Pope ends visit to Britain

The Pope has returned to Rome after his four-day visit to the UK during which hundreds of thousands of people attended events and gatherings.

During the trip, Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out about what he called the "marginalisation" of Christianity and the march of "aggressive secularism" and has apologised for the abuse of children by Catholic priests.

The pontiff's visit began in Scotland and included numerous public events including Mass at Westminster cathedral and the beatification of Cardinal Newman in Birmingham.

Joint Communiqué between HM Government and the Papal delegation

A Joint Communiqué following a working dinner hosted by Her Majesty’s Government for the Holy See delegation accompanying Pope Benedict XVI on his official visit to the UK on 17 September.

Read the Joint Communiqué

Her Majesty’s Government hosted a dinner on 17 September for the Holy See delegation accompanying Pope Benedict XVI on his official visit to the UK, headed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, H.E. Cardinal Bertone. The U.K. side was headed by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Rt. Hon William Hague, M.P. Those present included a number of senior British Government Ministers and senior officials from the Holy See. The discussion covered a range of areas of shared interest between the U.K. Government and the Holy See.

Her Majesty’s Government and the Holy See share a commitment to bringing an end to poverty and underdevelopment. On the eve of a summit in New York to review progress towards implementing the Millennium Development Goals, they share the conviction that more needs to be done to address the unnecessary suffering caused by hunger, disease and illiteracy. Strong political leadership and respect for the ethos of local communities are necessary in the promotion of the right to life, food, health and development for all.

The British Government and the Holy See share a conviction of the urgent need for action to address the challenge of climate change. Action is needed at every level from the governmental to the individual if we are to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to set in motion the transition to a global low-carbon economy, and to assist poor and vulnerable countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change that are already inevitable.

There was a good exchange of views on a variety of social and economic issues, recognising the role played by faith in the lives of individuals and as part of the fabric of a strong, generous, tolerant society.

The visit of Pope Benedict XVI provided the opportunity to develop a deeper exchange of views between the Holy See and the U.K. Government. Tonight’s discussion provided a useful basis for both sides to continue to pursue initiatives and discussions on areas of common interest to the UK and the Holy See.

PM’s message for Eid

Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his warm wishes to Muslim people in the United Kingdom, to mark the start of the festival of Eid ul Fitr and the end of Ramadan.

With the devastating floods in Pakistan still fresh in everyone’s minds, the PM called Eid “a time for celebration but also a time for contemplation”.

He said:

“As families, friends and communities come together around the United Kingdom to celebrate the end of the Holy month of Ramadan and the start of Eid ul Fitr, I want to send you all my warmest best wishes.

“Eid is a special time, a time for celebration but also a time for contemplation.

“The terrible scenes of devastation in Pakistan have shocked us all. I am hugely impressed by how we in the UK have responded to this tragedy, with communities up and down the country coming together to mobilise support.

“As Eid begins we should enjoy this very special time but our thoughts will of course turn to those less fortunate.

Eid Mubarak.”

Source: this message first appeared on the Prime Minister's official website.

HSBC chairman appointed UK's new minister of state for trade

HSBC chairman Stephen Green has been officially appointed UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Green, 61, will stand down as Group Chairman of HSBC and take up his unpaid ministerial role early next year.

"With Stephen's experience and expertise, I know he will make an invaluable contribution towards this crucial agenda, helping to drive strong economic growth in the UK," the Prime Minister said in a press statement.

Green began his career with the Ministry of Overseas Development, before joining McKinsey & Co Inc in 1977. He joined HSBC in 1982 and became an Executive Director in 1998. He served as Group Chief Executive from 2003 to 2006 before his appointment as Group Chairman, taking over from Sir John Bond. He has worked in Hong Kong, New York, the Middle East and London.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the appointment will "hugely strengthen our work to secure the UK's economic recovery, promote open markets and inward investment and support greater access for British companies worldwide".

Green's Ministerial role will be to work across the Department for Business and the Foreign Office, to forge "strong international relationships to open new trade links, promote British business overseas and maximise inward investment to the UK," the Prime Minister continued.

Financial industry speculation has pointed to the bank's chief executive Michael Geoghegan or former Goldman Sachs president John Thornton as Green's most likely successors, according to reports.

However, a hurdle to Geoghegan, 56, getting the chairmanship is his current position as chief executive, the Wall Street Journal said yesterday.

He was recently relocated to Hong Kong to emphasise the bank's Asian focus.

Green has been a vocal supporter of prudent corporate behaviour at HSBC, which is one of the few large banks that did not tap government bailout funds during the global financial crisis.

Placing Geoghegan in the chairman's seat could see Stuart Gulliver, HSBC's highly-paid investment banking chief, promoted to chief executive, the Financial Times said.

Others speculated that the bank would appoint a non-executive director with Thornton, who is an HSBC board member and non-executive chairman of HSBC North America, as a likely contender for the chairman's job.

Useful background

Vince Cable, Business Secretary, said in a press statement that Green's background will be valuable for the trade white paper he aims to publish at the turn of the year.

"In Stephen we will be appointing a Minister with a long career as a leading international banker, one of the few to emerge with credit from the recent financial crisis, and somebody who has set out a powerful philosophy for ethical business.

Green himself said in a statement: "It is an honour to accept this new role with Her Majesty's Government, serving Britain in the vital areas of trade and investment.

"In an increasingly competitive and international world, trade and investment are ever more critical to Britain's economic success and I am delighted to be joining the Government at this exciting and challenging time."

source: Gulf News

David and Samantha Cameron welcome baby daughter Florence to Downing Street

David Cameron and his wife Samantha have posed for pictures outside Downing Street with their 10-day-old daughter Florence Rose Endellion

Asked how many nappies he had changed, Mr Cameron joked: "Hundreds."

Another journalist asked: "Has Nick Clegg changed any nappies yet?"

Mr Cameron replied: "That's next."

The baby was wearing a white shawl crocheted by a member of the public who sent it in to congratulate the couple on the birth.

The woman, Jane Fraser-Cross, from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, is a local fundraiser and grandmother of six, who likes to be known as "Granny Jane".

Mrs Cameron was wearing an orange dress made by a local dressmaker in which she has been pictured several times before.

Asked if the baby was keeping them awake, she smiled and replied: "Yes."

Mr Cameron bent to kiss the baby on the head and she opened her eyes briefly.

The appearance was delayed by more than 10 minutes and a Downing Street press officer said this was for "operational reasons". It was not clear if there was nappy changing involved.

The Prime Minister said in a statement: "Samantha and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kindness and generosity since the birth of baby Florence.

"We have been really, really touched by all the people who have offered their warm congratulations, and by the many cards, gifts and flowers that we have received."

Florence was born at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro on Tuesday 24th August, weighing 6lb 1oz.

She was not expected until this month, but caught the family by surprise while they were on holiday.

Her middle name, Endellion, refers to the village of St Endellion on the north Cornish coast, near where the Camerons were staying.

The Camerons are also parents to Nancy, six, and Arthur Elwen, four.

Mr and Mrs Cameron lost their other son, Ivan, who suffered from cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, when he died aged six last year.

Florence is only the third baby to be born to a serving Prime Minister since 1849.

The US-UK “special relationship”

When a cross party foreign relations committee recently urged the British Government to adopt a more hard-headed approach towards the US and avoid the phrase “special relationship” there was a palpable sense of relief amongst those who had felt for some time that the phrase was best avoided.

Unsurprisingly, as the British Prime Minister visits the United States this week, the term remains as popular as ever. It seems the Americans are just too polite, or possibly too astute, to suggest it be consigned to history. Instead, just like with previous high profile UK-US meetings, the term is being rolled out to make yet another appearance and will most likely be used just enough times to avoid mass hysteria in the British media.

The Prime Minister’s first official visit to Washington comes at a time of widespread concern within UK media and foreign policy circles that Obama’s ethnic origin and upbringing may have defined a world view that is very different from his predecessors. To be more precise, policymakers are concerned that Obama is less interested in the special relationship because he is not of European origin.

To many observers such conclusions serve only to highlight the unhealthy obsession with the special relationship and the emotional nature of Britain’s friendship with the US. Whilst it may be true the US-UK relationship seems less warm under Obama, it's probably due to his government's focus on new priorities including the establishment of a new multi-polar world that includes the likes of China, Russia, India and Brazil. The alliances of the past will no longer suffice, even for the Americans, and it is therefore only natural that British/ European security is currently less of a priority for them.

Similarly, even though the US will continue to be the UK’s most significant bilateral ally for the foreseeable future, it is also apparent that the relationship will be less important in a world increasingly dominated by the multilateral process. In this new world order Britain will be expected to forge a common European security and energy policy and to establish strong relationships with emerging world powers such as India and Brazil and midsized powers such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Britain should remain confident that it will continue as a privileged US ally, not least because the Americans wish to maintain their status as both an Atlantic as well as Pacific power. This requires the Americans to remain fully engaged with Europe and its big countries. Therefore the US cannot ignore Britain’s status as Europe’s largest military power and still one of the world’s largest economies - expected to remain that way even in 2050 - when it will also be the largest economic power in Europe. Britain also continues to be a leading investor in the US (BP is a case in point) and maintains close cultural and military ties that bind the two together.

It’s therefore rather surprising to see articles appear in respected British publications suggesting the UK has little to offer the United States. Even the Prime Minister’s suggestion that Britain is America's “junior partner”, whilst probably nothing more than a self-deprecating remark in the best British tradition, only serves to support this line of thinking.

In a world where geopolitical power is set to become increasingly diffuse, Britain must gradually reduce its dependence on the special relationship and learn to foster new friendships and alliances in order to maintain its privileged status in world affairs.

Mr. Zulfi Caar Hydari is a British financier based in Dubai. He is Co-Founder and CEO of HBG Holdings and Co-Chairman of British Conservatives Abroad for Dubai and Northern Emirates. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own.

Twitter: www.twitter.com/zak_hydari

Conservatives Abroad Annual Conference

Conservatives Abroad Poland will host the Conservatives Abroad Annual Conference starting Friday 15th October in Krakow Poland.

The Executive Committee of Conservatives Abroad Dubai and Northern Emirates agreed that David Haigh will represent Dubai at the conference this year.

Marek Matraszek is Branch Chairman of Conservatives Abroad Poland.

Queen Elizabeth to visit UAE and Oman

You've probably heard the announcement that Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will pay State Visits to the UAE and Oman this Autumn.

This will be the second visit by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to both Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The previous visit took place in 1979. This year’s visit to Oman will mark the occasion of the 40th year of the reign of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

What you may not know is that The Queen surprisingly cancelled a previously planned visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in March 2009 because of an overburdened work schedule which included a state visit to Britain by the President of Mexico and the gathering of G20 leaders in London around the same time.

It was unusual as it was the first time in recent memory that a state visit was cancelled for reasons other than war or terrorism.

The BBC and Dubai fall out over cash

Dubai is a place where the Britishness of a colonial yesteryear has been well preserved, from red-faced drunks to the well-trimmed lawns and bungalows of the British Embassy compound. So there has been a Lilliburlero feel to the tea-time conversation in Expatland over the last few days. Two topics dominate. One is the recently announced visit this autumn of the Queen, which attracted more positive interest than, I suspect, it would in Leeds or Bristol. The other is the disappearance from the air-waves of the BBC World Service.

To read full article click here: The BBC and Dubai fall out over cash

source: Daily Telegraph

London Luxury: West End Targets High End

London's West End is polishing up its image in a bid to topple Paris, Milan, New York and Tokyo as the top destination for luxury shopping.

A new campaign called London Luxury has been launched by New West End Company, which clusters together 300 luxury retailers into a new district on Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street.

High-end retailers including Burberry, Cartier and Louis Vuitton will work alongside top five-star hotels, such as The Ritz and The Langham, to enhance the shopping experience of the 200 million visitors each year.

A recent study of key affluent international and domestic markets showed that the most rapidly growing markets of overseas shoppers in the West End were from Brazil (up 70%), followed by Australia (up 40%) and China (up 36%).

The Middle East was identified as the most important market as visitors spend an average of £1,334 while shopping around town.

The other important markets were China and Russia, which spend an average of £879 and £789 respectively.

Mideast investors consider BP move

Middle East investors are thought to be mulling over a possible investment in stricken oil giant BP, it was reported on Sunday.

As problems continue to hit the company amid the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, informed sources said proposals from the region had already been made to BP advisers in London, UAE daily The National reported.

“BP knows there is potential support from the Middle East,” a source told the paper, adding that Middle East investors would also consider buying key assets from BP.

The company's balance sheet has been badly damaged by the cost of cleaning up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with estimates putting the clean-up cost as high as $60bn.

UAE, Saudi buyers target London's elite homes

Wealthy UAE investors are among the biggest buyers of luxury properties in London, especially in the poshest areas of Belgravia, Hyde Park and Knightsbridge, a new report has revealed.

In a new study of the English capital's real estate market, consultants Knight Frank said UAE investors were sixth in a list of international buyers.

The report said overseas buyers now accounted for more than 50 percent of all prime London residential purchases, with that figure rising to 68 percent in the homes valued at more than GBP5m.

Establishing a distinctive foreign policy

In a keynote speech at the Foreign Office in London, William Hague has outlined Coalition plans for a "clear, focused and effective" foreign policy.

He criticised the previous Labour Government for neglecting to lift its eyes to the wider strategic needs of this county and failing to secure our influence in a rapidly changing world.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Secretary set out five key areas for pursuing a distinctive British foreign policy:

1. Establishing a National Security Council and launching a Strategic Defence & Security Review
2. Bringing together all of the Departments of Government in the pursuit of national objectives
3. Using our national strengths and advantages to build strong bilateral relationships for the UK. They include our world-class education system, the standing of our Armed Forces and quality of our Intelligence Services and GCHQ, which are unique and of inestimable value
4. Encouraging the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to be more ambitious in articulating and leading Britain's efforts overseas
5. Giving due weight to Britain's membership of the European Union and other multilateral institutions, including NATO, the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

Concluding the speech, William said: "We are now raising our sights for the longer term, looking at the promotion of British interests in the widest sense."

And he added, "Although the next twenty years is likely to be a time of increased danger in foreign affairs, it is also a time of extraordinary opportunity for a country that sets out to make the most of its still great advantages."

UK Pavilion at Shanghai Expo wins prestigious RIBA architecture award

The UK Pavilion at World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, designed by Heatherwick Studio, has won the Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) prestigious RIBA Lubetkin Prize.

Speaking at the award dinner on 29 June 2010, Sir Andrew Cahn said:

“It’s a huge pleasure to be here for the award to Thomas Heatherwick of the prestigious RIBA Lubetkin prize. Thomas has asked me to say a few words, as the client for the project in the Foreign Office.

“What was the clients’ brief? We wanted to change perceptions of Britain amongst the coming generation of Chinese; away from their old image of us, as a land of swirling fog and cobblestones, old buildings and old attitudes. We wanted them to understand contemporary Britain, the home of creative industries and artistic talent.

England Out – With Our Worst Ever World Cup Defeat

England are out of the World Cup in the last sixteen stage, after being thumped by Germany by four goals to one. There were plenty of stories along the way, but ultimately, we just were not good enough, and have not been good enough all through the tournament.

The team that qualified for this World Cup was different. That England looked good. This England looked awful from the word go. The players have absolutely no-one to blame but themselves.

Prince Charles 'put Qatar royals in a difficult position' - The National Newspaper

LONDON // The heir to the British throne placed the Qatar royal family “between a rock and a hard place” by objecting to the modernist design of a development they planned in west London, a judge has said.

Prince Charles’s intervention in a £3 billion (Dh16.5bn) project at the site of the old Chelsea Barracks was “unexpected and unwelcome”, Mr Justice Vos ruled at the High Court in London.

The development was days away from being considered by planners when Qatari Diar Real Estate (QD), which is wholly owned by the Qatar royal family, abruptly withdrew its proposal.

The withdrawal came after Prince Charles had told both Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, and Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, the QD chairman, Qatar’s prime minister and a cousin of the emir, that he hated the design by Lord Rogers. The prince is noted for his opposition to modern architecture.

The High Court was ruling on a claim from QD’s partner, the property developer Christian Candy, that the Qataris had breached the terms of their agreement by withdrawing the proposal.

Although Mr Justice Vos ruled in favour of Mr Candy’s company, CPC Group, he said the firm was not entitled to the early payment of £68.5 million under the terms of the contract.The judge said he would consider the issue at a later hearing if CPC seeks damages for breach of contract.

Mr Justice Vos said that both CPC and QD “were faced with a very difficult position once the Prince of Wales intervened in the planning process”.

The judge added: “His intervention was, no doubt, unexpected and unwelcome.”

Source: The National (UAE)

“Deep friendship between the UK and UAE” – PM

Prime Minister David Cameron has said the friendship between the United Arab Emirates and UK is deep and is based on a “unique, shared history and common interests”.

The PM completed his visit to the UAE on Saturday 12 June after meeting President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

He also met members of the UAE Cabinet and senior state officials during his brief visit to the country.

This was one of Mr Cameron’s first overseas visits as Prime Minister, highlighting the importance that the UK government attaches to the UK-UAE relationship.

Gulf Tories Meeting

The Gulf Tories held held its regional meeting in Bahrain earlier today. Members from Conservatives Abroad branches across the Gulf gathered to discuss a range of subjects including voting rights for long term British expats and matters related to UK inward investment.

Gulf Tories
10 June 2010

PM outlines plans for transparent Government

The Prime Minister has outlined plans to make Government more transparent and allow people to hold ministers and public services to account.

In his first podcast, David Cameron said he would “rip off the cloak of secrecy” surrounding Government information and help to rebuild trust in politics.

As a first step, details of public spending over the past 12 months, information about hospital infections and some of the salaries of senior Whitehall officials will be published next week.

The PM said:

“If there’s one thing I’ve noticed since doing this job, it’s how all the information about government; the money it spends, where it spends it, the results it achieves; how so much of it is locked away in a vault marked sort of private for the eyes of ministers and officials only.

“I think this is ridiculous. It’s your money, your government, you should know what’s going on. So we’re going to rip off that cloak of secrecy and extend transparency as far and as wide as possible. By bringing information out into the open, you’ll be able to hold government and public services to account.”

“We are getting to grips with the deficit” – PM

The Prime Minister has spoken about the Government’s plans to cut the deficit during a live interview on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning.

Speaking to presenter Evan Davis, the PM said there could only be a “sustained recovery” with real growth and jobs if ministers tackled the Budget deficit.

Earlier this week, Chancellor George Osborne outlined where £6.2 billion of savings will be made in government spending during this tax year and the plans were a key part of the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday.

The PM said:

“The key thing is we promised £6 billion of spending reductions; we have delivered £6 billion of spending reductions. That is good for our economy, it shows us getting to grips with the deficit, it will enhance international confidence in the economy.”

He added:

“I think it is an important point, though, that reducing the deficit and getting the economy to grow, they’re not alternatives, they go together. We’re only going to get a sustained recovery with real growth, real jobs [and] the wealth we want to see in our country, if we get to grips with the fact that we have an 11 per cent budget deficit.”

Conservatives Abroad Dubai - Executive Committee Meeting

Capital Club, The Gate Village, DIFC, Dubai
26 May 2010 at 5:30pm

The Executive Committee ("EC") of Conservatives Abroad Dubai and Northern Emirates met yesterday at the Capital Club for the first time since Prime Minister David Cameron was elected to office.

The EC discussed a number of subjects including ways in which the supporter base could be grown.

The EC also agreed to increase frequency of meetings and decided to start inviting supporters to join for post meeting drinks.

Conservatives Abroad Dubai and Northern Emirates EC Members:
David Haigh
Zulfi Hydari
Darren Davis
Peter Gray
John Belsey

www.conservativesme.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/uktorymideast

Queen’s Speech 2010

The Queen has outlined the Government’s priorities for the coming Parliamentary year in the Queen’s Speech following the official state opening of Parliament.

Reducing the deficit and continuing to ensure economic recovery was one of the major areas covered by the speech.

The Queen said:

“The first priority is to reduce the deficit and restore economic growth. Action will be taken to accelerate the reduction of the structural budget deficit.”

Twenty20 champions visit Number 10

England’s world-beating Twenty20 cricket team has visited Number 10 for a reception celebrating their success.

Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed team members including captain Paul Collingwood and player-of-the-tournament Kevin Pietersen to Downing Street.

England won the ICC World Twenty20 for the first time earlier this month after beating Australia in the final in Barbados.

The PM said:

“It really was a fantastic result and you made the whole country incredibly proud. As a cricket fan myself, you always remember where you are for the great England victories and everyone will remember what you all achieved in the Twenty20.”

He added that although it was a team victory, he especially wanted to praise Mr Collingwood, Mr Pietersen and Craig Kieswetter for their “inspirational” performances during the tournament.

Government unveils Ministerial Code

The Government has today published three documents to ensure greater accountability and transparency for Ministers.

The Ministerial Code, published by the Prime Minister, sets out the standards of conduct expected of Ministers.

The Code bars former Ministers from lobbying Government for two years; tightens controls on government cars and numbers of special advisers; and requires the regular publication of Ministerial meetings, hospitality, gifts and travel.

The Ministerial Code covers all aspects of ministerial life from access to official papers and appointments to the use of Government resources and the handling of Ministers’ private interests.

The Government has also published a list of Cabinet Committees which shows the membership of each committee and shows a significant reduction in the total number of Committees.

The third document is the Coalition Agreement for Stability and Reform which sets out the practical and operational arrangements for how the Parties will work together in coalition.

PM meets Chancellor Merkel in Berlin

Prime Minister David Cameron has held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

In his first visit to Germany as PM, Mr Cameron visited the Chancellery, where the two leaders discussed EU cooperation and the ongoing economic situation in Europe.

Speaking at a joint press conference after their meeting, the Prime Minister said he wanted a “strong and positive partnership” with Germany.

He added that although the UK would not be joining the euro, it was in the UK’s interests to have a strong eurozone.

The PM said:

“I want Britain to be a positive player in Europe. I want us to work together to achieve the economic stability, the growth and action on European deficits that we know is very much in the interest of all our countries and in the interests of a strong, stable economy which we very clearly need. Britain is not a member of the euro, nor are we likely to become a member, but we want a strong and stable eurozone. That is where 50 per cent of our trade goes and it’s our interest that that takes place.”

The two leaders also discussed Afghanistan and the prospect of further sanctions against Iran.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister also held talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris and met Northern Ireland’s First Minister and Deputy First Minister at Stormont.

The Coalition: our programme for government

The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have launched the government’s five-year policy programme.

David Cameron, Nick Clegg and members of the Cabinet announced details of The Coalition: our programme for government.

The government said the agreement will help rebuild the economy, unlock social mobility, mend the political system and give people the power to call the shots over the decisions that affect their lives.

It includes radical plans for reform, particularly in areas such as schools, welfare and the political system.

The PM said the coalition government had agreed an “extensive and detailed reform agenda”.

He added:

“The more that we talked, the more we listened, the more we realised that our visions for the future and the values that inspired them are strengthened and enhanced by each of the two parties coming together.”

The Deputy PM said:

“This document sets out, page by page, line by line, detailed changes that will make your life better. From now on, we get down to work.”

PM holds talks with President Sarkozy

David Cameron has travelled to France for talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy in his first overseas visit as Prime Minister.

The PM met President Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Thursday evening where he was greeted with a guard of honour.

During his ”fruitful and focused” meeting with the President they discussed issues ranging from Iran and Afghanistan to the European Union and Anglo-French relations.

In a joint press conference following their talks, the PM said the two countries could have a “partnership that has a real purpose”.

He said:

“From all the things we have discussed tonight, I think we can have a partnership that has a real purpose, that is very focused, that is very practical, that actually leads to results in the things that we both care about.”

Discussing the eurozone and the economy, the PM said the UK would “work well” with France and other nations playing its own part by sticking to a stability pact agreed by the previous administration.

The PM also said the UK and France had a “shared agenda” with the forthcoming G8 and G20 meetings and looked forward to the President and his wife visiting London on 18 June.

The PM is travelling from Paris to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Merkel.

Her Majesty’s Government

The Queen has been pleased to approve the following Ministerial appointments:
Cabinet

Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service

* The Rt Hon David Cameron MP

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council (with special responsibility for political and constitutional reform)

* The Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

* First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – The Rt Hon William Hague MP
* Minister of State – Jeremy Browne MP
* Minister of State – David Lidington MP
* Minister of State – The Rt Hon Lord Howell of Guildford*
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Henry Bellingham MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Alistair Burt MP

HM Treasury

* Chancellor of the Exchequer – The Rt Hon George Osborne MP
* Chief Secretary to the Treasury – The Rt Hon David Laws MP
* Financial Secretary – Mark Hoban MP
* Exchequer Secretary – David Gauke MP†
* Economic Secretary – Justine Greening MP†
* Commercial Secretary – Sir James Sassoon‡

Ministry of Justice

* Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice - The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP
* Minister of State – The Rt Hon Lord McNally (and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords)
* Minister of State – Nick Herbert MP (jointly with the Home Office)
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Crispin Blunt MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Jonathan Djanogly MP

Home Office

* Secretary of State for the Home Department; and Minister for Women and Equalities – The Rt Hon Theresa May MP
* Minister of State (Minister for Immigration) – Damian Green MP
* Minister of State (Minister for Police) – Nick Herbert MP (jointly with the Ministry of Justice)
* Minister of State (Minister for Security) – Baroness Neville-Jones
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – James Brokenshire MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) – Lynne Featherstone MP

Ministry of Defence

* Secretary of State for Defence – The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP
* Minister of State (Minister for the Armed Forces) – Nick Harvey MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Gerald Howarth MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Andrew Robathan MP
* Peter Luff MP – Parliamentary under Secretary of State
* Lord Astor of Hever DL – Parliamentary under Secretary of State ‡

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

* Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and President of the Board of Trade – The Rt Hon Dr Vincent Cable MP
* Minister of State (Minister for Universities and Science) – David Willetts MP**
* Minister of State – John Hayes MP
* Minister of State – Mark Prisk MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Edward Davey MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – The Hon Ed Vaizey MP (jointly with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Baroness Wilcox

Department for Work and Pensions

* Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP
* Minister of State – Chris Grayling MP
* Minister of State – Steve Webb MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Maria Miller MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Welfare Reform) – Lord Freud*

Department of Energy and Climate Change

* Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change – The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP
* Minister of State – Gregory Barker MP
* Minister of State – Charles Hendry MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Marland*

Department of Health

* Secretary of State for Health – The Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE MP
* Minister of State – Paul Burstow MP
* Minister of State – Simon Burns MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Anne Milton MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Earl Howe

Department for Education

* Secretary of State for Education – The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
* Minister of State – Sarah Teather MP
* Minister of State – Nick Gibb MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Tim Loughton MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Jonathan Hill

Department for Communities and Local Government

* Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP
* Minister of State – Greg Clark MP
* Minister of State – Grant Shapps MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Andrew Stunell OBE MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Bob Neill MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Baroness Hanham CBE

Department for Transport

* Secretary of State for Transport – The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP
* Minister of State – Theresa Villiers MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Norman Baker MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Mike Penning MP

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

* Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – The Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP
* Minister of State – James Paice MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Richard Benyon MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Henley

Department for International Development

* Secretary of State for International Development – The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP
* Minister of State – Alan Duncan MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Stephen O’Brien MP

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

* Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport – The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – John Penrose MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Hugh Robertson MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – The Hon Ed Vaizey MP (jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills)

Northern Ireland Office

* Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – The Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP
* Minister of State – Hugo Swire MP

Scotland Office

* Secretary of State for Scotland (and providing ministerial support to the Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office) – The Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – David Mundell MP

Wales Office

* Secretary of State for Wales – The Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan MP
* Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – David Jones MP

Minister without Portfolio (Minister of State)

* The Rt Hon Baroness Warsi*

Office of the Leader of the House of Lords

* Leader of the House of Lords, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster – The Rt Hon Lord Strathclyde

Office of the Leader of the Commons

* Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal – The Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP**
* Parliamentary Secretary (Deputy Leader) – David Heath CBE MP*

Cabinet Office

* Minister for the Cabinet Office, Paymaster General – The Rt Hon Francis Maude MP**
* Minister of State (providing policy advice to the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office) – The Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP**
* Parliamentary Secretary – Mark Harper MP
* Parliamentary Secretary – Nick Hurd MP

Law Officers

* Attorney General – Dominic Grieve QC MP***
* Solicitor General – Edward Garnier QC MP
* Advocate General for Scotland – The Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC

Whips – House of Commons

* Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) – The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP**
* Deputy Chief Whip (Treasurer of HM Household) – John Randall MP
* Deputy Chief Whip (Comptroller of HM Household) – Alistair Carmichael MP
* Government Whip (Vice Chamberlain of HM Household) – Mark Francois MP

Junior Lords of the Treasury

* Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Michael Fabricant MP
* Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Angela Watkinson MP
* Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Jeremy Wright MP
* Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Brooks Newmark MP*
* Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – James Duddridge MP

Assistant Whips

* Assistant Government Whip – Philip Dunne MP*
* Assistant Government Whip – Stephen Crabb MP
* Assistant Government Whip – Robert Goodwill MP
* Assistant Government Whip – Shailesh Vara MP
* Assistant Government Whip – Bill Wiggin MP
* Assistant Government Whip – Chloe Smith MP
* Assistant Government Whip – Norman Lamb MP (and Chief Parliamentary and Political Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister)
* Assistant Government Whip – Mark Hunter MP

Whips – House of Lords

* Lords Chief Whip (Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms) – The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE
* Deputy Chief Whip (Captain of The Queen’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard) – The Rt Hon Lord Shutt of Greetland OBE

Baronesses and Lords in Waiting

* Baroness in Waiting – Baroness Northover*
* Baroness in Waiting – Baroness Rawlings
* Baroness in Waiting – Baroness Verma
* Lord in Waiting – Earl Attlee
* Lord in Waiting – Lord Astor of Hever DL
* Lord in Waiting – Lord De Mauley TD
* Lord In Waiting – Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE*
* Lord in Waiting – Lord Wallace of Saltaire*

* unpaid
** attends Cabinet
*** attends Cabinet when Ministerial responsibilities are on the agenda
† paid as a Parliamentary Secretary
‡ unpaid Parliamentary Secretary

The Queen has been pleased to signify Her intention of conferring a peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on:

* Jonathan Hill
* Sir James Sassoon

PM backs England’s 2018 World Cup bid

Prime Minister David Cameron has telephoned the FIFA president Sepp Blatter to back England’s bid to host the World Cup in 2018.

The PM said the new government is “absolutely behind England’s 2018 bid”.

He spoke to the FIFA president ahead of England’s 2018 World Cup bid presentation in Zurich.

A Downing Street spokesman said:

“The Prime Minister spoke to FIFA President Sepp Blatter yesterday afternoon, on the eve of England’s bid presentation for the 2018 World Cup.

“The PM stressed the new government was absolutely behind England’s 2018 bid. He reminded Mr Blatter that football was the national sport and people in England were extremely passionate about football. He said that this country has great infrastructure and facilities and has a history of delivering great major sporting events like Euro 96; he said people in England were fully behind the bid.

“The PM also passed on his best wishes for the World Cup in South Africa. Mr Blatter thanked the PM and congratulated him on his appointment.”

David Cameron hails 'seismic shift' in politics

David Cameron and Nick Clegg promised a "new politics" that would transform the political landscape yesterday as they launched their coalition government.

The new Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister issued their policy prospectus for a full five-year parliament as they promised to bury the past differences between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in a move that could create a permanent realignment in British politics.

With the hopes of Blairites for a Lib-Lab "progressive alliance" in ruins, some Tories said Mr Cameron saw his partnership with the Liberal Democrats as the next stage of his crusade to modernise the Conservative Party.

His close allies believe the Tories' failure to win an overall majority in last week's general election shows they have not yet "detoxified" the party's brand – and hope that the unexpected alliance with the centrist third party will enable him to complete his project.

But such views will anger Tory traditionalists, who are blaming the Cameron inner circle for a campaign which they claim lacked a cutting edge and failed to inspire the voters.

Although some Tory MPs have misgivings about the coalition, Cameron allies believe the agreement to legislate for five-year, fixed-term parliaments will ensure the coalition lasts. Another safeguard is to raise the threshold for a dissolution of Parliament to 55 per cent of MPs, making it hard for either coalition partner to walk away and provoke a general election. Privately, senior Tories believe they could enjoy an advantage at the next election because it will be difficult for the Liberal Democrats to criticise the coalition's record.

But the Liberal Democrats are jubilant about their surprise return to the Cabinet after almost 70 years in the wilderness. They trumpeted Mr Clegg's role as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of a programme of wide-ranging political reform including changes to the voting system for the Commons and an elected House of Lords. Some Liberal Democrats hailed as a victory the coalition's initial programme published yesterday and praised the team that negotiated it with the Tories. Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, a Liberal Democrat peer, said: "You see why Chris Huhne and David Laws were gold dust in the City. Thank God I've never had to negotiate against them. They've taken the Tories to the cleaners."

Britain's first coalition government since the Second World War got off to an impressive start when Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg held a press conference in the Downing Street rose garden. The new Prime Minister said: "It can be a historic and seismic shift in our political landscape. It can demonstrate, in government, a new progressive partnership." He added: "It will be an administration united behind one key purpose: to give our country the strong, stable and decisive leadership we need. We have a shared agenda and a shared resolve, to tackle the challenges that Britain faces."

Mr Clegg acknowledged that there would be "bumps and scrapes" as they were different parties with many different ideas, but insisted: "This is a Government that will last because despite those differences, we are united by a common purpose for the job we want to do in the next five years." He added: "Until today, we have been rivals, now we are colleagues. That says a lot about the scale of the new politics now beginning to unfold."

Mr Cameron handed five cabinet posts to Liberal Democrats – including David Laws as Chief Treasury Secretary, Vince Cable as Business Secretary, Chris Huhne as Energy and Climate Change Secretary and Danny Alexander as Scottish Secretary.

Theresa May becomes Home Secretary, only the second woman to hold the post, after Labour's Jacqui Smith – a surprise move aimed partly at heading off criticism that the Government was composed of "men in suits". But women took only four of the Cabinet's 23 posts. The others are Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary; Baroness Warsi, the new Tory chairman and Cheryl Gillan, Welsh Secretary.

There was a return to the front line for Iain Duncan Smith, the Tories' former leader, who becomes Work and Pensions Secretary in a move designed to reassure the party's right-wingers and a clear sign that the Government will pursue radical welfare reform. Kenneth Clarke, the former Chancellor, became Justice Secretary.

Despite the smooth start, the practical problems that are bound to arise in the double act were highlighted soon after the full Cabinet line-up was announced. Liberal Democrat sources claimed only Mr Clegg could remove the ministers from his party who serve in the Government. But Tory aides contradicted their new partners, insisting Mr Cameron enjoyed a veto over every member of his administration.

The new National Security Council met for the first time last night to discuss the conflict in Afghanistan and counter-terrorism measures in Britain.

United we stand: What they said about working together

"It will be an administration united behind three key principles: freedom, fairness and responsibility. And it will be an administration united behind one key purpose and that is to give our country the strong and stable and determined leadership that we need for the long-term."

David Cameron

"In other political cultures it would not be even a faintly radical thought that parties might co-operate with each other in government for the good of the country, but campaign against each other at election time. That is precisely the kind of thing that you will see now. I hope people will find it relatively unsurprising relatively quickly. As David has quite rightly said, we can only help bring that about by being successful in delivering the good government that we've negotiated in this coalition agreement... It's a new kind of government, a radical, reforming government... a source of reassurance at a time of great uncertainty."

Nick Clegg

"He has the Deputy Prime Minister's office in the Cabinet Office. We haven't yet explored all each other's offices, but [they are] pretty close together. This is not going to be a partnership where we have to book meetings."

David Cameron

"There is a corridor that links No 10 to where I am but I have no idea where I am. It's a rabbit warren."

Nick Clegg

"If [making the partnership] work means swallowing some humble pie, and it means eating some of your words, I can't think of a more excellent diet."

David Cameron

President's seal of approval

David Cameron seems to have made a good impression on his new deputy, and he also appears to have a fan in Barack Obama, too.

When the US President was asked in Washington last night – during a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai – whether he had received any assurances from Mr Cameron about British commitment to the war in Afghanistan, Mr Obama replied: "I have found Mr Cameron to be a smart, dedicated, effective leader and somebody who we are going to be able to work with very effectively. He reaffirmed, without me bringing it up, his commitment to our strategy in Afghanistan. We also both reaffirmed the special relationship between the United States and Great Britain that outlasts any individual party, any individual leader. It is built up over centuries and is not going to go away."

Source: The Independent

A new politics: cutting Ministerial pay

Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg have made a clear commitment to cutting the cost of government, including urgent action to begin reducing the deficit this year.

As part of this process of cutting costs, the Prime Minister is today announcing that new Ministers will be paid five per cent less than Ministers received in the previous administration.

In addition, the Government will impose a subsequent Ministerial pay freeze for the lifetime of the Parliament – effectively a further pay cut when inflation is taken into account.

The five per cent reduction in Cabinet Minister salaries alone will save taxpayers approximately £50,000 this year – and approximately £300,000 will be saved this year when all government ministerial positions are taken into account.

Over the lifetime of the Parliament, the Ministerial salary cut and subsequent pay freeze will save approximately £3 million.

PM hosts first Cabinet meeting

Prime Minster David Cameron has chaired the first meeting of his new coalition Cabinet.

The PM and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg opened the 9am meeting by emphasising their commitment to working together and highlighting the strong shared agenda.

New Chancellor George Osborne then updated ministers on the economy, stressing the priorities of tackling the deficit, and demonstrating that the UK was “open for business”.

He added that he would be working closely with Business Secretary Vince Cable on banking reform.

There were discussions on foreign policy, including the situation in Afghanistan, and the parliamentary timetable.

The meeting ended with the Cabinet agreeing to a five percent pay cut for all ministers and a ministerial pay freeze for the lifetime of the Parliament.

Last night the PM, Mr Clegg and other senior Cabinet ministers attended their first meeting of the Government’s new National Security Council.

Nick Clegg appointed Deputy Prime Minister

Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister.

It has been agreed that five Cabinet posts will be filled by Liberal Democrats, including the appointment of Nick Clegg.

Establishment of a National Security Council

The Prime Minister is to establish a National Security Council (NSC), which will oversee all aspects of Britain’s security.

The Prime Minister has appointed Sir Peter Ricketts (Permanent Undersecretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) as his National Security Adviser, a new role based in the Cabinet Office. Sir Peter will establish the new National Security Council structures, and coordinate and deliver the Government’s international security agenda.

The Council will coordinate responses to the dangers we face, integrating at the highest level the work of the foreign, defence, home, energy and international development departments, and all other arms of government contributing to national security.

The Council will be chaired by the Prime Minister. Permanent members will be the Deputy Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Secretary of State for International Development and the Security Minister.

Other Cabinet Ministers, including the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, will attend as required. The Chief of the Defence Staff, Heads of Intelligence Agencies and other Senior Officials will also attend as required.

The inaugural meeting of the NSC will be chaired by the Prime Minister this afternoon. The Council will discuss the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and review the terrorist threat to the UK.

New PM Cameron promises 'better times'

Press Association/ The Independent

David Cameron entered 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister tonight promising to lead Britain through to "better times ahead".

Arriving from his audience at Buckingham Palace where he formally "kissed hands" with the Queen, the Conservative leader said he intended to form a "full and proper" coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

President Barack Obama calls David Cameron

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the UK-US special relationship during a phone conversation tonight.

In a statement following the call, President Obama said:

“Today, I was pleased to call David Cameron to extend my personal congratulations for the successful campaign that he ran and for becoming the new British Prime Minister. As I told the Prime Minister, the United States has no closer friend and ally than the United Kingdom, and I reiterated my deep and personal commitment to the special relationship between our two countries – a bond that has endured for generations and across party lines, and that is essential to the security and prosperity of our two countries, and the world. I look forward to meeting with the Prime Minister at the G8/G20 meetings in June, and Michelle and I invited Prime Minister Cameron and his wife Samantha to visit Washington this summer.

“I also send my best wishes to Gordon Brown, and thank him for his friendship and his distinguished service as Prime Minister. He provided strong leadership during challenging times, and I have been grateful for his partnership. This historic election has been closely followed by the American people, and I have no doubt that the ties between our two countries will continue to thrive in the years to come.”

A Downing Street spokesman said:

“The Prime Minister, David Cameron, took a call from President Obama shortly after arriving in Downing Street. The US President offered his congratulations to Mr Cameron on his appointment as Prime Minister. He also invited the Prime Minister to visit the United States in July and said he was looking forward to seeing him in June at G8 and G20 meetings. They also discussed Afghanistan, the Middle East Peace Process and Iran.”

Gulf-based Brits could decide General Election: April 20th last day for voter registration

The General Election of May 6th could be one of the closest for a generation and Brits based in the Gulf could influence the decision in a number of constituencies,

Heather Harper, Patron of Gulf Tories, says that key constituencies like Hammersmith and Crawley could be enough to decide the result. "In these areas, less than 100 votes each way are predicted to be enough to decide the outcome not only for that constituency but for the election as a whole. As it is estimated that there are perhaps as many as 100,000 eligible British voters in the GCC it is very possible that the result of the British General Election could turn on overseas votes."

Talking about the campaign to get expatriates living in the Gulf region registered to vote, Gulf Tories chairman, Douglas Hansen-Luke, said; “For the last three months this group have been alerting locally-based British citizens of their right to vote and how to go about it.”

Talking about the role expatriates can play in the Conservative plans after the manifesto launch, Philip Dunne, Deputy Chairman of the International Office of the Conservative party, with responsibility for Conservatives Abroad said “British citizens living overseas have a role to play in helping to solve the big problems the UK faces and help change the country for the better.. Living and working overseas, British expats can help promote British services and products, skills, technologies and education around the world. Our expats will only do that if they feel a part of what is going on in Britain today. The Conservative Manifesto invites British expats to get involved.”

Countdown to General Election

British urged to register soon as election date approaches - The National Newspaper

source: loveday morris, the national, abu dhabi

ABU DHABI // The 200,000 Britons living in the UAE are being urged to register for voting as a general election looms.

No date has yet been set for the election, but it is widely expected to take place on May 6. Those who leave registration until the election is announced will have just a six-day window to post their forms.

“The key really is that people should register as soon as possible,” said Euan Holloway, a spokesman for the Electoral Commission, an independent watchdog.

“If you wait for the announcement, you’ve only got six working days to register, so if you are out in the UAE, and have to post your registration forms back to the UK, that doesn’t leave much time. To minimise the risk of missing out, we are saying do it now.”

The election will be announced 17 working days before Britain goes to the polls, with the deadline for registration 11 working days before the vote. British citizens living abroad can register as overseas voters if they registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years.

There are several voting options – postal voting, proxy voting or proxy postal voting, but all involve posting registration forms back to Britain. Residents cannot vote at the British Embassy.

The commission said voters further afield should not use postal ballots since they were sent out about a week before the election.

“The rule of thumb we say to everyone outside Europe is proxy is probably best unless you have a superb postal system,” said Mr Holloway.

Using the proxy vote option, an overseas resident can nominate a person they trust to vote on their behalf. If that person does not live in the same constituency, they can vote through a postal proxy vote.

Full details and registration forms are available at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.

Do you live in Hammersmith or Fulham?

Do you live in Hammersmith or Fulham? If so then the British Conservative Party are saying that your country needs you!

Calling from one of the most marginal of seats in the UK, Hammersmith and Fulham's campaign worker Tara Douglas-Home has contacted Gulf Tories to ask expats to register and vote for the Conservatives.

"Our constituency is one of the most closely fought in the country. Even an extra 100 votes from Londoners based in the Gulf could decide the vote in our Hammersmith and that in turn could make a real difference to the result of the General Election overall."

"In the 2000 US Presidential election just a handful of votes in Florida decided Bush's victory over Al Gore.", says Heather Harper, Patron of Gulf Tories, "We think that there are around 10 constituencies in Britain where the result could be as significant. Hammersmith and Fulham is one of those seats and we have pledged to get their message out in the Middle East."

Anyone British citizen who has a property in Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush or is registered to vote open is able to play a part.

Whatever your Party, for more information on how to register and vote either contact Gillian Fischer, Campaign Co-ordinator for Gulf Tories (gillian.fischer@gulftories.com) or visit these websites www.dontleaveyourvoteathome.com and www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/british_citizens_living_abroad.aspx

"Want to make a difference?"

Britain's ‘Conservatives Abroad’ are pushing out the urgent message to UK nationals that they can make a difference in the forthcoming general election.

To be able to vote and make a difference, Britons abroad must register before the end of March. All British citizens who have been registered in a constituency at any point over the last fifteen years are entitled to vote and this year every vote will count.

In the latest polls the Conservative lead over Labour is just 2%. This is well within the margin of error of polling and essentially means that the vote could go either way.

For those of any party wanting to make a difference, Gulf Tories are recommending that potential voters visit one of these two sites http://www.dontleaveyourvoteathome.com or www.aboutmyvote.co.uk to download the Electoral Commission's registration form. They also recommend that to ensure votes arrive on time it is best to nominate friends or relations to act as proxy.

For further comment on British politics or advice on how to register and vote please contact: Gillian Fischer at gillian.fischer@gulftories.com

Heather Harper: General Election is biggest chance to change Government in decade

Heather Harper, Patron of Gulf Tories, says that Britain's coming General Election presents the biggest chance in over a decade to change the Government but that the result is still close to call.

If you are British and were formerly registered in any of the following constituencies, then this could be your chance to make a real difference:

Battersea
Crawley
Croydon Central
Fulham
Hammersmith
Harlow
Sittingbourne and Sheppey

In each of these areas, less than 100 votes each way are predicted to be enough to decide the outcome not only for that constituency but for the election as a whole. As it is estimated that there are perhaps as many as 100,000 eligible British voters in the GCC it is very possible that the result of the British General Election could turn on overseas votes.

For this reason Gulf Tories are working hard throughout the GCC to ensure that every UK national is made aware of what's at stake and how to register to vote.
The deadline to register to vote is 31st March.

Forms can be downloaded at www.don'tleaveyourvoteathome.com or http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

For more information on how to register or vote, Gulf Tories recommend contacting their campaign co-ordinator Gillian Fischer on gillian.fischer@gulftories.com

Electoral Commission: Please exercise your right to vote!

David Cameron: Our country needs a change of course

Samantha Cameron gives frank TV interview

Time is running out for expats to register to vote

Assuming the date of the General Election is May 6th, there are just 35 days left for expats to register to vote to ensure that they will have the opportunity to have their say. Please pass this message to any British citizens you know living overseas.

Labour's debt crisis

Britain can't afford another year of Labour

David Cameron: Good government costs less with the Conservatives

It's great to be back in Wales. It's four years since I first addressed this conference. Back then we were just a footnote in Welsh politics. And just look at what we've done since then.

We've won council seats in Denbighshire, in Powys, in Pembrokeshire. We're running councils in Monmouthshire and the Vale of Glamorgan.

We've got over sixty more councillors in cities, towns and villages and even in Labour's heartland, and yes, even deep in the valleys, even in the Rhonda let's not forget Joel James - he may be the only Conservative in the village but were proud of the progress we've made.

And four years ago, who would have thought that the Conservative Party could top the poll in Wales beating Labour for the first time since the First World War, like we did in last year's European elections? Forget 'how green was my valley' it should be 'how blue is my valley' because the great dragon of Welsh Conservatism has awoken once more. So I want to thank you for everything you've done. And I especially want to thank Cheryl and Nick. You have dedicated yourselves to our revival in Wales. You have led our campaigns from the front. And you should both feel incredibly proud of what you have achieved.

FIVE MORE YEARS

Yes, you've all been working hard. But today I'm here to ask you to double your efforts. That general election is just over sixty days away. This isn't an election that it would be quite nice to win. It is an election it is absolutely essential we win because our country is in a complete mess and we have to turn it around. Everyone knows five more years of Gordon Brown would be a disaster for this country. Another five years of his spending, bloat, waste, debt and taxes. Another five years of failing to get to grips with our big social problems. Another five years in our politics of that big, top-down, bossy "I know best" sort of approach.

That's why the choice at the next election is as simple as this: Five more years of Gordon Brown's tired government making things worse or change with the Conservatives, who have the energy, leadership and values to get the country moving again. Change in our economy, backing aspiration and opportunity and aspiration for all. Change in our society, encouraging responsibility and backing those who do the right thing. And change in our politics, giving people more power and control over their lives

THE CHOICE IN WALES

And Wales needs that change as much as anywhere else in Britain. In fact, I'd argue it needs it even more. Do you know what Peter Hain said last month? He said "compared with Rwanda...Wales is indeed still a wealthy country". Now, I've been to Rwanda and it's a beautiful place. And I'm proud that Conservative Party volunteers have been there to help out in social action projects.

But what does it say about this Government - and these Ministers - when they compare Wales to the 17th poorest country on the planet? What does it say about this Government - and these Ministers - when the scale of their ambitions for Wales do not seem to go beyond a country that in the last twenty years has been ravaged by war and genocide? What does it say about this Government - and these Ministers - when they think the Welsh should put up with this and just be thankful for what they get?

I tell you what it says. It says this Government is arrogant, out-of-touch and has completely lost any right to govern. So at this election, I want you to show your real passion and anger at how Labour have let down Wales. Because there is a simple fact about what's happened here in the past decade. There's not just a border separating Wales and the rest of the UK - there's a prosperity gap. And under Labour it's got deeper and wider. This is the poorest nation on these islands. It has the highest rates of unemployment and the highest rates of child poverty. There is only one word for what Labour have done in Wales this last decade: failure and I don't want you to let anyone forget it. But more than that, I want you to tell the people of this great country that it doesn't have to be like this. Explain to them the real difference between Labour's approach and the Conservative way.

Take the economy. Labour think you get the economy moving by opening up the big government toolbox, pulling out the old tools like regional development agencies and new initiatives and trying to crank it to life from on high. We understand that in the end it's not government that will get the Welsh economy growing it's enterprise, it's entrepreneurs, people with a great idea and the courage to start their own business. That's why we'll cut corporation tax rates, abolish taxes on the first ten jobs created by new businesses and get people off welfare and into work.

And look at our different approach to our biggest social problems. Labour say we're wrong to talk about mending our broken society. But when there are towns in Wales where one in five of the working age population live on benefits when one in ten are on some type of incapacity benefit when there are 140 violent crimes a day in this country when about 500 people in Wales die each year from alcohol when so many children are deprived the structure of stable family life how can you pretend our society doesn't need mending? We need a government that's going to face up to the facts, roll up their sleeves and get on with the job. That's exactly what we'll do. It's our ambition to make Britain the most family-friendly country in Europe, by recognising marriage in the tax system, supporting couples in the benefits system and fighting back against crime.

And there is a massive difference in the way Labour and the Conservatives see our politics. Labour see a system that is fundamentally sound but just needs a bit of tinkering to sort out the expenses scandal. We see a top-down, bossy, power-hoarding, unaccountable relic that needs to be re-built from the bottom up. Yes, we'll sort out expenses - and we've been leading the way on that - but we need to go much further.We will give everyone in Wales a sense that they are in control of their own destiny. That's why we'll reduce the number of MPs, cut Whitehall bureaucracy by a third and make our politics more local, more transparent and more accountable.

That's the difference between Labour and the Conservatives. Inaction vs action. Defeat vs optimism. Despair for Wales vs hope for Wales. There's no iron law that says Labour must win in Wales. So at this election, I want you to get out there and fight, fight for our party and fight for the change we want bring above all, fight for Wales and fight for the future of Britain.

DEVOLUTION

But let me say this, whatever the outcome in Wales at the next election, we want a relationship of co-operation, not confrontation, between Westminster and Cardiff. I will be a Prime Minister who acts on the voice of the Welsh people and will maintain strong relationships with the Assembly Government. That's why I'm happy to come to the Assembly each year and make myself available to answer questions on any subject. It's why I want Westminster Ministers appearing in front of Assembly committees - and Assembly Ministers appearing in front of Westminster committees. And it's why I will always support devolution and make sure it works for the benefit of everyone. And if people in Wales want a referendum on full law-making powers that is a matter for them - so a Conservative Government will not block it. But let's resolve right here and right now that we will be the ones who stop the endless round of arguments that too often block progress in Wales - and start working together to build this country's future.

THE BIG QUESTION IN POLITICS

But today I don't just want to talk to you about how we can secure the future of Wales, I want to set out how we can secure the future of the United Kingdom itself. The greatest task of all will be getting to grips with the monster budget deficit that Labour have created. I think people know by now that the Conservatives are the ones with the grit and the guts to cut public spending to cut the deficit. We've been upfront that there will have to be cuts, upfront about where they will come and upfront that they will have to start straightaway. And people say 'yes, we agree with the Conservatives when they say they want to cut the deficit.' But when we also talk about our big ambitions to reform schools, shake-up welfare, help the poorest in society, they can sometimes think: "hang on a minute, how are you going to make this country better at the same time as dealing with these massive debts?" They're right to ask - because their question goes to the heart of the big argument in British politics today.

At the last few elections, according to Labour the big question in politics was: "who do you trust to spend some more of your money?" That was Gordon Brown's question. Well I've a message for you, Gordon: it's over. There isn't any money left. You've spent it all. No, the question today is this: "how do we make things better without just spending money?" This is the question that will define British politics for the years to come and today, I want to show you how it's only the modern Conservative Party that has the answers.

BIG SPENDING FAILS

We've always known that you don't improve things by just spending more money on them. For years now at Prime Minister's Questions I've faced Gordon Brown - and Tony Blair before him - droning on about resources going up, spending going up, investment going up...all to cheers from the Labour benches. They were always less forthcoming about what that money had actually bought. Social mobility, Stagnant. Inequality, rising. Hundreds of thousands more living in severe poverty. They thought it was all about money. It wasn't. And no there is no money left there is nothing left to say. Labour never understand that it's not the numbers on the government cheque that count but the number of people who are lifted out of poverty; who get a chance in life; who get helped or cured or taught or given the opportunity to live their dream .... that's what it's about.

MORE FOR LESS

So after all this waste, all this failure and now all this debt, it falls to us, the modern Conservative Party, to restore hope in all those Labour have let down. Showing government can be smarter, better, more imaginative and more competent. Explaining how we can make things better without just spending money, how we can deliver more for less. More for less is not some pie-in-the-sky political promise. It's something that businesses up and down the country do day-in, day-out. They think: how can I deliver more for my customers while reducing my costs? Imagine if they took the Labour approach, believing that every reduction in spending and costs was automatically a calamity for their customers.

Think of the advertising. Good food costs more at Sainsburys. Not "Every little helps" from Tesco, but "Every little Hurts". Businesses are constantly looking for creative ways to get more bang for their buck. Reforming work practices. Buying wholesale when they can. Eradicating duplication. Innovating new delivery systems. Cutting out waste. We need to bring that business sense and imagination to government.

Let me make clear: we are not offering a simple efficiency drive. We're not promising that the path to less spending and better public services is paved with just a few well-chosen cuts. What we propose is something entirely different - something so bold and radical I would call it a whole new type of government. Where it spends money, how it spends money, the way it spends money - that's all got to change. We're going to shape government in a way it has never existed before so we use our instincts as Conservatives, our understanding of how people and communities really work and the latest technology to deliver more for less.

And this means doing three things in particular: First, tackling the root causes of our social problems so that we can make millions of lives better while at the same time reducing the costs on the state. Second, reforming our public services so we deliver both choice and efficiency. And third, making government more local and more transparent so we cut waste as well as improve outcomes. Let me take each in turn.

REDUCING THE DEMANDS ON THE STATE

First, reducing the long-term demands on the state. In plain English that means asking the obvious question: why is public spending so high in the first place? We spend so much on prisons because there is too much crime. We spend so much on welfare because there are too many people not properly equipped for work. We spend so much on health because our lifestyles are so unhealthy. We need to rewind and ask: what are the causes of these things? Do you know how much social breakdown costs our country each year? Over £100 billion. That's one and a half thousand pounds for every person in our country. That money gets spent on the family that's broken, the man who's never known what it is to work, the child who's growing up in desperate circumstances, the communities who live in fear of violence and crime and it passes through our education system, our healthcare system, our criminal justice system, our care system, our welfare system.

Now just imagine if we got to grips with our social problems - gave everyone the hope that comes with work; every child the chance that comes with love; every community the purpose that comes with security. We would make life so much better for so many people. And we'd also massively reduce the bills for government. In other words, delivering more for less. The question is: how do we do that?

And here, there's a real difference between our approach and Labour's approach. Labour's approach is just to treat the symptoms of our big social problems by spending more money. For example, when it comes to poverty they think a tax credit here or a benefit change there will make all the difference. But all this does is keep people stuck in poverty while at the same time leaving the state with an ongoing role. Our approach is to tackle the root causes of poverty, like welfare dependency, addiction, debt, poor schooling and above all, family breakdown, so the state is no longer so dominant. That's why we have put such focus on school reform, welfare reform and strengthening families, giving people the chance to lift themselves up and out of poverty, breaking the cycles that have existed for generations, and being the ones who will make British poverty history.

PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM

The second way we can deliver more for less is through reform of our public services. In 2001 Gordon Brown said "there is not going to be one penny more until we get the changes" we need to reform our public services. But there's been trillions of pennies since then - and where's the reform? It was blocked. By guess who? Gordon Brown.

He now poses as the champion of public service reform. The truth is that he is to reforming public services what Nero was to fire safety or Tiger Woods to marital fidelity. Speak to doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers and they'll tell you what a nightmare it is working in Labour's bureaucratic state machine. They start out idealistic, they go into their training because they have a vocation, they have a love for what they do but that passion is being killed. It's death by a thousand tick boxes, targets, performance indicators, inspection regimes. They're left feeling demoralised, disrespected, disillusioned. Most of all they're pulling their hair out because they see all that money being wasted and they know that it could be spent so much better. That's why our reforms will all led by this common, clear Conservative principle: Public services work better when they're driven from the bottom-up, by people on the frontline. So we're going to take apart the centralised apparatus of command and control and we're going to give that power to people who work in our public services - even going as far as giving them the chance to take complete ownership of the organisation they work for in.

We'll also smash open the state monopoly and open the door to charities and private companies who can play a part in the public sector. And we'll pay them all by the results they achieve. To those who say 'you can't do that', I say 'of course we can - and of course we must.' Our reforms will unleash a new culture of public sector innovation, giving higher morale, better results, lower costs and - you've got it - more for less.

CUTTING WASTE

All these changes will have a profound impact on how much government spends. But the truth is it may take years to feel many of the benefits - and we can't afford to wait that long. We need to start getting more for less from day one. So there is a third component to our plans - cutting out waste. Labour's spendaholic culture needs no introduction. This is the Government that has elevated money-burning to an art form. We've all got our own ridiculous Labour waste story.

Since 2003, this Government have paid out £10 million in tax credits - to people who are actually dead. Then there's an agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills - they spent, and I promise this is true, £12,000 on branded golf balls. Or how about the Department for International Development? They spent £240,000 on Brazilian dancing in London. Here in Wales you had the huge upheaval of 22 health boards, launched to a great fanfare and scrapped just six years later.

And of course, no list of Labour waste can be complete without Ed Balls. You don't suffer his rule in Wales, but your taxes pay for it, so let me share this with you. His Department for Children, Schools and Families reportedly spent £3 million on lavish new offices - which included a massage room and 'contemplation suite'. While we're on that department, I found my own story this week. Flicking through the Guardian I saw an advert they'd placed taking up a third of a page of prime-time space. Sadly they weren't advertising for a new Secretary of State. They were asking people - and let me quote this accurately - 'to put questions to the National Strategies about primary children's writing.' Leave aside the question of how you put a question to a strategy; just think of the bureaucratic carnival of waste behind an ad like this. A group of civil servants emerge, presumably from the 'contemplation suite' with a novel idea. They want to set up a taskforce for primary reading. The taskforce books a weekend away to devise a strategy. The strategy needs further thought so they hire consultants. Then there's the branding. The auditing. The monitoring. The strategy needs to be legally reviewed, peer reviewed, benchmarked, mentored and mainstreamed but not before there's an allocation resources impact assessment.Then they call the communications department to create a website, design an ad and get it placed.

I could have saved them all that bother and all that money. Writing is about the imagination. What you need is some great teachers, some good books, some pencils and some paper. Is that really too difficult? Now of course, the golf balls, the dancers, the lavish offices, the advertising campaigns - these are just the small examples of waste under Labour. There have been monumental ones too. The £4.5 billion spent - each year - on NHS bureaucracy. That's more than we spend on maternity and reproductive health. The £3 billion lost in benefit fraud and error. That's more than we spend on winter fuel payments. Every pound Labour waste is a pound that should be spent on keeping us safe, educating our children, improving our hospitals. That's why their spendaholic culture isn't a diverting amusement or a mild irritation - it is a complete outrage and we will obliterate it.

I know there are those who will hear us talking about cut waste and say "you'll be no different, you'll have your pet projects, you'll go native when you start living in the land of bureaucrats". So let me explain why we'll be different. We'll be different because we are different. First, our attitude is different. Conservatives loathe waste. Efficiency is in our DNA. We never forget that fundamental fact about public money, which is that it's public, it's yours, not ours. It doesn't undergo some magical transformation at the Treasury to become government money. Those are the same pounds that were earned by you on the factory floor, on the hospital ward, in the office and we will never forget that we have a moral duty not to spend your money but to save it where we can.

Second, our philosophy is different. We don't believe in top-down control; we believe in local control. We don't believe in taking power; we believe in giving it away. And this will have a massive impact on our quest to cut out waste and deliver more for less. It's not just that a pound spent closer is a pound spent wiser - by those who really know the needs of a local community. It's also that a pound spent closer is a pound spent more efficiently - by those who have an interest in keeping costs down.

And third, our approach is different. I don't think people get quite how radical we propose to be. The next Conservative government will be the first genuinely post-bureaucratic government in the world. We will ditch all the wasteful, costly, old-world bureaucratic methods and instead use post-bureaucratic tools. And when it comes to cutting waste, nothing is more important to this agenda than transparency. We're going to publish every item of government spending over £25,000 online. And we're going to publish every government contract worth over £25,000 in full - every clause, every performance measure, every penalty trigger - too.

Think what this simple act of throwing things open will mean. It will mean an army of 'armchair auditors' will be crawling all over the books, scrutinising them and acting as a straitjacket on wasteful spending. It will mean the Minister who lazily signs off a monster contract without checking if he could get it cheaper will be caught out and will have to answer for their actions. It will mean that businesses and social enterprises can compete to offer better government services for less money. I defy anyone to call our plans of changing the way government works timid. They are bold - and they will make a massive difference. And they are why we can look the British people in the eye and say a Tory pound will go further than a Labour pound...that good government costs less with the Conservatives.

CONCLUSION

We know what we're fighting for. When you're out there on the doorstep, when you're writing a leaflet at 2am, when you're pounding the streets for hours I want you to keep two pictures of Wales in your mind.

First, an image of Wales under Labour. Limping on with high unemployment, increasing child poverty and a government who puts this country in the same bracket as a developing nation. Then alongside that, a vision of Wales with a Conservative government. It would be a more confident Wales, with public spending under control and the deficit being cut. A more prosperous Wales, with enterprise unleashed and jobs created. And a more family-friendly Wales, with marriage recognised in the tax system and parents given more time with their children.

These two visions of Wales are so far apart, but they come together in the polling booth with the real choice that people have at this election. It's our job to keep explaining that choice for the next sixty days. Yes, we have a fight on our hands, but believe me - the Wales that would emerge from our victory - a confident, prosperous, family friendly Wales - will be worth it. So let's get out there and win it.