Press Releases | rogergale

Press Releases 2026

Roger regularly issues press releases about current topics. We have included a selection of them here which we hope will be of interest to you.

16th January 2026

Age limit on access to Social Media

I have probably received more communications supporting the restricting of the age of access to social media than any other- even including ‘assisted dying’.

The Conservative Party’s official position supports the call for restrictions and as a parent of three children and with five grandchildren all under sixteen this is a cause that is very close to my heart and that I wholeheartedly support.

I know that the proposed restrictions will not be universally popular but I believe that those of us in a position to do so have a clear duty to do our utmost to protect children from the pernicious influence of unlimited access to online harm. We need to follow the Australian lead and act now before it is too late.

14th January 2026

I am gratified that it has been decided that Search and Rescue helicopter activity is returning to Manston Airport in support of operations carried out on behalf of HM Coastguard.

For me, this brings back memories of discussions in Parliament more than thirty years ago about the importance of maintaining effective helicopter Search and Rescue cover for the Kent coast and the Dover Strait. In October 1992, I spoke in the House of Commons about the need for reliable civilian SAR provision in this region and the strategic value of having appropriate facilities close to the coast.

Manston has long been associated with aviation and emergency response, and it is encouraging to see the airport once again supporting this type of essential activity.

I am pleased that an agreement has been reached to allow this to happen and I wish the crews involved every success in their lifesaving work.

8th January 2026

If reports are to be believed - and we await a formal announcement in parliament rather than yet another leak to the press - then the Government’s decision to extend the business rate relief available to Public Houses constitutes a lukewarm half-measure.

Of course any u-turn will be welcomed by the British Beer and Pub Association, many of whose members are staring into a financial black hole. But unless the concession is extended to include the High Street in general and other hospitality outlets - small restaurants and hotels in particular - then many other small businesses will still face closure.

The answer, as Kemi Badenoch has made clear in a Conservative policy statement, is to scrap the rates on small business premises in their entirety. Half-measures will not suffice.

7th January 2026

I welcome the Statement to the House, made by the Secretary of State for Defence John Healey this evening in respect of the military support to be given to Ukraine by the UK, France and The United States following a hoped - for peace agreement.

Clearly, as was discussed in the Commons, this raises serious issues relating to the provision of funding, materiel and personnel but the principle is correct: we have stood by the defence of democracy in Ukraine and we shall continue to do so - up to and including security guarantees in the form of British boots on the ground if that is what is required.