Tory MP says she was told she was fired because of her 'Muslimness'

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 23 January 2022

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LONDON - A Tory MP has accused a Government whip of telling her that she was sacked from her ministerial post because her Muslim faith was “making colleagues uncomfortable”.

Nusrat Ghani lost her job as a transport minister in a mini-reshuffle in February 2020 following the resignation of Sajid Javid as chancellor.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, she that in a briefing afterwards with the whips, she was told that here “Muslimness” had been raised as an issue at a meeting in Downing Street.

“It was like being punched in the stomach. I felt humiliated and powerless,” the MP for Wealden told the paper.

“I was told that at the reshuffle meeting in Downing Street that ‘Muslimness’ was raised as an ‘issue’, that my ‘Muslim women minister’ status was making colleagues uncomfortable and that there were concerns ‘that I wasn’t loyal to the party as I didn’t do enough to defend the party against Islamophobia allegations’.

“When I challenged whether this was in any way acceptable and made clear there was little I could do about my identity, I had to listen to a monologue on how hard it was to define when people are being racist and that the party doesn’t have a problem and I needed to do more to defend it.

“It was very clear to me that the whips and No 10 were holding me to a higher threshold of loyalty than others because of my background and faith.”

He comments come as the conduct of the whips’ office is under intense scrutiny amid accusations they used intimidation and blackmail to pressurise MPs seeking to oust Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.

The senior Tory who first raised the issue, William Wragg – the chairman of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, praised Ms Ghani’s courage in speaking out.

“Nus is very brave to speak out. I was truly appalled to learn of her experience. She shows such strength and integrity supporting others,” he tweeted.

“I am proud to have her as my friend and colleague. We must change things for the better.”

Mr Wragg is due to discuss his claims with a Scotland Yard detective next week, adding to the pressure on Mr Johnson who is facing calls to resign over lockdown drinks parties in Downing Street.

The Sunday Times said that a Government source close to the whips’ office had strenuously denied Ms Ghani’s allegations.

Labour party Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry has expressed support for Nusrat Ghani, after the Tory MP was told her demotion from transport minister was because of her Muslim faith, saying "I know her, I trust her… I believe her".

Labour has called for a full inquiry into islamophobia within the Conservative party, calling the Ghani case "another example of their bullying culture".

UK-Africa Investment Conference focusing on sustainable investment

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 20 January 2022

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LONDON - The United Kingdom (UK) is holding the second Africa Investment Conference today (January 20) to boost economic cooperation with African nations and enhance its role as the continent’s investment partner of choice for greener, climate-friendly projects. Secretary of State for International Trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan is hosting the one-day virtual event which aims to unlock millions of pounds of new investment, especially in clean energy industries in both the UK and across Africa.

In a ‘virtual fireside talk’ with WTO Director General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Trade Secretary will say sustainable trade and investment are crucial for reducing global inequality, improving economies, raising incomes and creating jobs International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:  “Two years on from the inaugural UK-Africa Investment Summit, the UK’s ambition to be Africa’s investment partner of choice has never been stronger.

“The continent has huge economic potential, and our continued partnership will help businesses capitalise on investment opportunities, supporting high value jobs and boost enterprise in every part of the UK.

“This year’s Conference focuses on the importance of resilient, sustainable investment to support Africa as it pivots towards a more environmentally-friendly growth trajectory, and I look forward to working with leaders from the continent as they continue on this path to a greener future.”

Following the UK’s hosting of COP26, this year’s conference will explore how investment can serve to help Africa transition to a cleaner and greener growth trajectory.

As a sign of the growing partnership between the two regions in the clean growth space, UK sustainable battery technology firm Aceleron has secured an investment deal with Mobility 54 Investment SAS, a subsidiary of Toyota Group, as part of its £5m Series A funding round to accelerate the development and use of sustainable batteries in Africa.

Alongside the environmental benefits, increased trade and investment with developing countries creates opportunities for UK firms and consumers, for example lowering prices, and opening fast-growing markets for UK exporters.

To enhance UK-Africa partnerships, the UK is today launching a new Growth Gateway - a digital tool to link African and British businesses to UK Government trade, finance and investment services and opportunities.

The service provides practical online support to businesses in Africa that want to export to and invest in the UK, and businesses in the UK that want to export to and invest in Africa, backed up by a team of trade and investment specialists.

It follows an increased effort across government to facilitate UK-Africa trade, including that of UK Export Finance (UKEF). The UK’s export credit agency has significantly increased support for markets in Africa in the past year from approximately £600 million in 2018-19 to over £2.3 billion in 2020-21, supporting a range of infrastructure projects in countries from Côte d’Ivoire to Uganda.
Minister for Investment Gerry Grimstone said: “At the first UK-Africa Investment Summit, the Prime Minister stated his intention to make the UK Africa’s investment partner of choice.

“This year's Conference is a key part of that legacy, bringing our business communities together to make the case for a closer investment partnership with a renewed focus on sustainability and clean growth.”
Minister for Africa Vicky Ford said: “The UK is deepening our economic ties with countries across Africa. This conference is a fantastic opportunity to bring British and African businesses together to unlock millions of pounds of new investment, especially in clean energy industries in both the UK and across Africa.

“There is so much more that the UK and African countries can do together. Growth Gateway will make it easier than ever for African and British businesses to access the support they need to boost two-way trade and investment.” Her Majesty’s Acting Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa, Alastair Long, said: “In 2020, at the UK-Africa Investment Summit, the Prime Minister set out the UK’s ambition to be Africa’s investment partner of choice. Two years on from the UK-AIS, we continue to bring life to this ambition.

Last year, we launched an online Investment Deal Room to provide a platform for African projects to be showcased to UK investors. The Deal Room has already published over £350 million of vetted and investable opportunities to date.

“Clean growth is at the heart of the UK’s trade agenda, and with Egypt hosting COP27, today’s Africa Investment Conference will be an opportunity to explore inclusive, sustainable and resilient investment opportunities that can serve to help Africa transition to a cleaner and greener growth trajectory.”

Last year’s virtual conference was attended by over 2,800 delegates from over 40 African countries and across the UK.
Vimal Seeboruth, General Manager at electric vehicle manufacturer Arrival Ltd said: “The Conference [in 2021] was excellent and a great way to bring UK and African business together.

"By attending we got a much better understanding of the support mechanisms and points of contact for us to use in developing our business in Africa.”

Background:

• The Africa Investment Conference aligns with the UK's aims to promote trade and investment as a driver of economic growth that can trigger positive changes in a country’s economy, helping to raise incomes, create jobs and lift people out of poverty.

• It is set to bring together over 4,000 registered delegates for a series of panel discussions and matchmaking opportunities, and represents the lasting legacy of the UK-Africa Investment Summit hosted in London by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2020, where 27 trade and investment deals worth £6.5 billion and further commitments worth £8.9bn were announced.

• The Secretary of State will appear alongside a renowned cast of speakers including World Trade Organization Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretary General H. E. Wamkele Mene, Dr Vera Songwe, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, United Nations, UK Minister for Investment Lord Grimstone, and UK Minister for Africa Vicky Ford MP.

It is appropriate to point out that the clean growth theme of this year's conference builds on the UK's commitment to providing 11.6 billion of its International Climate Finance (ICF) to support developing countries respond to climate change over the next five years. Acceleron’s investment will accelerate Africa’s carbon-neutral ambitions by establishing a sustainable long-term battery power use.

The reuse and rebuild of the batteries will support Africa’s contributions to a circular economy – a model of production and consumption based on reusing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible.

The firm has also received research and development support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office via the Transforming Energy Access platform in partnership with UK charity, Shell Foundation, and Innovate UK, to help develop Aceleron’s technology and business model in Africa.

Tory MPs divided over Johnson’s future as ‘partygate’ scandal deepens

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 16 January 2022

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LONDON - Divisions in the Conservative Party over the “partygate” scandal and Boris Johnson’s future as leader are bursting into the open, with some taking up the cudgels for the Prime Minister and others claiming his position is now untenable.

A fully fledged Tory Party civil war seems to have erupted, as anger over a series of leaks about alleged lockdown parties in Number 10 are engulfing Mr Johnson’s premiership.

Six Conservative MPs have called for the Prime Minister to quit so far, arguing that a change of senior officials would not reverse the “terminal damage” done to Mr Johnson by the allegations.

Former children’s minister Tim Loughton, in a post published on Facebook on Saturday, said: “It is not down to a simple Government policy change or a sacking of ministers or officials to put things right.

“In this case all roads lead back to Downing Street and the person whose name is on the front door.”

Senior Tory Tobias Ellwood said the Prime Minister must “lead or step aside”, telling the BBC: “We need leadership.”

Backbencher Andrew Bridgen echoed Mr Ellwood as he argued Mr Johnson “has lost the moral authority to lead the country”.

The North West Leicestershire MP confirmed he submitted a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson’s leadership “some time ago”.

For a leadership contest to be triggered, 54 letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister have to be submitted by Tory MPs to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, asking for a vote on the Conservative leader’s future.

Sir Graham does not publicly state how many letters he has received, but reports suggest about 20 might have been handed in.

While strong words about Mr Johnson have undoubtedly been said by his own faction, many Tories have come out to promptly and passionately defend him.

Veteran Tory MP Peter Bone told LBC he had found constituents in his Wellingborough seat were “clearly in support of the Prime Minister”, while former trade secretary Dr Liam Fox – who was sacked by Mr Johnson – said it was the “wrong time” for a change of leader.

Meanwhile, Treasury Chief Secretary Simon Clarke said the team in Downing Street were some of the “most dedicated and professional civil servants that you will find”.

The Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland told Tom Swarbrick on LBC: “There is no question in my mind that the team in Downing Street, who are obviously not just senior politicians but also some of the most dedicated and professional civil servants that you will find, are working there in the national interest.

“There is no question that mistakes have been made and that is deeply regrettable, and obviously we are all, as I say, both frustrated and upset by what has happened. But it should not be allowed to morph into a situation where we tarnish people who are doing their very best in incredibly difficult circumstances to deliver for this country.”

A handful of MPs are still sitting on the fence about “partygate”.

While Conservative former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith was heavily critical of the No 10 regime, labelling the possible lockdown breaches “unforgivable”, he told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday programme that Cabinet Office official Sue Gray’s report would settle the question of the Prime Minister’s “authority and about his decision-making, and whether or not he knew or understood what was going on”.

Similar sentiment was put forward by Conservative MP James Wild (North West Norfolk), who told Times Radio that Mr Johnson’s apology for the Number 10 lockdown parties should have come sooner.

But he added: “I haven’t called for him to resign. I’m not calling for him to resign at this stage and wait to see what comes out in this report and then people can take their judgment.”