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  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan [July 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 July 2024.

    The Prime Minister hosted King Abdullah II of Jordan at Downing Street today.

    The Prime Minister thanked His Majesty for making the time, and said the visit demonstrated the strength of the relationship between the UK and Jordan.

    The Prime Minister updated the King on his Government’s decision to lift the pause on funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency, adding that he remained deeply concerned by the trajectory of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

    Securing a ceasefire and ensuring the acceleration of aid into Gaza was the immediate priority, the leaders agreed. They also discussed the need to restore hope and the viability of peace on both sides.

    Turning to the bilateral relationship, the leaders discussed the strong and long-standing security partnership between the UK and Jordan, as well as the opportunities to further technology, energy and education ties.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls for the immediate and unconditional release of detained UN personnel – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls for the immediate and unconditional release of detained UN personnel – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 July 2024.

    Statement by UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

    First, we call on the Houthis to stop their escalatory behaviour that threatens the prospect of stability in Yemen and the region. We, once again, condemn the Houthi attack on Tel Aviv which saw an Israeli civilian killed and 10 other civilians wounded. We are deeply concerned about the risk and the consequences of escalation in the region and we call for all parties to exercise restraint.

    We also remain deeply concerned by the Houthis’ detention of United Nations personnel, as well as the staff and former staff of non-governmental organisations and diplomatic missions. We echo the calls from Special Envoy Grundburg and Acting Under-Secretary-General Msuya on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release those held. As well as the personal distress for the individuals and their families, these detentions have also severely impeded the delivery of vital aid to those most in need and further constrained the humanitarian community working across Yemen. All humanitarian, UN, and diplomatic staff should be free to operate safely and securely throughout Yemen.

    Second, the UK has been clear, that the continued flouting of the arms embargo under UNSCR 2216 is unacceptable and serves only to fuel further regional tensions. The increasing reports of ships entering Hodeidah without reporting to UNVIM for inspection is deeply worrying because the inspection of vessels is fundamental to stopping illicit arms entering Houthi controlled areas, while also ensuring the import of commercial goods. We must continue to provide unwavering support to UNVIM and ensure it has the necessary funding to stop the smuggling of illicit arms.

    Finally,  we welcome the commitment of the parties to de-escalate economic tensions and to start convening meetings to discuss all economic and humanitarian issues based on the roadmap. The UK reaffirms that the only way to peace in Yemen is through dialogue and engagement with the Special Envoy. It is important that we remain unified in support of his efforts to secure an inclusive and sustainable peace in Yemen. We continue to urge all parties to de-escalate tensions and preserve space for negotiations.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2024 Speech at the Embassy Education Conference

    Bridget Phillipson – 2024 Speech at the Embassy Education Conference

    The speech made by Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education, at the Embassy Education Conference held on 23 July 2024.

    Thank you very much. I am delighted to be here with you today. Thanks so much for the invitation.

    In my first weeks as secretary of state in this new government I have been resetting relationships across the length and breadth of education.

    I want to refresh old partnerships and grow new ones, not just at home but around the world too.

    By joining forces in education, we can build new bridges between our nations.

    And I want to set the record straight on international students. I know there’s been some mixed messaging from governments in the past, from our predecessors most of all.

    And for too long international students have been treated as political footballs, not valued guests.

    Their fees welcomed, but their presence resented.

    Exploited for cheap headlines, not cherished for all they bring to our communities.

    This government will take a different approach and we will speak clearly.

    Be in no doubt: international students are welcome in the UK.

    This new government values their contribution – to our universities, to our communities, to our country.

    I want Britain to welcome those who want to come to these shores to study, and meet the requirements to do so.

    Now this is part of a wider sea change here in the UK.

    Under this new government, education is once again at the forefront of national life.

    Under this new government, universities are a public good, not a political battleground.

    Under this new government, opportunity is for everyone.

    And our international partnerships are central to this drive to spread opportunity far and wide.

    The more we work together, the more progress we will see in the world – partners in the push for better.

    Closed systems that only look inward quickly run out of ideas. Creativity crumbles, innovation dies, the same thoughts spin round and round and collapse in on themselves.

    But through our international partners, we can reach out across the world and bring back a freshness of thought that breathes new life into our society.

    That includes our universities, and it includes international students.

    How could it not?

    These people are brave. They move to a new culture, far away from their homes and their families.

    They take a leap of faith, hoping to develop new skills and chase new horizons. And I am enormously proud that so many want to take that leap here in the UK.

    And we will do everything we can to help them succeed.

    That’s why we offer the opportunity to remain in the UK on a graduate visa for 2 years after their studies end – or 3 for PhDs – to work, to live, and to contribute.

    While this government is committed to managing migration carefully, international students will always be welcome in this country.

    The UK wouldn’t be the same without them.

    Arts, music, culture, sport, food, language, humour – international students drive dynamism on so many levels.

    And of course, their contribution to the British economy is substantial. Each international student adds about £100,000 to our national prosperity.

    This impact is not just a national statistic. It’s felt in towns and cities right across country.

    I’ve seen it in Sunderland, where I have the privilege to serve as a member of parliament. The city is home to almost 5,000 international students.

    Many come from China, flying across the world to study at the University of Sunderland. I welcome their presence and I value their contribution.

    And students from all nations add to the city’s buzz.

    More footfall on our highstreets.

    More laughter in our pubs.

    More conversation in our cafes.

    International students contribute so much to my home city, so much to our country.  And they get so much in return. The UK is a fantastic place to come and study.

    Every student who steps off the plane in Manchester or arrives on the Eurostar in London is a vote of confidence in our universities.

    Students come because they know they will receive a world class education. They come because they know it sets them up for success.

    Many go on to positions of power. Above the desks of leaders around the world sit certificates from British universities.

    They, and hopefully many of you, will know the joy of living abroad, the excitement of discovering a new culture, a new perspective, perhaps even a new weather system …

    While students may not come to the UK for our weather system, they do come for our rich and varied culture.

    They know this is a country that sparks genius, that has birthed innovation to the rest of the world.

    What better place to study science than the land of Charles Darwin, Ada Lovelace, Alan Turing?

    What better place to study English than the land of William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Zadie Smith?

    And what better place to study music than the land of John Lennon, Stormzy, Adele?

    Students benefit from coming to the UK, and we benefit from them being here.

    But I don’t see this as a hard-nosed transactional relationship. It’s not just about GDP, balance sheets or export receipts.

    No. My passion is for an open, global Britain – one that welcomes new ideas.

    One that looks outward in optimism, not inward in exclusion.

    In my university days I made some wonderful friends who came from around the world.

    They broadened my horizons, challenged my views, and pushed me to be better.

    Students come and build bonds with their classmates – and friendships between students become friendships between countries.

    That’s what education is all about.

    A force for good in people’s lives, a force for good in our world.

    A generation of young people who have studied abroad and cultivated friendships with people from different cultures – those ties make the world a safer, more vibrant place.

    This new government is mission-led. And I am leading on the mission to break down the barriers to opportunity.

    I am determined to make Britain the international home of opportunity.

    So I want genuine partnerships with countries across the world in higher education and beyond.

    We already have deep education partnerships with countless countries around the globe, and I want to build more.

    From our closest neighbours, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, to major regional powers, India, Nigeria, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, important allies, the US and Australia, to world leading systems like Singapore and Japan, and many others.

    Whether that’s through British international schools abroad, or cross-border collaboration on skills training.

    School trips and scholarships, exchange programmes and language learning, policy conversations that span the early years to learners with special educational needs.

    And I want our universities to work with their international partners to deliver courses across borders.

    Education must be at the forefront of tackling the major global challenges of our time.

    Artificial intelligence, climate change, poverty, misinformation, polarisation, war and instability.

    Education puts us on the path to freedom.

    Intellectual freedom. Economic freedom. Social freedom. Cultural freedom.

    Through education, we can enlarge and expand those freedoms, we can show that government is a power not just for administration but for transformation.

    The answer is partnership. And the answer is education.

    As I close, I want to extend an invitation to all your education ministers to attend the education world forum here in London next year from the 18th to the 21st of May.

    You can expect a rich exchange of ideas, visits to schools, colleges and universities, and enlightening keynote speakers.

    This is a time of change here in Britain. A new age of hope. A new era of optimism for our country.

    A place where once again education and opportunity are the foundations of a better society.

    A place where our universities are nurseries of global friendships, as well as places of economic growth.

    A place where new ideas are prized.

    I want to work with all of you to deliver opportunity for all – not just here at home, but across the world too.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Kendall launches blueprint for fundamental reform to change the DWP from a ‘Department of Welfare to a Department for Work’ [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Kendall launches blueprint for fundamental reform to change the DWP from a ‘Department of Welfare to a Department for Work’ [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 23 July 2024.

    Liz Kendall will today set out how Britain’s system of employment support must be fundamentally reformed to tackle the “most urgent challenge” of spiralling economic inactivity.

    • Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will use landmark first speech to set out the Government’s plans to reverse dire labour market inheritance and drive up Britain’s employment
    • Major new reforms will be at heart of Government’s ambition to reach an 80% employment rate, with a white paper on getting Britain working again
    • Kendall set to empower local leaders to tackle economic inactivity, alongside a new Labour Market Advisory Board to help drive change and get Britain working again.

    At the launch of the “Pathways to Work” report in Barnsley Ms Kendall will lay the path for a new Government white paper to get Britain working. This is central to delivering the Government’s first mission – to kickstart economic growth; making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    She will set out the dire inheritance from the last 14 years including:

    • Britain remaining the only country in the G7 whose employment rate has still not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
    • 2.8 million people out of work due to ill health or disability
    • 1 in 8 young people not in education, employment or work
    • Spending on sickness and disability benefits is set to increase by £30bn over the next five years according to the OBR
    • Too many people trapped in low paid, poor quality work, with little prospect of improving their lot in life. Of those in low in pay in 2006, only one-in-six escaped it a decade later.

    Ms Kendall will argue:

    The fundamental problem we face is that the current system of employment support is designed to address the problems of yesterday – not today, tomorrow and beyond.

    She will say over the last 14 years the DWP has focused almost entirely on the benefits system, and specifically on implementing Universal Credit, and that “nowhere near enough attention has been paid to the wider issues – like health, skills, childcare and transport – that determine whether people get work, stay in work and get on in work.

    She will call time on the approach of the previous government and instead seek “employment opportunity unleashed for all” as part of the government’s long-term ambition to reach 80 per cent employment, with better quality of work, and higher earnings.

    The Secretary of State will set out bold plans to tackle economic activity by enabling local leaders to tailor schemes to get people back into work – and to prioritise good, rewarding, well paid work. She will say:

    I can confirm today that we will empower local leaders and local areas to tackle economic inactivity and open up economic opportunity.

    We will give local places the responsibility and resources to design a joined-up work, health and skills offer that’s right for local people.

    DWP will support local areas to make a success of this new approach.

    And we will devolve new powers over employment support to catalyse action and change.

    Setting out her vision for reform, the Work and Pensions Secretary is also expected to say:

    Over the last 14 years millions of people have been denied their rightful chance of participating in the labour market, and the hope of a brighter future. They’ve been excluded, left out, categorised and labelled. Britain isn’t working.

    We need fundamental reform so the department for welfare becomes a genuine department for work.

    We’ll pursue an ambitious plan alongside the government’s goals to raise productivity and living standards and to improve the quality of work. To get Britain growing again, get Britain building again and get Britain working again.

    As part of her drive to tackle economic inactivity, the Secretary of State will also announce a new group of external experts who will provide labour market insight and advice to drive change throughout the system.

    The Labour Market Advisory Board, which will be chaired by Paul Gregg – Former Director of the Centre for Analysis of Social Policy at the University of Bath – is expected to meet quarterly and will provide advice to the Work and Pensions Secretary and offer insight, expertise, and challenge to the department’s plans.

    The speech follows the announcement by the Work and Pensions Secretary, that the Government will, as part of the Growth Mission, publish a White Paper which will build on manifesto commitments of a three-pillared approach to support people into work:

    • A new national jobs and career service to help get more people into work, and on in their work.
    • New work, health and skills plans for the economically inactive, led by Mayors and local areas.
    • A youth guarantee for all young people aged 18 to 21.

    It forms part of a cross-government approach to help people into work, including the launch of Skills England, and cutting NHS waiting lists to build the healthy society needed for a healthy economy.

  • Peter Kyle – 2024 Speech at the Farnborough International Air Show

    Peter Kyle – 2024 Speech at the Farnborough International Air Show

    The speech made by Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, at Farnborough International Air Show on 22 July 2024.

    Good morning.

    It’s great to be here.

    Thank you, Paul, for the kind introduction, and thank you all for being here this morning and crowding around, it’s great to see you all.

    This is my first speech as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.

    And I would like to start by telling you why I have chosen Farnborough to make my first speech.

    The first reason is one that I have got from meeting so many people who are working, innovating and driving the space sector.

    The second, personal reason – when I was appointed into the Shadow Secretary of State role by Keir Starmer, now the Prime Minister, back in September, I was keen as possible to get up and meet people who are working in the space sector. And something I’ve noticed straight away, whether it was in aviation, aeronautics, or in space, everyone single person I have met is dedicated to the sector in which you are working, that you go way beyond what I have seen in many other sectors. In innovations in other sectors, I think people, they test, they try, they try and find investment, but when it’s [inaudible] they don’t come together after a certain period, they move on and find another approach.

    But the sheer doggedness, the sheer passion, that I have seen in every single company, every single university research lab, and every aspect of space, it is a sector like no other.

    It is a sector who are so incredibly passionate about the sector, about their innovations, about their contribution to it but also passionate about the possibilities that space has. It’s infectious.

    And I have been infected by their enthusiasm and drive.

    The second reason is something that is personal, and quite interesting for me today because so many people have already said to me ‘Is this your first Farnborough?’.

    This is my fourth Farnborough and the other 3 have always been out there, not on the Monday, but the other days of the week where the public are invited and I’ve sat with my dad and my partner at the time. My partner worked for a commercial airliner and my dad was a Royal Navy aircraft mechanic in the 1960s where he worked in [inaudible] fighter jets of the day.

    So my entire upbringing has been with my dad telling stories on the deck; battling in the most extreme circumstances, keeping our aircraft of the day, fighter jets, in the sky, and when they crash landed, picking up the pieces, and trying to repair some of the aircraft of the day in extreme circumstances.

    Coming here with my dad and my partner for 3 Farnborough’s, sitting out there with one yabbering in my ear with every single detail of civil aviation and the other one being able to tell me the things in the sky by the sound of the engine, gives you an insight into the kind of family life and background I had running up to this moment in time.

    But now we are here, and that spirit of innovation I told you about that I detected from people who are driving from the centre, and that was represented by people around me and in my personal life, I think we bring into the mission-led approach, this government.

    None of the 5 missions of this government, that are going to drive the national renewal over a decade, that we have come into power on, can happen if we stick to the tried and tested.

    To find the bold solutions to the problems that have dogged our country for decades, and the solutions we will face in the decades to come, we must do things differently.

    In other words, we need to innovate.

    I am sure that the irony of a minister standing here and talking to you about national missions, for those of you working in the space sector, will not be lost. I promise not to labour the analogy.

    But I do stand here today because there is no better example than the space sector that explains what we are trying to do as a government.

    Opportunity

    Today, the UK’s space sector is growing 4 times faster than the overall UK economy.

    Its workforce is twice as productive as the British average.

    To create opportunities for companies to start, scale and succeed in the UK, to create the good jobs that bring prosperity to communities up and down our country, these sectors need to learn from space and space needs to lead the way.

    Delivery

    If we want to deliver better public services and better lives for the people up and down our country, then the answer is simply the same.

    • Understanding the effects of our changing climate.
    • Providing rural communities with internet access.
    • Keeping our armed forces safe and aircraft in constant contact.

    These are not just opportunities, they are obligations and none of them can be fulfilled without space.

    Security

    The first obligation for any government, of course, is to keep our country safe.

    Today, space-based services like satellite communications and remote sensing are the cornerstones of our national security.

    Without them, the systems that keep Britain safe will grind to a halt.

    Secure financial transactions that rely on timestamps that are accurate to the millisecond.

    Emergency services that depend on precise GPS data to find the people who need their help.

    In an increasingly unstable world, space will matter more than ever.

    And, as orbits become more congested – and contested – we must work with our NATO allies to protect our people.

    Discovery

    So, to anyone who asks – does space matter?

    These are my 3 principles – security, delivery and opportunity – they provide the beginnings of the answer.

    And yet none of them can quite capture what is so unique about space.

    No metric of growth or productivity can distil what is so breath-taking about the images taken by the James Webb telescope.

    Or the pioneering spirit that will propel the Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars.

    And it would be just as hard to measure the sense of pride I feel knowing that it was the contributions of British scientists that made these missions possible.

    To that trio, then, I would add a fourth – discovery.

    New solutions to new problems

    Because the value of human knowledge is never solely defined by its ability to solve our current crises.

    The astronauts on board Apollo 7 could never have predicted the ways that companies like Space Forge in Cardiff could exploit the cold and uncontaminated properties of microgravity to find new cures to Alzheimer’s and cancer, to 3D print organs for transplant patients or manufacture the semiconductors that will power the digital revolution that is unfolding today.

    The century to come will bring new problems.

    And as we search for new solutions, we simply cannot predict the ways that each discovery in space might matter.

    We can only prepare by supporting the scientists and businesses with the boldness and brilliance to make them better.

    Later today [22 July 2023], I’ll be meeting one of those people – I’ve already met Rosemary Coogan, who became our third ever astronaut earlier this year.

    A strategic partnership with business

    Looking ahead, I will be guided by these 4 principles – discovery and delivery, security and opportunity.

    But I cannot chart a course for success in space alone.

    No mission can succeed without a strong team, united around a common goal.

    Working closely with our international partners, including the European Space Agency, I want to forge a strategic partnership with businesses, researchers, and investors.

    A meaningful relationship anchored not in the short-term solutions and shorter funding cycles, but in certainty and stability. Because businesses don’t want a new strategy every 6 months. I’ve heard this repeatedly day in, day out.

    They need a clear signal from a government that isn’t afraid to make hard choices about where to focus our efforts. Because we know that we cannot do everything.

    But that makes it all the more important to invest in those technologies where we really can lead the world. I know that this strategic partnership will take time to build. But that work starts here today.

    National Space Innovation Programme

    So, here in Farnborough, I am announcing £33 million in funding for innovative businesses from the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP).

    From the smallest start-ups to global giants, the recipients of the fund aren’t just creating cutting edge technologies, they want to use that technology to build a better future for Britain.

    In Cambridge, SuperSharp are designing a heat-detecting telescope to gather the data that we will need to tackle the climate crisis.

    In Hereford, ETL Systems are building ground equipment that links satellites to 5G and 6G mobile networks, transforming connectivity.

    In Harwell, Orbit Fab and Lunasa are working on refuelling and docking technologies that will extend the lifespan of satellites and preserve our space environment for future generations.

    Later this week, I’ll be travelling up to Glasgow to meet one of the winners myself.

    Spire Global are developing technology to supply unique weather forecasting data to global weather prediction centres.

    And their success in Scotland embodies the phenomenal potential of our science and tech economy.

    Once the shipbuilding capital of the world, Glasgow now makes more satellites than anywhere in Europe.

    Someday soon, the phrase ‘Clyde Built’ – used in previous generations to describe the incredible ships built on the banks of the Clyde – will be used for small satellites, too.

    Travel fifty miles East through the Central Belt, and you will find a unique combination of world-class universities and innovation centres that are cementing Edinburgh’s reputation as a ‘space data capital.’

    Fly north to the Shetland Islands, as I soon will do, and before long you’ll get to SaxaVord. In Autumn, that space port will host the first ever vertical satellite launch in Europe, putting Britain on the map in an increasingly competitive global market.

    Conclusion

    In all of these places, a better future for Britain is coming into view.

    Here in Farnborough, you can see that future very clearly indeed.

    People with decades of experience in aerospace and oil and gas are using their expertise to build the industries of tomorrow and create prosperity for their communities.

    Talented researchers in world-leading universities are developing technologies to tackle some of our toughest problems.

    Innovative start-ups and spinouts are taking those solutions out of the lab and into our lives.

    I will be a champion for those people. Those researchers. And those businesses too. Because we have an extraordinary opportunity here.

    Together, we can grow our economy and create good jobs for the future for our people.

    We can deliver the public services they deserve.

    And we can protect our country in an increasingly volatile world.

    If change is our mission.

    Then this is right here is where we start.

    Thank you.

  • Keir Starmer – 2024 Remarks at the Farnborough Airshow

    Keir Starmer – 2024 Remarks at the Farnborough Airshow

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, at the Farnborough Airshow on 22 July 2024.

    Good morning, everyone.

    It’s really good to see so many of you here. Many people that I’ve met before and had intense discussions with before about the important work that you do, that has informed my thinking and informs the thinking of the Labour government – which is why you see some of those measures reflected in the King’s Speech of last week.

    So I am absolutely delighted to be able to be here again with you, but this time no longer as Leader of the Opposition. This time as Prime Minister – and please take that, in the beginning of week three in government, as a real statement of intent. It’s intended to be, and that is why we’ve got so many senior ministers here during the course of the show.

    Now look, as you all know, better than most – we live in a dangerous, volatile and increasingly insecure world.

    And that makes events like this, and the role that you play…

    Ever more important for the defence and security of our country.

    And as you may have seen, I have spent quite a lot of time at summits in the last week or two…

    At NATO and the European Political Community…

    And on Friday I had the pleasure of meeting the leader of Ukraine, President Zelenskyy, who came into Downing Street.

    And at those meetings, whether it’s NATO, whether it’s the EPC, or whether it’s seeing President Zelenskyy as I did on Friday, it always gives me great comfort,

    To know that Britain is at the cutting edge of defence and aerospace manufacturing…

    So thank you not only for being here today…

    But also for everything that you do for the security of our country.

    Now we are just beginning week three of government.

    The work of change has begun.

    The patient rebuilding of our country has started.

    And we’ve launched our Strategic Defence Review.

    We’ve taken the brakes off Britain with a plan for wealth creation in every community.

    Planning reform – to get Britain building again. Something many of us in the room have discussed with you on many occasions.

    And we’re getting started on a new Industrial Strategy. Again, a concept that came very much from you to us in terms of the sort of way in which you want the partnership between government and your sector to work.

    They are all signals of our intent…

    To deliver high living standards for working people…

    Economic security and national security.

    But of course we know that national renewal is not going to happen overnight.

    We are fixing the very foundation of our country…

    And that is long and patient work.

    But – I can announce another step along that road today…

    Another marker of the future…

    With the launch of a new organisation that we hope will transform, not just how we train our young people and adults…

    But also the relationship between business and the education system.

    A plan to make sure that we are training young people, not just for any business…

    But for the businesses that exist in their community.

    The skills you and they need…

    To take each other forward.

    So I am delighted that today we’re launching Skills England…

    And appointing Richard Pennycook as the interim chair.

    And I’m excited for the work that we can do together.

    I’ve just met this morning some fantastic apprentices.

    Bright, energic, intelligent…

    An absolute credit to Airbus and Rolls Royce.

    Now I’ve met the apprentices in both Airbus and Rolls Royce many times before – almost all of my speeches in the last two or three years have featured examples of the work that they are doing.

    And it was brilliant to meet them here again this morning. Some of them were from a group that I met just a few months ago in Derby. So to review that, one of them was just two weeks into her apprenticeship. And so they were an incredible reminder of the talent that we have going forward.

    And I was allowed to speak to them without anybody else listening in because I wanted to hear directly from them. And ask them, as I always do, what inspired them to do it, what gave them that spark.

    And then towards the end of the time I had with them this morning, I said, “what do you want me to think about? Because this is a government of service, you’re entitled to have your say. What do you want me to think about as the Prime Minister heading a new government?”

    And after a few moments, they were pretty clear in their collective view that they wanted me and the government to think about the value of apprentices, and to make sure that that was valued alongside the other things that so many young people do.

    And that was them to me, and for all of you, I think you’d be very proud that that was their first thought. That was what they wanted me to think about as I go home from here.

    And so they are a reminder of the incredible talent that we do have in this country.

    Young people, with drive, ambition and hopes of a better future.

    But we do have also to be honest…

    All too often young people in our country have been let down.

    Not given access to the right opportunities or training in their community.

    And that has created an overreliance in our economy on higher and higher levels of migration.

    Now – I don’t for a second want to demean any of that…

    I do not criticise business who hire overseas workers…

    And I certainly don’t diminish the contribution that migration makes…

    To our economy, to our public services and of course to our communities.

    Migration is part of our national story – it always has been and always will be.

    And yet – if you stand back…

    As a system, it cannot be right that some people don’t get to feel the pride of making a contribution…

    The dignity of work…

    Just because we can’t find a way of creating a coherent skills system. That can’t be right.

    So – I have to say – we won’t be content just to pull the easy lever of importing skills…

    We are turning the page on that.

    But I want to be clear as well…

    We are going to make sure that there are highly motivated, ambitious, talented young people…

    Who want to work in your business.

    That is our long-term ambition.

    We’re going to fire up the training of more UK workers…

    And match peoples’ aspirations – which I know are there…

    With more opportunity.

    And in doing this we will drive growth.

    Because if there is one thing we know that will drive innovation and accelerate productivity…

    It’s having the skilled workers you need to grow your business.

    So from the get go…

    Skills England will work with the Migration Advisory Committee…

    We will identify current and future skills gaps…

    Put in place plans to address those gaps…

    And reduce our long-term reliance on overseas workers.

    We will also identify the training on which the Growth and Skills Levy can be spent…

    Something that I’ve spent many hours discussing with many people in this room.

    You told me it was not flexible enough, didn’t work well enough for you.

    Well we will change that with the Growth and Skills Levy, giving you more flexibility to spend funds on the training that you think is really necessary.

    And Skills England will also bring together central and local government…

    Training providers and unions…

    Working together in broader partnership with business.

    And this is key.

    I said on the steps of Downing Street, two weeks ago Thursday, that I wanted to govern for the whole country…

    And part of that is making sure we all understand each others’ needs…

    That we move beyond old antagonisms…

    And work for the common cause of national renewal.

    A partnership.

    So today with the launch of Skills England…

    We’re putting that partnership into action…

    Now we listened to you during the campaign and over the last few years…

    We listened to you when we were developing our Plan for Growth…

    And that informs it, some of your fingerprints are on our plan and I hope that they reflect the conversations that we’ve had. And we will carry on listening…

    Because that’s how a partnership works.

    We are making demands. We want growth. We want you to power up that growth.

    But you equally can say to us in order for that to work, this is the framework you need to put into place.

    That is how a partnership works, when both sides understand what their part is, but recognise they’re not the same part – government and business do different things.

    And that’s why we’ll have our new Industrial Strategy…

    On the Strategic Defence Review…

    And on much, much more.

    Together, I do believe we can deliver that growth and security.

    Fix the foundations…

    Put our economy on a stable footing…

    And create a coherent skills system.

    And everyone here has a vital part to play in this mission on growth…

    You already do an incredible amount…

    And I believe that with a government of service on your side…

    We can do even more.

    And in that spirit, it really is a huge honour, so early in this government, to open the Airshow, and to hope that you all have a productive time which I’m sure that you will.

    Use it obviously intensely in the time that we’ve got here together.

    Please keep talking and impressing on us the things that are important to you.

    Thank you so much for allowing me to make these remarks. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you so much for your huge contribution to our country.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary champions UK industry at Farnborough Air Show [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary champions UK industry at Farnborough Air Show [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 22 July 2024.

    Defence Secretary John Healey announces a £6.5 billion complex weapons partnership and trials of a laser weapon fired from a British Army vehicle.

    The British defence industry’s positive economic impact was championed by Defence Secretary John Healey on the first day of Farnborough International Air Show – where he announced a £6.5 billion complex weapons partnership and ground-breaking trials of a laser weapon fired from a British Army vehicle.

    Meeting with industry leaders and defence apprentices, the Defence Secretary stressed the importance of replenishing stockpiles for the UK and Ukraine as he announced the renewal of a complex weapons partnership with MBDA, who manufacture the Storm Shadow missile used on Ukraine’s front line. This 10-year partnership will deliver battle-winning complex weapons faster and at lower cost. The contract will also support more than 5,500 jobs across the North-West, East of England and the South-West, as well as thousands of other jobs in UK’s supply chain.

    The Defence Secretary also revealed that scientists and engineers have successfully fired a laser weapon from a British Army vehicle, in a first for the UK. The ground-breaking trials, conducted at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) range in Porton Down, saw the laser weapon neutralise targets at the speed of light from more than 1km away, with each shot costing less than a cup of tea. The Raytheon-developed laser weapon could be mounted onto various armoured vehicles to defeat a range of drones, helping protect soldiers from aerial threats.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey said:

    “Farnborough International Air Show showcases the best of British industry and how a vibrant industrial base keeps us all safe and contributes to UK economic growth.

    “As Defence Secretary, I want to take the politics out of national security so where there is important work begun under the previous government, we will take it forward in the interest of national security. That is why we are renewing important partnerships with industry and continuing to push technological boundaries. This will drive prosperity and create skilled jobs across the country.”

    The partnership with MBDA, signed with Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the MoD’s procurement arms, is expected to deliver new systems to the UK such as the Future Cruise and Anti-Ship Weapon, Land Precision Strike and continue the evolution of Meteor missile system. It will enable ‘always-on’ manufacturing, holding industry at a high-state of readiness to respond to defence demands. As part of this partnership, a further £500 million will be invested in British manufacturing and technologies.

    The trialled laser weapon requires only two personnel to operate and could take less than two weeks to be trained on. The next phase of testing will involve trials with Army personnel later this year, further evaluating the system’s capabilities and benefits in real-world scenarios. The demonstrator has been tested by Team Hersa, comprising Dstl and DE&S, and developed in collaboration with a consortium of UK suppliers and showcases the potential of advanced technology in modern warfare. The British supply chain includes Raytheon UK, Fraser Nash, NP Aerospace, LumOptica, Blighter Surveillance Systems, and Cambridge Pixel.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK condemns Houthi attacks against Israel and their wider destabilising activity in the Red Sea – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK condemns Houthi attacks against Israel and their wider destabilising activity in the Red Sea – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 July 2024.

    Statement by UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

    The UK is deeply alarmed by the Houthi attack on Tel Aviv which saw an Israeli civilian killed in his home and 10 other civilians wounded. My Foreign Secretary condemned this reckless escalation in his statement to the UK Parliament last week. We call for urgent de-escalation.

    Since October 7th, the Houthis have launched UAVs and missiles towards Israel, in dangerous and illegal attacks. These actions risk a further deterioration in the stability and security of the region and we call upon the Security Council to condemn the Houthi attacks against Israel in addition to their wider destabilising activity in the Red Sea. This includes launching over 305 attacks against international shipping, impacting over 100 ships and killing innocent crew. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of the Galaxy Leader and its crew illegally detained by the Houthis since November 2023.

    In addition, we must not lose sight of the fact that Houthi actions, enabled by support from Iran, are part of a wider Iranian strategy to destabilise the region with its malign influence and use of proxies. We call upon Iran to cease its nefarious support to armed groups and terrorist organisations in the Middle East which only serve to increase the suffering of ordinary people.

    Finally, while we can confirm that there was no UK involvement in the Israeli strikes against the Houthis on 20 July, the UK remains resolute in its support to Israel’s right to self-defence in line with international law and international humanitarian law. The Houthis seek to use the situation in Gaza as justification for their reckless behaviour. Let me be clear, there is no justification for these attacks and more broadly there can be no military solution to the conflict in the Middle East. Yemenis are once again paying the price for the destructive actions of the Houthis and further escalation will only worsen an already dire humanitarian situation.

    A diplomatic solution in the region is the only way forward. We strongly support the ongoing efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the US to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, get the hostages out and humanitarian aid in. The deal, as endorsed by this Council in resolution 2735, is the best chance to secure lasting peace. Innocent Palestinians continue to face unfathomable human suffering in Gaza, with a devastating impact on women and children. At least 120 hostages remain in horrific conditions. We urge both sides to show flexibility in negotiations and to recommit themselves to a renewed peace process resulting in a two-state solution. President, I reiterate the UK’s call for de-escalation and for meaningful progress to bring about lasting peace and security for the region.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Aid access in Syria should be granted for as long as it is needed – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Aid access in Syria should be granted for as long as it is needed – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 July 2024.

    Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Laura Dix at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

    First, as you’ve made clear, the humanitarian situation across Syria remains dire, borne out of over a decade of conflict and the actions of the regime. This includes its recent decision to blockade aid into Rukban camp, which has led to severe food scarcity. We call on the regime to permit commercial access into Rukban camp and to ensure all routes for humanitarian access – including into North West Syria – are sustained and predictable. Short-term, last-minute decisions are not appropriate as the UN continues to make clear. Access should be granted for as long as humanitarian needs demand it.

    Second, in light of the UN sanctions report published last week, I wanted to underscore that our sanctions against the Assad regime have a clear purpose: they are designed to hold to account those responsible for committing abhorrent atrocities over the last 14 years, including perpetrators of serious human rights violations and chemical weapons use. We have taken clear steps to ensure that sanctions and any tools aimed at holding the Assad regime accountable do not impact the wider Syrian population or the delivery of humanitarian support. We resolutely support those affected by the ongoing devastating conflict.

    Third, the only route out of this crisis is via a comprehensive and sustainable political settlement. This month’s parliamentary elections in Syria were held with the aim of sustaining Assad’s dictatorship and giving a semblance of popular legitimacy to his unreformed and undemocratic regime. In response, we have seen protesters inside Syria boycott the elections and demand a fairer and more transparent process. Legitimate elections in Syria can only be a product of a genuine political process in line with UNSCR 2254, which allows for the participation of all eligible Syrians, including members of the diaspora.

    President, I end by recalling that it is in Assad’s power to end this intolerable conflict and to take responsibility for the human rights violations and abuses that Syrians have endured. It is time to deliver on the legitimate demands of the Syrian people and to make a genuine commitment to peace in line with resolution 2254.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Skills England to transform opportunities and drive growth [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Skills England to transform opportunities and drive growth [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 22 July 2024.

    New body launched to bring together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions.

    The Prime Minister and Education Secretary have announced the launch of Skills England to bring together the fractured skills landscape and create a shared national ambition to boost the nation’s skills.

    The Education Secretary has also today (22 July 2024) appointed Richard Pennycook CBE, former chief executive of the Co-operative Group and lead non-executive director at the DfE, as the interim Chair.

    Skills are crucial to economic growth, with a third of productivity improvement over the last two decades explained by improvements to skills levels.

    But between 2017 and 2022 skills shortages in this country doubled to more than half a million, and now account for 36% of job vacancies.

    Skills England will bring together central and local government, businesses, training providers and unions to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions, providing strategic oversight of the post-16 skills system aligned to the government’s Industrial Strategy.

    Supporting local areas to develop the skilled workforces they need – in particular across construction and healthcare – is fundamental to the government’s mission to raise growth sustainably. By working with the Migration Advisory Committee, Skills England will also help reduce reliance on overseas workers.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Our skills system is in a mess, which is why we are transforming our approach to meet skills needs over the coming decades.

    They will help to deliver our number one mission as a government, to kickstart economic growth, by opening up new opportunities for young people and enabling British businesses to recruit more home-grown talent.

    From construction to IT, healthcare to engineering, our success as a country depends on delivering highly skilled workforces for the long-term. Skills England will put in place the framework needed to achieve that goal while reducing our reliance on workers from overseas.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    Our first mission in government is to grow the economy, and for that we need to harness the talents of all our people to unlock growth and break down the barriers to opportunity.

    The skills system we inherited is fragmented and broken. Employers want to invest in their workers but for too long have been held back from accessing the training they need.

    Skills England will jumpstart young people’s careers and galvanise local economies. It will bring businesses together with trade unions, mayors, universities, colleges and training providers to give us a complete picture of skills gaps nationwide, boost growth in all corners of the country and give people the opportunity to get on in life.

    The organisation will identify the training for which the growth and skills levy will be accessible – an important reform, giving businesses more flexibility to spend levy funds on training for the skills they need, which employers have long been calling for.

    Skills England will be established in phases over the next 9 to 12 months to create a responsive and collaborative skills system.

    The Skills England Bill announced this week will transfer functions from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to Skills England.

    This sits alongside work to simplify and devolve adult education budgets to mayoral combined authorities to ensure that they can address their adult skills needs directly and support growth in their areas.

    Next steps for establishing Skills England:

    • The first phase of Skills England’s launch involves setting up the organisation in shadow form within the DfE, and starting work on an assessment of future skills needs while building strong relationships with employers. A permanent board, Chair and CEO will be appointed in due course.
    • The route for employers to shape skills training is currently offered by the IfATE. IfATE’s functions will transfer to Skills England, as part of the new organisation’s broader remit. IfATE will continue its important work in the interim as the transition of functions to Skills England is finalised.
    • Skills England will hold responsibility for maintaining a list of levy-eligible training to ensure value for money, and that the mix of government-funded training available to learners and employers aligns with the identified skills needs.
    • The government will also bring forward a comprehensive strategy for post-16 education to break down barriers to opportunity, support the development of a skilled workforce, and drive economic growth through our industrial strategy.