Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : Thousands of young people set to benefit from new support into work and training [May 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 23 May 2025.

Thousands of young people across England will receive targeted support into work, under a new £45 million scheme launched by the Work and Pensions Secretary.
- Landmark programme to support thousands of 18 to 21 year olds into education, work and training officially launches in Liverpool.
- Marks major win in the Government’s Youth Guarantee to ensure all young people have the chance to upskill, earn or learn.
- Comes as part of the Government’s Plan for Change to drive growth and break down barriers to opportunity by helping people into work.
Thousands of young people across England will receive targeted support into work, under a new £45 million scheme launched by the Work and Pensions Secretary.

The Youth Guarantee trailblazers will match young people to job or training opportunities and will provide all-important foundations for the national roll-out of the programme, ensuring all 18 to 21 year olds in England can access help to find work – breaking down barriers to opportunity as part of the Plan for Change.

The trailblazers will play a key role in helping the government understand which local structures are most effective and in identifying the organisations best placed to deliver targeted support.

They will also develop innovative ways to identify, engage and sustain contact with young people most at risk of falling out of education, employment or training.

It comes as new ONS figures published today (Friday 23 May 2025) will reveal the number of young people not in education, employment or training, with the current figure standing at 987,000.

Liverpool City Region is one of eight areas across England set to receive a £5 million investment into work with 18 to 21 year olds most at risk of falling out of education or employment.

In its first year, the City Region aims to support tens of thousands of young people. Within this, the trailblazer will focus on vulnerable young people often facing the most complex barriers, including care leavers, nearly 40% of whom are not in employment, education or training.

They will receive a range of support including work and training opportunities, free travel passes, mental health support and money advice.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

Young people are our future – and yet for too long they have been denied access to the opportunities and support they need.

At Liverpool FC, the home of champions, we are championing young people to get the skills, education and jobs they require to achieve their ambitions.

We are investing £45 million – including almost £5m here in Liverpool – to deliver our Youth Guarantee, so every young person across England gets the chance to earn or learn, as we boost living standards and get Britain working under the Plan for Change.

Further to this, Liverpool will work with over 600 employers to develop tailored roles and placements, and through the region’s BeMore portal which brings career and skills advice straight into your pocket. A panel made up of young people to ensure they are at the heart of decision making will also be set up.

The city has already had success in tailoring support to meet the needs of young people, including:
- Ethan who has cerebral palsy and had just finished university with no work experience. With the help of Liverpool, including support with housing, mental health and navigating familial challenges, Ethan gained part-time experience as a youth support worker and has since been offered a job with the Civil Service.
- Luke who felt he was in a black hole searching for jobs but not being successful. He has since received an apprenticeship levy from Liverpool which meant he was able to do his Level 4 Marketing apprenticeship and now works in Product & Operations Market at Liverpool Football Club.
- Ellie who decided to explore new career paths following mental health challenges. Through engaging with Liverpool, she was provided with a laptop in order to join the Movement to Work programme and has since been offered a job at the DWP.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said:

When I travel across our region, I feel fortunate to meet some of the best and brightest young people in the country. But for too long, too many of them have been held back from getting on in life, not because of a lack of talent, but by a lack of opportunity – and I have made it my mission to put that right.

It’s because of the investments we’ve made, through initiatives like my Young Person’s Guarantee and BeMore, that we’ve been able to connect tens of thousands of people in our area with jobs and training opportunities. Now, backed by the government’s Plan for Change, we can go even further, giving even more young people the best possible start in life.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

Through our Plan for Change we are breaking down barriers to opportunity so every young person can get on in life, regardless of their background.

The Youth Guarantee is a genuine game changer for young people in England. I’m delighted Liverpool is leading the way as one of our trailblazers – ensuring every young person has support to develop essential skills for work and life at the critical early stage of their careers.

Every young person deserves the best life chances — and we won’t stop until everyone has a level playing field to succeed.

Liz Kendall and Mayor Steve Rotheram unveiled the landmark programme at a careers fair in partnership with key Youth Guarantee partner, the Premier League.

Hosted at the iconic Anfield Stadium, three days before the champions lift the Premier League Trophy, around one thousand 18 to 21 year olds attended with opportunities on offer from around 40 employers – including Liverpool FC Foundation, Everton in the Community, John Lewis, and Google.

Clare Sumner, Chief Policy and Social Impact Officer at the Premier League, said:

The Premier League and our clubs continue to support young people across the country with a range of positive opportunities that help them build self-confidence and fulfil their potential.

The jobs fair at Anfield is the latest initiative supporting those who need it most in clubs’ local communities, and we will continue to work with Government to deliver similar events as part of the Youth Guarantee.

The programme comes alongside an unprecedented £1 billion investment to support disabled people and those with long-term health conditions back into work, as well as major reforms to Jobcentres to better align their services with the needs of employers.

Two youth trailblazers have already launched in London with more beginning to start work in the West of England, Tees Valley, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, West Midlands, and East Midlands

As well as this, nine inactivity trailblazers backed by £125 million have been rolled out across England and Wales. These programmes will help areas with the highest levels of economic inactivity by connecting work, health and skills offers.

Richard Rigby, Head of UK Government Affairs at The King’s Trust said:

With almost one million young people across the UK waking up today with no job, no training, and no education to go to, the prominence being given to developing a Youth Guarantee is not only very welcome, but absolutely vital.

Young people’s futures are worth fighting for. By getting behind them, we can all help to make the UK a healthier, wealthier, more positive, more cohesive place. The King’s Trust looks forward to working with local areas, including Liverpool City Region, to understand how we can help to deliver the Guarantee.

Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE, Founder and CEO of Youth Employment UK, said:

It is great to see the Youth Guarantee launch in Liverpool. The focus on providing young people with the tools that they need to transition into education, employment or training is critical.

Young people, particularly those who are care experienced or care leavers face multiple barriers to accessing employment so I am pleased to see those barriers be recognised and tailored support put in place.

Young people when in good quality employment not only add huge value to an employer but they are also much more like to feel fulfilled and happier.

Susannah Hardyman MBE, CEO of Impetus, said:

The Youth Guarantee Trailblazers are a vital step toward ensuring every young person – regardless of background – has the opportunity to thrive in employment. Targeted interventions are critical to reaching the young people furthest from the labour market.

Our research shows that factors like socioeconomic disadvantage, lower educational qualifications, and geographic location can combine to make a young person nearly three times more likely to be not in education, employment, or training than average – but this is not inevitable.

By connecting these young people with the right support and resources, we can spur economic growth, deliver on the Government’s opportunity mission, and transform lives.

Sarah Yong, Director of Policy and External Affairs at the Youth Futures Foundation said:

The launch of the eight trailblazers represents a positive first step in Government’s plans for its Youth Guarantee; we will await the learnings from these place-based approaches from this pilot year with interest.

The voices and experiences of young people alongside high-quality evidence of what works will be crucial for the Government in further developing the Guarantee for national rollout.

This comes as the government has, for the first time, linked immigration policy to our plan to deliver a higher skilled economy that backs British workers.

Alongside boosting the National Living Wage, we are also creating more secure jobs through the Employment Rights Bill and overhauling Jobcentres as we Get Britain Working as part of the Plan for Change.

Additional information:
- The latest ONS young people not in education, employment or training statistics will be published on Friday 23 May at 9.30 here: Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), UK: May 2025 – Office for National Statistics
- The eight youth trailblazers will be in: Liverpool, West Midlands, Tees Valley, East Midlands, West of England, and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and two in London
- Employment support measures are fully transferred to Northern Ireland. Jobcentre Plus services is reserved in both Scotland and Wales, but the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government also deliver other forms of employment support. The funding announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper is UK wide, the share of funding for devolved Governments will be calculated in the usual way.
- The Youth Guarantee is an England only initiative, and trailblazer locations will reflect this since Skills, Education and Employment support are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- We will work closely with the devolved governments to share experiences and lessons learned.
- Additionally, Wales have developed their own Young Persons Guarantee and Scotland also had one until recently (now a comprehensive offer for all age-groups)
- The UK Government also plans to establish new governance arrangements with the Scottish and Welsh Governments to help frame discussions around the reform of Jobcentres and agree how best to work in partnership on shared employment ambition across devolved and reserved provision.
- Movement to Work is a voluntary collaboration of leading employers in the UK, including the Department for Work and Pensions to help support young people into employment by providing vocational employment and work placement opportunities.
May 25, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Greater Manchester to benefit from recent trade deals [May 2025]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 May 2025.

Trade deals with India, US and the EU that have seen tariffs on key industries slashed are set to help drive growth in Greater Manchester.
- Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham to discuss the benefits of the recent trade deals.
- Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
- The deals benefit the automotive sector that supports 15,000 jobs.
Trade deals with India, US and the EU that have seen tariffs on key industries slashed are set to help drive growth in Greater Manchester.

Reductions in tariffs on automobile exports have provided security for 15,000 workers.

Opens up the region to greater investment to grow the economy, raise living standards and put more money into working people’s pockets – priorities of our Plan for Change.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

The trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for the automotive sector in the region that employs 15,000 workers.

It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.

These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across Greater Manchester.

32,962 people employed in agriculture across the North West will also benefit from our trade deal with the EU. It will reduce checks and red tape, meaning produce grown and farmed in the region has easy access to the UK’s biggest trading partner.

British steel exports are also protected from new rules and restrictive tariffs from the EU, supporting 4,300 people working in the steel industry across the North West.

The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.

He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in Manchester, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

India is a significant marker for the Northwest where over 900 business exported goods worth £412 million last year.

Home to iconic car companies such as Jaguar Land Rover and Bentley, this sector will benefit from measures that reduce automative tariffs from over 100% to 10% under a quota.

This is in addition to the region welcoming investment from businesses in India with IndiGo, India’s biggest airline carrier choosing Manchester as its first ever European destination.

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:

At Manchester Airport, our mission is to connect the North with the world, helping people visit new places, connecting businesses with key global markets, and welcoming tourists and investors to our region.

That is why I am proud that IndiGo – India’s biggest carrier – has chosen Manchester, alongside Amsterdam, as its first ever European destinations.

We know connectivity is a key enabler of trade and productivity. By providing direct access to the world’s fastest-growing major economy, this route will deliver a significant boost to the government’s economic growth mission and coincides perfectly with new of a new UK-India trade deal.

In the same week as the agreement with India, we negotiated the first of its kind deal with the US to reduce tariffs on car exports. Both of these arrangements secure greater certainty for the sector, the 15,000 workers and their families, while also enhancing opportunities for manufacturing in the region to grow.

Manchester will also benefit from access to India’s growing telecommunications market and the commitment in our US deal to increase digital trade and access for the world leading industries in the city.

Just this week, the Prime Minister confirmed a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, create more jobs in South Yorkshire, raising living standards and put more money in people’s pockets.

At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
May 25, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : West Yorkshire to benefit from recent trade deals [May 2025]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 May 2025.

The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit manufacturing that employs nearly 10% of all people in West Yorkshire.
- Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
- Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
- The deals benefit local manufacturing which employs nearly 10% of people in the region.
The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit manufacturing that employs nearly 10% of all people in West Yorkshire.

Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, slashing tariffs on car exports in both deals and our agreement with the US to remove the 25% tariff on steel provides stability for the biggest employers in the region like Hitachi, Bombardier and Siemens.

This means greater job security for workers, stronger economic growth to create more jobs and higher living standards across West Yorkshire.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

The trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for manufacturing in West Yorkshire that employs 10% of people in the region.

It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.

These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve people’s lives across West Yorkshire.

Over 31,000 people employed in agriculture across the region will also benefit from our agreement with the EU. It will reduce checks and red tape, meaning regional specialties like crab, Yorkshire Pudding and cheeses will face easy access to the UK’s biggest trading market.

The agreement also protects British steel exports from new EU rules and restrictive, providing further security for 8,400 jobs in the steel industry across Yorkshire and the Humber.

The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.

He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in West Yorkshire, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including West Yorkshire. Aeroservices, a leading global player in the aviation industry headquartered in Leeds, has also praised the India trade deal, which will enable them to level up the office they opened in Bangalore back in 2022.

Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, India has agreed to reduce tariffs on products including machinery, enhancing the region’s renowned engineering sector.

Based on 2022 trade alone, India will cut tariffs worth over £400 million when the deal comes into force, which will more than double to around £900 million after 10 years.

Formed in 1824, Group Rhodes designs and manufactures advanced metal, heavy ceramic and composite forming machinery.

Mark Ridgway, CEO of Group Rhodes, said:

As a manufacturer of advanced metalforming machinery used in the forming and lightweighting of aircraft, India is a strong market for Group Rhodes and offers significant growth potential.

The recent UK-India trade deal not only sets the scene for reduced tariffs on machinery but also serves to both enhance our competitiveness as a UK exporter and reduce the complexity of trade with this fast-growing market.

In another win for a historic part of the West Yorkshire economy, India has committed to reducing tariffs on UK textiles – that will give local firms access to India’s booming middle class.

In the same week, we negotiated the first of its kind agreement with the US that will reduce tariffs on UK car exports and remove tariffs on steel, protecting two key industries in the region that employ thousands of people.

The US deal also contains provisions to streamline custom rules on textiles and clothes made in West Yorkshire, making it easier for small and medium sized businesses to enter the US market.

Just this week, the Prime Minister confirmed a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, create more jobs in West Yorkshire, raising living standards and put more money in people’s pockets.

At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
May 25, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : More Teachers to benefit from flexible working [May 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 23 May 2025.

Government extend successful programme that supports teachers to plan lessons from home, job-share or work flexible hours.

More teachers are expected to benefit from flexible working thanks to a successful initiative that will help improve teacher retention and deliver high standards for pupils.

The government’s Flexible working ambassadors programme has been extended for a further year to support more schools across the country, enabling teachers to plan lessons from home, job-share or work flexible hours – so they have the time and energy to be at the front of the classroom, delivering high and rising standards for children.

As part of its Plan for Change, the government is committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 expert teachers over the course of this Parliament, so every young person has access to an excellent education. The quality of teaching is the single biggest driver of higher standards in schools.

Hundreds of millions of pounds are also being invested by government to offer tax free financial incentives and professional development to attract and keep the best and brightest teachers across the country, alongside targeted action to improve teachers’ workload and wellbeing.

This action is working, with 2,000 more secondary school teachers training this year than last, a 25% increase in the number of people accepting teacher training places in STEM subjects, and more teachers forecasted to stay in the profession.

The announcement today (22 May 2025) follows the government accepting the school teachers’ pay body recommendation which will give teachers a pay boost of 4% from this September, taking a major step towards re-establish teaching as an attractive, expert profession.

This builds on the work already underway to drive high and rising standards for all schools, including a stronger accountability system through reforms to Ofsted inspection, new regional improvement teams to tackle poorly performing schools, and a new, rich and broad curriculum so pupils are set up for life, work and the future.

Schools Minister, Catherine McKinnell said:

My number one priority is making sure every child has an expert teacher at the front of their classroom, as we know high-quality teaching makes the biggest difference to education outcomes.

We highly value our brilliant teachers, and they deserve working conditions that recognise their professionalism and support their wellbeing.

I’ve seen first-hand how working flexibly can transform teachers’ lives for the better and drive high and rising high standards for their pupils. Our Flexible Working Ambassadors programme will help make sure we deliver on our pledge to recruit and retain more teachers.

The latest figures show that 46%of teachers had a flexible working arrangement in place in 2024, up by 6 percentage points since 2022. But with 47%of teaching staff who said they were considered leaving state education citing a lack of flexible working opportunities as one of the reasons, the government is going further and faster to ensure every school supports their staff’s working lives in modern, practical ways – delivering the best possible education for children and young people.

Evidence shows a high-quality teacher can make around half a GCSE grade difference per pupil per subject, showing the importance of allowing teachers to work flexibly, to retain the best teachers and help children achieve and thrive.

Research also found 82%of school leaders offering flexible working agreed that it had helped to retain teachers who might otherwise leave. 62%of parents said children being taught by 2 teachers in a job-share arrangement had no impact, or a positive impact, on their child

CEO of Reach Schools, Rebecca Cramer said:

Flexible working is imperative to keep great teachers in the classroom. Through the FWAMS programme we have supported schools to employ a culture of openness and communication around how teachers work.

Schools that think innovatively and embrace change around teachers’ work arrangements enhance teacher well-being and productivity and ultimately have a positive impact on the young people in our classrooms.

Director of Humanities and Social Sciences at Reach Academy Feltham, Sarah Corrigan said:

Flexible working has allowed me to stay in the classroom doing something that I love. Without the option of part-time work and some full-time flex, I would have struggled with my work life balance and would have left the teaching profession.

Reach has supported me to return from maternity leave on a part-time basis. Also, like all other teachers in our school, I have been encouraged to take advantage of flex to ensure that I don’t miss the big events in my and my family’s lives by using term time annual leave and compressed hours.

The programme is free to all schools and helps to drive the culture change needed, by offering a range of practical support and resources for schools and teachers.

The extension means more schools can get involved in every region of the country, with a focus on supporting schools in disadvantaged areas, as well as special and alternative provision schools where there can be additional challenges.

The government is also leading the way in modernising the education sector by harnessing the power of AI to free up teachers’ time and unlock more pupil interactions.

Using AI can reduce time spent on admin by several hours a week which is critical to retaining good teachers and bringing more people into the profession – so that teaching can once again be a profession that sparks joy, not burnout.

May 25, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Scottish shipbuilding security and economy boost as warship named [May 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 23 May 2025.

Ceremony attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Smashing a whisky bottle against the hull for good luck, Her Royal Highness formally named HMS Glasgow.

Thousands of Scottish shipbuilders are delivering innovative warships that will protect Britain’s vital interests for decades to come, as HMS Glasgow was officially named in a ceremony at BAE Systems’ Glasgow shipyards (Thurs 22 May).

HMS Glasgow is the first of eight Type 26 frigates, representing a £7.9 billion investment in British shipbuilding, directly supporting 1,700 skilled jobs in Glasgow and a further 2,300 roles across the UK maritime supply chain until 2035.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle said:

The Type 26 programme demonstrates how Scotland’s world-class shipbuilding expertise contributes to both our national security and economic prosperity, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change. With thousands of high-skilled jobs supported in Glasgow and beyond, this programme showcases Scotland’s vital role in UK defence manufacturing.

HMS Glasgow will provide critical protection for the UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent and Carrier Strike Group with unparalleled anti-submarine warfare capabilities, ensuring maritime security well into the 2060s.

The Type 26 programme has transformed into a 29-ship global endeavour after Australia and Canada selected the design for their future frigates, creating significant export opportunities for the UK supply chain.

Defence spending in Scotland currently totals £2.1 billion annually, supporting over 11,000 industry jobs and employing more than 14,000 military and civilian personnel across strategic sites including HMNB Clyde, RAF Lossiemouth and the Clyde shipbuilding centre.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

It was an honour to represent the UK Government at the naming of the first of the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates, HMS Glasgow. Scotland is the beating heart of military shipbuilding, with eight Type 26 ships being built by BAE Systems in Glasgow and five Type 31 frigates by Babcock International in Rosyth.

Economic growth and national security are UK Government priorities and our multi-billion pound investment in Scotland’s best in world shipbuilding and wider defence sectors will play a crucial role in delivering our Plan for Change by supporting thousands of skilled jobs and investing in our communities for years to come. The skills, expertise and innovation in Scottish shipyards is clear to see and our new Brand Scotland campaign will build on that success and help the sector export its world-class technology internationally.

The eight City class frigates will form the backbone of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet once construction is completed by the mid-2030s, replacing the aging Type 23 ASW frigates with vessels equipped with sophisticated weapons systems, advanced sensors and state-of-the-art communications technology.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, the defence industry will continue to drive innovation and job creation across Scotland, supporting a broad range of economic benefits including apprenticeships, skills development and regional prosperity.

All eight Type 26 frigates will be based at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth following completion, with HMS Glasgow expected to be operational by 2028.

May 25, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : South Yorkshire to benefit from recent trade deals [May 2025]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 May 2025.

Trade deals with India, US and the EU that have seen tariffs on key industries slashed are set to help drive growth in South Yorkshire.
- Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
- Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
- Delivers job security for 5,000 workers in the region and will create more highly skilled jobs in communities.
Trade deals with India, US and the EU that have seen tariffs on key industries slashed are set to help drive growth in South Yorkshire.

Reductions in tariffs on auto exports have provided security for nearly 5,000 workers, their families and the biggest two employers in the region.

It also will deliver opportunities for major job creators like Rolls Royce and Mclaren based in Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District to grow – a priority of our Plan for Change

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

These trade deals deliver long term security for nearly 5,000 workers, their families and for steel and auto manufacturing in South Yorkshire.

It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.

These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across South Yorkshire.

Over 31,000 people employed in agriculture across the region will also benefit from our agreement with the EU, which reduces red tape and burdens on business, meaning regional specialties like Yorkshire Pudding and cheeses will face easy access to the UK’s biggest trading market.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in South Yorkshire, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.

He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.

Liam Bates, President of Long Products, Marcegaglia said:

The intention to remove tariffs is a very positive step, which when implemented secures both our own production in USA as well as our customers.

Getting this deal across the line needs to be a priority, because supply chains are currently in a state of flux awaiting the details and the effective date.

Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including South Yorkshire.

Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, tariffs on cars sold to India will come down from over 100% to 10% under a quota.

In the same week, we negotiated a first of its kind agreement with the US that reduces tariffs on car exports to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles per year, almost the total number of UK vehicles exported to the country last year.

Both of these deals secure greater certainty for the sector, the 5,000 workers in South Yorkshire and their families, while also enhancing opportunities for manufacturing in the region to grow.

Just this week, the Prime Minister continued to act in Britain’s national interest by confirming a new agreement that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in South Yorkshire, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.

At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
May 25, 2025
Lisa Nandy – 2025 Speech at the Evening Reception of UK National Day at World Expo Osaka
The speech made by Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 22 May 2025.

Good evening everyone. Konbanwa .

It’s a pleasure to welcome you all to the UK’s Pavilion to celebrate our National Day at the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. I would especially like to extend a warm welcome to Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko of Mikasa and former Prime Minister Kishida, both good friends of the United Kingdom.

The UK and Japan bilateral relationship is the strongest it has been in decades, underpinned by our common values, shared view of the world and our close people-to-people links. From security to economic growth and working together to tackle global challenges, our partnership is going from strength to strength. This step-up in collaboration was launched under the 2023 Hiroshima Accord – with thanks to former Prime Minister Kishida – and last year Prime Ministers Starmer and Ishiba agreed to build on it even further. The State Visit to the UK by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan in June last year celebrated the depth and breadth of our partnership – as His Majesty the Emperor said, ‘we are friends like no other’.

I have seen this partnership first-hand here in Japan. And if you have had a chance to go through our visitor experience today, you will have seen the power of UK and Japanese collaboration. We can achieve so much more when we harness our shared creativity and innovation. In this spirit, the National Ballet of Japan makes their European debut at the Royal Opera House in London with their production of “Giselle” in July, under the artistic direction of Yoshida Miyako, who made her career as the first Japanese Principal ballerina in the UK’s Royal Ballet.

Ours is a partnership that is more relevant than ever. With growing uncertainty and instability around the world, there is so much that the UK and Japan can do together to ‘design future society for our lives’. This is, I believe, the defining challenge of our lives – to empower people the world over to build a world that works for us, and us for it.

So, I am delighted to be launching Musubi: a flagship new initiative that will foster meaningful people-to-people connections between the UK and Japan and build the shared leadership to tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead of us.

That includes championing our young people and building a pool of international talent. And today we are announcing:
- A new Musubi Scholarship with University College London, supported by Amano Enzyme Inc.;
- A Youth Offshore Wind Scholarship Programme with SSE Pacifico to foster future talent in this dynamic sector; and * The Robert Walters career development programme to help our brightest young people reach their full potential.
- It includes drawing on the power of sport to build connections and enrich lives. Where:
- 2025 Premier League winners Liverpool Football Club’s International Academy in Kawasaki is developing young players and providing opportunities to build leadership qualities.
- And the UK Ekiden – inspired of course by Japan’s famous relay race – is bringing teams together in a celebration of teamwork, connection and friendship.
And it includes building the leadership of the future. Later this summer at this Pavilion the UK and Japan will host an event focused on promoting female leadership in business, building on the fact that our agreement with Japan was the first UK trade agreement to include a chapter on women’s economic empowerment.

All of this will be championed by our Musubi Friendship Ambassador – Hello Kitty, presented by Sanrio.

This is the most ambitious initiative of its kind between the UK and Japan – but it is also just the beginning. Over the years to come, this initiative will continue to grow – building a lasting legacy of connections and opportunity for our countries. Thank you to all our Pioneer Partners – and I hope to see many other companies and organisations joining us on this journey! I am now delighted to introduce a congratulatory message from The Princess Royal in her capacity as Chancellor of the University of London.

Finally, this event and indeed our pavilion itself would not have been possible without our key sponsors and contributors: I would especially like to thank AstraZeneca, Aston Martin, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Diageo’s Johnnie Walker, Robert Walters, Liberty, the governments of Scotland and Wales, Ampetronic, Brompton and last but certainly not least, BBC Studios.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone here this evening – I’m delighted that we have been able to gather so many of the UK’s closest friends in Japan, and I know with your support the UK-Japan partnership will continue to flourish. Arigato gozaimasu!
May 25, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Communique – UK-Mauritius Strategic Partnership Framework [May 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 May 2025.

Communiqué on the establishment of a Strategic Partnership Framework between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Mauritius.

Today, with the conclusion of the agreement on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Mauritius enter a new era. In recognition of this, we – the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs for the United Kingdom, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade for Mauritius – agree to a new Strategic Partnership Framework, to cement and boost our flourishing relationship for the benefit of both nations.

The United Kingdom and Mauritius enjoy deep historical ties and strong partnerships across a full range of shared strategic interests including economic growth, security, and climate change. We are both Commonwealth democracies, committed to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the rules-based international system.

Our new governments will work together to deliver the clear mandates for reform we were given in our elections last year, to support the change our people want to see. In agreeing to this partnership, we also demonstrate our continued shared commitment to the pursuit of a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific that delivers security and prosperity for all.

From 2025, the United Kingdom and Mauritius will strengthen our cooperation, addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of our time, with a particular focus on: boosting mutual economic growth and trade, strengthening the international rules-based system, reinforcing maritime security, and tackling climate change.

Building on our vibrant bilateral trade relationship currently worth £1.2 billion annually, we will increase mutual trade and investment to boost long-term growth for both our countries, supporting Mauritius’s aim to transition to a high income country and putting more money into hardworking people’s pockets. This will include:
- deepening our existing trade relationship under the United Kingdom-Eastern and Southern Africa Economic Partnership Agreement
- maximising growth and development by cooperating on competitive financing through UK Export Finance, with at least £5 billion in market risk appetite, to deliver British business opportunities and growth and jobs in Mauritius
- new government-to-government initiatives on digital trade and health, and a United Kingdom/Mauritius Business Forum
- delivering a set of formal partnerships with Mauritian and British institutions across priority sectors, including hospitals, the civil and public service, universities, and City of London financial institutions
We also commit to work together to strengthen the international rules-based system and in particular to build resilience against corruption and illicit finance, including by enhancing Mauritius’s status as a regional financial hub and instilling further confidence in Mauritius as an investment destination. This will include:
- developing a bilateral Economic Security Partnership to counter corruption and illicit finance, including measures to support Mauritius’s next Financial Action Taskforce review
- expanding law enforcement cooperation, in particular cyber training and investigations, to reduce crime
- identifying opportunities for Mauritian judicial reform and support
We will explore ways to strengthen our democracies and shared values by forging deeper connections between our Parliaments and increasing our collaboration in international and multilateral fora such as the Commonwealth and regional Indian Ocean organisations.

On maritime security and irregular migration, we will deepen our cooperation to fight the scourges of irregular migration, drugs trafficking, piracy, and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, supporting safer streets in our countries and protecting mutual prosperity. This will include:
- cooperation agreements and capacity building to secure Mauritius’s Exclusive Economic Zone
- consideration of patrolling capability across the Chagos Archipelago to support a secure maritime domain
- cooperation to counter and manage irregular migration
- provision of training and institutional partnerships to boost Mauritian maritime security capability and strengthen fisheries protection
We further commit to tackle one of the defining global challenges of our time together: climate change. Our shared objectives are to deliver Mauritius’s transition to energy independence through sustainable renewable energy, to protect biodiversity including rare indigenous species, and to increase Mauritius’s long-term climate resilience. This will include:
- a £12 million Access to Climate Finance programme, to unlock hundreds of millions of pounds through private sector partnerships and international green funds
- mitigation and adaptation projects to tackle the immediate effects of climate change including coral restoration, coastal erosion and indigenous species conservation
- technical expertise to develop and manage the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area, pursuant to the agreement on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago
The new UK-Mauritius Strategic Partnership Framework will provide a comprehensive mechanism for delivering, together, for our countries. Our Ministers will meet in the coming months to finalise the partnership and will then meet in an Annual Strategic Dialogue to review and keep evolving it as necessary to support the security and prosperity of our countries into the future.
May 25, 2025
Lisa Nandy – 2025 Speech at the National Day Official Ceremony at World Expo Osaka

The speech made by Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 22 May 2025.

Your Imperial Highness, your excellency and esteemed guests. It is a great honour to be hosting the UK’s National Day celebrations here at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai

Let me start by offering my congratulations to the Government of Japan, the Expo Association and everyone involved in organising Expo 2025. In today’s world where many want to focus on differences and divisions, it is no mean feat to bring together over 150 countries with a shared goal of “designing future society for our lives.” I am very much looking forward to seeing more of this amazing Expo site in the course of today.

Expo 2025 is very much about a global conversation, and within that global conversation, the UK and Japan have a particularly strong partnership. Our bilateral relationship is the strongest it has been in decades, underpinned by our common values, shared view of the world and our close people-to-people links. As His Majesty the Emperor said on his State Visit to the UK in June last year, we are ‘friends like no other’.

The UK has a long history with Expos – going back to 1851 when the first ever EXPO was held in London – and a long history with Japan, from the arrival of William Adams/Miura-Anjin in 1600 to the Choshu 5 travelling to Britain in the mid-19th century to learn about the Industrial Revolution which was transforming my country and the world.

The Japanese pioneers who travelled to Britain learnt much about our industrial prowess, bringing that technology back to Japan helping to transform Japan into the thriving, technologically advanced nation it is today. It is especially pertinent to reflect that one of those pioneers who ventured as far as Manchester went on to found the Osaka Chamber of Commerce, giving rise to Osaka’s tremendous growth. So our links are long and very relevant to this region. I am personally delighted as someone who was born in Manchester to see those links between Manchester and Osaka grow ever stronger.

It was the sharing of technology and ideas which drove the UK-Japan relationship then, and still drives it now. And it is that belief in the power of ideas to build the future that lies at the heart of the UK pavilion at Expo. The UK’s theme at Expo 2025 is Come Build The Future. It is about the power of small ideas to come together, as children do with building blocks, to create something magical and potentially world-changing.

We are a country of ideas that thrives on diversity, on a special mix of tradition and modernity. Our ancient universities drive world leading research, our whiskies and gins are still made to centuries old recipes, produced using cutting edge technology by a new generation of female distillers, our historic playhouses showcase the newest creative talents; and our small island is home to people from every country on the globe and has a capital city where over 300 languages are spoken.

Today our National Day offers a snapshot of that, underlining the message of partnership: the Edinburgh Military Tattoo will perform with taiko drummers, later today the BBC Planet Earth Live III concert will be performed by the Osaka based Century orchestra with a renowned UK conductor, and musicians from across the four nations of the UK will connect with new Japanese audiences.

I said earlier that the UK-Japan partnership is stronger than ever. This is evident from our ever-deepening economic and trade ties, through CPTPP, our collaboration on the green agenda, in defence, security, and digital technologies. But today I want to draw attention to the powerful cultural and people-to-people connections between our countries which underpin that partnership. I want to salute the power of the creative industries, of our story-tellers, to bring people together to entertain and delight, and to cross divides of language and culture.

Later today, as part of our National Day, we are bringing the Japanese premiere of BBC’s Planet Earth III Live in concert to the Expo Hall. The BBC will be well known to all of you – it has an average global reach of 450 million people across the world, bringing both independent news you can trust and award-winning television – both drama and documentary. Their BBC Earth natural world documentaries have been seen by a quarter of a billion people and have inspired positive environmental change across the world. Planet Earth, by transforming abstract climate data into personal, emotional experiences, has motivated viewers to care and take action to help shape a sustainable future. Again, well aligned with our UK pavilion theme and that of Expo 2025.

For a partnership to flourish you need to bring not only ideas but also people together. That is why later today I shall be announcing a new form of UK-Japan partnership which focuses on that very idea of connection, of bringing people together. The UK and Japan have been connecting for hundreds of years. We want to make sure we continue to do that into the future too. We hope young – and old – visiting Expo 2025 and our pavilion will be inspired to connect globally and to seek out new ideas and new partners.

To make progress towards the SDGs and tackle the global challenges we all face, we need to come together to share our ideas, to use them as the building blocks of a better future. The UK is committed to doing that, to doing that in partnership with others and is delighted to be here at Expo 2025 to take that partnership still further.

May 25, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Remarks at Press Conference on Diego Garcia

The remarks made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, at the Permanent Joint HQ in Northwood on 22 May 2025.

A few moments ago…

I signed a deal…

To secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia.

This is absolutely vital…

For our defence and intelligence…

And therefore –

For the safety and security of the British people.

The full assessment of why this is so important is highly classified.

But I want to speak as frankly as I can.

The strategic location of this base is of the utmost significance to Britain.

From deploying aircraft to defeat terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan…

To anticipating threats in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific…

The base is right at the foundation of our security and safety at home.

It has helped us to…

Disrupt threats to the UK…

Support counter terror operations against Islamic State…

And to reduce the risk to brave British and American servicemen and servicewomen.

The base will help protect the safe passage of our Carrier Strike Group as it goes through the Middle East.

It enables rapid deployment across the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia…

It helps combat some of the most challenging threats we face,

Including from terrorism and hostile states…

And its location creates real military advantage across the Indo-Pacific.

The base gives the UK and the US access to unique and vital capabilities – which benefit us directly.

Many of these capabilities are secret, but they include…

Airfield and deep-water port facilities…

Facilities that support the worldwide operation of GPS…

And the monitoring of objects in the earth’s orbit…

And equipment to monitor the nuclear test ban treaty.

The base is one of the most significant contributions we make to our security relationship with the United States –

Which is critical for keeping Britain safe.

Almost everything we do from the base is in partnership with the US.

President Trump has welcomed the deal –

Along with other allies.

Because they see the strategic importance of this base –

And that we cannot cede this ground to others who would seek to do us harm.

And let me be clear –

We had to act now…

Because the base was under threat.

The courts have already made decisions which undermine our position.

And if Mauritius takes us to court again…

The UK’s longstanding legal view…

Is that we would not have a realistic prospect of success…

And would likely face a Provisional Measures Order within a matter of weeks.

But this is not just about international law.

This is about the operation of the base.

Even if we chose to ignore judgments made against us…

International organisations and other countries would act on them.

And that would undermine the operation of the base –

Causing us to lose this unique capability.

One example of this is the electromagnetic spectrum.

Countries have the right to manage this spectrum as they wish within their borders…

A right that’s recognised in regulations…

And overseen in the International Telecommunication Union.

The use of spectrum is key to understand and anticipate those who seek to do us harm.

If our right to control it is put into doubt…

We would lose the first line of defence against other countries who wish to interfere and disrupt this capability…

Rendering it practically useless.

In addition – if we do not agree this deal…

The legal situation would mean that…

We would not be able to prevent China…

Or any other nation…

Setting up their own bases on the outer islands,

Or carrying out joint exercises near our base.

We would have to explain to you – the British people –

And to our allies…

That we had lost control of this vital asset.

No responsible government could let that happen.

So there is no alternative –

But to act –

In Britain’s national interest.

By agreeing to this deal now – on our terms –

We are securing strong protections, including from malign influence…

That will allow the base to operate well into the next century…

Helping to keep us safe for generations to come.

Other approaches to secure the base have been tried over the years –

And they have failed.

Now there is obviously a cost to maintaining such a valuable asset.

We pay for our other military bases.

Allies like the US and France do the same.

This cost is part and parcel of using Britain’s global reach to keep us safe at home…

And it will be less than cost of running one aircraft carrier for a year.

Today’s agreement is the only way to maintain the base in the long term.

There is no alternative.

We will never gamble with national security.

So we have acted –

To secure our national interest…

To strengthen our national security –

And to protect the British people for many years to come.

Thank you.

May 25, 2025