Latest news with #StephenDoughty
North Wales Live
08-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Cures for warts, toothache and hangovers can be found at new North Wales garden
Need a natural remedy for warts? Or a hangover cure? Suffering from toothache and can't reach a dentist? A new facility in Gwynedd aims to provide solutions. The Welsh Herbal Garden celebrates the fascinating folklore surrounding medicinal plants used in Wales through the ages. Visitors will be able to discover the history of plants and learn about remedies such as drinking distilled red rose petals for toothache. The half-acre site has been built by Bangor University at 45-acre Treborth Botanic Garden, Bangor. It will be officially opened during a National Garden Scheme open event on Sunday, July 13 (see details below). The garden's planting scheme will tell the story of how people in Wales used plants to treat all manner of ailments. It will celebrate the medieval Physicians of Myddfai, a Carmarthenshire family who used herbal remedies for five centuries and were pioneers of modern medicine. Plants on show will include saffron, a multi-use plant used as a 'sobering tonic'. The ancient Greeks hailed it as a stomach remedy, the Egyptians dissolved it in water to treat cataracts. Both the Romans and Persians swore by it as an aphrodisiac. Humble apple trees have also been planted. Apple cider vinegar is thought to work on warts because of its acidic nature, exfoliating dead skin cells and possibly stimulating a localised immune response. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now The garden will be used by students at the university's North Wales Medical School as a teaching resource to reflect modern and historical plant medicine. The school's head, Prof Stephen Doughty, said the facility will complement a new pharmacy programme being launched in the coming year. Garden designer Nicola Oakey said plants are deeply connected to Welsh history and heritage. 'That's why it was so important that we used local materials in the garden,' she said. 'The slate helps us to tell that story and creates a garden that feels absolutely 'right' in its setting.' Taking inspiration from the Welsh landscape, the design centres around two circular seating spaces, connected by curving pathways. Raised drystone planters provide seating, enabling visitors to get up close with plants. Its Welsh Slate centrepiece, installed by Kehoe Countryside, comprises a 2.5-metre circular mural of pavers. Made using Penrhyn Heather Blue riven slate, it was supplied by Cerrig Granite and Slate. Pitched slate pathways were also installed over a period of six months, with seating comprising of locally-made timber benches. Kehoe contract manager Celyn Kehoe said the design showcased traditional skills. 'The centrepiece was very well made and easy to assemble,' she said. 'The traditional pitching and walling was more time consuming – but the slate looks great in place, and is a real asset to the garden.' The university-owned Treborth Botanic Garden is opening for the National Garden Scheme on Sunday, July 13, 2pm-5pm. Entry is £4 (children go free). Places can be booked online here or you can pay on the day. The Welsh Herbal Garden is being officially opened at 3pm.
JAMnews
04-07-2025
- Politics
- JAMnews
UK Foreign Secretary: 'I am concerned about the sentencing of several opposition figures in Georgia'
Stephen Doughty on sanctions against Georgian Dream 'We do not comment on or speculate about possible future sanctions [against the Georgian government], as doing so could undermine their effectiveness,' said UK Minister for Europe, North America, and the Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty in response to a question from MP James McCleary. Doughty added that he is seriously concerned about the recent sentencing of several Georgian opposition figures. Question from James McCleary: 'To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of Bidzina Ivanishvili and his affiliates on support for Georgian democracy; and whether he is considering sanctions.' Answer from Stephen Doughty: 'I am seriously concerned by the recent sentences imposed on several prominent Georgian opposition figures including Mr Japaridze, Mr Khazaradze and Mr Vashadze. These were blatantly politically-motivated, and aimed at blocking political opposition from future elections. On 23 June I called on Georgian Dream to end its misuse of the courts to silence dissent, and free all political prisoners. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) summoned the Georgian Chargé d'Affaires on 30 June, to make clear the UK's firm opposition to Georgia's increasingly harmful trajectory. We continue to keep the worsening situation under close review, and on 1 July I spoke with a number of European partners to discuss our collective concerns. I have consistently expressed my serious concerns about Georgia's deteriorating democratic trajectory, which has adversely affected UK-Georgia bilateral relations. Any assessment of the current situation must also take into account Mr Ivanishvili's and his affiliates' influence on Georgia's political landscape. The UK's support for the Georgian people's Euro-Atlantic aspirations remains steadfast, and we stand ready to assist in any return to a trajectory towards European values and democratic norms. We do not comment on or speculate about future sanctions designations in any context, as to do so could reduce their effectiveness.' News in Georgia
Glasgow Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Labour urged to ‘have courage' to trigger vote on Chagos deal
The Government won a vote in the Lords on Monday, when 205 peers struck down a Tory bid to reject the treaty which cedes control of the archipelago to Mauritius. But the Conservative Party's shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti has called for a similar vote in the Commons. 'With the 21-day Crag (Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010) process about to conclude, it is a disgrace that Labour have breached the parliamentary conventions and denied this House a meaningful debate and vote on ratification,' she told MPs. To accompany the treaty, MPs will need to sign off on a Bill to wind up the current governance of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The treaty will only come into force once the legislation is 'in place', according to the Government. Yesterday dozens of Chagossians came to Parliament to tell us how they feel let down, neglected and betrayed by Labour's £30bn Chagos Surrender Treaty. Labour are denying them their rights and blocking the House of Commons from a meaningful debate and vote! @CllrABClarkson — Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) July 1, 2025 Dame Priti added: 'Having a vote on the Bill is not the same as voting on the treaty under Crag. Earlier this week, the House of Lords – the other place – had a debate and vote where the Lib Dems sided with Labour in backing this £30 billion surrender treaty, which is subsidising tax cuts in Mauritius. 'So, why can't we have a debate and vote in this House? What are ministers afraid of? 'Are they afraid that their backbenchers, now worried about benefit cuts and the impact of unpopular tax rises, will question why so much money is being handed over for a territory that we own and force them into another embarrassing U-turn?' Dame Priti urged ministers to 'scrap this treaty or at least have the courage to bring it here for a proper debate, full scrutiny, and finally, a vote in this House'. Treaties are laid before Parliament before they are ratified, but there is no requirement for a debate or vote. Peers in their vote, which Conservative shadow Foreign Office minister Lord Callanan triggered, agreed not to reject the treaty by 205 votes to 185, majority 20. Stephen Doughty said he was disappointed by the shadow foreign secretary's tone (House of Commons/UK Parliament) Responding, Stephen Doughty told the Commons he was 'disappointed by the tone' of Dame Priti's comments. 'I don't know who writes this stuff,' the Foreign Office minister said. 'I don't know whether it's just performative politics or rhetoric, I don't know what. 'But I should point out that I have received and answered over 100 written parliamentary questions from (Dame Priti), I've answered over 250 questions on this deal and the process in total. 'We've had no less than six urgent questions in this House. We have had two statements from this Government by the Foreign Secretary (David Lammy) and the Defence Secretary (John Healey). 'I personally briefed (Dame Priti) and answered many of her questions in my office just a couple of weeks ago in good faith and in detail, and indeed, I was subjected – quite rightly – to robust scrutiny not only from the Foreign Affairs Committee of this House, but also from the International Relations and Defence Committee in the other House, and indeed the International Arrangements Committee in great detail on these issues.' Mr Doughty said a Bill would follow 'in due course' but added the deal with Mauritius, presented to Parliament in May, 'secures' the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, 'secures our national security and that of our allies'.
South Wales Argus
02-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Labour urged to ‘have courage' to trigger vote on Chagos deal
The Government won a vote in the Lords on Monday, when 205 peers struck down a Tory bid to reject the treaty which cedes control of the archipelago to Mauritius. But the Conservative Party's shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti has called for a similar vote in the Commons. 'With the 21-day Crag (Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010) process about to conclude, it is a disgrace that Labour have breached the parliamentary conventions and denied this House a meaningful debate and vote on ratification,' she told MPs. To accompany the treaty, MPs will need to sign off on a Bill to wind up the current governance of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The treaty will only come into force once the legislation is 'in place', according to the Government. Yesterday dozens of Chagossians came to Parliament to tell us how they feel let down, neglected and betrayed by Labour's £30bn Chagos Surrender Treaty. Labour are denying them their rights and blocking the House of Commons from a meaningful debate and vote! @CllrABClarkson — Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) July 1, 2025 Dame Priti added: 'Having a vote on the Bill is not the same as voting on the treaty under Crag. Earlier this week, the House of Lords – the other place – had a debate and vote where the Lib Dems sided with Labour in backing this £30 billion surrender treaty, which is subsidising tax cuts in Mauritius. 'So, why can't we have a debate and vote in this House? What are ministers afraid of? 'Are they afraid that their backbenchers, now worried about benefit cuts and the impact of unpopular tax rises, will question why so much money is being handed over for a territory that we own and force them into another embarrassing U-turn?' Dame Priti urged ministers to 'scrap this treaty or at least have the courage to bring it here for a proper debate, full scrutiny, and finally, a vote in this House'. Treaties are laid before Parliament before they are ratified, but there is no requirement for a debate or vote. Peers in their vote, which Conservative shadow Foreign Office minister Lord Callanan triggered, agreed not to reject the treaty by 205 votes to 185, majority 20. Stephen Doughty said he was disappointed by the shadow foreign secretary's tone (House of Commons/UK Parliament) Responding, Stephen Doughty told the Commons he was 'disappointed by the tone' of Dame Priti's comments. 'I don't know who writes this stuff,' the Foreign Office minister said. 'I don't know whether it's just performative politics or rhetoric, I don't know what. 'But I should point out that I have received and answered over 100 written parliamentary questions from (Dame Priti), I've answered over 250 questions on this deal and the process in total. 'We've had no less than six urgent questions in this House. We have had two statements from this Government by the Foreign Secretary (David Lammy) and the Defence Secretary (John Healey). 'I personally briefed (Dame Priti) and answered many of her questions in my office just a couple of weeks ago in good faith and in detail, and indeed, I was subjected – quite rightly – to robust scrutiny not only from the Foreign Affairs Committee of this House, but also from the International Relations and Defence Committee in the other House, and indeed the International Arrangements Committee in great detail on these issues.' Mr Doughty said a Bill would follow 'in due course' but added the deal with Mauritius, presented to Parliament in May, 'secures' the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, 'secures our national security and that of our allies'.
Western Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Labour urged to ‘have courage' to trigger vote on Chagos deal
The Government won a vote in the Lords on Monday, when 205 peers struck down a Tory bid to reject the treaty which cedes control of the archipelago to Mauritius. But the Conservative Party's shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti has called for a similar vote in the Commons. 'With the 21-day Crag (Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010) process about to conclude, it is a disgrace that Labour have breached the parliamentary conventions and denied this House a meaningful debate and vote on ratification,' she told MPs. To accompany the treaty, MPs will need to sign off on a Bill to wind up the current governance of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The treaty will only come into force once the legislation is 'in place', according to the Government. Yesterday dozens of Chagossians came to Parliament to tell us how they feel let down, neglected and betrayed by Labour's £30bn Chagos Surrender Treaty. Labour are denying them their rights and blocking the House of Commons from a meaningful debate and vote! @CllrABClarkson — Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) July 1, 2025 Dame Priti added: 'Having a vote on the Bill is not the same as voting on the treaty under Crag. Earlier this week, the House of Lords – the other place – had a debate and vote where the Lib Dems sided with Labour in backing this £30 billion surrender treaty, which is subsidising tax cuts in Mauritius. 'So, why can't we have a debate and vote in this House? What are ministers afraid of? 'Are they afraid that their backbenchers, now worried about benefit cuts and the impact of unpopular tax rises, will question why so much money is being handed over for a territory that we own and force them into another embarrassing U-turn?' Dame Priti urged ministers to 'scrap this treaty or at least have the courage to bring it here for a proper debate, full scrutiny, and finally, a vote in this House'. Treaties are laid before Parliament before they are ratified, but there is no requirement for a debate or vote. Peers in their vote, which Conservative shadow Foreign Office minister Lord Callanan triggered, agreed not to reject the treaty by 205 votes to 185, majority 20. Stephen Doughty said he was disappointed by the shadow foreign secretary's tone (House of Commons/UK Parliament) Responding, Stephen Doughty told the Commons he was 'disappointed by the tone' of Dame Priti's comments. 'I don't know who writes this stuff,' the Foreign Office minister said. 'I don't know whether it's just performative politics or rhetoric, I don't know what. 'But I should point out that I have received and answered over 100 written parliamentary questions from (Dame Priti), I've answered over 250 questions on this deal and the process in total. 'We've had no less than six urgent questions in this House. We have had two statements from this Government by the Foreign Secretary (David Lammy) and the Defence Secretary (John Healey). 'I personally briefed (Dame Priti) and answered many of her questions in my office just a couple of weeks ago in good faith and in detail, and indeed, I was subjected – quite rightly – to robust scrutiny not only from the Foreign Affairs Committee of this House, but also from the International Relations and Defence Committee in the other House, and indeed the International Arrangements Committee in great detail on these issues.' Mr Doughty said a Bill would follow 'in due course' but added the deal with Mauritius, presented to Parliament in May, 'secures' the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, 'secures our national security and that of our allies'.
