Apr132017
The workshop on the review of the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) concluded here today, on a high note with fruitful discussions and inputs from all stakeholders. The two-day workshop was organised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Apr132017
13 April 2017
The Tories have been responsible for many cruel welfare policies. The bedroom tax is an example of this.
But the recently introduced 'rape clause' is possibly the cruellest of them all.
Under Tory plans, tax credits will be limited to just two children. That means that if a woman conceives a child as a result of rape, she will have to fill in an eight-page form to claim an exemption from the two child tax credit limit.
Think about that. After suffering a horrific violent attack, a woman would then be put through the ordeal of having to apply to the government for the support that she is entitled to.
Labour is completely opposed to this policy, and we will continue to make the case against it.
But Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson isn't against it. Yesterday she used social media to reveal that she supported it. You can read that tweet here.
It's a shameful position to adopt. But it should also act as an eye-opening moment for those who think that Ruth Davidson is a different kind of Tory.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has today written to Ms Davidson, challenging her to stand up to the Prime Minister and oppose this cruel policy.
Here's the text of Kez's letter:
Dear Ruth,
Across Scotland and the UK there is growing anger at the inhumane rape clause – a morally bankrupt piece of legislation your party has introduced in its continued campaign to dismantle our valuable welfare state.
Your government is cutting vital social security to the disabled, the poor, the low paid and to children across the UK.
And now you are asking women who have been raped to fill in an eight-page form to claim the money they need to help feed and clothe their child – just because he or she is their third baby.
You are asking traumatised women who have in all likelihood never reported the rape – especially if the perpetrator was their husband – to state that their child was the result of a criminal act or that child gets no tax credit support.
This is, without doubt, one of the cruellest policies a Tory government has ever implemented.
People in Scotland – and in the rest of the UK – have been led to believe that you are a different kind of Tory; that you are not cut from uncaring Thatcherite cloth. They believe this because of your defence of Britain’s place in Europe and because you have in the past criticised your own party’s policies and its leaders.
You took Theresa May to task over her plans to scrap the ECHR, you are one of the few pro-immigrant politicians in your party, you spoke out about massive cuts to tax credits planned by David Cameron and George Osborne. So why the silence now?
It has been two days since I publicly asked you to give your personal view on this issue, yet you continue to hide behind your spokesperson.
The rape clause should shame every single Tory MSP.
Surely it is time to once again tell your colleagues in Westminster that you do not agree with them.
There is cross-party support against this policy in Westminster and Holyrood. Why don’t you join with us and condemn this appalling act?
Yours sincerely,
Kezia Dugdale
Scottish Labour leader
We'll update this blog post whenever Kez receives a response from Ruth Davidson.
Apr132017
Liberal Democrats: Listening to Business
Apr132017
It is a tremendous honour to represent Her Majesty the Queen at this Sovereign’s Parade – and for Philip and me to be able to share this very special day with you and all your families.
For over 2 centuries, Sandhurst has been the ultimate training ground for the best of the best – preparing the future leaders of our armed forces – and those of many of our allies around the world.
And that is what you are: the best of the best.
For graduating today are 163 of Britain’s finest officer cadets – and 27 of the finest from 14 countries – stretching from Ukraine to Ghana, and from Malaysia to the United States of America.
Indeed for those of you who came to Britain for the first time, I have to admit we could have given you a warmer welcome than 44 weeks swimming in the coldest waters, hiking across the Black Mountains, conducting live fire exercises in Bavaria and completing the most gruelling and demanding course that any officer cadet could ever have to endure.
But the fact you all came through it is testament to your courage and resilience. So you and your families should be exceptionally proud of everything you have achieved.
We should also pay tribute to the outstanding instructors and staff of the academy who have educated and trained you, and prepared you for this very special day.
As you follow in the footsteps of generations of great military leaders, it is right of course that some things have changed since those first officer cadets passed out of Sandhurst and went on to the Battle of Waterloo.
For example, 2 hundred years ago there would not have been any female cadets among your number. But among today’s cohort is the first ever Bahraini woman to graduate – the grand-daughter of Bahrain’s Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Sheikh Khalifa, who is here with us today.
And also a constituent of mine who will be the first ever female officer to serve in the Royal Tank Regiment – a direct result of the decision to enable women to serve in the combat arms – something of which we should all be incredibly proud.
The world into which you all now enter is also very different from that which confronted many of your predecessors. The threats we face today are more complex than ever before. And the missions that you will be asked to undertake will be similarly complex.
But for all the differences of the modern world, I believe that 3 tenets endure.
The first is the vital importance of our armed forces.
Whether it is the Royal Air Force flying missions against Daesh over the skies of Syria and Iraq, the Royal Navy protecting our sea lanes in the Gulf, or the British Army playing a leading role in UN peacekeeping missions in Somalia and South Sudan, our military hard power is fundamental to keeping our people safe.
That is why in Britain we will continue to meet our NATO commitment to invest 2% of our GDP in our armed forces and we will continue to honour the military covenant – doing everything possible to support you and your families at every stage of your career.
Just last week I was in Jordan seeing the work British forces are doing right now to train the Jordanian military so that they can secure their borders against the threat of Daesh from Syria. While last year I met soldiers on Salisbury Plain who were prepared for deployment as part of NATO’s high readiness forces.
And I can tell you that nothing fills me with more admiration and gratitude than the exceptional commitment of our armed forces – and their families, who are such a critical part of that sacrifice and service to our country.
So as Prime Minister I want to say very clearly on behalf of the whole country – we will always stand proudly behind you.
The second tenet is the importance of working closely with our allies.
In a world in which many threats to our security no longer recognise traditional geographical borders, our ability to keep our people safe is directly related to the strength of the alliances that we have formed across the world.
As Britain leaves the European Union, I have been clear that I want us to build a new deep and special partnership between Britain and the European Union – a partnership of values, interests and co-operation in areas such as security. So we will play our part to ensure that Europe is able to project its values and defend itself from security threats.
At the same time I want us to become a truly global Britain – going out into the world to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike.
The friendships you have made during your time here will provide the foundations on which many of these crucial alliances will be sustained – and they are fundamentally important to our shared future.
The third tenet is the critical importance of the character and leadership skills that you have developed at Sandhurst. For in the end, the success of our armed forces depends on the people in them.
It was that character and leadership that led a former Sandhurst graduate, the now retired Captain Michael Crofts, to act with such bravery tending to the victims at the scene of the appalling terrorist attack in Westminster last month. And it is that character and leadership that we have seen time and again, on every battlefield and in every conflict where graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst have led their fellow men and women to risk their lives in the service of others.
Military capability and tactical brilliance will always be essential but they will not alone suffice.
For you must also remain true to the values that you have learnt – responsibility, community and fairness together with duty, selflessness and social consciousness – values that define the greatest leaders.
So as you go on from here, take pride in all you have achieved – and take strength from the friendships you have built and from the love and support of your families.
But above all, as you march up the steps from this famous square, take confidence from the values that you hold, remain humble about the trust that will be placed in you; and resolve to live by the motto of this great academy – ‘Serve To Lead’.
Apr132017
At a moving service yesterday at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, France, a new headstone was dedicated to Lieutenant William Frederick MacHutchison, originally from Belfast. The service was arranged by the MOD’s Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCCC) and led by the Reverend Justin Bradbury, Regimental Chaplain, The Queen’s Royal Hussars.
William Frederick MacHutchison was born in Belfast on 16 October 1893, and was the son of John and Jane MacHutchison. He had 2 brothers, George and John, and 1 sister, Mary. William was educated at St. Andrew’s College, Dublin and went on to work for the Honk Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).
William saw extensive service during World War 1. He enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1915 and joined the 7th battalion in Egypt. He ended up spending 2 months at the Red Cross hospital in Giza after contracting a severe stomach infection. He re-joined his battalion in Mudros, where they moved on to Salonika. At this point he was appointed Acting Quartermaster sergeant to 30th battalion Infantry Brigade HQ. After spending time in Malta, William received a gunshot wound at Struma Valley in the Balkans in late 1916, which meant he was transferred back to the UK.
It wasn’t until November 1917 that he was declared well enough to return to action, where he joined the 8/9th battalion in France. When the 8/9th battalion were disbanded in February 1918, he became part of the newly formed 1st battalion. On the 27 March 1918, William was injured during fighting at Morcourt. He was taken to the nearest dressing station at Lamotte, where he tragically passed away a few days later.
William’s burial place had remained unknown, until the grave of an unknown Lieutenant buried in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery was brought to the attention of the Ministry of Defence. After extensive historical research into this unknown grave and the circumstances surrounding Lawrence’s death, it has been confirmed by the MOD’s JCCC that this grave is that of Lieutenant William Frederick MacHutchison.
The great niece of Lieutenant MacHutchison, Sandra Harper, was able to attend the service with her son, Colin, and said:
It was a very monumental occasion and something I never envisaged would happen. I feel privileged and honoured to have attended something I felt I had to do for generations gone.
Rev Justin Bradbury said:
To make this pilgrimage in holy week to enable others to honour the memory of Lieutenant MacHutchison has been a singular privilege.
Nicola Nash, from the MOD Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCCC), said:
This service was made especially poignant by having Lieutenant MacHutchison’s great niece, Sandra, and great great nephew present. They had travelled from Belfast for the ceremony. It is lovely to have so many nationalities buried together in such a beautiful ceremony.