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Category: Speeches

  • Steff Aquarone – 2025 Early Day Motion on Sheringham Bus Station Controversy

    Steff Aquarone – 2025 Early Day Motion on Sheringham Bus Station Controversy

    The statement made by Steff Aquarone, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, in the House of Commons on 3 December 2025.

    That this House notes with grave concern the plans of Norfolk County Council to demolish Sheringham’s historic bus shelter; recognises that the shelter is of Streamline Moderne art-deco design, dating from the 1950s; further notes that it contains a treasured poppy mural painted by a local artist which recognises the historic Midland and Great Northern Railway; is concerned that residents do not feel properly consulted or heard by the County Council; praises and expresses solidarity with the local people who have protested outside and occupied the bus shelter; calls on the County Council to suspend their plans to allow for further constructive discussion with the community; and agrees that Sheringham is a town which is not to be messed with.

  • Charles Sanders – 2025 Statement in Support of Bus Station Changes in Sheringham

    Charles Sanders – 2025 Statement in Support of Bus Station Changes in Sheringham

    The statement made by Charles Sanders, representing Sanders Coaches, on 7 May 2025.

    Dear All

    I have read with interest the comments on the proposed revised station approach layout to improve the movement and especially the safety of both vehicles and pedestrians. I would like to add that this is a County Council scheme using ring fenced money for the provision of improved public transport facilities for our County. This money cannot be spent elsewhere and is not our town council’s project. We as the local operator were consulted on the scheme and I am happy to share with you all the issues we raised which are as follows:

    1. Coming from the Cromer Road roundabout to enter Station Approach when traffic is waiting to exit Station approach buses cannot access the turn into Station Approach without impinging on the pavement therefore Buses have to wait and this can cause a block to traffic flow. Members of the public exiting the car park tend to stand on the corner waiting to cross, creating a further hazard for our drivers to be particularly aware of.
    2. The Bus Shelter is sited too close to the kerb edge given the number of passengers that regularly wait for the buses, this causes buses to often have to stop short of the actual stop point as the crowd is so close to the road edge it would be dangerous for the driver to try to drive past them.
    3. People heading for the North Norfolk Railway or the public toilets have to regularly edge through the bus passenger queue to reach their intended destination.
    4. The growth in passenger numbers over the last few years has been huge. In the period from April 1st 2022 to March 31st 2023 the number of passengers boarding and alighting in Station approach was 286,958, in the last 12 months from April 1st 2024 to March 31st 2025 it was just over 400,000. If numbers continue to grow as more and more people seek to use green sustainable public tarnsport the current issues can only continue to get worse.
    5. There is also going to be an improvement to the waiting pavement space at the West End of Station Approach Bus Stop near to the putting green, again an area no longer large enough to cope with the demand placed upon it at busy times.
    6. Whilst change is not always easy to accept, or easy to fully understand, I hope that the above information will help people to understand why this improvement is being considered, and that ultimately everyone is on the same side here, and just looking to do the right thing to help Sheringham be a vibrant and forward looking town dealing with its current success as a destination, and allowing for even more potential growth in the future.
  • Sheringham Town Council – 2025 Statement on Bus Shelter Controversy

    Sheringham Town Council – 2025 Statement on Bus Shelter Controversy

    The statement made by Sheringham Town Council on 3 December 2025.

    Sheringham Town Council recognises the strong feelings surrounding the changes taking place around Otterndorf Green and specifically the bus shelter. We understand how important this area is to residents, both in terms of heritage and as a gateway to our town, and we are grateful to everyone who has shared their views.

    We acknowledge that some individuals feel that Norfolk County Council’s public consultation process did not meet their expectations, and we recognise this as an important lesson learned.

    The consultation process, which was publicly advertised online, in the EDP, on town noticeboards, and in the Sheringham Independent distributed to all households, generated substantial resident engagement. Feedback was provided through sessions at the North Norfolk Railway, the Community Centre, and directly to Norfolk County Council. This input significantly influenced the design and resulted in meaningful revisions.

    As a result of this community feedback and partnership discussions, the plans were updated to include:

    • Increased green space and coordinated landscaping with Sheringham in Bloom and an overall design that better reflected the local vernacular
    • A shelter design drawing on Victorian and local railway architecture; requiring bespoke metalwork and that will include artwork contributions from Sheringham schoolchildren with support from our community artist Colin Seal.

    These changes were made in good faith, working collaboratively with Norfolk County Council engineers and project managers and other stakeholders.

    It is also important to recognise the limitations of the existing shelter:
    • Its position on a narrow pavement at a busy pedestrian point has long caused concern to the local bus operator.
    • The current layout often forces waiting passengers and passing pedestrians close to the road, creating uncomfortable and potentially unsafe conditions, particularly during busy periods or for those with mobility needs or pushchairs.

    The new Travel Hub layout is designed to address these long-standing challenges.

    Key benefits include:
    • a wider, safer and more accessible waiting area
    • improved pedestrian flow to remove the pinch-point
    • a shelter offering better visibility, more natural light and reduced crowding
    • facilities that support more reliable and efficient bus operations, as highlighted by the local bus operator

    Evidence from similar schemes elsewhere shows that improved facilities encourage more people to use buses. Sheringham Town Council believe that supporting increased use of local bus services is a positive step to:
    • promote sustainable transport
    • help reduce congestion
    • strengthen the long-term viability of the public transport services residents rely on

    Throughout this process, Sheringham Town Council has worked constructively with all authorities and local organisations to ensure that Sheringham’s heritage, safety and public realm were properly considered.
    While the Town Council is not the decision-making authority for highway schemes, we have consistently sought improvements that we believe reflect the values and priorities of our community.

    We remain committed to listening to residents, passing on concerns through the appropriate channels, and supporting the best long-term outcome for Sheringham’s public spaces and transport infrastructure.

    We would like to thank residents who have provided their feedback on this scheme. Sheringham Town Council would be pleased to engage in constructive dialogue both on this and other issues as they present themselves in the community.

    Sheringham Town Council

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Keynote Speech on a Britain Built for All (Brexit Worsened Britain Speech)

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Keynote Speech on a Britain Built for All (Brexit Worsened Britain Speech)

    The speech made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, at Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre in London on 1 December 2025.

    Thank you to all of you for joining us at Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre.

    And you may have seen downstairs there is a nursery.

    I’ve been down there with the young children this morning seeing them and the staff.

    And seeing how the staff guide them, from, in this nursery, nine months to four years.

    And it is a real reminder that learning begins at such an early age.

    And what a difference it makes.

    And that giving our children the best start in life…

    Unlocking their full potential… 

    Is so important for our country’s future.

    And that is the purpose of this Government – in a nutshell.

    We have a plan for a Britain that is built for all…

    And we’re going to unlock the potential of every single person and community in this country.

    Because whether it’s our public services that don’t work…

    The cost-of-living crisis holding us back… 

    Or whole regions of our country – ignored as sources of growth…

    In the end, it is all about potential.

    And that’s why the budget was a moment of personal pride for me. 

    I do not want to see a country where children grow up in poverty…

    I don’t think anyone in this country wants that. 

    It is a fundamental British belief…

    That every child should go as far as their talent will takes them…

    And poverty is a barrier to that.

    Just think about it.

    Think about the skipped meals.

    The cold bedrooms.

    The school uniform that is too small or worn through. 

    And think about a seven-year-old in that situation…

    A young girl or boy…

    Who still has to go to school and face the world’s gaze.

    Are they ready to learn to the best of their ability?

    Are we giving them a fair and equal opportunity to succeed?

    I think its abhorrent…

    It’s not just abhorrent – it’s also counter-productive.

    On Wednesday last week after the budget, the Chancellor and I went to a hospital.

    And we were speaking to the staff who had gathered there…

    And we told them that we are lifting the 2-child limit

    And they cheered.

    And they did so and they said to us…

    That matters, because you would not believe how many children come through our doors, of our hospital…

    Because of poverty. Poverty in Britain today.

    So this is a public services issue – it can help lift the pressure on the NHS.

    It’s an economic issue – a sound investment in our long-term potential.

    And it is a fairness issue.

    Take some of the parents I met this morning…

    Now some of the parents I met downstairs, some of the parents I met in Rugby were on the road last Thursday…

    They told me… 

    As so many parents do

    That they’re working harder and harder…

    But their wages struggle to meet their costs…

    And I know what that feels like.

    I remember my family sitting around the kitchen table…

    Worrying about the bills…

    How are we going to pay them all?

    And we as a family couldn’t pay them all.

    And that’s why in our case our phone was cut off.

    And that is still the reality of Britain for far too many people…

    And so yes, I am proud…

    I am proud we scrapped the two-child limit…

    I am proud we’re lifting over a half a million children out of poverty…

    Proud we raised the national minimum wage – again… 

    Making life better for working families…

    Unlocking their potential…

    And giving our children a fair chance to get on. 

    And that is the story of the budget.

    There were necessary choices – of course there were.

    Fair choices – I would argue.

    Tax rises do make life harder for people – I understand that…

    It’s obvious.

    And I’m not going to pretend that there aren’t alternatives…

    Politics is always about making choices.

    We could have cut public services.

    We could have ignored child poverty.

    We could have rolled the dice with extra borrowing. 

    But I firmly believe that those options have been tested to destruction.

    I mean – we all know the risks of reckless borrowing…

    And you can see the cost in any bill, mortgage, car loan…

    Anything affected by interest rates.

    But also – look at the OBR’s analysis of productivity…

    And it’s crystal clear to me…

    That austerity scarred the long-term productive capability of this country. 

    So – why would we repeat it? 

    That is what we inherited.

    Public finances and public services in total crisis…

    Growth – weak for years. 

    But if you had said to me, seventeen months ago, on that first day of government…

    That by now – we would have cut NHS waiting times…

    Cut immigration…

    Cut child poverty by a record amount. 

    If you had said to me that Britain would now be cutting borrowing faster than any other G7 country…

    Without cutting public investment…

    That our fiscal headroom is up significantly…

    Economic growth is beating the forecasts…

    With wages up, more – since the election…  

    Than in a decade of the previous Government.

    If you had said – because of all that…

    We can tackle the cost-of-living for working people…

    Freezing rail fares…

    Freezing prescription charges…

    Freezing fuel duty…

    Slashing childcare costs…

    Driving down mortgages…

    Taking £150 pounds off your energy bills – £300 for poorer households…

    Then I would say – yes that is a record to be proud of.

    And I am proud.

    I am proud the public finances and our public services are moving in the right direction.

    Because we confronted reality…

    We took control of our future…

    And Britain is now back on track.

    And look – I’m also confident…

    We have now walked through the narrowest part of the tunnel.

    Because while I know it’s still hard for lots of people…

    While I know the cost-of-living crisis has not gone away…

    In the year ahead, you will see the benefits of our approach…

    Not just in the national statistics…

    But in your communities.

    You will see a country building its future – with new homes and infrastructure…

    Two thousand free breakfast clubs…

    Hundreds of school-based nurseries – open by September.

    You will see 3000 neighbourhood police officers on your streets – by March…

    A new era of security for 11 million renters – starting in May.

    Hundreds of thousands of parents taking advantage of our free childcare expansion…

    Almost 120 community diagnostic centres – open 7 days a week by April.

    You will see NHS Waiting times coming down further…

    Wages still rising faster than prices…

    Immigration still falling…

    And bit by bit – you will see a country… 

    That no longer feels the burden of decline…

    Or the sense that things can never get better… 

    A Britain with its confidence and its future – back.

    Now, take our energy policy – £150 off your energy bill…

    £300 if you are really struggling.

    Now, think about what that means to a family worrying about whether to put the heating on, on a cold day.

    Or worried that if they switch it on for too long…

    They might have to cancel a day out with their kids.

    It’s not just money – it’s security.

    It’s having the freedom to make choices that help your family.

    Or think about our childcare investment.

    Thirty hours free – for every child between 9 months and four years old…  

    A massive difference to the cost-of-living…  

    Thousands of pounds back in the pockets of working parents… 

    Real help getting parents and carers back to work, especially for women…  

    And that is good for growth. 

    But it’s also good for our children’s potential.

    Now, I visit primary schools all the time…

    And – when I’m not being told off for doing the 6/7…

    Teachers repeatedly say to me…

    This is across the country…

    That some kids arrive at reception reading books, ready to learn…

    While others are still in nappies.

    I am sick of hearing those stories – right across the country…

    Think about that

    Inequality at aged just four…  

    Baked in for life.  

    And it’s likely to last a whole life.

    That is why everything we are doing for children – it is a game changer for our potential…

    We are giving every child the best start in life…

    Every single child equal at the starting line of their education…

    And that is what government is for.

    And look – when it comes to economic growth and living standards…

    We’re confident we can beat the forecasts. 

    We’ve already beaten them this year.

    We are in control of our future. 

    We’ve already struck trade deals that are attracting billions of pounds of investment…

    We’re removing barriers to business – right across the economy…

    In planning…

    Industrial policy… 

    Pensions reform…

    Artificial intelligence…

    Capital investment…

    And right at the heart of the budget…

    We have a package of measures that give the green light for the world’s best entrepreneurs…

    To start, scale and list their companies in Britain.
    But we have to be clear, at this stage of our plan… 

    The most important things we can do for growth…

    The most important things we can do for business…

    Is first – to drive inflation down…

    So that interest rates come down – further still… 

    And the cost of business investment comes down with it.

    And second – to retain the market confidence that allows for real economic stability…

    So that businesses can plan with certainty.

    That is what the country most needs right now…

    It is what the Budget secured…

    And that is why our choices were fair…

    They were necessary…

    And they were fundamentally good for growth.

    But I will level with you…

    As the Budget showed…

    The path to a Britain that is truly built for all…

    Requires many more decisions that are not cost-free and they are not easy.

    We can all see the challenge.

    Low productivity.

    The result of an economy scarred by austerity…

    By Brexit…

    And by consistently failing to unlock the nation’s potential.

    So we need a productivity revolution.

    And as our plan runs to the end of the Parliament…

    I now want to set out some of the next steps in our economic renewal…

    So that our progress can be fairly judged.

    First – regulation.

    Now exactly a week ago…

    John Fingleton reported on our nuclear industry.

    He found that pointless gold-plating… 

    Unnecessary red-tape…

    Well-intentioned, but fundamentally misguided, environmental regulations. 

    And – and I quote – it’s quite a stark quote – he said “a mindset that favours process over outcome”…

    Has all made Britain the most expensive place to build nuclear power.

    Now I agree with him.

    In fact – I would go further.

    Because the truth is we see this story repeated again and again…

    Right across our economy.

    For years – Britain did not have a proper industrial strategy. 

    For years – it cut public investment…

    For years it did not have a planning framework or frankly – a Government…

    That would quickly approve…

    New railways…

    New tramlines…

    Data centres…

    Laboratories…

    Power stations…

    Wind farms…

    Even whole towns.

    So guided by a simple truth…

    That rooting out excessive costs in every corner of our economy…

    Is an essential step to cutting the cost of living…

    And creating more dynamic markets for business…

    We will also clear the path for British business

    And therefore – in addition to accepting the Fingleton recommendations…

    I am asking the Business Secretary to apply these lessons across the entire industrial strategy.

    Second – welfare.

    For too long our welfare system has trapped people in poverty…

    And poverty is always a barrier to potential.

    That is why we scrapped the two-child limit. 

    But we also have to confront the reality…

    And our welfare state is trapping people, not just in poverty…

    But out of work.

    Young people in particular.  

    And that is a poverty of ambition.

    And so while we will invest in apprenticeships…

    And make sure young people without a job… 

    Have a guaranteed offer of training or work. 

    We must also reform the welfare state itself – that is what renewal demands.

    Now – this is not about propping up a broken status quo… 

    Nor is it because we want to look somehow politically ‘tough’…

    So we have asked Alan Milburn to report on the whole issue of young people, inactivity and work.

    Because we need to remove all the barriers which hold back the potential of our young people.

    Because – if you are ignored early in your career… 

    If you’re not given the support you need to overcome your mental health issues…

    Or if you are simply written off because you’re neurodivergent or disabled…

    Then it can trap you in a cycle of worklessness and dependency for decades.

    That costs the country money…

    Is bad for our productivity. 

    And most importantly of all – it is a massive waste of potential…

    Third and finally – trade

    Vital for productivity.

    Essential for growth.

    Crucial to the cost of living.

    And let me be crystal clear…

    There is no credible economic vision for Britain…

    That does not position us as an open, trading economy.

    So we must all now confront the reality…

    That the Brexit deal we have…

    Significantly hurt our economy.

    And so for economic renewal…

    We have to keep reducing frictions…

    We have to keep moving towards a closer relationship with the EU…

    And we will have to be grown-up about that…

    To accept that this will require trade-offs. 

    That applies to our trading relations across the world.

    And as you have seen already with this Government…

    There are deals to be done…

    If you are committed to building relationships.

    That is what we have done with the US…

    It’s what we’ve done with India…

    And it’s what we’ve done with the EU…

    And we will keep going…

    We will continue to reject drift…

    To confront reality…

    And take control of our future…

    That is what the Budget achieved last week…

    And we will build on it…

    A long-term plan for the economic renewal of this country…

    A Britian that is free from decline…

    Confident about its future…

    And with the potential of every single person – unlocked…

    Truly – built for all.

    Thank you very much.

  • Matthew Pennycook – 2025 Statement on Reforming Local Plan Making

    Matthew Pennycook – 2025 Statement on Reforming Local Plan Making

    The statement made by Matthew Pennycook, the Minister for Housing and Planning, in the House of Commons on 27 November 2025.

    Following my written statement concerning local plan making and guidance—[Official Report, 27 February 2025; Vol. 762, c. 62WS.]—I am today providing an update on the implementation of our reforms to the plan-making system in England.

    This Government were elected on a manifesto that included a clear commitment to build 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament, and all areas are required to play their part. In order to deliver the homes and growth that the country needs, we expect all local planning authorities to make every effort to get up-to-date local plans in place as soon as possible.

    The plan-led approach is, and must remain, the cornerstone of our planning system. Local plans are the best way for communities to shape decisions about how to deliver the housing and wider development their areas need. In the absence of an up-to-date plan, there is a high likelihood that development will come forward on a piecemeal and speculative basis, with reduced public engagement and fewer guarantees that it will make the most of an area’s potential. It is for these reasons that the level of up-to-date plan coverage we inherited is so problematic.

    As a Government, we have made a clear commitment to achieving universal local plan coverage. To that end, we have been clear that we intend to drive local plans to adoption as quickly as possible. That is why we introduced transitional arrangements for emerging plans in preparation as part of the changes we made to the national planning policy framework in December last year, and why we have recently awarded over £29 million in funding to 188 local planning authorities to support the rapid preparation of plans that reflect that updated framework.

    However, the current system is optimised neither for speed, nor for community participation. The Government are therefore clear that more fundamental reform to the system is needed, to ensure that local plans are faster to prepare and simpler for end users to access and understand.

    In February, we published the Government’s response to the previous Government’s consultation on implementation of plan-making reforms. I am today publishing more detailed information about the design of the legislation required to implement the new system; how we intend to roll it out across the country, and the resources that will be made available to support plan makers to that end.

    Designing and implementing new plan-making regulations

    We will shortly lay the regulations that will underpin our new approach to plan making. These will reflect our February 2025 response to the previous Government’s consultation on the new plan-making system, and their development has taken into account responses to that consultation, as well as feedback provided through extensive engagement with the sector.

    The regulations will set out a new process for producing plans, with clear steps that a local planning authority will need to take. This should support faster preparation of plans and more frequent updates, in line with our aim of universal coverage of up-to-date plans that reflect local needs.

    The Government are today publishing a summary of what we intend these regulations to contain. This will provide plan makers and other key stakeholders with the information they need to familiarise themselves with the new system in advance of it coming into force early next year.

    Rolling out the new plan-making system

    The Government are acutely aware that many local planning authorities are keen to start work on plans in the new system at the earliest opportunity, to give themselves the best possible chance of success and provide much-needed certainty for their communities.

    Having considered carefully responses to the earlier consultation, I am announcing today that we no longer intend to roll the system out in a series of plan-making waves. Instead, local planning authorities will be encouraged to bring plans forward as soon as possible following the commencement of the regulations early in the new year.

    While authorities will have discretion over how soon they start their plan, regulations will set out final backstop dates for when plan-making must legally have commenced. Local planning authorities covered by the NPPF transitional arrangements will have to commence formal plan making (gateway 1) by 31 October 2026, while those that have a plan that is already over five years old must commence by 30 April 2027. Further information will be set out in the regulations and in guidance.

    We will provide a minimum of £14 million of funding this financial year to support local plan making. This is to help local planning authorities get ambitious plans in place as soon as possible and to support those starting work on a new plan early in the new plan-making system. Further details will be published shortly.

    Guidance and tools to support local authorities

    In February 2025 we launched a new home for local plan-making resources on gov.uk— https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/create-or-update-a-local-plan

    This is already supporting plan makers. Today we are going further by publishing, in draft, the first dedicated guidance and tools to support plan makers bringing forward a local plan in the new system.

    For this initial release we have prioritised resources that can best support plan makers in the earliest stages of plan-making, aiding their understanding of how the new system will work and what they could focus on now to get ready. Additional practical tools and templates have been provided by the Planning Advisory Service, which will further support plan makers with their preparations. These resources form part of a growing digital offer to support plan makers to deliver local plans faster. It will be followed by the timely release of tools and services both this year and beyond.

    Plan making in the current system

    The Government have been clear that they want local planning authorities to continue bringing forward plans as quickly as possible ahead of the new system coming into force. For plans progressing to adoption under the existing plan-making legal framework, we will be setting out in the aforementioned regulations that the final date for submission for examination will be 31 December 2026.

    As set out in the revised NPPF published on 12 December 2024, local plans that reached regulation 19 stage on or before 12 March and needed updating as they were meeting less than 80% of local housing need, are expected to be updated and submitted by 12 June 2026, unless updating the plan required the authority to return to regulation 18. If this was the case, authorities have until 31 December 2026 to reach submission.

    The Government are committed to taking tough action to ensure that local authorities have up-to-date local plans in place. While we hope the need will not arise, we have made it clear that we are willing to make full use of available intervention powers—including taking over a local authority’s plan making directly—if local plans are not progressed as required.

    Duty to co-operate

    The new plan-making system provided by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 does not include the duty to co-operate that was inserted into the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 through the Localism Act 2011 to help bridge the gap in cross-boundary co-operation resulting from the abolition of regional planning. Instead, the new system will rely on revised national policy and the new tier of strategic planning to ensure effective co-operation between plan-making authorities.

    The regulations for the new system will also save the current plan-making system for a period to allow emerging plans to progress to examination by 31 December 2026. Given the above, and to help drive local plans to adoption as quickly as possible and progress towards our objective of universal local plan coverage, we have decided not to “save” the duty, thereby removing this requirement for plans in the current system.

    Local planning authorities should continue to collaborate across their boundaries, including on unmet development needs from neighbouring areas, and we expect planning inspectors to continue to examine plans in line with the policies in the NPPF on maintaining effective co-operation. I have written to the chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate to ask that these matters are made clear to local plan inspectors.

  • Al Carns – 2025 Statement on the Defence Estate Security Review

    Al Carns – 2025 Statement on the Defence Estate Security Review

    The statement made by Al Carns, the Minister for the Armed Forces, in the House of Commons on 27 November 2025.

    Further to the Minister for the Armed Forces’ statement of 8 September (HCWS913), I am providing a further update on the measures we continue to take to enhance and improve security across the defence estate.

    As we set out previously, after many years of under-investment and hollowing out under the previous Administration, we have identified the physical security of our sites as an area in need of greater focus. The Department is using in-year funding to deliver physical security enhancements, focusing on high priority sites across the defence estate. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of security to safeguard our national defence capabilities.

    Since we last updated the House, we have maintained our posture of enhanced vigilance and continue to strengthen our security culture. Our updated guidance and reinforcing messaging applies to all those working on our estate, including our contractors. We have made it easier for defence personnel and industry partners to report suspected security incidents.

    In respect of our airbases, the Royal Air Force has made significant progress in strengthening security through advanced technical enhancements, now operational at multiple main operating bases. These enhancements provide a robust layer of protection at our most critical sites. A key innovation is the use of cutting-edge technology through the immediate threat mitigation solution—a self-contained CCTV system designed to detect, track and deter unauthorised access.

    This technical innovation strengthens physical security measures. At RAF Brize Norton, for instance, the upgraded automated track-and-detect system monitors specific areas and feeds into a central control room which is monitored 24/7, enabling faster decision making and improving the Military Provost Guard Service’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to incidents. In addition, engagement with local landowners and Thames Valley police is strengthening suspicious activity reporting.

    Together, these steps ensure technology and our workforce operate in tandem as part of a layered security approach, with lessons learned being rolled out across the defence estate.

    We will also be piloting restricted airspace above 40 strategic sites across the defence estate, a precursor to wider implementation in 2026, reinforcing existing national security act legislation. This will aid the enforcement of the National Security Act prohibited place legislation and assist with identifying malicious and unlawful activity. We are significantly investing in remote piloted aerial systems, a drone capability that provides persistent surveillance and patrolling to help deter threats and identify them when they arise. This equipment has been procured and personnel are beginning training shortly.

    We have taken decisive steps to improve recruitment across MOD Police, MOD Guard Service, Military Provost Guard Service, and Security Services Group. Recent financial incentive campaigns for the Military Provost Guard Service have been a success and we will consider similar campaigns where appropriate. Other steps include more targeted approaches to advertising and improved candidate engagement.

    Looking further ahead, improvements through the implementation of the strategic defence review will address the chronic under-investment in the security of the defence estate this Government inherited and improve the assurance of security and resilience risk management that this Government inherited. The £20 million for digital transformation of our security, which the Minister for the Armed Forces announced in her statement to the House on 8 September, is being invested in three flagship systems to modernise defence security. These include MOD adoption of the critical national infrastructure knowledge base, a new enterprise incident case management system, and a real-time physical security assurance platform.

    Ensuring the safety and security of the defence estate continues to be a key priority. We are focused on improving physical security, taking advantage of technological advancements and reinforcing our workforce to ensure that we deliver. And all those who seek to threaten the security of our bases should be in no doubt that we will use all the levers at our disposal to take swift action wherever and whenever that occurs. The Department will not hesitate to pursue prosecution where criminality is suspected.

  • Chris Elmore – 2025 Statement on Abductions in Nigeria

    Chris Elmore – 2025 Statement on Abductions in Nigeria

    The statement made by Chris Elmore, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs, in the House of Commons on 27 November 2025.

    My noble Friend the Minister of State for International Development and Africa (the right hon. Baroness Chapman of Darlington) has today made the following statement:

    I am writing to update the House on recent abductions in Nigeria, and the UK’s ongoing security partnership with Nigeria.

    In the last week, Nigeria has faced a further series of abhorrent abductions from schools and churches, including the attack on St Mary’s catholic school in Niger state, which is one of the largest recorded mass abductions in the country’s history. These crimes are intolerable. Everyone should be safe to exercise their fundamental human rights to education and freedom of worship. The UK stands firmly with the people and Government of Nigeria during this difficult time, and of course with the families of those children who have been abducted.

    As a valued Commonwealth friend, we are working closely with our Nigerian partners as they respond to these incidents, and welcome the efforts to date to secure releases of schoolgirls in Kebbi state and worshippers in Kwara state. One year on from the signing of the UK-Nigeria strategic partnership in November 2024, which includes our security and defence partnership as a key pillar, our co-operation continues to strengthen security and prosperity. This includes assisting the Nigerian Government to establish a dedicated unit, the multi-agency kidnap fusion cell, which brings together Nigeria’s police, military and justice agencies to rescue victims and bring perpetrators to justice.

    The safety of school children is paramount. UK education funding has supported school safety improvements including through the “Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria Education” programme. In March 2025, with UK support, a safe school rapid response co-ordination centre was launched in Jigawa state, providing training and deployment of security personnel to public schools.

    Abductions and kidnap for ransom remain a prevalent issue across Nigeria. Across the country, insecurity continues to devastate communities and severely impact ordinary people, driving displacement, heightening protection risks and eroding livelihoods. In the north-east, terrorist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa have indiscriminately killed individuals not just from Christian but also from Muslim communities. In the north-west and north-central, criminal bandits are primarily targeting communities for profit and ransom.

    This Government are committed to strengthening our security and defence partnership with Nigeria to address the roots of insecurity. In my meeting with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, on 11 November, we discussed the security situation in Nigeria and issues relating to freedom of religion or belief, and the Foreign Secretary also discussed with him on 10 November the ongoing importance of UK-Nigeria security co-operation.

    Through our security and defence partnership, we are helping to build capacity within Nigeria’s security agencies to effectively undertake counter-terrorism operations, investigations and intelligence analysis to prevent future attacks. Our “Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria” programme is working with Nigerian partners to address the root causes of intercommunal conflict, support collaboration and productive livelihoods for farmers and pastoralists and strengthen conflict early warning and response systems.

    Through our strategic partnership, this Government remain committed to working with the Government of Nigeria to tackle insecurity in all its forms.

    We will continue to express our solidarity with the people of Nigeria, to express our condemnation of these abhorrent abductions, and to stand up for freedom of religion or belief both in Nigeria, and throughout the world. We join the Government of Nigeria in calling for the safe return of all those who have been kidnapped, and call for all perpetrators to be brought to justice.

  • BSC Young Boys Football Club – 2025 Statement on Riots at Aston Villa

    BSC Young Boys Football Club – 2025 Statement on Riots at Aston Villa

    A statement made by BSC Young Boys Football Club on 28 November 2025 (translated from German) following riots involving their supporters.

    The Aston Villa vs YB match on Thursday evening was overshadowed by incidents in the away sector. A heated atmosphere was already noticeable early on during Villa corners in this area, which escalated following relatively provocative goal celebrations. The fact that beer cups, coins, and even a seat were thrown at players is inexcusable.

    ​Consequently, the referee sent YB captain Loris Benito over to the stand to calm the situation. At that moment, some YB fans attempted to move towards him to talk. However, the police officers, standing with their backs to the pitch, did not notice Loris Benito and assumed the fans were intending to storm the pitch, at which point the situation spiralled completely out of control. Clashes ensued. In the course of these altercations, two people were taken into police custody.

    ​BSC Young Boys condemns in the strongest possible terms the throwing of objects at players and formally distances itself from violence. We also apologise for the behaviour of the individuals responsible.

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2025 Daily Update (27 November 2025)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2025 Daily Update (27 November 2025)

    The statement made by Vladimir Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 27 November 2025.

    I wish you health!

    Briefly about today. We are using this day, just as every day now, for consultations with partners. Every single day, we exchange information – all the data needed to determine the optimal steps. The Russian war continues, and we all hear that Russia scorns the efforts of key global powers to truly end the war – with a lasting peace. But whether there will be peace does not depend on Russia’s threats or on whatever ultimatums it voices. It depends on the conditions the world ensures so that this aggression cannot be continued, and on what we ourselves do to defend our state, our people, and our Ukrainian national rights. 

    Right now, our defense of positions, our resistance on the frontline, and our joint work with partners to secure better diplomatic standing are equally important. And everything is aligned toward this work. 

    Already this week – at the end of the week – our team, together with American representatives, will continue to translate the points we secured in Geneva into a form that puts us on the path to peace and security guarantees. There will be a meeting of delegations. The Ukrainian delegation will be well-prepared and focused on substantive work. We remain in close contact with the American side and our European friends. I am also briefing our partners in other parts of the world, and I am grateful to them for their support of our sovereignty and our state. In the meantime, we are doing everything possible to ensure that Ukraine has sufficient defense support.

    It is obvious to everyone in the world that Russia not only has the largest internationally recognized territory, but also the largest territory that is undeveloped and neglected. All of Russia exists for the sake of Moscow and St. Petersburg, and if everything else were to collapse, no one there would even notice. So when they want more kilometers of Ukrainian land, it is not about territory for them at all. It is about preserving their power forever – about subjugating a neighboring nation. And we have clearly seen that nothing can be expected from Russia except destruction. And we are not the only ones who have seen it – everyone in Europe has, and every one of Russia’s neighbors, from Finland to Kazakhstan and Japan. Accordingly, everyone understands what must be done for defense, and it is the Ukrainian defense of positions that is the key task for us and for all our partners. The stronger we are in our defense on the frontline, the more we can achieve in diplomacy, and the more actively the world will help us press Russia to end its war.

    Today, an important meeting of the sanctions coordinators of European states took place. And if Putin does not want to stop, the sanctions will not stop. The priorities are clear – to hit Russian oil, Russia’s technological base, its finances, and its assets that serve the Russian war machine. The world will help us.

    I thank everyone who is pressuring the aggressor now, and everyone who is defending Ukraine from pressure. We value this deeply, and we see every such effort. Next week, there will be important negotiations not only for our delegation, but also for me personally, and we are laying solid groundwork for those talks. Ukraine will stand firm. It always will. Thank you to everyone who helps us! Thank you to everyone who defends Ukraine as if defending themselves.

    Glory to Ukraine!

  • Jess Brown-Fuller – 2025 Comments on Limiting Right to Jury Trials

    Jess Brown-Fuller – 2025 Comments on Limiting Right to Jury Trials

    The comments made by Jess Brown-Fuller, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Justice, in the House of Commons on 27 November 2025.

    The leaked memo from the Ministry of Justice, which reveals plans to rip up our criminal justice system, is particularly surprising, given that the Deputy Prime Minister himself has stated that “Jury trials are fundamental”. In a report that he wrote, he called jury trials

    “a success story of our justice system”.

    Juries are not the cause of the court backlog; that was complacency from the former Government and a failure to grip the issue by this Government, totally failing the victims who are currently waiting. Will the Minister clarify whether this MOJ proposal is a suggested temporary emergency measure or a permanent erosion of our criminal justice system? Does she share my concern that the Office for Budget Responsibility is showing a real-terms cut of 3% a year to the MOJ’s capital budget after the Budget yesterday? Does she agree with the Deputy Prime Minister’s diagnosis from opposition that the Government should

    “pull their finger out and acquire empty public buildings across the country”

    in order to clear the backlog?

    Sarah Sackman

    As the hon. Member heard me say a moment ago, the constitutional right that we guarantee every citizen in this country who comes before our criminal courts is the right to a fair trial. When victims are waiting for years for their day in court, right now justice is not being served. When the Secretary of State made those comments, it was obviously in a very different context, not one where the Conservatives had allowed the backlogs to run out of control. As I said clearly earlier, the right to a jury trial and the jury trial will always be a cornerstone of the British justice system. That will not change. It does not change in Sir Brian’s report, in which he recommends the restriction of jury trials in certain cases, and it will not change in the plans that the Government are bringing out. She is right that we need a combination of structural reform and investment and, indeed, we are making that investment. We have increased capital investment in court maintenance and buildings to £148.5 million. We are opening new criminal courts, for example in central London, in Blackpool and in other parts of the country. We have to build system capacity, with more judges, more lawyers and more staff to man those cases, but ultimately we must be laser-focused on the need to deliver swifter justice for victims. In order to do that, we will, in due course, in response to Sir Brian Leveson’s recommendations, bring forward very careful plans that protect people’s rights, including that right to a fair trial.