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PRESS RELEASE : Climate Minister in Brussels to kickstart growth in the North Seas [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 29 January 2025.

Climate Minister forges stronger UK-EU cooperation to drive growth and energy security.
- Closer UK-EU cooperation in the North Seas to deliver growth and greater energy security
- new independent report shows economic benefits of working with EU on clean energy
- collaboration with European partners on the clean energy transition will help to drive government’s Plan for Change, protecting bills and creating thousands of jobs
Cooperation on the North Seas was at the top of the agenda for Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy’s first visit to Brussels yesterday (Tuesday 28 January).

During the visit, Minister McCarthy delivered a keynote speech to European leaders at the European Energy Forum, where she said that by working together the UK and the EU can turn the North Seas into the green power plant of Europe and unlock thousands of well-paid, skilled British jobs.

This comes as independent consultants Grant Thornton publish a report commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which finds that closer cooperation on the clean energy transition in the North Seas could lower bills, create up to 51,000 jobs, and add up to £36 billion to the UK economy.

Minister McCarthy also made the case to EU counterparts that the energy transition in the North Seas will ensure the oil and gas workforce are the ones who deliver the North Sea’s decarbonised future, through offshore wind, carbon capture and storage and hydrogen.

Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said:

The EU is a crucial ally in bolstering our energy security and protecting families and businesses across Europe from volatile fossil fuel markets.

There is so much more we can do to speed up the clean energy transition, deliver our Plan for Change and make the North Seas the green power plant of Europe.

Through greater cooperation, we can build on our Mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030 helping keep bills down and kickstarting economic growth.

Tsvetelina Penkova President of the European Energy Forum and Member of the European Parliament said:

We simply have to build a robust cooperation between the EU and the UK on energy matters. It is crucial for addressing our shared challenges and ensuring energy security.

Key areas such as energy grids, connectivity and nuclear power require close collaboration to strengthen infrastructure, drive innovation, and support the transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy systems. By working together, we can create a more resilient and interconnected energy network that benefits both parties and contributes to a secure and sustainable energy future.

Minister McCarthy has met with a series of international partners including Belgian Energy Minister, Tinne van der Straeten and the European Union’s Principal Adviser on Energy Diplomacy, Tibor Stelaczky.

The visit comes as the UK continues work to reset its relationship with Europe, an ambition grounded in a new spirit of co-operation intended to strengthen ties, tackle barriers to trade and collaborate in the face of shared global challenges from climate change to illegal migration.
February 5, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Teesside Airport boosted with £173m Government Defence Investment [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 January 2025.

A £173 million Ministry of Defence training contract with British business Draken will boost Teesside International Airport and support jobs across Teesside, Bournemouth and the Midlands – delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

In addition to strengthening our national security, the deal will maintain vital infrastructure in the North East and support more than 200 UK jobs. The new contract will deliver Armed Forces training for responding to a range of threats – including air-to-air combat, electronic warfare and missile attacks.

Using a fleet of aircraft, Draken will simulate threats for UK personnel, including:
- Air-to-air combat.
- Missile attacks.
- Attacks on ships from aircraft.
Defence Minister Maria Eagle announced the deal today on a visit to Teesside International Airport. The Minister spoke with staff and apprentices, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to boosting national security and economic growth.

The project will help deliver the government’s Plan for Change by strengthening national security and supporting the mission to kickstart economic growth. It also follows the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy, which will ensure the defence sector is an engine for growth in every region and nation of the UK.

Through live exercises with UK personnel over the North Sea, Draken private pilots will replicate the tactics and techniques of a range of adversaries.

Using the latest electronic warfare technology, Draken will also train Royal Naval personnel to protect Carrier Strike Group assets from air and missile attacks and train Army personnel to quickly receive reconnaissance and intelligence information on enemy forces from the air.

Altogether, this training will ensure that our Armed Forces receive demanding and realistic training, meeting NATO standards.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, said:

This investment will deliver world-class training for our Armed Forces and boost British business, jobs and national security.

In line with our Plan for Change and upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, this deal with Draken will support 200 UK jobs and ensure the future of Teesside International Airport.

We are showing defence can be an engine for growth, in every region and nation.

To deliver the training, Draken will use 14 Dassault Falcon 20, one Diamond DA42 and eight L-159E ‘Honey Badger’ fighter jets based at Teesside and Bournemouth. Draken will enrol a minimum of 12 apprentices at both sites.

Air Officer Commanding 1 Group, Air Vice Marshal Mark Flewin said:

Our partnership with Draken is of fundamental importance as we continue to train and prepare all of our front-line forces to meet emerging threats across the globe.

The training delivered to date, simulating adversary threats while also allowing us to train in a representative and contested electro-magnetic environment, has never been more important to ensure the Royal Air Force is ready and able to support NATO and meet the threats of tomorrow.

The contract will allow us to continue to evolve the high-end training available for all of our front-line forces, as we look to out-compete our potential adversaries.

Nic Anderson, CEO at Draken, said:

We are proud to continue serving the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy and the Army through the Interim Medium Speed Operational Readiness Training Services.

Our purpose is to provide leading edge operational training to help the warfighter to be ready to fight and win. Through this ground-breaking contract we will continually innovate to improve their training experience.

Thank you to the whole Draken team who work relentlessly to support our customers, it is the high performance that the Draken team delivers every day that has enabled this contract win.
February 5, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : The ICC has a key role in ensuring perpetrators are held accountable for crimes committed in Darfur – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2025.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the ICC’s work in Sudan.

First, the Prosecutor was clear that the conflict in Sudan has gone on for far too long.

My Foreign Secretary saw the scale of the suffering for himself when he visited the Adre crossing on the Chad-Sudan border on Saturday.

As the Foreign Secretary said, this is the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world.

For this reason, the UK has announced a further £20m in funding to assist with increased food production and life-saving sexual and reproductive health services for refugees fleeing Sudan.

This builds on our announcement in November of the doubling of our aid to over £226m.

These funds are delivering emergency food assistance to almost 800,000 displaced people.

They are providing improved access to shelter, drinking water, emergency healthcare and education.

Further efforts to galvanise international support are also required.

This is why my Foreign Secretary announced his intention to convene a meeting of foreign ministers to ensure aid gets to where it is needed most and to re-energise efforts to end this conflict.

Second, the International Criminal Court has a key role to play in ensuring perpetrators are held accountable for crimes committed in Darfur.

In that context, the United Kingdom welcomes the creation of a structured dialogue between the Office of the Prosecutor and Civil Society Organisations.

This can help ensure that the voices of victims are heard.

We further welcome the conclusion of the Ali Kushayb trial in December 2024.

As the first trial to be concluded in a Situation referred to the Court by the UN Security Council, this represents a historic milestone.

We look forward to hearing updates on any further applications for arrest warrants.

Third, the UK reiterates our call for full cooperation with the Court.

We welcome the constructive engagement by the Sudanese authorities with the ICC during this reporting period.

We further urge them to cooperate with the ICC to ensure the arrest and surrender of those subject to outstanding arrest warrants: Omar Al Bashir, Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein and Ahmad Harun.

Mr President, let me conclude by reiterating the UK’s continued support for the Court, and our respect for its independence.

It is important that the ICC is able to carry out its important work in Darfur and elsewhere without interference.

Sanctioning the ICC in response to one of its decisions would impede its ability to carry out this important work, in Darfur, Venezuela, Ukraine and in all situations where the Court is active.

February 5, 2025
NEWS STORY : UK will boost Ukrainian grain supplies to Syria

STORY

The UK has announced plans to boost Ukrainian grain supplies to Syria, forming part of the 100 Year partnership announced by the Government last month. Working in conjunction with the World Food Programme, the support is expected to provide a lifeline to the most vulnerable in Syria.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, said in a statement:

“Our support for Ukraine remains unbreakable. We are determined to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position, both in its fight against Russia and beyond, with our long-term relationship cemented by the 100 Year Partnership. We believe in building for the future between our two countries, as well as supporting Ukraine in the present, as Russia’s barbaric and relentless attacks on vital infrastructure, communities, and businesses continue. That is why we are announcing more support for innovation in Ukraine, to rebuild a more resilient and sustainable society for years to come. Delivering change at home, against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile world, means we must bolster the resilience of our partners.”

February 5, 2025
NEWS STORY : David Lammy Rejects US Ethnic Cleansing Plan for Gaza Strip

STORY

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has rejected a plan announced by Donald Trump, the US President, to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip in a takeover of the land by the United States. Trump, speaking at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the Gaza Strip area needed rebuilding and it could be “the Riviera of the Middle East”. The UK, Australia, Russia, China, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran and a growing number of other countries have rejected the proposals.

Lammy, speaking in Ukraine, said:

“We’ve always been clear in our belief that we must see two states. We must see Palestinians live and prosper in their homelands in Gaza and the West Bank”.

February 5, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Speech on Holocaust Memorial Day

The speech made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, at the Guildhall in London on 27 January 2025.

Earlier this month, my wife and I were in Block 27 of Auschwitz searching for members of her family in the Book of Names. It was harrowing.

We turned page after page after page just to find the first letter of a name. It gave me an overwhelming sense of the sheer scale of this industrialised murder.

And every one of those names, like the names we were looking for – was an individual person. Someone’s mother, father, brother, sister brutally murdered, simply because they were Jewish.

Last week I met Renee Salt and Arek Hersh who somehow survived but whose loved ones were among those victims. I was humbled by their courage to speak of being in that place. I felt waves of revulsion at the depravity they described, at the cynicism.

People told to bring their belongings like the piles of pots and pans I saw myself. The commandant living next door bringing up his family, the normalisation of murder, like it was just another day’s work.

In Auschwitz, I saw photographs of Nazi guards standing with Jewish prisoners staring at the camera – completely indifferent – and in one case, even smiling. It showed more powerfully than ever how the Holocaust was a collective endeavour by thousands of ordinary individuals utterly consumed by the hatred of difference.

And that is the hatred we stand against today, and it is a collective endeavour for all of us to defeat it.

We start by remembering the six million Jewish victims and by defending the truth against anyone who would deny it. So we will have a National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre to speak this truth for eternity.

But as we remember, we must also act. Because we say never again, but where was never again in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, or the acts of genocide against Yazidi.

Today, we have to make those words mean more. So we will make Holocaust education a truly national endeavour.

We will ensure all schools teach it and seek to give every young person the opportunity to hear a recorded survivor testimony. Because by learning from survivors like Renee and Arek we can develop that empathy for others and that appreciation of our common humanity, which is the ultimate way to defeat the hatred of difference.

As I left Block 27, I saw the words of Primo Levi. It happened, it can happen again: that is the warning of the Holocaust to all of us.

And it’s why it is a duty for all of us to make “never again” finally mean what it says: Never again.

February 5, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Veterans and personnel uncover Iron Age treasures at RAF airfield [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 27 January 2025.

Artefacts from a Celtic chariot found at RAF Valley have been officially declared treasure.
- 2,000-year-old Iron Age artefacts declared national treasure
- Historic finds discovered by military personnel and veterans
- Treasures from RAF Valley will now be gifted to the Museum of Wales
Long-lost Iron Age artefacts discovered by military personnel and veterans have been declared as treasure.

Parts of a Celtic chariot, thought to be around 2,000 years old, were discovered underneath the airfield at RAF Valley in Anglesey during an excavation by military personnel and veterans.

The Senior Coroner for North Wales (West) has now declared these discoveries as treasure. They will now be gifted to Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, which is home to several items from the initial Llyn Cerrig Bach hoard.

The archaeological excavations took place in April 2024 and were led by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). The investigation also included personnel and veterans from Operation Nightingale, a DIO initiative which supports the health and wellbeing of military personnel and veterans.

Minister for Veterans and People Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP said:

Operation Nightingale is an innovative and award-winning programme that consistently shows the benefits that archaeology can offer to military personnel and veterans.

Congratulations to those who carried out the excavation and made this exciting discovery. Through their hard work, we are uncovering and preserving our history for future generations.

The scheme sees injured and sick personnel and veterans taking part in archaeological investigations across the defence estate, providing unique experiences within the field. The finds are believed to form part of the famed Llyn Cerrig Bach hoard, originally uncovered in the 1940s during work to extend the airfield at RAF Valley for American bombers during the Allied war effort. The hoard is one of the most important collections of Iron Age artefacts discovered in the UK, comprising over 150 bronze and iron objects deposited between 300BC and 100AD.

Among the new finds was a terret ring which would have been used to guide the reins of a Celtic chariot, featuring a red decorative inlay. The ring, found by retired RAF Squadron Leader David Ulke, is one of just 3 found with this particular decoration in Wales. A horse bridle-bit thought to date to c60AD was also found by serving RAF Flight Sergeant Graham Moore. Similar to those from the Polden Hill hoard found in Somerset, the bridle-bit would have been worn by horses pulling Iron Age chariots.

DIO’s Senior Archaeologist, Richard Osgood, said:

These finds at RAF Valley are extremely exciting for all involved; the Llyn Cerrig Bach hoard is of national importance for Wales, and the United Kingdom as a whole. These new discoveries have confirmed the suspicions of earlier archaeologists that there was more to be found from this particular hoard.

It’s great that the personnel and veterans who take part in Operation Nightingale continue to be rewarded with finds of such historical importance. I am proud that the initiative plays a part in supporting personnel and veterans in their recovery and it’s fantastic to see the wonderful impact of this project.

The Operation Nightingale team was given special permissions to carry out the excavation by RAF Valley ahead of refurbishment works on the site’s airfield. Construction for these improvements began in September 2024.

Sqn Ldr (Ret’d) David Ulke, finder of the terret ring, said:

We’d been briefed on the sort of things we could expect to find, so when I uncovered the piece, I was pretty sure it was an Iron Age terret ring. To say I was the over the moon is probably an understatement! I’ve been involved in archaeology for many years and this was by far the most significant recovery I have ever made.

The fact that Operation Nightingale can bring together service personnel through archaeological digs shows how healing and helpful archaeology can be. It’s by no means a silver bullet, but many have benefitted, and I for one am one of those grateful beneficiaries.

Flt Sgt Graham Moore, finder of the bridle-bit, said:

The search for the lost hoard was hard work and we had a huge area to cover. It wasn’t until the final day – with just 10 minutes to go – that I discovered the horse bridle-bit. At first the team thought I was joking, but quickly realised I’d found something special. Words could not explain how I felt in that moment, but it was a wonderful experience.

I’ve been involved in lots of Operation Nightingale digs now, and the experience truly is priceless for the veterans and service personnel taking part.

Station Commander at RAF Valley, Group Captain Gez Currie OBE, said:

It is incredible that we are again reminded of the significance of the site on the doorstep of RAF Valley and the importance it has in Welsh history. It was the preparation of RAF Valley in the 1940s to help prevent invasion, that brought to light the significance of this location and its links to an earlier invasion by the Romans.

The importance of RAF Valley to UK Defence today is beyond question, but this is a reminder that we are part of a continuum spanning over 2,000 years and we must be responsible stewards of this land. We are immensely proud to be part of efforts to discover and conserve these important artefacts from Welsh history and equally delighted that our own service personnel have been so intimately involved in these efforts.

Senior Curator of Prehistory at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, Adam Gwilt, said:

It is amazing to think that these 2,000 year old artefacts have remained so complete and well-preserved within a shallow peat deposit, previously moved and dragged onto the airfield over 80 years ago from a nearby ancient lake! The bridle-bit and terret are both of styles which are not represented amongst the original collection. They add important new information on the religious gifting of prized objects into the lake at the end of the Iron Age, a little before, or at around the time when the Roman Army invaded Anglesey.

It is great that these artefacts will be made accessible for display and public benefit at Oriel Môn. I look forward to working collaboratively in coming years with the museum, the heritage centre at RAF Valley and the Operation Nightingale team, so this great story can be celebrated and shared by all.
February 5, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Belarus Presidential Election – Joint Statement [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2025.

Australia, Canada, the EU, New Zealand and the UK have released a joint statement following Belarus’ sham presidential elections on 26 January 2025.

Joint statement from the Commonwealth of Australia, Canada, The European Union, New Zealand, and The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland:

We are united in our condemnation of the sham presidential elections in Belarus on 26 January and the ongoing human rights violations perpetrated by the Belarusian regime. Recently announced sanctions represent a coordinated, multilateral effort to hold the Lukashenko regime to account.

No election can be considered free, fair or in line with international standards when it is held in a climate of ongoing repression, marked by a clampdown on civil society, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on genuine political participation. The regime’s decision to invite the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe / Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to observe only 10 days before the elections prevented ODIHR’s access to key stages of the election process. These actions are at odds with Belarus’ international commitments and demonstrate a clear desire to avoid transparency in the electoral process.

We condemn the ongoing appalling human rights violations committed by the Lukashenko regime and call on them to release the over 1,250 political prisoners who remain unjustly detained. We urge Belarus to follow its international human rights obligations and OSCE commitments in all respects, including restoring an open civil society, to create an environment in which new elections which meet international standards can be held. We stand with the Belarusian people and recognise their right to determine their own future in a genuinely free and fair manner, without fear, oppression or external interference.

We will continue to support the aspirations of the Belarusian people for a free, democratic and independent Belarus.

February 5, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK applies fresh sanctions following sham election in Belarus [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2025.

The UK has sanctioned 9 individuals and defence sector entities in Belarus in coordination with Canada.
- UK sanctions 6 individuals and 3 entities alongside Canada, in an immediate response to rigged presidential election in Belarus
- sanctions target leaders of institutions responsible for serious human rights violations and companies in the Belarusian defence sector supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine
- action demonstrates government’s commitment to working internationally to deter threats and protect national security, a foundation in the government’s Plan for Change
The Chairman of the Belarusian Central Election Commission is among 9 individuals and entities designated by the UK today (Monday 27 January) in a fresh wave of sanctions in response to yesterday’s sham election in Belarus.

Following Lukashenko’s brutal crackdown in which critical voices within Belarus have been silenced, yesterday’s sham election failed to meet international standards and has been condemned by international partners.

Alongside sanctioning leaders of institutions responsible for serious human rights violations in the country, the UK has excluded Belarusian defence companies from the UK economy – a sector of strategic importance to Lukashenko’s regime which is helping to facilitate Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Working with international partners to protect UK national security is essential to deliver the foundations of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

The world has become well-accustomed to Lukashenko’s cynical pretence of democracy in Belarus, while in reality he brutally represses civil society and opposition voices to strengthen his grip on power.

The UK, alongside our partners, will continue to stand by the people of Belarus and expose those who deny them their legitimate right to freedom and democracy.

According to the Viasna Human Rights Centre, a Belarusian non-governmental organisation in exile, over 1,250 political prisoners are incarcerated in Belarus, including civil society representatives, human rights defenders, journalists, political opponents, religious leaders, and trade unionists. Many political prisoners are held in shocking conditions, facing isolation, mistreatment and a lack of medical care.

Today’s designations include Heads of ‘GUBOPiK’; one of the main security forces responsible for political persecution in Belarus. Individuals sanctioned today are:
1. Igor Vasilyevich KARPENKO – Chairman of the Belarusian Central Election Commission.
2. Viktor Alexandrovich DUBROVKA – Head of the Belarusian correctional institution Penal Colony No11, Vaukavysk
3. Pavel Ivanovich KAZAKOV – Head of the Belarusian correctional institution Prison No 1, Hrodno.
4. Andrey Mikhailovich TSEDRIK – Commanding Officer of Pre-trial Detention Centre (SIZO) No 1, Minsk.
5. Andrei Valerievich ANANENKO – Head of GUBOPiK.
6. Mikhail Petrovitch BEDUNKEVICH – Deputy Head of GUBOPiK.
Belarus has provided support for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, allowing the use of its territory and airspace to launch attacks and provided kit and logistical support.

The 3 entities from Belarus’ defence sector sanctioned today are:
1. ALEVKURP OJSC – a company affiliated to the Government of Belarus specialising in research and development and manufacturing of radar systems and weapon control systems.
2. Legmash Plant JSC – a Belarusian company producing ammunition for the Belarusian defence sector.
3. KB Unmanned Helicopters (UAVHeli) – a Belarusian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developer and manufacturer.
February 5, 2025
David Lammy – 2025 Comments on Donald Trump’s Statement that Palestinians Must Leave Gaza

The comments made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, in Ukraine on 5 February 2025.

Donald Trump is right. Looking at those scenes, Palestinians who have been horrendously displaced over so many months of war, it is clear that Gaza is lying in rubble. We have always been clear in our view that we must see two states and we must see Palestinians able to live and prosper in their homelands in Gaza, in the West Bank. That is what we want to get to.

That is why it’s important we move out of phase one of this hostage deal, to stage two and then to phase three and reconstruct Gaza. We will play our part in that support for reconstruction, working alongside the Palestinian authority and Gulf and Arab partners. That’s the guarantee to ensure that there is a future for Palestinians in their home.

February 5, 2025