UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : Tens of thousands more patients receiving crucial scans quicker [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Tens of thousands more patients receiving crucial scans quicker [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 14 May 2025.

    More people were seen faster for scans including endoscopies, ultrasounds and MRIs.

    • Latest data shows 44,000 fewer people waited more than 6 weeks for diagnostic tests compared to last year
    • Government drive to slash waiting times means patients are being seen faster for scans including endoscopies, ultrasounds and MRIs
    • Progress is latest milestone in government’s mission to reform the NHS through its Plan for Change

    Tens of thousands more patients are getting crucial diagnostic scans within weeks under the government’s Plan for Change to slash NHS waiting times.

    Latest data shows 44,000 fewer people were waiting more than 6 weeks for procedures like endoscopies, ultrasounds and MRIs compared to February last year (2024).

    It means some patients being referred for suspected illnesses including heart conditions, spinal cord injuries and various cancers could be diagnosed faster, helping save lives.

    The government is continuing to expand community diagnostic centres (CDCs) nationwide, offering 12-hour, 7-day access to vital tests and appointments.

    The expansion is funded from the extra £26 billion investment in the health service delivered at the Autumn Budget, bringing care closer to communities who need it.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    I’ve been honest that fixing our NHS will be a long road, but this government is bringing in the investment and reform that’s needed to get us there.

    The additional diagnostic capacity we’ve unlocked isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet – it’s about giving people their lives back.

    Every ultrasound, MRI or endoscopy represents someone who can now plan their future with certainty rather than fear.

    Through our Plan for Change, we will get our NHS back on its feet and make it fit for the future.

    There are currently 169 conveniently located CDCs across the country, bringing care closer to patient’s doorsteps.

    Many of these will be opened 12 hours a day, 7 days a week where possible, making it easier for people to get their tests and appointments done at a time that suits them.

    Between July and February, around 4.5 million tests, checks and scans were carried out in CDCs – a 50% increase on the previous year.

    This equates to 18,000 more checks being delivered every day for patients to diagnose some of the biggest killers – including cancer and heart disease.

    Dr Rhydian Phillips, Director of Diagnostics and Transport at NHS England, said:

    CDCs are vital in helping ensure patients can get the all-clear or be diagnosed and treated for a range of conditions as quickly as possible.

    They are helping us to see more people than ever before and are at the heart of communities in locations that are more convenient for patients – with some even popping up in shopping centres.

    NHS staff are working incredibly hard to provide more tests and checks, while our campaigns encouraging people to come forward with worrying signs are also hugely important. If anyone has any health concerns, we would urge them to seek help and advice as it could save their life.

    More patients are being seen faster across the NHS thanks to the government’s push to slash waiting times and tackle the inherited waiting list of 7.6 million.

    Since July, more than 3 million extra elective care appointments have been rolled out, ensuring more patients can get assessed and treated more quickly.

    And the drive is having a big impact on cancer care, with an extra 80,000 patients having cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days.

    The progress forms part of the government’s wider Plan for Change and its drive to meet the NHS standard that 92% of patients are treated within 18 weeks by the end of this Parliament.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls on Israel to lift its block on aid – UK statement at the UN Security Council [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls on Israel to lift its block on aid – UK statement at the UN Security Council [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 May 2025.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

    The UK called this meeting alongside Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia in response to the alarming warnings that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is worse than it has ever been.

    So we are calling for three urgent things.

    First, the UK calls on Israel to lift its block on aid.

    The World Food Programme warned us over a week ago that they have no food left.

    And IPC data released yesterday shows that the whole of Gaza is at the risk of famine.

    Meanwhile, tonnes of food are currently sitting rotting at the border, blocked from reaching people who are starving.

    This is cruel and it is inexcusable.

    And it risks further deaths that should be avoidable.

    Second, the UK will not support any aid mechanism that seeks to deliver political or military objectives or puts vulnerable civilians at risk.

    We call on Israel to urgently engage with the UN to ensure a return to delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles.

    International law requires Israel to allow the rapid and unimpeded provision of humanitarian aid to all civilians.

    Third, the UK reiterates our outrage at the killing of Palestinian Red Crescent workers and the strikes on a UNOPS compound in March.

    We are disappointed that Israel has not yet released the final findings of its investigation into the UNOPS incident or taken concrete action to ensure these incidents can never happen again.

    President, the release of Edan Alexander yesterday after 17 months of cruel Hamas captivity offers a rare moment of hope.

    We must never forget the suffering of those hostages that remain in Gaza and those families awaiting the return of their loved ones’ remains.

    It is ceasefire deals that have delivered the release of over 180 hostages and allowed a massive scale-up of aid for desperate Palestinians.

    This shows what is possible with political will.

    This is why we strongly oppose an expansion of this conflict, as do many hostages’ families.

    And it is a ceasefire deal that now offers the best hope of ending the agony of the hostages and their families, alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza, ending Hamas’ control of Gaza and achieving a pathway to a two-state solution.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool or military tactic – Joint statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool or military tactic – Joint statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 May 2025.

    Joint statement delivered by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, on behalf of Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.

    We, the UK, Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia, called for today’s urgent meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Gaza.

    First, we first want to welcome the release of Edan Alexander yesterday and reiterate our call for all of the remaining hostages who have been cruelly held by Hamas for over 18 months to be released immediately.

    Their suffering must end. The Security Council has been consistent and clear on this since the brutal terror attack on 7 October.

    Hamas must have no future role in Gaza or be in a position to threaten Israel.

    Israel has now fully blocked aid entering Gaza for over two months.

    Blocking aid as a “pressure lever” is unacceptable.

    And last week, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved plans to expand its military operations in Gaza.

    We strongly oppose both these actions, which will add to Palestinian suffering, while doing nothing to serve the long-term interests of peace and security in the region, nor to secure the safe return of the hostages.

    Any attempt by Israel to annex land in Gaza would be unacceptable and violate international law.

    Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change.

    On the humanitarian situation, the World Food Programme have told us they already have no food left. Palestinian civilians, including children, face starvation as a result.

    Just yesterday, the IPC released a report warning that Gaza’s entire population is already at critical risk of famine.

    Without an urgent lifting of the aid block, more Palestinians are at risk of dying. Deaths that could easily be avoided.

    Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool or a military tactic.

    We are also deeply concerned at proposals to establish a new mechanism for the delivery of aid, which the UN has said would not meet humanitarian principles.

    International law requires Israel to allow and facilitate the safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid and ensure that basic services are provided for all Gazan civilians.

    This applies to all armed conflicts around the world.

    Gaza is not an exception.

    We have two clear messages for the Government of Israel: lift the block on aid entering Gaza now and enable the UN and all humanitarians to save lives.

    Any model for distributing humanitarian aid must be independent, impartial and neutral, and in line with international humanitarian law and principles.

    We cannot support any model that places political or military objectives above the needs of civilians. Or that undermines the UN and other partners’ ability to operate independently.

    We are also outraged by the killing of Palestinian Red Crescent workers and the hit on a UN compound on 19 March. Humanitarian aid workers and UN premises must be protected.

    We call on Israel to complete and release the findings of its investigation into the UN compound incident and take concrete action to ensure this can never happen again.

    At least 418 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began.

    That is at least 418 too many.

    We urge Israel to investigate all incidents transparently, to be clear on the steps taken to hold those responsible to account and reinstate an effective deconfliction system.

    The only way to end the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis is for an immediate return to a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages, and to urgently advance efforts to achieve a two-state solution.

    This is the only way to achieve long-term peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis, and we welcome France and Saudi Arabia’s leadership in chairing an international conference on the two-state solution here in New York in June.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Fiji – Kanbar Hossein-Bor [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Fiji – Kanbar Hossein-Bor [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 May 2025.

    Mr Kanbar Hossein-Bor has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji, non-resident British High Commissioner to the Republic of Kiribati and His Majesty’s non-resident Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, in succession to Dr Brian Jones who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Hossein-Bor will take up his appointment during July 2025.

    Curriculum Vitae

    Full name: Kanbar Hossein-Bor

    Year Role
    2021 to 2025 FCDO, Deputy Director Democratic Governance and Media Freedom Co-ordinator
    2018 to 2020 Dhaka, Deputy High Commissioner
    2015 to 2015 Monrovia, Chargé d’Affaires
    2012 to 2015 FCO, Head, Libya Team
    2009 to 2012 The Hague, Head of International Tribunals and UK Agent to the International Court of Justice
    2006 to 2007 Baghdad, Legal Adviser and Head of Justice and Human Rights Section
    2006 to 2009 FCO, Legal Directorate
    2002 to 2005 Barrister, Private Practice
  • PRESS RELEASE : Dangerous sexual predator, Keith Edun, has sentence increased following intervention by Solicitor General [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Dangerous sexual predator, Keith Edun, has sentence increased following intervention by Solicitor General [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 13 May 2025.

    A dangerous predator who encouraged another man to rape and sexually assault a baby has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General intervened.

    Keith Edun, 48, from Croydon, London, has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    The court heard that Edun was a member of a group chat interested in the sexual abuse of babies on the social media platform ‘Kik’.

    In March 2020, Edun communicated with another member of the group and in those discussions encouraged the rape and sexual assault of a child. Edun also shared videos of babies being sexually abused.

    A separate investigation led to the conviction of a male for offences including the rape of a baby which occurred in March 2020, which led police to Edun.

    After police seized Edun’s devices, officers found multiple indecent images of children and that he had deleted the app to hide his online activity.

    Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    Keith Edun is a dangerous sexual predator who poses a serious risk to children. His crimes were deeply disturbing, and I would like to thank the police for their thorough investigation of this matter.

    The court has rightly decided to increase Edun’s sentence which I hope sends a strong message that this government will take robust action to keep dangerous sex offenders off our streets.

    On 14 February 2025, Keith Edun was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to an extended sentence of 21 years and 6 months comprising 13 years and six months custodial term and an eight year extended licence.

    On 13 May 2025, Edun’s original sentence was quashed and substituted with an extended sentence of 24 years and 2 months, comprising 16 years and 2 months custodial term and an eight year extended licence, after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Child sex abusers sentences increased following intervention by Solicitor General [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Child sex abusers sentences increased following intervention by Solicitor General [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on the Attorney General’s Office on 13 May 2025.

    Three child sex abusers have had their sentences increased for historic offences after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP intervened.

    Three men who raped a vulnerable teenager in the 1990s have had their sentences increased by a total of eight years, after the Solicitor General referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    The court heard that the victim moved to Keighley, Yorkshire, in the early 1990s when she was a teenager, where she met Ibrar Hussain (47) and brothers Imtiaz (64) and Fayaz Ahmed (45).

    The victim was vulnerable and was supplied with money, drugs and alcohol in return for sex. She was taken to various places where she was raped over several years, including by Hussain and the Ahmed brothers.

    Ibrar Hussain and Fayaz Ahmed were 18 and 17 respectively when they carried out their offences, while Imtiaz Ahmed was in his 30s.

    Many of the offences took place in the flats above the brothers’ family’s grocery shop.

    In a Victim Impact Statement read to the court, the victim said that almost 30 years after the abuse, she still suffered flashbacks and the trauma left her unable to trust people, including the services there to protect her.

    The court also learnt that Ibrar Hussain had prior drug convictions, while Fayaz Ahmed had been convicted of conspiracy to defraud and driving offences.

    The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    This case involved the shocking and hideous abuse of a vulnerable teenager by these three sexual predators.

    I referred these sentences to Court of Appeal because in my view they were unduly lenient.

    I attended court today for the hearing and I very much welcome the Court of Appeal’s significant increases to these sentences.

    On 17 January 2025, Ibrar Hussain was sentenced to six years and six months for two counts of rape, Imtiaz Ahmed was sentenced to nine years for one count of rape, and Fayaz Ahmed was sentenced to seven years and six months for two counts of rape.

    On 13 May 2025, Hussain’s sentence was increased to 10 years, Imtiaz Ahmed’s to 11 years, and Fayaz Ahmed’s was increased to 10 years after their sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New ‘engine for growth’ package announced as Defence Secretary closes London Stock Exchange [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New ‘engine for growth’ package announced as Defence Secretary closes London Stock Exchange [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 May 2025.

    Industry, innovators and investors will benefit from a new partnership with UK Defence, making it easier and more attractive to do business than ever before.

    • New partnership with business launched in the heart of City of London to unlock innovation, create skilled jobs and boost investment, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
    • John Healey MP becomes first Defence Secretary to close the day’s market at London Stock Exchange, announcing new Defence ‘Tech Scaler’ initiative to drive innovations from idea to frontline.
    • New report shows small and medium enterprises funded by the Ministry of Defence have attracted nearly £600 million private equity investment, supporting over 1,000 new jobs across the UK.

    Launching this new partnership with a package of measures including a new ‘Tech Scaler’ pilot, John Healey MP will today become the first Defence Secretary to close the day’s market at the London Stock Exchange, underlining the government’s backing for the defence industry as an engine for national renewal and economic growth.

    Speaking to business leaders, military personnel and private financiers, he called for an end to prejudice against defence investment and outlined how defence is driving economic growth, boosting British jobs and national security, underpinning the Government’s Plan for Change.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    The war in Ukraine confronts us with the truth that a military is only as strong as the industry which stands behind it.

    I’m here today – at this most crucial time – to help forge a new partnership between industry, innovators and investors.

    UK Defence is open for business and together we can make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

    National security is at the heart of our Plan for Change, and is essential for economic security, investor confidence and social stability.

    The Defence Secretary set out a package of measures to foster easier access to the defence market, including:

    • Defence Tech Scaler: A new Ministry of Defence Marketplace to drive innovations from idea to front line, with Enterprise Agreements for software, data and AI suppliers, to make it easier for innovative businesses, of all sizes, to do business with defence. As part of this, the Ministry of Defence has signed four Enterprise Agreements with firms including Adarga, Haedean, Oxford Dynamics and WhiteSpace – to a total value of up to £50 million.
    • Procurement Reform: A new segmented approach and radically faster targets for procurement in three areas: 1) major equipment – planes, tanks, ships – will go from an average of six to two years to get on contract; 2) upgrades to communications and weapons systems will go from an average of three to one year to get on contract, and 3) purchases of off-the-shelf kit – such as drones and software – will run in three-month cycles. For Armed Forces, this will mean they will get what they need when they need it, and for investors, it will mean a timelier return on investment.
    • Defence Innovation: A new innovation organisation, UK Defence Innovation, will help deliver cutting-edge technology to the Armed Forces and will be up and running by July this year, with a ring-fenced budget of £400 million this financial year.
    • Defence Industrial Joint Council, led by the Defence Secretary, will host its first meeting next month, and help co-ordinate public-private investment strategies – boosting investment into UK defence and delivering new jobs across Britain.

    These measures come as a new report shows the value of the defence industry to the wider UK economy. The report, published today, found that funding from the MoD’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to 461 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) resulted in nearly £600m in private investment and created 1,842 new jobs across the UK. £174 million was raised in 2024 alone, demonstrating defence as an engine for UK economic growth and delivering on the government’s Plan for Change. DASA continues to fund and support SMEs developing defence technology innovations, particularly dual-use technologies serving both civilian and military needs.

    Daniel Maguire, Group Head, London Stock Exchange Group said:

    The defence industry plays a vital role in the wider UK economy, supporting jobs and creating long-term value alongside ensuring our national security. We welcome the Government’s new measures and hope that LSEG can support in initiatives designed to help unlock capital for companies, boost growth, and promote innovation.

    Last month, the Government welcomed the launch of a new UK Defence and Economic Growth Task Force – led by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) CEO and consulting firm Oliver Wyman, and jointly chaired by the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Defence. The Task Force will meet for the first time this month to unlock the potential of the UK’s defence sector to drive long-term national growth, innovation, and economic resilience.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with Taoiseach Martin of Ireland [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with Taoiseach Martin of Ireland [May 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 May 2025.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin this morning.

    The pair discussed the productive Coalition of the Willing meeting on Saturday and agreed good progress had been made in support of Ukraine. They agreed to continue working with international partners and put pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table without conditions.

    The Prime Minister updated the Taoiseach on his ongoing discussions with the European Union, ahead of the first UK-EU summit next week. Both leaders agreed that there was an ambitious package on the table that would serve to benefit hard-working people and businesses across Europe.

    Finally, the Prime Minister and Taoiseach reflected on the constructive bilateral discussions held recently at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in April on a joint approach to dealing with legacy issues of the past in Northern Ireland. They agreed that their respective teams would continue these discussions at pace.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Poland – Dame Melinda Simmons [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Poland – Dame Melinda Simmons [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 May 2025.

    Dame Melinda Simmons DCMG has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Poland in succession to Ms Anna Clunes CMG OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Dame Melinda will take up her appointment during August 2025.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Melinda Veronica Simmons

    Date Role
    2024 to present Full time language training
    2023 to 2024 University College London, Visiting Professor
    2019 to 2023 Kyiv, His Majesty’s Ambassador
    2016 to 2019 National Security Secretariat, Director, Joint Funds Unit
    2013 to 2016 FCO, Deputy Director, Head of Conflict Department
    2011 to 2013 DFID, Deputy Director, Head of Europe Department
    2010 to 2011 DFID, Head of the Humanitarian Emergency Response Review
    2009 to 2010 DFID, Deputy Director, Head of Middle East Department
    2005 to 2008 Pretoria, Head of DFID Southern Africa
    2002 to 2005 DFID, Deputy Head, Africa Policy Department
    2000 to 2002 DFID, Head of Conflict Policy, Conflict Department
    1998 to 2000 DFID, Team Leader, Russia Desk
    1994 to 1998 International Alert, Public Affairs Officer
    1990 to 1994 Primesight Intl, International Marketing Manager
    1988 to 1990 The Register Group, International Marketing Officer and Associate Director
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK convenes European partners in London to continue collective action against “once-in-a-generation” security threat [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK convenes European partners in London to continue collective action against “once-in-a-generation” security threat [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 April 2025.

    The Foreign Secretary will host Foreign Ministers of the Weimar+ group for critical talks on repelling Russian aggression and bolstering European security.

    • Work continues at pace with the ‘Weimar+ group in London to ensure Europe is together responding to security challenges to protect our citizens
    • Looking ahead to the UK-EU summit on 19 May, Foreign Secretary brings together European partners in pursuit of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine
    • The meeting builds on wider UK-European collaboration, following European leaders including the Prime Minister meeting President Zelenskyy in Kyiv over the weekend

    The Foreign Secretary will host Foreign Ministers of the Weimar+ group today (12 May 2025) at Lancaster House for critical talks on repelling Russian aggression and bolstering European security.

    Representatives from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the EU will join Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London.  It follows a historic visit on Saturday by the leaders of the UK, France, Germany and Poland to Kyiv during which, alongside the US, they called for Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire to allow for unfettered peace talks.

    Hosted in the UK for the first time, today’s Weimar+ meeting is the sixth time these major European powers have come together in this format.

    Ukraine’s rightful future is a just and lasting peace. Putin’s refusal to engage seriously in peace talks is forcing that future into improbability. This is a critical moment to secure the future of Ukraine. The Foreign Secretary will make clear at Weimar+ that Europe’s leaders must stand strong in our unwavering support for Ukraine’s right to peace and freedom.

    Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:

    We are facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent. The challenge we face today is not only about the future of Ukraine – it is existential for Europe as a whole.

    I have brought our friends and partners to London to make clear that we must stand together, allied in our protection of sovereignty, of peace and of Ukraine.

    A strong and secure Britain is a foundation of our Plan for Change. This cannot be achieved without standing up to Putin and strengthening our shared European security.

    To further resist Putin’s attacks on Ukraine, the international order and peace, the Foreign Secretary is gathering Allies for discussions on both our joint efforts to strengthen European security and secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

    This builds on a drumbeat of collaboration between the UK and the EU on defence and security. On top of Saturday’s meeting attended by the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary on Friday joined European ministers in Lviv to announce the UK’s support for the establishment of a Special Tribunal, to hold those responsible for the crime of aggression against Ukraine to account. This followed the Foreign Secretary visiting Poland to join the Gymnich meeting, where he highlighted the need for a new, ambitious security relationship between the UK and Europe that will support economic growth, protect citizens, and support European collective security and defence. The Weimar+ is an important opportunity to continue driving forward these talks with EU member states.

    The Weimar+ meeting comes days ahead of the UK-EU Summit (19 May), which will cover a range of UK-EU issues and look to foster a stable, positive and forward-looking relationship.