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PRESS RELEASE : 52nd Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK Statement on Latvia [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2026.

UK Statement at Latvia’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you Vice President,

The UK recognises the challenging security environment in which Latvia operates, including sustained Russian hostility, cyber and hybrid threats, and disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining democratic institutions and social cohesion.

We welcome Latvia’s ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, and the introduction of civil partnerships. We also recognise Latvia’s strong support for accountability in Ukraine.

We recommend Latvia:
1. Fully implements the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, including through adequately resourced survivor support services and effective monitoring mechanisms, by 2028.
2. Removes remaining legal and policy barriers to equal treatment of LGBT+ people, including by extending equal family and inheritance rights and ensuring protection from discrimination.
3. Strengthens inclusive public communication and social cohesion measures, including through accessible public service broadcasting, to ensure effective engagement with all linguistic communities.
Thank you.
May 12, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Political Peerages [May 2026]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 May 2026.

The King has been graciously pleased to signify His intention of conferring Peerages of the United Kingdom for Life upon the undermentioned:

Peers nominated by the Leader of the Labour Party
1. Stephen Benn, The Viscount Stansgate
2. Christopher John Suenson-Taylor, The Lord Grantchester
Crossbench Peers
1. Charles Wellesley, The Duke of Wellington OBE DL
2. Nicholas le Poer Trench, The Earl of Clancarty
3. Charles Colville, The Viscount Colville of Culross
4. Richard Denison, The Lord Londesborough
5. Simon Russell, The Lord Russell of Liverpool
6. Daniel Mosley, The Lord Ravensdale
7. Godfrey Bewicke-Copley, The Lord Cromwell
8. Richard Gilbey, The Lord Vaux of Harrowden
9. John Pakington, The Lord Hampton
Peers nominated by the Leader of the Conservative Party
1. Sebastian Grigg, The Lord Altrincham
2. Mark Cubitt, The Lord Ashcombe
3. William Stonor, The Lord Camoys
4. Jonathan Berry, The Viscount Camrose
5. Patrick Courtown, The Earl of Courtown
6. Rupert Ponsonby, The Lord de Mauley KCVO TD FCA
7. Edward Effingham, The Earl of Effingham
8. Giles Goschen, The Viscount Goschen
9. Jasset Ormsby-Gore, The Lord Harlech
10. The Rt Hon Frederick Penn, The Earl Howe GBE PC
11. Timothy Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, The Earl of Minto
12. Colin Moynihan, The Lord Moynihan
13. Aeneas Mackay, The Lord Reay
14. Massey Lopes, The Lord Roborough
15. The Rt Hon Thomas Galbraith, The Lord Strathclyde CH PC
May 12, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : 52nd Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK Statement on Seychelles [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2026.

UK Statement at Seychelle’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you Madam Vice President,

The United Kingdom welcomes the free and fair elections held in Seychelles in October 2025. But we have concerns around prolonged pre‑trial detention and expanded security powers despite otherwise strong democratic institutions.

The UK welcomes the activities of the Seychelles National Human Rights Commission since the last UPR, including its annual reports in 2024 and 2025. We continue to urge the government to ensure that the Commission is adequately financed and resourced.

We also commend the government for its continued constructive engagement with UN treaty bodies, including the review by the Committee on Migrant Workers in 2024.

We recommend that Seychelles:
1. Conducts an independent investigation on the 5 December 2024 prison riots, with demonstrable steps taken to hold perpetrators to account.
2. Publishes a clear legal and policy framework governing the protection of refugees and migrants, including procedures for identification, access to basic services, and safeguards against arbitrary detention, and reports publicly on steps taken to bring national practice into line with international human rights standards.
3. Establishes a transparent and time‑bound mechanism for monitoring, responding to and implementing recommendations made by the National Human Rights Commission, including public reporting on progress and outcomes.
Thank you.
May 12, 2026
NEWS STORY : Labour MPs Rally Behind Defiant Starmer

STORY

More than 100 Labour MPs have signed a statement backing Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, in an attempt to halt the growing internal rebellion over his leadership after Labour’s poor local election results.

The statement, organised by backbenchers, says now is “no time for a leadership contest” and argues that the Government should focus on delivery rather than a damaging internal fight. Supporters of Starmer said the number of signatures showed that he still had majority support among Labour MPs, despite dozens of colleagues publicly calling for him to resign.

The show of support came after a difficult 24 hours for the Prime Minister, with ministerial resignations and open criticism from MPs who say Labour has lost touch with voters.

May 12, 2026
NEWS STORY : Palestine Action Activists in Elbit Protest Could Face Terror-Linked Sentencing

STORY

Four Palestine Action activists convicted over damage caused at an Elbit Systems UK site near Bristol could face sentencing consequences normally associated with terrorism cases, despite not being convicted of terrorism offences.

Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio and Fatema Rajwani were found guilty of criminal damage after a 2024 break-in at the Elbit Systems UK facility at Aztec West, near Bristol. Prosecutors said the action caused around £1 million of damage to drones and other equipment. Corner was also convicted of grievous bodily harm after a police officer was violently assaulted during the incident.

The Guardian reported that a judge had previously ruled the case had a possible “terrorist connection”, a decision that was not put before the jury during the trial or retrial. The four defendants were not convicted of terrorism charges, but the ruling could still have a major effect when they are sentenced.

If the court treats the offending as terror-connected, the activists could face tougher sentencing conditions, including having to serve a larger proportion of any prison sentence and being subject to long-term notification requirements after release.

May 12, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK statement to the Swiss OSCE Chairpersonship Conference “Anticipating Technologies – for a safe and humane future” [May 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2026.

Sarah Spencer, UK Tech Envoy, underlined the opportunities and risks of frontier technologies, stressing responsible governance, partnerships and dialogue through the OSCE. She reaffirmed the UK’s support for Ukraine, condemned Russia’s illegal invasion, and highlighted the OSCE’s role in ensuring technological progress strengthens security, stability and a more humane future.

Thank you Chair and thank you to all the panellists for their insightful remarks.

I would like to thank Federal Councillor Cassis and the Swiss Chairpersonship for convening us today, and for framing today’s discussions around responsibility and cooperation. In the context of rapidly evolving technologies, strengthening dialogue, reducing misunderstandings and developing common approaches are indispensable to building trust and securing the foundations for security.

We must however acknowledge the fact that Russia continues its illegal invasion of Ukrainian sovereign territory and Russian troops continue to occupy Ukrainian land. The United Kingdom is committed to a sustainable peace in Ukraine and will continue to stand resolutely with Ukraine and its people.

Chair, frontier technologies afford multiple opportunities to deliver inclusive development outcomes and improve our impact in addressing humanitarian crises. These technologies are also transforming the security environment at unprecedented pace, increasing risks to national security, conflict escalation, and strategic stability. The development and deployment of artificial intelligence illustrates this tension between opportunity and risk particularly clearly. While AI has the potential to support early warning and early action in humanitarian crises, it can also amplify misinformation and widen instability if misused or deployed without adequate safeguards.

Capitalising on the opportunities of frontier tech therefore requires innovative partnerships and practical mechanisms, aligned with our shared principles, to safely and responsibly govern frontier technologies and build inclusive, responsible and sustainable digital ecosystems. For the United Kingdom, partnerships between states, institutions, industry and civil society matter more than products in realising the opportunities of technology and innovation. In two weeks, our Foreign Secretary will co-host a major conference in London on the future of international development partnerships – bringing together governments, civil society, and tech leaders, amongst others, to help shape the system for a new era. This includes identifying ways to leverage advanced technologies to accelerate progress on shared global challenges.

No one sovereign State can rise to this challenge alone. As the world’s largest regional security organisation, the OSCE has a unique role to play fostering dialogue on frontier technologies, supporting anticipatory approaches, and promoting the responsible use of innovation in the service of peace and security. The United Kingdom stands ready to support these efforts, and to work with all participating States to help ensure that technological progress contributes to a safer, more secure and more humane future for all.

Thank you.

May 12, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Government and Wayve sign partnership to accelerate Britain’s self driving future [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 12 May 2026.

Partnership will put the UK at the forefront of next generation self-driving technology.
- New agreement strengthens UK leadership in automated vehicles.
- Partnership focuses on shared research to bring forward responsible deployment of self‑driving cars.
- Deal backs innovative UK scale‑ups and helps make Britain the best place to grow a business.
A partnership that will put the UK at the forefront of next generation self-driving technology has been signed by the Government today with one of the country’s leading scale ups.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wayve, a company pioneering AI for autonomous driving will deepen collaboration on next‑generation self‑driving technologies and back the scale‑up as it continues to grow in Britain.

The agreement brings government and industry together around shared research interests, supporting responsible deployment of automated vehicles while reinforcing the UK’s global leadership in autonomous and AI‑enabled mobility.

By linking cutting‑edge AI research with real‑world deployment and manufacturing, the partnership aims to act as a catalyst for new investment, skilled jobs and long‑term growth across the UK automotive ecosystem, sending a clear signal that the UK is the best place for ambitious tech companies to scale up.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said:

“This partnership with Wayve shows how government is backing high‑growth British scale‑ups through our Modern Industrial Strategy to turn world‑leading research into real‑world deployment.

“By working hand‑in‑hand with innovative companies, we are accelerating self‑driving technology while anchoring jobs, investment and manufacturing here in the UK — making Britain the best place to start, scale and grow a business.”

Alex Kendall, Co-Founder and CEO, Wayve said:

“I’m delighted to deepen our collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade. We share the Government’s ambition to drive economic growth through the development of the self-driving vehicle sector in the UK and globally.

“Strengthening domestic capabilities will anchor high-value manufacturing in the UK, create thousands of skilled jobs across the supply chain, and support the future of the automotive industry. This is in addition to the transformative benefits to road safety to be gained from self-driving vehicles deployed at scale.

“Wayve has a proud history of developing our technology in the UK. We look forward to working with DBT on a shared set of priorities to ensure the UK continues to lead and that the full set of benefits is realised across the country.”

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

“Wayve is a true British AI success story, putting the UK at the forefront of self-driving technology.

“This agreement will help secure high-skilled tech and advanced manufacturing jobs in this country.

“By working with companies such as Wayve we are rebuilding Britain for the modern age and sending a clear signal that the UK is the best place for ambitious tech firms to start up and scale up.”

The MoU sets out how DBT and Wayve will collaborate on research that helps move automated vehicles from prototype to large‑scale, commercially viable services operating on UK roads.

This includes work on safety assurance, simulation at scale and integration of full self‑driving technology into production‑ready vehicle platforms, helping the UK lead internationally on responsible deployment.

The partnership also reinforces the UK’s ambition to be a global hub for automated vehicle manufacturing, strengthening domestic supply chains in areas such as AI, systems integration and advanced automotive hardware.

Wayve will share insights from real‑world trials with government and regulators, supporting learning that can unlock national roll-out of self-driving services and inform future regulations and standards.

Through closer collaboration with industry and local partners, the agreement supports the revival and evolution of UK automotive manufacturing while demonstrating the government’s commitment to helping fast‑growing British companies scale at home rather than overseas.

Through its Modern Industrial Strategy, the UK Government has already set the stage to crowd in vital private investment into key growth sectors like advanced manufacturing, building on over £360 billion and 120,000 jobs we have secured since publication. 
May 12, 2026
Jess Phillips – 2026 Resignation as Minister

The resignation letter written by Jess Phillips, the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, on 12 May 2026.

Dear Keir

I want to start by first saying that we have worked closely together on Violence Against Women and Girls for many years and I have no doubt you have genuine knowledge and desire to rectify this dreadful social ill. We have started to make steps towards change whilst in government and I have been grateful for your support.

However, it would be remiss of me not to say that real change and direction in this area usually came from threats made by me in light of catastrophic mistakes. The Mandelson saga whenever it bubbled up made Number 10 kick into gear on the subject in order to prove our credentials. I will never waste a crisis to make advancements for women and girls and so demands were made and some were met.

I think you are a good man fundamentally, who cares about the right things however I have seen first-hand how that is not enough. The desire not to have an argument means we rarely make an argument, leaving opportunities for progress stalled and delayed.

Over a year ago I presented solutions, long worked on by brilliant civil servants that would end the ability for children in the UK to take naked images of themselves. 91% of online child sex abuse is self-generated by children groomed, tricked and exploited in to abuse. The technology exists to stop children being able to take naked images of themselves. We could make this possible on every phone and device in the country. We could stop this abuse. It has taken me a year to get you to agree to even threaten to legislate in this space. Not legislate, just threaten. This is the definition of incremental change. Nothing bold about it. The announcement was meant to be in March, I’m still on a promise this will happen in June, I’ve given up believing it. How many children were left without a safety net in the time we dilly dallied and worried about tech bosses?

This is just one example.

Labour governments come around rarely is the constant refrain at the moment. It’s true they are precious. Every Labour government in my and my family’s lifetime has forged progress that changed our country and the world for the better. I know you care deeply, but deeds, not words are what matter. I’m not sure we are grasping this rare opportunity with the gusto that’s needed and I cannot keep waiting around for a crisis to push for faster progress.

Decency is vital, calm curiosity is also needed, but so too are fight and drive required. Have a row, push back, make arguments, bring people along. Standing up and being counted can’t always be workshopped. Politics is as much about feelings as policy, especially at the moment.

I want a Labour government to work and I will strive as I always have for its success and popularity, but I’m not seeing the change I think I, and the country expect, and so cannot continue to serve as a minister under the current leadership.

Best wishes

Jess Phillips

May 12, 2026
NEWS STORY : Cabinet Backs Keir Starmer to Remain as Prime Minister

STORY

Pat McFadden, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has left a Cabinet meeting this morning and confirmed that no members of the Cabinet have resigned or said that they wish to stand against Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister has said that he intends to carry on governing as a growing number of Labour MPs are issuing support for Keir Starmer to remain.

May 12, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Innovative walking, wheeling and cycling projects win share of £1 million [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 12 May 2026.

The 12 winning projects will provide more people with healthier and sustainable active travel options across England.
- shared cycle schemes, gamified walking campaigns and accessible wheeling apps among 12 winning projects
- grants of up to £100,000 awarded to small businesses and community organisations
- investment supports government plans to back entrepreneurship and boost the economy
Communities across England will benefit from a diverse range of innovative walking, wheeling and cycling projects, after Active Travel England (ATE) awarded grants through its £1 million Innovation Fund.

The 12 successful projects, ranging from e-cargo bike share schemes and community behaviour change programmes, to ‘gamified’ walking campaigns and accessible wheeling apps, will each receive grants of up to £100,000, following a competitive bid process.

The Active Travel Innovation Fund was launched in October last year to enable small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) and non‑governmental organisations (NGOs) to develop new ideas or expand successful initiatives that are already making a difference.

Funded projects will provide more people with healthier and sustainable active travel options, especially those from under-represented groups, supporting the government’s missions to improve public health, create safer streets and cut carbon emissions.

Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said:

These projects are about testing fresh ideas in the real world and finding out what works. By backing smaller, innovative organisations across the country, we are tapping into more imaginations, reaching people in the heart of the community and building a strong evidence base that will further improve everyday journeys for people who walk, wheel and cycle now and in the future.

The lessons we learn will help councils, businesses and communities invest in approaches that are inclusive, practical and deliver tangible benefits. It’s about making it easier for more people to choose active travel for everyday trips, whatever their age, ability or background.

Local Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said:

We’re backing bold, community‑led ideas that get more people walking, wheeling and cycling.

These projects show how innovation and entrepreneurship can deliver healthier journeys, safer streets and real benefits for communities across the country.

On top of this, the government is investing £626 million for local authorities up to 2030 to deliver vital walking and cycling schemes, which is enough for 500 miles of new walking and cycling routes and 170,000 more active trips per day. This will also help boost local businesses, grow local economies and ease pressure on the NHS.

The winning projects include Walk Ride Greater Manchester, which will support the set‑up, coordination and scaling of walking and bike buses, helping hundreds of primary school children travel to school in a fun and active way.

Go Jauntly is an award‑winning UK walking app that will use the funding to run a gamified city‑versus‑city campaign to increase walking and wheeling among women and families in Birmingham and Liverpool.

PedalUK will set up, deliver and evaluate a 5‑cycle ‘Our Bike’ community‑led e‑cargo bike‑sharing pilot in Brighton and Hove.

Other funded projects include Mobility Mapper, a Bristol‑based intervention that will develop a digital mapping platform, accessed via an app, aimed at enabling wheelers to travel more safely and confidently.

General Manager at PedalUK/OurBike, Emma Hughes, said:

This funding enables OurBike to launch and test our London e-cargo bike share scheme outside the capital in Brighton and Hove. Building on research from the University of Brighton and working with Brighton and Hove City Council and local partners, we are addressing the real barriers to e-cargo bike use by embedding bikes in communities and making everyday cycling more accessible and affordable for families and businesses carrying children, goods or equipment.

CEO at Go Jauntly, Hana Sutch, said:

At Go Jauntly, we believe walking and wheeling should feel accessible, safe and joyful for everyone, especially women and families who are often overlooked.

Thanks to Active Travel England funding, we are expanding our behaviour change programmes to meet people in their own neighbourhoods, making everyday movement fun, easier and more inclusive.

Director of Walk Ride Greater Manchester, Harry Gray, said:

We’re delighted to have received funding from Active Travel England’s Innovation Fund to deliver a Walking and Cycling Bus Pilot across Manchester and Trafford.

This funding enables us to provide a full-time project coordinator to grow and sustain walking and cycling buses at scale. Every child across Greater Manchester should have access to a safe, active travel route to school – walking and cycling buses are where that journey begins.

Founder of Mobility Mapper, Sonya Ridden, said:

Active Travel England innovation funding is essential in helping Mobility Mapper begin mapping the routes wheelers can actually use. By creating a wheelable network built from real journeys, we will help people plan ahead with confidence, avoid unsuitable routes, make everyday wheeling easier and safer, and make active travel more inclusive.
May 12, 2026