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Tag: 2024

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Tonga – Philip Malone [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Tonga – Philip Malone [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 February 2024.

    Mr Philip Malone LVO has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga in succession to Ms Lucy Joyce OBE.

    Curriculum Vitae

    Full name: Philip Malone

    Place of birth: Leeds, UK

    Year Role
    2018 to 2023 Ulaanbaatar, His Majesty’s Ambassador
    2015 to 2018 FCO, Deputy Head, South East Asia and Pacific Department
    2012 to 2015 Vientiane, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
    2008 to 2012 Helsinki, Deputy Head of Mission
    2003 to 2008 Singapore, Head of Chancery
    1999 to 2002 FCO, Head of France/Benelux Team and Deputy Head of Department (2002)
    1995 to 1999 Bandar Seri Begawan, Second Secretary (Defence/Chancery)
    1992 to 1994 Luxembourg, Third Secretary (Commercial/PPA)
    1989 to 1992 FCO, Assistant Parliamentary Clerk
    1986 to 1989 Guatemala City, Third Secretary
    1983 to 1986 Buenos Aires, Attaché
    1981 to 1983 FCO, Attaché, Eastern European and Soviet Department
  • PRESS RELEASE : Presidential Elections in Azerbaijan, 2024 – UK statement to the OSCE [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Presidential Elections in Azerbaijan, 2024 – UK statement to the OSCE [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 February 2024.

    Ambassador Neil Holland thanks the ODIHR mission for observing the Presidential election that took place on 7 February in Azerbaijan.

    The United Kingdom welcomes the fact that Azerbaijan invited an ODIHR mission to observe the Presidential election that took place on 7 February. We were pleased to contribute 10 Short Term Observers to this mission.

    We also welcome the establishment of an Expert Group by the Azerbaijan Central Election Committee to consider election complaints. This election was calm and provisions to allow the Internally Displaced Population to vote in their historic constituencies have been positively noted. We also note the preliminary findings of the observer mission’s report, which indicate that the election took place in a restrictive environment without genuine political alternatives. Some serious violations were observed, some of which run counter to the 1990 Copenhagen Document. The United Kingdom respectfully encourages Azerbaijan to evaluate and fully implement ODIHR’s recommendations.

    We would once again like to express our thanks to the ODIHR mission for playing an impartial and expert role in assessing the design and implementation of democratic processes in Azerbaijan and all OSCE participating States. The UK stands ready to support Azerbaijan in taking forward electoral reforms and improvements to the democratic process on the basis of ODIHR’s recommendations.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The international community is united in our support for Ukraine, no amount of Russian disinformation will break that: UK statement to the OSCE [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : The international community is united in our support for Ukraine, no amount of Russian disinformation will break that: UK statement to the OSCE [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 February 2024.

    Ambassador Neil Holland underlines steadfast international support for Ukraine and calls out Russia’s blatant violation of international law and futile attempts to distort reality.

    Thank you, Madam Chair.

    Up until 24 February 2022, Russia denied its intent to invade its sovereign neighbour; yet almost two-years-on, Russia’s aggression persists. In that time, Russia has sought to seize and consolidate control of Ukrainian territory through violence and repression. There is mounting evidence that Russian forces are responsible for unimaginable atrocities against men, women, and children in the territories temporarily under Russian control, including torture, sexual violence, and summary executions.

    In response to Russia’s aggression, the United Kingdom and our international partners have remained steadfast in our support for Ukraine. We have been clear Russia’s assault on Ukraine is an unprovoked, premeditated, and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic State. It is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter. Furthermore, it contravenes OSCE principles, such as those contained in the Helsinki Final Act. We have responded to Russia’s futile attempt to distort this reality with unity, strength, and resilience.

    To date, multiple OSCE participating States have committed billions to Ukraine, alongside the United Kingdom’s overall package of £12 billion. United in our efforts, the United Kingdom and our international partners have held Russia to account through the implementation of the most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. Together, we have sent a strong message that any effort to undermine global stability will be stopped in its tracks.

    The United Kingdom is proud to support Ukraine in its pursuit of a just and sustainable peace, as set out in President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula. Russia has never given any indication that it is serious about engaging in diplomacy. Instead, President Putin has repeatedly demanded Ukraine’s total capitulation of its sovereign territory – which the Ukrainian people have bravely resisted.

    The United Kingdom has never prevented or stopped any peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine is a sovereign country that can decide its own future. If Russia wants peace, it knows what to do: unconditionally withdraw all its forces from the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine, and respect Ukraine’s right to sovereignty and territorial integrity, based on the UN Charter.

    Peace, stability, and the adherence to international law remain in the interests of all OSCE members. Each of us must uphold this organisation’s core principles, including the non-use of force, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The international community is united in our support for Ukraine. No amount of Russian disinformation will break that. We will continue to stand up for the rule of law and global security and stability.

    In closing, Madam Chair. We remain extremely concerned for the welfare of our three OSCE colleagues of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM). They have been wrongly held by the Russian authorities for over 600 days. There is absolutely no justification for their detention – despite attempts to pretend otherwise, they and their SMM colleagues were simply performing their official duties, duties mandated by all participating States of the OSCE. Russia’s pattern of disinformation is all too familiar, and so, I wanted to take this opportunity to lay out the facts. The UK again calls for their immediate release. Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Fuel poor households – experience, barriers and enablers in reaching net zero [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Fuel poor households – experience, barriers and enablers in reaching net zero [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Committee on Fuel Poverty on 15 February 2024.

    New research on barriers and enablers in the transition to net zero for fuel poor, and the customer journey during the delivery of energy efficiency programmes.

    The Committee on Fuel Poverty (CFP) has commissioned a new research project to understand:

    • the key barriers and enablers to ensure fuel poor households make a fair and equitable transition to net zero
    • the customer journey during the delivery of energy efficiency programmes in 2023 to 2024

    The research is being led by the Centre for Sustainable Energy.

    The research will provide a valuable up-to-date evidence base for the CFP on the experiences, barriers and enablers of households during this crucial time. The research will comprise of 3 work strands:

    • rapid evidence assessment (REA): examining published material relevant to fuel poverty, energy efficiency schemes and an equitable net zero transition
    • in-depth interviews: gathering evidence from key stakeholders and a small number of fuel poor households on the barriers and enablers faced by fuel poor households engaging with energy efficiency schemes
    • deliberative workshops: a series of workshops with key stakeholders to explore in detail the barriers and enablers for households in fuel poverty, and to consider:
      • how these can be either utilised or overcome
      • what role the state should play in facilitating this transition
  • PRESS RELEASE : New appointment to Financial Conduct Authority board announced [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New appointment to Financial Conduct Authority board announced [February 2024]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 15 February 2024.

    The Economic Secretary to the Treasury Bim Afolami has appointed Bryan Zhang to the board of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

    Mr Zhang has extensive experience within financial services, particularly within Fintech, Digital Transformation, and Open Banking. He is a Co-Founder and the Executive Director of the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School; he will take up a role as Non-Executive Director on Monday 19 February 2024 serving an initial three-year term.

    The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Bim Afolami, said:

    “Ensuring that regulation keeps pace with technological developments is crucial to supporting innovation and competition in the financial services sector, whilst also ensuring that consumers are appropriately protected.

    “I am therefore delighted with the appointment of Bryan Zhang to the Board of the FCA. Bryan has demonstrated expertise in technology-driven innovation in financial regulation, which will be of significant benefit to the FCA Board.”

    FCA Chair Ashley Alder said:

    “Bryan brings with him a wealth of experience working at the forefront of innovation. I know he will be an important asset to the board and his expertise will help the FCA keep pace with an ever-evolving landscape.”

    Further Information

    • The Financial Conduct Authority is the conduct regulator for around 45,000 financial services firms and financial markets in the UK.
    • Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, HM Treasury is responsible for appointing the members of the FCA Board.
    • The FCA Board is responsible for setting the organisation’s strategic direction, making key policy decisions, and holding the FCA executive to account.
    • Appointments and reappointments to the FCA Board are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
    • All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the Governance Code on Appointments there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any is declared) to be made public. Bryan Zhang has not engaged in any political activity in the past five years.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Plan proven to slash anti-social behaviour rolled out nationwide [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Plan proven to slash anti-social behaviour rolled out nationwide [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 14 February 2024.

    Hundreds of thousands of hours of patrols to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence across England and Wales, backed by £66m.

    Every police force in England and Wales will receive at least £1 million to ramp up patrols to tackle violence and disorder, targeted in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour.

    It is estimated that the funding, hitting £66 million for England and Wales, will enable each force to deploy uniformed patrols for up to 20,000 hours in “hotspot” areas each year, helping drive down crime and boost public confidence in their local force. Across all 43 forces areas, this will support between 600,000 and 900,000 hours of hotspot patrols over the next year.

    This approach has already been piloted in 10 areas, with over 80,000 hours of patrols in the six months since it launched. This has led to nearly 600 arrests, close to 1,500 stop and searches and around 700 uses of anti-social behaviour powers such as community protection notices and public protection orders. The hotspot approach has helped cut anti-social behaviour by over 40 per cent in Brunswick, in Lancashire according to data from the police and crime commissioner. While in Essex, the police have reported that incidents of anti-social behaviour in Southend have almost halved in the last 12 months with hotspots in specific areas in the city playing a key role in this.

    The £66m of funding announced today will be targeted in areas where there is high prevalence of violence, anti-social behaviour, and illegal public drug consumption, which not only makes communities feel less safe but can fuel drug related violence.

    In a further bid to tackle illicit drug crimes, the government has also set an ambitious new target to smash another 1,000 county lines by August. This will bring the total number of county lines dismantled to over 3,000 since the drug strategy launched in April 2022, with the government already reaching its initial target to shut down 2,000 lines by 2025 well ahead of schedule. This has included arresting and charging hundreds of dangerous criminals who controlled these lines.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    Anti-social behaviour destroys communities and takes away the public’s right to feel safe in the place they call home.

    Our plan to cut crime on our streets is working, with neighbourhood crime, including robbery and theft, almost halved, and we must stick with it.

    We will not stop until every person, no matter where they live, can feel safe and proud of their community. That is why we are investing in every police force in England and Wales so they can tackle violence and disorder head on.

    Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

    Getting more officers out and visible in communities is vital for public confidence. We have delivered 20,000 additional police officers and we’re making sure they are tackling those visible crimes, like anti-social behaviour, which have a corrosive effect on people’s sense of safety.

    Our plan will put more officers on patrol in local communities up and down the country – an approach that has been proven to work, to help ensure that people are not only safe, but that they feel safe, in their neighbourhoods.

    This announcement is the latest step in the government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, launched by the Prime Minister last year, setting out a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of anti-social behaviour.

    To date, the government has:

    • increased the use of drug testing on arrest, enabling police to test for a wider range of class A drugs like ecstasy and methamphetamine
    • upped on-the-spot fines to £1,000 for fly-tipping and £500 for littering or graffiti
    • banned nitrous oxide to stop local parks and amenities from becoming dumping grounds for empty cannisters and sites for loitering and drug use

    This builds on action already taken by the government to make sure police and local authorities have the tools they need to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime which can strike at the heart of local communities, with research showing that 50 per cent of crime is carried out in just 5 per cent of areas on average.

    Through the Criminal Justice Bill police and local authority powers will be strengthened to tackle anti-social behaviour including new powers to quickly close premises which are being used, or likely to be used, to commit nuisance or disorder.

    The roll out of the hotspot model across England and Wales also follows the success of the government’s Grip funding which was provided to 20 forces with areas suffering from high levels of violence. This supported intelligence led patrols to target specific areas and tackle violent crime. In the areas and times where Grip patrols were active, we have seen a 7% reduction in violence and robbery offences.

    At his first National Policing Board last month, the Home Secretary announced that tackling visible crime is one of his top priorities for police given the impact it has on public confidence.

    Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Anti-Social Behaviour, said:

    Tackling violence on our streets and ASB in our communities are top priorities for policing because they can have such a corrosive impact on people’s lives and wider society.

    Residents often tell us they want to see more uniformed officers out in their local area and this additional funding will not only help forces to enhance their current activity, but it will enable them to target their resources to hotspot areas, where criminal activity is most concentrated and areas most at risk of harm.

    I welcome any measure which helps to reduce reports of ASB, violence and disorder and show our communities just how seriously we take these issues.

    Steve Turner, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Joint Lead on Local Policing said:

    Anti-social behaviour is a blight on so many people’s lives, undermining their sense of security and wellbeing. The anti-social behaviour hotspot pilots have demonstrated what can be achieved by concentrating efforts on problem areas and following a zero-tolerance approach to drug taking, loitering and fly-tipping.

    Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) know from their engagement with communities, how the public want the tackling of anti-social behaviour to be prioritised and PCCs have led in the development of the direct approaches used in the ten pilot areas, involving the deployment of both police officers and community-based wardens.

    PCCs welcome the funding for this initiative to be extended to every force area in England and Wales and will continue to work directly with the public to ensure that the areas and activities targeted are both effective and visible.

    Case study 1: Lancashire Constabulary

    Using trial funding Lancashire Police have delivered visible policing hours across the county to deal with anti-social behaviour. After six months of hotspot policing in Brunswick, Blackpool, reported anti-social behaviour has decreased by 42% compared to the same period last year and public confidence in the police tackling anti-social behaviour in the area has increased by 7.9%. Work in Brunswick has included the creation of a monthly PACT (Police and Communities Together) meeting in Brunswick to allow residents and community members and local councillors to positively engage with local officers and relay any concerns that they have.

    Case study 2: Essex Police

    Anti-social behaviour in Southend overall is down by 50% with 1,768 fewer offences reported in the year to the end of January 2024 compared to the previous 12 months. Hotspot patrols in two areas in the city have played a leading role in this, as well policing activity across the city.  Hotspot patrols were carried out in Southchurch Road zone where there had been issues with anti-social behaviour from youths in the park, and reports of homeless people congregating, as well as sex workers and drug-related activity in the stairwells. Whilst in the area surrounding Maple Square, a residential area, there had been issues related to drug dealing and nuisance behaviour. The hotspot patrols in both areas have helped to tackle anti-social behaviour and results so far have been very positive.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £100 million support delivered to back next generation of small business owners [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : £100 million support delivered to back next generation of small business owners [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 15 February 2024.

    The next generation of business leaders have received over £100 million worth of support from the Government backed Start Up Loan Scheme.

    • 15,000 loans have now been delivered to support small business owners aged 18-24 since 2012.
    • Access to finance and advice is available as part of the Help to Grow Scheme to drive government’s ambition to make the UK the best place to start and scale a small business.

    15,000 Start Up Loans worth over £100 million have now been issued to young business founders aged 18-24 since 2012.

    The Start Up Loan Scheme is government backed finance delivered through British Business Bank, which has delivered over £1 billion in loans to SMEs across the country since the scheme launched in 2012.

    The scheme provides invaluable support to young entrepreneurs who are looking to set up a small business – a group which often struggles to get business finance from other sources – and offers an effective pathway into employment, with almost a third of recipients aged 18-24 leaving unemployment thanks to this scheme.

    Of all the loans distributed to entrepreneurs under 25, 39% have also gone to female business owners and 24% to business owners from ethnic minority backgrounds. Outside of London, the North West has received the highest volume of loans (1,992), followed by West Midlands (1,591) and the South East (1,291). London has received 3,099 loans in total since 2012.

    Among those to receive one of these loans, the most popular industries to launch a business in include retail (£8.5m), hospitality (£5.8m) and arts and entertainment (£2.5m).

    Access to finance is a key part of the refreshed Help to Grow Campaign, a one-stop shop for SMEs to find the information they need to start, scale up and grow their own business. The new site brings together the support on offer from the government into one place, making it quicker and more convenient to find the resources business leaders and budding entrepreneurs need to succeed.

    Starting a business for the first time, particularly for younger entrepreneurs can be a daunting process. That’s why the government has also – for the first time ever – created a step-by-step guide on how to set up and grow a business in the UK as part of the Help to Grow website.

    Small Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

    Every large firm started off as a small business and today’s aspiring young entrepreneurs could be the next success story. I urge them to explore how a Start Up Loan could launch their ambitions today.

    Through the British Business Bank, and the Help to Grow campaign, we’ve backed the next generation of business leaders with over £100 million in government backed finance and we’re not stopping there.

    The single biggest way we’re backing businesses is by creating the economic conditions for them to thrive, which is why the government is working hard to deliver on our priorities to halve inflation, grow the economy and cut debt. We’ve made significant progress and it’s clear the economy is turning a corner.

    The government is also tackling a key issue affecting small firms – late payments. We are determined to make the UK the best place in the world to do business, which is why Minister Hollinrake launched the Prompt Payment and Cash Flow Review in 2023. Since the report was unveiled, we are looking at how to prosecute large firms who persistently and knowingly fail to adhere to the Payment Practice Reporting Regulations.

    We’re also backing businesses through our £4.3 billion package to support SMEs with business rates, the Small Business Rates relief taking a third of properties out of paying rates completely, and extending the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief for a fifth year, we are helping businesses navigate challenging economic times.

    Business owner Cory Hibbin, aged 20, is one of the recipients of a Start Up Loan. He took out a £14,500 loan in March 2023 to launch Techie Services. The company, based in Hastings, offers security solutions for residential clients, estates and corporate buildings, including CCTV, alarm systems and network management.

    Cory doesn’t live with family or have any financial support from them so his aspiration of setting up Techie Services would not have been possible without the help of the bank’s funding.

    He left school at 16 and started an apprenticeship as an IT engineer at a consultancy firm. After developing his skills, he started offering surveillance services on the side of this day job. The client was so impressed that they asked him to work for them full-time.

    Cory, founder of Techie Services, said:

    I’m not the sort of person who can take on learning from behind a desk so I left school at 16 to do an apprenticeship with a local IT consultancy company. While working there, I was working on the side in the evenings and at the weekends. Having been there for four years, I felt like I had gained enough experience to start my own company, which is when Techie Services began. I started with one large client, who quickly recommended me to other businesses and individuals, so I took on five new clients in our first six weeks.

    It hasn’t been easy but it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. The money from Start Up Loans was invaluable in the success of the business – I used it to buy tools for installations as well as supplies for the office. While it might seem a big leap of faith to some people, you can’t let the fear of failure stop you from trying in the first place. I urge anyone 18 or above to look into the finance options available to them if they need a hand getting off the ground.

    Richard Bearman, Managing Director, Small Business Lending, British Business Bank said:

    It’s amazing to see people in their late teens and early twenties with such ‘can-do’ attitudes and motivation to achieve success in working life.

    Our £100 million funding milestone is a significant landmark and testament to the hard work of Start Up Loans, ensuring anyone with a good business idea like Cory’s, no matter their age, has the access to the funding needed to bring it to life. The impact of this on communities across the UK has been huge and we’re determined to keep backing aspirational young people with money and mentoring.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Leeds to become beating legal heart of the North with new-state of-the-art courts and tribunals [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Leeds to become beating legal heart of the North with new-state of-the-art courts and tribunals [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 15 February 2024.

    Court and tribunal capacity in Leeds is set to be boosted by the opening of new state-of-the art courts and tribunals in the city centre, giving victims, defendants and claimants quicker access to justice.

    • new court part of £220 million investment in court maintenance
    • eight new employment tribunal rooms now open at West Gate
    • four new business and property courtrooms under construction to increase local Crown Court capacity

    It comes as the Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk visited the new West Gate court and tribunal building in Leeds yesterday (14 February 2024), funded through the government’s increased investment in the court and tribunal estate across England and Wales.

    In a boost for the city’s legal infrastructure, a total of £6.2 million has been invested in West Gate to create capacity for 12 hearing rooms over 3 floors. This investment in the centre of Leeds expands the estate in the city to 53 court or hearing rooms within a 250-yards radius.

    The building at West Gate includes the space for eight new, fit-for-purpose employment tribunal rooms.

    In addition, construction work is underway to create four new Business & Property Court rooms. They will provide a dedicated space for cases to be heard from business disputes to evictions.

    The Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk said:

    These new state-of-the-art hearing rooms will be a hugely positive addition to Leeds city centre, positioning the city as a leading legal hub. By increasing capacity in the nearby Crown Court, we are also able to tackle more outstanding criminal cases, put victims first and bring more criminals to justice.

    This government is committed to delivering a modern court and tribunal estate that is truly fit for the future.

    The court will also support increased Crown Court capacity in the city, by moving the Business & Property Court work away from Leeds Crown Court, where it is currently situated, to help deliver justice swiftly for victims and defendants.

    The newly refurbished site in the city’s West Gate district is one of a number of sites in Yorkshire to benefit from part of £220 million funding. The two-year funding package is enabling improvement and maintenance works to courts and tribunals across the country, improving the resilience and accessibility of the court system.

    More widely in the Northeast region, some of this funding is being used to:

    • £7 million to replace roofs at Skipton Court House, York Magistrates’ Court and Sunderland Magistrates’ Court
    • Over £5 million in replacing heating systems and pipework at Sheffield Magistrates Court and Durham Crown Court
    • Over £7 million in replacing the windows and exterior cladding at Teesside Magistrates Court
    • £600,000 to replace lifts at York Magistrates’ Court, Newcastle Combined Court, Sheffield Combined Court and Grimsby Combined Court

    By increasing capacity and minimising unplanned maintenance, the government is tackling outstanding cases and ensuring more hearings can go ahead.

    Notes to editors

    • HM Courts and Tribunals Service has secured a 15-year lease at West Gate, with work commencing in May 2023 and expected to complete in Spring 2024.
    • Once completed, the site will have seen a £6.2 million investment in the West Gate site which has funded the fit out including state-of-the-art ICT and all required changes to the building to accommodate the new rooms.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan [February 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 February 2024.

    The Prime Minister hosted His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan for a meeting at Downing Street this afternoon (15 February).

    He welcomed the opportunity to meet with King Abdullah again and reiterated the high value the United Kingdom places on our historic partnership and Jordan’s vital regional role.

    The leaders discussed the crisis in Gaza and agreed it was critical as a first step to secure an immediate humanitarian pause, to get hostages out and considerably more aid in. The UK ultimately wanted to see a sustainable ceasefire – which would require Hamas to no longer be in charge in Gaza and Israel’s security to be assured.

    The Prime Minister welcomed Jordan’s innovative efforts to deliver life-saving aid to Gaza by land and air, and he set out the UK’s work to unblock aid access and alleviate the humanitarian crisis. The UK was deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of any offensive on civilians sheltering in Rafah.

    They also discussed the importance of de-escalating tensions in the West Bank and bolstering the role of the Palestinian Authority to deliver security and prosperity. The Prime Minister highlighted steps the UK has taken to support stability in the West Bank, including sanctioning extremist settlers.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK to supply thousands of drones as co-leader of major international capability coalition for Ukraine [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK to supply thousands of drones as co-leader of major international capability coalition for Ukraine [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 15 February 2024.

    The UK and Latvia will jointly lead a capability coalition, which will see thousands of drones supplied to Ukraine, including first-person view (FPV) drones, which have proven highly effective on the battlefield.

    Ukraine will receive thousands more drones as Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announces today that the UK will co-lead a major drone capability coalition with Latvia for Ukraine.

    As part of the coalition, the UK will scale up and streamline the West’s provision of “first person view” (FPV) drones to Ukraine. FPV drones have proven highly effective on the battlefield since Russia’s full-scale invasion, providing their operators with situational awareness to target enemy positions, armoured vehicles, and ships with explosive ordnance.

    By creating a competition to produce these drones at scale and at an affordable price point, the UK will leverage the strength of Western industry. This is the first project to be launched from the £200 million drone package announced by the Prime Minister in January this year. It will see the UK order thousands of FPV drones for Ukraine, including from UK manufacturers, providing a boost to the industry and delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    The UK continues to do all we can to give Ukraine what it needs – upping our aid to £2.5bn this year and committing £200m to manufacture drones, making us Ukraine’s largest drone supplier.

    Today, we’re going even further. I’m proud to announce that the UK and Latvia will co-lead an international coalition to build Ukraine’s vital drone capabilities. Together, we will give Ukraine the capabilities it needs to defend itself and win this war, to ensure that Putin fails in his illegal and barbaric ambitions.

    The Defence Secretary also meets his NATO counterparts today to review progress on support for Ukraine, NATO’s new warfighting plans, ramping up defence production capacity and preparations for the NATO Summit in Washington in July, where leaders will mark the Alliance’s 75th anniversary.

    The UK continues to play a leading role in NATO, contributing to all operations and missions, committing almost all our Armed Forces under the NATO Force Model, and offering a full spectrum of capabilities.

    In the margins of the NATO ministerial, the Defence Secretary will bring together his counterparts from 13 NATO Allies* and Sweden to sign an agreement on two new multinational procurement initiatives focusing on munitions and missiles. Spearheaded by the UK, these initiatives aim to increase defence industrial capacity across the Euro-Atlantic area, replenish stockpiles at pace and continue support to Ukraine. This multinational approach offers a scalable solution for nations to jointly procure more of the missile and munition types that NATO and Ukraine need.

    The UK is also working with NATO Allies Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States to deliver priority air defence equipment to Ukraine. This partnership, which Canada recently joined, has so far delivered hundreds of short and medium air defence missiles and systems to keep Ukraine’s cities safe from Russian bombardment.

    Tomorrow, the Defence Secretary will participate in the Munich Security Conference and meet international counterparts to discuss Euro-Atlantic security issues, including support for Ukraine.

    The UK is committed to standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes and has committed to provide £2.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024/25, an increase of £200 million on the previous two years.

    • Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania and Türkiye.