UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: 2024

  • PRESS RELEASE : Killer driver, Harley Whiteman, who fled scene has sentence increased [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Killer driver, Harley Whiteman, who fled scene has sentence increased [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 25 July 2024.

    A dangerous driver under the influence of drink and drugs who killed a 13-year-old boy and fled the scene has had his sentence increased.

    Harley Whiteman, 20, from Hirwaun, South Wales, has had his six years and nine months’ sentence quashed and a nine years’ detention imposed after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    The court heard that on 29 February 2024, Whiteman was driving erratically and at speed through Hirwaun with two friends after he had been drinking and taking drugs.

    On the Brecon Road, Whiteman swerved to avoid hitting another car, which caused him to mount the kerb and hit 13-year-old Kaylan Hippsley.

    Kaylan was thrown into the air and was treated at the scene but died three days later in hospital.

    Whiteman fled the scene but returned shortly after, shouting at those who were trying to help Kaylan.

    When police officers later arrested Whiteman, he refused to take a breathalyser test and was verbally abusive towards them.

    The Solicitor General Sarah Sackman MP said:

    Harley Whiteman’s reckless actions have broken a family and stolen the life of a thirteen-year-old boy. That Whiteman fled the scene before abusing people tending to Kaylan, as well as police officers, is utterly deplorable.

    The court’s rightly increased Whiteman’s sentence and this should send a clear warning to those who recklessly drive at high speeds and endanger the lives of others that they will be punished with the full force of the law.

    On 30 April 2024, Whiteman was sentenced to six years’ and nine months’ detention in a Young Offenders Institution for one count of causing death by dangerous driving

    On 24 July, Whiteman’s sentence was substituted to a nine years’ detention after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Hundreds of wildflowers helping to attract rare bees to Walsall [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Hundreds of wildflowers helping to attract rare bees to Walsall [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 July 2024.

    Volunteers helped to plant 400 wildflowers at Purple Horizons Nature Recovery site in Walsall to attract rare bees.

    Wildflowers planted by volunteers in Walsall are helping to attract rare bees to the area as part of a project to restore nature in the West Midlands.

    The wildflower planting was part of the Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project, a partnership that includes Natural England, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT), Walsall Council and the University of Birmingham.

    It aims to restore and connect areas of heathlands across 12,000 hectares on the fringes of the urban West Midlands to support the species which rely on it and is part of a national initiative to develop a Nature Recovery Network.

    Much of the project aims to make space for bees and wasps in freshly dug earth including the Tormentil Mining Bee, a priority species in desperate need of ‘bee beaches’ – areas of soft soil banks where they burrow and build their nests. The bee is scarce in the UK due to the loss of heathlands, with around 80% of heathlands lost over the last two centuries.

    Earlier this year 60 volunteers took part in the planting at Pelsall Common, Heath End and who helped to plant 400 plug plants of the Tormentil, Harebell and Cat’s Ear species. These attract the Tormentil Mining Bee and provide a source of food for the bees and their young.

    Emma Johnson, Natural England’s Deputy Director for the West Midlands said:  “We are so grateful to the volunteers who have given their time to help plant hundreds of wildflowers to provide vital food for these important and amazing species.  A thriving population of wild bee species is critical to supporting healthy natural systems and for pollinating crops such as apples, strawberries and oilseed rape.

    Volunteers were also able to visit the Turner’s Wood Nature Reserve, where Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust were holding an open day.

    The Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project aims to create a network of heathlands, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands which will help the recovery of and ensure long-term resilience of the area’s reptiles, birds and pollinators.  Within this initiative, several partners are trialling different habitat creation methods for bees.  This includes Lichfield District Council, Staffordshire County Council, Walsall Council and the Canal & River Trust.

    Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing, Leisure, and Public Spaces at Walsall Council said:  “Walsall Council is proud to be a part of the Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project. This initiative not only restores vital habitats for rare bees but also fosters a strong sense of community through volunteer engagement. The efforts of our volunteers today demonstrate our collective commitment to enhancing our natural environment and supporting biodiversity in the West Midlands.”

    The effectiveness of the habitat creation methods is being monitored by Aaron Bhambra, a researcher at the University of Birmingham.

    Aaron said:  “The work we are carrying out restoring locally important sites like these is critical for conserving threatened pollinators across the region.  The wildflowers are starting to flower and seem to have established well at the sites, we had bees foraging on them whilst we were planting them on the day so I am sure they are being used.”

    Advice and funding is being provided by Natural England, and the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust are helping communities get involved.

    Walsall Council was recently awarded a Defra Bees Needs Champion award in recognition of the flower planting and creation of bee-beaches.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Nearly £50 million unlocked for world-leading UK Biobank following new industry backing [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Nearly £50 million unlocked for world-leading UK Biobank following new industry backing [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 25 July 2024.

    Amazon Web Services (AWS) will provide around £8 million worth of cloud computing storage access to support UK Biobank, the world’s leading biomedical database.

    • Cloud computing company Amazon Web Services (AWS) will provide around £8 million worth of cloud computing storage access to support UK Biobank, the world’s leading biomedical database
    • contribution unlocks a further £8 million in match-funding from government
    • backing supports research that is being used to develop new diagnostics, treatments and cures for devastating diseases like Parkinson’s, dementia and cancer

    Research being used to develop new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases like dementia, Parkinson’s, diabetes and cancer will benefit from a £16 million boost to upgrade how UK Biobank uses and stores its growing wealth of health data.

    Announced by the Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle today (Thursday 25 July), Amazon Web Services (AWS) will provide $10 million (around £8 million) worth of cloud computing credits to help ensure UK Biobank has the cloud infrastructure it needs to securely store and handle its unrivalled wealth of health data. This contribution will give UK Biobank circa £8 million in AWS credits, providing access to data storage as well as other AWS services, such as AI and machine learning.

    This will be matched by a further £8 million in government investment, and forms part of the public, private and philanthropic group set up to keep the world-leading facility at the forefront of medical research.

    In October last year, a public-philanthropic consortium was set up to ensure UK Biobank’s long-term future, with initial funding donated by Eric Schmidt and Ken Griffin, and matched by government to a total of £32 million. Today’s further contribution means almost £50 million backing has now been achieved for UK Biobank – putting fundraising efforts in touching distance of the ultimate goal for funding which was set out when that initial funding was announced.

    UK Biobank is the world’s most advanced source of data for health research, helping the life sciences sector to transform healthcare for people across the UK and worldwide. It is a database of in-depth genetic, health and lifestyle information from half a million UK volunteers. Researchers worldwide can apply to access to an unparalleled volume of de-identified and secure data, and are using it to enable medical breakthroughs, from detecting cardiac disease earlier, to developing tests for Alzheimer’s. De-identified UK Biobank data is already accessible, securely and worldwide, for approved researchers on the UK Biobank Research Analysis platform, which is hosted on AWS and enabled by DNAnexus.

    Visiting UK Biobank today, Science Secretary Peter Kyle said:

    UK Biobank is helping researchers around the world tackle some of the biggest health problems facing humanity – from dementia to heart disease – by putting an unprecedented scale of information at their fingertips.

    This research is helping us develop the treatments that will improve and hopefully prolong all our lives.

    This contribution from Amazon Web Services – matched by government – will mean that UK Biobank has the cloud infrastructure it needs, to underpin such a vast undertaking. This is just the start of our plan to work hand-in-hand with industry and academia, to harness the power of life sciences to grow our economy and boost healthcare.

    Minister for Science Lord Vallance said:

    While the UK is an enviable destination for life sciences research, tackling the profound challenges that diseases like dementia and cancer pose to society, and the economy, is simply too vast a task for any one country to face alone. By giving approved researchers the world over, access to an unrivalled volume of health data, UK Biobank exemplifies how a collaborative approach to science can make both the UK and the world healthier and more prosperous.

    Advances in science and health succeed best when we work together – and that applies to close partnership with the private sector, as well. Amazon Web Services’ contribution – recognising the unique value of UK Biobank’s work – shows the value these partnerships can unlock, and precisely why we want to build even closer relationships to tackle healthcare challenges and unlock growth.

    John Davies, Director, UK Public Sector at Amazon Web Services, said:

    We are delighted that UK Biobank is extending its use of the AWS Cloud to give approved researchers around the world access to the vital data that will support medical breakthroughs. UK Biobank has the largest dataset of whole genome sequences in the world, with data from an aging cohort that is almost 20 years old.

    In using AWS, UK Biobank is able to store this vast amount of health data securely, and scale up the data platform quickly and easily, as more data is added in the future. Using cloud infrastructure to store and access data will also help UK Biobank unlock the benefits of more advanced digital capabilities such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, which will further speed-up research advancements in healthcare.

    Professor Sir Rory Collins, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Investigator of UK Biobank, said:

    This contribution will make our participants very happy, as it means the data they have provided can be used by even more researchers around the world. We are truly grateful for this contribution from Amazon Web Services and the UK government. This means vital data can be accessed by researchers from less wealthy countries, or who are starting out in research, as well as those at large universities, charities and companies. By bringing together so many researchers, with different viewpoints and questions, to investigate the data, we have a much better chance of helping improve the lives of everyone, everywhere.

    Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

    UK Biobank isn’t just a major asset for Greater Manchester’s health and life sciences sector – it’s one of the most important health research facilities in the world. Its database plays a vital role in enabling new discoveries that improve public health, and the work done there shows what can be achieved when academia, the public and private sectors come together and use their strengths to address some of our biggest healthcare challenges.

    It was a privilege to welcome the Secretary of State and Science Minister to Greater Manchester to show them some of the groundbreaking innovation and commercialisation happening here. We have an opportunity to be a global leader in health innovation and life sciences – growing our regional and national economy while leading work that transforms the health of the population.

    UK Biobank is supporting ground-breaking advancements in healthcare, such as the development of genetic tests to detect people who have an increased risk of coronary heart disease (note 1), only made possible via analysis of UK Biobank’s genomic data. During the pandemic, UK Biobank data helped researchers deepen their understanding of how lifestyle and inherited factors impacted how patients were affected by COVID-19.

    The consortium supporting UK Biobank will deliver a transformative investment into its future research capacity. This builds on UK Research and Innovation’s 2023 £127.6 million investment in UK Biobank’s new headquarters at Bruntwood SciTech’s Manchester Science Park, set to open in 2026.

    UK Biobank’s database is regularly augmented with new data, such as a recent addition of the largest-ever set of whole genome sequencing data, the largest ever proteomic dataset, and the on-going results of the world’s largest imaging study of whole-body scanning. All of this data will enable researchers to open up new ways to investigate disease mechanisms, particularly for common diseases of older and middle-age, from depression and anxiety to coronary heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis.

    Greater Manchester has the largest concentration of biomedical health research in the UK outside the South East of England and is located at the heart of a dynamic life sciences cluster in the North West. The city-region has particular strengths in diagnostics, genomics, precision medicine and digital health, and its health R&D assets are integrated with its devolved health and social care system to accelerate research into practice.

    References

    1. Genome-wide polygenic scores for common diseases identify individuals with risk equivalent to monogenic mutations, Khera & Kathiresan et al, Nature Genetics, August 2018.

    Notes to editors

    We are building a consortium of philanthropic and industry partners to draw in donations to UK Biobank over a 5-year period. The UK government has made an in-principle commitment of up to £25 million over 5 years, provided that this matched by philanthropic donations to the consortium.

    Philanthropic supporters are backing UK Biobank because it is the most comprehensive health research study in the world, putting it in pole position to help the scientific community better understand a range of common and life-threatening diseases.

    Contributions are entirely philanthropic and do not entail any control over UK Biobank or its operations.

    UK Biobank is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing de-identified genetic, lifestyle and health information and biological samples from half a million UK participants. It is the most comprehensive and widely-used dataset of its kind, and is globally accessible to approved researchers who are undertaking health-related research that is in the public interest, whether they are from academic, commercial, government or charitable settings.

    UK Biobank is helping to advance modern medicine and enable better understanding of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses – including cancer, heart disease and stroke. Over 30,000 researchers from more than 90 countries are registered to use UK Biobank and more than 10,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published as a result. UK Biobank is supported by Wellcome and the Medical Research Council, as well as the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, the UK government’s National Institute for Health and Care Research and Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, Griffin Catalyst and Schmidt Futures.

  • PRESS RELEASE : What is Great British Energy and what does it mean for me? [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : What is Great British Energy and what does it mean for me? [July 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 July 2024.

    We will make Britain a clean energy superpower. The first step to achieving that is to set up Great British Energy.

    Great British Energy will be a company owned by the British people, to deliver power back to the British people.

    We believe people in this country should own and benefit from our natural resources, and Great British Energy is the first step to ending the UK’s energy insecurity.

    What is Great British Energy?

    Great British Energy will be a publicly owned, clean-energy company. It will own, manage and operate clean power projects, such as wind farms, up and down the country.

    It will be headquartered in Scotland and paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants.

    How will it help me?

    Great British Energy will invest clean power projects all across the United Kingdom, such as wind farms, which are the cheapest forms of electricity generation to build and operate.

    This will help make our country energy independent, kicking tyrants like Putin to the curb, tackling climate change and saving families money.

    And investing in clean domestic power will create jobs and build supply chains in every corner of the UK.

    Why do we need a publicly owned energy company?

    It should be the British people who own and benefit from our national resources.

    Great British Energy will allow us to use resources that belong to all of us, and that should be harnessed for the common good – maximising our public assets, rather than flogging them off.

    We already have public ownership of energy in this country, just by foreign governments. At the moment, taxpayers in other countries profit from our energy infrastructure but the British people are missing out.

    Making Britain a clean energy superpower

    Great British Energy is part of this Government’s mission to make the UK a clean-energy superpower.

    As well as harnessing the power of clean energy, we will invest in the industries of the future, and create 650,000 jobs across the country by 2030.

    We’ll invest in home insulation upgrades to help families save money on their bills, and improve access to nature, promote biodiversity, and protect our landscapes and wildlife.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK’s commitment to support Ukraine is ironclad – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK’s commitment to support Ukraine is ironclad – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 July 2024.

    Statement by UK Spokesperson to the UN Mungo Woodifield at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

    Colleagues, on 24 February 2022 many of us were sitting in this Council when we learned the terrible news that Russia had launched an illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. On that day, and on every one of the 882 days since, Ukraine has been bravely exercising its right to self-defence under the UN Charter. Ukraine has defended its sovereign land and it has rejected Russia’s vision for a world where states can change borders by force. It has stood up for the principles at the very heart of the UN Charter. The UK’s commitment to support Ukraine is ironclad.

    I would like to use my remarks today to make three points. First, we must never lose sight of the terrible human cost of the war in Ukraine, Putin’s war of choice. Just a few weeks ago, we met after a Russian missile reduced a children’s hospital in Kyiv to rubble. This was the latest example of the horrific attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, which have resulted in over 34 thousand civilians confirmed killed and injured since the invasion began, and which have left over 14.6 million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian assistance. The Russian people are also experiencing the terrible consequences of the invasion. Nearly 70,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the last 60 days alone, adding to the more than half a million Russian troops killed or wounded since the start of the invasion.

    Second, Russia has become increasingly desperate to procure weapons to sustain its attacks on Ukraine. Russia has received hundreds of drones from Iran and significant quantities of weapons from the DPRK. It is absurd, but frankly no longer surprising, that Russia criticises legitimate Western support for Ukraine’s self-defence while it procures weapons from the DPRK in flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions that it supported. We reiterate our call on all third parties immediately to cease material support for Russia’s war of aggression.

    Third, the UK – together with our Allies and partners – will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. At the NATO Summit earlier this month the UK, alongside 22 other countries and the EU, signed up to the Ukraine Compact. This declared our enduring commitment to support Ukraine’s self-defence and to deter aggression. Our resolve will not waver.

    The UK has committed to sustain current levels of military support to Ukraine for as long as it takes. And we will continue to support Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression until a just and lasting peace is secured, in line with the UN Charter. It is for Ukraine to determine its position in any negotiations. Just as it is for Ukraine to determine its democratic future. Ukraine is a sovereign country making sovereign decisions about the defence of its sovereign land and the sooner Russia understands this, the better.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Economic ties with Southeast Asia strengthened as Foreign Secretary makes first visit to Indo-Pacific [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Economic ties with Southeast Asia strengthened as Foreign Secretary makes first visit to Indo-Pacific [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 July 2024.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrives in Laos for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

    • David Lammy will join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting this week to advance UK economic, climate and health partnerships
    • the visit will strengthen ties with some of the world’s fastest growing economies
    • this comes as part of the government’s mission to unlock economic growth and create jobs in the UK and across the Indo-Pacific region

    The UK will bolster economic cooperation with Southeast Asian countries as the Foreign Secretary arrives in Laos today (25 July) for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

    In Vientiane, the Foreign Secretary will position the UK as a key partner to the Indo-Pacific region by forging closer collaboration on areas including trade, climate change and health security. Marking his first official visit to the region, the summit will highlight this government’s plan to strengthen Britain’s influence with the global powers of tomorrow.

    With a combined population of almost 700 million people and the ASEAN economy set to be the fourth largest in the world by 2030, the Foreign Secretary will use his visit to drive forward the UK’s economic cooperation with ASEAN and its member states. Britain is a proud trading nation – forging closer ties with this region is vital for opening opportunities for British businesses to tap into dynamic markets which are growing at pace. This all forms part of the government’s mission to boost prosperity and deliver more jobs at home to help achieve the highest sustained​ growth in the G7.

    As part of the government’s mission to regain the UK’s leadership on development, the Foreign Secretary will announce a £25 million UK-ASEAN partnership to tackle the world’s most pressing global health challenges. The fund will help detect and prevent future diseases and boost health security within the region and also at home.

    The meeting is also an opportunity to reaffirm the UK’s position as a climate leader, with a new UK-ASEAN Green Transition Fund worth up to £40 million to help boost green growth and leverage UK expertise to support countries at the forefront of the climate crisis. The funding will help unlock green growth for ASEAN businesses and in turn provide opportunities for green investments from the UK.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

    ASEAN is home to almost 700 million people and will be the fourth largest economy by 2030. Boosting our cooperation with the Indo-Pacific is crucial for Britain’s future economic success, creating more jobs and opportunity on both sides of the world.

    We will secure prosperity for the British people in a way that drives growth at home, protects the environment and reinforces Britain’s standing on the global stage.

    The Foreign Secretary’s visit also provides an opportunity to underscore the government’s commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific, and show that it stands steadfast with our ASEAN partners in protecting regional stability.

    In the margins of the meeting, the Foreign Secretary will hold bilaterals with his counterparts from ASEAN’s member states, as well as other countries in the region such as Japan and New Zealand. He will use these opportunities to underline the UK’s commitment to working with them on a broad spectrum of issues including security, the economy, the climate crisis and education.

    ASEAN follows a visit this week to India, where the Foreign Secretary agreed with counterparts to step up cooperation through a number of new joint schemes, including a UK-India Technology Security Initiative. This summer, the UK will launch a new Chevening ASEAN Scholarship Programme, further strengthening our education ties by bringing some of ASEANs best minds to the UK.

    The UK became an ASEAN Dialogue Partner in 2021, which gave the UK a seat at the table to cooperate more closely with countries in the region. In 2022, the UK and ASEAN agreed a joint Plan of Action setting out a roadmap for cooperation on areas of joint interest.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Cuba – James Hooley [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Cuba – James Hooley [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 July 2024.

    Mr James Hooley OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba in succession to Sir George Hollingbery KCMG. Mr Hooley will take up his appointment during March 2025.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: James David Hooley

    2024 to present Full-time language training (Spanish)
    2022 to 2024 FCDO, Deputy Director, Protocol (Joint Head of Royal & Coronation Unit, later Head of Royal Unit)
    2017 to 2022 Washington, Head of Political Section
    2016 Home Office, Joint International Counter Terrorism Unit
    2013 to 2015 FCO, Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary
    2012 to 2013 FCO, International Organisations Department, Head of Sanctions Section
    2009 to 2012 Nairobi, Second Secretary (Somalia)
    2008 to 2009 Home Office, UK Border Agency International Group (Political)
    2007 to 2008 FCO, Counter Terrorism Department, Desk Officer
    2007  Joined FCO
  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Defence Declaration signed with Germany on 48-hr defence diplomacy drive by defence secretary [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Defence Declaration signed with Germany on 48-hr defence diplomacy drive by defence secretary [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 July 2024.

    A new joint defence declaration with Germany has been signed by the Defence Secretary.

    • John Healey MP makes first visits as new Defence Secretary to France, Germany, Poland and Estonia.
    • In Germany he signed the most comprehensive joint defence declaration agreeing to closer cooperation as the first step in a deep new UK-German defence relationship.
    • Defence Secretary meets with counterparts as part of the UK Government’s reset of relationships with European Allies – and thanks UK service personnel defending NATO’s eastern border.

    A new joint defence declaration with Germany has been signed by the Defence Secretary as part of a 48-hour drive of defence diplomacy, making his first visits to France, Germany, Poland, and Estonia.

    Meeting counterparts across Europe, the Defence Secretary will set out the new government’s commitment to deepen defence ties with European allies, within a ‘NATO-first’ defence strategy.

    It follows last week’s European Political Community Summit, hosted in the UK, where the Prime Minister Keir Starmer fired the starting gun on resetting relations with Europe.

    In a demonstration of how European security is the new government’s foreign and defence priority, the Defence Secretary and his German counterpart signed a new joint declaration on closer defence cooperation. This will be the most comprehensive defence agreement that has been signed between the UK and Germany.

    Our international alliances are a crucial component of a secure Britain, and domestically the Government will ensure that defence and security are at the heart of economic growth and the prosperity of the UK.

    Last night, the Defence Secretary met counterparts in France, alongside the Chiefs of Defence Staff from both nations, and thanked British personnel helping to support security at the Paris Olympics.

    In Germany, the Defence Secretary signed a joint declaration, committing the UK and Germany to deepen defence cooperation. This the first step of a new defence relationship between the UK and Germany and a new UK German Defence Agreement as discussed by Olaf Scholz and Keir Starmer at the recent NATO Summit.

    On Thursday, the Defence Secretary will travel to Estonia to meet UK military personnel deployed to protect NATO’s eastern border with Russia. He will pay tribute to the role UK forces are playing in the region as an example of how NATO is the cornerstone of Europe’s defence. On the visit, he will present personnel with the wider service medal.

    As part of the UK’s joint defence declaration with Germany today, ministers are expected to agree six defence priorities for closer working following Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, recognising the need to collaborate more closely to defend our shared values and reaffirm our commitments to NATO and collective security in Europe.

    Defence Secretary John Healey, said:

    In our third week, this Government is getting on with the job and resetting our relationships with European Allies to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

    These visits send a clear message that European security will be this government’s first foreign and defence priority.

    Our new defence declaration between the UK and Germany will kickstart a deep, new defence relationship, built on our nations’ shared values. And in France, Poland and Estonia we will continue to strengthen our defence ties with our European Allies – as we all stand steadfast behind Ukraine.

    It is a privilege to visit and thank our British troops defending NATO’s eastern border with Russia. Their presence and fortitude in the face of Putin’s aggression shows that NATO is the cornerstone of European defence.

    Objectives set out in Wednesday’s joint declaration include strengthening UK and German defence industries, reinforcing Euro-Atlantic security, improving the efficiency of joint operations, confronting evolving security challenges such as the cyber domain, and supporting Ukraine.

    Both countries are among the biggest providers of military and economic support to Ukraine. The UK government will continue to do so by providing £3bn of military support every year until Ukraine wins and ramping up and speeding up the delivery of vital military aid.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Declaration on Enhanced Defence Cooperation between Germany and the United Kingdom [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Declaration on Enhanced Defence Cooperation between Germany and the United Kingdom [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 July 2024.

    The Ministry of Defence of Germany and the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom commit to improve and further enhance bilateral defence cooperation to better meet the common challenges of the 21st century and to best secure the common interests of both countries in defence-related areas.

    Recognising the imperative for closer collaboration in the face of evolving geopolitical challenges and shared security threats and building on existing lighthouses of bilateral cooperation between Germany and the UK, such as the German-British Amphibious Engineer Battalion 130 in Minden, the Defence Ministers of Germany and the United Kingdom endeavour to embark upon a new path of enhanced partnership and defence cooperation, to promote stability in NATO’s eastern flank and in Europe as a whole and beyond for the Euro-Atlantic area. We consider closer defence cooperation as an important first step in a new relationship between Germany and the United Kingdom.

    Strategic Context

    In light of the escalating security concerns, exacerbated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and a deteriorating strategic environment, the preservation of European security demands a unified response. The Defence Ministers of Germany and the United Kingdom recognise the urgency of the situation and the imperative for closer collaboration to address these challenges collectively.

    As staunch NATO Allies, we reaffirm our commitment to its principles, and acknowledge its indispensable role in securing our collective deterrence and defence. We recognise the need to strengthen the European contribution to NATO, which will enhance our capacity to respond effectively to evolving security threats.

    Through strategic cooperation in defence procurement, research, and technological innovation, we aim to contribute within our responsibilities to bolstering our industrial capabilities and enhance our operational effectiveness. By leveraging our respective strengths and fostering interoperability, we will build a resilient partnership capable of addressing the complex security challenges facing our region.

    As we confront these challenges together with partners, we are guided by our shared values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. By working hand in hand, Germany and the United Kingdom seek to contribute to maintaining the Alliance’s effective and credible deterrence and defence tasks. At the same time, both Germany and the United Kingdom remain committed to the security of Europe.

    Priority Objectives

    Strengthening Defence Industries:

    Both Ministries of Defence will explore opportunities to contribute to nurturing and promoting the defence industrial base in Europe, foster joint procurement initiatives and interoperability, and advance research and development endeavours to enhance capability production and technological innovation.

    Reinforcing Euro-Atlantic Security:

    Affirming NATO as the cornerstone of our defence architecture, we will endeavour to do our part to strengthen NATO, bolster complementary cooperation between NATO and the EU, renew dialogue between Allies, and support collective action within international forums.

    At the Eastern Flank of NATO, we are committed to enhance the cooperation in the framework of Forward Land Forces and NATO’s Advance Plans, in order to support deterrence activities and the ability to defend Allies’ territory. This also includes close coordination and cooperation within the 3+3 Defence Minister’s format, bringing together the three Baltic host nations and the three framework nations Germany, the UK and Canada.

    Enhancing Interoperability:

    Recognising the importance of seamless coordination, we endeavour to enhance interoperability between the German Bundeswehr and United Kingdom Armed Forces across all domains and strengthen standardisation in NATO.

    Addressing Emerging Threats:

    Confronting evolving security challenges, including hybrid warfare, cyber threats, and climate change, we shall explore joint efforts aimed at enhancing our collective resilience and response capabilities within the responsibility of our Ministries.

    Supporting Ukraine:

    Both Ministers aim to coordinate long-term military support for Ukraine, fostering stability and bolstering the country’s defence capabilities in the face of external aggression.

    Deep Precision Strike:

    The Ministries of Defence of Germany and the United Kingdom will, together with partners, undertake a long-term, comprehensive cooperation in the field of long-range capabilities.

    Intergovernmental Cooperation Structures

    To facilitate strategic direction and oversight, our intended closer cooperation may include the establishment of a senior-level group tasked with steering defence cooperation and annual meetings with Defence Ministers. In addition, we propose enhanced dialogue between parliamentarians on defence matters as well as joint strategic planning fora.

    Defence Industrial Collaboration

    Drawing upon existing frameworks such as OCCAR, Eurofighter/Typhoon programme and Boxer User Group, and our bilateral Ministerial Equipment and Capability Cooperation (MECC), the Defence Ministers of Germany and the United Kingdom commit to fostering joint procurement initiatives, advancing NATO standardisation, and promoting technology sharing. The Ministries will also share views on defence exports in the framework of joint programmes, including through regular consultations, which enhance our shared security and support our respective defence industrial bases. We aspire to share our Ministries’ views regarding our defence industrial strategies, underpinned by structured dialogue and cooperative frameworks across land, air, and maritime domains.

    Military to military

    We will explore opportunities to increase our military cooperation, ensuring a coordinated and effective response to emerging security challenges. We intend to place a renewed emphasis on defence diplomacy, interoperability, military doctrine development and high-level strategic exchanges. We are committed to enhancing focused exchanges, fostering robust dialogue, and mutually supporting initiatives. Interoperability will remain a cornerstone of our partnership, strengthened by joint training programs and shared technological advancements.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New order of missiles secures future supply for UK Armed Forces [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New order of missiles secures future supply for UK Armed Forces [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 July 2024.

    A significant number of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) have been ordered by the Government from Thales UK for the supply of the versatile, precision weapon to UK Armed Forces.

    The order is worth £176 million and will equip current and future short-range air defence capabilities for the British Army, such as Stormer combat vehicles, and be fired by the Royal Navy’s Martlet maritime anti-surface missile system deployed from Wildcat helicopters.

    Weighing only 13kg each, LMM provides a precision solution against threats such as drones, helicopters, other aircraft, and small, fast maritime targets.

    Supporting 135 jobs at Thales’ site in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the contract placed by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) – the MOD’s procurement arm – will also support economic growth through small and medium enterprises and the local supply chain.

    Hundreds of LMMs have also been gifted to Ukraine, as they have fought to repel the illegal Russian invasion which started in February 2022.

    Maria Eagle, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, said:

    In a more dangerous world, we must continue to provide weapons to Ukraine but also replenish our own stocks.

    Our new order of Lightweight Multirole Missiles from Thales UK will support this, providing our Armed Forces with versatile missiles that can be used against threats such as drones, helicopters and small maritime targets.

    This contract is also a great example of how defence investment can support economic growth and sustain jobs in the UK for years to come.

    LMM were first fired from a Wildcat in the Bay of Bengal during the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group deployment of 2021, marking initial operating capability for the Martlet system.

    Martlet has since supported operations including Operation Prosperity Guardian, helping to protect commercial ships from attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

    Andy Start, DE&S CEO, said:

    As we have seen during UK military operations and when used by our Ukrainian allies, LMM is a versatile and valuable missile in a variety of battlespaces.

    Now more than ever we need to ensure UK Armed Forces and our allies are fully equipped to defeat the evolving global threats we face. This order with Thales UK is a key element of that collective effort.

    The order follows a £69 million contract placed by DE&S earlier this year, also with Thales UK, to secure the supply chain for key components used in the manufacture of the missiles.

    Production at the Thales Belfast site has doubled since the conflict in Ukraine as the global demand for air defence capabilities has increased.

    Alex Cresswell, CEO of Thales UK, said:

    Today’s contract announcement reflects the enduring partnership between the UK MOD and Thales for the provision of lightweight weapons.

    I look forward to continuing to work closely together with the Ministry of Defence to deliver the capabilities our Armed Forces need, and to make industry more resilient to deal with increasing demand.