Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : New independent appeals system for postmasters impacted by Horizon scandal [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 9 September 2024.

The government has today announced a new independent appeals process for postmasters in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme.

The Government has today [Monday 9 September] announced a new independent appeals process for postmasters in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme.

This will mean postmasters who feel their financial settlement did not reflect the true extent of their losses and trauma will be able to apply for the new independent process, which will be overseen by the Department for Business and Trade.

The Horizon Shortfall Scheme is run by Post Office Limited and funded by the Government who have ultimate oversight of the scheme.

Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas said:

Delivering justice and financial redress to postmasters is my number one priority.

We’ve listened to the independent advisory board and are working at speed to make sure postmasters receive financial redress as fairly and as quickly as possible.

This new appeals process will give postmasters the opportunity to have their settlements independently reviewed by my department.

To date, 2,280 individuals have reached an agreement with the Post Office to settle their claim under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme, with £144m in compensation paid out.

The independent Advisory Board raised concerns that, when the Horizon Shortfall Scheme opened in 2020, some claimants were unable to set out their claim in full. This new appeals process will provide postmasters with the opportunity to have their claim re-assessed with the benefit of new or additional information they can provide.

The Department for Business and Trade will establish this process as quickly as possible and will provide further updates on eligibility and how to apply when the scheme is launched. We are committed to seeking input from the Advisory Board, postmasters and their representatives in designing the process.

The Horizon Shortfall Scheme is available for postmasters who were not convicted, or part of legal action against the Post Office, but who still suffered considerably due to Horizon failures.

These postmasters have the option to receive a fixed sum payment of £75,000 or choose a full claim assessment route if they believe their losses exceed that amount.

Notes to editors
- As of 30 August 2024, approximately £289 million has been paid to over 2,800 claimants across 4 schemes:
- Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS): £144 million
- Group Litigation Order (GLO) Scheme: £87 million total value of all payments including interim payments
- Overturned Convictions (OC): £56 million total value of all payments including further interim payments
- Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS): £1 million total value of all payments including interim payments
September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Government to launch new coalition to tackle knife crime [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 9 September 2024.

The Prime Minister is launching a new coalition today (9 September 2024), to tackle knife crime and stop young people being dragged into violent gangs.

Joined by anti-knife crime campaigner, and co-founder of the Elba Hope Foundation, Idris Elba, the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime will bring together campaign groups, families of people who have tragically lost their lives to knife crime, young people who have been impacted and community leaders, united in their mission to save lives and make Britain a safer place for the next generation.

The coalition will also include technology companies, sport organisations as well as partners in the health service, education and the police.

It will work with experts to develop an extensive understanding of what causes young people to be dragged into violence, providing vital evidence that will drive government policy and holding the government to account on its knife crime commitments.

Ahead of its launch, later today the Prime Minister will meet with the Home Secretary, Idris Elba and campaign groups at the first annual Knife Crime Summit at Downing Street.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister will set out how this mission is personal for him. After years spent working as the Director of Public Prosecutions, he has seen first-hand how violence on our streets can destroy families and leave communities devastated.

He will reassure the families that they can have confidence in his determination, and that he has a plan for action, not just talk. He pledged that he will pull the levers needed to halve knife crime, including bringing in new legislation.

This work has already begun with legislation underway to ban ninja swords.

The government will also strengthen the laws around the online sales of knives, making sure the rules in place to stop dangerous weapons ending up in the hands of young people are enforced.

Commander Stephen Clayman, the National Policing lead for knife crime, has been tasked with leading a rapid review to understand how these weapons are sold online and delivered to under 18s, identifying gaps in legislation and the most effective ways to stop this. He will report back to the Home Secretary by the end of the year.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

As Director of Public Prosecutions, I saw first-hand the devastating impact that knife crime has on young people and their families. This is a national crisis that we will tackle head on.

We will take this moment to come together as a country – politicians, families of victims, young people themselves, community leaders and tech companies – to halve knife crime and take back our streets.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

We will not sit back while precious lives are being lost and young people’s futures destroyed. That is why we are making it a mission for the country to halve knife crime in a decade.

Getting weapons off our streets and making sure there are tough and clear consequences for violence are vital. And we also need to prevent young people heading down this path – that means offering young people more hope, more opportunities.

This coalition is crucial – bringing together those who have fought so passionately for change and who know how devastating knife crime can be and why we need action now.

Anti-knife crime campaigner Idris Elba OBE said:

We need to tackle the root causes of knife crime, not just the symptoms. The coalition is a positive step toward rehabilitating our communities from the inside out.

Commander Stephen Clayman, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime, said:

We welcome the government’s further commitment to tackling knife crime through today’s announcements.

Knife crime continues to blight the lives of individuals, families and whole communities and despite so much brilliant work ongoing around the country, policing cannot solve this problem alone. Knives are far too easily accessible, with online sellers being a key focus of our work over the last year. I look forward to leading the review into online supply and continuing to work in close partnership with government, retailers and the third sector to find ways we can bring meaningful, long-term change that will make our streets safer for everyone.

Today’s announcement is the first step in the government’s 10-year plan to tackle knife crime, which will be central to its mission to keep our streets safe.

It will build on the new Young Futures programme, already set out by the Home Office, to offer young people a pathway out of crime.

This will create prevention partnerships for young people most at risk of being dragged into violence, and bring together the right services to help them lead safe and healthy lives. Young Futures hubs will be set up offering young people a safe place to go where they can be diverted into positive activities and access the services they need.

September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Media Freedom in Hong Kong – Media Freedom Coalition Statement on Stand News Verdict [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 September 2024.

The Media Freedom Coalition gave a statement on media freedom in Hong Kong following the guilty verdict against two former editors of Stand News.

Following the guilty verdict against two former editors of Stand News on 29 August 2024, the members of the Media Freedom Coalition issued the following statement on media freedom in Hong Kong.

The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition are gravely concerned about the guilty verdict against the former editors of Stand News and the wider suppression of media freedom in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Journalism is not a crime. Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam have been prosecuted for over two and a half years. Their guilty verdict falls against a wider backdrop of increased media self-censorship and the hostility by Hong Kong authorities against local and foreign journalists and their representative bodies, especially since the imposition of the National Security Law in June 2020. The introduction of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance in March 2024 is further hampering the free exchange of opinions and information which is vital to Hong Kongers, Hong Kong’s institutions, and its international reputation as an open place to do business.

Media freedom has been a central factor for Hong Kong’s success in the past and is an essential foundation of a free and inclusive society. To enable media workers to safely fulfil their legitimate role in scrutinising government policy and actions, journalism should not be prosecuted under the guise of national security.

We urge the Hong Kong and China authorities to abide by their international human rights commitments and legal obligations, and to respect freedom of the press and freedom of speech in Hong Kong, in line with the Basic Law and the recommendations of China’s 2024 Universal Periodic Review and Hong Kong’s 2022 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights review.

Signed by:

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States.

September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 57 – UK Statement on Myanmar [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 September 2024.

The UK’s statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar.

Thank you, Mr President.

The Mechanism’s latest report provides further shocking evidence of gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Myanmar military. Civilians are being subjected to brutal extrajudicial killings, arson attacks on their homes, gender-based and sexual violence, and sharp increases in forced recruitment, including of children.

We believe that the international community must act to break the cycle of impunity and demonstrate to the Myanmar military that they will be held accountable for violations of international law.

The IIMM’s meticulous evidence-gathering and recent reports on hate speech and sexual and gender-based crimes are crucial to that effort. The UK is proud to have provided £800,000 to support the Mechanism’s work.

We also welcome the ICJ’s consideration of The Gambia’s case against Myanmar, and have submitted a joint intervention in that case. We urge Myanmar to comply with the Court’s provisional measures.

While we promote accountability, we must also seek to de-escalate tensions and protect innocent lives. We call on all actors, especially the Myanmar military, to prioritise the protection of civilians.

Mr Koumjian, how can the international community do more to support the IIMM’s vital work?

September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Peacemaker’s killer, Raami Mohamed, has life sentence increased [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 9 September 2024.

Raami Mohamed (22) from Cheetham Hill, Manchester, has had his sentence increased after it was referred to the Court of Appeal.

The court heard that in October 2023 two friends, Badri Issa and Omar Jeylaani, were travelling towards the city centre when they were approached by another car – driven by Raami Mohamed – gesturing them to stop.

Omar Jeylaani got out of the car but was confronted by Raami Mohamed. Badri Issa attempted to de-escalate the situation but was stabbed by Raami Mohamed.

While Badri Issa collapsed, Raami Mohamed’s fellow passenger, Kevell Blake, violently assaulted Omar Jeylaani before fleeing the scene with Mohamed. Badri Issa died in hospital later that evening.

Police investigations uncovered that after the attack Raami Mohamed and Kevell Blake disposed of the knife, their phones and clothes. Raami Mohamed also attempted to alter his appearance, change his car insurance, avoid his home and seek legal advice.

Telecommunications data revealed extensive contact between the pair before the attack, and that their phones were in the same location in the lead-up to the attack and again in another location after the attack.

Solicitor General Sarah Sackman KC MP said:

Raami Mohamed’s senseless and heartless murder of Badri Issa in broad daylight was appalling, especially against someone who was trying to act as the peacemaker. I would like to express my deepest condolences to Badri Issa’s friends and family.

The courts have rightly increased Mohamed’s sentence demonstrating the lengths we will take to make sure criminals like Raami Mohamed are off our streets.

On 7 June 2024 at the Manchester Crown Court, Mohamed was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years after being found guilty of murder.

On September 6 2024, Mohamed’s previous sentence was quashed and a new sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and 145 days was imposed after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : A new British Ambassador, Sir Alex Ellis, arrives in Spain [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 September 2024.
Sir Alex Ellis arrived in Madrid today, where he takes over from Hugh Elliott in the service of His Majesty King Charles III as British Ambassador to Spain and Non-Resident Ambassador to Andorra.

Alex Ellis will present his credentials to His Majesty King Felipe VI in a ceremony that will take place in the coming weeks.

“I am honoured to represent His Majesty Charles III and my country as Ambassador to Spain and Andorra,” said Ellis.

“Our countries enjoy a close and enduring relationship across so many areas: between our citizens, our cultures, our armed forces and across the world of academia, science and commerce. I am looking forward to supporting this relationship to become even stronger.”

This will be Ellis’ second posting to Spain, a country he already knows well from his role in the British Embassy in Madrid in the early 2000s. Since then, he has served as Ambassador to Portugal and Brazil and most recently, as the High Commissioner to India. He has also held a range of different roles across the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Cabinet Office and the Department for Exiting the European Union, in addition to being an Advisor to the President of the European Commission.

His X account is @AlexWEllis.

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Alexander Wykeham Ellis

Married to: Teresa Adegas

Children: One son, Tomás, on the autistic spectrum

2021 to 2024 High Commissioner to India (equivalent to Ambassador)

2020 Deputy National Security Adviser, Cabinet Office

2017 to 2019 Director General, Department for Exiting the European Union

2013 to 2017 Ambassador to Brazil

2011 to 2013 Director of Strategy, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

2007 to 2010 Ambassador to Portugal

2005 to 2007 Adviser to the President of the European Commission

2003 to 2005 Counsellor EU and Global Issues in the British Embassy in Madrid

1996 to 2003 Various roles in UKREP Brussels and FCO including: member of negotiation teams for the euro, 7-year budget, institutional reform and enlargement of the EU

1992 to 1996 Third later Second Secretary, EU/Economic in the British Embassy in Lisbon

1990 to 1992 South Africa Team, then desk officer for Zambia and Malawi
September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Transport Secretary sets the wheels in motion on “biggest overhaul to buses in a generation” [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 9 September 2024.

The new Buses Bill will put power over bus services back in the hands of local leaders.
- Transport Secretary announces the first stop on journey to Better Buses, with new powers to take control of bus services to be expanded to every community
- draft guidance published to support local leaders to deliver improved bus networks, faster and cheaper
- government bus reforms to end today’s postcode lottery, grow passenger numbers and deliver better services for all
A package of measures to empower local leaders to take control of their bus services has been unveiled today (9 September 2024) by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh – the first stop on the journey to better buses.

Legislation is being laid before Parliament today which gives all local transport authorities across England new powers to run their own bus services – powers previously limited to mayoral combined authorities. The move means that local leaders across the country can deliver services in a way that suits the needs of their communities.

The government has also launched a consultation on new draft guidance to provide advice and support for local leaders looking to bring services into public control. This new, simplified guidance will help break down barriers to local control of bus services, speeding up the process and bringing down costs.

The guidance will also put the needs of passengers and bus drivers first – by encouraging local transport authorities to consider driver welfare and passenger safety, including anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls.

The new Buses Bill, which will follow this first statutory instrument, will bring an end to the current postcode lottery by taking steps to improve bus services no matter where you live.

Buses remain the most used form of public transport across the country, but – after almost 4 decades of failed deregulation – vital services have been slashed and there is little accountability to passengers.

Since 2010, almost 300 million fewer miles have been driven by buses per year. The transformative work the government is doing will turn the tide by giving communities the opportunity to control local bus services and have a real say in building local transport networks that work for them.

Modernising our transport infrastructure and delivering better buses is at the heart of our plan to kickstart economic growth in every part of the country and get the country moving. Our plans will deliver a better service for passengers and give local authorities a choice over the bus system that works best for them without extra burdens on the taxpayer.

Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, said:

Buses are the lifeblood of our communities, but for too many people it has become impossible to rely on local services, as routes have been slashed and timetables hollowed out.

Today is the first stop on our journey to delivering better buses across the country. After decades of failed deregulation, local leaders will finally have the powers to provide services that deliver for passengers.

And we are taking steps to support local leaders to deliver improved bus services faster and cheaper than ever before.

With local communities firmly back in the driving seat, our bus revolution will save vital routes up and down the country and put passengers first.

Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:

We welcome the pace at which government is moving on its ambitious transport agenda.

Buses are the cornerstone of our public transport system, so it’s greatly encouraging to see this new package of measures, which will deliver better bus services for more local areas.

We look forward to working with government to create a smoother journey for all bus passengers.

Councillor Adam Hug, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said:

Buses remain critical to local government’s efforts to ensure that everyone can benefit from inclusive economic growth and job opportunities, and to prevent social isolation by making local services more accessible; they also continue to play a vital role in reducing carbon and other harmful emissions.

These proposed measures recognise the fundamental role of local leadership in shaping future bus provision, which the LGA has long been calling for.

Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said:

This is a government that understands what the communities and economies of places like Cambridgeshire and Peterborough need.

Good quality public transport is a vital part of people’s lives and none more so than local bus services, so it’s a huge boost to see much-needed change coming to life.

As a combined authority we’re doing everything we can to reform the way buses are managed across the region and having government on our side makes a massive difference.

It comes as the Transport Secretary took a bus ride to Anglia Ruskin University Campus in Peterborough, where she met with the Mayor and local MP to discuss plans for local control of bus services.

These new powers mean local transport authorities will now be able to emulate the huge success of publicly controlled buses in Greater Manchester and London. Greater Manchester’s successful Bee Network has already seen passenger numbers grow by 5% since public control began to be rolled out just a year ago.

The Buses Bill will also reverse the ban on setting up new publicly owned bus companies, provide greater flexibility over bus funding and will take steps to improve bus services for communities who choose not to pursue public control.
September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary launches expert reviews to strengthen UK’s global impact and expertise [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 September 2024.

Three new reviews launched to enhance the UK’s global impact, support growth and maximise the diplomatic and development expertise in international development.

The Foreign Secretary has today announced 3 strategic reviews to help reconnect Britain and deliver the UK government’s missions internationally.

Three appointed external experts will look at:
- the UK’s global impact
- how to maximise the benefits of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) joint integrated development diplomacy model in our development work
- our economic capability in diplomacy
The reviews will underpin a continued drive to bolster our reputation and relationships overseas and help to inform the department’s international approach in a changing world.

Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government and Professor of Global Economic Governance at the University of Oxford, will lead the review on the UK’s global impact – identifying ways to enhance relationships with both new and longstanding international partners in pursuit of shared objectives, and ensure we are well prepared to assess and act on geo-political opportunities and shifts.

Baroness Minouche Shafik, former Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, will consider how to maximise the UK’s combined diplomatic and development expertise in its international development work. The review will also look at how we modernise the UK’s development offer in a rapidly changing global context, and ensure the UK has the right capabilities to deliver for the future.

Sir Martin Donnelly, former Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Trade and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, will identify ways to ensure that UK jobs and growth are at the heart of our foreign policy including by assessing FCDO’s role in developing international economic partnerships, supporting trade and investment shaping international rules and recommending changes to FCDO’s economic diplomacy capability.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

From day one I have been clear that we will deliver a pragmatic approach to both diplomacy and development, restoring our reputation overseas and drawing on expertise to help us navigate the great threats and opportunities of today.

These reviews will help us shape our strategy to increase the UK’s global impact, build growth internationally and ensure development and diplomacy work hand in hand. I want to thank the external experts for their efforts as we work together to reconnect Britain for our security and growth at home.

Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds said:

A credible, clear and effective development policy is key to delivering this government’s mission to create a world free from poverty on a liveable planet.

The review we’re launching today will help in that mission, ensuring we bring together the best of UK skills and capability to deliver a modern approach to international development based on genuine respect and partnership.

The reviewers will be supported by government officials both within the FCDO and other government departments to ensure they are able to deliver an informed assessment, including working closely with the Department of Business and Trade to maximise the impact of our collective capability overseas.

The outcomes of these reviews are expected to be delivered by the end of the year, with further work on the development review continuing into early 2025. They will ensure that the FCDO remains at the cutting-edge of diplomacy and international development. We will communicate a summary of the review findings upon their conclusion.
September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with Taoiseach Harris of Ireland [September 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 September 2024.

The Prime Minister met Taoiseach Simon Harris at Farmleigh House in Dublin this afternoon.

The Prime Minister thanked the Taoiseach for his invitation, noting that this was the first visit of a UK Prime Minister to Ireland in five years.

Both leaders shared their personal commitment to an ambitious reset of the UK and Ireland’s relationship. They noted the existing ties between our two countries, but agreed they wanted to go even further – in particular on trade and investment to help boost growth and deliver on behalf of the British and Irish people.

In that vein, they agreed to host the first UK-Ireland summit in March next year, which will take forward co-operation in key areas of mutual interest such as security, climate, trade and culture.

They both strongly condemned recent scenes of violent disorder in England and Ireland and agreed to deepen their collaboration on how we tackle the spread of the online misinformation which fuelled the thuggery.

They looked forward to watching the Republic of Ireland vs England Nations’ League football match this evening.

September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister Keir Starmer to visit Dublin in historic moment for UK-Ireland relations [September 2024]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 September 2024.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to Dublin today [7 September 2024] to meet the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, in his first official visit to Ireland.
- Keir Starmer is the first British Prime Minister to visit Ireland in 5 years
- Prime Minister to continue the charge to boost the UK’s economic growth, his key mission for government, by resetting our relationship with another key international partner
- Visit marks a new era of co-operation and friendship between Britain and Ireland
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to Dublin today to meet the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, in his first official visit to Ireland.

Continuing his drive to reset the UK’s relationships with its key international partners and deliver for hard-working British people, he will welcome a new era in the British-Irish relationship and highlight the opportunity it presents to drive forward economic growth.

Ireland is one of the UK’s top trading partners and the trading relationship is worth 100 billion euros a year – supporting thousands of jobs for British and Irish people.

Boosting growth is the Prime Minister’s key mission of government, and the visit is another example of his personal commitment to drive up the UK’s standing in the world in order to attract investment to the UK and create more jobs for British people.

The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach will also meet Irish business leaders from companies including Accenture, Keelings and Primark today, to encourage enhanced bilateral trade and investment in pursuit of growth.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

The UK and Ireland share the strongest of ties – through our close geography, shared culture and the friendships of our people.

Our relationship has never reached its full potential, but I want to change that. We have a clear opportunity to go further and faster to make sure our partnership is fully delivering on behalf of the British and Irish people – driving growth and prosperity in both our countries.

The Taoiseach and I are in lockstep about our future, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration further.

The Taoiseach was the first international leader hosted by the Prime Minister in the UK following the July election – demonstrating the Prime Minister’s personal commitment to a strong UK-Ireland relationship.

Today’s visit comes after the Prime Minister’s visit to Berlin and Paris last week to continue the UK’s reset with its key European partners.

The leaders will attend the Republic of Ireland vs England Nations’ League football match on Saturday evening.

Hilary O’Meara, Country Managing Director of Accenture in Ireland said:

Accenture is delighted to be invited, alongside other business leaders in Ireland, to join UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Taoiseach, Simon Harris to discuss mutual business opportunity across our two countries.

It is encouraging to see the Prime Minister travel to Ireland so early in his premiership to join us for what promises to a great sporting occasion.
September 12, 2024