On 23 November, Together UK Foundation founded by former First Minister of Northern Ireland Baroness Arlene Foster PC, launched in London at a private event, to a packed room of who’s who from the world of politics, business, and media. The evening was attended by Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker MP, the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, the Deputy Ambassador of Israel to the UK, and dignitaries from across the political spectrum.
The Foundation was set up to with the purpose to proactively inform and engage debate on the benefits for all constituent parts of the United Kingdom to remain together, and it is important to stress that we are inclusive of all cultural and political backgrounds within the UK, with the aim to provide a unifying voice that is informed, independent and factually based.
We had different speakers on the night, which included Barrister Ravi Nayer, Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker MP, and a particularly rousing speech from Neil Lal, Chair and President of the Indian Council of Scotland. Neil has recently been voted the fifth most powerful British Indian in the UK and talked passionately about why keeping the UK together was critical.
The Foundation is a not for-profit and is non-party political, and I am proud to say we are an all-female board of trustees, which is a rarity and comprises of Baroness Foster as chair, Sheila Davidson, Alison Rankin-Frost and Melanie Hampton, Farrah Sassoon, and myself, with Patrons Lady Jane Grosvenor and Jeff Edwards MBE.
In her speech on the night, Baroness Foster explained that the Foundation wants to engage with the public in every part of the UK and offer ideas for our best future such as how do we tackle the common problem of low productivity and how we deepen relationships with a rising economic superpower such as India.
Baroness Foster also made a special mention of CB Patel and gave thanks for his support and recognised the influential work of Asian Voice.
We at Together UK Foundation want to engage with everyone and you can find out more about us by visiting our website at www.togetherukfoundation.com
