‘No decision pending’ on removing Syrian rebel group from banned list, PM says

Published

3 months ago

December 9, 2024

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Sir Keir Starmer has said it is “too early” to decide whether to remove a leading Syrian rebel group from the government’s proscribed terrorist list following its victory over Bashar al Assad’s forces.

The prime minister said “no decision is pending on this” when asked about the potential move following the defeat Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) inflicted on the decades-long Assad regime.

It comes after Sir Keir announced a further £11m in humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable in Syria following the events over the weekend, including the hundreds of thousands who have been displaced in the conflict.

Alongside the US and other Western allies, the UK is currently considering whether to remove HTS, the rebel group that led the successful offensive against Mr al Assad, from its proscribed list of terrorist organisations.

HTS used to be a wing of al Qaeda known as the Nusra Front and has long been designated a terrorist group by the US, UK and Russia.

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Its founder, Abu Mohammed al Jolani, cut ties with al Qaeda in 2016 in an effort to appear moderate and in 2021 he said he had no desire to wage war against Western countries.

On Monday Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said the UK government would “consider” removing the group from its list of banned terror organisations and suggested this could be done quickly.

But speaking from Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, the prime minister said: “No decision is pending at all on this.

“It is far too early. At the moment, the focus has to be on talking to our allies, making sure that this is an opportunity for Syria.”

He was echoed by David Lammy, the foreign secretary, who said the government would “judge HTS by their actions”.

In an update to MPS, he said: “Thus far, HTS has offered reassurances to minorities in Aleppo, Hama and Damascus.

“They have also committed to cooperating with the international community over monitoring chemical weapons.

“We will judge HTS by their actions, monitoring closely how they and other parties to this conflict treat all civilians in areas they control.”

He added: “The UK and our allies have spent over a decade combating terrorism in Syria, Daesh [Isis] remains one of the most significant terrorist threats to the UK our allies and our interests overseas, we take seriously our duty as government to protect the public from this and other terrorist threats.”

“If we are to achieve a better future for Syrians, we should let Syrians themselves determine their future,” he added.

Mr Lammy also pointed to £36m in funding for the National Crime Agency on anti corruption, which was announced earlier today, adding: “Illicit finance was a fundamental part of Assad’s playbook, and it’s a part of [Vladimir] Putin’s playbook and the playbook of dictators and criminals around the world.

“This hurts ordinary people in our own country and people in Syria. It drives up crime, and it drives up house prices here in the UK.”

Earlier, Sir Keir – who has been visiting the Middle East to shore up ties and encourage investment – promised that the UK would play a more active role in the region for the advantage of people in Britain.

“From cutting the cost of living for hardworking British people, to building resilient supply chains or supporting communities in Britain, what happens in the Middle East matters at home,” he said.

“That is why we are strengthening our defence partnership with Saudi Arabia, protecting the most vulnerable in Syria, supporting our partners in Lebanon and working with the international community to push for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, secure the return of all hostages and accelerate aid into Gaza.

“To deliver on my plan for change, we need a strong foundation of security but that cannot just be built at home, it requires us to play our part on the world stage to support stability and protect partners from threats, both now and in the future.”

As well as vowing to play a more active role in the region, the prime minister said the UK would also seek to strengthen defence co-operation with Saudi Arabia.

The UK will also provide the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), regarded as the only legitimate military force in Lebanon, with training and equipment in order to maintain the ceasefire agreed with Israel.

Politics

Care providers warn system is ‘at breaking point’

Published

35 mins ago

February 25, 2025

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Care providers warn system is 'at breaking point'

Care providers have warned the government that the UK social care system is “at breaking point” as it struggles with rising demand and high costs.

It comes as thousands of care and support providers, and some of those who rely on the service, plan to stage a demonstration in central London to urge the government to give more support to the ailing sector.

The planned rise in National Insurance contributions for employers combined with the increase in the national minimum wage, set to come into effect in April, could lead to some providers going out of business, according to Providers Unite, a coalition of social care organisations campaigning for long-awaited social care reform.

Research by the independent think tank The Nuffield Trust estimates that the rises, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last October, could cost the sector an extra £2.8bn a year.

The government has already announced an additional £600m to help support the social care sector.

But the chair of the National Care Association, Nadra Ahmed, said the proposed increases will cancel out that government support.

“It is inconceivable that politicians fail to understand that a lack of investment will impact heavily on both the NHS and local government,” she said.

“It is this lack of recognition or investment which has led to a watershed moment at a time when the need for our services continues to grow. The sector is at breaking point.”

Ms Ahmed said increased costs had not kept pace with funding levels and warned some care providers could end up bankrupt.

Jane Jones, owner of Applewood Support, a homecare provider in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said her costs will rise by and estimated £6,000 a month when the National Insurance rise comes into force.

“I felt sick when I heard the chancellor announce the rise in NI,” she told Sky News.

“It’s not feasible. I’ve had to make cuts in the office. We’ve got rid of two personnel because we just can’t afford it. It’s an attack on growth.”

The care sector employs nearly two million workers and supports more than 1.2 million people.

Pensioners Shiela and Paul Banbury have been married for 59 years and rely on Applewood to care for 82-year-old Sheila at home after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2018.

Paul, 77, says if they could not get home care Shelia would have to move into a care home.

“It would be very difficult after such a long time together. We want to be able to stay together in our home.”

Most care providers receive a fixed price for care, set by local councils. That means that rises elsewhere in the system are difficult to manage.

“We cannot increase our costs like the supermarkets can and are limited to what the government and councils can pay us,” says Ms Jones.

“So if they can’t pay us the right amount of money, we’re just going to go close our doors. And I think that’s what’s going to happen come April.”

Mike Padgham, chair of The Independent Care Group, urged the chancellor to review her budget measures and make care providers exempt from the National Insurance rise in the same way that the NHS is.

“We have suffered for more than 30 years and enough is enough. People who rely on social care and those who deliver it deserve better,” said Mr Padgham.

The government has published plans to reform the social care system, aiming to establish a National Care Service designed to bring it closer to the NHS.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, announced the formation of an independent commission, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, to develop comprehensive proposals for organising and funding social care.