Today, I announced the extension of the Unduly Lenient Scheme – a mechanism for challenging light prison sentences – to nine further terrorism offences.
You can read more about the detail of the specific announcement here. You can also read my column for the Daily Telegraph on this government’s wider counter-terrorism strategy here.
The Brazilian Ambassador to the UK has written for The Daily Telegraph, setting out the post-Brexit opportunities for Britain with Brazil.
I know I am biased, with a Brazilian wife and two Britzilian sons, but Brazil is a great illustration of how Britain can broaden its global horizons post-Brexit, including with the rising nations of Latin America and Asia.
You can read the column here.
On Wednesday, I climbed the Fantasy Mountain that is Davos, to take part in a BBC debate on the Politics of Fear, Brexit, Trump and the wider lessons.
I was only in Davos for 12 hours, but I wanted to represent for Britain a positive and global vision of Brexit in the debate, and debunk some of the nonsense and myth clouding it.
I was struck by how (quietly) sympathetic many of the business people were, and how welcome many found it to have, in the UK, a voice speaking up for global free trade – especially given some of the views of the new President in the Whitehouse. In particular, I made the point that Britain wanted to stay firm friends with our European partners, but embrace a broader global horizon. You can watch the edited version of the debate here.
I have penned two columns, which were published today. The first for The Daily Telegraph is a defence of a Free Press from a new and misguided punitive costs regime for libel cases, which would be arbitrary and corrode free speech. You can access the article here.
The second is a broader column on the outlook for 2017, and why despite the challenges of 2017 Britons have every reason to feel optimistic. It is published on Conservative Home here.
In the early hours of this morning, it became clear that Britain – on an astonishing turnout of 72% – had voted to leave the EU. As someone who has made the case for Britain to leave, I feel enormously proud and confident in the future. We have a golden opportunity for democratic renewal, to shape our own destiny, rediscover our self-confidence, and be a truly global outward-looking nation in the world. I’m optimistic for Britain as never before, and I’m confident we have the resourcefulness and resolve to go from strength to strength.
I want to pay tribute to David Cameron, the Prime Minister, who gave Britain this referendum and opportunity. I believe he has been an absolutely outstanding Prime Minister. In truth, as I made clear before the vote, I wanted him to stay on. I am disappointed he has stepped down, but of course I understand and respect his decision.
I see three immediate challenges, none of which need weigh us down or eclipse the opportunities that lie ahead. First, we need to understand that this referendum was a direction from the British people that needs to be recognised, respected, and delivered. On all sides of this debate, we pledged to accept the democratic verdict of the people. There can be no reneging on that.
Second, as the PM and Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, have already started to do, we need to provide some stability and calm. The vote for independence opens the door to a world of brighter opportunities. But, we can take the time and exercise the care to make the right decisions for Britain.
Third, we need to acknowledge that the vote in favour of leaving the EU – 52% against 48% – leaves a large part of the UK anxious and concerned about what lies ahead. So, we need to proceed with resolve, but also humility and sensitivity, and work towards building a unity of purpose.
I will be personally committed to those goals over the next few months and indeed years. There will be challenges ahead, but none that are insurmountable. This is a new beginning for Britain, as we take back mastery over our own destiny – and go from strength to strength.
Today, I’ve written an article for The Daily Telegraph about how EU rules undermine UK border controls, which puts Britain at unnecessary risk. It follows the reporting that yesterday, a series of former police chiefs and security experts warned that recent terrorist attacks in Brussels and Paris were a “wake-up call” for UK border protection. You can read my article here.
I was delighted to be appointed by David Cameron to serve as a Justice Minister in the new government, working in a great team under Justice Secretary Michael Gove.
Yesterday, Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee published a carefully worded, but nonetheless far-reaching, report on the state of UK surveillance laws. It was precipitated by the Edward Snowden revelations.
The report concluded three key things:
Should the public be told whether or not the Home Office have refused visas to individuals linked to serious crime?
I have tabled an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill, for consideration today, making the case for greater transparency. You can read my blog-post outlining the case for the change on The Spectator’s Coffee House blog here.