Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel [October 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 October 2023.

The Prime Minister spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon, following deadly attacks by Hamas against Israel.

He reaffirmed that the UK will stand with Israel unequivocally against these acts of terror. The Prime Minister offered Prime Minister Netanyahu any support Israel needs.

The Prime Minister outlined the diplomatic work the UK is doing to ensure the world speaks with one voice in opposition to these appalling attacks. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s support.

The Prime Minister also stressed his commitment to ensuring the Jewish community in the UK feels safe and secure at this time.

The leaders agreed to stay in close contact as the situation develops.

October 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada [October 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 October 2023.

The Prime Minister spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this evening.

Prime Minister Trudeau updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

He hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with Prime Minister Trudeau on the next steps.

October 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK reinforcements arrive in Kosovo for NATO peacekeeping mission [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 6 October 2023.

The first British soldiers of a two hundred-strong deployment arrived in Pristina today to reinforce NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission.

The deployment is based on a request by NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe and comes after the violent attack on Kosovo Police on 24 September and increased tensions in the region.

The soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment are joining a more than 400-strong British contingent already in Kosovo as part of an annual exercise. That contingent has remained in Kosovo to support stability. The peacekeeping force will include not only troops, but also hundreds of vehicles arriving by sea freight.

Under NATO command, the forces will be available to conduct operations in accordance with KFOR’s mandate to maintain a safe and secure environment and ensure freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The UK is a leading NATO Ally. Within a few days, the UK has responded to NATO’s call for reinforcements and deployed 200 additional soldiers from the First Battalion Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment for the Kosovo Force (KFOR). This shows the agility of the UK’s Armed Forces.

As the best of the best, I know our soldiers will do the UK proud.

NATO has been leading a peacekeeping operation in Kosovo since 1999 in accordance with its mandate under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. KFOR currently consists of more than 4,500 troops contributed by 27 NATO Allies and partners.

The UK contributes to the full spectrum of KFOR’s work, with two intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) units deployed, UK staff officers assigned to the mission headquarters as well as a Strategic Reserve Force commitment, which currently rests with the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. The UK commitment to KFOR was extended in May 2023 when the Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey announced the UK would continue to contribute to the NATO mission until at least 2026.

The UK is also working closely with international partners to urge Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate tensions and return to dialogue. The Prime Minister spoke to both President Vucic of Serbia and President Osmani of Kosovo, at the European Political Community meeting in Granada yesterday, encouraging de-escalation. Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty, is also due to meet Serbian and Kosovan Foreign Ministers in the Albanian capital today during a meeting of the Berlin Process, a forum focused on fostering increased regional cooperation in the Western Balkans. This builds on the work of Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Lord Peach, who regularly engages with both Serbian and Kosovan stakeholders to promote regional stability.

October 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Statement on the UK – U.S. SME Dialogues – California [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 6 October 2023.

Statement follows the seventh meeting of the UK – U.S. SME Dialogues in Indio, California.

On 5 October 2023, the 7th UK – U.S. SME Dialogue was held in Indio, California with over 70 UK and U.S. small and medium sized businesses and business organisations participating.

The Dialogue was hosted by the Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Indians, and is convened by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, and the Small Business Administration with the Department for Business and Trade.

Since its inception in 2018, the UK – U.S. SME Dialogue has continued to bring together small and medium sized businesses on both sides of the Atlantic with UK and U.S. government representatives to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs looking to export across the Atlantic. SMEs are the backbone of the UK-U.S. trading relationship, and the Dialogue reflects the ongoing commitment from both countries to supporting and enhancing UK – U.S. SME trade.

During the Dialogue, a series of panel discussions covered opportunities for SMEs looking to grow through UK – U.S. trade. Attendees discussed the opportunities for SMEs in services trade and opportunities in the green technology sector that can contribute to energy and climate solutions. SMEs also raised their concerns about the barriers they face in exporting and importing, including access to SME finance.

A key focus of the Dialogue was how the UK and U.S. governments can support small businesses, including those owned by under-represented groups and women entrepreneurs, and those in disadvantaged communities, to take advantage of export resources. During the Dialogue, and following a commitment made at the 6th SME Dialogue 2022 held in Edinburgh, the UK announced the launch of updated resources that provide advice and support for SMEs wanting to export to the U.S.
- Doing Business Toolkit: This toolkit contains advice, Top Tips and resources for SMEs looking to grow their business in the UK and export to exciting markets such as the U.S.
- E-Commerce Toolkit: Advice for UK SMEs selling online to the U.S.
October 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Appalling attacks on Hroza and Kharkiv: UK statement to the OSCE [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 October 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland says Russia’s latest attacks against Ukraine demonstrate the depths of depravity Russian forces are willing to sink to.

Thank you, Mr Chair. When we met yesterday many of us spoke of Russia’s appalling attacks on civilians in Ukraine. We spoke of our concerns for the approaching winter and our determination to support Ukraine to succeed and prevail in the face of Russia’s aggression. It turned out that, even as we gathered in this room, Russia was instigating further unspeakable attacks in which civilians would bear the brunt of this horror.

The village of Hroza has been added to the growing list of places which many of us have come to know for all the wrong reasons. Yesterday afternoon, in this small community, a café and grocery store were destroyed, killing at least 51 people including a child.

We understand that there is no family from Hroza left untouched by this horrific attack. As my Prime Minister said this attack has “demonstrated the depths of depravity Russian forces are willing to sink to.” Those responsible for such an abhorrent attack will face justice. To this end, we welcome the deployment of a field team by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate the attack.

In the early hours of this morning, the city of Kharkiv was dealt another brutal attack, this time on the city itself. It is reported that a 10-year-old boy was killed when a residential building was hit and more than 20 people were injured.

The UK is appalled by the barbaric killing of civilians including children. Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and loved ones at this harrowing time.

The UK and our international partners have met too many times in this room, to condemn Russia’s latest atrocities. We cannot allow such actions to become acceptable or normal. Each time we meet reinforces our strong commitment that those responsible will be held accountable. The UK remains unwavering in its support for the people of Ukraine, as they resist Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion. We are fully committed to working with our partners to support Ukraine to achieve a long lasting and sustainable peace in line with the UN Charter.

October 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Court orders drug dealer, Joshua Poulton, spend longer in prison [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 6 October 2023.

A drug dealer who sold cocaine worth nearly half-a-million pounds before fleeing to evade arrest has his sentence increased after Court of Appeal intervened.

Joshua Poulton (28), from Solihull, has had his 12-and-a-half year sentenced increased to 15 years and three months after the Solicitor General referred his conviction as being unduly lenient.

The court heard that following the imprisonment of a relative, Poulton took a leading role in a drugs operation.

Poulton employed two men to act as couriers and over seven weeks between October and November 2021, he sold at least 35kg of cocaine worth £470,000 to a number of organised crime groups.

When Poulton realised the police wanted to arrest him, he fled the country travelling to several locations, including the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Portugal, and the United States.

Poulton was later detained in Spain and extradited to the UK in December 2022 to appear in court.

The Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson KC MP, said:

Illegal drugs harm our communities and are often a catalyst for other crimes. The offender was selling vast quantities of class A drugs, and I did not believe his sentence reflected the severity of his crimes.

Thankfully the court agreed and in increasing his sentence, I hope this sends a warning to drug dealers that we will use all our powers to put a stop to your criminal enterprises.

Poulton was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years at Birmingham Crown Court on 18 July 2023.

On Friday 6 October 2023, the Court of Appeal increased Poulton’s sentence to 15 years and three months imprisonment after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

October 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) remains a priority for the United Kingdom [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 October 2023.

At the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference 2023, the UK reiterates its commitment to Freedom of Religion or Belief.

Madame Moderator,

The right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is a longstanding human rights priority for the UK. Conflict and insecurity are often rooted in intolerance and persecution on the grounds of religion or belief.

In 2023 the UK hosted an international Ministerial conference on FoRB. During the conference, the UK announced new funding to support FoRB defenders as well as funding and expertise for countries prepared to make legislative changes to protect FoRB.

Since the conference, we have continued to make this a priority in our work. We have worked with at the UN, G7 and in the OSCE, to promote FoRB. In June this year, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a UK-UAE co-penned resolution on Tolerance and International Peace and Security, including wording on FoRB.

The UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for FoRB, Fiona Bruce MP has chaired the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) for the past two years, The Alliance has broadened its membership, growing to 45 members, friends and observers.

The Alliance conducts regular joint advocacy on the cases of individual prisoners of conscience and has issued statements highlighting the issues facing religious minorities such as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Baha’i community and Jehovahs Witnesses, as well as those facing Jews and Christians.

Our commitment to FoRB is unwavering, and we look forward to continuing our work with the OSCE.

October 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – Working Group on Rights of People of African Descent [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 October 2023.

Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on the Rights of People of African Descent. Delivered by UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you Mr President.

We are hugely proud of the modern and diverse country the UK has become. A successful multi-national, multi-ethnic, and multi-faith state. One where every citizen – regardless of their background – enjoys rights, opportunities, and the expectation of being treated with the kindness and respect that we like to think characterises British society at its best. People of African Descent have made, and continue to make enormous contributions to British society, including at the very top of our government.

The UK takes racism and racial disparity very seriously, which is why we were pleased that the Working Group’s report recognised the UK’s robust legal framework which protects people against discrimination, measures such as our Online Safety Bill which will clamp down on online racist abuse, and our pioneering use of data on race and ethnicity which the Working Group identified as best practice.

However, it is regrettable that the report did not sufficiently consider the complex and nuanced drivers of racial disparity in the UK – nor the differences in outcomes between different ethnic minority groups – coming to the unfounded conclusion that racism was always the primary driver of poorer outcomes.

Indeed, it did not mention our Inclusive Britain action plan to tackle negative disparities in several areas the report highlights, across health, education, employment, and crime and policing. The 74 actions that we are delivering are designed to close outcome gaps between people from different ethnic backgrounds, promote unity and build a fairer Britain for all.

Mr President,

Due to the late reception of the report, we did not have nearly enough time to provide a full written response to the Working Group ahead of today’s presentation, as is normally the practice. This is unfortunate, and we would appreciate being given more time to consider reports from Special Procedures visits in the future.

October 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New £88 million sensing equipment to protect UK Armed Forces [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 6 October 2023.

New technology with capability to detect, identify and monitor the presence of toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents to be operational by 2028.
UK Armed Forces personnel will be better protected on the battlefield through world-leading chemical detection sensors, under an £88 million contract announced today.

Led by Strategic Command alongside a pan-defence team, thousands of personnel across the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will benefit from wearable personal chemical agent sensors, ensuring they can detect dozens of toxic chemical threats and take immediate action to protect themselves and others.

It will be a first of its kind for UK Armed Forces, as the wearable sensor will be able to detect multiple chemical threats from both vapours and aerosol – different ways in which chemical threats can be dispersed and affect an individual.

Under the contract, UK company Smiths Detection will develop three next-generation chemical sensor products for the MOD, to be operational by 2028. They are:

Wearable personal chemical agent sensor – a device that continually monitors the environment around the user.

Survey chemical agent sensor – a portable device to check potentially hazardous areas or surfaces.

Remote capable, standoff chemical sensor – an enhanced sensor for use in fixed locations.

As new hazards emerge in the future, the equipment can be continually updated and improved, identifying a greater range of chemical threat coverage.

Supporting hundreds of skilled people at Smiths Detection and creating around a dozen new jobs at their Hemel Hempstead site, the contract boosts the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the UK economy. The company sources components and services from numerous UK suppliers, bolstering the UK manufacturing industry, and investing in British production capability.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

It’s vital we protect our Service Personnel, and this cutting-edge technology is so important to reduce the threat posed by toxic chemicals across a range of environments globally.

Not only is it an impressive piece of equipment that will be designed and manufactured here in the UK, but the ability for it to be continually developed and improved is exactly how we want Defence procurement to be – deliverable, effective and ambitious.

Smiths Detection President, Roland Carter said:

We’re honoured to have been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence to supply this next-generation technology. Since our business inception, nearly 70 years ago, we have been designing, developing, manufacturing, and servicing chemical sensing technology. This technology protects defence forces, including the UK MoD, and communities from known and emerging threats.

This award is testament to our leading technology and the knowledge, commitment and ingenuity of the people in our organisation who everyday help to make the world a safer place.

Sensing chemical threats is a fundamental part of the UK’s Counter-Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear capability. The contract, placed by the UK MOD’s procurement arm Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and supported by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), will encompass the development, manufacture, and initial in-service support for the programme.
October 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : AUKUS personnel collaborate on UK submarines for future security [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 6 October 2023.

Representatives from Australia and the US have joined Royal Navy personnel in Faslane to watch and understand how to maintain nuclear-powered submarines.
First joint US and Australian AUKUS visit to the UK to support development of Australian submarine maintenance workforce.

AUKUS personnel hosted in Faslane, Scotland.

Maintenance of rotational submarine force under AUKUS partnership to boost global security.

Representatives from the Australian and US Submarine Support organisations have joined Royal Navy personnel in Faslane for the first time, to watch and understand how to maintain nuclear-powered submarines, which will support future global stability.

Forming an Advance Verification Team (AVT), subject matter experts from all three AUKUS nations have joined British shipyard personnel to develop their understanding of the maintenance and industrial skills required to maintain a nuclear-powered submarine.

Following a similar visit to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in August this year, the AVT learnt about the requirements needed to provide an Australian-based facility that can support both UK and US maintenance activity during a future forward-deployed submarine presence in the region.

Under the AUKUS partnership, the Royal Navy, with its Australian and US counterparts will work together to meet shared threats and uphold stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

This visit marks a tangible step forward for AUKUS delivery, driving knowledge-sharing and development in Australia that will be critical to the success of the programme.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge MP said:

The AUKUS partnership is a truly tangible demonstration of our ongoing commitment to global security.

These visits are crucial for teams from all three nations to understand how best to work together as we strike ahead on the AUKUS programme, delivering cutting-edge capability to protect ourselves, and our allies and partners, for decades to come.

Further to understanding how to maintain and support nuclear-powered submarines, the visit sought to build trilateral relationships and communications between the teams who will deliver the submarine rotational force.

Based in Faslane for two weeks, the AVT have spent time understanding and developing the skills needed to take the AUKUS partnership forward. The visit has successfully shown the extent of the similarities and differences between our ways of working, as well as highlighting areas that will best support the development of maintenance capability in Australia.

Rear Admiral Simon Asquith, Director Submarines, said:

This is an exciting moment for AUKUS delivery, marking initial trilateral efforts to ensure Australia can support US and UK submarine presence in Western Australia.

The AVT successfully paved the way for future collaboration from all partner nations and we look forward to this continued close working with both Navies and industry going forward.

The AUKUS partnership is a strategic endeavour that strengthens the three nations’ national security, promoting peace and stability.

Last month, the AUKUS partnership celebrated its two-year anniversary, and earlier this year the three AUKUS nations announced a way forward for the programme, with the first generation of AUKUS nuclear submarines to be built in the UK and Australia, based on the UK’s world-leading submarine design.

Last week, a further £4 billion of investment was announced for the AUKUS partnership. The contracts will progress the programme through the design, prototyping and purchase of main long lead components for the first UK submarines, allowing construction to commence in the coming years and ensure the stability and resilience of our domestic supply chain.

Building on more than 60 years of British expertise in designing, building and operating nuclear-powered submarines, the contracts will support thousands of highly skilled jobs in the UK – a clear demonstration of how the AUKUS programme supports the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy.

The SSN-AUKUS submarines will be the largest, most advanced, and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy, combining world-leading sensors, design, and weaponry in one vessel.
October 7, 2023