Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : Government and police join forces to tackle drink and drug driving this festive season [December 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 11 December 2025.

No one should get behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs.
- Local Transport Minister joins forces with Sussex Police Chief to spotlight enforcement operations and raise awareness of the dangers of drink and drug driving during the busy festive season
- minister also teams up with Captain Morgan to raise awareness of the THINK! campaign to encourage drivers to opt for a 0% drink before getting behind the wheel
- comes ahead of the Road Safety Strategy and follows launch of new THINK! drug driving campaign – the first in a decade – which delivers a hard-hitting warning to young male drivers about the life-changing consequences of getting behind the wheel under the influence of drugs
To tackle drink and drug driving during the festive period, Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood today (11 December 2025) joined Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner on a drive along to see first hand how frontline enforcement teams are keeping our roads safe this Christmas.

The minister met with local officers to take part in their annual seasonal crackdown on offenders, as part of ongoing collaboration between government, police forces and local partners to tackle dangerous driving behaviours.

This builds on the government’s commitment to make communities safer and ease pressure on the NHS.

Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said:

No one should get behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs.

This festive season, we’re working with police and well-known brands including Captain Morgan, Peroni and Heineken to remind drivers to make the right choice – and stick to non-alcoholic drinks – to make our roads safer for themselves and others.

We’re determined to tackle this growing issue, to help make our communities safer and ease pressure on the NHS.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner is National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing. She said:

Driving under the influence of drink or drugs is selfish and incredibly dangerous, putting the lives of your passengers, other road users and yourself at risk. We’re pleased to be partnering with THINK! On their new campaign which is highly impactful and coordinates with our enhanced enforcement of drink and drug driving offences over the December period through Operation Limit.

The message is simple, do not get behind the wheel if you have been drinking or taking drugs. Make the right decision and together, we will save lives.

The government has also teamed up with police enforcement operations and launched new adverts as part of its THINK! campaign, running online and out of home to target drug driving ‘hotspots’ across England and Wales using police data.

It is the first THINK! drug driving campaign in 10 years, a targeted, hard-hitting series of messages aimed at young male drivers, who remain disproportionately represented in drug-related road casualties. Latest figures show that around 90% of drivers impaired by drugs in collisions are male, with 4 in 10 aged between 17 and 30.

Earlier this week, the minister visited a pub in London to officially launch the Captain Morgan 0.0% x THINK! 0% ‘Captain of the Night’ campaign, spotlighting the importance of alcohol-free options for motorists. As part of the initiative, drivers will be offered a free Captain Morgan 0.0% and cola in selected Stonegate pubs nationwide.

The launch marks the continued and growing partnership between the government and major drinks brands to normalise 0% choices. Fronted by TV personality and radio presenter Sam Thompson, the first wave of the Captain Morgan partnership was designed to reach 17–24-year-old male drivers.

Both Heineken and Peroni have confirmed large-scale activations in the lead-up to Christmas to encourage drivers to choose their 0.0% products under the THINK! 0% banner.

These promotions follow THINK! 0% partnership activity delivered by both brands over the past year. Heineken will spotlight THINK! 0% messaging across its Star pubs, including on staff uniforms and via online advertising, and Peroni will team up with Greene King to share the THINK! 0% message via digital channels and promotions encouraging drivers to opt for 0%.

Ian Smith, Corporate Relations Director at Diageo GB, said:

Diageo is committed to supporting safe and responsible choices, particularly at a time of year when the risks on our roads increase. Captain Morgan 0.0’s partnership with THINK! highlights our continued focus on not only providing people with great-tasting alcohol-free alternatives, but also showcases a clear message that if you are driving, 0.0% is the correct choice for everyone’s safety.
December 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : AUKUS Defence Ministers’ Meeting Trilateral Joint Statement [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 11 December 2025.

AUKUS Defence Minister’s meeting reaffirmed shared commitment to the AUKUS partnership at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

Today the Honorable Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of War, hosted the Honourable Richard Marles MP, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, and the Right Honourable John Healey MP, United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. to reaffirm the shared commitment to the AUKUS partnership.

In line with shared intent to move “full steam ahead” on AUKUS, the Principals recognized the work underway to deliver priority infrastructure and workforce uplift in support of an enhanced trilateral submarine industrial base.

Through the discussions today, the three Principals discussed ways to continue to strengthen AUKUS and reiterated their shared commitment to inject pace and focus on delivery to ensure the long-term success of the AUKUS partnership.

The Principals recognized the critical importance of submarine cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I to ensure a robust deterrent. Additionally, they recognized the importance of advanced capabilities development under AUKUS Pillar II and discussed opportunities to further accelerate delivery of such projects, with particular focus on near-term warfighting objectives.

December 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : The UK remains committed in our support for the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Central Africa and UNOCA.

The United Kingdom remains steadfastly committed in our support for the work of UNOCA and its good offices. UNOCA’s role in early warning, preventive diplomacy, and regional coordination is critical. 

Today, I will make three points focused on the situations in Gabon, Cameroon and the impact of the Sudan conflict on peace and security in the region. I will not address today the very concerning situation in DRC, recognising that the Council will be considering the DRC specifically in our meeting tomorrow. 

First, the United Kingdom welcomes the completion in November of local, legislative and senatorial elections in Gabon. This is an important step, building on April’s presidential elections, which complete Gabon’s political transition. 

We encourage Gabon to continue building on the progress made by implementing necessary governance and electoral reforms to consolidate its democratic institutions. 

Second, the United Kingdom is concerned at continued violence and insecurity in Cameroon, including the recent post-election violence that saw loss of life. Conflict in the North-West and South-West regions continues to impact civilians. We welcome UNOCA’s efforts to promote dialogue. We urge continued engagement towards a peaceful resolution to the Anglophone crisis and call for a Cameroonian led dialogue.

We also underscore the importance of regional cooperation to tackle Boko Haram and ISWAP threats in the Lake Chad Basin, including through the Multinational Joint Task Force. This is critical to support communities in Cameroon’s Far North region.    

Third, in addition to the dire impact on Sudanese civilians, the ongoing conflict in Sudan continues to destabilise the region, driving significant displacement of the local population and grave humanitarian needs. The UK commends the authorities in Chad for their efforts in hosting large numbers of refugees. 

We encourage continued international coordination to support civilians in the region and to press for an end to the conflict. The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting the UN’s humanitarian response including through the £125 million the United Kingdom has contributed to humanitarian support in Sudan this year.

December 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Clearance work to begin at Kidlington waste dump [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 11 December 2025.

The Environment Agency has already begun preparations to ensure the site is cleared as soon as possible.

Planning work has begun to clear the illegal waste dump in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, the Environment Agency has announced (Thursday 11 December).

New information regarding the likelihood and potential impact of a fire at the site means that an exceptional decision has been made to progress works to entirely clear the site of waste.

Following the appalling large-scale dumping of waste earlier in the summer, Environment Agency officers have been working round the clock to monitor the site, restrict access to prevent further dumping, install environmental safeguards and consider next steps to ensure the community is protected.

The Environment Agency is not legally responsible for clearing illegal waste, and is not funded to do so. While the organisation continues to support the principle that the criminals responsible should cover the costs of clearance, it retains the power to take action in wholly exceptional circumstances.

Additional advice from the Fire and Rescue Services has indicated the possibility of a fire on site, which could have widespread impacts on the community, including closing the A34 major highway, raising air quality issues from the smoke, and interrupting electrical supplies.

The scale of this fire risk sets this case apart from other illegal waste dumps in England and presents an overriding public imperative. As such, preparatory works for clearance will begin imminently. Further details on the timeframe for clearance will be set out shortly.

Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy said:

The brazen criminality at Kidlington has appalled all of us at the Environment Agency. Our local teams have been at this site working with partners to reduce harm and minimise risks while we pursue those responsible.

This week, new information on the risk of fire was received from the Fire and Rescue Services and the Police and a decision made to clear the site as soon as possible on a wholly exceptional basis. The EA and our local partners are now working through the most effective way to manage this work.

We will update the public on progress with that as soon as we are able. We are determined that waste criminals will see justice for this serious offending.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

This site has been a blight on the community.

I’ve been in regular conversations with the Environment Agency and strongly welcome the decision to clear the site. I will continue working with them to make sure that those responsible pay for their crimes.

The Environment Agency expects to fund the clearance efforts through making efficiencies in its operations, without impacting or scaling back any of its other services. However it is not funded to clear up waste sites nationally and will only make these decisions under truly exceptional circumstances.

We will continue to work closely with local partners to manage the risks from the site and ensure the community is protected. Additional security measures have been installed and we are closely monitoring the location.

Further details will be set out in due course.

December 16, 2025
Philip Duffy – 2025 Statement on Cleaning Up Kidlington Waste Dump

The statement made by Philip Duffy, the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, on 11 December 2025.

The brazen criminality at Kidlington has appalled all of us at the Environment Agency. Our local teams have been at this site working with partners to reduce harm and minimise risks while we pursue those responsible.

This week, new information on the risk of fire was received from the Fire and Rescue Services and the Police and a decision made to clear the site as soon as possible on a wholly exceptional basis. The EA and our local partners are now working through the most effective way to manage this work.

We will update the public on progress with that as soon as we are able. We are determined that waste criminals will see justice for this serious offending.

December 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor appoints new Women in Finance Champion [December 2025]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 11 December 2025.

Over 440 firms now committed to improving female representation at the top of the industry.
- Dame Amanda Blanc steps down as Women in Finance Champion after 5 years in the role, with senior female representation rising from 32% to 36% under her tenure
- Nationwide CEO Dame Debbie Crosbie appointed as new Women in Finance Champion, as Government pushes for more women in senior City roles.
The Chancellor has appointed Nationwide Building Society CEO Dame Debbie Crosbie as the new Women in Finance champion, as ministers step up the pressure on the City to go further and faster on women’s progression to senior roles.

Dame Debbie succeeds Aviva CEO Dame Amanda Blanc, whose tenure saw senior female representation in key finance roles jump from 32% to 36% as well as leading the charge on strengthening the pipeline for women into financial services.

As Champion, Dame Debbie will continue to drive momentum behind the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter, which covers more than 440 firms and aims to improve the representation of women in senior leadership to boost the productivity and growth of UK financial services.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

When I became Chancellor, I said my time in office would be a success if more young women and girls knew there should be no ceiling on their ambition and no limit to what they can achieve.

The Women in Finance Charter is a key tool to achieve that progress. I thank Amanda for her exceptional leadership over the past 5 years, and look forward to working with Debbie as she takes on the mantle.

Dame Amanda Blanc said:

I am incredibly proud of the progress made during my time as Women in Finance Champion.

There is still plenty more to do to reach parity and I know that Debbie will be a powerful driving force in bringing about further progress and ensuring even more talented women are given the opportunities they deserve to thrive and lead.

Dame Debbie Crosbie said:

When women succeed in business they inspire the next generation and ensure economic growth is sustainable and inclusive. The Charter is key to driving even more growth in financial services and harnessing all of the sector’s skills and talents. I look forward to building on the excellent progress made by Amanda, and working with the Chancellor and across our industry to encourage even more growth and progress.

Over the last 5 years, Dame Amanda has driven progress in the sector through developing a blueprint for change, advocating for women in underrepresented spaces such as tech, strengthening the talent pipeline through the Mirror Taskforce of talented mid-level women, and convening leaders – including the Women in Finance Climate Action Group for COP26 and Accountable Executive Taskforce – to focus on greater gender parity.

Dame Debbie Crosbie will take up the Women in Finance Champion role from 1 January 2026, serving in an unpaid, direct ministerial appointment reporting to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

Dame Debbie joined Nationwide as its first-ever female CEO in June 2022 and was appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in June 2025 for services to the financial sector.
December 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment of the Chair of the Bank of England’s Court of Directors and Non‑Executive Directors [December 2025]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 11 December 2025.

David Roberts reappointed as Chair of the Bank of England’s Court of Directors and Dame Anne Glover and Diana Noble reappointed as Non‑Executive Directors.
- David Roberts has been reappointed as Chair of the Court of the Bank of England by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP.
- Following his reappointment, he will serve a second four‑year term as Chair of Court, commencing on 24 October 2026.
- The Chancellor has also reappointed two Non‑Executive Directors on the Bank’s Court:
  - Dame Anne Glover has been reappointed as a Non‑Executive Director until 31 May 2028; and
  - Diana Noble has been reappointed as a Non‑Executive Director until 31 May 2027.
The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:

I am pleased to confirm the reappointment of David Roberts as Chair of the Bank of England’s Court, alongside the reappointments of Dame Anne Glover and Diana Noble as Non‑Executive Directors.

Each of them brings exceptional experience and expertise from across financial services, investment and the wider economy. Their continued service will support the Bank to deliver its core missions of monetary and financial stability.

Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, said:

I am delighted that David Roberts, Diana Noble and Anne Glover have been reappointed to serve on the Bank’s Court, and I welcome their continued contributions to the organisation

About David Roberts

David Roberts is Chair of the Bank of England’s Court, leading the board in setting strategy, risk appetite and key organisational decisions.

He also holds advisory roles at The Mentoring Foundation, Henley Business School, and Campion Willcocks. Previously, he chaired Beazley plc and Nationwide Building Society, was Vice Chair of NHS England, and Group Deputy Chair at Lloyds Banking Group. David spent 24 years at Barclays, becoming a Main Board Executive Director, and later served as Chair and CEO of Bawag PSK AG.

He holds an MBA and two honorary doctorates and has been recognised with a CBE and the Chartered Management Institute’s Gold Medal for Management.

About Dame Anne Glover

Dame Anne Glover is a Non‑Executive Director on the Bank of England’s Court of Directors and Chief Executive and Co‑Founder of Amadeus Capital Partners. With over 35 years’ experience as a venture capitalist, she has a strong background in science, engineering and business.

Anne was awarded a DBE in 2025 and a CBE in 2006 for her services to business and engineering. She holds honorary fellowships with the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Clare College, Cambridge.

Her career includes roles in manufacturing with Cummins Engine Company, consulting at Bain & Co, investing at Apax Partners, and operational leadership at Virtuality Group. She has chaired both the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and Invest Europe, and serves on investment committees for British International Investment and the Yale Endowment.

About Diana Noble

Diana Noble is Deputy Chair of the Bank of England’s Court and Chair of the Remuneration Committee. She also serves on the boards of Wellcome Trust and Brookfield Asset Management, and is a Trustee of The Children’s Society.

Diana was CEO of CDC (now British International Investment), the UK’s development finance institution, from 2011 to 2017, leading a period of significant transformation and growth. Her career spans private equity, venture capital and international development, including senior roles at Schroder Ventures (now Permira), founding two venture funds, and serving as Executive Vice President, Operations at the Clinton Foundation’s Health Access Initiative.

Diana holds a first‑class Law degree and was awarded a CBE in 2017.

About the Court of the Bank of England

The Court of the Bank of England acts as the Bank’s board. It is responsible for overseeing the Bank’s strategy, governance, budget and risk framework, and for ensuring the effective discharge of the Bank’s statutory functions.

The Court consists of the Chair and eight other Non‑Executive Directors, the Governor and four Deputy Governors. The Bank’s Chief Operating Officer also attends Court, although they are not technically a full member. Non‑Executive Directors bring independent judgement and a breadth of experience to the Court’s deliberations.

About the appointment process

Reappointments to the Court of the Bank of England are not automatic. Each case is considered on its own merits.

The reappointment of David Roberts for a second four‑year term as Chair of Court, commencing on 24 October 2026, and the reappointments of Dame Anne Glover as a Non‑Executive Director until 31 May 2028 and Diana Noble as a Non‑Executive Director until 31 May 2027, have been made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Economic Secretary to the Treasury in line with the requirements of the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

David Roberts, Dame Anne Glover and Diana Noble have confirmed that they have not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
December 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Report by OSCE Special Representative on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings – UK Statement [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2025.

The UK reaffirms our thanks to Special Representative Dr Kari Johnstone for the work of her Office.

Thank you Chair and thank you, Special Representative, for your report. The UK recognises and welcomes the valuable contribution of your Office to anti-trafficking efforts across the OSCE region.

It is critical that we continue to monitor emerging risks of trafficking and exploitation resulting from conflicts and humanitarian crises. Russia’s war against Ukraine leaves many vulnerable, particularly women and children. Russian authorities have forcibly deported over 19,500 Ukrainian children to Russia or the temporarily occupied territories. We must strengthen protection measures, and we commend your Office’s efforts in supporting states to do so. With that in mind what innovative approaches can you see frontline actors adopting to detect and prevent trafficking during humanitarian and conflict crises, and how can these practices be scaled across the OSCE region?

In line with the UK’s commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7, we work with international partners, including the OSCE, to eradicate modern slavery, forced labour, and human trafficking. We face increasingly complex forms of exploitation, including a rise in trafficking for forced criminality. The UK is proud to support your Office’s work on forced criminality in online scamming operations. We must enhance prevention, early identification, and reintegration for victims and survivors across the OSCE region.

We also welcome your Office’s efforts to include survivors and those with lived experience. Their voices and expertise are vital to tackling and preventing modern slavery. The UK is supporting UNDP to develop guidance for investors on engaging survivors in human rights due diligence and grievance mechanisms.

Special Representative, thank you again for your report. It highlights the impressive contributions of your Office and reminds OSCE states of the need for greater cooperation on this agenda. We look forward to continued UK engagement with your Office to support its valuable work.

December 16, 2025
Priti Patel – 2025 Speech on the Jimmy Lai Conviction

The speech made by Priti Patel, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, in the House of Commons on 15 December 2025.

On behalf of His Majesty’s Opposition and with your permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to give our condolences following the antisemitic targeted murder of 15 people from the Jewish community in the shooting in Bondi Beach yesterday. This atrocity was absolutely appalling, and as the Jewish community comes together this Hanukkah, we honour a tradition that symbolises resilience, faith and the triumph of light over darkness.

In the early hours of this morning, Jimmy Lai was convicted, following a shameful show trial under the repressive national security law imposed on Hong Kong in breach of the Sino-British joint declaration. Jimmy Lai’s imprisonment, trial and conviction mark a new low in the Chinese Communist party’s shameful attempts to extinguish freedom, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong. They are yet more serious violations of the Sino-British joint declaration. The scenes of Jimmy, a 78-year-old man, being paraded around in chains are disturbing, but his defiance stands as a source of hope for those who still believe in freedom, democracy and human rights.

Despite all the pain and suffering, despite being persecuted at the hands of the Chinese Communist party, despite being held in solitary confinement for more than 1,800 days, and despite his health deteriorating, Jimmy’s spirit remains unbroken. Throughout the last few years, his son Sebastien, his family and supporters have fought hard for his freedom and to raise awareness of his appalling treatment. I pay tribute to them. The whole House will stand behind them as their fight to free Jimmy continues.

Jimmy should be freed and allowed to come home to the United Kingdom to be with his family. We need to know what action the Government will now take to do everything possible to secure his release and to seriously ratchet up the pressure to end the disgraceful and draconian national security law. What will the consequences be if Beijing does not change its position?

When was the last time the Prime Minister raised Jimmy Lai’s imprisonment directly with President Xi? Has he called President Xi today, in the aftermath of the conviction, to demand Jimmy’s release and to demand that Jimmy be free to come home to the UK? How often has the Prime Minister raised this case directly since July 2024? What was President Xi’s response to him on the occasions that the case was raised, either publicly or in private?

What assurances have been given about Jimmy Lai’s treatment in prison? We know that his health is deteriorating and that he is being kept in absolutely cruel conditions, so what medical help and access to him is the Prime Minister pursuing, and what has been the response of the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities? Has the Prime Minister told President Xi, face to face and directly, that we will oppose this political show trial, and condemn China for breaching the Sino-British joint declaration with its national security law?

This House has previously been informed that Ministers constantly raise this case and have been in touch with their Chinese counterparts, so can the Foreign Secretary tell us whether the National Security Adviser raised it on his recent visit to China? Did he have any discussions about Jimmy’s case? Has the Prime Minister continued to raise our concerns that the national security law breaches the joint declaration? What discussions are taking place with international partners, including the United States, to pressure China to release Jimmy and scrap its oppressive national security law?

The immediate release of Jimmy Lai has to be a priority for this Government, but the case raises wider issues with UK-China relations. The Prime Minister is clearly seeking significantly closer relations with Beijing, and has, for economic reasons, effectively ended the policy of trying to reduce strategic dependency, even though the economic impact has been negligible and will not be felt in people’s pockets. The Foreign Secretary stands here condemning China, but she wrote a letter supportive of their super-embassy spy hub. Today shows exactly why that approach is deeply foolhardy.

This morning Sebastien Lai asked how we can normalise relationships if the British Government cannot put a 78-year-old man, who is in seriously bad health, on a plane and send him back to the UK. He asked how, if they cannot even do something as simple as that, we can talk about closer relations. He has called for the release to be a precondition of any further talks with China. Do the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister agree?

With the Chinese Communist party continuing to imprison Jimmy Lai and undermine freedom in Hong Kong, will the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister send a signal of our disgust to the CCP by cancelling the Prime Minister’s planned visit to China next January unless Jimmy Lai is released, blocking China’s super-embassy planning application and placing it on the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme?

Yvette Cooper

I thank the right hon. Lady for her support for the victims of the appalling terrorist attack in Bondi Beach in Sydney. I also welcome her support for the release of Jimmy Lai. That should be something that unites the entire House, and the whole House should support the calls for his freedom.

The right hon. Lady asks what action the Government are taking and have continued to take. The Foreign Office has today summoned the Chinese ambassador to convey the full strength of our feeling about this decision and about the politically motivated prosecution under the national security law. Not only has the Prime Minister raised this, and not only have I recently raised it directly with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, but a whole succession of Government Ministers have raised it with their counterparts in the Chinese Government. We see this not simply as a foreign policy matter, but as a matter that affects the entire Government relationship.

The right hon. Lady seems to suggest that we should then have no further engagement, but actually the opposite is true: we need to ensure that we are conveying the strength of our feeling, exactly because this is so important. We have been engaging with our international counterparts. The EU has today said that it “deplores the conviction”, and that this prosecution

“is politically motivated and emblematic of the erosion of democracy and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong since the imposition of the National Security Law in 2020.”

I have raised this matter at the G7, including with my G7 counterparts. She will know the strength of feeling on this issue in the US, where I have discussed it with counterparts. We will continue to raise this issue not just directly in our relationship with China, but in international discussions, to maintain pressure on China.

Chinese authorities have said that they want China to be a country that respects the international rule of law. Well, we need to hold them to that, then. At the heart of international law are the legal requirements, which they signed up to and which still stand in international law, as a result of the 1984 declaration. However, the declaration is not being respected, and it is being repeatedly violated. If China wants to uphold international law on the world stage, it should uphold those commitments in Hong Kong, it should uphold the rights and the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, and it should release Jimmy Lai.

December 16, 2025
Yvette Cooper – 2025 Statement on the Jimmy Lai Conviction

The statement made by Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, in the House of Commons on 15 December 2025.

With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will first address the horrific attack that took place yesterday at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Across the UK, and across the world, people have been shocked and appalled by this vile antisemitic terrorist attack, targeting Jewish families who were celebrating on the beach on the first day of Hanukkah. New South Wales authorities have confirmed that 15 people have been killed, in addition to one of the two gunmen, and 27 people remain in hospital. It is a devastating loss of life, including a Holocaust survivor and a little girl just 10 years old. It has also now been confirmed that one of the victims of the Bondi attack was a British national, bringing this tragedy even closer to home. We have offered support to the family following their tragic loss. I have offered my Australian counterpart, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the United Kingdom’s full support in Australia’s response, and the Prime Minister and His Majesty the King have both shared their condolences.

Hanukkah should be a time of celebration and joy, yet Jewish people are again confronted with vile acts of hatred simply for being Jews, with further distress for our British Jewish communities just a couple of months after the Manchester synagogue attack on Yom Kippur. We stand in solidarity with Australia’s Jewish communities and with Jewish communities here and across the world as they continue to mark Hanukkah, and we stand in solidarity with the Australian people. Our thoughts are with all those affected. We must continue and increase work to root out antisemitism in all its forms, here and abroad, because we will never let hatred win.

With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will now turn to today’s verdict in the trial of Jimmy Lai. Today, Hong Kong’s courts ruled that Jimmy Lai was guilty of foreign collusion under the national security law, which Beijing imposed on the city five years ago. They also found him guilty of conspiring to publish seditious materials. Jimmy Lai is a British citizen. He has been targeted by the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. This was a politically motivated prosecution that I strongly condemn. Jimmy Lai now faces the prospect of a sentence that, for a man of 78 years, could mean the rest of his life in prison. I call again for Jimmy Lai’s immediate release. On my instruction, the Foreign Office has today summoned the Chinese ambassador to underline our position in the strongest terms. My acting consul-general was present at court today to bear witness.

For many in this House and for the large diaspora community living in the UK, it is heartbreaking that such a violation of a British man’s rights could occur in Hong Kong, because the Hong Kong of Jimmy Lai’s childhood was a city where a 12-year-old boy seeking opportunity could go on to build a business empire and then a media platform. It was a city of freedom, and that freedom brought great prosperity. When the joint declaration was signed by the United Kingdom and China in 1984, both nations declared their commitment to that prosperity. Our countries agreed that Hong Kong’s uniqueness—its high degree of autonomy; its executive, legislative and independent judicial power; and its rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly and of association—was the foundation of its success, and that those things were to be enshrined in law.

For many years, Hong Kong was the embodiment of the commitments made in that joint declaration. The city, the economy and, most importantly, the people thrived. It was a remarkable, shining example to the world of what Hong Kong’s people, and co-operation between the UK and China, could achieve. Indeed, it is partly because of our important history with Hong Kong—economic as well as political—that China remains our third largest trading partner today.

In 2020, however, China began to break the commitments in that declaration. Hong Kong’s free media spoke out, and they were punished for it. In June 2020 China breached the joint declaration by imposing its national security law on the city. It was a law imposed on Hong Kong to silence China’s critics, and one that undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy and threatened the rights that China had once freely committed to upholding. It was not long before the new law was applied and Jimmy Lai was arrested, along with other advocates of democracy, free speech and freedom of assembly.

This British citizen—this businessman and journalist; this father, husband and grandfather—has endured five years of incarceration. Meanwhile, his supporters around the world have campaigned tirelessly for justice. I pay particular tribute to Jimmy’s son, Sebastien Lai, who has endured such pain and shown such determination and dignity in fighting for his father and for the wider rights and principles at stake. I know that many honourable colleagues have had the privilege of meeting this determined man, who has endured so much to take on his father’s mantle, speaking up where his father cannot.

The Government have continually and repeatedly raised Jimmy Lai’s case with China at every opportunity, urging the authorities to agree his release, yet the Hong Kong authorities continue to refuse us consular access to our citizen—a 78-year-old man whose health is suffering. Jimmy Lai remains imprisoned, despite international calls for his release and concerns regarding his health; despite UK Ministers raising our concerns directly and privately with Hong Kong and Chinese officials; and despite our repeated requests for consular access, the most recent of which was submitted on Thursday. Once again, I call for Jimmy Lai to be granted full access to independent medical professionals to assess his health and ensure that he receives adequate treatment.

Today’s verdict is sadly not a surprise, but no state can bully and persecute the British people for exercising their basic rights. We have seen how the Hong Kong authorities have tried to use the national security law to target even those living on British soil for speaking up. The UK has repeatedly called for the national security law to be repealed, and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it. It remains imperative that the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities end the deliberate targeting of opposition voices through arrest warrants and bounties in the UK and elsewhere.

The safety of the Hong Kong community in the UK is a top priority for this Government and, as the Prime Minister has recently said, protecting our security is non-negotiable—it is our first duty. This Government are unequivocally clear that China poses a series of national security threats to the United Kingdom. That is why we have taken further steps and tougher measures to defend our democracy by disrupting and deterring threats from China and other state actors, including upgrading sovereign technology; removing Chinese-made surveillance equipment from sensitive sites; drawing up new legislation modelled on counter-terrorism powers to tackle state threats; rolling out new training to police forces across the country on tackling state threats and protecting individuals from transnational repression; and continuing to support the Hong Kong British national overseas route, which has welcomed over 200,000 Hongkongers to the UK. As part of the earned settlement consultation, the Home Office has confirmed that Hongkongers will retain a five-year settlement route in the UK.

China has not upheld its commitments to the people of Hong Kong, but we will. Jimmy Lai chose to remain in Hong Kong to speak up for what was right, and he is currently paying the price. For the sake of Jimmy Lai and his family, but also for the people of Hong Kong, for the joint declaration we signed and for the rule of law, we will not relent on this. Joined by nations across the world, we call again for the immediate release of Jimmy Lai. I commend this statement to the House.

December 15, 2025