Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : Armed Forces to mark VJ Day 80 with flypasts, music and commemorations around the world [August 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 8 August 2025.

VJ Day 80 celebrations will include flypasts, music and commemorations across the globe.

The Armed Forces will lead the nation in marking the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ Day 80) with a series of spectacular ceremonies next week.

The military contribution to the commemorations will include:
- Flypasts, musicians and a guard of honour at the Royal British Legion’s national commemorative event at the National Memorial Arboretum
- A sunset ceremony and lightshow recognising the contribution of the Commonwealth to the Second World War on the eve of VJ Day
- Performances by military bagpipers at dawn on VJ Day to mark 80 years since peace was restored to the Far East
- A service of remembrance on board the flight deck of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, as the UK Carrier Strike Group continues its deployment to the Indo-Pacific
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

The bravery and sacrifice of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Armed Forces during the Second World War continue to inspire us today.

The nation will come together on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day to thank those who served and remember those who died.

Our UK Armed Forces today continue the legacy of the Greatest Generation – protecting the peace they secured through their courage and commitment across the world.

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said:

The Armed Forces are proud to be at the heart of commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day this month.

The service and sacrifice of the Second World War generation continues to inspire the men and women of today’s Armed Forces.

The alliances and partnerships forged during the Second World War – in NATO, the Commonwealth and in the Far East – still keep us safe today.

Around 400 members of the Armed Forces will pay tribute to Second World War veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum for the national commemorative event hosted by the Royal British Legion (15 August).

The national event in Staffordshire will include a guard of honour of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force and flypasts by the Red Arrows and The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The historic Second World War-era aircraft appearing during the ceremony will include The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster.

Gurkhas from the British Army’s Brigade of Gurkhas will also form part of the guard of honour in recognition of the contribution of 120,000 Gurkha soldiers during the Second World War, particularly in Malaya, Burma and Singapore.

The VJ Day 80 commemorations will begin on the evening of 14 August with a spectacular sunset ceremony at the Memorial Gates in London to pay tribute to Commonwealth personnel who served and died in the Far East.

An emotive lightshow projected on to the Memorial Gates, using images and stories from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s digital story-sharing platform For Evermore, will tell the story of people from around the world who served in support of the allies during the Far East campaign.

Lord Boateng, Chairman of the Memorial Gates Council, will lay a wreath on behalf of HM The King during the ceremony.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Torch for Peace will be lit to close the ceremony, in a reminder of our shared commitment to peace and security.

The Ministry of Defence will also lead a moment of reflection at The Cenotaph, the United Kingdom’s national monument to UK and Commonwealth personnel who died in the world wars.

At dawn on VJ Day itself, military bagpipers will perform the lament Battle’s O’er at The Cenotaph, in the Far East section of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and at Edinburgh Castle.

The dawn lament will coincide with a remembrance moment at a Japanese peace garden to reflect the reconciliation which has taken place between the UK and Japan in the decades since the Second World War.

The simultaneous performances will be broadcast live in the UK at dawn as the nation gathers to mark 80 years of peace in the Far East and remember those who died during the campaign.

They will be joined in unison by military pipers performing in key locations around the world to recognise the contribution of communities across the Indo-Pacific to the Second World War, including on board HMS Prince of Wales, at sea in the Far East.

This includes performances by UK Armed Forces pipers in Japan, Nepal, Brunei and New Zealand.

The ship’s company of HMS Prince of Wales will hold a short service of remembrance on board the aircraft carrier’s flight deck, led by a Royal Navy chaplain and including a minute’s silence.

The aircraft carrier is currently leading the UK Carrier Strike Group on deployment to the Far East, where the flagship is leading a convoy of 12 allies to demonstrate their operational capability, bolster the UK’s commitment to NATO and to protect peace and prosperity in the region.

Armed Forces personnel on duty in the UK and on operations and exercises around the world will pause to mark the anniversary, remembering those who died and thanking veterans of the Second World War for their service.
August 15, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Statement on the Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza

The statement made by Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 8 August 2025.

The Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately. This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.

Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions. What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution. Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza and must leave as well as disarm.

Together with our allies, we are working on a long-term plan to secure peace in the region as part of a two-state solution, and ultimately achieve a brighter future for Palestinians and Israelis.

But without both sides engaging in good faith in negotiations, that prospect is vanishing before our eyes. Our message is clear: a diplomatic solution is possible, but both parties must step away from the path of destruction.

August 15, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New ‘restriction zones’ to boost protection for victims [August 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 8 August 2025.

New restriction zones will curb the freedoms of the most serious sexual and violent offenders by ‘locking’ them into specific areas where necessary.
- ‘Restriction zones’ to lock offenders – not their victims – into specific areas
- Breaches, when boundaries are crossed, could result in prison recall
- Move part of Plan for Change to boost protection for victims and make our streets safer
Under plans outlined today (Friday 8 August), offenders will be pinned down to certain areas with tough monitoring supported by proven technology – with the possibility of time behind bars for those who breach restrictions.

This will provide an additional tool to protect victims from the most serious offenders. Whilst existing “exclusion zones” are a valuable tool to stop offenders from entering a location where their victim lives, new “restriction zones” go further and instead limit the movement of offenders, who are confined to an agreed area, allowing victims to travel anywhere else without fear of meeting their offender.

Probation officers will conduct a detailed risk assessment and work hand-in-hand with victims on the creation of restriction zones, making sure zones prevent contact while giving survivors the maximum freedom to rebuild their lives.

The change was announced after Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones visited the charity Advance, which supports women and girls who have experienced trauma from domestic abuse to rebuild their lives in their communities.

Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, said:

Through our Plan for Change, we’re putting victims first.

This move will strengthen safeguards for victims. I’ve heard firsthand how this innovative approach will give them the peace of mind they deserve and rebuild their lives without fear.

Wider reforms throughout the probation system will also see tens of thousands more offenders tagged – backed by a huge boost in funding of up to £700 million by 2028/29.

In addition, at least 1,300 new trainee probation officers will be brought in next year to increase capacity and new technology will lighten the administrative burden and free up time for workers to effectively supervise the most dangerous offenders and keep the public safe.

Diana Parkes CBE and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE, who are co-founders of the Joanna Simpson Foundation, said:

For far too long, victims have had to reshape their lives to avoid their offenders. Exclusion zones have made victims feel trapped as though they are the ones serving a sentence, with the victim carrying the weight of someone else’s crime.

This announcement from the Ministry of Justice is the much-needed change that has long been called for and is a powerful step forward. By placing restrictions on offenders instead, this will now give survivors the freedom they deserve to live, move and heal without fear. It will also be more cost-effective for those monitoring the perpetrators as they will be locked in specific areas rather than having to monitor the exclusion zones where the victims live.

We are proud to have campaigned for this reform over the course of many years, including in our meeting with the Lord Chancellor and Victims Minister earlier this year, and truly grateful to the Ministry of Justice for listening, for believing in change and for putting survivors first.

In order to further protect victims and ensure they see justice done, there will be further changes to:
- Increase tagging for domestic perpetrators – enabling the closer monitoring of cowardly abusers to reassure victims and remove the onus from them to prove breaches have occurred.
- Identify perpetrators of domestic abuse at sentencing – requiring judges to flag domestic abuse at sentencing so prisons, probation and police can better identify and manage abusers.
- Expand Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts – bolstering support for victims and ensuring their abusers are properly supervised and rehabilitated.
- Bolster transparency for victims at sentencing – including the provision of free copies of judges’ sentencing remarks for victims of rape and other sexual offences, and ensuring they receive the information and support they need to navigate the criminal justice system.
This builds on action the government has already taken to meet its commitment to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, including:
- A National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection backed by £13.1 million to enable policing to better target these crimes.
- Raneem’s Law which embeds domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms in the first five police forces to improve the police response to domestic abuse.
- Nearly £20 million in funding for specialist VAWG services which support victims of abuse including a range of vital helplines.
- Introducing a new criminal offence for spiking and new spiking training for thousands of pub, club and bar staff to ensure they have the skills to support victims and prevent incidents.
- Launched new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders in select police forces and courts. These orders enable victims to obtain protection for as long as needed, cover all forms of domestic abuse and can impose tougher restrictions on perpetrators including electronic monitoring and mandating assessments for perpetrator programmes.
- New measures to tackle stalking, including giving police guidance on a victim’s right to know the identity of online stalkers for the first time and widening the use of Stalking Protection Orders.
- The roll out of The Drive Project across England and Wales which, backed by £53 million, will target high-harm, high-risk domestic abuse perpetrators – taking the responsibility for the abuse away from the victim and putting it firmly on the perpetrator where it belongs.
- Criminalising pornography that depicts acts of strangulation through the Crime and Policing Bill.
August 15, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Letter to Rushanara Ali Accepting her Resignation

The letter sent by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, to Rushanara Ali on 7 August 2025 accepting her resignation.

The Prime Minister
7 August 2025

Dear Rushanara

Thank you for all you have done to deliver this Government’s ambitious agenda.

Your diligent work at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, including your efforts to put in measures to repeal the Vagrancy Act, will have a significant impact.

You have also begun the process of delivering landmark reforms including tackling harassment and intimidation in public life and encouraging more people to engage and participate in our democracy. This will leave a lasting legacy.

I know you will continue to support the Government from the backbenches and represent the best interests of your constituents in Bethnal Green and Stepney.

All best wishes,

Keir Starmer

August 15, 2025
Rushanara Ali – 2025 Resignation Letter to Keir Starmer

The letter of resignation sent by Rushanara Ali to Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 7 August 2025.

Rushanara Ali
Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Stepney
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

Labour Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Stepney

7 August 2025

Dear Prime Minister,

It is with a heavy heart that I offer you my resignation as a Minister. It has been the honour of my life to have played my part in first securing and then serving as part of this Labour Government. You have my continued commitment, loyalty and support.

Further to recent reporting, I wanted to make it clear that at all times I have followed all relevant legal requirements. I believe I took my responsibilities and duties seriously, and the facts demonstrate this.

However, it is clear that continuing in my role will be a distraction from the ambitious work of the government. I have therefore decided to resign from my Ministerial position.

I am proud to have contributed to the change this government has delivered in the past year. Working alongside the Deputy Prime Minister, we secured record investment in social and affordable housing, and nearly a billion pounds of funding to alleviate homelessness and rough sleeping. I am proud to have delivered this government’s election strategy, leading to legislation that will protect and enhance our democracy, with tough new laws on foreign donations, extending the vote to 16 and 17 year-olds, and tackling harassment and intimidation in public life.

More widely, I have been proud to serve in a government that is investing in the NHS, rebuilding communities, securing trade deals, delivering jobs and growth, and rebuilding Britain’s place on the world stage. Under your leadership, Britain is showing international leadership on a range of issues, from standing up for Ukraine against Russian aggression, to working with our allies on developing a pathway to end the war in Gaza, including recognition of Palestinian statehood.

I want to thank you and the Deputy Prime Minister for your support and for giving me the opportunity to serve the British public in this Labour Government.

Please be assured of my continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Rushanara Ali
Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Stepney

August 15, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK highlights importance of sustainability ahead of COP30 [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 August 2025.

The British Ambassador to Guatemala, Juliana Correa, participated in a workshop with representatives of government and private sector to stress the need to achieve an ambitious COP30.

During the meeting, Ambassador Correa highlighted the United Kingdom’s commitment to global climate action and the fundamental role of the private sector in the transition to sustainable economies.

She highlighted British initiatives such as climate financing through capital markets, UK’s support for funds to mitigate the impact of climate change, the commitments to decarbonize the UK’s electricity grid and submit an NDC aligned with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

The meeting reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s willingness to collaborate with Guatemala on the climate agenda, especially in the context of COP30. The active participation of the Guatemalan business sector was recognized as key to advancing climate adaptation, mitigation, and financing measures.

The event was attended by the Vice Minister of Environment, Edwin Castellanos; the Director General for Multilateral and Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ana Isabel Carrillo; and organized by the Guatemala’s Climate Change Special Envoy, Ambassador Rita Mishaan, in coordination with Green Development Guatemala.

August 15, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : The UK encourages all parties to remain committed to prioritising security, growth and prosperity across the region – UK statement at the UN Security Council [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 August 2025.

Statement by Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council meeting on West Africa and the Sahel.

Firstly, the United Kingdom condemns terrorist attacks in the region, including the increased use of IEDs, and the use of blockades to disrupt trade and isolate communities.

Regional unity is critical for addressing the growing security challenges and tackling transnational threats.

The UK encourages all parties to remain committed to prioritising security, growth and prosperity across the region.

We stress the need for careful consideration of external security partners, not all of whom share these goals.

We welcome the agreements between ECOWAS and the AES, which protect the strong tradition of West African cooperation and will bring benefits to citizens of the region, including freedom of movement and ease of trade.

We urge the countries of the region to extend this constructive approach to cooperation on counter terrorism and security.

Second, President, we note mixed progress on democratic processes.

The UK is concerned by recent developments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, including the suspension of political parties, increasing restrictions on civic space and the extension of transition timelines.

We call upon the authorities in these countries to return to the principles of inclusive and accountable governance, which are crucial to long-term stability and prosperity.

Looking ahead to the Presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau this year, the UK stands ready to engage in support of ensuring these are peaceful, credible processes, and aligned with their respective constitutions.

We also welcome progress in promoting youth and women’s participation in governance.

Investment in education and employment is critical to reducing vulnerability to radicalisation and irregular migration and supporting inclusive and sustainable peace.

And as we heard from Ms Bahous so powerfully, investing in girls’ education, in particular, is key to ensuring women and girls can enjoy their rights and realise their full potential.

Third, President, we remain concerned by the deteriorating humanitarian situation across the region.

Conflict, displacement and restrictions on humanitarian access continue to undermine the delivery of life-saving assistance.

And we urge all parties to ensure rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access.

To conclude, President, the region’s complex challenges require collective action.

The UK supports efforts to strengthen regional dialogue and remains committed to inclusive regional cooperation.

August 15, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : First illegal immigrants detained under landmark UK-France deal [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 7 August 2025.

First illegal immigrants detained under the groundbreaking UK-France treaty.

Immigrants who arrived in the UK on a small boat have been detained under the UK-France treaty, which is now operational.

Detentions began for those who arrived in the UK on a small boat yesterday lunchtime (August 6). They will be held in immigration removal centres pending their removal. The UK will make referrals to France within 3 days, and the French authorities will be expected to respond within 14 days. Those detained will be briefed on the procedure through which their return to France will take place, and the next operational phase of preparing each individual for removal will be activated.

Today (August 7) the reciprocal process to allow migrants to submit an expression of interest to come the UK has also begun. Applicants must satisfy the eligibility and suitability criteria, including uploading a passport or other identity documents as well as a recent photograph. For those selected, they will have to pass further stringent security checks and biometric controls, meaning that only those individuals that the UK Government has approved for entry will be allowed through the new route.

As the one-in, one-out pilot scheme continues into its implementation phase, the Home Office is also working to communicate information about the new treaty to any migrants in Northern France and beyond who are considering making a dangerous small boat crossing, with a hard-hitting campaign warning them not to risk their money or their life, to be promoted in the coming days across multiple channels.

Border Force, Immigration Enforcement and Home Office officials will continue to work round the clock over the coming weeks to identify and detain individuals under the treaty, and undertake the necessary processes to prepare them for their return to France. Both the UK and French authorities will also be keeping the operation of the scheme under constant review in these initial weeks to deal with any emerging issues, as well as seeking to ramp up the pace and scale of returns as the agreement progresses.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Yesterday, under the terms of this groundbreaking new treaty, the first group of people to cross the Channel were detained after their arrival at Western Jet Foil and will now be held in detention until they can be returned to France. That sends a message to every migrant currently thinking of paying organised crime gangs to go to the UK that they will be risking their lives and throwing away their money if they get into a small boat.

No one should be making this illegal and dangerous journey that undermines our border security and lines the pockets of the criminal gangs.

Criminal gangs have spent 7 years embedding themselves along our border and it will take time to unravel them, but these detentions are an important step towards undermining their business model and unravelling the false promises they make. These are the early days for this pilot scheme, and it will develop over time. But we are on track to do what no other government has done since this crisis first started – sending small boat arrivals back to France and strengthening our borders through the Plan for Change.

Returns to other countries and immigration enforcement work will continue alongside the treaty. In its first year in office, this government returned more than 35,000 people with no right to be in the UK – a 28% increase in returns of failed asylum seekers and a 13% increase in overall returns compared to the previous year. The government also ramped up activity against illegal working, with over 9,000 raids since July 2024, resulting in 6,410 arrests – up 48% and 51% on the previous year.

August 15, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Record attendance gains unlock over £2bn in future earnings [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 7 August 2025.

School attendance in England has surged, with 5 million more days in classrooms and 140,000 fewer persistently absent pupils.

Children across England are returning to school in record numbers, with over 5 million more days in classrooms this year – signalling the biggest year-on-year improvement in attendance for a decade.

New figures show more than 140,000 fewer pupils are persistently absent compared to last year, as the government’s relentless focus on tackling the inherited school attendance crisis begins to pay dividends.

Of those, 45,000 are young people from deprived backgrounds, reflecting particular improvement among disadvantaged children.

The dramatic improvement means teachers have saved over 10,000 days that would have been spent helping absent pupils catch up, freeing them to focus on delivering excellent education to whole classes.

Spending more time in school boosts learning outcomes for children, but it’s also about making friends and having new experiences, helping them to achieve and thrive. It also has a huge impact on children’s future chances in life. With a single day out of school costing an estimated £750 in lost earnings across the course of a career for a typical student, this year’s progress alone will protect over £2bn in pupils’ future earnings and building the skilled workforce needed to drive economic growth.

The attendance breakthrough demonstrates the start of a fundamental shift in classrooms across the country, with attendance improving in all regions, as more children get back into the habit of attending every day.

The department is already making progress through our Plan for Change and this year has delivered major upgrades to school and LA-level data. This puts AI-powered reports into the hands of schools so they can benchmark their attendance against schools in similar circumstances to tackle attendance issues head on, alongside significantly expanding our pilot mentors scheme to directly target young people who need more support.

This builds on the government’s wider approach to tackle the root causes of absence, including rolling out free breakfast clubs in every primary school, expanding access to mental health support in schools, and ensuring earlier intervention for pupils with special educational needs.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:

The record improvement in school attendance shows we are turning the tide on a crisis that saw a generation go missing from England’s schools.

Getting children back in classrooms, where they belong, is non-negotiable if we are to break the unfair link between background and success so we can build a fairer country – a cornerstone of our Plan for Change.

When we tackle attendance head-on, everyone benefits – pupils get the consistent education they deserve, teachers can focus on driving up standards, and we build the stronger workforce our economy needs.

With fewer children missing crucial learning, pupils are more likely to develop the consistent study habits, knowledge and social skills that will serve them whether they progress to apprenticeships, colleges or universities.

The attendance gains sit alongside for the government’s mission to ensure 75% of five-year-olds reach key development milestones by 2028, recognising that regular school attendance from the earliest years creates the foundation for lifelong success.

To go further, new attendance and behaviour hubs will work nationwide to support more than 5,000 schools a year in tackling absence, while specialist attendance mentors are working directly with 10,000 of the most vulnerable children over the next three years to remove barriers to attending school.

August 15, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Lebanese Army Commander Ends Visit to The United Kingdom [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 August 2025.

Lebanon’s inclusion in the ‘Dragon Group’ meetings underscores its strategic importance & longstanding partnership with the UK in promoting regional stability.

The Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), General Rodolph Haykal attended the UK-hosted “Dragon Group” between 4-5 August, accompanied by UK Defence Attaché to Lebanon Lt Col Charlie Smith, reinforcing the strong military partnership between Lebanon and the UK.

The Dragon Group is a UK-led initiative launched in 2018 aboard HMS Dragon to bring together Chiefs of Defence from across the Middle Eastern region. Initially comprising nine nations, the group has evolved to reflect the region’s broader security landscape. Lebanon’s inclusion this year underscores its strategic importance and longstanding partnership with the UK in promoting regional stability.

The ninth meeting took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, to coincide with the world-famous Military Tattoo.

During his visit, General Haykal met with the UK Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and Chiefs of Defence from across the Middle East. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation, regional security, and continued UK support for the LAF as the sole legitimate defender of Lebanon.

This visit underscores the UK’s commitment to Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty. Since 2009, the UK has provided over £161 million in support to Lebanon’s security institutions, including £106 million in direct assistance to the LAF through training, equipment, and infrastructure.

Charge D’Affaires Victoria Dunne said:

The visit of the Lebanese Army Commander General Haykal to the UK reflects the strength of our defence partnership and the UK’s ongoing support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. We stand with Lebanon in its efforts to maintain peace, security, and sovereignty.

UK Defence Attaché Lt. Col. Charlie Smith said:

The Lebanese Armed Forces plays a vital role in Lebanon’s and the region’s stability. I am grateful for General Haykal’s valuable contribution to this meeting of the Dragon Group. We are proud to work alongside the LAF supporting with training, kit and equipment. Our bilateral military cooperation remains strong and we reaffirm our commitment to their mission and capabilities.

August 15, 2025