Latest news with #DavidLammy
The Guardian
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Cautious optimism in UK on progress to secure British-Egyptian dissident's release
The family of Alaa Abd el-Fattah have expressed cautious optimism that progress is being made to secure the British-Egyptian dissident's release after Keir Starmer, the UK prime minister, managed to secure a long-delayed phone call with the Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi in which the two leaders discussed improving UK-Egypt trade relations. The call coincided with a decision by Abd el-Fattah's 69-year-old mother Laila Soueif to ease her hunger strike in the hope diplomacy may work. She is on a glucose drip in St Thomas's hospital in London. Her decision came after discussions with doctors and her family. She has been on hunger strike for more than 270 days to secure improvement in Abd el-Fattah's jail conditions in Cairo or his release. The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, told MPs this week he was confident that the UK strategy to secure Abd el-Fattah's release was working, but did not give any further details to explain that view. In a readout of the Starmer phone call with Sisi, Downing Street said: 'Turning to the bilateral relationship between the UK and Egypt, the leaders underscored the potential to go further and faster on trade and investment to benefit both countries. 'The prime minister also raised the case of British national Alaa Abd el-Fattah and again pressed for his release so that he can be reunited with his family.' The fact that the British readout seemed to link improved trade ties to el-Fattah's release hinted at an effort to persuade Sisi that it would be in Egypt's economic interest to permit the release of the British-Egyptian dual national. It is the third phone call the UK prime minister has made to the Egyptian president in which he has raised the award-winning writer's imprisonment. In the Egyptian version of the call 'the two leaders emphasised the two countries' keenness on enhancing their bilateral relations across various fields, particularly in the economic and investment spheres'. Starmer said he looks forward to Sisi's acceptance of the invitation extended from the King to visit London. For his part, Sisi confirmed the invitation extended to the British prime minister to visit Egypt later this year. The two men also discussed a Gaza ceasefire. No mention of Abd el-Fattah is made in the Egyptian statement. Some MPs have been calling for the foreign office to change its travel advice in a bid to threaten the Egyptian economy with the loss of UK tourist income, but there has been tension inside the foreign office over whether threats or incentives will persuade Egypt's authoritarian leader that continued detention is damaging the Egyptian national interest. Soueif, a university professor and long-term campaigner for human rights in Egypt, has been in and out of hospital since she started her hunger strike, but her health has become critical over the past three weeks as her blood glucose levels dropped. Her daughter Sanaa posting on Facebook on Wednesday said her mother may be facing long-term mobility issues, explaining she fell twice yesterday. Sanaa wrote 'she was not sure she knows how to stand on her legs again and at her age it is hard to build muscle … The signs of course were very scary and mama was forced to use the wheelchair again but the tumour is getting better. Before the glucose bag, my mother's face was very warm and there was a block of water gathered around her eyes often described as Edema. |The tumour in her face and hands is almost completely gone and the rest of the body is less.' Soueif has been in and out of hospital since the start of her hunger strike and she has again agreed to a small glucose intake to improve her blood sugar levels. She continues to take no food. Labour MP Stella Creasyasked Lammy on Tuesday to give an assurance all options are being considered, including changing the travel advice to Egypt. The foreign secretary replied: 'This case and Laila's condition has concerned me greatly. It has been a top priority every week I have been in office at every single level – prime minister, foreign secretary, foreign minister and national security adviser – we are engaged with the Egyptians. I believe our strategy is working, but given Laila's health we must see progress at pace with the Egyptians.' Abd el-Fattah was arrested in September 2019, after he had already served five years for the so-called Shura council protest in November 2013, when dozens of activists were detained for demonstrating against military trials. In December 2021, after more than two years in detention, he was sentenced again – this time to five more years, accused of spreading false news for reposting a tweet about a detainee who died as a result of his torture in prison.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Campaigners welcome vaccine cash pledge but fear cut will see fewer lives saved
But now the Government has announced that it will give £1.25 billion between 2026 and 2030. While some have praised the pledge, others have said that a reduction in the amount given to Gavi will lead to fewer lives being saved. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said that the money will help Gavi protect up to 500 million children from some of the world's deadliest diseases such as meningitis, cholera and measles. Announcing the funds at Gavi's global summit in Brussels, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'Gavi's global impact is undeniable. Over one billion children vaccinated, over 18 million lives saved, over 250 billion dollars injected into the global economy. 'I'm immensely proud of the role the UK has played in reaching these milestones. Our ongoing partnership with Gavi will give millions of children a better start, save lives and protect us all from the spread of deadly diseases.' Commenting on the pledge, Adrian Lovett, the ONE Campaign's UK executive director, said: 'This is an important pledge from the UK to Gavi, a vital force in the fight against preventable disease. 'But despite this good news, we are seeing the harsh impact of the Prime Minister's deep cut to overall aid levels. 'The UK's contribution to Gavi could have saved almost 400,000 more lives if it had been maintained at the same level as before. And further impossible choices are looming.' Dr Philip Goodwin, chief executive for the UK Committee for Unicef, said: 'This investment shows the UK's ongoing commitment to global partnerships that protect children around the world from preventable disease. 'However, cuts to the aid budget still pose a grave threat to children. 'We urge the UK Government to maximise this Gavi commitment by also funding other critical health services that make immunisation fully effective.' Elsewhere, GSK and Bharat Biotech announced that the price of the world's first malaria vaccine for children in countries where malaria is endemic will be reduced by more than half, to less than five dollars a vaccine. The jab is expected to be rolled out in 12 endemic countries in Africa through routine immunisation programmes by the end of 2025. It comes as a new report revealed that global vaccination coverage against deadly diseases had stalled in recent decades. The new review, published in The Lancet, concludes that as a result, millions of children around the world are left vulnerable to preventable disease and death. Senior study author Dr Jonathan Mosser, from the University of Washington in the US, said: 'Routine childhood vaccinations are among the most powerful and cost-effective public health interventions available, but persistent global inequalities, challenges from the Covid pandemic, and the growth of vaccine misinformation and hesitancy have all contributed to faltering immunisation progress. 'These trends increase the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, polio and diphtheria.' In May the new aid minister, Baroness Jenny Chapman, said that the days of the British Government acting as a 'global charity' are 'over'. Her appointment followed the resignation of Anneliese Dodds, who quit as development minister in protest at the decision to cut the aid budget to fund increased defence spending.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Campaigners welcome vaccine cash pledge but fear cut will see fewer lives saved
The Government could have saved hundreds of thousands more lives if it had maintained the amount of money given to vaccinate children in the world's poorest countries, campaigners have claimed. In 2020, former prime minister Boris Johnson pledged £1.65 billion over five years to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. But now the Government has announced that it will give £1.25 billion between 2026 and 2030. While some have praised the pledge, others have said that a reduction in the amount given to Gavi will lead to fewer lives being saved. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said that the money will help Gavi protect up to 500 million children from some of the world's deadliest diseases such as meningitis, cholera and measles. Announcing the funds at Gavi's global summit in Brussels, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'Gavi's global impact is undeniable. Over one billion children vaccinated, over 18 million lives saved, over 250 billion dollars injected into the global economy. 'I'm immensely proud of the role the UK has played in reaching these milestones. Our ongoing partnership with Gavi will give millions of children a better start, save lives and protect us all from the spread of deadly diseases.' Commenting on the pledge, Adrian Lovett, the ONE Campaign's UK executive director, said: 'This is an important pledge from the UK to Gavi, a vital force in the fight against preventable disease. 'But despite this good news, we are seeing the harsh impact of the Prime Minister's deep cut to overall aid levels. 'The UK's contribution to Gavi could have saved almost 400,000 more lives if it had been maintained at the same level as before. And further impossible choices are looming.' Dr Philip Goodwin, chief executive for the UK Committee for Unicef, said: 'This investment shows the UK's ongoing commitment to global partnerships that protect children around the world from preventable disease. 'However, cuts to the aid budget still pose a grave threat to children. 'We urge the UK Government to maximise this Gavi commitment by also funding other critical health services that make immunisation fully effective.' Elsewhere, GSK and Bharat Biotech announced that the price of the world's first malaria vaccine for children in countries where malaria is endemic will be reduced by more than half, to less than five dollars a vaccine. The jab is expected to be rolled out in 12 endemic countries in Africa through routine immunisation programmes by the end of 2025. It comes as a new report revealed that global vaccination coverage against deadly diseases had stalled in recent decades. The new review, published in The Lancet, concludes that as a result, millions of children around the world are left vulnerable to preventable disease and death. Senior study author Dr Jonathan Mosser, from the University of Washington in the US, said: 'Routine childhood vaccinations are among the most powerful and cost-effective public health interventions available, but persistent global inequalities, challenges from the Covid pandemic, and the growth of vaccine misinformation and hesitancy have all contributed to faltering immunisation progress. 'These trends increase the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, polio and diphtheria.' In May the new aid minister, Baroness Jenny Chapman, said that the days of the British Government acting as a 'global charity' are 'over'. Her appointment followed the resignation of Anneliese Dodds, who quit as development minister in protest at the decision to cut the aid budget to fund increased defence spending.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Starmer's foreign aid cuts will lead to extra 365,000 deaths, campaigners warn
Sir Keir Starmer 's foreign aid cuts have led to a huge reduction in overseas vaccine funding that could lead to an extra 365,000 deaths by the end of the decade, campaigners have warned. Britain's contribution to the Gavi international vaccine alliance has been cut by a quarter after the prime minister slashed the international development budget to fund a defence spending hike. Aid charity, the ONE Campaign, said the 'harsh impact' of Sir Keir's cuts will lead to almost 400,000 additional deaths, less money to educate girls and an increase in deadly conflicts around the world. David Lammy on Wednesday confirmed the UK would plough £1.25bn into Gavi between now and 2030, which officials said would protect up to 500 million children from deadly diseases including meningitis, cholera and measles. 'Our ongoing partnership with Gavi will give millions of children a better start, save lives and protect us all from the spread of deadly diseases,' the foreign secretary said. But the £1.25bn investment marks a 25 per cent fall from the amount Britain offered between 2021 and 2025, even as a previous round of foreign aid cuts was being implemented. Campaigners had called on the government to at least match that sum for the 2026 to 2030 period. Calculations by the ONE Campaign showed that the £400m cut could lead to 365,000 extra deaths in the next five years and 23 million fewer children receiving vaccinations. ONE Campaign executive director Adrian Lovett said: 'We are seeing the harsh impact of the prime minister's deep cut to overall aid levels. 'The UK's contribution to Gavi could have saved almost 400,000 more lives if it had been maintained at the same level as before. 'And further impossible choices are looming. A reduced but still strong investment in Gavi, as welcome as it is, means less money to educate girls, fight for climate justice, and prevent deadly conflict around the world.' International development committee chair and senior Labour MP Sarah Champion said: 'With the US stepping back, I had hoped the UK would step up - not least as we are one of the founders of Gavi. 'Whilst I welcome the £1.25 billion pledge over five years, this funding is a 25% cut in cash terms – and more than 40% in real terms which will inevitably cost lives.' The prime minister slashed development spending from 0.5 per cent of GDP to 0.3 per cent - a reduction of around £6bn - earlier this year to fund plans to hike Britain's defence spending to 2.5 per cent of national income. The major cut to funding for the Gavi vaccine alliance is the first stark evidence of the implications of the reduction in funding. Development minister Jenny Chapman, who took over from Anneliese Dodds when she resigned over the cuts, said Britain was now taking a 'modern approach to development' and 'focusing on where we can have the biggest impact'. 'Our partnership with Gavi does just that. It will save the lives of millions of children around the world, to grow up safe from deadly diseases like cholera and measles. And it will make the world and the UK healthier and safer, helping prevent future pandemics,' Baroness Chapman said. Gavi chief executive Dr Sania Nishtar said: 'The United Kingdom is one of Gavi's longest and most committed partners. 'This pledge for our next strategic period reaffirms its status as a leader in global health and I am delighted that we will be able to count on its support in our next strategic period, working together and leveraging some of the best in British science and innovation as we save lives and fight outbreaks around the world.' As well as funding hundreds of millions of vaccine doses, officials said the UK's support would boost jobs at home due to partnerships with health giants such as GSK.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Starmer's Chagos deal faces new legal challenge
Sir Keir Starmer's deal to give away the Chagos Islands is facing a fresh legal challenge. Campaigners have launched a High Court judicial review, which aims to stop the Government from signing away the archipelago to Mauritius without consulting the Chagossian people. The case is expected to be heard next month and is being backed by the Great British PAC, which was also behind an injunction from the High Court last month. The Conservatives backed the judicial review on Wednesday night and said the Chagos deal was a 'damning indictment of Keir Starmer'. The deal, which will cost British taxpayers up to £30 billion, means the Government will have to give notice if it plans to launch an attack from the joint Diego Garcia UK-US military base. The Great British PAC said the High Court case would be led by James Tumbridge, a barrister, and Philip Rule KC. The case is expected to directly challenge David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, for 'excluding Chagossians from a process that directly impacts their land, identity and future'. Misley Mandarin, who is bringing the legal challenge alongside his father Michel Mandarin, is an Army veteran who came to Britain 23 years ago as a British citizen. Michel Mandarin told The Telegraph: 'We are not Mauritian, we are Chagossian. The Government cannot lawfully decide our fate without us.' The claimants will argue that any agreement struck behind closed doors, without input from the Chagossians, is not only unjust but unlawful. The case is set to cite failures under the Equality Act and a duty to consult under common law as well as international legislation, including protections under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: 'British Chagossians have been neglected and betrayed by the Labour Government as part of their £30bn Chagos surrender treaty. 'In their desperation to follow the whims of their Left-wing lawyer and activist friends, Keir Starmer and David Lammy have ignored the British national interest, betrayed British Chagossians and left British taxpayers picking up a £30bn bill. 'It's also a damning indictment of Keir Starmer – a man who boasts of his time as a human rights lawyer – that serious questions have been raised about how he treated British Chagossians.' Sir Keir has repeatedly insisted the Chagos deal represents value for money and has warned British national security would have been at risk had he not signed it. He announced the agreement to give away the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on May 22 despite concerns about how the deal could harm the UK's national security. The Telegraph disclosed last week that once the deal comes into force, Britain will be required to inform Mauritius about any future air strikes on Iran because of Sir Keir's deal. When the agreement was first announced in October, it was heralded by Mr Lammy as proof that Britain upholds its commitments under international law. Sir Keir and Mr Lammy have both claimed that, if Britain had not agreed to give the islands away, it would have been weeks before Mauritius began a successful legal challenge. They said this would have endangered Diego Garcia and put British and American control of the base at risk. Ownership of the Chagos Islands, known officially as the British Indian Ocean Territory, has long been disputed in the international courts. Multiple findings, including one by the United Nations, have claimed ongoing British ownership of the territory was unlawful. The US government, under previous administrations, has actively sought to resolve the issue to protect its assets in the Indian Ocean. In an article for The Telegraph last month, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said Diego Garcia acted as a necessary 'launchpad to defeat terrorists'. Claire Bullivant, the chief executive of the Great British PAC, said: 'This is not just a legal challenge – it's a moral reckoning. 'The UK Government cannot in good conscience or lawful practice sign away the homeland of the Chagossian people without first speaking to them. To exclude them yet again is to rewrite history with the same pen of injustice. 'The Great British PAC stands firmly behind this challenge because true democracy demands consultation, not quiet deals behind closed doors.'
