Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK steps up humanitarian support for vulnerable civilians in Yemen following Houthi escalation [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK steps up humanitarian support for vulnerable civilians in Yemen following Houthi escalation [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 September 2026.

    Tens of thousands of Yemenis displaced by escalating Houthi violence will be supported by new UK funding.

    Tens of thousands of civilians in Government of Yemen-controlled areas who have been displaced by escalating Houthi violence will be supported by new UK funding, announced today in response to the declining humanitarian situation in Yemen.

    Delivered through the UN emergency appeal for Yemen, the £10m package will provide access to child nutrition and food supplies, as well as emergency healthcare for women and children and vaccines to protect against life-threatening diseases.

    More than 130,000 Yemenis are estimated to have been displaced following the recent escalation in conflict, where over two weeks of renewed Houthi aggression has deepened the suffering for the most vulnerable. The UK is acting to respond.

    Minister for the Middle East, Stephen Doughty said:

    “The Houthis’ decision to escalate the conflict in Yemen is having a devastating impact. It attempts to undermine the stability of the region and has already cost civilian lives.

    “The humanitarian situation that is unfolding is catastrophic, with many displaced. Today’s package of support will provide essential access to food, healthcare and nutrition support for the most vulnerable Yemenis impacted by the recent escalation.

    “We remain committed to working with the Government of Yemen, humanitarian partners and international partners to protect civilians, preserve humanitarian delivery and return to a political process. 

    “This government’s position is clear – the Houthis must cease in their attacks and urgently engage with a UN negotiated process.”

    The Minister for the Middle East, Stephen Doughty, spoke with the Yemeni Prime Minister on Tuesday [22 September] and met with the Vice President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Dr Abdullah Al-Alimi Bawazeer, during his visit to the UN General Assembly this week. He reiterated the UK’s support for the internationally recognised Government of Yemen and stressed the need for sustained international assistance to those affected by the conflict.

    The UK condemns the Houthis’ resumption of hostilities following years of efforts to secure progress through dialogue. This government has been clear that the Houthis must end their attacks immediately and allow safe, unimpeded humanitarian access.

    The UK is coordinating efforts to support regional stability and is working closely with international partners to secure a strong political response. This includes via multilateral forums, where the UK joined Bahrain in calling an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council following the latest Houthi escalation earlier this month and raising the conflict at the UNSC.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Sixth powerful attack submarine departs Barrow-in-Furness for sea trials [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Sixth powerful attack submarine departs Barrow-in-Furness for sea trials [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 25 September 2026.

    UK and Euro-Atlantic security will soon be boosted, as the Royal Navy’s sixth powerful attack submarine departs from Barrow-in-Furness.

    • Latest Astute Class submarine, HMS Agamemnon has sailed from the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.
    • She will now undergo sea trials – a major step towards delivering the highly capable attack submarine to bolster security for the UK and the Euro-Atlantic.
    • The UK’s submarine industrial base is benefitting from £6 billion of Government investment over the Spending Review period and sustains thousands of jobs.

    The newest Royal Navy conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Agamemnon and nicknamed ‘Awesome Aggie’, will now begin sea trials – a period of testing ahead of joining active service with the Royal Navy. 

    The Astute Class are the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy. Weighing 7,400 tonnes and at 97 metres long, they are just short of the length of two Olympic swimming pools. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Submarines nuclear reactor, produced in Derby in the Midlands, the submarine will not need to refuel for the duration of her service life. 

    The submarine’s high-tech capabilities include stealthy precision strike, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence gathering. HMS Agamemnon will be armed with heavyweight Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk IV land attack missiles, able to strike targets at a range of more than 1,000 miles. 

    Alongside their role supporting the continuous at sea deterrent, Astute-class submarines are also involved in protecting maritime task groups and providing support to UK, NATO and coalition operations.

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

    Having seen first-hand the dedication and pride of the workforce in Barrow, and that of the thousands of people who work across our submarine supply chain in the United Kingdom, I know how much this milestone will mean to each and every one of them.

    As one of the most advanced submarines ever built, HMS Agamemnon will play a major role in further boosting our security here at home and across NATO.

    Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting MP said:

    Deterrence is the bedrock of our national security. Another formidable attack submarine going to sea strengthens that deterrence and demonstrates how we are stepping up to meet the threats of a more dangerous world.

    I’ve been on board HMS Agamemnon and met her submariners and the skilled workers who delivered this incredible feat of engineering. It’s a powerful reminder of how strengthening our defence creates good jobs, opens up opportunity, and reindustrialises our country.

    HMS Agamemnon’s departure from Barrow-in-Furness is the result of years of work by a highly skilled workforce. This includes the engineers, technicians and specialists at BAE Systems and the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE), together with the ship’s company who will take her into service. Their combined expertise reflects the depth of skill sustained in Barrow and across the UK’s submarine enterprise. 

    Maddy McTernan, Chief of Defence Nuclear, said: 

    HMS Agamemnon’s departure is a significant moment for the UK’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise and is a clear demonstration of the engineering and industrial excellence of the Barrow workforce and across the wider UK supply chain.  

    Submarine production will continue to boost British industry for decades to come backed by the commitments announced in the recent Defence Investment Plan.

    Royal Navy First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, said: 

    In an increasingly dangerous world, sea power remains fundamental to keeping our country and people safe. Our submarine fleet is essential to that effort, which is why I am delighted that HMS Agamemnon, the sixth of our Astute-class submarines, has now begun sea trials and will soon arrive at HMNB Clyde to join the fleet. 

    She embodies the best of British engineering and the professionalism of our submariners and will be one of the most advanced submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy.  

    As we continue to strengthen our warfighting readiness, HMS Agamemnon will play a central role in keeping the United Kingdom safe, contributing to NATO’s collective defence and ensuring we are ready to lead, fight and win.

    Building on commitments to continuous submarine production made in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, and reinforced in the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), the completion of HMS Agamemnon demonstrates the strength and reliability of British industry and its world-leading nuclear technology.

    The DIP is backed by £298 billion over the next four years, including £47 billion for investment in our submarine build programmes, which also covers maintenance and infrastructure. Part of that spend will enable the UK to produce a submarine every 18 months in support of the SSN-AUKUS programme. 

    Recognising Barrow’s role as a strategic national asset, DNE spending is fuelling substantial growth and expansion in the town. The economic certainty from the government’s commitment to the submarine building programme underpins the 10-year Plan for Barrow, backed by the £200 million Barrow Transformation Fund. More than 14,000 roles in Barrow-in-Furness are supported by defence nuclear work, with 1,800 additional roles created in Barrow under this government. 

    HMS Agamemnon has been delivered as part of a national endeavour by the MOD’s DNE, the partnership organisations that operate, maintain, renew and sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent. The DNE supports over 47,000 jobs across the UK, including thousands of highly-skilled roles involved in submarine production. 

    Marking entry into the Royal Navy, HMS Agamemnon was formally commissioned by His Majesty the King in a ceremony on 22 September 2025. She is the sixth Navy vessel to bear the name. 

    The seventh and final submarine in the class, Achilles, is at an advanced stage of construction in Barrow. The Astute Class will be succeeded by up to 12 new SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered attack submarines from the late 2030s, with steel due to be cut for the first-in-class in Barrow next year, continuing the town’s role at the heart of AUKUS delivery.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Biggest ever overhaul of SEND teacher training begins [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Biggest ever overhaul of SEND teacher training begins [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 25 September 2026.

    First-of-their-kind training materials published in first step towards every teacher being supported to teach children and young people with SEND.

    Every single teacher in England will be empowered to better support children and young people with SEND, as government kickstarts the most comprehensive teacher training offer in a generation.

    Developed by training experts Ambition Institute, and building on expertise from the sector, the first-of-their-kind free, adaptable and practical training materials for schools and post-16 settings are now available to be used in the way that works best for them, throughout the year or on existing training days.

    The materials will put inclusion at the heart of every classroom and workshop, giving teachers practical techniques such as breaking instructions into digestible steps, pre-teaching specialist vocabulary, and carving out time for children and young people to practise it.

    They will go hand in hand with online training for early years staff, developed and delivered by early years charity Dingley’s Promise, supporting staff to use age-appropriate inclusive practices from day one – like using visual timetables to help children with transitions between activities, or adapting environments to reduce unnecessary noise that can be a barrier to communication and emotional regulation.

    The move is the first step as part of the government’s wider £200 million investment into teacher training to transform support for children and young people with SEND, ending a postcode lottery that has left too many families fighting for support.

    Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould, said:

    Every child and young person deserves the chance to thrive, whatever their needs, and that starts with brilliant teaching.

    I’ve heard from teachers, parents and young people across the country about the need for more investment in teacher training and today we are responding to those concerns.

    We are backing staff with the tools to spot and support additional needs from the earliest years, making sure all children and young people feel included.

    One in three teachers in a recent survey said they want more training on supporting children with SEND. Alongside this, a quarter of surveyed teaching assistants in schools reported that a lack of sufficient training was a barrier to them effectively providing support for these pupils.

    This is just start of reforms to change that, with further resources due to published in January and April next year. New fully funded training courses will then follow in September next year available to teachers, leaders and support staff across the country.

    The offer fits into the government’s wider work to ensure there is a pathway for every child, no matter their background or needs. As research finds that young people with SEND are around 80 per cent more likely to be NEET, than average, it is more important than ever to deliver the right support earlier so every child is set up to achieve later in life.

    Claire Heywood, Vice Principal at Kidderminster College, who provided feedback on the materials, said:

    The strongest feature of these materials is that they place inclusive practice at the heart of high-quality teaching, recognising that meeting the needs of learners with SEND is an integral part of effective teaching and learning.

    The attention given to vocational and technical learning, learner independence, progression and preparation for adulthood means the resources feel both evidence-informed and genuinely relevant to the further education sector.

    Crucially, they provide staff with practical approaches and tools that can be readily applied in the classroom and workshops to support the success of all learners.

    Hilary Spencer, Chief Executive of Ambition Institute, said:

    Every child and young person deserves to feel included and able to achieve their potential. We know that educators across the country want to feel more confident and well-equipped to support children and young people with SEND.

    Our aim throughout has been to create practical, adaptable materials that help teachers and support staff to respond to a wide range of needs and strengthen their inclusive teaching practice.

    At Ambition Institute, our mission is to help educators serving children from disadvantaged backgrounds to keep getting better. We hope these materials contribute to helping every child and young person thrive, whatever their starting point.

    Catherine Mole, CEO of Dingley’s Promise, said:

    We are delighted to have been selected to lead on this vital training programme. This programme offers early years educators the opportunity to upskill and gain more confidence to support children with SEND at no cost to themselves or the setting and shows the increasing value being placed on early years education and its impact.

    This government investment is a key step towards ensuring that every child has access to the right support at the earliest point possible to give many more children the best start in life. We would encourage all early years settings to access this training and take a whole setting approach to inclusion as we know first-hand how transformational this can be”.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British companies to access prized Ukraine data to develop AI drone swarms [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : British companies to access prized Ukraine data to develop AI drone swarms [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 25 September 2026.

    British companies will gain access to extensive battlefield data from Ukraine for the first time to develop new AI models for advanced drone swarms.

    • New AI-enabled drone swarms will be made in Britain, using battlefield data from Ukraine.    
    • Coveted database available to up to 12 UK companies under inaugural competition which will move to testing at pace.   
    • This advanced technology could boost the UK’s ability to deliver supplies and target enemy capabilities, as the Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce puts AI to work to strengthen national security and reindustrialise Britain.   

    The UK is the first international partner to access Ukraine’s coveted Avengers AI Labs, following a landmark deal struck by Prime Minister Andy Burnham and President Zelenskyy in Kyiv. The database holds imagery and video gathered by uncrewed aerial systems in Ukraine, using daylight and thermal sensors, and is used to develop, train and evaluate AI models.   

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is now inviting UK companies to submit proposals for how they would use the data to create AI models for the next generation of battlefield drones. This is the first competition under the UK-Ukraine AI Partnership and could see the creation of models that let drone swarms keep working when communications are degraded or satellite navigation is unavailable.  

    Drone swarms can fly, swim or drive autonomously, using AI to work together, identify threats and targets and reach decisions, always with appropriate human involvement. For UK forces, that means a small number of sailors, soldiers and aircrew could direct large numbers of drones at once, on tasks from logistics resupply to precise targeting of enemy capabilities and hunting submarines in the North Atlantic.  

    This comes as the Prime Minister drove forward global work on AI at the UN General Assembly in New York, both to ensure it is being used as a force for good and to maximise opportunities to use the technology to deliver safety and security for people at home. The Prime Minister announced the launch of work between the UK and US on a new AI and Autonomy partnership. This collaboration will help the UK protect critical national infrastructure, from sea lanes to air space – enabling us to detect threats and deter our adversaries using the latest AI technology developed on both sides of the Atlantic.  

    Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting MP said:

    Ukraine is the frontline of freedom for us all. On my recent visit to Kyiv, I saw first-hand the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people. I also saw the extraordinary innovation which is allowing them to repel Putin’s illegal and unprovoked invasion.  

    This world-first access to real battlefield data will allow British companies to continue pushing the frontier of defence innovation, deterring our enemies and making us safer at home as well as further strengthening Ukraine.

    AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said:   

    This is the Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce delivering: bringing together Ukraine’s hard-won battlefield experience with Britain’s best AI companies to develop and deploy capabilities faster.  

    It is exactly the kind of practical partnership the Taskforce was set up to drive, supporting our ally Ukraine while strengthening sovereign capability here in Britain.

    The database includes sensor information from over 6 million detections of objects, such as tanks, artillery, air defence systems, infantry, and aerial targets, including Shahed drones and reconnaissance Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles. 

    Access to the extensive database will be initially available for up to 12 UK companies and their proposals must be applicable to both Ukrainian and British defence requirements. To advance this work at pace, those companies will be selected in just a matter of weeks and their exploitation of the data is expected to begin soon after.   

    The work is being led by the MOD’s Taskforce RAID (Rapid AI Delivery) – a team dedicated to ensuring soldiers, sailors and aircrew have access to smarter technology that helps them make better decisions, take on dangerous tasks with less risk, and outpace adversaries who are rapidly developing their own AI capabilities.    

    The activity demonstrates the Prime Minister’s AI Taskforce turning the Government’s ambitions for AI into real-world capability. Working jointly with the MOD’s Taskforce RAID they are harnessing British expertise to strengthen national security, support our allies and reindustrialise Britain by building the industries of the future here in the UK.    

    The recent agreement, which forms a key part of the UK and Ukraine’s 100 Year Partnership, underlines the close relationship between both countries to drive global security and stability and ensure Ukraine has the capability and means to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric invasion.  

    Background

    The MOD is seeking innovative proposals covering one or more of the following areas within drone operations: 

    • Autonomous Target Recognition: AI-enabled detection, classification, prioritisation and tracking of operationally relevant objects across complex and contested environments. 
    • Distributed Decision-Making: Enabling multiple autonomous systems to dynamically adapt routes, priorities and behaviours in response to changing battlefield conditions, without relying on a single point of control. 
    • Adaptive Mission Execution: AI approaches enabling multiple autonomous systems to coordinate actions under constrained communications and decentralised control. 
    • Collaborative Sensing and Information Fusion: Methods for sharing, fusing and exploiting information across multiple platforms and sensors to improve situational awareness and mission effectiveness. 
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Statement at the High-level Plenary Meeting to Address the Existential Threats Posed by Sea-level Rise [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Statement at the High-level Plenary Meeting to Address the Existential Threats Posed by Sea-level Rise [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 September 2026.

    Statement by Chris Elmore MP, Minister for the Americas, Multilateral, and Human Rights, at the High-level Plenary Meeting to Address the Existential Threats Posed by Sea-level Rise.

    The United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of the UN Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, and thanks Australia and Cabo Verde for their leadership as co-facilitators.

    For many countries represented in this room, sea-level rise is not a distinct threat; it is a present reality.

    A reality that affects homes, livelihoods, and the future of entire communities.

    This declaration, the first United Nations membership-wide political response on sea-level rise, has shown that the international community can come together to address one of the greatest challenges of our time.

    Today’s adoption is a visible demonstration of international support for communities most vulnerable to its impact.

    The United Kingdom welcomes the declaration’s grounding in the best available science, and its recognition of the risks posed by sea-level rise. 

    We also welcome its focus on adaptation, resilience, and practical cooperative action.

    Throughout these negotiations, the United Kingdom has worked constructively towards a balanced outcome that supports the priorities of small island developing states while protecting important principles on climate governance, finance, and international law. 

    We welcome the continued primacy of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. 

    The United Kingdom recognises the importance of the legal dimensions of sea-level rise, including continuity of statehood and maritime zones.

    We reaffirm the importance of implementing international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

    Low-lying states are facing an urgent and unprecedented threat from rising sea levels. 

    That is why we have recently announced a significant change in policy, with a starting point to continue to recognise statehood.

    Whether a state lost some or even all of its land to sea-level rise, we will ensure we consider the circumstances in each case, including the wishes of the people of the affected state.

    And the United Kingdom’s £330 million pledge to the ninth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility that the Foreign Secretary announced this week is a further demonstration of our commitment to action.

    This new funding will help the GEF continue to address global challenges, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing biodiversity loss, with increased support for vulnerable SIDS and LDCs. 

    Today’s declaration is an important step.

    The task now is to turn shared commitment into practical action.

    The communities most affected by sea-level rise deserve nothing less.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK announces major package of support for humanitarian relief and early recovery in Gaza [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK announces major package of support for humanitarian relief and early recovery in Gaza [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 September 2026.

    More Palestinians are set to receive vital aid as a result of a major new package of UK support announced by the Foreign Secretary today at the UN General Assembly.

    • UK support will help provide healthcare, clean water, sanitation and other essential services for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
    • Funding will include support for medical consultations, rehabilitation for children with blast injuries, safe water provision and vital mental health services.
    • Comes as the UK convenes partners with Jordan and Qatar to drive action on humanitarian access and Gaza’s recovery.

    More Palestinians are set to receive vital aid as a result of a major new package of UK support announced by the Foreign Secretary today at the UN General Assembly.

    Following the reset of its approach to Israel and Palestine earlier this month, the UK has brought together a coalition of partners at UNGA and set out plans for humanitarian support.

    The £88m package of funding will help deliver essential healthcare, clean water, sanitation and hygiene services, waste management and protection support to people affected by the conflict in both Gaza and the West Bank.

    The announcement comes as the UK co-hosts, alongside Jordan and Qatar, a meeting of senior government ministers at the UN General Assembly focused on driving action on humanitarian access, healthcare and recovery in Gaza. The event will bring together regional partners, the United Nations, civil society, Palestinian representatives, and international donors to discuss practical steps to improve the delivery of lifesaving assistance.

    Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    It is vital that civilians in Gaza have unhindered access to aid.

    The UK is pledging a major new package of aid to provide much needed healthcare support to those desperately in need.

    We urge the Government of Israel to listen to our Call to Action and take steps to end its unacceptable restrictions on Gaza.

    UK-funded support is expected to enable: 

    • Medical consultations for up to 900,000 people through UK-supported healthcare facilities.
    • Rehabilitation and prosthetic treatment for 1,000 children with blast injuries.
    • Solid waste management services for up to 900,000 people.
    • Safe water provision through emergency water trucking for 150,000 people.
    • Mental health and psychosocial support for 21,000 people.

    Since October 2023, UK humanitarian support has helped deliver sustained food assistance to more than 1.4 million people across the Palestinian Territories and improved water, sanitation and hygiene services for more than 830,000 people.

    The UK continues to work with international partners to support humanitarian access, protect civilians and lay the foundations for Gaza’s recovery.

    Notes to Editors:

    • The UK has committed more than £88 million in humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestinians in the current financial year.  The UK’s bilateral ODA budget for Palestine for FY 26/27 is £127m. This figure was published in July 2026 as part of the FCDO’s planned ODA programme country and regional allocations.
    • The package includes support previously announced through UNRWA and the UN Horizon Fund, as well as new humanitarian funding.
    • The UK, Jordan and Qatar are convening partners at the UN General Assembly to discuss humanitarian access, healthcare provision and recovery in Gaza.
    • UK-funded programmes support healthcare, water and sanitation, protection services and early recovery activities across Gaza and the Palestinian Territories.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Gaza – A Call to Action on Humanitarian Access and Health [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Gaza – A Call to Action on Humanitarian Access and Health [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 September 2026.

    A Call to Action on Humanitarian Access and Health in Gaza from Australia, Denmark, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UK.

    We reaffirm our commitment to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and longer-term recovery, reconstruction and peace in Gaza, including through the work of the Palestinian Authority, the Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).

    We recall that the Comprehensive Plan endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803 provides for the immediate entry of full humanitarian assistance at levels no lower than those agreed on 19 January 2025, including the rehabilitation of water, electricity, sewage, hospitals and bakeries, and the entry of equipment needed for debris removal and road clearance. It further provides that humanitarian assistance should be delivered without interference through the United Nations and its agencies, the Red Crescent Movement and other impartial international humanitarian organizations. These commitments must now be implemented fully and without further delay.

    Nearly a year since the ceasefire, we have seen that progress to improve the humanitarian situation is possible, when political will allows. There remain, however, basic and immediate humanitarian needs that require urgent action now, including the provision of adequate health care and public health measures. In Gaza, the health sector has been decimated. There is no single fully functioning hospital and there is widespread shortage of fuel and basic equipment. Intermittent and reduced medical supplies and medicines means that many people with chronic diseases cannot be treated adequately. At least 43,000 people are facing life-changing disabilities without access to specialised care, prosthetics, and rehabilitation. Since 2023, there have been at least 920 attacks on facilities and staff, with over 1,700 health workers killed. Many others are detained and have been subjected to severe mistreatment.

    The deterioration of the health sector is illustrative of a wider system collapse in Gaza. As we approach winter, the lack of adequate shelter, water, sanitation and health services will all contribute to worsening health outcomes and exacerbate any disease outbreaks as well as potentially lead to environmental contamination that could easily spread. The biggest barrier to a functioning health service is the Government of Israel’s restrictions to the free and unfettered entry of aid at scale, and lack of construction material to rehabilitate health facilities, which is stalling immediate humanitarian, as well as recovery efforts.

    We commit to:

    • Provide support for urgent winterisation preparation efforts, including shelter, water, sanitation and health supplies to reduce suffering and mitigate public health risks.
    • Support the Palestinian Authority, working with the transitional NCAG, the United Nations and other humanitarian partners, to restore essential health services and rehabilitate health infrastructure. Such support must strengthen unified Palestinian institutions as part of a pathway towards a two-state solution and must not create parallel structures or entrench the political or administrative separation of Gaza from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
    • Reaffirm the vital role of the United Nations and its agencies, the Red Crescent Movement and other impartial international humanitarian organizations to deliver humanitarian assistance, as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 2803. This must include UNRWA who remain an indispensable provider of essential services across Palestine and the region.

    We call on the Government of Israel to:

    • Allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza, and through all available crossings and land routes; expand crossing capacity and operating hours; remove unpredictable and arbitrary quotas, delays and additional layers of bureaucracy slowing aid delivery and increasing costs; and ensure the safe movement of humanitarian personnel and supplies inside Gaza.
    • Facilitate the full and predictable operation of the Egyptian and Jordanian humanitarian corridor, ensuring adequate daily convoy slots, expedited inspections and uninterrupted movement through the relevant crossings.
    • Approve additional critical items including the ones considered “dual use” items, in particular related to shelter, fuel, water, sanitation, health supplies to prevent further deterioration of public health. There must be timely approvals from Israel via the UN2720 mechanism. Given the gravity of the humanitarian situation there must be a very high bar for refusals, aligned to the Geneva Conventions which requires parties to allow the free passage of essential medical supplies.
    • Restore the medical referral pathway to hospitals in East Jerusalem and the West Bank for those with illnesses and injuries that cannot be adequately treated in Gaza
    • Ensure the protection of healthcare workers, healthcare facilities and medical transport in accordance with international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 2286 and provide due process and appropriate access for detained healthcare personnel, including access for the ICRC.
    • Protect all notified humanitarian sites and guarantee the protection afforded to humanitarian and civilian personnel and infrastructure.
    • Open and expedite transparent criminal investigations into attacks against healthcare and humanitarian workers.
    • Allow senior international delegations and journalists to access Gaza. Given the ceasefire has now been in effect for nearly a year, and as efforts continue to implement commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the 20 Point Plan, having diplomats and journalists will eliminate any debate over what is happening on the ground.

    This call to action is endorsed by:

    Australia, Denmark, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UK

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Government offers over £1.5bn to the Northern Ireland Executive [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Government offers over £1.5bn to the Northern Ireland Executive [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 24 September 2026.

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland offers £1.25bn over three years with a further £150m for transformation of public services and £100m for social housing.

    The UK Government has announced the details of a significant package offered to the Northern Ireland Executive worth more than £1.5 billion.

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Sir Chris Bryant confirmed the details following discussions with the parties in the Executive and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

    He has urged the parties to accept the support and agree a budget to end the uncertainty that surrounds public services in Northern Ireland.

    The package addresses all the issues raised in discussions, and includes:

    • £1.25bn extra funding for the Executive over three years
    • £150m for transformation of public services 
    • £100m for social housing 
    • £75m to address fraud and error in the benefit system  

    The Secretary of State said that the package represented a major contribution from the UK Government to assist the Executive to agree a budget, at a time of very intense pressure on the UK Exchequer. 

    “I cannot emphasise enough how tight the financial situation is and the pressure on the public finances.

    “It represents more than £1.5bn extra funding at a time when nearly all other government departments are being required to make significant savings. 

    “It gives the Executive the chance to manage its immediate pressures, and move towards a more sustainable footing. Not just this, it supports them in delivering much-needed transformation of public services, and to invest in social housing. 

    “I am urging the Party Leaders and the Executive to get around the table and work out with us how we can put together a balanced budget as a matter of urgency based on these figures.

    “I am keen to get a resolution to this as soon as possible as it has already gone on far too long. People in Northern Ireland are being left in limbo, and the consistent message I hear when I meet people from across society is that they want to see the stalemate over the budget ended.  

    “But that requires the Executive to recognise the financial landscape across the UK , and do its bit, to find efficiencies and to raise additional revenue.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Press statement by co-hosts of the UNGA Foreign Ministers Dialogue on Climate Change and Ecosystem Degradation as National Security Risks [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Press statement by co-hosts of the UNGA Foreign Ministers Dialogue on Climate Change and Ecosystem Degradation as National Security Risks [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 September 2026.

    Press statement by the co-hosts UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, and Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs H.E. Dr Musalia Mudavadi of Kenya on the security risks of the intensifying climate and nature crisis.

    We, the Foreign Secretary of the UK, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya co-hosted yesterday a meeting of Foreign Ministers to underscore the security risks of the intensifying climate and nature crisis. 

    Unprecedented wildfires, droughts, crop failures, and extreme heat are profoundly impacting the resilience of communities, economies and ecosystems around the world. Many of the communities threatened or affected by fragility or conflict, or facing severe humanitarian needs, are particularly vulnerable to cope with and adapt to the climate crisis.

    Recent months have been characterised by extremes including record July sea surface temperatures, the warmest July on record for North America, Africa and Asia, and sustained heatwaves in Europe.  This is already disrupting agricultural production and supply chains, with implications for food security and economic resilience. El Nino is expected to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities including those relating to health, food and water security. The horrific glacier collapse in Nepal causing deaths and many missing people is unfortunately an ominous harbinger of what lies in store if we leave the climate crisis unaddressed.

    As we discussed today, the impacts of global ecosystem degradation are becoming more acute and systemic. We are deeply concerned that this is occurring across all regions, with a realistic possibility that some ecosystems will start to collapse from 2030. Cascading and compounding risks are likely to include geopolitical instability, economic insecurity, conflict and displacement and migration and increased resource competition. 

    As an international community, we have made important strides in tackling climate change and nature loss including through initiatives on climate, peace and security. However as recent events make clear, and with devastating impacts from El Nino to come, we need to go further to meet these challenges and ensure the international system is able to anticipate and respond to climate shocks. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the Paris Agreement and its strengthened implementation to address the concerning gap between current emissions trajectories and those required to keep 1.5C in reach, and to the swift, full and effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. And we commit to working together directly and at international and regional gatherings to strengthen action.

    We:

    1. Regard the climate and nature crisis as a national and global security threat. Tackling the causes and consequences is essential to safeguarding the security, stability and resilience of our societies for future generations;
    2. Commit to analysis and horizon scanning on climate and nature-related risks within our respective national and regional security systems;
    3. Will build on the success of existing initiatives, commit to further sharing of analysis, strengthening of cooperation and, where appropriate joint risk assessments, scenario and contingency planning on the security implications of accelerating climate change and nature loss;
    4. Commit to working together to address urgent transboundary risks that require collective action including to anticipate and respond to climate shocks and mitigate the impact of El Nino, with a particular focus on the following:
    • Accelerating action on fertilisers, food and water security to mitigate the impact of shocks on existing food and water crises;
    • Expanding early warning systems, anticipatory action and pre-arranged finance to reduce the immediate impact of extreme climate and weather, and scaling adaptive capacity to build longer term resilience and climate security to multiple and overlapping climate impacts;
    • Ensuring the multilateral development banks’ crisis response toolkits are fit for purpose in an era of increasingly frequent climate shocks, and promoting existing efforts by the banks to strengthen and standardise these tools;
    • Promoting ongoing work by the IMF and World Bank to strengthen the consideration of climate-related vulnerabilities and resilience-building investments within debt sustainability assessments;
    • Calling on UN agencies to embed climate security considerations and conflict-sensitive approaches, leveraging the expertise of the UN Climate Security Mechanism (CSM);
    • Strengthening recognition of nature and forests as critical infrastructure for resilience, security and growth, and exploring opportunities to integrate the protection and restoration of critical ecosystems into economic planning, risk management, and decision-making;
    • And promoting ongoing work by the UN under the Inter-Governmental Process on Beyond GDP to build pragmatic economic growth models that integrate climate and nature ecosystem resilience and inform evolution of the post-2030 SDGs.

    We look forward to reconvening on these issues at forthcoming fora including COP31, the World Bank and IMF annual meetings, and through 2027.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and Philippines agree government infrastructure partnership [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and Philippines agree government infrastructure partnership [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 23 September 2026.

    Today, the United Kingdom and the Philippines have finalised a government-to-government (G2G) Partnership to strengthen bilateral trade cooperation on infrastructure. 

    The Partnership, signed on 23 September by UK Trade Minister Lord Sarwar and Philippine Finance Secretary Federick Go, marks a major step in the two countries’ long-term economic cooperation. It will mean that priority Philippine government infrastructure projects can be considered for support from UK Export Finance, the UK’s export credit agency. 

    This innovative Partnership is designed to widen opportunities for the Philippines to draw on competitive UK-backed finance – UK Export Finance currently has up to £5 billion of capacity available for eligible projects in the Philippines – and utilise the best of British expertise, goods and services, driving growth for both countries. 

    The Partnership will help connect the Philippines with UK expertise in sectors including transport, clean energy, healthcare, water, digital infrastructure and advanced technology, supporting growth and innovation in both economies. It also puts the UK Government’s recently published Government-to-Government Strategy into action by creating a route for cooperation on project development, financing and delivery. As the Philippines invests in national infrastructure, UK businesses with world-leading capabilities are well placed to engage in priority projects. 

    This is the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy taking flight: expanding government-to-government commercial partnerships, deepening international cooperation and opening new opportunities for UK businesses in growth-driving sectors. 

    Minister of State for Trade, Anas Sarwar, said:

    “Delivering on our recently published G2G Strategy, this partnership shows the UK building modern trade relationships that will deliver tangible economic benefits – jobs and growth – both at home and abroad.

    “This G2G is a route for the Philippines to access UK expertise, goods, services and financing; and for British businesses to partner with the Philippines and participate in future projects.”

    His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, Martin Kent, said:

    “This partnership reflects the strength of the UK-Philippines relationship and our shared ambition to deliver high-quality, sustainable infrastructure.

    “It will create new opportunities for the Philippines to access world-class UK infrastructure. I look forward seeing the innovation and growth this will deliver for both our countries.”