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David Lammy – 2025 Speech at London Sudan Conference

The speech made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, in London on 15 April 2025.

Two years on from this war starting, with frontlines shifting again, I fear many onlookers feel a sense of déjà vu. The country’s fraught history also means that some conclude that further conflict is effectively inevitable.

Many have given up on Sudan. That is wrong. It’s morally wrong when we see so many civilians beheaded, infants as young as one subjected to sexual violence, more people facing famine than anywhere else in the world.

We simply cannot look away. And as I speak, civilians and aid workers in El Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp are facing unimaginable violence.

With over four million refugees having fled the country, and instability spreading far beyond Sudan’s border, it’s also strategically wrong to forget Sudan. And that’s why, as Foreign Secretary, I refused to turn away. I felt a duty to confront this war’s horrors head on.

I have been to the Sudanese border and met with survivors. I have called out attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers in the United Nations.

And I have doubled our aid to Sudan, and today I am announcing a further £120 million worth of support. But the biggest obstacle is not a lack of funding or texts at the United Nations, it’s lack of political will.

Very simply, we have got to persuade the warring parties to protect civilians, to let aid in and across the country and to put peace first.

And so we do need patient diplomacy. Bringing together this group today, focusing of course on the areas where we agree and building out from there is very very important today, indeed. Today’s goal is then to do just that. We all want to see Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity upheld.

We all want to see a united state, with functioning institutions. We all want to see Sudan’s civilians protected, and the millions of displaced people able to return to their homes.

This is a strong basis to agree the steps needed then to relieve suffering and to end this awful war. I hope across our three sessions, we can agree a set of principles for our future diplomatic engagement.

When I met with Sudanese refugees in Chad I was frankly humbled by their resilience. In the face of unimaginable trauma, they had not given up on their country or the communities around them.

For their sake, we cannot resign ourselves to inevitable conflict. We cannot be back here one year from now, having the same discussion. So today, let’s show them and the world we have not given up on them. We have not given up on Sudan.

I am hugely grateful for the support from the African Union, and to my colleagues from France, Germany and the EU in supporting the shared endeavour.

15/04/2025
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement – 16th Ukraine Defence Contact Group – National Armaments Directors Format [April 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 15 April 2025.

Joint Statement from Ukraine, Germany and the United Kingdom, co-chairs of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG).

On Friday 11 April the National Armaments Directors (NADs) from over 40 nations met at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. They were supported by multiple international government organisations.

They agreed to ensure that the commitments made in the UDCG Ministerial Format are rapidly converted into contracts with industry and the tangible delivery of support to Ukraine to ensure Ukraine is able to sustain the resolute defence of her sovereignty and her people and negotiate a lasting and secure peace.

The UDCG NAD Format, co-chaired by Ukraine, Germany and the UK and building on the work of the US since its inception, will report its progress to the June ministerial meeting.

15/04/2025
PRESS RELEASE : Third international meeting of the Post-Holocaust Issues Special Envoys Network on Holocaust-era Restitution [April 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 April 2025.

Lord Pickles attends meeting in The Hague to discuss progress and challenges relating to the restitution of Holocaust-era assets.

On 2 April, UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues Lord Pickles attended a meeting of the Special Envoys Network on Holocaust-era Restitution in The Hague. The meeting was hosted by the Netherlands’ National Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism, Eddo Verdoner, alongside the World Jewish Restitution Organisation and the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security.

The US Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Ellen Germain updated that 32 countries had now signed up to the Best Practices for the Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art. She made a special plea to those countries who had signed the original Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art 25 years ago to sign up to the best practices document.

Lord Pickles made the point that no country is immune from restitution claims. He reported that the Tate Britain art museum was set to reunite the great-grandchildren of a Belgian Jewish art collector with a painting looted from his home by the Nazis.

The oil painting ‘Aeneas and his Family Fleeing Burning Troy’ by English painter Henry Gibbs was stolen from the home of Samuel Hartveld after he fled Antwerp with his wife in May 1940. The piece, dating from 1654, was one of hundreds of thousands the Nazis plundered from Jewish families during World War II.

Its restitution has been a slow process, often involving legal battles and complex international searches. The return of the painting will mark the latest triumph for a special panel set up by the UK Government to investigate such works that have ended up in Britain’s public collections.

The UK Spoliation Advisory Panel ruled the Aeneas painting was “looted as an act of racial persecution”, and has arranged for it to be returned to Hartveld’s heirs in the coming months.

Lord Pickles welcomed the success of the Special Envoys Network on Holocaust Era Restitution in developing the best practices document, and in firstly tackling restitution of movable property.

However, he acknowledged that there were still many Holocaust survivors and their families who had waited 80 years for justice and recognition of their loss of property. He added that bureaucratic inertia had delayed the resolution of too many restitution claims for too long.

Lord Pickles reflected that in some countries, the regulations were so stringent that it was very difficult for survivors who no longer live in the country of their birth to receive any restitution. This is a particular obstacle for survivor communities living in the US and Israel, as well as those in the UK. He stressed that it was time to focus on getting individual property back to their rightful owners, before it is too late.

Lord Pickles said,

Eighty years after the Holocaust, we have undoubtedly made progress, but there is still so much more to be done, and so little time left to do it. Meetings like this are essential for moving from principles to action. We owe it to survivors, their families, and future generations to ensure that justice is not only promised but delivered.

On 3 April, the special envoys travelled to Amsterdam to visit the recently opened Dutch National Holocaust Museum. This is the first museum to tell the entire story of the persecution of the Jews in the Netherlands.

15/04/2025
NEWS STORY : Government Urges Unite to End Birmingham Bin Strike Amid Mounting Public Health Concerns

STORY

The UK Government has called on the Unite union to accept Birmingham City Council’s latest pay offer and bring an end to the ongoing refuse workers’ strike, which has left the city grappling with 21,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish and escalating public health risks. Communities Secretary Angela Rayner has urged Unite to reconsider its position after the union overwhelmingly rejected the council’s proposal, describing it as “totally inadequate.” The strike, which began on 11 March, stems from a dispute over the removal of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role. Unite claims the change would result in pay cuts of up to £8,000 for approximately 200 drivers. The council contends that only 17 workers would be affected and that alternative roles with equivalent pay have been offered.

In response to the mounting waste and associated health hazards, the government has invoked Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) powers, deploying military logistical planners to assist in coordinating waste collection efforts. Additionally, support from neighbouring councils has been mobilised to address the crisis. The Labour-led Birmingham City Council, already under financial strain due to a £760 million equal pay ruling, maintains that the removal of the WRCO role is necessary to avoid further legal liabilities. The council emphasises its commitment to resolving the dispute and restoring essential services to the city’s 1.2 million residents.

15/04/2025
NEWS STORY : Pubs Code Adjudicator Launches New Website to Support Tied Pub Tenants

STORY

The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) has unveiled a new official website designed to provide tied pub tenants in England and Wales with clearer guidance on their rights and responsibilities under the Pubs Code. The website offers comprehensive information on key areas such as rent assessments, the Market Rent Only (MRO) option, and dispute resolution processes. It aims to empower tenants by enhancing transparency and accessibility to regulatory support.

Fiona Dickie, the Pubs Code Adjudicator, stated: “This new digital platform is a significant step towards ensuring that tied tenants have the resources they need to understand and exercise their rights effectively. Our goal is to foster fair and equitable relationships between pub-owning businesses and their tenants.” The launch of the website aligns with the PCA’s ongoing efforts to address concerns within the tied pub sector, where tenants often face challenges related to rent fairness and supply agreements. By providing a centralised hub of information, the PCA seeks to support tenants in making informed decisions about their businesses.

The new web-site is accessible at https://www.pubscodeadjudicator.org.uk/.

15/04/2025
PRESS RELEASE : Scotland is the only UK nation that is reducing child poverty [April 2025]

The press release issued by the SNP on 4 April 2025.

Rachel Reeves could use her latest budget to match the Scottish Child Payment UK-wide, after research from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) found that child poverty rates in Scotland have fallen compared to the rest of the UK.

The question is, will she? And will Scotland’s Labour MPs also challenge her to do so?

According to the CPAG, child poverty fell in Scotland, with the three-year average poverty rate falling in Scotland from 24% to 23% – with the latest one-year data showing a fall from 26% to 22%.

Meanwhile in England it has risen from 30% to 31%, from 23% to 24% in Northern Ireland, and from 29% to 31% in Wales

The CPAG states that “the key reason for this divergence is the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment” and that “this shows the impact investment in social security has on child poverty”.

It also warns the Westminster government that child poverty is set to rise even higher in the absence of any poverty-reducing reforms, reaching 4.8 million by the end of this parliament in 2029.

The report by the CPAG was soon followed by another, published by the Changing Realities study of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), which concluded that Labour could lift 700,000 children out of poverty if it adopted the SNP policy.

These warnings come after the Westminster government’s own impact assessment revealed that the latest benefit cuts announced by Rachel Reeves will push 50,000 more children into poverty.

The SNP has consistently called for the UK government to match the Scottish Government’s action on child poverty by matching the Scottish Child Payment.

Instead of scapegoating struggling families on benefits for the UK’s ills the Chancellor should be using her spring budget to deliver the real and long-overdue action needed to tackle the increasing levels of child poverty in the rest of the UK.

It is a mark of shame on a Westminster Labour government that child poverty is rising and expected to hit record highs by the end of this parliament.

Westminster Labour government policies are now actively pushing children into poverty and holding Scotland back.

Rachel Reeves could deliver emergency action now by matching the Scottish Child Payment UK-wide. As the Child Poverty Action Group and LSE have revealed it has made a difference by reducing child poverty in Scotland.

As a result of the SNP government’s leadership, Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is expected to fall – it’s time the Westminster Labour government matched this action.

15/04/2025
PRESS RELEASE : Mayor reveals first to benefit from his Greener Schools programme and save thousands on energy bills [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 14 April 2025.

38 schools across 16 London boroughs will receive share of £2.9 million City Hall funding to become energy efficient, with more funding unlocked for more schools
The Mayor’s new Greener Schools pilot will benefit children across the capital, helping schools save almost £15,000 on average per year

Innovative programme is a key part of Sadiq’s commitment to help schools in London reduce their carbon emissions and save money on their energy bills

The new Mayoral investment has leveraged further £9.6 million for schools to spend on energy-saving measures such as insulation, LED lights, solar panels and heat pumps

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today revealed the first beneficiaries of his ambitious new Greener Schools pilot, which will enable schools to spend less on their energy bills and more on children’s education.

The new initiative will see 38 schools across 16 London boroughs [1] save an average of almost £15,000 on their energy bills [2] as part of Sadiq’s manifesto commitment to help them cut costs and carbon emissions.

The Mayor invited London boroughs to apply for his £2.9 million Greener Schools pilot funding in December 2024 [3], and has since leveraged a further £9.6 million through boroughs delivering additional investment. [4]

Beneficiaries from a wide variety of education settings and phases – including five special schools, two nurseries, two secondary schools and 31 primary schools – will receive an average of over £77,000 each. Following high demand from the boroughs and schools, further funding of almost £1 million has been allocated to support an additional 13 schools.

The funding will enable schools to introduce key energy-saving measures such as insulation, LED lights, solar panels and heat pumps. It will also fund climate engagement activities such as school-wide sustainability projects including water conservation initiatives, helping to empower the next generation of climate change leaders in communities across the capital.

The pilot is scalable and could be rolled out nationally to benefit more children and schools across the country. If all of London’s schools were to use energy saving interventions, this could save over £50 million annually from the education budget [5].

Sadiq’s pilot has also inspired aspects of the Government’s Great British Energy project announced last month to put rooftop solar panels on 200 schools and 200 hospitals – saving schools money for the next academic year [6].

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am delighted to announce the first schools across the capital to benefit from my new Greener Schools initiative. This investment will help schools reduce their energy costs so they can spend more on vital resources such as books, technology and staff – and cut carbon emissions so schools can play their part in tackling air pollution in the capital.

“Working with the boroughs, we’ve been able to leverage a further £9.6m to fund more vital projects in more schools, helping to meet our target of achieving net zero by 2030, as we continue working to build a greener and fairer London for everyone.”

Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban, said: “It’s great that our Greener Schools programme has had such a positive and enthusiastic uptake from the boroughs and their schools.

“Their collaborative approach has allowed us to unlock further funding, meaning that more schools and pupils will benefit from this important programme.”

Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said: “Too many schools have been saddled with sky-high energy bills, driven by the UK’s dependence on global fossil fuel markets. That is why it is fantastic to see these awards from the Mayor’s Greener Schools pilot, with new energy saving measures set to put more money back into classrooms across London.
“This follows the launch of Great British Energy’s first major project to put rooftop solar panels on around 200 schools and 200 NHS sites, saving them money on their bills.”

Executive Headteacher at Brecknock and Torriano Federation, Helen Bruckdorfer, said: “We are thrilled to have received grant funding from the Greener Schools Pilot, which will play a key role in advancing the goals outlined in our Torriano School Climate Action Plan. This funding will help us enhance energy efficiency and implement sustainable solutions, such as solar PV and LED lighting.

“Addressing climate change and promoting sustainability are fundamental to the partnership between Camden Council and its schools, and this initiative is a significant step toward a greener, more sustainable future for our community.”

Headteacher at Durants School, Rachel Carli, said: “As an Eco School we are committed to supporting the health of our planet. We are delighted to have received grant funding from the Greener Schools Pilot, which will play a pivotal role in advancing the goals outlined in the Enfield Schools Climate Action Plan.”

Deputy Mayor of Lewisham and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Climate Action, Cllr Louise Krupski, said: “I am delighted to work with the Mayor of London and his team to decarbonise our local schools.

“This funding will not only unlock significant environmental benefits but will also create opportunities to reinvest savings from energy bills into the classroom. This is an excellent example of climate action in practice.”

Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Enfield Council, Cllr Abdul Abdullahi, said: “After declaring climate emergency in 2019, Enfield Council has committed to making the organisation carbon neutral by 2030 and a carbon neutral borough by 2040.

“The Mayor’s Greener Schools Grant is a step towards achieving the Councils strategic objectives on sustainability and ambitions of the Climate Action Plan. We are pleased to be one of the authorities to have been selected for this pilot programme that will pave the way forward.”

RAFT (Retrofit Action for Tomorrow) has been appointed as the pilot’s strategic partner and will support across key areas, including helping boroughs and schools deliver outreach and community engagement activities.

The pilot is a vital step in delivering the Mayor’s climate plan which includes delivering a 100% zero-emission bus fleet in London, providing more than 40,000 new public bike parking spaces, and more than doubling the number of electric vehicle charging points to 40,000 – all by 2030.

The innovative pilot also builds on Mayoral schemes already helping schools go green such as the Climate Kick-Start Prize, Climate Resilient Schools and Future Neighbourhoods 2030 [6].
15/04/2025
PRESS RELEASE : Resident doctors in England re-enter dispute after ‘disappointing’ delay to pay recommendation report [April 2025]

The press release issued by the BMA on 9 April 2025.

Resident doctors in England have re-entered a pay dispute with the Government, citing key provisions of last year’s agreements that have not been upheld. The Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB), which annually advises government on doctors’ pay, is late in publishing this year’s recommendation. The Government’s commitments to resolve pay disputes with the BMA include these recommendations being published by the start of the financial year, which began 6 April 2025.

The BMA resident doctors committee (RDC) has voted in favour of going back into dispute, the first step before potentially balloting members for industrial action.

Co-chairs of RDC, Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, said:

“It is very disappointing to be in this position. We had hoped that the pay deal last year marked the start of a new era of cooperation between the Government and doctors in securing a path to pay restoration through mutual trust and negotiation. Wes Streeting has made it clear that he wants to avoid the mistakes of the previous government’s intransigent approach, and we welcome that.

“However, cooperation requires mutual trust. The failure to keep to agreed timetables is an ominous sign that that trust is already eroding. We have no desire to move towards industrial action and the impact on patient care that will inevitably result. So right here, right now, let’s head this off at the pass.

“Dispute does not need to mean discord, and we are keen to get around the table. We’re asking Wes Streeting to come forward with a plan to put us back on the road to pay restoration. The first step is publishing the DDRB’s recommendation. The second will be ensuring that the Government’s actual offer is sufficient.”

15/04/2025
PRESS RELEASE : Reappointments and extension of members of Cafcass [April 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 15 April 2025.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State has approved the extension of the tenure of Rohan Sivanandan as a member of the Board of Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass).

The Secretary of State has approved the extension of tenure of Rohan Sivanandan as a member of the Board of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) from 1 July to 31 December 2025.

Rohan Sivanandan

Rohan Sivanandan worked as an economist and senior executive in the private sector before moving into the education field. He has held a number of board, non-executive and trustee positions. Currently, he is: a non-executive director for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where he chairs the Workforce and Education committee; a lay member of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel which provides advice to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care; an independent member of the Greater London Authority on Mayoral appointments; an investigation panel member for the Nursing and Midwifery Council and; a panel chair of NHS Mental Health Act hearings.

Rohan did not declare any political activity.

Cafcass is the statutory body that safeguards and promotes the welfare of children in Family Court proceedings.

Appointments to the Cafcass Board are made by the Secretary of State for Justice. Appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

15/04/2025
PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire [April 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 April 2025.

The King has been pleased to appoint Professor Elizabeth Barnes, CBE, DL, as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Staffordshire on the retirement of Sir Ian Dudson, KCVO, CBE, on 15th July, 2025.

Liz Barnes (64) served as Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University for six years, overseeing a leap in its learning and teaching standards and championing social mobility.

Born and bred in the county, she is a Trustee of the Peter Coates Foundation, which aims to regenerate Stoke-on-Trent, and of the Aspire Trust, which provides social housing across Staffordshire.

Previously a teacher in Stoke-on-Trent, she has also co-chaired the Stoke-on-Trent Opportunity Area; been a Director of the Donna Louise Trust, providing end-of-life care across the county; and served on the board of the Local Enterprise Partnership and on the Stoke-on-Trent Children’s Services Improvement Board.

Professor Barnes lives in Abbots Bromley, near Rugeley, with her husband, Chris.

15/04/2025