Latest news with #HMSQueenElizabeth
Times
17 minutes ago
- Politics
- Times
Times letters: Britain and the tinderbox in the Middle East
Write to letters@ Sir, Sir Keir Starmer has called on Iran to 'return to the negotiating table' after the US bombed its nuclear sites. But treating Iran as a legitimate negotiating partner while it refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist only reinforces Tehran's rejectionist stance. History provides a clear road map: recognition leads to peace. Of the 164 countries that now recognise Israel, none are engaged in active warfare with it. Egypt's recognition in 1979 ended decades of conflict. Jordan's recognition in 1994 transformed enemies into sometime partners. The Abraham Accords demonstrated that recognition can unlock prosperity and co-operation even without resolving every regional grievance. Regional issues need and deserve resolution but they cannot be resolved in an environment where a significant power actively works towards the destruction of Israel. Negotiations remain preferable to conflict, but Israel needs to be involved in these talks as a recognised sovereign state. Without recognition and meaningful bilateral negotiations between Israel and Iran, the present situation will continue as a zero-sum game, which Israel simply cannot afford to lose. Tony Morcowitz Brighton and Hove Sir, When Sir Keir Starmer announced the Chagos Islands giveaway, he said that surrendering sovereignty was necessary because the UK had to be seen to uphold international law. Now he has gone on to publish statements in support of the US bombing of Iran. He is publicly supporting a flagrant breach of international law forbidding unprovoked attacks on other nations and, indeed, is speaking in defiance of advice from his attorney-general warning that any attack on Iran could be illegal. The government asserted that the international-law principles embodied by the Chagos deal would earn Britain respect in the 'global south', but in light of the UK's support for Israeli-American actions against Iran, all that the rest of the world will now observe is that Britain's commitment to international law is equivocal and inconsistent. Robert Frazer Salford Sir, International events emphasise the paucity of the UK's air defences, in particular the capability to counter attacks by ballistic missiles. Should the situation deteriorate to the extent that we are threatened, this will be critical, with Britain's best anti-missile defence platforms being six Type 45 destroyers, one of which is deployed with HMS Queen Elizabeth. Other Type 45s may or may not be available, with a number in refit, but ship-based systems are insufficient to defend the entire nation. Recent announcements on defence, from the strategic defence review through to promises to raise spending by a few percentage points in future, will do nothing to repair our non-existent integrated air defence. The government needs to act now and procure anti-ballistic systems. Group Captain Michael Norris St Austell, Cornwall Sir, In the raid on RAF Brize Norton (news, Jun 21), one of the engines on the Voyager aircraft was so badly damaged by the red paint sprayed on it by Palestine Action activists that it is said that the tanker is out of action and a new engine will cost £25 million. Surely this is nonsense: our planes are so vulnerable than an enemy would only have to drop paint over them to make them useless in war time? Brian RJ Simpson Gosport, Hants Sir, My father, Michael Beetham, was station commander of RAF Khormaksar in Aden, Yemen, in the mid-1960s, during a period of heightened tensions. As a small boy, I watched as he set off in the evenings to drive around the perimeter fence in his Land Rover. Sometimes he took me with him. He would stop and talk to personnel and inspect fences. He went on to be the longest-serving Chief of the Air Staff since Lord Trenchard, founder of the RAF. I wonder who carries out such checks these days at bases like Brize Norton? Alex Beetham Woodditton, Cambs Sir, There are many reasons why the House of Lords may not survive in its present form. Hubris is certainly one. For unnamed peers to tell The Times that they will use 'black arts' to 'kill off' the assisted dying bill and employ 'every means possible' to prevent it becoming law is hubris of the highest order (news, Jun 21). The Lords can and should seek to improve the bill through its scrutiny. That is indeed its role. But to seek fundamentally to thwart the will of the elected Commons is not. It is not just the future of the bill that will be at stake in this regard. So too will the future of an unelected second chamber. Sir Leigh Lewis Watford Sir, In just three days the concept of laws being based on Judeo-Christian principles has been removed by the House of Commons. Aborting a full-term unborn child will no longer be a criminal offence and assisting someone to kill themselves was approved. MPs have replaced a morality based on respect for life by a culture of death. Neither these changes were in the Labour Party manifesto and the House of Lords should therefore not feel constrained in refusing to endorse them. Nicholas Bennett Minister of health for Wales, 1990-92; Bromley, Kent Sir, I am horrified by the moral ambiguity demonstrated by the government. After endless debate, the third reading of the assisted dying bill has narrowly been passed, a compassionate piece of legislation that will give terminally ill people more control over their lives. By contrast, after only two hours' debate the government has amended abortion regulations to allow women to have a termination at any stage of their pregnancy, without fear of prosecution. The 24-week limit for legal abortion was set to protect viable foetuses. This amendment sanctions the murder of babies capable of leading independent lives. I hope there is sufficient wisdom among the members of the House of Lords to persuade the Commons to rethink the unethical decision they have made. Frances MacDonald Stratford-upon-Avon Sir, The reports that HS2 may now cost £100 billion came in the same week that Nice concluded the known benefits of the new Alzheimer's drugs lecanemab and donanemab do not justify the expense of funding them through the public healthcare system (news, Jun 19; letter, Jun 21). Given that the government is likely to have to make stark choices in its next budget, the choice of either cutting 30 minutes off journey times between London to Birmingham or extending the meaningful lives of thousands of people each year could not be starker. If Rachel Reeves's repeated statements that her decisions reflect the choice of the people are true, then let's ask them directly which they'd rather have. Dr Barry Johnson Sheffield Sir, Settle to Carlisle is now seen as one of the world's greatest railway journeys. However, the line started out in difficulty and there are some interesting comparisons to be made with HS2. The estimate to build the line was £2 million, but the challenges of building a route through the Pennines resulted in the cost and time to completion doubling. The line opened to freight traffic 150 years ago (passengers a year later). The final cost was about £500 million in today's money, and it took five years to build. Admittedly it is only 72 miles long (compared with 120 miles for HS2) and the hundreds of boys employed were paid half a crown (12.5p) per day. The railway today is a magnificent reminder of the vision of the Midland Railway Company, which sponsored it, and the tenacity and ingenuity of those who overcame the challenges of a hostile environment to build it. I wonder if in 150 years HS2 will be as popular — assuming of course that it is completed. Dr Bryan Gray Hunsonby, Cumbria Sir, It is nothing short of insanity that elite rugby union players are about to embark on a tour to Australia with the British & Irish Lions after another very lengthy domestic season, when there is clear evidence showing a dose-response relationship between head impacts and neurodegenerative disease. The longer and more intensely one plays contact or collision sports, the higher the risk of brain damage. The Lions tour — a gruelling and commercially driven tournament — is being promoted as a pinnacle of achievement. Where is the duty of care to players? Where are the safeguards and transparent risk disclosures? Rugby cannot continue to ignore the realities of repeated brain trauma in pursuit of nostalgia and profit. It must start putting welfare above spectacle. Alix Popham Ret'd professional rugby union player; Welsh international, 33 caps; Newport Sir, You report that the late Queen did indeed carry cash, for betting on the races (news, Jun 21). As a young journalist at The Sun in the Eighties I was sent to report on the Derby. The press box was next to the royal box and we all saw Her Majesty dash down to the front to watch a winner triumph. I was designated to ask her: 'Ma'am, did you have a bet on the winning horse?' I leaned over from the box to be faced by the back of Prince Philip, who was chatting to the Queen. My first attempt was ignored and feeling embarrassed and slightly annoyed I tried again. Philip drifted off and so I repeated the question. 'Did I what?' she replied frostily. Red-faced and sweating I stumbled through it again, when she graced me with a beautiful smile and said: 'Oh no, my dear, I never bet!' The next year a barrier was erected between the two boxes so that she would not be approached again. Muriel Freeman (née Burden) South Shields Sir, Car horns don't need to be loud to be effective (letters, Jun 17-21). When I was living in Bath in the early 1970s I drove an MGB, which I had bought from a friend. He had fitted a trio of strident air horns, but I discovered that if I pressed the button very gently the horns would emit a gasping or panting sound. Being very immature at the time I occasionally made this happen while waiting as a pretty girl crossed the road. This sometimes produced an amused response, but not always. One of the recipients of this attention, a particularly pretty girl, subsequently recognised me when we met at a party and she ticked me off for my uncouth behaviour, which I never repeated. In October we will have been married for 50 years. Richard Le Masurier Milford-on-Sea, Hants Sir, My husband was lucky enough to get ten birthday cards from me last year (letters, 18, 19 & 21). After forgetting to buy one for him I simply added 'and Wendy' to the cards he had received from other people. Wendy Rayner Huddersfield Sir, Dominic Sandbrook's article on class and how to define a gentleman (comment, Jun 21) reminded me of an events notice I saw when stationed in the British Army of the Rhine with the King's Own Scottish Borderers in the mid-60s. Those invited to a Minden Day dance were: 'Officers and their Ladies, NCOs and their Wives, and Other Ranks and their Women-Folk.' Bill Wells Wisbech, Cambs Sir, I've always felt rather proud of the fact that the Yiddish word 'mensch' means much the same as 'gentleman' but without any class implications — or gender implications either; a woman can be a mensch too. Or not, as the case may be. Margaret Lesser Bowdon, Greater Manchester Sir, Mark Twain, as is so often the case, hit the nail on the head. A gentleman, he said, is someone who knows how to play the banjo and doesn't. Dr David Bogod Nottingham Write to letters@
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Yeovil dental hygienist named finalist for Ms Great Britain 2025
A dental hygienist from Yeovil has been named a finalist for the 2025 Ms Great Britain competition. Rafina O'Brien is using her platform to advocate for oral health, support charitable causes, and highlight the Somerset community. Her 'When She Smiles' campaign centres on women's oral health, a frequently neglected issue. She raises awareness of how hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can harm gum and bone health, potentially resulting in severe consequences like low birth weight and premature birth. Ms O'Brien aims to educate women about the importance of taking charge of their dental health through community discussions and online initiatives. She said: "I believe oral health is about much more than just teeth. "It's about confidence, wellbeing, dignity, and overall health — and everyone deserves access to that, no matter their background." She also works with Dentaid, a charity that operates mobile dental units and clinics for people experiencing homelessness. Ms O'Brien volunteers at these clinics, teaches oral hygiene practices to schools and community groups, and organises fundraising events, such as recently completing three ultra-marathons in three months. She also served as the first dental hygienist on the world tour of HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021, as seen in the BBC documentary, The Warship: Tour of Duty.
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
UK 'ready for war' with lasers, robots and AI multi-billion pound army overhaul
Defence Secretary John Healey said the new-look military will include an Army 'ten times more lethal than before' by combining 'drones, technology, autonomy and tanks' Britain has unveiled a 'warfighting readiness' multi-billion pound overhaul of its Armed Forces aimed at building a 'more lethal' military to prepare for war with greater use of artificial intelligence, robots and lasers. A small boost in troop numbers of 3,000 extra soldiers will increase UK forces for the first time in decades in a bid to stop the Tory-led hollowing out of the UK's defences. And Defence Secretary John Healey announced the new-look military will include an Army 'ten times more lethal than before' by combining 'drones, technology, autonomy and tanks.' A near year-long government imposed study of the UK military singles out Russia as the prime enemy with other hostile states China, Iran and North Korea increasingly becoming a threat. The Strategic Defence Review is, according to a senior defence source, 'the most profound change in our Armed Forces' in about 150 years. The source said it is the biggest shift in the UK military since the Franco Prussian war because of the rapid development in technology and artificial intelligence. And the insider added: 'This is the equivalent of the arrival of the submarine, aircraft, the telegraph, nuclear weapons - all arriving at once in the same taxi.' The Strategic Defence Review, published on Monday, recommends more troops, attack submarines, a badly-needed UK 1.5bn air defence system and a boost in cyber weaponry as well as the recommendation to embrace new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robots and lasers. Introducing the SDR Mr Healey pledged to this was the first defence reviews in a generation to expand the military with more troops and better armoured vehicles. He vowed it will make Britain safer. But the 140 page dossier lays into the state of our 'hollowed out' military which has been vastly under staffed, as the Mirror understands the army has fewer than 73,000 soldiers. The SDR took almost a year by former NATO chief Lord George Robertson, former US government adviser to Donald Trump Dr Fiona Hill and General Sir Richard Barrons. Britain's two £3.5bn aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will be transformed into 'hybrid air wings' launching war-jets, long-range weapons and drones. These will lead the UK's new 'hybrid navy' which will eventually have nuclear-armed Dreadnought and non-nuclear armed Aukus submarines but there will also be the introduction of 'autonomous vessels' or Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships which operate without humans. It also announces the building of Britain's 12 new SSN Aukus attack submarines to be ready in the 2030's, replacing the current Astute-class attack subs. The Aukus will be produced at the rate of one every 18 months. There will be a £6bn boost to missile production in six weapons factories throughout the UK, creating thousands of new jobs. This will produce 7,000 long-range weapons. The SDR says the MoD has presided over a crisis-hit military which is struggling to retain troops because of poor conditions and plummeting 'morale.' It says: 'Poor recruitment and retention, shoddy accommodation, falling morale and cultural challenges have created a workforce numbers of UK regulars and reservists have been in persistent shortfall impacts disproportionately on the skills most critical to UK advantage as it does for allies and partners.' Included within the SDR the RAF will be promised more F35 fighter jets, upgraded Typhoon warplanes and Britain's main warplane hub RAF Brize Norton is now 'a high priority for investment and improvement.' It also calls for a new £1bn investment into a homeland air and missile defence system, although this defence will be in the form of Type 45 destroyers and fighter jets. And troops housing and accommodation will receive a £7bn funding boost, including £1.5bn of 'rapid work' to 'fix the poor state of forces family housing.' There has also been a recommendation to embrace new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robots and lasers. The paper warned the UK must develop ways to defend against emerging threats, including biological weapons, warning of "pathogens and other weapons of mass destruction". But it also calls for Keir Starmer 's government to take on a bigger army whose numbers have dwindled to around 73,000 in recent years through poor retention and recruitment.. The SDR declares: 'Overall, we envisage an increase in the total number of regular personnel when funding allows. This includes a small uplift in Army Regulars as a priority.' Introducing the SDR Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'We will end the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and lead in a stronger, more lethal NATO. We will protect the homeland with up to £1bn new funding invested in homeland air and missile defence and creating a new CyberEm Command to defence Britain from daily attacks in the grey zone.' And it said that 'the number of Active Reserves' will be boosted by 20% and that more desk-working troops in 'back office functions' will be released to 'front line roles.' The government also hopes to massively improve recruitment by boosting the numbers of young people joining 'Cadet Forces.' The document recommends 'reconnecting defence with society.' And it adds: 'This can be achieved in part through expanding Cadet Forces by 30% by 2030- with an ambition to reach 250,000 in the longer term and working with the department of education to develop understanding of the Armed Forces among young people in schools.' On recruitment a senior source told the Mirror: 'Look, we had 160,000 people try to join the Army last year and we took on 9,000. We are not short of people wanting to join up.' The British Armed Forces became massively hollowed out after years of Tory-led cuts. Under Labour salaries for troops have been boosted by more than 30%. The source added: 'Under this new government no member of the Armed Forces will not earn less than the national living wage. That was not the case before the general election.' UK's new defence plan analysis by Chris Hughes This has been called the biggest change to UK defence in around 150 years - and on the face of it that could well be the case. That is if any of the much-vaunted changes actually come about and within the time it is being suggested they need to happen. Take the army numbers for instance. Many hoped these would be boosted from less than 73,000 as they currently stand. This is by no means intentional even though numbers were brutally cut over years of Tory rule. It is a result of poor recruitment and retention. There is only the possibility of a 'small uplift.' It says: 'Overall we envisage an increase in the total of Regular personnel when finding allows. This includes a small uplift in Army Regulars as a priority.' But there is mention of 'increasing the number of Active Reserves by 20% - when funding allows - most likely in the 2030s…' There is no promise to increase troop numbers and it merely means they might be increased if we can afford it if and when the need arises. The SDR - the most important one in decades - comes at a time of soaring hostility with Russia, whilst China, Iran and North Korea are also threats of varying degrees. And it promises a great deal whilst the big question is whether it will deliver too. One of the biggest problems for the UK in time of war would be air defences, how to shoot down incoming missiles. Currently, if it were large and fast incoming missiles this might be undertaken by one the UK's Type 45 destroyers, as a sea to air defence or F35B or Typhoon fighter jets as in air-to-air. Or the Army may use Sky Sabre, a lorry mounted air defence system which replaced Rapier. That system fires anti-air missiles. In his introduction Mr Healey clearly says: 'We will protect the UK homeland with up to £1bn new funding invested in homeland air and missile defence and creating a new CyberEM Command to defend Britain from daily attacks in the grey zone.' But it turns out this is not a shiny new air defence system such as Israel had, like the Iron Dome or David's Sling. It is merely a continuation of the Type 45 - fighter jet defences, just with better communication and integration. Like many reviews, the lack of granularity could make you suspect there's not much in it. The emphasis on AI, the risk of space wars, combating the threat from cyber assaults is all there and alarming and reassuring at the same time. It is reassuring the weapons production is being stepped up with six new missiles factories being created, boosting jobs and UK defences. But we don't know what they are, if they are new or what will fire them. The very fact this review happened is good and shows the government is getting things done on defence. But there will be huge trade-offs, perhaps with manning moving aside for new high-tech weaponry. Cost is going to be a huge issue and it remains to be seen if all of this can be afforded.
Scotsman
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Strategic Defence Review: SNP MP urges UK to ‘rethink priorities' and look to Europe
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An SNP MP has claimed the UK must 'rethink its defence priorities', as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to publish the critical Strategic Defence Review. The party's Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins urged UK ministers to seek closer ties with Europe, insisting a defence strategy was more than just 'hardware'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Speaking exclusively to The Scotsman, Mr Gethins pointed to the Nordic approach to the threat from Russia as an example for the UK to follow. He said: 'I think the UK needs to rethink its defence priorities. I am not sure everybody gets just how significant the challenge is for Europe and for democracies at the moment with the withdrawal of the United States, and the US being a less reliable security partner. HMS Queen Elizabeth leaving Rosyth in Fife, Scotland, and sailing under the Forth bridge. 'It challenges a lot of the assumptions that have been made in the MoD [Ministry of Defence] for a few years, assumptions they should have been challenging themselves. 'We are years into the war in Ukraine. We are now in the second Trump presidency, the challenges we are facing should not have come as a surprise to anybody.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The strategic defence review is an overarching examination of the UK's defence capability and will be published on Monday. SNP MP Stephen Gethins Sir Keir Starmer had previously said he would set a date for when spending 2.5 per cent of Britain's GDP on defence had to be achieved after the defence review had been completed. Mr Gethins, the MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, claimed the key areas to be looking at were closer collaboration with other countries in Europe. He said: 'The Nordics for example, they have much closer collaboration and are taking the threat from Russia more seriously. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There are some really good illustrations there. It's also about thinking more about defence not simply as military hardware, but also in terms of energy security, food and drink security, and disinformation. We need a much more well rounded approach to security'. The UK government has already confirmed a new 'Cyber and Electromagnetic Command' to address cyber security. Ministers will also invest more than £1 billion into a new 'digital targeting web' to be set up by 2027 to better connect weapons systems and allow battlefield decisions targeting enemy threats to be made and executed faster. Mr Gethins praised the approach to cyber security, but said failing to work with Europe was undermining the goal. He said: 'I think cyber is an area they are increasingly taking seriously, but it is an area where Brexit damages our security. If you look at most other countries, they see membership of the EU and Nato as being the twin pillars of their security. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Europe is a way to invest heavily in its arms infrastructure, and actually that is another reason why the UK needs to be closer to its European partners. It makes sense for the UK, or an independent Scotland, to be more integrated in that European defence structure. 'Labour are still wedded to Tory policies and assumptions around a relationship with the rest of Europe and that has to end.' It comes as the UK government announced an upgrade for Scottish military homes, with 3,000 to be improved as part of an overall £7 billion funding during this Parliament. The review will cover all aspects of defence, including the UK's international partnerships and alliances, and how these can be strengthened.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
UK Consul-General visits Northern Marianas
British Consul-General Paul Rennie has visited the Northern Marianas and Guam Photo: Supplied British Consul-General Paul Rennie has visited the Northern Marianas and Guam - the first UK diplomat of his rank to do so. Rennie called the trip "overdue" but essential, as the United Kingdom looks to deepen ties with island communities across the Pacific. "This was the first visit in history by a serving British Consul-General," Rennie said. "While we've had British military visiting the islands before - such as [the ship] HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021 - it was important for me to show that we value this relationship across a wider spectrum of areas." During his three-day visit in the CNMI, Rennie held meetings with key leaders including Lieutenant Governor David Apatang, Senate President Dennis Mendiola, and Saipan Mayor Ramon Camacho. He also visited cultural and historic sites and spoke with educators, business leaders, and tourism officials. Rennie said the CNMI left an impression on him. "The incredible warmth and hospitality of the people I met, their deep connection to the island and its culture and history, and their resilience and positivity when confronting challenges - all stood out to me," he said. He emphasized that as an island nation itself, composed of multiple islands such as the Shetlands and Orkneys, the UK shares many of the same challenges as the CNMI - especially in energy development, environmental management, and economic diversification. "There is a famous quote that no person is an island, and as island nations it makes it all the more critical that we come together and work together to meet shared global challenges." Rennie said he sees potential for the CNMI and the UK to collaborate on sustainable energy projects, small business development, aquaculture, and even logistics innovations, like drone deliveries to isolated communities - technology already being tested in parts of Scotland. "In Scotland we've been testing unmanned aerial drones to deliver mail and medicine to remote islands," Rennie noted. "That could be useful in the CNMI, especially for communities in Rota or the Northern Islands." The Consul General said his visit was not simply symbolic. "It was a chance to learn about the challenges facing these islands, and the innovations that are being developed to meet these challenges," he said. "There's a lot that we can partner with from the UK." He added that his office would explore how the UK could support island communities in the US Pacific territories, particularly in green energy, broadband expansion, and entrepreneurship.
