Dear Resident,
I hope you are well.
Yesterday marked the end of coronavirus restrictions in England with the removal of the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive COVID-19 test result. Alongside this, passengers on tubes and buses are no longer required to wear face coverings. Thanks to the huge success of the vaccination programme and the sacrifices made by the British public over the last 2 years, England has now become one of the first countries in Europe to remove all legal coronavirus restrictions.
Unfortunately, this has been overshadowed by a catastrophe in Europe: President Putin’s appalling and unprovoked attack on the people of Ukraine. The UK Government stands united with its international partners in condemning President Putin’s reprehensible actions and will work with allies around the world to ensure that the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine are restored. As the Minister for Energy, I have been joining government COBRA meetings to help decide the UK’s response.
The UK has therefore launched the largest and most severe package of sanctions that Russia has ever seen. This unprecedented package includes freezing the assets of all major Russian banks and 100 new individuals or entities, the suspension of dual-use export licences to cover things which can be used for military purposes and terminating exports of hi-tech items and oil refinery equipment. For the full list, please click here.
We hold the Ukrainian people in our hearts and minds at this horrible moment in their nation’s history.Kind regards,
Greg HandsThe Rt Hon Greg Hands MP
Member of Parliament for Chelsea & Fulham
You can read the rest of this edition of Greg's bulletin here.
