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  • PRESS RELEASE : Greater protections to restore families’ trust in home upgrades [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Greater protections to restore families’ trust in home upgrades [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 17 June 2026.

    Action to protect families in the energy market and hold the retrofit industry to account.

    • New service to provide stronger oversight of retrofit industry – giving families confidence to upgrade their homes and cut bills 
    • Reforms will help fix broken system which led to widespread issues with poor-quality insulation under inherited government schemes 
    • Households to get fairer and faster compensation in the energy market under new measures to strengthen the Ombudsman 

    Families will be better protected when upgrading their homes, giving them confidence to make improvements and cut their bills. 

    Ministers are taking action to hold the retrofit industry to account for delivering home upgrades through a new consumer protection service, under proposals announced today (Wednesday 17 June).  

    Plans being consulted on would create:  

    • a transparent public register of government approved installers
    • a single advice and support service covering the entire time a home is being upgraded 
    • powers to hold installers and delivery partners to account, including bans from working on government schemes if they don’t meet high standards
    • a new data-backed system that spots risks and installer performance issues earlier 

    This will simplify the process for consumers, providing a single point of access offering end-to-end support, quality checks, and routes to redress. 

    In the past, people have faced a broken and fragmented system when installing energy efficiency measures and been left frustrated and let down when things have gone wrong, with no clear way to resolve issues. 

    Ministers are therefore acting to ensure issues which resulted in flawed insulation under legacy government schemes are never allowed to happen again.  

    Consumers will also be supported with faster and fairer compensation in the energy market under new measures to strengthen the Energy Ombudsman, which helps people solve disputes with their energy suppliers.

    If companies are not able to resolve issues directly, customers will be able to escalate their complaints to the Ombudsman within a shorter time frame, getting a decision more quickly – cutting overall waiting times by a month, to a maximum of 10 weeks.

    The Ombudsman will be empowered to fine companies if they do not comply with their ruling, with new measures set to clarify the route for consumers to go through the courts to hold suppliers to account as a last resort.

    Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said:   

    This government inherited a broken system that left too many people in homes damaged by work that lacked clear oversight, without support when things went wrong. 

    That is why we promised to change that system and today we are setting out how we propose to do that. 

    We are building a system that puts consumers first – holding companies to account while introducing better compensation and protections for customers.

    From today, the Installation Assurance Authority (IAA) will now cover the cost of repairs to Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) solid wall insulation up to £25,000, up from £20,000, where these are within the terms of the original, still-valid guarantee. This includes cases where the original installer has gone bust. 

    The National Energy Foundation, a domestic energy charity, will also cover the cost of relevant repairs for some homes with defective ECO4 and GBIS solid wall insulation, where the installer has gone out of business and the guarantee was cancelled, fraudulent or missing. 

    Since identifying issues with poor-quality solid wall insulation installed under ECO4 and GBIS, government has set up a comprehensive on-site audit programme offering audits at no cost to the consumer, remediated more than 60% of the issues identified with audits, worked with Ofgem to create a dedicated call centre for affected households, and improved the quality assurance and consumer protection systems currently in place. 

    By stamping out bad practice and reforming the broken system inherited by the government, the plans aim to restore families’ trust in the retrofit industry and give them confidence that work will be completed to a high standard. 

    The changes mark the latest step to support families as government accelerates the drive for clean power to protect billpayers from the fossil fuel rollercoaster. 

    By bringing forward the biggest investment in warm homes in British history – including making plug-in solar available in shops, giving homeowners living in properties heated by oil and LPG £9,000 off the cost of a heat pump, and taking decisive action on delinking electricity prices from international as prices – the government is driving forward with plans to upgrade as many homes as possible to cut bills.

    Adam Scorer, CEO, National Energy Action, and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said: 

    Strengthening consumer protections for home upgrades is an essential step toward homes that are more affordable to heat and that make people healthier. I welcome a reform agenda considered through the experiences of more vulnerable households with less market power and who stand to benefit most from government support.

    Gillian Cooper, Director of Energy at Citizens Advice, and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said: 

    We welcome the commitment to right-first-time installations and a simpler customer journey. Providing routes to impartial advice and redress where needed will give consumers confidence to adopt vital retrofit measures.

    Charlotte Lee, CEO at Heat Pump Association UK, and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said: 

    We welcome these proposals as a positive step towards strengthening consumer protection and building confidence in the transition to low-carbon heating. As the heat pump market continues to grow, it is essential that consumers can rely on high standards, clear accountability and effective support should issues arise. 

    The proposed reforms have the potential to improve oversight, strengthen quality assurance and create a more joined-up approach to consumer protection across the sector.  

    Better use of data and clearer delivery obligations should also help identify issues earlier and drive continuous improvement across the supply chain. Consumer trust is fundamental to the successful rollout of heat pumps, and these measures represent an important opportunity to improve customer outcomes while supporting the growth of a high-quality, resilient market.

    Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said: 

    The retrofit market is a confusing landscape for both consumers and trades. The government’s proposals to improve consumer protection are a welcome step forward most notably the consideration to make more trades and related occupations subject to more government oversight. Greater oversight will offer the best protection to consumers and help drive out incompetent installers.

    Lynne Sullivan, OBE, Chair of National Retrofit Hub and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said:  

    The NRH welcomes the comprehensive analysis and scope of the proposed reforms as well as government’s willingness to play a pivotal role; clarity of responsibilities is key to improving customer experience of the retrofit journey, and should become the norm for the retrofit market.

    Anthony Pygram, member of the Committee on Fuel Poverty, and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said: 

    People who struggle to pay for their energy need to be confident that retrofit measures and their installers are trustworthy and, if things do go wrong, they will not lose out. This consultation is an important step in the right direction.

    Ed Dodman, Chief Ombudsman for Energy Ombudsman, said: 

    The measures announced today by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero represent a positive step forward in enhancing consumer protections and reinforcing high standards across the energy sector. In an essential market such as energy, it’s vital that the right steps continue to be taken to strengthen trust, accountability and outcomes for consumers. 

    Strengthening the role of Energy Ombudsman and making the process faster will ensure consumers can not only have quicker access to redress but also have the confidence that issues will be resolved effectively. 

    There is still work to be done, and we look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with government, the regulator, suppliers and stakeholders to ensure the system delivers fair, timely and accessible outcomes for all.

  • PRESS RELEASE : OSCE remains vital to tell truths and hold each other to account – UK statement to the OSCE [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : OSCE remains vital to tell truths and hold each other to account – UK statement to the OSCE [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 June 2026.

    Speaking at the Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC), Director of Defence and International Security, Ben Fender, reconfirms support for Ukraine, condemnation for Russia’s war and looks ahead to the UK simultaneously chairing two key OSCE security forums later this year.

    Thank you, Chair and Secretary-General, for your leadership in difficult times.

    This meeting is our annual moment to take stock of security in the Euro-Atlantic area.

    There have been moments of light.  The year has seen voters in Armenia, Hungary and Moldova defeat interference in their democracy.  Real steps towards peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  Ukraine and Moldova open a new chapter in their relations with the EU.

    But Russia’s unprovoked, illegal war against Ukraine is now in its fifth year.  A war that has now gone on longer than the First World War, longer than the Soviet role in the Second World War.  About which our Russian colleague knows so many facts.  And of course we should not count the days of Russia’s aggression from 2022 but 2014, or earlier.

    We stand, as always, in solidarity with Ukraine and its people, who have suffered so much.

    The Kremlin gains nothing by continuing.  Every month that passes leaves 35,000 Russian soldiers dead or injured.  Russia’s economy in worse decline, its young people denied opportunity.   Its army ever more reliant on North Korea, Iran and China.

    On Sunday, Russia’s target was the monastery of the Dormition, dating back to the 11th Century.  The same night two state cinema organisations.  And a well-known art institution, the Mistetski Arsenalna.  Three years ago, I saw for myself the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, another World Heritage Site, with a hole in the ceiling where a missile had hit.  Icons in tatters.  Prayer stalls under the rubble.

    Putin’s war is not just against Ukraine but its culture. And against the civilisation of all of us.  But it is also a war that is making Ukraine’s identify, its resolve, stronger than ever.  And our resolve too. What history should have taught our Russia colleague is that the will of peoples to defend their freedom and security will always be stronger than the will of those who want to take it away.

    The threats posed by the war are not limited to Ukraine.  Russia is eroding norms we all benefit from by its routine use of intermediate-range ballistic missiles and its strikes against civilian populations.  Last week, a drone hit the Chornobyl fuel store – a nuclear site, in the exclusion zone, far from any military activity, on the border of Belarus.  Days before, a Russian drone hit a tower block in a city in Romania.  Many of our countries have been the victim of acts of Russian sabotage.  Poland, of a cyber attack on its energy infrastructure.  Barely a week goes by without reckless behaviour by Russian jets.

    Helsinki principles remain, as they have for half a century, a beacon of hope and stability.  They need upholding, not changing.  The OSCE remains a vital place where we can tell truths and hold each other to account.

    We are confident that the arc of history will bend toward justice.  Ukraine has stopped Russia’s advances.  Allies have never been more generous with their support.

    As the current Chair of the Security Committee, the UK has sought to uphold OSCE principles and support Ukraine, and other victims, of Putin’s war.  Exposed the growing hybrid threats – on which the OSCE should do more.  As it should help states to tackle illegal migration.

    In September, we look forward to taking on the Chair of the Forum for Security Co-operation.  Our priorities will be to support these OSCE principles and support Ukraine, hold Russia to account, and promote responsible security management.

    Chair, it will be an honour for us to chair both formal committees of the OSCE’s Pol-Mil Dimension and we look forward to working with you all. Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Violent gang members’ sentences increased after attempted murder [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Violent gang members’ sentences increased after attempted murder [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 17 June 2026.

    Solicitor General secures increased sentences for three gang members in Camden stabbing.

    Kye Regis, Celyse Knight and Khalil Haidara, who were convicted of attempted murder, had their detention sentences increased by four, five and four years respectively, after the Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP referred their case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    The court heard that in Camden, North London three members of the locally based Agar Grove gang, Regis, Knight and Haidara, attacked a rival gang member Omar Greaves, on 1 November 2024. All three attackers were carrying knifes and pinned down Greaves before stabbing him five times. Greaves was taken to hospital where he received life-saving surgery and recovered.

    Regis and Knight were involved in two further incidents, before they were arrested. On 9 November 2024, they assaulted another rival gang member. Following this attack all three offenders were remanded into custody. Then on 30 December 2024 while in custody Knight attacked another prisoner with a metal bar.

    The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said:

    Gang-based violence has a devastating impact on the safety of our streets. Regis, Knight and Haidara are dangerous repeat offenders who targeted rival gang members, attempted to commit murder, and continued to act violently before being taken into custody.

    I welcome the court’s decision to increase all three sentences following my referral. As Solicitor General, I will do everything I can to support the government in trying to protect the public and tackle the scourge of knife crime and gang-based violence in our towns and cities.

    On 19 December 2025 at Central Crown Court:

    • Kye Regis was sentenced to 15 years’ detention for one count of attempted murder, one count of possession of a bladed article and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
    • Celyse Knight was sentenced to 12 years’ detention for one count of attempted murder, one count of possession of a bladed article, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of unlawful wounding.
    • Khalil Haidara was sentenced to 13 years’ detention for one count of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article.

    On Thursday 11 June 2026 at the Court of Appeal:

    • Kye Regis’s sentence for one count of attempted murder was increased to 18 years, resulting in a total sentence of 19 years’ detention.
    • Celyse Knight’s sentence for one count of attempted murder was increased to 14 years and 6 months’ detention. The sentences for one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of unlawful wounding were also adjusted to run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to 17 years’ detention.
    • Khalil Haidara’s sentence for one count of attempted murder was increased to a total of 17 years’ detention.
  • Keir Starmer – 2026 Comments on Companies Avoiding Sanctions Regime

    Keir Starmer – 2026 Comments on Companies Avoiding Sanctions Regime

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 17 June 2026.

    Those who seek to evade our sanctions regime and support Putin’s cronies should be in no doubt, we will come after you.

    It is vital we support Ukraine and continue to ramp up pressure on Russia, as every pound flowing into Putin’s war chest is being used to fuel conflict in Europe and undermine our security.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK issues largest penalty for financial sanctions breaches since Russia’s 2022 illegal invasion of Ukraine [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK issues largest penalty for financial sanctions breaches since Russia’s 2022 illegal invasion of Ukraine [June 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 June 2026.

    The United Kingdom has imposed its largest ever penalty for a breach of Russian financial sanctions since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

    • UK travel technology firm fined more than £1 million for breaching UK financial sanctions against Russia.
    • Sabre Global Technologies Limited made funds and economic resources available to a designated Russian airline for seven months in 2022, and tested alternative payment routes to get around UK sanctions.
    • Third penalty issued under OFSI’s new settlement policy, as the UK continues ironclad support of Ukraine.

    The £1 million fine has been levied against a technology firm – Sabre Global Technologies Limited (SGTL) – that repeatedly breached UK financial sanctions.  

    The action by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) – part of HM Treasury – underlines the UK’s increasingly robust enforcement of the Russia sanctions regime in support of Ukraine and sends clear compliance lessons to industry.

    The penalty is also the first issued by OFSI for a circumvention offence, and comes as the UK steps up enforcement action on those seeking to evade our sanctions regime. 

    SGTL, which provides travel technology services, continued to provide Russian carrier Ural Airlines access to its Global Distribution System service for seven months after it was designated by the UK in May 2022. SGTL was notified of the designation on the day it took effect.

    After payments to its UK bank were blocked for sanctions concerns, SGTL explored alternative ways of receiving payments from Ural Airlines.

    This included asking Ural Airlines to send a test payment to a non-UK SGTL bank account, intending for future settlements to be routed through this account. This amounted to circumvention of UK sanctions.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Those who seek to evade our sanctions regime and support Putin’s cronies should be in no doubt, we will come after you.

    It is vital we support Ukraine and continue to ramp up pressure on Russia, as every pound flowing into Putin’s war chest is being used to fuel conflict in Europe and undermine our security.

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves said:

    Our support for Ukraine is ironclad.

    This largest ever penalty for breaches of financial sanctions since Russia’s 2022 illegal invasion sends a clear message – we will take decisive action against those who break UK financial sanctions and help fund Russia’s war machine.

    The UK alone has sanctioned more than 3300 individuals, businesses and ships under the Russia sanctions regime.

    This latest action follows sanctions packages in May which targeted the infrastructure underpinning Russia’s war economy, including crypto exchanges and maritime services.

    SGTL has been fined a total of £1,000,920.59 for breaches of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Controlling spending is not abuse say a fifth of young men [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Controlling spending is not abuse say a fifth of young men [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 June 2026.

    One in 5 young men do not consider controlling someone’s spending as abuse, as the government and banks unite as part of the Enough campaign.

    Victims and survivors of economic abuse will benefit from a new partnership to tackle the issue, as new figures from a survey by Ipsos UK published by the Home Office and Surviving Economic Abuse today reveal significant gaps in recognising controlling behaviours as abuse.

    According to the figures published today, younger men are 3 times more likely than older men to fail to recognise controlling how someone spends their money as abuse, underscoring the need for urgent action to raise awareness.

    To confront this abuse, major UK banks – spanning both high street and digital-only providers, including Monzo, TSB, Metro Bank, Santander, Revolut and HSBC – have joined forces with the government’s Enough campaign to shine a light on economic abuse behaviours that are often dismissed, misunderstood or missed altogether. 

    In banking apps and certain physical branches, customers will see campaign adverts highlighting 4 forms of economic abuse: 

    • restricting someone’s ability to earn
    • running up debts in someone else’s name
    • controlling someone’s money
    • misusing payment references to harass someone 

    They utilise the campaigns designed to prompt recognition and trigger reflection among perpetrators.

    Economic abuse, a form of domestic abuse that is a criminal offence under the controlling or coercive behaviour offence, involves domestic abusers controlling a current or ex-partner’s money and economic resources (housing, phone, employment, food or clothes).

    Domestic abusers can trap people in dangerous situations by controlling their money, restricting their work, or running up debt in their name. This hidden form of control strips away people’s independence and financial stability and devastates families.

    This phase of the campaign aims to increase public recognition of economic abuse while also prompting self-reflection among those carrying out these behaviours, encouraging them to recognise and change harmful actions.

    Overall, awareness of economic abuse is high, with over 9 in 10 men (94%) able to identify at least one economically abusive behaviour as abuse. However, fewer people recognise all forms, with just 58% of men and 65% of all UK adults (men and women) able to identify every behaviour.

    According to the new data, younger men aged 18–24 are less likely than older men to recognise economically abusive behaviours as abuse. Almost one in 5 18-24 year-old men (19%) say that controlling how someone spends their money is probably not or definitely not abuse, compared to just 6% of 45–54-year-olds, and a further 19% of 18-24 year-old men do not recognise controlling access to a personal bank account as abuse. Younger men are more likely to miss these signs, with 16% of 18–24-year-olds saying taking out credit in someone’s name without consent is not abuse, compared to just 4% of 45–54-year-olds.

    To confront other hidden forms of abuse, banks are also rolling out new technology to detect and prevent abusive messages sent through payment references when transferring money online – stopping harm at the point it happens and sending a clear signal that this behaviour will not be tolerated. 

    This partnership follows a roundtable on economic abuse hosted by the Treasury alongside the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Minister Natalie Fleet, bringing together government, economic abuse experts and industry to drive meaningful, life-changing action to tackle this pernicious crime.  

    Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Minister Fleet, said:  

    Economic abuse may not always be visible and doesn’t always leave bruises, but its impact can be just as devastating, isolating victims and controlling every aspect of their lives. 

    Controlling someone’s money, their work, or their independence is abuse. Plain and simple and it must not be dismissed or normalised.

    By working with banks on this important issue we are protecting victims and sending a clear message to perpetrators: this is not acceptable, and we will use the full power of the state to keep women and girls safe.

    Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, said:

    At a time when young women are experiencing the highest rates of economic abuse, it is deeply worrying that some younger men are less likely than any other age group to say these behaviours are abusive. That puts them out of step with the vast majority of young men and the wider public and highlights the urgent need to challenge harmful attitudes.

    We need to be absolutely clear: controlling someone’s money and economic resources is abuse. Whether it’s restricting how someone spends their money, forcing them into debt or making it difficult for them to work or study, these are tactics used by abusers to exert power and control. They trap survivors in dangerous situations and make it harder to safely escape and rebuild their lives.

    These attitudes matter because they shape what people think is acceptable in relationships. That’s why all of us – the government, businesses, schools and communities – have a role to play in sending a clear message: economic abuse is abuse, and it has no place in our society.

    Ruth Dodsworth OBE said: 

    In my marriage, money was used as a weapon of absolute control, reducing me to a state of total financial dependence where every penny spent required permission and proof.

    My bank card vanished and was never replaced, and I even had to ask for money for my lunch, and only being given the exact amount in cash for a sandwich meal deal. This forced financial control made it impossible to join friends for coffee or social gatherings, forcing me to constantly make up excuses and withdraw in shame.

    By controlling my wallet, he systematically dismantled my support system, leaving me entirely isolated and unable to reach out for help.

    Gabby, a young survivor of economic abuse, said:

    I experienced economic abuse from the age of 17, but at the time I had no idea what it was. I didn’t recognise the warning signs because I had never been taught about economic abuse or how it can affect someone’s life. Looking back, I often wonder whether things could have been different if I had known what to look for.

    There needs to be far greater education for young people, particularly young men, about economic abuse and healthy financial boundaries in relationships. Being in a relationship with someone does not mean they are responsible for funding your lifestyle or carrying the financial burden alone.

    Banks have made progress in supporting victim-survivors of economic abuse, but there is still much more they can do. In my case, it took 3 years for my property to be repossessed, despite the bank being aware of the situation from the beginning. That delay had a devastating impact, damaging my credit score for years. Victim-survivors deserve better support, understanding and action.

    This builds on wider progress to tackle violence against women and girls, including through the government’s pioneering VAWG Strategy published in December. 

    This includes rolling out Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) to tackle abuse head on, embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms through ‘Raneem’s Law’ to provide better protection to victims, and through the Enough campaign, which challenges harmful attitudes and behaviours to prevent abuse. 

    This all forms part of the government’s unprecedented mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. 

    Further quotes

    Kerry Reynolds, Director of Retail and Business Banking, Metro Bank, said: 

    We welcome the government’s campaign and its focus on raising awareness of a form of abuse that can often remain hidden. At Metro Bank, we recognise the role we can play in supporting those affected to access specialist support.

    Through initiatives such as Hestia’s Safe Spaces offered in our stores, people experiencing domestic abuse have a safe, accessible space where they can take a moment and be heard at a time when they may need it most.

    Keely Newman Head of Vulnerable Customers at TSB said: 

    Economic abuse can trap people by restricting their financial independence and control.

    At TSB, we see first-hand how financial and domestic abuse affects our customers, which is why our Flee Fund provides immediate support to those taking the brave step to leave.

    We’re proud to back the Enough campaign, helping people recognise the signs, and provide practical support to regain control and stay safe.

    Natalie Beddows, Head of Vulnerability, Access & Inclusion at Monzo, said:

    We see first-hand the devastating impact economic abuse can have on our customers, which is why supporting those affected has always been a priority at Monzo. We’ve built tools like Share With Us, hidden Pots and flexible communication preferences to help people reach us safely, alongside specialist teams who support customers when they need it.

    We look forward to working with others across the industry to continue raising awareness of economic abuse and the serious harm it causes, and provide much-needed support to victim survivors.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Leaders’ declaration on tackling migrant smuggling [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Leaders’ declaration on tackling migrant smuggling [June 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 June 2026.

    Leaders’ declaration on tackling migrant smuggling.

    We, the Leaders of the G7, reaffirm our enduring efforts to prevent and counter the smuggling of migrants. Taking stock of the G7 Leaders’ statements adopted in Apulia in 2024 and Kananaskis in 2025, we renew our commitment to preventing, countering and dismantling organised criminal networks that profit from the smuggling of migrants, the trafficking in persons and other related crimes, as well as to disrupting the business models of organised criminal enterprises. Partner countries of the G7, Kenya and the Republic of Korea, also support this declaration.

    Migrant smuggling and human trafficking constitute serious transnational crimes that erode the sovereign right of States to control their borders and expose smuggled and trafficked persons to life-threatening risks. We are committed to tackling organised illegal migration. We remain committed to fight against all forms of abuse and exploitation of migrants, ensuring protection of the most vulnerable, including refugees and forcibly displaced persons.

    Accordingly, we task our relevant Ministers to continue taking robust action to further deliver on the G7 Action Plan to Prevent and Counter the Smuggling of Migrants.

    We recognise ongoing work to adopt targeted sanctions and other restrictive measures against individuals and entities involved in migrant smuggling, including online, where consistent with our legal systems. In that regard, we recall our determination, expressed under the Canadian presidency, to intensify our cooperation with online platforms and relevant actors for them to detect, prevent and remove online content used to conduct smuggling operations.

    We will also deepen cooperation with countries of origin and transit to dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks, and to prevent organised illegal migration by strengthening our efforts to build stability in order to enable all individuals to live and thrive in their own countries, safeguarding their safety, rights and dignity, including through improved economic conditions.

    We note the obligations on States to accept return of their own nationals and to enhance processes to ensure timely, safe, lawful and dignified return of those with no legal right to stay in our territories. Respectful of national competences, we take note of new lawful approaches explored by some members with third countries to strengthen migration management.

    This declaration reflects the outcome of the discussion between G7 members, benefiting from productive exchanges of views with partner countries.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Leaders’ declaration on the fight against drug trafficking [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Leaders’ declaration on the fight against drug trafficking [June 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 July 2026.

    Leaders’ declaration on the fight against drug trafficking.

    We, the Leaders of the G7, are committed to intensifying our fight against drug trafficking. Partner countries of the G7, Brazil and the Republic of Korea, also support this declaration. Global drug trafficking has expanded significantly in recent years, driven by record levels of production, the adaptability of organised crime groups and the rise of global demand. It constitutes a major and increasing threat to national security fuelling corruption and violence.

    We recognize that tackling this transnational organised crime is fundamental for safeguarding our societies, the health of our populations, our economic prosperity and global security. These sophisticated illegal networks recognise no borders. They exploit international vulnerabilities – siphoning vital resources from our economies and weakening the democratic institutions upon which our free societies depend. International cooperation is key to support national efforts to address this threat.

    We reaffirm our determination to have joint and ambitious solutions to disrupt drug trafficking networks, with an evidence-based whole-of-government approach that includes the reduction of drug supply and demand, consistently with our shared values, norms and standards. We are committed to scaling up coordinated actions to prevent, investigate and prosecute all organised criminal groups, and to strengthening the resilience of our systems, in a comprehensive approach. In that regard, we emphasise the continued need to strengthen the global anti-money laundering architecture to prevent financial crime and improve enforcement and asset recovery outcomes, in line with the Financial Action Task Force standards.

    We are committed to taking action to:

    Strengthen maritime and port security to combat drug trafficking

    We recognise that maritime transport is the primary vector for global drug and precursor chemical trafficking. Building on the progress achieved during the Canadian presidency, we commit to strengthen our efforts to intensify our maritime cooperation in order to intercept more shipments of illicit drugs and to further strengthen the resilience of maritime ports and the whole global supply chains against drug trafficking and precursor flows.

    To that end, we will create a G7+ Ports Network to Combat Drug Trafficking to reinforce cooperation between G7 members and their partners’ main maritime ports in coordination with the European Ports Alliance, the European Coalition Against Drugs and similar initiatives. This G7+ initiative will aim to better coordinate, share information and implement best practices, including through possible joint field visits to port authorities and law enforcement agencies, building on international regulations, such as the International Ship and Port Facility Security of the International Maritime Organization and G7 initiatives. To this end, we will set up an Inventory of G7 Initiatives and Best Practices to Counter Drug and Precursor Chemical Trafficking in Ports.

    We task our relevant Ministers to implement the Network by November 2026 and to further strengthen the security of our ports against drug and precursor chemical trafficking, with a particular focus on broadening cooperation with the private sector and enhancing port and shipping security standards.

    Counter the infiltration of legitimate public and private institutions by criminal networks

    The infiltration of legitimate public and private institutions by criminal networks to facilitate international drug trafficking poses a real threat to our societies. It is becoming a central component of the economic model often employed by transnational organised crime groups.

    We are committed to decisively counter any attempt by criminal networks to infiltrate legitimate public and private institutions. We task our relevant Ministers to develop, by November 2026, a comprehensive G7 Action Plan against the infiltration of legitimate public and private institutions by drug trafficking networks and organised criminal groups.

    Support international and regional partners to combat drug production and transportation

    We commit to working together with international and regional partners to strengthen our collective approach to tackling drug use, production and trafficking. This includes working with partners to establish or strengthen national drug observatories, or similar entities, and early warning systems on drug consumption and trafficking, contributing to preparedness and evidence-based responses.

    Recognising that we must counter the production and the transportation of drugs, we welcome the organisation of the Regional Security Conference in the Caribbean in Martinique. We encourage participants to take concrete and ambitious enforcement actions to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking and arms trafficking networks.

    We will support relevant multilateral agencies and processes to further enhance global counternarcotics, including Interpol, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Narcotics Control Board, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the European Coalition Against Drugs.

    Enhance policy measures for reducing the demand and minimising the consequences of drug use on our communities

    We will spare no effort to reduce demand and minimise the adverse public health and social consequences of drug use. We will do so by adopting a comprehensive approach that includes awareness-raising and health measures for prevention, treatment, risk reduction and recovery. We will enhance awareness-raising and knowledge-sharing on emerging drug threats, support effective law enforcement and public health responses, and strengthen national drug observatories, or similar entities, and early warning mechanisms on new substances and consumption patterns, with a particular focus on those especially exposed.

    Tackle other forms of transnational organised crime and illicit financial flows associated with drug trafficking

    We recognise that drug trafficking networks perpetrate and profit from other forms of cross-border organised crime – including human trafficking – as well as fraud, corruption, money laundering, terrorist financing and related illicit financial flows. These criminal networks also often thrive from crimes that affect the environment, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

    We commit to disrupt the economic infrastructure enabling these illegal activities by strengthening financial investigations to trace, freeze, seize and confiscate associated proceeds and assets, including virtual assets. The follow-the-money approach must be systematically applied, supported by robust and secure information exchange between our respective law enforcement, judicial authorities and financial intelligence units. We will strengthen our collective actions to curb illicit finance, in line with the G7 Financial Crime Call to Action.

    This declaration reflects the outcome of the discussion between G7 members, benefiting from productive exchanges of views with partner countries.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK backs communities on the ocean’s front line with £13.9 million investment [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK backs communities on the ocean’s front line with £13.9 million investment [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 17 June 2026.

    The funding supports international programmes delivering for people and nature, from flood protection to tackling plastic pollution.

    Ocean ecosystems will be protected and resilience increased in some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable coastal communities thanks to £13.9 million UK investment in new funding, Marine Minister Emma Hardy announced today at the eleventh Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya.

    Channelled through the UK’s Blue Planet Fund, which marks its fifth anniversary this year, the investment will support three international programmes delivering measurable results for people and nature: PROBLUE, the World Bank’s Blue Economy Multi-Donor Trust Fund, the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) and the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP).

    PROBLUE is a World Bank-managed fund, supported by multiple donors, that partners with countries to protect and sustainably manage their marine resources.

    ORRAA brings together the finance sector, governments and civil society to develop new ways of investing in the protection of coastal communities and marine environments, particularly in developing countries.

    GPAP is the World Economic Forum’s flagship initiative on plastic pollution. It creates national partnerships that bring together governments, businesses and civil society to tackle plastic pollution and increase investment in waste management and the circular economy transition in over 20 countries.

    A £6.7 million contribution to PROBLUE, up to £2.2 million in additional ORRAA funding and £5 million for GPAP bring the UK’s total commitment to these programmes to over £86 million since 2021.

    Marine Minister Emma Hardy said:

    Behind every statistic is a community better protected from storms, a mangrove forest pulling carbon from the atmosphere, a family no longer at risk of losing their home to rising seas.

    This funding reaffirms the UK’s position at the forefront of international ocean protection. As climate pressures on our oceans intensify, investing in the resilience of coastal communities is not only the right thing to do, but essential.

    In São Tomé and Príncipe, one of the world’s smallest and most climate-exposed nations, UK-backed funding through PROBLUE is building coastal resilience. The programme is working to reduce flood risk for over 800 households and supporting 2000 people through job-focussed interventions. Every dollar of PROBLUE funding has unlocked more than three in wider World Bank investment.

    Off the Kenyan coast, ORRAA-supported work in Vanga Bay is pioneering a new approach to ocean finance: developing one of the world’s first marine biodiversity credit schemes in the global south, creating a sustainable income stream for coastal communities tied directly to the restoration and protection of seagrass ecosystems.

    Karen Sack, Executive Director of ORRAA, said:

    The UK’s Blue Planet Fund has been instrumental in supporting ORRAA’s work in developing an investable finance and insurance product pipeline that supports the resilience of climate vulnerable coastal communities in the Global South, and in building the Alliance.

    This latest wave of funding will be critical as we double-down and scale-up vital action for the health of the Ocean and the communities it supports.

    Clemence Schmid, Director, Global Plastic Action Partnership, World Economic Forum, said:

    Since 2018, the United Kingdom’s continued leadership and partnership have helped the Global Plastic Action Partnership grow into the world’s largest multistakeholder platform tackling plastic pollution, connecting a global community of partners with 25 National Plastic Action Partnerships that translate global ambition into local action.

    At a pivotal moment for the global plastics treaty, this renewed commitment will help strengthen this network. This includes NPAP Kenya, which we are proud to launch at the Our Ocean Conference this week, helping unlock investment, create jobs and accelerate the transition to a circular plastics economy.

    We are grateful to the United Kingdom for its continued leadership in advancing the global circular plastics agenda.

    UK Special Representative for Nature Ruth Davis OBE said:

    Our ocean is fundamental to life on Earth and this investment will deliver real, measurable benefits for marine nature, from seagrass meadows to coral reefs that shelter extraordinary biodiversity.  

    Tackling plastic pollution, restoring coastal ecosystems and building the finance mechanisms that make long-term marine protection viable are all essential steps in halting and reversing the decline of ocean nature.  

    The UK’s continued leadership through the Blue Planet Fund shows what is possible when we treat the ocean crisis with the urgency it deserves.

    Whilst in Kenya, Minister Hardy also signed a High-Level Global Commitment on Protecting Climate Resilient Coral Reefs on behalf of the UK and its Overseas Territories. The commitment calls on signatories to integrate reef protection into national plans, reduce local pressures on reefs, and mobilise global finance to support their conservation. This builds on the UK’s support of the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, which is helping to scale businesses that build sustainable livelihoods and protect coral reefs in critical locations across the globe. 

    These announcement form part of the UK’s broader engagement at a pivotal moment for international ocean and environmental diplomacy, ahead of the first Conference of the Parties to the High Seas Treaty, CBD COP17 and UNFCCC COP31 later this year.

    Delivering this work globally helps protect the UK’s own interests by supporting healthier seas, strengthening food security, and building resilience to climate impacts, recognising that our economy, environment and wellbeing all depend on a thriving natural world.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister secures major jobs and energy investment at G7 to deliver growth and security at home [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister secures major jobs and energy investment at G7 to deliver growth and security at home [June 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 June 2026.

    Prime Minister secures major jobs and energy investment at G7 to deliver growth and security at home.

    • £1.3 billion in new investment secured from leading companies in France and India to back clean energy and AI projects in the UK
    • More than 1,400 new jobs to be created in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham
    • Major new battery storage and clean power projects to boost energy security and help bring down bills for working people

    The Prime Minister will unveil a major package of international investment into the UK economy at the G7 Summit, delivering more than a thousand jobs, strengthening energy security and helping to bring down costs for working people.

    The deal includes major investments from French and Indian firms into Britain’s clean energy infrastructure and AI sector – backing high-skilled jobs in cities including Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham while helping deliver more stable and affordable energy.

    At a time of rising global instability, including conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, the Prime Minister is using the summit to work with partners to reduce pressures on household bills, strengthen supply chains and unlock new opportunities for British workers.

    Today’s investments come as the Prime Minister meets world leaders to drive growth and security at home in an increasingly uncertain global context. They include:

    • £25 million investment from Indian based tech firm Hexaware Technologies to expand its UK operations, creating around 1,200 jobs in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham in AI, digital services and quantum technologies
    • £1 billion from InfraVia to invest in a pipeline of battery storage and flexible energy projects across the UK — helping ensure electricity remains available when demand is high, and keeping the grid stable and affordable
    • More than £300 million from Atri Energy Transition to develop large-scale battery storage and advanced manufacturing creating more than 100 jobs and supporting the UK’s clean energy future

    Together, these investments will support high-skilled jobs, strengthen the UK’s energy independence, and help protect households from volatile global energy prices.

    The government is determined to accelerate the shift to homegrown power, reducing reliance on international fossil fuel markets and helping deliver more stable, affordable energy for families and businesses over the long term.

    Today’s announcement cements the UK’s leadership in clean energy, with the government having secured £90 billion in private investment into renewable projects since taking office.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    The world is more dangerous than it has been for a generation, with conflict abroad washing up on our shores.

    That’s why I’m focused on making the UK the best place to do business by offering global investors the stability and competitive environment they need to grow, even in the face of global uncertainty.

    These investments will create thousands of high-skilled jobs, back British innovation and strengthen our energy system so families are better protected from global shocks.

    The announcements also underline the UK’s standing as a leading destination for investment, particularly in new and emerging industries such as AI and clean energy and build on the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy.

    Hexaware Technologies, which is based in India, is set to expand its presence in the UK through the expansion of its delivery centre in Birmingham and establishment of its R&D Centres in Manchester and Leeds. The investment will support innovation at scale in new and emerging technologies including AI and quantum computing and is expected to create around 1,200 jobs over the next three to five years, supported by £25 million in capital investment.

    Atri Energy Transition – an India-based clean energy investor – will invest more than £300 million in the UK to develop large-scale battery storage and advanced manufacturing. This includes new facilities supporting more than 100 jobs and helping store energy so it can be used when demand is highest. This will strengthen the UK’s energy security and help protect households from spikes in global energy prices.

    InfraVia’s £1 billion investment will fund a pipeline of projects across the UK, including battery storage and a flexible energy platform that can be switched on to boost supply when renewable energy is low. In practice, this means a more reliable electricity system that can keep the lights on during periods of high demand, helping to stabilise energy prices and reduce the risk of sudden spikes in household bills.

    CEO of Hexaware Technologies Srikrishna Ramakarthikeyan said:

    Hexaware has worked alongside businesses in the UK for more than three decades. We have very high ambitions for our growth, creating impact in the UK and proudly supporting the Government’s inclusive vision for AI. 

    Our investments are focused on developing young talent, working with unique published datasets, and collaborating with government at all levels across the country to create a positive impact for the citizens of the UK. These investments in AI research, digital innovation for citizen services, and talent incubation will create meaningful social impact while fuelling and accelerating the UK’s long-term economic growth.

    CEO & Founder of InfraVia Capital Partners Vincent Levita said:

    We believe the launch of Supernova Power is the kind of investment the UK needs as it moves towards a more electrified, digital and low-carbon economy. 

    As digital infrastructure, EV and the wider electrification of industry increase pressure on power systems, flexible generation and battery storage will be essential to maintaining energy security, strengthening grid resilience and enabling more renewable power to come online. This investment is a strong vote of confidence in the UK’s energy infrastructure market and testimony on the stability of its regulation and commitment towards renewable energy.

    The Prime Minister is working with G7 partners to ease pressures on global energy markets, including efforts to stabilise key shipping routes and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East to help bring down costs for households.

    By securing investment through international engagement, the Government is delivering tangible benefits at home – from new jobs and investment in communities to stronger energy security and lower household bills.