Jun132017

New MPs demand Sturgeon faces up to indyref2 reality

Scottish Conservatives
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13 Jun 2017

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The new group of Scottish Conservative MPs have today issued a joint statement urging Nicola Sturgeon to face reality on a second independence referendum.

The 13 MPs told her to admit the bid to break up Britain had failed, and instead focus on the day job of running the country.

The joint statement from Scottish Conservative MPs stated:

“Since June last year, Nicola Sturgeon has focused solely on independence and how she can force a second referendum on Scotland.

“During that time, we have seen the damage it has caused. It has created uncertainty, damaged prospects for Scottish business and held our economy back.

“It has been the first and only priority for her government – with a high price paid by people across our country.

“Because of the SNP obsession on independence, our school system is letting down a generation of children, and our NHS is struggling.

“Most recently, she chose to put independence ‘at the heart’ of the general election.

“The prospect of a second referendum alarmed the majority of Scots who do not want to face another painful period of upheaval and division.

“She asked them to vote on it – and the SNP lost 21 seats and half a million votes. It was a damning verdict.

“Unless we present a united front to the EU, Nicola Sturgeon will disrupt our negotiations. And unless she gets back to the day job, Scotland will continue to pay a high price.

“So she needs to end her denial, listen to what the people of Scotland have said and face up to the reality.

“She needs to look the Scottish people in the eye and tell them she has given up on a second independence referendum.

“Unless and until she does, she is putting her party ahead of her country – and we will not stand for it.”

Jun132017

Joint African action crucial to protect persons with albinism from violence, highlights UN expert

United Nations
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13 June 2017 – Highlighting the importance of cooperation among countries to overcome the violence and discrimination faced by persons with albinism, a United Nations rights expert has urged African nations to fully implement a regional action plan on ending attacks on persons with albinism.

&#8220The plan sets out clearly what States can do &#8211 for example educating the public, collecting data and researching the root causes of the violence,&#8221 said the UN Independent Expert on human rights of persons with albinism, Ikponwosa Ero, in her message for International Albinism Awareness Day.

The regional action plan to end attacks on persons with albinism in Africa &#8211 the first-ever such joint initiative &#8211 was recently endorsed by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. It includes 15 practical steps which are expected to go a long way in addressing the persisting and deadly challenge.

&#8220International cooperation will be a turning point in the long battle to end discrimination for people with albinism, some of whom continue to be murdered for their body parts,&#8221 added Ms. Ero.

According to a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the action plan focuses on ensuring accountability as well as support for victims and uses legal and policy frameworks to deter practices of witchcraft and trafficking in body parts.

Further, Ms. Ero underscored that persons with albinism also face significant barriers restricting their equal participation in society, impacting their rights to enjoy physical and mental health and their ability to access adequate health care, education, social services, legal protection, and redress for abuses.

In particular, women and children face violence, suffer from discrimination, stigma and social exclusion, forced into becoming marginalized within their communities and face social exclusion caused by misunderstanding, deeply entrenched prejudices and stereotyping.

‘We cannot underestimate the importance of joint action’ &#8211 UN Independent Expert

&#8220We cannot rest until we have seen change in people’s lives and tackled the root causes of the current situation,&#8221 she said, calling everyone concerned to be bold and to persevere to ensure that all people with albinism enjoy their full human rights.

&#8220We cannot underestimate the importance of joint action […] we advance together, with renewed hope inspired by the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’ which is at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.&#8221

Ms. Ero’s statement has been endorsed by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights; the UN Special Rapporteur on physical and mental health, Dainius Pûras; the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, Mutuma Ruteere; the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Ms. Catalina Devandas Aguilar; and the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Agnes Callamard.

Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

In December 2014, the UN General Assembly designated 13 June as the International Albinism Awareness Day to draw attention to the stigma and violence that persons with albinism everywhere in the world.

Jun132017

News story: CMA accepts gyms merger undertakings

HM Government
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The CMA has accepted proposals by David Lloyd to resolve concerns over its proposed purchase of Virgin Active gyms in Brighton and Brentwood.

Last month, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found competition concerns in these 2 locations because the companies’ gyms are situated close to each other and would face limited competition from other operators after the acquisition.

The CMA was concerned that the purchase could have resulted in higher prices or a worse deal for gym users in these areas. David Lloyd proposed not to purchase these gyms, which will instead remain under Virgin Active ownership.

David Lloyd originally proposed to purchase 16 Virgin Active gyms in total. The CMA has found no competition concerns in the other areas affected.

After consulting formally, the CMA believes the concerns have been addressed and has accepted these proposals.

All information relating to this investigation can be found on the case page.

Jun132017

Today’s further rise in inflation is deeply worrying, and once again shows how the Tories’ seven years of failed economic policy means working people are losing out – McDonnell

Labour
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John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to today’s inflation figures, said:

“Today’s further rise in inflation is deeply worrying, and once again shows how the Tories’ seven years of failed economic policy means working people are losing out, with wages lagging behind prices since the Tories came to power.
“Young people in particular, are suffering from a widening pay gap between the under and over-24s – increased by age distinctions in the Tories’ so-called National Living Wage.

“And after seven wasted years of Tory economic failure with real wages falling behind prices, and living standards being squeezed, working people in our country simply cannot afford more of the same from Theresa May and her party.

“Only a Labour government will ensure working people’s living standards are protected with a real Living Wage of £10 per hour, and immediate end to austerity spending cuts. At a time when the government is in total disarray, if they will not act then they need to stand aside and let a Labour government build an economy that works for the many, not the few.”

Jun132017

The Prime Minister must not gamble with people’s jobs and livelihoods

Welsh Government
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The First Minister said the outcome of the General Election means the UK Government has no mandate to put barriers in the way of continued full and unfettered access to the Single Market and has called on the Prime Minister to convene an urgent meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee to agree the UK’s Brexit negotiating position. 

The First Minister has also said the JMC meeting should include the leaders of the Democratic Unionist Party and of Sinn Fein, even if such a meeting takes place before the formation of a new Northern Ireland Executive.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: 

““It is clear from the election that the UK Government has no mandate for the ‘hard Brexit’ championed by the Prime Minister.

 “The Prime Minister has already lost one gamble. I will not allow her to gamble with the Welsh economy and with people’s jobs and livelihoods. She must now listen to what we have been saying from the outset; full and unfettered access to the Single Market is central to Wales’ – and the UK’s – future prosperity and must be our first priority in the forthcoming negotiations. 

“The leaders across Great Britain  and Northern Ireland must meet face-to-face to jointly consider how to take forward the Brexit process.  This is why we urgently need a meeting of the JMC.

“I have made repeatedly clear my Government’s willingness to work with the UK Government and the devolved administrations to agree common approaches – through discussion, not diktat – to prevent friction within our own internal market.

“If the Prime Minister accepts this approach, she will find us reliable and constructive partners.  If she does not – and, instead, attempts to ride roughshod over devolution and impose a more monolithic and centralised UK upon the devolved nations, we will have no choice but to oppose such steps. 

“I have told her bluntly, this is a fight which she does not need.

“Later this week, we will publish a paper on our proposals for responding creatively to the challenges Brexit poses for the devolved nations and the future governance of the UK.” 

 

The First Minister also questioned whether the Brexit deal would now be possible during the two year deadline because of the current political situation. 

He added::

“Given the uncertainty following the General Election, it will be impossible to both negotiate a withdrawal agreement and put in place the basis for a future relationship with the EU within two years. This means it is essential we agree within the UK now, and seek the agreement of our EU partners early in negotiations, the form of transitional arrangements to come into effect in April 2019.”