The comments made by James Heappey, the Minister for the Armed Forces, on 3 May 2021.
The F-35B Lightning jets will pack a potent punch against Daesh and help prevent them from regaining a foothold in Iraq.
This is a prime example of the UK Armed Forces stepping forward with our allies to confront persistent threats around the world. It is Global Britain in action.
The comments made by Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, on 3 May 2021.
I was delighted to host Toshimitsu Motegi in Chevening today for productive discussions about our strategic partnership. The depth of the UK-Japan relationship is based around a shared outlook on democracy, free trade, tackling climate change, and security collaboration.
In my talks with Foreign Minister Motegi we discussed Japanese support for the UK’s application to join CPTPP, tackling climate change and COVID-19 and the UK’s commitment for the Indo-Pacific which will be boosted further by the visit of the Carrier Strike Group later this year.
The statement made by Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, on 3 May 2021.
Good afternoon everyone – thank you for joining us. It is a huge pleasure to welcome Secretary of State Blinken to the UK. Tony it’s great to have you here with us, a warm welcome.
It’s fair to say the Biden administration is barely 100 days old, but has already taken a huge number of bold and very welcome steps on issues like climate change, global health and human rights, and that’s really created momentum in efforts to tackle these pressing global issues.
Since Tony’s confirmation, we have been working very closely together and today’s meeting has been another reminder of the depth and breadth of the work that we do together, the convergence of our interests and the many shared values.
Today, Tony and I discussed a full range of issues –I’ll give you a highlight of some of the key points.
We talked about our shared commitment to stand up for open societies, democracy and human rights – protecting fundamental freedoms, tackling disinformation, holding human rights abusers to account.
A key element of this is defending the rule of law, so we are determined to reform but reinforce the multilateral system.
We want to keep working together very closely on all of these points through the G7 and President Biden’s Democracy Summit.
We also discussed China. It’s fair to say that we see eye-to-eye on the need to stand up for our values, holding Beijing to the commitments that they have made, whether it’s in relation to Hong Kong under the Joint Declaration or wider commitments, whilst also at the same time finding constructive ways to work with China in a sensible and positive manner where that’s possible.
On global issues like climate change we want to see China stepping up to the plate and playing its full role.
Tony and I also discussed a whole range of security issues – Iran, Afghanistan, continuing concerns about Russia, in particular on the border with Ukraine.
We stand shoulder to shoulder on these issues – and I welcome the US’ firm recommitment to the NATO alliance.
It is only by working together overseas that we can keep our citizens safe at home. That’s true in NATO, and I think it’s true on COVID and the various measures we are taking to extend and expand and promote COVAX.
Secretary Blinken and I will see the Prime Minister tomorrow to continue the discussions that we’ve had.
One of the major areas of common interest is building a broader and stronger set of partnerships among countries that share our values, on the most important issues of the day.
So the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ meeting which begins today is a great opportunity to really drive that agenda forward.
This is the first opportunity for all G7 Foreign Ministers to meet together in person since 2019. We’re glad to be able to socialise a bit together and conduct those meetings face-to-face rather than doing it all just on Zoom and Teams.
It’s also fair to say that the world has changed quite a bit in those 2 short years.
Our societies and our economies have been shocked and shaken by coronavirus.
At the same time we are responding to a situation where our values are being challenged and the international architecture is at least in some respects being weakened.
There’s also rapid technological change which brings new opportunities, we’ve seen that with collaboration on things like the vaccine, but also acute challenges, and there are global threats from COVID to climate change that frankly demand global solutions and we’re committed to trying to find and forge those solutions.
In that context, we recognise the importance of building dynamic, agile new partnerships with like-minded countries which share our values.
That’s why we invited the foreign ministers from India, South Korea, Australia and Brunei, Brunei also representing ASEAN as the chair, and they’ll be taking part later on in the week. They are all key partners for us, I think they are also a sign of the growing focus on the Indo-Pacific region as the economic and strategic crucible for this century.
As for the G7, at its core it is a partnership based on values and so it is fitting that today we meet on World Press Freedom Day. We’ve seen a whole range of attacks on journalists, from Belarus to Myanmar. Violations of media freedoms are growing around the world at what I feel is an alarming rate.
I welcome the unequivocal stance of the US and the whole G7 on safeguarding those vital democratic bulwarks in our media freedoms.
As co-chair of the global Media Freedom Coalition, the UK is working with our partners so that we shine a light on the violations and we hold those to account. We support journalists who are trying to shine a light on those abuses around the world, and we try and reverse what is otherwise a dangerous trend.
This cuts to the core of the values and the interests that the G7 represents right around the world – and it shows once again why it’s so important for us to meet together this week.
Now, let me hand over to Tony. Tony thanks for being here, thanks for our valuable discussions today and we look forward to welcoming President Biden to the UK in June. And I am looking forward to a productive G7 meeting this week.
The comments made by Nadhim Zahawi, the Vaccines Minister, on 3 May 2021.
The UK’s vaccination programme has been a huge success so far with more than 50 million doses administered – a fantastic achievement.
We have one of the highest uptake rates in the world and over 15 million people have now received 2 doses and maximum protection from this dreadful virus.
Every jab brings us one step closer to putting this pandemic behind us. I urge everyone to come forward as soon as they are eligible – the vaccine is safe, effective and could save your life.
The comments made by Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 3 May 2021.
Now we’ve delivered the 50 millionth jab, and 29.4% of the adult population have had the strongest possible protection of 2 doses, we have hit yet another incredible milestone in our vaccination programme.
The vaccine is our way out of this pandemic and the rollout had been a huge national effort. I want to pay tribute to the heroic NHS staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to deliver vaccines in every corner of the United Kingdom at a phenomenal pace.
We are on track to offer a jab to all adults by the end of July but our work is not over yet. We are now inviting everyone over 40 to get their jab. I had mine last week – it’s simple and easy and I encourage everyone else who is eligible to get the jab.
The comments made by Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, on 4 May 2021.
The UK’s presidency of the G7 is an opportunity to bring together open, democratic societies and demonstrate unity at a time when it is much needed to tackle shared challenges and rising threats.
The addition of our friends from Australia, India, the Republic of Korea and South Africa, as well as the chair of ASEAN reflects the growing significance of the Indo-Pacific region for the G7.
The comments made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 4 May 2021.
Like every aspect of the UK-India relationship, the economic links between our countries make our people stronger and safer. Each and every one of the more than 6,500 jobs we have announced today will help families and communities build back from coronavirus and boost the British and Indian economies.
In the decade ahead, with the help of the new Partnership signed today and a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, we will double the value of our trading partnership with India and take the relationship between our two countries to new highs.
The speech made by Alok Sharma, the COP26 President, on 4 May 2021.
Good afternoon.
The future of the road transport sector is clear. And that future is zero emissions.
The transition is happening faster than ever before.
The pace of zero emissions vehicle sales has been quickening.
In the EU, 10 percent of the cars sold in 2020 were hybrid or electric, that is expected to rise to 15 percent this year.
In Norway electric car sales have overtaken petrol and diesel.
Six months ago, the UK was planning to phase out new polluting vehicles by 2040.
Today, we will do so by 2030.
Matching the ambition shown by the likes of Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
While Norway is set for a 2025 phase-out.
Manufacturers are taking action too. Volvo will phase out internal combustion engine sales by 2030, General Motors by 2035.
We know that action from governments and business reinforce one another.
So, as we look to speed-up the transition to green transport, we need action from both groups.
And we must speed it up, because, today, road transport is responsible for 10 percent of global emissions.
To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, we need all new car sales to ]be zero emission by 2040. Earlier in the most advanced markets.
And a faster transition can benefit us all. Thanks to economies of scale reducing costs.
So, to help get the transition moving faster, the UK COP26 Presidency established the Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council.
Bringing together ministers and governments representing some of the world’s biggest car markets, to look at how we can work together.
Our work is very much informed by consultations with business and civil society.
I hope your discussions today also help to establish ways to accelerate the move to zero emissions vehicles.
And I encourage those of you who have not yet done so to make bold commitments.
Commitments that push the world closer towards its clean future.
And that help your company, or your countries’ manufacturers, to get ahead.
To capitalise on the now inevitable transition to zero emissions road transport around the world.
So I wish you the best of luck with your discussions and deliberations.
Thank you.
The comments made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 4 May 2021.
The UK and India share many fundamental values. The UK is one of the oldest democracies, and India is the world’s largest. We are both committed members of the Commonwealth. And there is a living bridge uniting the people of our countries.
In the last week the British people have stepped up in their thousands to support our Indian friends during this terrible time in a demonstration of the deep connection between the UK and India.
This connection will only grow over the next decade as we do more together to tackle the world’s biggest problems and make life better for our people. The agreements we have made today mark the beginning of a new era in the UK-India relationship.
The comments made by Alok Sharma, the COP26 President-Designate, on 4 May 2021.
The UK and India share a longstanding partnership and I am greatly encouraged by the steps we have taken today to bolster our joint efforts on tackling climate change.
If the world is to become net zero by the middle of the century and keep 1.5 degrees in reach, everyone must raise their ambition within this decade and work together to make real change for a cleaner, greener planet.
I am proud of the close collaboration on this crucial issue which our two countries have forged, especially during this very difficult time for India as it battles with COVID.