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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-Greenland trade deal talks resume [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-Greenland trade deal talks resume [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 3 October 2025.

    UK-Greenland trade deal talks resume to deliver cheaper seafood for British shoppers 

    • Negotiations resume on UK-Greenland trade deal to slash tariffs on over £70m of seafood imports, cutting prices for British shoppers 
    • Agreement will seek to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals and encourage further trade to boost economic growth and security, supporting the Plan for Change 
    • Deeper strategic partnership with all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark will deliver security and prosperity in the Arctic, North Atlantic and at home 

    British shoppers and restaurants could see the price of seafood fall with negotiations restarting on the UK’s trade deal with Greenland.  

    Seafood products became subject to tariffs of up to 20% when the UK left the EU, increasing costs and restricting choice for British shoppers as well as restaurants and the seafood processing sector.  

    A new agreement could reverse this by eliminating tariffs to benefit consumers and businesses including the likes of Grimsby Fish Market and Royal Greenland UK. Giving British businesses greater and more targeted access to global markets to help drive growth is a key part of the UK’s Trade Strategy. 

    Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark are central partners in the Arctic and North Atlantic, regions of strategic importance to UK and NATO security and prosperity. Deepening long-term relationships will support our shared economic interests, demonstrate Britain’s commitment to the Arctic and secure strong foundations as part of the Plan for Change.   

    The announcement follows UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer attending the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen with Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen of Greenland and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark. 

    Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:  

    This partnership represents an opportunity to restore our trading relationship with Greenland and deliver real benefits for British families and businesses.  

    By eliminating tariffs on Greenlandic seafood, we can help to bring down prices on supermarket shelves whilst supporting thousands of jobs in our fish-packing industry, putting more money in people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change. 

    Andrew Wrigley, Country Director at Royal Greenland UK, said: 

    We welcome the renewed negotiations on a trade agreement between Greenland and the United Kingdom. A modernised deal that reduces tariffs on seafood would strengthen our long-standing commercial ties and ensure continued access to high-quality, sustainably sourced seafood for our British consumers.

    For Royal Greenland, it represents not only an economic opportunity but also a reaffirmation of our role as a reliable trading partner in the North Atlantic. We see this as a step towards deeper cooperation built on shared interests and mutual respect.

    Martyn Boyers, Chief Executive of Grimsby Fish Market and Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, said:  

    Greenland plays an important role in the Seafood Industry and historically there have been strong partnerships with the UK, creating trade and opportunities for both sides.

    Creating a platform for talks to restart and further cooperation can only be a good thing, especially for Grimsby, where a lot of the product imported from Greenland – particularly frozen prawns and white fish – is brought for packing by local seafood businesses.

    Greenland remains a key exporter of seafood to the UK, with the UK importing around £70 million seafood products from Greenland each year; primarily comprising prawns, shrimp, and cod. 

    The deal could also support the UK’s seafood processing industry, which employed almost 16,000 people in 2024. 

    Beyond seafood, the UK will seek a deal that strengthens supply chains that could offer opportunities in critical minerals, where UK firms currently hold a third of mining licences in Greenland.  

    Developing these supply chains responsibly together with Greenland and our partners will safeguard strategically important industries, strengthen British and European long-term economic security and reduce dependence on volatile global markets. 

    Eldur Olafsson, CEO of UK listed Amaroq Ltd, said:  

    The resumption of talks is very good news for Greenland’s emerging mining sector and reaffirms the strategic importance of Greenland’s mineral resources to the global economy.

    As the most active mining and exploration company in Greenland, including of critical metals such as copper and nickel, we look forward to collaborating with the UK to establish a sustainable supply chain for these essential materials.

    This would be Greenland’s first bilateral free trade agreement and aims to be a platform for deeper cooperation spanning research and innovation, climate change, sustainable tourism, renewable energy and education. This builds on the UK’s recent £81m investment in the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) programme on Greenland climate tipping points.  

    Together with Greenland and Denmark, the UK is delivering a more prosperous and secure Arctic. 

    Notes to editors: 

    • Between 2022 and 2024 the UK imported an average £70 million seafood from Greenland each year. Sourced from HMRC import data by preference July 2025 – data on a country of origin basis.  
    • Employment figures sourced from Seafish – Seafood Processing Industry Performance 2024. In 2024 seafood processors employed 15,868 FTE workers. 
    • Negotiations for a UK-Greenland Free Trade Agreement opened in 2022, to reinstate tariff-free trade that ended when the UK left the EU. This agreement was paused prior to the UK’s 2024 general election.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Lord Vallance speech at the BVCA Pensions and Private Capital Showcase [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Lord Vallance speech at the BVCA Pensions and Private Capital Showcase [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 2 October 2025.

    The Science Minister, Lord Vallance gave a speech at British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) Pensions and Private Capital Showcase on 2 October 2025.

    Thanks of course to the BVCA which has been a constructive partner to government including through its Pensions & Private Capital Expert Panel, led by Kerry Baldwin, and its work to launch the Investment Compact. I want to recognise your role, particularly in keeping this conversation practical and action orientated.

    And I want to be clear, now is the time for action. 

    It is encouraging to see so many pension investors here. As someone said to me recently, Canadian pensioners have done very well out of investing in UK science and technology companies. We need to do the same for UK pensioners.  

    35 years ago in Cambridge, a small team at Acorn Computers created a revolutionary processor design. That innovation became Arm. From a handful of engineers, the business grew into a world leader whose designs power 99 per cent of the world’s smartphones. Arm began in the UK, built on British science and ingenuity – but much of the capital that fuelled its growth came from overseas, and today its primary listing is on NASDAQ in New York.  

    There are many other examples of exciting, impactful UK companies doing fantastic work, to which UK investors are underexposed.  

    Arm’s story captures both our strengths and our challenge: world-class research and innovation, home to 4 of the world’s top ten universities, great talent, and now more startups than anywhere else in Europe. 

    But still too little domestic capital to take enough of our exciting innovation engines to global scale. Today’s Showcase is about changing that. 

    We meet at an exciting time. The UK is Europe’s leading destination for tech investment, and we are serious about commercialising and scaling our research. Our Modern Industrial Strategy, with 8 Sector Plans:

    • Advanced Manufacturing
    • Clean Energy Industries
    • Creative Industries
    • Defence
    • Digital and Technologies
    • Financial Services
    • Life Sciences
    • Professional and Business Services

    provides the framework. 

    And as many people have said to me – unlike previous industrial strategies you don’t need to look in the appendix to find science and technology. It is woven throughout every part and every sector plan. 

    All underpinned by smarter investment from our public financial institutions, pro-innovation regulation, stronger procurement signals, an excellent talent and skills pipeline, and by deep partnerships with business and investors.  

    The UK ranks third globally for venture capital investment, behind only the US and China, yet has produced only 2 tech firms valued at over £10 billion in the last 50 years — Sage and Arm. But many many more UK inventions and startups have fed growth elsewhere. 

    I want to be clear. Unlocking more pension fund investment is central to our mission. This is not just about returns — although it will help deliver greater returns. It is also about fuelling the innovation that underpins UK competitiveness: boosting productivity, strengthening the NHS, advancing defence capability, accelerating the clean energy transition, and scaling UK leadership in life sciences, AI, fintech and sustainability.  

    Of course, the UK has deep pools of institutional capital, yet only a fraction reaches our most promising growth companies. UK DC schemes allocate about 0.5% to private equity. By contrast, Australian superannuation funds invest up to 5% in private markets.   

    And we know that the proportion of UK capital invested in S&T companies drops dramatically from seed funding through to scale up. 

    But – and many thanks to many in this room – we are making progress.  

    The Mansion House Accord, the Investment Compact and the BVCA’s Expert Panel’s report have provided structure and ambition, and government has provided capital and support through initiatives such as the British Growth Partnership and LIFTS. Using LIFTS capital and co-investment from Phoenix Group, Schroders’ UK Long-Term Asset Fund has already deployed capital into companies such as Draig Therapeutics working on next generation medicines for neuropsychiatric disorders.  

    We’ve seen strong venture inflows – over $16 billion invested into UK start-ups and scale-ups last year, and more than $8 billion raised in the first half of 2025, exceeding France and Germany combined. But IPO activity has fallen sharply: in H1 2025 just £160 million was raised via IPOs in London – a 98 per cent drop compared to H1 2021 and one of the weakest periods in 3 decades – while overseas investors continue to acquire leading UK technology companies, and benefit from the innovation we have developed here.   

    So, the challenge is clear: great science, fantastic people, strong early-stage funding – but still too many barriers at scale-up and sustainability.  

    That is why we are reforming the UK’s capital markets to ensure high-growth companies can scale and stay here. We are streamlining listing and prospectus rules, removing outdated restrictions on follow-on capital, and have launched PISCES – a new stock-exchange model to help private companies scale and provide a stepping-stone to public markets. 

    It is beginning to work but we need to go faster. We get more spin outs and startups every month and every day we don’t fix the scale up deficit we increase the lost opportunity. 

    We are pushing better regulation, including through the work of the Regulatory Innovation Office which has cleared away barriers in 4 technology areas and will expand its work over the next year. 

     We are reforming procurement to enable government to be a better customer for innovative SMEs and leveraging public capital through the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank.  

    • We have committed £670 million for quantum technologies; £500 million for the Sovereign AI Unit; AI Growth Zones; and invested in computing infrastructure for AI.  
    • The Life Sciences Sector Plan will be supported over the lifetime of the Spending Review by government funding of over £2 billion. Alongside the Wellcome trust we will invest £600M in creating the Health Data Research Service to utilise our extraordinary data resources to improve treatments, prevention and cures.  
    • Defence will commit a £2.5 billion increase in SME spend by 2028.  
    • In clean energy and sustainability we will double investment to £30 billion annually by 2035, including ambitious plans for new nuclear technologies 

    Today’s Showcase represents the next phase of that work: connecting pension industry representatives with high-growth companies across defence, life sciences, AI and fintech, cleantech and sustainability.  

    Yes – there are good things to invest in, and plenty of them. 

    And to support that journey I’m pleased to announce that we have published the second edition of the UK Innovation Clusters Map. This gives a clearer, more comprehensive view of our innovation clusters across the UK and is a practical tool to help investors identify the strongest opportunities. We are pushing the rapid development of the extraordinary Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the opportunities of the Northern Growth Corridor. 

    Arm’s story shows what is possible: a British idea, scaled to global impact.  

    Rather than rely solely on overseas capital, we want domestic investment to back the next generation of UK success stories. If we unlock more of our own long-term savings to support UK innovation, the next Arm, the next AstraZeneca, the next Rolls Royce, the next Oxford Nanopore can emerge and be sustainable. Investors and pensions will share in the returns, the NHS will get better treatments faster, and Britain will cement its position as the best place in Europe to scale a company.  

    That is the prize before us. But we need to move fast. If you didn’t feel the weight of expectation on your shoulders before you entered the room, I hope you do now.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury [October 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 3 October 2025.

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally D.B.E., for election by the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral in the place of The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Portal Welby, GCVO, as Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan.

    Lord Evans of Weardale, KCB, DL, Chair of the Crown Nominations Commission for Canterbury welcomed the news:

    It has been a great privilege to have chaired the Crown Nominations Commission as it sought to discern who God is calling to lead the Church of England and Anglican Communion as Archbishop of Canterbury. That discernment began with the public consultation, which heard the voices of thousands of people as they expressed their hopes for this nomination, and continued all the way through to the Commission’s final meeting. I would like to thank all those who took part in this process, particularly those who took time to share their views in the consultation and the members of the Commission who worked so diligently over several months, ably assisted by the Appointments Secretaries and by the Appointments and Vocations team at Lambeth Palace. I shall be praying for Bishop Sarah as she prepares to take up this new ministry in the coming months.

    Background

    Sarah Mullally was, prior to ordination, the Government’s Chief Nursing Officer for England having specialised as a cancer nurse.  She was educated at South Bank University, London, and Heythrop College, University of London, and trained for ministry at the South East Institute of Theological Education.  She completed her title at St. Saviour Battersea Fields, in the Diocese of Southwark, and was ordained as a priest in 2002.

    In 2006, Sarah was appointed Team Rector, Christ Church, Sutton, Southwark and then became Canon Residentiary and Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral in 2012.  In 2015, Sarah was consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Crediton, in the Diocese of Exeter, and in 2018 took up her current role as Bishop of London as well as Dean of the Chapels Royal from 2019.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 60 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Technical Cooperation in Libya [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 60 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Technical Cooperation in Libya [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 October 2025.

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Technical Cooperation in Libya. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

    Thank you, Mr Vice President.

    We welcome OHCHR and United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) technical assistance and capacity building in Libya, and their growing cooperation with the Libyan authorities. We support Libya’s renewal of this Item 10 resolution so that it stays on this Council’s agenda. 

    The OHCHR’s report raises a number of concerns, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and torture, with limited accountability. 

    We urge Libya to address threats to civic space, including reprisals against civil society and restrictions on youth organisations. Women and girls reportedly face violence and discrimination while migrants suffer abuse and are subjects of disinformation. We call for international non-governmental organisations to be permitted to operate in accordance with international humanitarian law and domestic regulations, and deliver vital services to vulnerable groups.

    We urge the Libyan authorities to adopt legislation on reconciliation, women’s protection, and to close all unofficial detention centres.

    We welcome the extension of the ICC’s jurisdiction in Libya, and we support calls for a comprehensive, rights-based transitional justice process. The UK stands ready to support inclusive Libyan-led efforts to restore the rule of law and deliver justice for victims.

    Mr Vice President, how can the international community support Libya to ensure transitional justice efforts are inclusive, victim-centred, and lead to meaningful accountability?

  • PRESS RELEASE : Water company fines fund local restoration projects [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Water company fines fund local restoration projects [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 October 2025.

    Over £10 million in water company fines has been channelled into cleanup projects to repair the damage done by sewage– directly benefitting communities and the environment which have been harmed by rule breaking.  

    Through the Water Restoration Fund, money from fines handed to five water companies will fund 51 projects across England, from active measures such as rewilding and restoring floodplains to funding for assessments of water quality and development of improvement plans.  

    Anglian Water, South West Water, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and United Utilities were forced to pay millions after causing pollution incidents between April 2022 and October 2023.   

    From restoring riverbeds in Exmoor National Park to tackling septic tank spills into Windermere, these projects will restore precious habitats, improve flood resilience and enable local wildlife to thrive.

    Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:  

    I share people’s anger at the damage caused by sewage pollution and want communities to once again feel they can take pride in their environment. 

    This money from water company fines will be directed back into local projects to tackle pollution and support long-term plans for nature restoration. 

    Under our Plan for Change we’re resetting the water industry – holding water companies to account and reinvesting in areas harmed by their rule breaking.

    Projects, which span the length and breadth of the country, include a £1.2 million floodplain and river restoration project on the River Witham in Lincolnshire, as well as river restoration, nutrient capture and wetland creation in the Evenlode catchment in Oxfordshire. 

    The Water Restoration Fund delivers on the government’s Plan for Change – empowering communities to invest money raised from water company wrongdoing back into the environment. 

    The Government is committed to restoring our waterways to good health and will continue to direct water company fines and penalties into projects to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas. With increased accountability, record investment to fix broken pipes, and a new powerful regulator responsible for the entire sector that will stand firmly on the side of customers and the environment.

    Projects and funding distributions: 

    Thames area (£3,318,392.84) 

    • Coate Water Site of Special Scientific Interest Restoration Project (£83,306) 
    • Restoring the River Ching (£175,729.13) 
    • Citizen Crane, Catchment Scale Restoration of an Urban River (£133,755) 
    • The Wandering Wandle (£161,217.18) 
    • Emm Brook Restoration Project (£743,146.64) 
    • Ilford Arrival, Restoring the Lower Roding (£113,415) 
    • Improving the Evenlode Catchment (£780,780) 
    • Rye to Good Phase 3 (£100,236) 
    • The Keston Ponds Project (£248,853) 
    • Colne Catchment (£143,737.89) 
    • Rediscovering the River Colne (£198,807) 
    • Ealing Regional Park River Restoration Plan (£250,000) 
    • River Windrush and Sherborne Brook Catchment Improvement Project (£102,822) 
    • Roundmoor and Boveney Chalk Stream Restoration Project (£82,588) 

    East England (£3,036,664) 

    • Upper Witham River and Floodplain Restoration Project (£1,185,957) 
    • Great Ouse Blue Connections (£85,674) 
    • Recovering the Deben (£248,274.32) 
    • Slade Brook Natural Flood Management Project (£187,782) 
    • A Collaborative Restoration Plan for the Cam (£179,602.54) 
    • Welland Headwaters Nature-based Solutions (£107,053) 
    • 20-year Strategy for restoration of river & floodplain habitats in the rivers Nene, Ise and Tove (£165,976.57) 
    • Broadland Catchment Partnership Development Plan (£205,376.49) 
    • Stanwick Lakes Hydrological Survey (£118,272) 
    • Panford and Blackwater Catchment Regeneration Project (£552,696.08) 

    South West (£1,849,513.04) 

    • Heddon Valley (£162,694) 
    • Otter Catchment- Source to Sea (£75,000) 
    • Upper Barle River Restoration Project (£147,496) 
    • Teign and Taw Fisheries Management (£664,286.50) 
    • Arlington Lake, Fish Opening and Habitat Enhancement (£80,558.68) 
    • Water Wise Farming (£81,105) 
    • Restoration of the River Mere Catchment (£202,267.24) 
    • Washfield Wetland (£202,609) 
    • Improving the West Looe River Water Body (£95,394.34) 
    • Catchment Planning – Avon, Gara & Slapton Ley, and Kingsbridge Salcombe Estuary (£138,102.28) 

    Yorkshire (£1,533,722.28) 

    • Dewsbury Country Park (£76,570.85) 
    • Ashfoldside Metal Mines Project (£81,730) 
    • Solutions for the Swale, Ure, Nidd, Ouse, Foss, Wiske, & Wharfe (£75,236) 
    • Water in the Wharfe (£249,445) 
    • Foss & Esk River Restoration Improvement Studies (£130,060) 
    • Derwent Site of Special Scientific Interest Project (£79,054.44) 
    • Swaledale and Wensleydale Environmental Farmers (£222,960) 
    • Connecting Limbs (£225,817) 
    • Upper and Lower Staveley Weirs (£75,039.99) 
    • Pickhill Beck (£93,473) 
    • Feasibility Study for Doe Lea Catchment (£75,045) 
    • Hornsea Mere Restoration (£149,291) 

    North West (£758,161.50) 

    • Stalybridge Restoration Planning (£97,055.50) 
    • River Tame Barriers Modification Feasibility Study (£247,500) 
    • Lakes Biosecurity Priority Area Project (£140,320) 
    • River Cocker Catchment Restoration (£150,182) 
    • Windermere STEP (Septic Tank Engagement Programme) (£123,104)
  • PRESS RELEASE : New Taser approved for UK police forces to protect public [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Taser approved for UK police forces to protect public [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 3 October 2025.

    Police across England and Wales will be able to equip themselves with new and improved taser devices to help protect the public and themselves from dangerous criminals.   

    Axon’s Taser 10 model is more effective than previous devices, being able to fire at greater distances, with better handling and improved safety mechanisms to reduce the risk of injury to both members of the public and police officers. The device can fire up to 10 single probes and the officer can determine where each individual probe is fired, unlike previous devices.  

    The device also provides an auditory warning, if activated by the officer before firing, alerting the public and serving as a deterrent to offenders.  

    The device has been subject to rigorous scrutiny, independent testing and medical assessments, with trials carried out by the College of Policing to ensure that the device is fit for purpose and can be deployed safely, accurately and with confidence.   

    The introduction of the Taser 10 comes after the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), and the College of Policing worked together to assess the new model. A joint implementation plan between NPCC and College of Policing has also been developed to ensure forces are supported with training, guidance, and operational readiness.  

    Policing Minister Sarah Jones said:  

    Police officers up and down the country are at their best when diffusing stressful, and often dangerous, situations, but their safety, and the safety of the communities they serve is paramount. 

    The new Taser 10 offers a safer option for officers who find themselves in those dangerous situations. 

    This new device, backed by robust testing, will help our police forces and properly trained officers tackle crime more effectively while maintaining public trust and accountability, which is crucial to our Plan for Change.

    Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi, national policing lead for less-lethal weapons, said:

    We are proud to operate a predominantly unarmed police service built on public consent, where officers resolve most incidents safely without force, and we continue to see a consistent decline in Taser discharges.  

    Taser provides vital support in high-risk, fast-moving situations. Officers who volunteer to carry Taser are highly trained, and in 92% of cases, its presence alone defuses danger swiftly and safely.  

    Accountability is paramount, and the new Taser 10 model enhances oversight and prioritises de-escalation, reinforcing our focus on public safety and trust.

    The device is now available for purchase by forces, and it will be for individual forces to train officers and authorise deployments with the Taser 10.

    Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing, said:     

    Taser 10 is an invaluable tool, and it is policing’s responsibility to make sure it is used wisely and effectively.     

    Our updated guidance was developed in consultation with experts and tested in real-world scenarios. The effective use of Taser 10 is about improving the safety of our police officers and fulfilling our duty to protect the public from harm, whilst using the minimum amount of force. It’s also about trust, as the public rightly expects police powers are used with care and accountability.     

    The College of Policing’s new guidance and training will ensure officers are not only prepared to the highest possible standards, but also that those standards are transparent. This will help build public trust and confidence and ensure officers are held to the high professional standards the service is proud to uphold. 

    Alex Lowe, UK and Ireland Regional Director at Axon, said:   

    We welcome the government’s approval of Taser 10 and its ongoing commitment to giving officers the tools they need to protect themselves and the public.  

    Taser 10 – supported by immersive VR (virtual reality) training – is a vital part of the technology toolkit alongside body-worn video and real-time digital evidence management that will help police deliver on the government’s Safer Streets mission.  

    Axon has been a proud partner to UK policing for over 20 years, and Taser 10 is just one example of the innovative, integrated solutions we provide. We look forward to deepening that partnership in the years ahead.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 60 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Independent Expert on the Human Rights Situation in Somalia [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 60 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Independent Expert on the Human Rights Situation in Somalia [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 October 2025.

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Somalia. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

    Thank you, Madame Vice President,

    Let me thank the Independent Expert. We are grateful for her work on Somalia since 2020. As we transition to a nationally led partnership with OHCHR, we recognise the invaluable work of the Independent Expert mandate since 1993 in documenting and reporting on the situation of human rights in Somalia and supporting the government.

    We welcome the presence of the Minister of Family and Human Rights Development and her team from Mogadishu.

    We welcome the passing of the Juvenile Justice Bill in March 2025, and the adoption by the Council of Ministers of the Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code Bill in January 2025.

    We remain concerned at the continuing loss of civilian life due to ongoing conflict and insecurity, continuing cases of sexual and gender-based violence, and restrictions on the freedom of expression, including detention of journalists.

    We encourage the Somali government to strengthen the rule of law and enhance fundamental freedoms by finalising the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission. We also emphasise the importance of promoting the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, protecting vulnerable and marginalised groups, and fostering a broad consensus, as Somalia prepares for timely, free and fair elections in the coming year. The UK stands ready to work with Somalia on all these issues.

    To the independent expert: what action can the UN and other international partners take to support the work of the National Human Rights Commission over the next year?

  • PRESS RELEASE : Martin Egan reappointed as Non-Executive Director [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Martin Egan reappointed as Non-Executive Director [October 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 2 October 2025.

    The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has reappointed Martin Egan as a Non-Executive Director of the UK Debt Management Office (DMO) Advisory Board.

    The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Lucy Rigby KC MP, has reappointed Martin Egan as a Non-Executive Director of the UK Debt Management Office (DMO) Advisory Board.

    In this role Martin will continue supporting the DMO’s Chief Executive and senior team and bring considerable experience, skills and judgement to the full array of Advisory Board issues.

    Martin will serve a second three-year term.

    Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    “I am very pleased to confirm the reappointment of Martin Egan.

    “His extensive knowledge and experience will continue to support the Debt Management Office in delivering its objective to support economic stability by effectively managing government debt.” 

    Dame Sue Owen, Non-Executive Chair, DMO Advisory Board, said:

    “I fully support this reappointment. Martin brings the deep market knowledge and perspective that is so valuable to the Advisory Board and DMO executives.”

    Jessica Pulay, Chief Executive Officer, UK Debt Management Office, said:

    “I am delighted that Martin Egan will continue to serve on our Advisory Board as a Non-Executive Director.  Martin’s knowledge and experience has been of immense value to the DMO since he joined the Advisory Board and we look forward to his continuing contribution over the coming years.”

    About Martin Egan

    Martin Egan has 39 years of experience in financial markets. Most of his career was spent at BNP Paribas in various roles including Managing Director Global Co-Head Primary and Secondary Credit, Vice Chairman of the Global Markets Client Board, and Chair of BNPP UK Ltd. He was also Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Network at BNPP UK. Earlier in his career he held roles at JP Morgan Ltd., UBS Investment Bank and Credit Suisse First Boston.

    Martin was also the Chair of the Board of the International Capital Market Association from May 2017 to May 2018, and a member of the Board for another 5 years before that.

    Martin confirmed he has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

    About the appointment process

    The DMO is an executive agency of HM Treasury which is responsible for debt and cash management for the UK Government, lending to local authorities and managing certain public sector funds.

    This reappointment was made by HM Treasury ministers, in line with the requirements of the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 60 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with Independent Expert on Central African Republic [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 60 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with Independent Expert on Central African Republic [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 October 2025.

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with Independent Expert on Central African Republic. Delivered at the 60th session of the HRC in Geneva.

    Thank you, Madame Vice President,

    We welcome the Central African Republic’s continued engagement with this Council and the Independent Expert’s scrutiny of the human rights situation. Ongoing implementation of national human rights policies remains vital to translate commitments into results.

    The UK welcomes the Central African Republic’s commitment to hold local, legislative and presidential elections in December. However, holding combined elections presents significant challenges. We urge the government to strengthen the National Electoral Authority to ensure the constitutional timelines for elections are met and encourage stakeholders to support the Authority in delivering free and fair elections.

    We are pleased the measures taken under the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation has led to an improvement in the human rights situation, but we remain deeply concerned by abuses committed by Russian proxies and armed groups. These groups do not improve security or stability. We urge the authorities to strengthen the implementation of the Agreement, and to support the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) as it seeks to fulfil its mandate.

    Intercommunity tensions represent a serious threat to peace and human rights. We ask the independent expert, what can the international community do to support the Central African Republic in combatting these tensions?

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 60 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Report on Haiti [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 60 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Report on Haiti [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 October 2025.

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Report on Haiti. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

    Thank you, Madam Vice President.

    We are grateful to the High Commissioner for his report.

    Criminal gangs continue to commit abuses, including killings, kidnappings and sexual violence. Over a million Haitians have been displaced, and access to essential services is severely restricted.

    Restoring security is essential to Haiti’s long-term stability. The UK supported the Multinational Security Support Mission by providing £5 million to the Office of the High Commissioner to ensure the Mission complies with international standards on human rights, conduct and discipline. We welcome the Office’s role in ensuring the Mission operates in line with the highest standards of human rights protection.

    We also welcome efforts at the UN Security Council to develop a coordinated and sustainable way forward for Haiti’s security and stability. Any future arrangements should seek to protect the rights and civil liberties of Haitians.

    Moreover, we will continue to act against perpetrators of human rights abuses in Haiti, including through our human rights sanctions regime.

    How can the international community ensure that future security arrangements in Haiti support a Haitian-led political process that protects rights and freedoms?

    Thank you.