LONDON: Britain’s government came under fire from right-wing politicians after it confirmed it had switched to using a logo bearing “UK Government” branding instead of “His Majesty’s Government” in official communications.
The British government is formally referred to as His Majesty’s (HM) government, a reference to the monarch King Charles III.
websites and other communications have previously carried a logo with “HM Government.”
But earlier this week, a Labour government minister confirmed that “a strategic decision has been made to adopt ‘UK Government’ as the primary branding for all public-facing communications.”
The move was on Tuesday slammed by some opposition Conservative politicians who called it “disrespectful toward Britain’s history, culture, and constitutional settlement.”
“How typical that Labour should be trying to quietly obliterate tradition,” said Tory politician Alex Burghart.
Under guidance by the previous Tory government, in power until 2024, the primary logo was the Royal Coat of Arms alongside “HM Government” and was meant to be used “wherever possible.”
A government spokesperson said the step was taken to provide greater “clarity.”
“It’s the right move and reflects their true purpose — serving the people not the powerful,” anti-monarchy activist Graham Smith, who heads the pressure group Republic, told The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Smith pointed to “falling” support for the monarchy since the latest batch of Jeffrey Epstein files was released last month, further revealing ex-prince Andrew’s ties to the late US sex offender and plunging the royals into a new crisis.
A Savanta poll commissioned by Republic showed on Monday that support for the monarchy stood at 45 percent, lower than the 57-59 percent polled by YouGov in mid-January.
Another YouGov poll, carried out on behalf of Sky News, showed on Wednesday that 45 percent of respondents believed King Charles III had done all he could to distance himself from his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of royal titles last year over his Epstein links.
Nearly 40 percent said he should be doing more.
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UK government criticized for dropping ‘His Majesty’ from communications
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UK government criticized for dropping ‘His Majesty’ from communications
- The British government is formally referred to as His Majesty’s government
- Decision made to adopt ‘UK Government’ as primary branding for all public-facing communications
Congo says it would seek other partners if US minerals framework fails
CAPE TOWN: The Democratic Republic of Congo will look for other partners if its minerals cooperation framework with the US does not lead to concrete projects, the country’s mines minister said.
“Everything we have done with America is a framework under which we will discuss questions of mutual interest. That is all it is,” Louis Watum Kabamba said on the sidelines of the Indaba mining conference in Cape Town.
“It may become a good major project. It may also become another project that does not interest them. We will continue because there are many other partners to discuss with.”
Congo, home to some of the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, copper and lithium, in December signed a framework agreement with the US aimed at developing a supply chain for critical minerals used in data centers, defense and electric vehicles.
Washington wants access to a spectrum of natural resources as it scrambles to counter China’s dominance.
But the minister said the arrangement remained preliminary.
“For those who think we are going to sell everything for nothing to America, I must be very clear: we have sold nothing. And we will sell nothing for nothing,” he added.
Watum Kabamba said Congo’s minerals endowment is exploited at less than 10 percent today. The central African country hosts major mining companies including Western-listed Glencore and Ivanhoe Mines, as well as China’s CMOC Group and Zijin Mining.
“The rivalry between China and the United States — we are not interested in it. We must play our own game as the DRC,” he said. “We have our own problems. We must feed people. We must invest in human capital for our youth.”
“Everything we have done with America is a framework under which we will discuss questions of mutual interest. That is all it is,” Louis Watum Kabamba said on the sidelines of the Indaba mining conference in Cape Town.
“It may become a good major project. It may also become another project that does not interest them. We will continue because there are many other partners to discuss with.”
Congo, home to some of the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, copper and lithium, in December signed a framework agreement with the US aimed at developing a supply chain for critical minerals used in data centers, defense and electric vehicles.
Washington wants access to a spectrum of natural resources as it scrambles to counter China’s dominance.
But the minister said the arrangement remained preliminary.
“For those who think we are going to sell everything for nothing to America, I must be very clear: we have sold nothing. And we will sell nothing for nothing,” he added.
Watum Kabamba said Congo’s minerals endowment is exploited at less than 10 percent today. The central African country hosts major mining companies including Western-listed Glencore and Ivanhoe Mines, as well as China’s CMOC Group and Zijin Mining.
“The rivalry between China and the United States — we are not interested in it. We must play our own game as the DRC,” he said. “We have our own problems. We must feed people. We must invest in human capital for our youth.”
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