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Luke Pollard – 2025 Statement on Ukraine

The statement made by Luke Pollard, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, on 18 December 2025.

With permission, I will update the House on Ukraine.

As we prepare for Christmas, the people of Ukraine are fighting. It is their 1,394th day of resistance since Putin’s full-scale invasion, and their fourth Christmas of the war. I would like to update the House on the work that we are doing to bring a just and lasting peace to Ukraine by ensuring that it is in the best possible position on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. A small number of members of our armed forces are at the heart of that work, whether they are delivering military training in the UK, transporting kit to Ukraine, or helping to develop innovative new warfighting capabilities. Last week, our armed forces and our country lost one of our brightest and best, Lance Corporal George Hooley. He was a model soldier who was tragically killed in Ukraine observing trials of a new defensive drone system, well away from the frontline. I know that the whole House will have been moved by the final letter he wrote to his family, which they released yesterday to coincide with his repatriation, and that the whole House will join me in sending our heartfelt thoughts and condolences to all his family, friends and colleagues.

This Government and this House will stand with our Ukrainian friends for as long as it takes. Twelve months ago, I set out five areas in which this Government would increase that support, and with the backing of Members across this House and the commitment of countless defence personnel, partners in industry and allied nations, we have delivered on all five. First, we have strengthened Ukraine’s military capabilities, with a record £4.5 billion military support package this year. That support package includes supplies of tens of thousands of rounds of advanced missiles and ammunition; 85,000 drones, up from the 10,000 gifted last year; and the new Gravehawk air defence system, co-developed with our Danish partners. Secondly, we have now trained more than 62,000 Ukrainians in the UK, alongside our Operation Interflex allies, and we have extended that programme until at least the end of 2026.

Thirdly, to boost Ukraine’s indigenous defence industrial base so that its destiny is increasingly in its own hands, I have led further trade missions to Kyiv. We have also signed new Government-to-Government co-operation agreements that have enhanced the sharing of battlefield technologies, and, in March, we facilitated the £1.6 billion deal for 5,000 lightweight air defence missiles. That supports 700 jobs at Thales in Belfast. This demonstrates how growing defence spending across the globe can act as an engine for growth across all our nations and regions in the UK.

Fourthly, the UK has ramped up our international leadership, with the Defence Secretary stepping up in the spring to co-chair, alongside Germany, the Ukraine Defence Contact Group of over 50 nations. Since then, our UDCG partners have pledged over £50 billion of military support for Ukraine, and at Tuesday’s UDCG meeting, we confirmed the UK’s biggest single-year investment in air defence for Ukraine. I am pleased to confirm to the House that the UK is providing £600 million-worth of air defence systems, missiles and automated turrets to shoot down Russian drones and defend Ukrainian civilians. This includes Raven systems to protect frontline units, Gravehawk systems that reinforce Ukraine’s ability to protect key infrastructure from Russia’s deep-strike barrages, and counter-drone turrets designed specifically to defeat Shahed-style attack drones at scale and at lower cost.

Fifthly and finally, alongside our allies we have significantly ramped up sanctions and economic pressure on the Russian economy. We have sanctioned Russia’s largest oil majors; lowered the crude oil price cap alongside EU partners, contributing to a 35% fall in Russia’s oil revenues year on year; introduced a maritime services ban on Russian liquefied natural gas, which will be phased in over the next year; and announced our intention to ban the import of oil products of Russian origin that have been refined in third countries.

Just this morning, we announced a further 24 sanction designations across the Russian oil, military and financial sectors to further ramp up economic pressure on Putin. As the Prime Minister said to the coalition of the willing last month, the UK is ready to move with the EU to provide financial support for Ukraine based on the value of immobilised Russian assets. We are working with EU and G7 partners to advance this aim, and I hope for further positive discussions on it today.

We have tightened sanctions, strengthened alliances, boosted industrial co-operation, delivered military training, and provided the biggest annual package of UK military support for Ukraine to date. Yesterday, we went further, with the Chancellor and the Foreign Secretary calling time on Roman Abramovich’s inaction. The Government have issued a licence that enables the transfer of more than £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea football club to benefit the victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We urge Abramovich to honour the commitments he made over three years ago or face court action.

Twelve months ago, I pledged that this Government would provide iron-clad support for Ukraine. That is what we have delivered, and it is what we will continue to deliver for as long as Putin continues his barbaric assault on the Ukrainian people. I know that that support will continue to enjoy cross-party support in this House.

What was not on the table last December was peace talks. On Monday, the Prime Minister was in Berlin with European leaders to advance President Trump’s peace initiative. The leaders welcomed the significant progress that has been made, and reiterated their commitment to work together to provide robust security guarantees and support economic recovery as part of any peace agreement. We have worked determinedly with our French counterparts to establish a coalition of the willing, which now consists of 36 countries, and a Multinational Force Ukraine, which is an essential pillar of the credible security guarantees required to deter Putin from coming back for more territory in the future.

It has been the position of this Government from the outset that Ukraine’s voice must be at the heart of any peace talks. That is what we have worked to achieve—not just because that is what our values and our international norms and laws dictate, but because practically, Ukraine is too militarily powerful and too determined to defend its sovereignty for peace to be built over the country’s head.

While a pattern has emerged of Russia claiming battlefield successes at opportune political moments, its claims have been exposed as disinformation time and time again. Russia has suffered over 1 million casualties to gain around 1% of Ukrainian territory since the stabilisation of the frontline in 2022. In more than a year of fighting for the comparatively small city of Pokrovsk, Russia has advanced only 15 km—equivalent to 40 metres a day—and although Putin claimed to have finally taken that city ahead of the recent visit of the American negotiating team, it is our defence intelligence’s assessment that pockets of Ukrainian resistance continue to operate there. Right across the frontline, it is Ukraine’s continued strength on the battlefield that gives it strength at the negotiating table, so we will continue to work with our allies to boost that strength and secure the credible security guarantees needed to underpin a just and lasting peace.

As we approach the fifth year of fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion, this Government are in no doubt that the frontline of UK and European security continues to run through Ukraine. Twelve months ago, there was no clear route to ending the war; today, the US-initiated peace process represents the brightest path towards securing a just and lasting peace that we have seen since the start of the full-scale invasion. To support those diplomatic efforts, we are accelerating joint work with the US on security guarantees. The Defence Secretary directed military chiefs this week to review and update the Multinational Force Ukraine military plans, so that we are ready to deploy when peace comes. That includes revising and raising readiness levels as we continue to work with allies to maximise pressure on Putin’s war machine, to strengthen Ukraine’s hand on the battlefield and to grow its defence industrial base.

Russia’s economy is getting weaker: military spending is around 40% of the budget. Its VAT is rising and its social spending is falling. We will continue to work with our allies to tighten the screw on the Russian economy, to provide more support for Ukraine and to lay the foundations for the just and lasting peace that the Ukrainian people so deserve and want. With increasing grey-zone attacks across Europe, Ukraine’s security remains our security. I commend that approach, and this statement, to the House.

December 31, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New ambulances deployed to boost NHS winter response [December 2025]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 31 December 2025.

More than 500 new ambulances will be deployed in England to cut response times for patients in every region.
- Every region of England has received new emergency vehicles, in biggest upgrade of ambulance fleet in recent years
- Backed by £75 million, new vehicles already helping to cut response times for patients
- Many ambulances converted in UK, boosting economic growth and supporting British jobs
Patients and staff across the country are benefiting from a new fleet of over 500 ambulances, as the government strengthens frontline emergency services this winter amid a flu epidemic.

The vehicles – which will replace old ambulances across England – represent one of the biggest upgrades to the NHS fleet in recent years and have been rolled out to every region of England, helping emergency services respond faster and more reliably through winter.

The new double crew ambulances are equipped with modern safety technology, improving protection for patients and staff while supporting paramedics to deliver urgent care more effectively.

The rollout is already making a difference. The new ambulances have reduced breakdown rates and time spent out of service, meaning more vehicles have remained on the road and available to respond to emergencies.

The government investment has also supported skilled jobs, with ambulances converted by businesses across the country – including Goole and Bradford in Yorkshire, Sandbach in Cheshire, Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, and London – helping attract investment and drive economic growth.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting said:

In an emergency, every minute matters. When someone dials 999, they should get help fast – not be left waiting because of creaking kit or preventable delays.

These new ambulances are already helping to cut response times and keep more vehicles on the road, just as the NHS is facing a tidal wave of flu and the ongoing disruption of strikes.

I want to thank NHS staff for their extraordinary dedication this winter. They are going above and beyond for patients, often in incredibly tough conditions, and this government is backing them with the modern equipment they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.

Modernising our ambulance fleet means better care for patients and stronger emergency services – while backing British jobs and driving economic growth.

NHS national director for urgent and emergency care, Sarah Jane Marsh said:

Modern, well-equipped and reliable ambulances are a vital part of emergency care and allow staff to respond quickly and safely when patients need them most.

This new fleet of ambulances are a crucial link between providing patient care whether at home, in transit or at an emergency department and are a real boost at a time when staff are working incredibly hard and emergency care is under considerable pressure.

Through the Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, the government is going further to boost resilience by investing in 40 new same-day emergency care and urgent treatment centres and 15 mental health crisis assessment centres.

The government has committed a further £412 million over the next four years to continue renewing the ambulance fleet and modernising emergency services.

The announcement comes as the NHS manages significant winter pressures, including an early flu peak and the effects of recent industrial action.

Despite this, ambulance response times have improved compared to last year, hundreds of thousands more vaccines have been delivered, and more care has been delivered in the community to help keep patients away from overcrowded A&E departments.

Rory Deighton, Acute and Community Director, NHS Confederation, said:

Health leaders will welcome these new ambulances to the country’s fleet which will help the NHS to continue to provide better, faster and more appropriate emergency care, an area which is facing high demand and rising public concern over performance.

NHS leaders and their teams are working incredibly hard to keep patients safe, but rising flu levels, increased staff sickness and industrial action is having an impact, so making sure the NHS does not continue to fall into crisis each winter is essential for improving public confidence in the health service.

Strong collaboration between all health partners in the system and with local government, including improvements to emergency care through the Urgent and Emergency Care Plan will be key to sustained progress over the next year.

Jason Killens KAM, Chair of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives and Chief Executive of London Ambulance Service said:

These new vehicles are a key part of the ongoing modernisation of ambulance fleets across the country, ensuring we can meet the needs of patients not only during what is already a very challenging winter, but for many years to come.

The new ambulances include a range of design improvements that enhance patient care and staff safety. They are lighter, more fuel‑efficient and produce fewer emissions, while supporting paramedics to deliver urgent care more effectively. Their improved reliability also means fewer breakdowns and less time out of service, keeping more vehicles on the road and ready to respond to patients.
December 31, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Government pledges to reverse decline in foster carer numbers [December 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 30 December 2025.

New action in early 2026 to address urgent need for more foster carers and support retention of existing carers.

Vulnerable children in the care system in England will be provided with more stable and loving homes, thanks to government plans to radically accelerate foster carer recruitment.

The government has committed to tackling the growing shortage of foster carers across England, confirming that a comprehensive package of reforms will be introduced in the new year to increase the number of foster places available and support the retention of existing carers.

The latest figures published by Ofsted highlight the scale of the challenge inherited by this government. At the end of March 2025, there were 33,435 fostering households – a 10% decline since 2021.

Foster carer recruitment is a key area of government reform, with the package of measures addressing the urgent need for more places for children in the social care system.

A lack of foster homes pushes children into residential care, where they have worse expected outcomes in education, health and long-term prospects, and where they can become more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, as highlighted in the Casey Audit.

Over the Christmas period, foster carers are sharing their experiences of welcoming children into their homes. Their stories demonstrate the lasting impact of stable, supportive care, which the government is further strengthening through the landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister, said:

Fostering changes lives – not just for children who need safety, stability and love, but for the families who open their homes to them.

We know the number of foster carers has been falling, and that is why this government will be taking decisive action to give stable and loving homes to children that need them.

The festive season highlights the urgent need to get more children in care into loving, supportive homes where they can thrive – I’d urge anyone who has considered fostering to look into signing up.

The fostering reforms to be introduced early in the new year will be backed by new funding for children’s social care announced at the Spending Review and will focus on:
- Expanding who can become foster carers, removing unnecessary barriers and enabling more people with full-time jobs or families of their own to offer foster care, and removing unnecessary barriers
- Better supporting carers to fit fostering around busy family and working lives
- Developing innovative models of fostering, informed by insights from foster carers and frontline practitioners.
These reforms will expand the pool of potential foster carers, enabling more children to find places in foster homes. They will also ensure existing foster carers receive better support to help them continue delivering for children.

Further details will be set out in the new year, with a consultation expected to launch in early 2026.

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said:

Children in care deserve the same things as every other child: loving relationships, a safe home and support throughout their life that sets them up to meet their ambitions – and these are the things they tell me they want.

Too often they are denied these things because of a shortage of safe, caring homes. No child should be considered too complex for foster care, but instead of living with a foster carer who can provide high-quality care and therapeutic support, many of our most vulnerable children are placed in unregistered accommodation with no scrutiny over standards, or left to fend for themselves in semi-independent housing, miles from the homes and people they know.

I look forward to working closely with Minister MacAlister to set ambitious targets for increasing the number of foster carers in this country, so that every child feels the benefit of a homely, family environment.

This festive season, the government is urging people who are able to foster to consider doing so.

Foster carers are sharing their experiences of welcoming children into their homes, demonstrating that fostering can be rewarding and that carers do not need to fit a traditional mould to provide excellent care.

Around Christmas, routines change and feelings of loneliness and uncertainty can be heightened for children in care. This highlights the ongoing need for stable, supportive placements with carers who can access support including a weekly fostering allowance, training and advice networks.

Amy Burns, founder of Messy Fostering, was fostered at 14 and spent summers with her teacher Jo, who stepped in to support. Her experience illustrates how fostering can succeed outside conventional family structures.

Amy Burns said:

The simple truth is that fostering saved my life… That’s it. At 14, I had already been let down by so many adults.

I suddenly found myself surrounded by adults who not only taught me how to advocate for myself, but were there to catch me when things weren’t going quite right.

Fostering isn’t simple or easy but I was finally safe and I slowly learned how to breathe again.

The government will continue to work closely with local authorities, fostering agencies and carers to ensure that the 2026 reforms deliver a sustainable, high-quality fostering system that meets the needs of children now and in the future.
December 31, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Fourth edition of the annual dialogue between the Department for Business and Trade and the Direction générale des Entreprises [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 30 December 2025.

On 11 December 2025, the UK hosted the fourth edition of the annual dialogue between the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the French Direction générale des Entreprises (DGE).

Initiated in 2023, this bilateral dialogue brings together public sector leaders and policy experts to identify opportunities to deepen mutually beneficial collaboration. The fourth edition was led by Amanda Brooks CBE, Director General at DBT, and Thomas Courbe, Director General at DGE, alongside representatives from the British Embassy in Paris and the French Embassy in London.

This year a key theme was the Industrial Strategy Partnership, agreed between the UK and France in July 2025. This Partnership strengthens collaboration in the Industrial Strategy high-growth sectors such as clean energy, critical minerals, and digital technologies including AI. The dialogue saw both parties commit to intensify collaboration and the sharing of practices in SME AI adoption and in economic security.

December 31, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Knife robberies fall and County Lines gangs dismantled [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 30 December 2025.

Knife crime is falling and communities are safer thanks to a year of decisive action by the Home Office and the police.

New statistics show that in the worst affected areas, knife-point robberies are down 15% since June last year, following targeted action from the government. This compares to a 14% rise in 2024. In real-life terms this means almost 2,500 fewer people experienced the fear of being robbed under the threat of a knife.

At the same time, a government programme set up to take down County Lines – drug smuggling networks that cross regions and often involve the exploitation of children – has led to more than 8,000 arrests, more than 3,000 lines closed and more than 900 knives taken off the streets.

This also saw more than 4,000 exploited children and vulnerable people given support to turn them away from criminally exploitative County Lines gangs and over 600 young people supported by specialist services. There was a 25% drop in hospital admissions for knife stabbings in the areas where large quantities of Class A drugs originate.

Policing Minister Sarah Jones said:

Every line closed, every knife surrendered, every child safeguarded means lives saved and communities safer, and these results prove that our relentless focus on prevention and enforcement is working.

We have turned rising knife crime into falling knife crime, and we will not stop until serious violence is driven out of our communities and every young person has the chance of a safer future.

This government is driving an ambitious mission to cut knife crime by half within the next decade, taking decisive action and working hand-in-hand with police forces and local partners to deliver targeted interventions exactly where they are needed most.

In October last year, ministers launched a new group to clamp down on knife robberies, bringing together police forces in seven areas including Birmingham, Manchester and London, to share intelligence, ramp up enforcement, and drive down crime.

The County Lines Programme takes a similar targeted approach to dismantle drug gangs that exploit vulnerable people, while cutting violence and protecting communities. Together, these efforts are demonstrating continued success in making our streets safer by stopping knife crime and shutting down dangerous networks.

Kate Wareham, Strategic Director – Young People, Families and Communities, Catch22 said:

With thousands of children at risk of exploitation, we are really encouraged to see the progress being made by the Home Office in tackling county lines. Its County Lines Programme is having a significant impact in stopping criminal gangs, safeguarding exploited vulnerable people, and keeping communities safe.

Catch22 are proud that our national County Lines Support and Rescue Service continues to play a key part of this important work by providing immediate rescue and ongoing support to young victims and through working in partnership with the police.

The statistics out today round off a year of consistent progress and hard-won success.

The government’s knife surrender schemes – amnesties that let people hand in knives and banned weapons safely at police stations, surrender bins, or mobile vans – have taken almost 60,000 knives off the streets, removing deadly weapons from circulation.

Over 50 Young Futures Panel pilots have gone live across England and Wales, bringing together police, social care, education, and youth services to spot children at risk of crime early and connect them to tailored support.

Stronger age checks for the online sale and delivery of knives have been brought forward in the Crime and Policing Bill as part of Ronan’s Law. The same bill introduced legislation including a new child criminal exploitation offence and prevention orders which will disrupt and prevent this exploitation from occurring or re-occurring. 

In November, Hex mapping – a new tool for police and community partners to utilise data and intelligence to drive down knife crime in hyperlocal areas – was introduced across 11 local authorities. This allows police and partners to deliver tailored and responsive interventions and tackle knife crime head on.

Earlier this month the government launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce licensing for knife sellers and importers. Tougher restrictions on dangerous blades and stronger enforcement powers are also currently going through Parliament.

Pooja Kanda, knife crime campaigner, mother of Ronan Kanda and member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, said:

Ronan’s Law is deeply important to me, closing critical gaps that allowed weapons to be obtained too easily, particularly online. Stronger age verification, tighter delivery checks, clearer responsibilities for retailers and platforms, and improved reporting of illegal online activity are practical measures that make a real difference. Alongside this, the national surrender scheme in July 2025 played a vital role in removing over 7,500 weapons from our streets.

While there is always more to do, I can’t thank the government enough for this work, and this progress shows what can be achieved when lived experience, campaigners, and government work together to tackle youth violence and strengthen protections for young people and communities, so no other family has to experience the loss that mine has.

Faron Paul, CEO of Fazamnesty and member of the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime said:

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together this year through the weapons surrender scheme. Working in close partnership with the Home Office, we’ve helped communities across the country take practical steps to reduce knife crime and make our streets safer.

This collaboration shows what’s possible when government and grassroots organisations work side by side, and I’m confident that building on this momentum will deliver even greater impact as we look ahead to 2026.

December 31, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Statement on China’s military drills [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 December 2025.

The FCDO has issued a statement in response to the latest Chinese military exercises around Taiwan.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

China’s military exercises around Taiwan this week increase cross-strait tensions and the risk of escalation.

A peaceful Taiwan Strait is critical to global prosperity and the UK economy. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo or any activity that risks destabilising it.

We continue to call for restraint and the avoidance of any further actions that risk undermining peace and stability.

December 31, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Joint  Statement on the Gaza Humanitarian Response [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 December 2025.

Joint statement on Gaza from the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Joint statement:

We, the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom express serious concerns about the renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza which remains catastrophic. As winter draws in, civilians in Gaza are facing appalling conditions with heavy rainfall and temperatures dropping. 1.3 million people still require urgent shelter support. More than half of health facilities are only partially functional and face shortages of essential medical equipment and supplies. The total collapse of sanitation infrastructure has left 740,000 people vulnerable to toxic flooding.

On 19 December, the IPC published their latest report which showed that while there has been some improvement since the dire reports of famine in August, the situation remains desperate. The majority of the population (1.6 million people) in the Gaza Strip face high levels of acute food insecurity. Whilst the amount of aid going into Gaza has increased since the ceasefire, the response remains severely constrained by persistent impediments on humanitarian access.

We welcome the important progress that has been made to end the bloodshed in Gaza, secure the release of the hostages and turn the page on two terrible years of conflict. We also call for the remains of the final deceased hostage to be handed over swiftly, and for Hamas to disarm and renounce violence in line with the New York Declaration and UNSCR 2803 endorsing the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict.

However, we will not lose focus on the plight of civilians in Gaza. We are therefore calling on the Government of Israel to take the following urgent and essential steps:

Firstly, ensure that international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza in a sustained and predictable way. As 31 December approaches, many established international NGO partners are at risk of being deregistered because of the Government of Israel’s restrictive new requirements. Deregistration could result in the forced closure of INGO operations within 60 days in Gaza and the West Bank. This would have a severe impact on access to essential services including healthcare. One in 3 healthcare facilities in Gaza will close if INGOs operations are stopped. INGOs are integral to the humanitarian response and – working with the UN and Palestinian organisations – collectively deliver approximately $1 billion in aid across Palestine each year. Any attempt to stem their ability to operate is unacceptable. Without them, it will be impossible to meet all urgent needs at the scale required.

Secondly, ensure the UN and its partners can continue their vital work. This is essential to ensure the impartial, neutral, and independent delivery of aid throughout the whole of Gaza. This includes UNRWA, which provides essential services, such as healthcare and education, to millions of Palestinian refugees.

Thirdly, lift unreasonable restrictions on imports considered to have a dual use. This includes urgently needed medical and shelter equipment. The restrictions are holding up essential supplies in every sector and preventing the rehabilitation and repair of critical infrastructure.

Finally, open crossings and boost the flows of humanitarian aid into Gaza. We welcome the partial opening of the Allenby crossing, but other corridors for moving goods to Gaza remain closed or severely restricted for humanitarian aid. This includes Rafah, which was noted explicitly in the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. Bureaucratic customs processes and extensive screenings are causing delays, while commercial cargo is being allowed in more freely. The target of 4,200 trucks per week, including an allocation of 250 UN trucks per day, should be a floor not a ceiling. These targets should be lifted so we can be sure the vital supplies are getting in at the vast scale needed.

Together, these restrictions limit the capacity for aid to be delivered at the scale needed, in accordance with international humanitarian law, or for repairs to be made to support recovery and reconstruction efforts. We now urge the Government of Israel to remove these humanitarian access constraints, and to deliver and honour the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. This is necessary for an effective humanitarian response, successful recovery and reconstruction and lasting peace and stability.

December 31, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK celebrates community champions in HM The King’s New years Honours list [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 29 December 2025.

HM The King’s New Year Honours List 2026 recognises community champions who have made outstanding contributions to their communities across the UK.

Community champions up and down the country are being celebrated in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours List today.

1157 recipients have been awarded from every part of the UK, with a particular focus this year on those who have gone above and beyond for their communities.

From foster carers to health workers, Lionesses to Red Roses as well as champions of the arts and supporters of young people, this year’s recipients reflect the values that bind our country together – decency, compassion and a belief in the common good – as we build a Britain we can all be proud of.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.

Their quiet dedication speaks to the decent, compassionate country we are proud to be. On behalf of the whole nation, thank you – and congratulations to everyone recognised today.

Recipients being honoured today are Idris Elba, who is being awarded a Knighthood for services to young people, Christopher Dean and Jayne Christensen (Torvill) are being awarded a Knighthood and Damehood respectively for their services to Ice Skating and Voluntary Service, and Cynthia Erivo, who is receiving an MBE for services to Music and Drama.

Among the community champions being honoured are Hilary Alba, who has been awarded an MBE for her services to Community Midwifery, and Ffion Mitchell-Langford, who has been awarded a BEM for her services to the Natural Marine Environment and to the communities in North Wales.

The oldest recipient this year is John Hearn, who at 102 receives a BEM for services to Judo and to the community in North East England. John is one of four centenarians on the New Year list.

Aged 20, the youngest recipient this year is Toby Roberts, the first ever British Olympic Gold Medal winning sport climber at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He is being awarded with an MBE.

For the first time in a long time, there are two sets of twins in the list, Ryan Appleton and Dean Appleton from Colchester, who are both community first responders and are receiving BEMs for services to the community in the East of England. Alongside them, are twins Sonia Dixon and Adrienne Campbell who work together as VIP liaison officers at London Heathrow Airport and receive their BEMs for services to the Aviation Industry.

This list also sees a number of couples being recognised, and includes married couple Susan and David Cook are both receiving MBEs for services to Foster Care, having been foster carers since 2006 and cared for over 50 children in that time.

It is also very encouraging to see that this year the ethnic minority representation on the list at higher awards has doubled from 7% in BD25 to 14% at NY26.

Arts

The actor and comedian Meera Syal is being awarded a Damehood for services to Literature, Drama and Charity, while the composer Max Richter is being awarded a CBE for his services to Music. Warwick Davis is also being recognised for services to Drama and Charity with an OBE.

Sports

Following a great summer of women’s sport, there are honours for a number of the Lionesses and Red Roses. Sarina Weigman is being awarded an honorary damehood, while Leah Williamson is being awarded a CBE for her services to Association Football. Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone are all being awarded MBEs for services to Association Football. John Mitchell, Zoe Aldcroft and Marlie Packer are being awarded OBEs for their services to Rugby Union Football, with Ellie Kildunne, Megan Jones and Sadia Kabeya being among those being awarded MBEs for their services to Rugby Union Football.

Business

Michelle Ferguson, the director of the Confederation British Industry Scotland is being awarded an OBE for her services to the economy. Akin Onal, founder and Chief Executive Officer of MORI, has also been awarded an OBE for his services to entrepreneurship.

Entertainment

Gabrielle Logan is being awarded for her services to sports broadcasting and to charity. The author and television presenter Richard Osman is being awarded an OBE for his services to literature and broadcasting and Ellie Goulding receives an MBE for her work on Biodiversity and the Climate.

Anyone can nominate someone for an honour. If you know someone who has achieved fantastic things worthy of recognition, go to www.gov.uk/honours to find out more about how you can put them forward.

December 31, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Outstanding contributions to the UK recognised in His Majesty The King’s New Year 2026 Overseas and International Honours list [December 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 December 2025.

The New Year Overseas Honours list recognises the outstanding contribution of British nationals abroad or internationally.
- Sarina Wiegman, the Head Coach of the England Women’s football team, appointed an honorary Dame in recognition of her services to football
- Dame Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, is made a Dame Grand Cross for her contribution to British foreign policy, and incoming Ambassador to the USA Dr Christian Turner is awarded with a Knighthood for his service in advancing UK foreign policy
- Multiple awards recognise British nationals for remarkable voluntary and charitable work overseas
One hundred and twelve people have received awards for their exceptional service to the UK overseas and internationally in the Overseas and International New Year Honours List this year. They are recognised for a wide range of contributions across different sectors, with many recipients given awards for voluntary and charitable work.

The most senior official recognised in the list is Dame Barbara Woodward, who is appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) for her outstanding contributions to the UK through international diplomacy and public service, most recently as the UK’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and the first female British Ambassador to China.

Sarina Wiegman is recognised with an honorary Damehood (honorary awards to foreign nationals are the responsibility of the Foreign Secretary) for her outstanding contribution to Association football. As national coach, Ms Wiegman led the England Women’s football team, the ‘Lionesses’, in retaining their European Championship title this summer. Since becoming national coach, Ms Wiegman has inspired and overseen an unprecedented run of success for the Lionesses, reaching 3 major finals in a row and catalysing growth in women’s and girls’ football in the UK.

David Mabey, Professor of Communicable Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, is appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in recognition of his exceptional and sustained contribution to global health. Also receiving a KCMG is Professor Tony Redmond, the founder of UK-Med and Professor Emeritus of International Emergency Medicine at the University of Manchester, who is recognised for his extraordinary services in support of humanitarian medical assistance around the world over many years.

Further information about recipients receiving substantive knighthood level awards on the Overseas and International List can be found below and alongside the lists published on GOV.UK.

Sir Olly Robbins, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said:

Today His Majesty The King has recognised those who show the UK at its very best internationally. Individuals that go above and beyond to protect UK nationals and interests around the world.

On behalf of the Foreign Secretary and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office I would like to congratulate and thank these outstanding individuals for their dedication and service.

Honorary awards are not listed in the New Year and Birthday honours lists. They are announced on GOV.UK as and when formal approval is given for them: Honorary awards to foreign nationals in 2025.

The Overseas and International New Year Honours list also recognises a wide range of contributions at all levels, including awards to British nationals for exceptional voluntary and charitable service that has enhanced the UK’s reputation overseas.

These include:

Dr Comfort Ero

President and Chief Executive Officer, International Crisis Group, receives a CMG [Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George] for services to Crisis Response and Conflict Prevention.

Comfort Ero, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Crisis Group, is recognised with a CMG for her outstanding contribution to crisis response and conflict prevention. Over several decades, she has shaped how the international community understands and addresses conflict, providing rigorous analysis and policy recommendations that have enhanced security and stability in some of the world’s most volatile regions. Under her leadership since 2021, the International Crisis Group has strengthened its global reputation for independent, field‑based insight, delivering advice that has had significant impact on the ground and earned strong recognition from partners and policymakers worldwide.

As President, she has steered Crisis Group’s influential work on preventing escalation, protecting civilians, and supporting diplomatic solutions. Her leadership has improved conditions for vulnerable communities. Having lived and worked in multiple conflict‑affected states, and previously serving as Crisis Group’s Africa Director and as a senior adviser to the UN, Comfort Ero has demonstrated exceptional dedication, expertise and personal courage throughout her career.

On learning of her award, Comfort Ero said:

I’m deeply grateful to receive the CMG. In an era increasingly afflicted by war and humanitarian crises, this award is testimony to the dedication of my colleagues at the International Crisis Group and our work shaping policies to build a more peaceful world. It’s a privilege to lead an organisation that, in its 30th year, continues to serve as an invaluable global public good.

Patrick McCabe

Patrick McCabe, lately Programme Manager, Explosive Ordnance Device Operations, United Nations Mine Action Service Occupied Palestinian Territory (UNMAS OPT), Palestine, receives an OBE [Officer of the Order of the British Empire] for services to the safe disposal of Explosive Ordnance Devices in Gaza.

Patrick McCabe is recognised with an OBE for his exceptional bravery and technical expertise in explosive ordnance disposal in Gaza. Before October 2023, he personally rendered safe many deep‑buried bombs – high‑risk operations that significantly reduced danger to civilians – and supported other operations across Gaza and the West Bank. Since 2023, he has become a critical part of the humanitarian response, providing explosive hazard support to more than 50 aid convoys, including the World Health Organisation mission to evacuate infants from Al Shifa hospital. Operating under extreme conditions, he also administered lifesaving first aid during multiple casualty incidents. His dedication has had a significant impact on civilian safety and humanitarian access in one of the world’s most challenging environments.

On learning of his award, Patrick McCabe said:

Thank you for this most uplifting news. I would be extremely proud to be awarded the OBE by His Majesty King Charles in the New Years Honours. I am deeply honoured and humbled.

Michael Raine

Michael Raine, Programme Manager, APOPO Cambodia, receives an OBE [Officer of the Order of the British Empire] for services to Humanitarian Land Mine Clearance and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Overseas.

Michael “Mick” Raine receives an OBE for his exceptional contribution to humanitarian landmine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) over more than 4 decades. Beginning his career as a Royal Navy Clearance Diver before moving into humanitarian demining, he has led major clearance operations across Somaliland, Bosnia, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Vietnam and beyond, consistently combining technical expertise with strong leadership. His work with UNMAS in Cyprus, South Sudan and Somalia strengthened national EOD capacity and improved the safety of operations in active conflict zones. Since 2022, as Programme Manager for APOPO in Cambodia, Mick has overseen the clearance of hundreds of hectares of hazardous land and pioneered innovative methods in mine clearance employing animal scent detection systems. His service has had a lasting impact on communities worldwide by making land safe, usable, and productive again.

On learning of his award, Mick Raine said:

I am deeply honoured to receive this award. Mine action is always a collective effort, and this recognition belongs to the dedicated national staff, international colleagues, partners, and communities who work every day to save lives and build peace. I remain committed to ensuring that people can live, work, and move safely without fear of landmines.

Victoria Fletcher

Chair of the Board of Trustees, Women’s Centre Gulrukhsor, receives an MBE [Member of the Order of the British Empire] for services to Women in Tajikistan.

Victoria “Vicky” Fletcher has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to the Gulrukhsor Women’s Centre in Tajikistan, where she has played a transformative role in protecting and empowering survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). First volunteering in the country in 2011, she moved permanently to Khujand in 2017 and, since 2020, has dedicated herself full time to the Centre as a volunteer Programme Manager and lead fundraiser. At a moment when the organisation was on the brink of closure, Vicky created emergency fundraising efforts and subsequently secured long term international donor support, enabling the centre to spearhead ground-breaking work on preventing violence against women in conservative, rural communities.

Her work has strengthened relationships with local authorities and police, contributed to a more coordinated response to GBV in the Sughd region, and expanded the services available to women and children seeking safety and support. Through tireless commitment, including the establishment of a UK registered charity to safeguard the Centre’s future, Vicky has ensured that thousands of vulnerable women continue to have access to legal protection, counselling, shelter and hope.

On learning of her award, Victoria Fletcher said:

To be recognised for making a significant contribution is very powerful. It was something that was completely unexpected, that had never even crossed my mind. When I received the phone call it brought news that I could never have imagined. It’s something very special.

Catherine Mentink Duncan

Former Councillor of Tourism & Foreign Affairs, Calvia Town Hall, Mallorca, Spain, receives a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to British Nationals in Mallorca.

Catherine “Kate” Mentink Duncan has been recognised with a British Empire Medal in recognition of her exceptional, decades‑long service to British nationals living in Mallorca. Since moving to the island in 1979, she has worked tirelessly to help residents integrate and access reliable support, notably through her role as Councillor for Tourism and Foreign Affairs and head of the Foreigners Department at Calvia Town Hall – the municipality with the highest UK‑born population in the Balearic Islands. She championed practical measures such as free Spanish and Catalan language courses and created long‑standing community events that foster inclusion. As co‑founder of Ciudadanos Europeos, she advocated for the rights of non‑Spanish nationals, responding to thousands of enquiries each year. Following the EU Exit referendum, she played a particularly vital role by partnering closely with the British Consulate to ensure accurate information reached thousands of UK residents during a period of uncertainty, using her extensive networks to organise outreach events across the island. Her service continues today through her involvement with local charities and community groups, reflecting a lifelong dedication to supporting and strengthening the British community in Mallorca.

On learning of her award, Kate Mentink Duncan said:

Upon receiving confirmation of being awarded a British Empire Medal, I was totally surprised, excited and delighted to receive this honour, an award beyond my dreams. I am a true believer in teamwork, especially in all my community and charity work. Every one of these many volunteers over the years deserves my heartfelt thanks.
December 31, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Lives to be saved by boosting access to drug overdose medication [December 2025]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 29 December 2025.

Government launches consultation to help combat rising drug deaths from opioids, as part of record £3.4 billion in investment in drug and alcohol services.
- Naloxone to be made accessible at homeless shelters and to the public in emergencies
- Government launches consultation to help combat rising drug deaths from opioids
- Part of record £3.4 billion investment including in drug and alcohol treatment and education services
Hundreds of people at risk of overdosing on opioids could be saved by providing homeless shelters with access to naloxone.

The government has unveiled plans to expand access to the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses, with a 10-week UK-wide consultation launched today (29 December 2025).

The move is a central part of the government’s comprehensive approach to drug and alcohol misuse and treatment, supported by a record £3.4 billion over the next 3 years up to 2029.

Drug-related deaths have doubled since 2012, with a record 5,565 lives lost in England and Wales last year alone. Deaths involving nitazenes, a synthetic opioid, have increased substantially from 52 reported deaths in 2023 to 195 deaths in 2024.

Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth said:

Every drug death is a preventable tragedy. Naloxone is a safe, effective medication that can reverse an opioid overdose and give someone the chance to access treatment and rebuild their lives.

We want to remove the barriers which prevent naloxone reaching the people who need it most at that moment when their life is on the line.

That is why we are launching this consultation to change the regulations and make sure those coming in contact with opioids through their work – or members of the public faced with an emergency – can save a life.

The government is consulting on amending regulations to allow us to:
- expand supply of naloxone to hostels, day centres and outreach services for people experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness
- allow supplies to be delivered to emergency staff at organisations including the Border Force, National Crime Agency and laboratory testing facilities who may encounter dangerous synthetic opioids such as nitazenes as part of their work
- introduce a new way to access naloxone by installing publicly accessible emergency boxes, similar to those containing defibrillator cabinets, in high-risk locations such as high streets and near nightlife venues
Naloxone is a prescription-only medication. Legislation brought in by this government in December 2024 expanded the list of organisations and emergency service professionals able to supply take-home naloxone – including to police officers, paramedics and to probation workers.

This government wants to go further and save more lives by expanding access with the support of local authorities and homeless charities.

Following an overwhelmingly positive public consultation response, these changes contributed to the government’s ambition to prevent nearly 1,000 drug-related deaths in England by the end of 2025.

The new proposals aim to address some of the remaining barriers and reach more people.

Sean Palmer, Executive Director of Strategy and Transformation at St Mungo’s, said:

St Mungo’s has long campaigned for wider access to life-saving naloxone. We welcome this announcement as it provides wider access to a vital tool for supporting people experiencing homelessness who are also using opioids. Naloxone saves lives, it gives people the chance to recover and walk the path out of homelessness for good.

At a time when opioid use and the risks associated with it are rising, naloxone is widely used across our services; our outreach teams never go out without it, our colleagues are trained on how to respond to an opioid overdose and frequently save lives.

We know that substance use can become a coping mechanism for people who feel they have run out of options, especially for people with complex physical and mental trauma which is too often both a cause and consequence of homelessness.

We welcome the government’s acknowledgement, in its National Plan to End Homelessness, of the need for more integration between housing and health services, including substance use services to hasten recovery among people experiencing homelessness, and to prevent more unnecessary and tragic deaths.

Most local authorities will see cash increases in their funding, with targeted support for high-need areas and those supporting people sleeping rough.

This government has also set out its commitment to move from sickness to prevention which includes stopping people taking drugs in the first place.

In October 2025, the government launched a campaign to alert people to the risks of taking ketamine, counterfeit medicines, synthetic opioids and THC vapes following a significant increase in drug-related harms among young people.

The campaign targets 16 to 24 year olds and social media users. Additional resources are now available for schools, universities and local public health teams, ensuring young people have the facts they need to make informed decisions about their health and safety.

This second naloxone consultation is being conducted jointly with the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) and has the support of all 4 UK nations following agreement at the UK Drugs Ministerial Group that expanding naloxone access is a key priority.

Subject to consultation responses and Parliamentary approval, the government aims to introduce the new legislation in 2026. The changes would be made through amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

Background

Naloxone is a prescription-only medicine, but recent legislative changes have expanded the list of organisations and professionals able to supply take-home naloxone without a prescription (route 1) and enabled a registration service for other organisations (route 2).

Despite these changes, barriers remain due to lack of public awareness and stigma, as well as operational issues in setting up the registration service in England. The new proposals aim to address these challenges through further legislative changes.

Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of opioid overdose, allowing time for emergency medical help to arrive. It has no effect if opioids are not present and cannot be misused.

Opioid-related deaths make up the largest proportion of drug-related deaths across the UK, with an average of 40 deaths a week.

The consultation is being conducted jointly by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Health (Northern Ireland), with support from the Scottish and Welsh governments.

The Aberdeen naloxone emergency box pilot launched in 2024 and operates through partnership between Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian.

The proposals are part of a wider package of amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations, with separate consultations on other elements.

Subject to consultation responses and Parliamentary approval, the regulations would be laid before Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2026 using powers in the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021.

The £3.4 billion investment including in drug and alcohol treatment services also includes specialist services for children and young people.

For information and support on drug-related issues, visit www.talktofrank.com.
December 31, 2025