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PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Freedom of Expression [June 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 June 2026.

UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Freedom of Expression. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

Thank you, Mr Vice President,

We thank the Special Rapporteur for her important work and today’s report. We commend her dedication throughout her mandate during which she has been a principled and authoritative voice for the protection of freedom of expression worldwide. We express our deep appreciation for her leadership, independence, and consistent defence of journalists, human rights defenders, and open civic space.

We remain committed to the right to freedom of opinion and expression, online and offline including through our role as co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition. This right is foundational to democratic societies, accountability and the protection of all other human rights.

Digital platforms and large technology companies play an increasingly significant role in shaping public debate. Their decisions have profound implications for access to information, media pluralism, and the safety of users. We therefore support efforts to promote greater transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights in the design and governance of digital platforms.

We will continue to engage on this important matter, working with partners to ensure that digital technologies strengthen, rather than restrict, freedom of expression.

Special Rapporteur, what practical steps can states take to ensure technology companies respect freedom of expression while avoiding over-regulation or unintended restrictions on legitimate speech?

Thank you

18/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Culture Secretary marks Jewish Cultural Month with £1 million boost for The Jewish Museum London [June 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 17 June 2026.

The Government has announced up to £1 million is to be awarded to The Jewish Museum London, supporting its vital outreach and engagement programmes with schools and communities, and accelerating its search for a new permanent home.

The announcement was made by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy during a visit to the launch of ‘Two Rooms’ a new interim space for the Jewish Museum London, while it searches for its permanent home. The space is located at JW3 in North London. The visit marked the opening of two new exhibitions celebrating the richness of the museum’s collections and the long history of Jewish families in Britain.

The Jewish Museum London closed its Camden site in 2023 and has since continued its work as a “museum without walls”, delivering exhibitions, learning programmes and community engagement activities across the capital. The funding will support the museum’s ongoing audience development and outreach work, while also helping it develop its plans for a new permanent home in the future.

The news comes as the UK’s first Jewish Cultural Month comes to a close. It also follows the Prime Minister’s recent announcement of a comprehensive package of measures to tackle antisemitism. As part of this work, Arts Council England is engaging proactively with Jewish colleagues, creatives and the wider sector, to inform the actions they will take to challenge antisemitism and anti-Jewish racism. The government is also working with the Arts Council on an independent audit to ensure their processes are robust and effective in addressing complaints about antisemitism.

Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said:

Jewish culture, history and heritage are woven into the fabric of this country, and of our national story. The Jewish Museum London and the Manchester Jewish Museum do extraordinary work keeping these stories alive and opening them up to everyone, and they deserve our full support.

Today’s investment is about bringing communities together, helping us to understand one another and sending a clear message that in the face of hatred and division, we will always choose unity.

Nick Viner, Chair of Trustees of Jewish Museum London said:

I would like to thank the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy. The DCMS support will be invaluable in helping us over the next period as we become more outward facing, expanding our education outreach and increasing our collection loans across the country. It will also help us in our search for a new permanent home, enabling us to create a welcoming space where we can share our stories with the public and create new dialogues. We are very grateful for this strong expression of confidence in our future plans.

We value the fact that Government realises the importance of the Jewish Museum’s programme at this time of mounting antisemitism and shares our belief that the British Jewish community is an integral part of the story of immigration and cultural identity in Britain, not a world apart.

The Jewish Museum London plays a critical role in preserving and sharing Jewish history, heritage and culture with people from all backgrounds. Home to a nationally significant collection, it cares for objects and stories that help deepen understanding of Jewish life in Britain over centuries. This investment will help protect that collection for future generations, while enabling more people across the UK to engage with and benefit from it.

The funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be distributed through Arts Council England.

In addition, the government intends to provide Manchester Jewish Museum with a £100,000 investment to support the museum’s vital community work. This funding aims to ease the burden of increased security costs, helping to protect the vibrant events, exhibitions and community activities that make it such a vital part of the city’s cultural life.

The investment will also fund a new schools outreach pilot that brings children from different backgrounds together to explore Jewish heritage, history and culture. DCMS is developing this as a cultural extension to the Department for Education’s Protecting What Matters commitment to fund community-led school linking projects. The aim is to create safe, welcoming spaces where young people can meet, learn together and build connections that last.

Beyond this immediate support, the Government is working with communities and stakeholders to ensure that our Jewish cultural institutions have the long-term support they need to remain secure and sustainable. Jewish cultural institutions play an irreplaceable role in our shared national story, and we want to make sure they can continue to thrive by keeping them open, accessible and enriching for everyone.

18/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Specialist police units now deployed under new UK-France deal [June 2026]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 June 2026.

Two new French police units are now on the ground in Northern France, marking a significant step in joint UK-France efforts to stop dangerous illegal crossings.

Illegal migrants and people smugglers looking to land on UK shores will face enhanced enforcement action as 2 new specialist units are now active on the French beaches.

Announced under the landmark UK-France deal and deployed in time for the summer months, the Compagnie de Marche and a brand-new dedicated riot unit are now operational in Northern France to track down illegal migrants and prevent small boat crossings.

This enhanced cooperation delivers 125 specialist officers and reservists to disperse migrant groups, pursue criminal smugglers and prevent small boat launches.

Their deployment comes as international partners continue to target organised immigration crimes across Europe. This includes a recent operation in Germany that seized dozens of boats and engines that could have been used to transport more than 2,000 people to the UK illegally.

The raids were the result of an international investigation involving the UK’s National Crime Agency, the German Federal Police and led by the French National Police’s people smuggling unit – showing the success of our international cooperation in action.

It follows the Prime Minister’s work to reset international relations in order to broker deals that benefit working people in the UK, including returns deals with France, Iraq, a new treaty with Germany and tighter law enforcement co-operation across the Western Balkans.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Working in lockstep with our closest partners is the only way to make real progress in tackling the shared challenge of illegal migration.

These elite units are just one element of the landmark deal between our countries that is taking our collaboration to the next level.

Operations like this meant that almost half of all attempted crossings were halted by the French last month – so we’re boosting them further to continue to drive down crossings.

Backed by enhanced drone, helicopter, plane and camera surveillance systems, Compagnie de Marche officers will break up launch attempts, seize equipment and disrupt migrants before they reach the water.

The elite policing unit has public order powers that will directly address violence on French beaches and enable more dynamic patrols across the coastline.

This unit is made up of 75 officers which will be surged across the summer months when crossings are higher. Backed by intelligence and insight, they will be deployed on specific days and to areas where there are expected to be more crossing attempts.

The deal builds on action that delivers results, with specialist Compagnie de Marche crack squad linked to 20% of all small boat event preventions in 2025.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:

We are putting the pressure exactly where it needs to be – on French beaches, targeting the criminal gangs and stopping launches before they can happen.

The Compagnie de Marche has already played a significant role in preventing illegal crossings. With these officers surged across the summer months, alongside the deployment of a new specialist riot unit, we are going even further to restore order and control at our borders.

This action follows a surge in joint law enforcement operations in May which stopped almost half (40%) of all small boat crossing attempts from Northern France, building on the 44,000 small boat crossing attempts prevented since the election.

A permanent specialist French riot police unit, the Compagnie républicaine de sécurité (CRS), is preventing crossing attempts.

Made up of 50 police officers specially trained in the use of riot and crowd control tactics to maintain and restore public order, this team are better equipped to respond to hostile crowds and evolving smuggler tactics and stop illegal migrants in their tracks.

The deployment of both units forms just one part of the landmark deal signed by the Home Secretary and her French counterpart to tackle the small boat crisis.

Under the agreement, £500 million will be invested to strengthen enforcement action on beaches in Northern France, with a further £160 million available based on the effectiveness of new tactics to stop illegal migration.

The new deal will deliver a more than 40% boost to law enforcement officer numbers to crack down on small boat arrivals.

For the first time ever, the funding will be conditional and adjusted based on results. If the new tactics are not successful, it will stop after one year and be reallocated.

Just last week, UK investigators secured the first sentences for small boat pilots under the government’s Border Security Act. Mohammad Tajik, an Afghan national, and Alnour Mohamed Ali, a Sudanese national, were sentenced to 2 years and 2 years 3 months respectively at Canterbury Crown Court for endangering others during a sea crossing and entering the UK illegally.

Since the election, nearly 70,000 illegal migrants have been removed from the UK, and disruption action against people-smuggling gangs has increased by almost 50% in the last year.

18/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Local areas prepare new Experts at Hand teams [June 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 17 June 2026.

Local areas to begin increasing access to speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists from September 2026.

More children and young people with SEND will get specialist support without needing a diagnosis, as the government begins rolling out a new Experts at Hand service across England backed by new £1.8 billion investment.

Every local area will now begin expanding access to speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, specialist teachers and educational psychologists who will work directly alongside mainstream schools, early years settings and colleges, helping staff identify needs earlier and put support in place more quickly.

The new Experts at Hand teams will bring specialist expertise out of waiting lists and into the communities where children learn, ensuring families can access support closer to home rather than having to navigate a complex system before help becomes available.

The move marks the start of the government’s plans to transform support for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), ending a postcode lottery that has left too many families fighting for support and waiting months or years to receive it.

Today, the government is kickstarting that rollout by publishing guidance for local areas and appointing a national panel of experts to help shape the future system to ensure better support for children and young people with SEND in every classroom.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

I’ve heard from families who spent years fighting for support their child should simply have received. We are taking decisive action to tackle this issue.

From September, every local area will start to increase access to speech therapists, educational psychologists, occupational therapists and specialist teachers working directly in mainstream schools.

Our new expert panel will help set a new national standard for SEND support, shaped by the people who work with children every day. This is about rolling out the right help, in the right place, without having to fight for it.

Health Minister Preet Kaur Gill said:

Every child deserves the right support to learn and thrive – and they deserve that from day one.

The Experts at Hand service will bring expert health and education professionals into our schools, colleges and early years settings so they can work directly with children and the staff who know them best.

This is a fundamental shift in how we support children and young people with SEND, and I’m proud that our joint work across government is already beginning to improve things for families across England.

Jessie Roux, who appeared on The Traitors this year, said:

Early childhood is a key stage where confidence, communication and self-belief are formed, so early support really matters. I want children to feel seen, included and supported, because every child has different needs and it’s so important that we make reasonable adjustments to support them properly.

When I was growing up, there wasn’t much understanding or representation around stammering, and I do wish there had been more support like this in schools. I really believe it’s important that both children and parents feel supported, rather than isolated.

I recently visited a school with the Education Secretary – it was amazing to meet the children. They were so brave and inspiring. It was really lovely to see how much the teachers care.

The panel brings together leading figures from mainstream and specialist education, health, academia and parental engagement to oversee the development of National Inclusion Standards and Specialist Provision Packages.

Co-chaired by Tom Rees and Dr Anne Gordon, it will ensure reforms are informed by the best available evidence and expertise from across education, health and care.

The panel will also engage with stakeholders to make sure their recommendations are informed by a wide range of views and lived experience. A parental engagement group to support the panel’s work will also be established immediately.

The National Inclusion Standards will set out what good support looks like across the country, giving schools and colleges clearer expectations and helping ensure children receive consistent support regardless of where they live.

For children and young people with the most complex needs, we are proposing Specialist Provision Packages that will underpin education, health and care plans (EHCPs), setting out clearly the support they should expect to receive, from specialist teaching and therapies to communication aids and assistive technology.

The wider reforms will be taken forward through the Education for All Bill, subject to the outcome of our consultation on the proposed reforms, including proposals for a new legal duty to put an Individual Support Plan in place for every child and young person with SEND, ensuring they have a clear route to support and access to high-quality education, health and care wherever they live.

Tom Rees, CEO of Ormiston Academies Trust, said:

I’m delighted to be co-chairing this panel alongside colleagues who bring such deep experience and expertise from across the education and health sectors.

We want to build better, more evidence-informed approaches to support children and young people, and to give confidence to parents and practitioners. The panel’s work will help to make this a reality.

Anne Gordon, Head of Clinical Innovation Research, New Hospital Programme, NHS England, said:

I look forward to working with expert colleagues to support children and young people get the support they need to thrive.  Bringing health and education closer together, and working in partnership around what works, is a really exciting opportunity to lay the groundwork for continuing to build best evidenced services.

Ben Bastin, Chair of Natspec and Head of Treloar College, said:

I am excited to join the panel at such a pivotal time for SEND reform. I look forward to bringing both my personal and professional experience of specialist provision and the transition to adulthood to ensure these changes support children and young people in a more inclusive 0 to 25 system.

Alison Stewart, Deputy Director of Children’s Services, Merton and Wandsworth, said:

I am really excited to be part of the Expert Panel and look forward to be part of this important work considering specialist provision packages and national inclusion standards.

Katherine Walsh, Director of Inclusion at River Learning Trust, said:

It is a privilege to join the panel and bring my experience in SEND and inclusive school leadership to help shape an ambitious, equitable system for all learners.

I look forward to working collaboratively with colleagues to determine and champion evidence-informed strategies, ensuring every child and young person with SEND has access to the high-quality provision and opportunities they deserve to thrive.

Mark Vickers MBE, CEO of Olive Academies Trust, said:

It is a privilege to join the expert panel. The development of the National Inclusion Standards and the Specialist Provision Packages mark an important step forward, and I welcome the opportunity to help shape recommendations that will improve the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND.

Building on my work with DfE’s Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion, I look forward to supporting the transition toward a single, unified school system that is focused on meeting the needs of every child and young person.

James Waller, Headteacher of Sunningdale School in Sunderland, said:

I’m really pleased to be contributing to the panel at such an important time for our sector, bringing frontline experience into the discussion.

There is a clear opportunity here to bring together evidence, practice and lived experience to shape approaches that work in practice and make a real difference for children and young people with SEND right across the country.

Professor Courtenay Norbury, Vice Dean for Research, Faculty of Brain Sciences and Professor of Developmental Disorders of Language and Communication at University College London, said:

I’m looking forward to working with colleagues on developing evidence-based support programmes for young people with special educational needs so they can develop the skills they need for school success, wellbeing and future participation in society.

Dr Karen Guldberg, Professor of Autism Studies and Head of the School of Education at the University of Birmingham said:

I am excited to contribute to the National Inclusion Standards and Specialist Provision Packages, which will be key in empowering schools and staff to create inclusive, supportive learning environments where all children and young people can thrive.

18/06/2026
NEWS STORY : Government Announces £1 Million Support for Jewish Museum London

STORY

The Government has announced up to £1 million in funding for The Jewish Museum London to support outreach, education and plans for a new permanent home. The announcement was made by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy during a visit to the museum’s interim space at JW3 in north London.

The Jewish Museum London closed its Camden site in 2023 and has since operated as a museum without walls, running exhibitions, learning programmes and community activities. Ministers said the new funding would support audience development, collection loans and work to expand education outreach.

The announcement comes at the end of the UK’s first Jewish Cultural Month and follows wider Government measures on antisemitism. Ministers also said they intend to provide £100,000 for Manchester Jewish Museum to support community work, security costs and a schools outreach pilot.

18/06/2026
NEWS STORY : UK-French Police Units Deployed to Target Small Boat Crossings

STORY

Two specialist French police units have been deployed in northern France under a UK-France agreement aimed at stopping small boat crossings. The Government said the Compagnie de Marche and a new dedicated riot unit are now operational on French beaches ahead of the summer period.

The Home Office said the deployment would involve 125 specialist officers and reservists working to disperse migrant groups, pursue criminal smugglers and prevent launches. Ministers said the deployment follows wider international cooperation against organised immigration crime, including recent action in Germany involving boats and engines.

Starmer said closer work with France was necessary to tackle illegal migration, while the Government said almost half of attempted crossings were stopped by French authorities last month. The policy remains politically sensitive, with ministers under continuing pressure to reduce Channel crossings.

18/06/2026
NEWS STORY : Doctors’ Dispute Offer Published by Government

STORY

The Government has published its formal offer to the BMA resident doctors committee as ministers seek to resolve the long-running dispute with resident doctors in England. The Department of Health and Social Care said the offer was set out on 12 June and had been developed after feedback from the BMA committee.

The Government said it had strengthened and clarified the offer originally made in March 2026. The published document is described as the complete offer developed in partnership with the BMA resident doctors committee since the previous proposal was made.

The publication of the offer comes after repeated industrial relations disputes in the NHS over pay, working conditions and staffing. The BMA will consider the proposal through its own processes, while ministers will be seeking to avoid further disruption to services.

18/06/2026
NEWS STORY : UK-India Trade Deal to Take Effect in July

STORY

The UK-India free trade agreement is expected to come into force on 15 July after the two Governments agreed to proceed following discussions between Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi at the G7 summit. The agreement had faced uncertainty because of Indian concerns about the UK’s forthcoming steel tariff regime.

Reuters reported that India said its concerns had been addressed constructively, allowing implementation to move forward. The agreement is expected by the UK Government to increase long-term bilateral trade and includes tariff reductions covering products including whisky, cars, clothing, footwear and some food goods.

The deal has been presented by ministers as one of the UK’s most significant post-Brexit trade agreements. It links two of the world’s largest economies, but its implementation also comes as the Government is seeking to balance trade policy with support for domestic steel production.

18/06/2026
NEWS STORY : Makerfield Poll Opens as Labour Leadership Pressure Grows

STORY

Voters are going to the polls in the Makerfield by-election, with the contest being watched closely because of its potential implications for Labour’s national leadership. Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, is standing for Labour in the seat after the resignation of Josh Simons, and a victory would return him to Westminster.

The contest has attracted national attention because Burnham is widely regarded as a possible challenger to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Reuters reported that the result could shape whether a leadership contest develops, with Starmer saying he would fight any challenge and arguing that such a contest would be bad for the country.

Reform UK is also contesting the seat, with Robert Kenyon as its candidate, while other parties are seeking to use the by-election to test Labour’s support after recent political difficulties. The result is expected after polls close on Thursday evening and will be assessed for both the local outcome and its national political consequences.

18/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : G7 leaders’ statement on geopolitical issues [June 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 June 2026.

G7 leaders’ statement on geopolitical issues.

Ukraine

We, the Leaders of the G7, stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We reaffirm our solidarity with the Ukrainian population suffering from attacks on their critical infrastructure and cultural heritage. We commend Ukraine for its resilience and progress on the battlefield in recent months and emphasize there is now a new momentum.

To support and accelerate this new momentum, we agree to increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities. We are also ready to consider extending to Ukraine the benefit of licenses to allow for an increase in Ukraine’s military production.

We stress the importance of energy resilience, on the basis of the needs and priorities expressed by Ukrainian authorities. We agree to provide further support to get the country through next winter.

We commit to increase the pressure on the Russian war economy. In this context, we will strengthen our sanctions, including those on the oil and gas sectors. We consider this the right moment to proceed with additional measures, as President Trump has delivered a deal that we support in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Middle East

We recognize the breakthrough and the opportunity that currently exist in the Middle East.

We welcome the announcement of a deal between the United States and Iran, secured under the strong leadership of President Trump, with the support of mediating countries, which provides an historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon and tackling the threats related to its regional and ballistic activities. We support and are ready to contribute to its implementation.

We reaffirm that the right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the bedrock of international trade. We agree that the multinational, independent, and defensive initiative led by France and the UK can play an important role to facilitate the resumption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz by protecting merchant vessels, reassuring commercial shipping operators, and supporting verification that all mines are removed.

We strongly support a robust and comprehensive diplomatic follow-on agreement to the Memorandum of Understanding secured by President Trump that can bring peace and security for all in the region. We underline the need for the negotiation to this end to address the threats posed by Iran in the region and beyond and ensure that they never obtain a nuclear weapon. We agree that such a negotiation would benefit from the contributions from relevant regional and international partners, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We reaffirm that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon.

In Lebanon, we support, through an immediate robust ceasefire, the Lebanese leadership’s efforts to achieve the disarmament of Hezbollah and the monopoly of arms, and to protect Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty with the appropriate international security guarantees.

In Gaza, we will accelerate humanitarian and reconstruction efforts and the swift implementation of relevant political and security measures. We call for ending violence in the West Bank.

We commit to accelerate the diversification of energy supply routes in order to reduce global vulnerability to the Strait of Hormuz and to increase our energy stocks. We welcome the potential for Canada to deliver significant additional capacity to global markets in coming years.

Indo-Pacific

We highlight the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. We reaffirm our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or coercion, in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait, which should only be resolved peacefully through dialogue.

We express deep concern about North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. We urge North Korea to resolve the abductions issue immediately. We reiterate the need to jointly address North Korea’s cryptocurrency thefts and cybercrimes.

We welcome the Global Convergence for Growth Summit convened by President Macron on June 11th 2026, with the participation of China. We reaffirm our common interest in converging with other large economies on the causes of large and persistent global imbalances and on the need to address them. We will continue these efforts within the G20 under the United States’ host year and in other relevant fora.

18/06/2026