister and there would be a leadership contest to decide his replacement…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing the growing threat of a confidence vote as two more lawmakers suggested they had lost faith in his government over the “partygate” scandal and a former party leader said he could be challenged next week.

Compounding the pressure, Johnson’s ethics adviser said the prime minister may have broken the ministerial code when he was fined by the police over a birthday party in June 2020 when indoor socialising was banned. Ministers who breach the code are normally expected to resign. 

John Stevenson, a Conservative member of parliament, said he has been “deeply disappointed” by the rule-breaking parties during the COVID-19 national lockdowns and called for the prime minister to put himself forward for a vote of confidence as a way to “draw the line” under the issues.

“Sadly, the prime minister appears unwilling to bring matters to a head,” Stevenson said in a statement. “Therefore, the only option is for the Conservative MPs to facilitate a vote of confidence. I have already taken the appropriate action.”

A damning official report published last week detailed a series of illegal parties at Johnson’s Downing Street office during COVID-19 lockdowns, prompting a new wave of calls for the Conservative prime minister to step aside.

More than 25 Conservative lawmakers have called on Johnson to resign, while at least a further six have criticised his conduct but stopped short of saying he should resign, reported Reuters.

Should Johnson lose a confidence vote, he would be removed as prime minister and there would be a leadership contest to decide his replacement.

William Hague, who led the Conservative Party from 1997 to 2001, said Johnson is likely to face a vote of confidence by the end of June and could face one as early as next week when members of parliament return from recess.

Hague said the report by a senior civil servant into the illegal parties represented a kind of “slow fuse explosion” and with more Conservative lawmakers publicly criticising Johnson “the fuse is getting closer to the dynamite”.

“Johnson is in real trouble here,” he told Times Radio. The party is “moving towards, either next week or around the end of June, they are moving towards having a ballot.”

Christopher Geidt, the prime minister’s independent adviser on ministers’ interests, said there was a “legitimate question” about whether Johnson broke the ministerial code when he was fined last month. But Johnson responded by saying he did not breach the code because there was “no intent to break the law”.

Andrea Leadsom, a former Cabinet minister and prominent Brexiteer, accused Johnson of “unacceptable failings of leadership” and said it was “extremely unlikely that senior leaders were unaware of what was going on”.

Leadsom, the former business minister who twice ran to be Conservative Party leader, did not call for Johnson to resign but said individual lawmakers would need to decide how best to restore confidence in the government.

At least 54 Conservative members of parliament are required to formally request a confidence vote to the chairman of the party’s 1922 Committee for one to be triggered. The letters are confidential, so only the chairman of the committee knows how many have actually been submitted. 

Science Minister George Freeman, asked on Sky News whether the prime minister would win a vote of no confidence next week, said: “I just don’t know.”

“I don’t know where backbench colleagues are,” he said.

ALSO READ-Boris, Sharif discuss UK-Pakistan trade

Categories
-Top News PAKISTAN UK News

Boris, Sharif discuss UK-Pakistan trade

Johnson thanked Pakistan for their help in relocating Afghans to the UK after the Taliban takeover of Kabul…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday and discussed a range of issues including trade, the human rights situation in Afghanistan and the Ukraine conflict.

“The Prime Minister spoke to Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, today following his recent election. Welcoming the United Kingdom and Pakistan’s strong partnership over the past 75 years, the Prime Minister said the relationship is incarnated in the close ties between our people,” the UK Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

In a phone conversation, they agreed to strengthen those ties further and boost trade and investment, with the Prime Minister highlighting the appointment of a new UK Trade Envoy to Pakistan to drive those efforts.

Both Prime Ministers discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine and other matters of mutual interest. “On international affairs, Sharif recognised the UK’s efforts to address the crisis in Ukraine, and the leaders agreed on the importance of ending the immense human suffering and global economic instability caused by the invasion,” Downing Street said.

Johnson thanked Pakistan for their help in relocating Afghans to the UK after the Taliban takeover of Kabul.

“The leaders welcomed ongoing cooperation and committed to work together to support a more peaceful and tolerant Afghanistan, noting the importance of ensuring girls can go to school,” the UK PMO said.

The Pakistan PM passed on his congratulations on Her Majesty the Queen’s upcoming Platinum Jubilee, and the leaders looked forward to meeting in person in the near future.

According to Pakistani media, Shehbaz also invited Johnson to visit Pakistan on mutually convenient dates. The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

ALSO READ-Shehbaz seeks investments from ‘Chinese friends’

Categories
-Top News UK News

Boris hails £10 billion Qatari ‘vote of confidence’ in the UK

UK-Qatar trade was worth £4.8 billion last year and Qatari investment in the UK economy is already estimated to be worth over £40 billion, supporting jobs and growth across the country…reports Asian Lite News

The Prime Minister welcomed the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, to Downing Street today [Tuesday] for discussions on driving economic growth and addressing global challenges together.

The UK and Qatar signed a new Strategic Investment Partnership (SIP) which will see Qatar invest up to £10 billion over the next five years in key sectors of the UK economy, including fintech, zero emissions vehicles, life sciences and cyber security. The investment is expected to create high-quality jobs in new industries across the country.

The Prime Minister and the Amir also had a wide-ranging discussion on geopolitical issues. They were united in their condemnation of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and discussed issues of regional security, including relations with Iran.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “Today’s announcement of up to £10bn in new investment from our Qatari friends is another vote of confidence in the UK’s brilliant businesses and cutting-edge industry. The new UK-Qatar Strategic Investment Partnership will create quality job opportunities across the country in key sectors, delivering on our vision of economic growth through trade and investment. Qatar is a valued partner for the UK, supported by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad’s leadership.  We had a rich discussion on the issues that matter to both of our countries, including boosting the economy, ensuring regional stability and improving energy security following Russia’s appalling invasion of Ukraine.”

UK-Qatar trade was worth £4.8 billion last year and Qatari investment in the UK economy is already estimated to be worth over £40 billion, supporting jobs and growth across the country.

Minister for Investment Lord Grimstone said, “It is excellent news that Qatar is targeting up to £10 billion investment into the UK through our new Strategic Investment Partnership. Not only will it boost local economies and support jobs, but it supports our green economy and decarbonisation – crucial in meeting our Net Zero targets. It also strengthens our relationship with Qatar ahead of our UK-Gulf Cooperation Council trade negotiations.”

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng also signed an MoU on energy cooperation with Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs at Downing Street. Qatar is a major energy supplier for the UK, providing 40% of our liquefied natural gas – the new MoU commits us to work together to boost innovation and collaboration, supporting the security of global energy supplies.

UK Secretary of State for Business and Energy, Kwasi Kwarteng, said, “I am delighted to further the UK’s energy cooperation with the State of Qatar as we work to stabilise international energy markets and boost energy security in the context of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Qatar is already a valued trading partner, recently investing in the future of British low-carbon nuclear technology through the Rolls Royce consortium developing small modular reactors. Today’s meeting will deepen our relationship even further, reinforcing the UK’s energy security and delivering cleaner and affordable energy in the years ahead.”

The Prime Minister and Amir discussed the upcoming 2022 Qatar World Cup this winter, and the UK committed significant new military and counter-terrorism support for the safe running of the event. A joint UK-Qatar Typhoon Squadron will provide additional air security, and the Ministry of Defence with advanced venue search training and operational planning support.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that the UK will ensure Qatari nationals can access the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation system from early 2023, facilitating easier travel for business visitors and tourists.

ALSO READ-Lawmakers criticise ‘absence’ of Afghan evacuation plan