UK pledges £1.5b to power skills and industry in decade-long growth blueprint
LONDON, June 22 — Britain is poised to publish a 10-year, multibillion-pound industrial strategy next week aimed at backing priority sectors, creating jobs and driving long-term economic growth.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has been working on a blueprint for the next decade as part of its wider 'Plan for Change', under which it seeks to overhaul the country's skills system, support innovation, and channel fresh investment into high-growth areas.
Britain has so far pledged more than £1.5 billion (RM8.5 billion) to be delivered through a series of targeted government funds to support skills development, creative industries and sport. Announcing today £275 million to support the training of thousands in roles such as engineering and defence roles, business minister Jonathan Reynolds said the strategy would be 'powered by investing in British people.'
'It will help transform our skills system to end the overreliance on foreign labour, and ensure British workers can secure good, well-paid jobs in the industries of tomorrow.'
Alex Veitch, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, welcomed Reynolds' pledge.
'The extra cash investment for training in key sectors, such as defence and engineering, has the potential to be a real springboard for growth,' Veitch said.
The government has previously said it would radically change its approach to defence to address threats from Russia, nuclear risks and cyber-attacks.
In February, Starmer pledged the largest sustained increase in British defence spending since the end of the Cold War, in response to US President Donald Trump's insistence that Europe take more responsibility for its own security.
Other pledges
The government has also pledged a £380-million boost for creative industries from film to video games, and more than £900 million to stage major sporting events and upgrade grassroots facilities. But business groups say high energy costs remain a serious threat to UK industry and have urged ministers to act.
A June report from manufacturing association Make UK warned that without government intervention, Britain's energy-intensive sectors could face long-term decline. It called for measures such as network cost reform, targeted relief schemes and more predictable energy pricing. Finance minister Rachel Reeves acknowledged those pressures in her June 12 spending review, which set out departmental budgets and outlined more than 10 billion pounds of investment in green infrastructure and industrial decarbonisation.
She said the government would support energy-efficiency upgrades and back the development of low-carbon technologies and confirmed the creation of a British Industrial Strategy Council to oversee the delivery of the government's growth plans. — Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
UK pledges £1.5b to power skills and industry in decade-long growth blueprint
LONDON, June 22 — Britain is poised to publish a 10-year, multibillion-pound industrial strategy next week aimed at backing priority sectors, creating jobs and driving long-term economic growth. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has been working on a blueprint for the next decade as part of its wider 'Plan for Change', under which it seeks to overhaul the country's skills system, support innovation, and channel fresh investment into high-growth areas. Britain has so far pledged more than £1.5 billion (RM8.5 billion) to be delivered through a series of targeted government funds to support skills development, creative industries and sport. Announcing today £275 million to support the training of thousands in roles such as engineering and defence roles, business minister Jonathan Reynolds said the strategy would be 'powered by investing in British people.' 'It will help transform our skills system to end the overreliance on foreign labour, and ensure British workers can secure good, well-paid jobs in the industries of tomorrow.' Alex Veitch, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, welcomed Reynolds' pledge. 'The extra cash investment for training in key sectors, such as defence and engineering, has the potential to be a real springboard for growth,' Veitch said. The government has previously said it would radically change its approach to defence to address threats from Russia, nuclear risks and cyber-attacks. In February, Starmer pledged the largest sustained increase in British defence spending since the end of the Cold War, in response to US President Donald Trump's insistence that Europe take more responsibility for its own security. Other pledges The government has also pledged a £380-million boost for creative industries from film to video games, and more than £900 million to stage major sporting events and upgrade grassroots facilities. But business groups say high energy costs remain a serious threat to UK industry and have urged ministers to act. A June report from manufacturing association Make UK warned that without government intervention, Britain's energy-intensive sectors could face long-term decline. It called for measures such as network cost reform, targeted relief schemes and more predictable energy pricing. Finance minister Rachel Reeves acknowledged those pressures in her June 12 spending review, which set out departmental budgets and outlined more than 10 billion pounds of investment in green infrastructure and industrial decarbonisation. She said the government would support energy-efficiency upgrades and back the development of low-carbon technologies and confirmed the creation of a British Industrial Strategy Council to oversee the delivery of the government's growth plans. — Reuters
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Thousands march in Europe demanding Gaza ceasefire, decrying Israel-Iran escalation
LONDON, June 22 — Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in European cities yesterday calling for an end to the war in Gaza, amid concerns the Iran-Israel conflict could spark wider regional devastation. In London, AFP journalists saw tens of thousands of protesters, who waved Palestinian flags as they marched through the British capital clad in keffiyeh scarves. In Berlin, more than 10,000 people gathered in the centre of the city in support of Gaza, according to police figures. And in the Swiss capital Bern, march organisers estimated that 20,000 people rallied in front of the national parliament, urging the government to back a ceasefire. There have been monthly protests in the British capital since the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, which has ravaged Gaza. Yesterday, protesters there carried signs including 'Stop arming Israel' and 'No war on Iran' as they marched in the sweltering heat. 'It's important to remember that people are suffering in Gaza. I fear all the focus will be on Iran now,' said 34-year-old Harry Baker. 'I don't have great love for the Iranian regime, but we are now in a dangerous situation.' This was his third pro-Palestinian protest, he added. Regional fears Yesterday's marches comes amid heightened global tensions as the United States mulls joining Israel's strikes against Iran. Tehran said yesterday that more than 400 people had been killed in Iran since Israel launched strikes last week claiming its arch-foe was close to acquiring a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies. Some 25 people have been killed in Israel, according to official figures. One marcher in London, a 31-year-old Iranian student who did not want to share her name, told AFP she had family in Iran and was 'scared'. 'I'm worried about my country. I know the regime is not good but it's still my country. I'm scared,' she said. Gaza is suffering from famine-like conditions according to UN agencies in the region following an Israeli aid blockade. Gaza's civil defence agency has reported that hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach the US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution sites. 'People need to keep their eyes on Gaza. That's where the genocide is happening,' said 60-year-old protester Nicky Marcus. 'Scared' In Berlin, demonstrators gathered mid-afternoon close to the parliament, some chanting 'Germany finances, Israel bombs'. 'You can't sit on the sofa and be silent. Now is the time when we all need to speak up,' said protester Gundula, who did not want to give her second name. For Marwan Radwan, the point of the protest was to bring attention to the 'genocide currently taking place' and the 'dirty work' being done by the German government. In Bern, demonstrators carried banners calling on the federal government to intervene in the war in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinians. The rally there was called by organisations including Amnesty International, the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Swiss Trade Union Federation. Slogans included 'Stop the occupation', 'Stop the starvation, stop the violence', and 'Right to self-determination'. Some marchers chanted: 'We are all the children of Gaza'. The overall death toll in Gaza since the war broke out has reached at least 55,637 people, according to the health ministry. Israel has denied it is carrying out a genocide and says it aims to wipe out Hamas after the Islamist group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people. — AFP
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Starmer says Irish rap group Kneecap shouldn't play Glastonbury
LONDON, June 22 — UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday said it was not 'appropriate' for Irish group Kneecap to perform at Glastonbury, one of the country's biggest and most famous music festivals. Asked in an interview by The Sun tabloid whether the Irish rap trio should perform at the iconic festival next week, Starmer responded: 'No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this. 'This is about the threats that shouldn't be made. I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate,' he added. Kneecap has made headlines with their outspoken pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel stance, with one of their members charged with a 'terror' offence for allegedly supporting Hezbollah. Last Wednesday, Liam O'Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, appeared in court accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag while saying 'Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah' at a concert that took place in London last year. The Iran-backed Lebanese force Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are banned in the UK, and it is an offence to show support for them. Glastonbury festival, attracting hundreds of thousands of music fans from around the world, is set to take place in at Worthy Farm in southeast England next week starting June 25. Kneecap is due to perform on Saturday June 28 on the West Holts Stage. The government had previously called on the organisers of Glastonbury festival to 'think carefully' about the band's planned appearance there. The group has been pulled from a slew of summer gigs since, including a Scottish festival appearance and various performances in Germany. During their performances, rapping in Irish and English, Kneecap often lead chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and display the Palestinian flag. The group apologised this year after a 2023 video emerged appearing to show one singer calling for the death of British Conservative MPs. But they deny the terrorism charge and say the video featuring the flag has been taken out of context. O'Hanna, Liam Og O Hannaidh in Gaelic, who has been granted unconditional bail, told London's Wide Awake Festival in May the charge was an attempt to 'silence us'. The group, which shot to fame with their biting, provocative song lyrics and an award-winning docu-fiction based on them, slammed it as 'political policing' and 'a carnival of distraction'. — AFP
