Politics

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Greens to launch LGBTIQA+ manifesto in church

28 April 2017

* Greens commit to making LGBTIQA+ refugees welcome, decent HIV prevention, and rights for all gender identities

* Launch in church sets clear distance between Greens and Lib Dems

* Jonathan Bartley: “While other political parties struggle to say what they believe, Greens are clear – we will always stand up for LGBTIQA+ people”

The Green Party will commit to supporting LGBTIQA+ asylum seekers at the launch of its LGBTIQA+ manifesto tomorrow (Friday 28 April).

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader, and Aimee Challenor, LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, will also set out the party’s commitment to ensuring HIV prevention drug PrEP is provided by the NHS, and putting trans and intersex recognition and rights in law.

Setting clear distance between themselves and the Lib Dems, Bartley and Challenor will launch the manifesto in The Trinity United Reform Church in Camden.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, is expected to say:

“The Green Party has a proud history of leading the way when it comes to LGBTIQA+ rights. While other political parties struggle to say what they believe, Greens are clear – we will always stand up for LGBTIQA+ people.

“We believe in a fairer world, a more equal economy, human rights protected by law, recognition and representation for all gender identities and education and health services which care for and include everyone.”

Aimee Challenor, Green Party LGBTIQA+ spokesperson, who is the only openly trans spokesperson of a UK Political Party, is expected to say:

“Let’s be clear, LGBTIQA+ rights are under threat. From Gay and Bi men being tortured and killed in Chechnya, to Donald Trump weakening protections in the US and the UK’s threat to repeal the Human Rights Act, 2017 has already been a concerning year for everyone who cares about LGBTIQA+ people.

“The Green Party is proud to stand against the erosion of LGBITQA+ rights and launch a manifesto which proudly fights for bodily autonomy for intersex people, legal recognition for trans and non-binary people, for PrEP for all that need it, and for greater protection for LGBTIQA+ asylum seekers – and more.”

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Green Party •

Four young Welsh experts to represent UK in the world’s largest Global Skills competition

Joseph Massey, 23, from Coleg Cambria; Alfie Hopkin, 18, from Llanelli, Elizabeth Forkuoh, 20, from Llanelli and Ethan Davies, 21, from Mynydd Isa have been recognised as the UK’s most highly skilled young people in their industry, and will travel almost 5,000 miles to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) to compete against the best students, apprentices and employees in the world.

Held every two years, WorldSkills International sees more than one thousand young people, aged 18 to 25, come together from seventy-seven countries to compete for medals in fifty-one skill competitions, including CNC Milling, Restaurant Service, Web Design and Aeronautical Engineering.

As part of Team UK, these four Welsh youngsters will showcase their skills by demonstrating their technical abilities in specific tasks, which they study or conduct in their workplace, over the course of six days.

Elizabeth said: 

“WorldSkills has enabled me to travel the UK and receive training from some of the best restaurants in the country. For example I’ve trained at the Ritz and Michel Roux Jnr’s two Michelin star restaurant, where they actually offered me a job!

“I’m so excited to be able to compete on an international level, it’s something I’ve dreamed about for years now and I can hardly believe I’ll be going. Being part of the competition is such an amazing experience. From the people I’ve met and the new skills I’ve learnt, to the places I’ve travelled to and worked in, none of it would have been possible without WorldSkills.”

Joseph, Alfie, Elizabeth and Ethan were invited to compete in the selection process after excelling at the Skills Competition Wales and WorldSkills UK National Competitions, the finals of which take place at The Skills Show each November.

Backed by the Welsh Government through the European Social Fund, these competitions promote the importance of developing a highly skilled workforce and world-class individuals. 

Minister for Skills and Science, Julie James said: 

“Congratulations to all four competitors on their way to represent the nation. The number of Welsh members in Team UK is a testament not only to their hard work and determination but also the support from their families, and training from Welsh colleges, training providers and employers.

“Wales has been competing in WorldSkills for many years and has nurtured some of the most highly-skilled young people in a range of industries. Taking part in WorldSkills competitions enables the whole of Wales to benefit. Not only do competitors return to the country to inspire others to follow in their footsteps but they also bring their knowledge and experience to the workplace, helping develop skills and setting high industry standards. 

“However, the journey neither starts nor ends with WorldSkills international – there is a cycle of programme development behind Welsh involvement in competitions which allows colleges and training providers to benchmark and quality assure themselves against the best in the world, encouraging continuous professional development and raising our teaching standards. We wish Joseph, Alfie, Elizabeth and Ethan good luck in Abu Dhabi and look forward to following their journey.”

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Welsh Government •

Tory Government had failed to invest in the North

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on the TUC’s analysis which shows that if current trends continue the north-south divide will grow, said:

“It’s a stark exposure of seven years of Tory economic failure that the regions which are left behind in government investment are consistently those in the north of England.

“Labour will overturn our rigged economy by creating a Bank of the North to invest in the jobs of the future and that will stand up for the many not the few when it comes to government investment.”

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Labour •

This is the third time that the Government have lost in the courts on the issue of air quality – Sue Hayman

Responding to the Government losing its court bid to delay publication of its air quality plan, Sue Hayman MP Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:

“Labour welcome the High Court decision today.

“This is the third time that the Government have lost in the courts on the issue of air quality. They must now publish their air quality plan without further delay.

“A Labour government would bring forward a new Clean Air Act, setting out how we would tackle air pollution that NHS experts say contributes to 40,000 premature deaths every year. 

“While the Conservatives shirk responsibility, Labour will deal with the dirty air damaging the lives of millions of British people.”

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Labour •

Press release: Northern Ireland Act 2017 receives Royal Assent

The Act sets a Regional Rate for Northern Ireland in 2017-18 and allows an Executive to be formed before the 29 June deadline.

The Northern Ireland (Ministerial Appointments and Regional Rates) Act 2017, introduced by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last week, has today received Royal Assent.

The Act sets a Regional Rate for Northern Ireland in 2017-18, removes a legal barrier to the formation of an Executive and provides an extension to the period in which a new Executive could be formed.

Welcoming the news, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt. Hon. James Brokenshire MP, said:

This legislation provides the flexibility for an incoming Government to act in the best interests of Northern Ireland and the space for an Executive to be formed before the 29 June deadline.

All the parties involved recognise it is vital that devolved government, and all of the institutions established under the Belfast Agreement and its successors, resumes in Northern Ireland as soon as possible.

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HM Government