Tag: 2026

Keir Starmer – 2026 Statement on Historic Forced Adoption

The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in the House of Commons on 2 July 2026.

Thank you Mr Speaker. This morning in Downing Street, I met some of the mothers and adult adoptees harmed by historic adoption practices in England.

They are here with us in the gallery today and I had the chance to talk with them privately.

They are the most remarkable women, and I know the whole House will want to join me in paying tribute to the extraordinary courage with which they have shared their harrowing testimonies and fought for the truth, time and again.

I have to confess, as I said to them this morning, that I found it difficult to read the testimonies and to hear their stories. I found it particularly hard as a dad.

How much harder it must have been for them to go through that, to set out their testimonies, and tell their stories over and over again.

As they said to me this morning, something that is so intensely private, having to be public and the courage and resilience they have shown – and others alongside them – is absolutely incredible and I want to mark that.

Mr Speaker, what happened to them – and to tens of thousands of mothers, children and families – should never have happened.

It is a stain on our history.

Mothers – many young, vulnerable, and without support – were coerced, bullied or misled into feeling they had no choice but to have their children taken from them. What a thing to do.

And Mr Speaker, these were not isolated or accidental acts.

They were practices embedded within systems across local authorities, across voluntary and faith-based institutions, and in health and social care services, including parts of what is now the NHS.

All institutions that operated with power over people’s lives, yet they did so without compassion, without consent, and without dignity or proper safeguards.

Mr Speaker, these practices were particularly prevalent between 1949 and 1976 but also extended beyond those years.

In some cases, women, including those placed in Mother and Baby Homes and other institutional settings, were cut off from their families, relationships, education and employment and subjected to harsh and isolated conditions.

Some experienced treatment that amounted to exploitation and abuse.

Mr Speaker, many were made to feel ashamed – and that came through very, very powerfully in the discussions I had this morning – silenced, and unworthy of care or dignity.

Children grew up believing they were unwanted.

Young mothers were told they were immoral – and that their babies were better off without them.

And again, as they told me this morning, that lasts a lifetime and has a huge impact.

Ann Lloyd Keen, here in the gallery and of course formerly of this House.

Described to the Education Committee how she was stitched without anaesthetic and told – and I quote – that she was told: “You will remember the pain, because you’ve been a bad girl”

Mr Speaker, many of those harmed in this way feel a gut-wrenching sense of shame.

Ann and others have said that stayed with her – and that she still feels it today.

And I know that this apology will not be able to lift that completely, it will help a little I hope, but it won’t lift it completely.

Mr Speaker, today I say to Ann, to everyone here in the gallery with us and to all those impacted and affected wherever they are in the country – and there are many, many thousands of them, including some who are have still been unable to speak about what happened to them to this day.

And I hope this statement and this apology perhaps gives some of them the confidence to speak about what happened to them because it will help in a small way.

But I say this.

The shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours.

And I say that on behalf of the whole country, I say it to every single person impacted, we are deeply and profoundly sorry.

To the mothers who were told they were unfit who were prevented from caring for the children they desperately wanted to help and to keep and who have carried this loss for decades.

To those who were not given the information they needed to provide informed consent, who faced pressure or coercion, and who experienced practices that were unethical.

To the sons and daughters, the children who are now adults, who through pressure and coercion within these systems, were taken from their families and denied their identity, their history, and sometimes their safety.

To those who grew up believing they were unwanted, some of whom were even told directly that they were second class.

To those who have carried a burden of loss, confusion and stigma, or who experienced neglect, and abuse, without the protection or oversight that should have been their right.

To those who have experienced lifelong uncertainty, loss, or questions around identity and belonging, or whose mental and physical health, relationships, and sense of self across their lives has been affected.

To the fathers who were denied a voice, excluded from decisions, or separated from their children.

To the siblings, grandparents, partners, extended families, and future generations who have lived with the consequences of these practices.

To those who experienced harm from these practices, even while being brought up in loving homes, by their adoptive parents.

To those who were adopted across borders or cultures who lost connections to their heritage, racial and personal identity.

And to those from ethnic minority backgrounds who experienced racism or were treated differently within these systems and who as a group were less likely to be adopted or to grow up in stable family homes.

Mr Speaker I am struck by the words of Debbie Iromlou who I met this morning. She says she was “raised with racist views towards her own biological family.”

Mr Speaker, how do you even begin to comprehend that?

To each and every one of those affected, we say a deep and heartfelt sorry.

And Mr Speaker, let me be clear and unequivocal. These harms were compounded by the actions and failures of the State.

Governments funded, enabled and relied upon systems that were not consistently or effectively overseen.

The State did not prevent harm from continuing.

The State bears responsibility for the systems it funded and legitimised, which enabled these practices to occur.

The State did not do enough to protect mothers, children and families from harm.

And for this systemic failure, I am truly sorry.

Mr Speaker, many of those affected have suffered a further injustice.

They’ve had to fight for the basic human right to know their own history.

As Sally Ells has put it – “We are treated as if the information about our own lives, does not belong to us”

Debbie was told her birth mother’s life would be in danger if she tried to search for her. Barriers put in place at every twist and turn.

Records have in some cases been lost, altered, or not made fully accessible to those seeking answers.

And the whole process is painfully slow – traumatic and dehumanising all over again.

Mr Speaker we do say sorry and we mean it, but sorry is not enough.

This must also be the start of real change.

Working with those affected and their families to improve access to records.

And to provide the care and support that people need.

So today I can tell the House.

We will fund the development of a national online resource, creating a single access point to locate records wherever they might be held across the country.

We will consult on requiring existing records to be retained for 100 years, so they remain available across the lifetime of those affected.

And my Rt Hon Friend the Education Secretary is today writing to local authorities, Regional Adoption Agencies and Voluntary Adoption Agencies, setting out the expectation that requests for records should be responded to swiftly and with compassion and consistency.

We will expand access to funded intermediary services with particular focus on pre-1976 cases where access to support is currently most limited.

We will establish national virtual peer-led support groups for mothers and adopted adults to improve access to ongoing, trauma-informed support across the country.

And we will work with NHS England to ensure those affected are taken seriously when they seek help.

This includes new support for clinicians to better understand the impact of forced adoption and respond appropriately in their care.

The NHS England will also explore how those who wish to do so can have their experience of forced adoption appropriately recorded in their health record.

And finally, to further recognise those affected, and ensure we learn the lessons of the past, we will also commission a testimonials project to capture the stories of those with experience of historic forced adoption practices.

Through all of this and more, we will continue to meet regularly with those with lived experience, guided by them to get this support right, to learn from our past – and ensure that nothing like this can ever happen in this country again.

Finally, Mr Speaker, this national apology reflects and builds on the approaches taken by Scotland and Wales, whose devolved governments have also issued apologies for these practices which we fully endorse.

And I welcome the process underway in Northern Ireland to establish a Statutory Public Inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Madgalene Laundries and Workhouses.

I also want to thank the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Education Select Committee for all they have done to shine a light on this injustice.

But most of all, I want to thank those who have campaigned for so long to have the truth recognised, including those who are no longer with us to hear this apology they fought for.

It should never have happened.

And you should not have had to fight for this day to come.

But today, finally, I do say on behalf of the State – and on behalf of the nation as a whole –

We see you. We hear you. And we are truly sorry.

And I commend this statement to the House.

04/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Three new Trustees appointed to the Royal Armouries Board [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 July 2026.

The Secretary of State has appointed Rebecca Crook and Judith Donovan for four-year terms commencing 26 September 2026, and Helen Williams for a four-year term from 1 October 2026.

Rebecca Crook and Judith Donovan have been appointed for four year terms, commencing on 28 September 2026 to 27 September 2030. Helen Williams has been appointed for a four year term, commencing on 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030.

Rebecca Crook

Rebecca Crook is UK CEO of MSQ DX, a global digital experience company with £70m+ annual revenue and over 500 people delivering digital products, experiences and AI solutions for major brands. She has 25 years of experience, having helped scale and sell three digital businesses for a combined value in excess of £140m.

Alongside her commercial career, Rebecca has spent over 15 years as a trustee and advisor in the heritage, museums, and cultural sector, driven by a passion for protecting historic places, collections and buildings for future generations. She is currently Chair of the Enterprise Committee at Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust. She co-founded and chaired Saltdean Lido CIC, raising over £8m to restore the site and writing the successful application to upgrade its listing to Grade II*. The lido is now operating as a tourist destination and community hub, with a restaurant, café, event spaces, swimming pool, gym and library. Previous board roles include The National Trust Strategic Advisory Board and London Transport Museum.

Rebecca is co-chair of BIMA’s CEO & Leadership Council and a Women in Technology mentor and features in the Management Today Women in Leadership Power List 2026, BIMA 100 and Campaign 40 over 40.

Judith Donovan

Judith Donovan CBE was one of the first female entrepreneurs in Yorkshire, founding her own marketing agency in 1982, which she grew to over 50 staff, and a turnover of £12.5 million, before selling to her managers in 2000.

Since then she has pursued a Non–Executive and Trustee career, primarily in the Public and Third sectors. She currently is Trustee of Science Museum Group, Member of National Railway Museum Advisory Board, Chair of Employment Advisory Board at HMP Askham Grange & New Hall and Chair of Ripon Cathedral Council and Vice Chair Ripon Cathedral Rural Forum. Judith is also Chair of Keep Me Posted Campaign, Trustee of the Woolmens Company charity & The Tobacco Benevolent Society, Member of General Committee Reform Club and Member of Business Council the Jobs Foundation

Previously she has been Chair of Eden Project Ltd, Trustee National Army Museum, Chair National Army Museum Trading Ltd, Chair Advisory Board National Science and Media Museum & Science Innovation Park, Vice Chair of Postwatch, a Millennium Commissioner, a Director of HSE, BIG Lottery Fund and also Chair of the Yorkshire Tourist Board, Chair of Bradford TEC, President of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, a Trustee of Northern Ballet and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust and also a DEFRA appointed member on both the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the British Wool Marketing Board.

Helen Williams

Helen Williams is Chief Strategy & Policy Officer at the National Wealth Fund, the government backed investment bank based in Leeds, where she leads the organisation’s strategy, policy, comms and shareholder relations functions. A member of the founding executive leadership team, Helen played a key role in establishing the institution and shaping its investment strategy in support of economic growth and clean energy projects across the UK. She sits on the Investment, Risk and Credit Committees.

Helen has more than two decades of experience in central government, having held a range of senior leadership positions across Whitehall, including the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Her government career focused on strategy, public policy, governance and the sponsorship of major public bodies.

During her time at DCMS, Helen led policy relating to museums, heritage and the arts, including oversight of national cultural institutions and relationships with arm’s-length bodies. She is an experienced non-executive director including serving as Vice-Chair of the Horniman Museum and Gardens. In 2022 Helen was a member of Gold Command responsible for the strategic coordination of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the Royal Armouries are not remunerated.

04/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Trustees appointed to the Science Museum Group Board [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 July 2026.

The Prime Minister has appointed Ann Allen, Priya Guha, Janice Lane, Toufic Machnouk and Tom Solomon, and reappointed Anya Hurlbert and Baroness Morgan as Trustees of the Science Museum Group.

Ann Allen MBE, Priya Guha MBE, Janice Lane, Toufic Machnouk and Professor Tom Solomon CBE terms will commence on 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030.

Ann Allen MBE

Ann is a chartered Surveyor currently leading a team helping to reshape the University of Leeds campus to support the ambitions of the University and the experiences of all students and staff. Prior to this, she led the University of Glasgow £1bn campus redevelopment programme. She is passionate about the built environment and how it can support cohesive and engaged communities. Previous non-executive roles include Chair of Architecture Design Scotland, Chair of Built Environment Trust and Chair of the Scottish Board of Women in Property, Trustee of the National Museum of Scotland and Board Member of Scottish Future Trust, Crown Estate Scotland and the Water Industry Commission.

Ann was awarded an MBE in 2019 for services to higher education.

Priya Guha MBE

Priya is deeply embedded in the UK and global tech ecosystem through her roles in government, investment, start-ups and corporates.

Priya has had a career centred on the intersection of science, technology, innovation and geopolitics and is a passionate advocate for the importance of science and innovation in the UK’s future and is active in supporting work to garner the benefits of the transformative potential of frontier technologies.

Amongst other roles, she is a Non-Executive Director at UK Research and Innovation, the Herald Investment Trust, Reach plc and the Digital Catapult. Priya is also a Member of the Investment Governance Board of Future Planet Capital and an Advisor to Gallos Technologies.

Priya used to be a career diplomat, most recently as British Consul General to San Francisco and previously in India and Spain. Priya was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to international trade and women in innovation.

Janice Lane

Janice is an experienced cultural heritage leader with more than 30 years working in multi-disciplinary and multi-venue museums in England, Scotland, and Wales. Most recently, she was an Executive Director at Amgueddfa Cymru-Museum Wales for 12 years where she had responsibility for diverse portfolios including visitor experience, learning, exhibitions and public programmes, operations, heritage skills, major projects and sustainability.

Janice brings extensive experience of major museum projects, having worked on award-winning redevelopments such as Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery and Riverside Museum in Glasgow and then St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff. She also led the delivery of major exhibitions, learning and engagement programmes, working with national and international partners. She is a Getty Leadership Institute alumna and a former board member of International Council of Museums UK.

Now working as a consultant and non-executive director, Janice helps organisations understand, measure, and strengthen their social value, offering a collaborative and outcomes focused approach. She currently serves on the boards of Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, The Sherman Theatre, and Gregynog Trust, and is a Heritage Network expert panel member. From beginning her career as a teacher and museum educator, Janice remains committed to widening access to culture and improving public understanding of science.

Toufic Machnouk

Toufic is Managing Director of GBRX, the strategic technology and innovation body for Britain’s railway, and a member of the sector’s Executive Leadership Team. He leads work across government, industry and academia to accelerate the adoption of strategic technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced computation, intelligent sensing, robotics, quantum technologies, data systems and cyber security.

Before establishing GBRX, Toufic created and led the Industry Partnership for Digital Railway, mobilising one of the UK’s largest strategic enterprise partnerships to support a multi-billion-pound national technology investment portfolio. His work has focused on building the relationships, delivery models and institutional capability required to enable large-scale technology adoption and system transformation.

Toufic is a strong advocate for public engagement with science, engineering and technology. He teaches and speaks regularly on leadership, innovation and strategic technologies, supporting the development of future capability in engineering, technology and systems leadership. He holds a degree in Design Engineering and an Executive Master of Business Administration with Distinction from the University of Bath.

Professor Tom Solomon CBE

Tom is Director of The Pandemic Institute and Academic Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians. He is Director for the Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). He is also Chair of Neurological Science at the University of Liverpool and an honorary Consultant Neurologist at the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust.

He studied medicine at the University of Oxford, completed a PhD on central nervous system infections in Vietnam, and a post-doctoral fellowship in the United States, before building an international career at the interface of global health and neurological and emerging infections. Under his leadership, Liverpool has become a recognised centre for health protection research and impact, contributing to control of Japanese encephalitis, Ebola, Zika, Covid-19.

He has held senior national roles for NIHR, and the Medical Research Council, chairing major funding boards and advising the UK government and international agencies on pandemic preparedness and response. He was Vice President (International) at the Academy of Medical Sciences, and is Academic Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians, where he leads the College’s communications, policy and research work. Tom is also an active science communicator, working with media and the Science Media Centre, and was awarded a CBE in 2021 for services to neurological and emerging infections research.

Trustees that have been reappointed to the Science Museum Group:

Professor Anya Hurlbert and Baroness Morgan’s second terms will commence on 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2030.

Professor Anya Hurlbert

Anya is Professor of Visual Neuroscience and Dean of Advancement at Newcastle University, where she co-founded the former Institute of Neuroscience and now steers the Centre for Transformative Neuroscience. She holds degrees from the US and UK in physics, physiology, brain and cognitive sciences, and medicine. Her 200+ scientific publications include papers in Nature, Science and Current Biology, handbook chapters, and invited reviews.

Her research interests follow two themes: fundamental and applied science of human colour vision, using psychophysics, computational modelling, and neuroimaging, with applications in colour vision deficiency, imaging, lighting, and visual art; and AI-based retinal image analysis.

She co-authored the book Color in Nature (Princeton University Press; 2024), received the Newton Medal (the Colour Group GB; 2022) and the Edridge-Green Medal (the Royal College of Ophthalmologists; 2017) amongst other awards. She is Associate Editor of the Journal of Vision, member of the Rank Prize Optoelectronics Committee, former Vice President of the Vision Sciences Society, Director of the International Colour Vision Society, former Scientific Trustee of the National Gallery and Chair of the Advisory Board of the National Science and Media Museum.

Baroness Morgan

The Rt Hon. the Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Nicky Morgan) is a former Conservative MP and Minister. She is now a member of the House of Lords and has a portfolio career with roles across the private and public sectors, including Senior Independent Director at Santander UK, Chair of the Advertising Standards Authority and Chair of the Careers & Enterprise Company.

Baroness Morgan was the elected MP for Loughborough from 2010 to 2019, she entered the House of Lords in 2020. During her parliamentary career, Baroness Morgan held several key ministerial roles, including Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (2019–2020), Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities (2014–2016), Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Minister for Women (2014). She was an Assistant Whip in the coalition government until her appointment as Economic Secretary to the Treasury in 2013. She was also elected Chair of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee (2017-2019).

Before being elected she worked as a solicitor specialising in Mergers and Acquisitions.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustee roles are not remunerated, and therefore will not attract a pension or any other gratuity.

04/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Independent Review of the Use of Non-corporate Communications Channels in Government [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 2 July 2026.

The appointment of an Independent Reviewer of the Use of Non-corporate Communications Channels in Government.

The Government is committed to maintaining the highest standards of information security, transparency, propriety, and record-keeping. These standards are essential to ensure public trust in how we make decisions.

In recent years, the way we all communicate has changed considerably, including across the public sector. The Government recognises there is a need for greater clarity over the use of non-corporate communication channels (NCCCs) – such as personal messaging apps and e-mails- for Government business to remain secure and for decisions to be recorded appropriately. It is important that we strike the right balance between transparency and accountability alongside operational efficiency and information security.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, has appointed Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein CBE as the Independent Reviewer of the use of Non-corporate Communications Channels in Government. Sir Anthony will examine the human, organisational, legal and technical factors involved when officials, advisers and Ministers use non-corporate communication channels for work.

The Independent Review of the Use of Non-corporate Communications Channels in Government will:
- Define NCCCs within the context of government business;
- Cover the use of disappearing messages and similar auto-deletion features;
- Identify security risks related to NCCCs
- Make practical and actionable recommendations concerning NCCCs to improve the Government’s record-keeping.
03/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s actions in Ukraine and at the OSCE must not be normalised – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 July 2026.

Ambassador Holland condemned Russia’s ongoing aggression, highlighting rising civilian casualties, cultural destruction and reports of conflict-related sexual violence, while exposing persistent disinformation. He criticised Russia’s disinformation and conduct in the OSCE and underlined that such actions must not be normalised.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Mr Chair, accompanying Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is an attempt to normalise the unacceptable. Through its actions on the ground and in this Council, Russia seeks to condition us to accept the unacceptable .

Every day brings further death and destruction across Ukraine. The Russian attack on Kyiv overnight, which killed at least thirteen people and injured a further 86, is the latest example. Our thoughts are with all those affected.

Colleagues, despite attempts to persuade you otherwise, we believe any loss of life is tragic. Yet the scale of suffering we continue to witness is the direct result of a deliberate decision: Russia’s choice to launch and sustain this war. That is the root cause of the instability in our region.

Since February 2022, the UN has verified over 62,000 civilian casualties, including more than 16,000 killed. Recent data underline that this toll is not diminishing rather intensifying. May 2026 saw the highest monthly casualties since April 2022. Early data indicates that June may be even higher. Civilians are killed and injured across the country, often far from the frontline, as missile and drone strikes reach cities and towns nationwide. These are the foreseeable consequences of Russia’s aggression.

Cultural and religious heritage has not been spared. Historic sites – symbols of identity and continuity – have been damaged or destroyed. The recent Russian attack that damaged the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a stark example. This struck the cultural foundations of Ukraine.

A further example is Russia’s use of conflict-related sexual violence. And such is the weight of evidence against Russia, the 2026 UN Annual Report lists the Russian armed and security forces among the parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of conflict-related sexual violence.

And alongside its actions on the ground, Russia continues to undermine this Council. We see a steady stream of disinformation, including fabricated allegations and “false flag” narratives. This is not good-faith engagement. It is a deliberate effort to obscure reality and deflect responsibility from the root cause of conflict in our region – their invasion of Ukraine, starting with Crimea in 2014 and leading on to the full scale invasion in 2022.

For example, in relation to Bucha, we see repeated attempts to deny, distort, and recast compelling evidence of atrocities as staged provocations, despite extensive documentation and verification by independent and international sources. Such tactics aim to blur the line between truth and falsehood – and, again, to normalise what should never be accepted.

We also see a degradation of language and conduct in this room. Established diplomatic norms are increasingly cast aside. Baseless slurs, including references that trivialise the gravest chapters of history, are deployed. Last week, this trend reached a new low, and we will come back to this topic later in this meeting.

Mr Chair, recent remarks by President Putin illustrate clearly what we have long argued: that Russia is not serious about peace. While Ukraine has repeatedly made clear its desire for a ceasefire or direct Leader-level talks, Russia remains committed to continued territorial advances, whatever the cost. This again demonstrates where the commitment to peace lies. Ukraine continues to pursue practical avenues to reduce harm and create space for diplomacy. Russia continues to reject them.

This Council must continue to speak with clarity and purpose. We must support Ukraine, uphold international law, and ensure that the unacceptable is neither accepted nor forgotten.

Thank you.

03/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Dame Vera Baird DBE KC further appointed as Interim Chair of the CCRC [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 July 2026.

Dame Vera Baird DBE KC further appointed as Interim Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

His Majesty the King, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, has approved the further appointment of Dame Vera Baird DBE KC – for 12 months from 9 December 2026 – as the Interim Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

Ministers consulted the Commissioner for Public Appointments before making this further appointment without competition which will ensure that Dame Vera will be able to lead the CCRC in implementing the recommendations of her review of the body including implementation of the recommendations from HMCPSI which has today reported on an inspection of the Commission’s casework

The CCRC

The CCRC was established by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 and commenced operation in 1997. The CCRC considers – on application – cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland where a miscarriage of justice is alleged or suspected. The CCRC decides if there is any new evidence or new argument which raises a real possibility that an appeal court would quash a conviction or reduce a sentence.

The appointment of the CCRC Chair is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and this appointment complies with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Appointments of CCRC Commissioners are made by His Majesty the King on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, who receives advice from the Lord Chancellor.

Biography

Dame Vera Baird DBE KC’s biography is as follows:
- Member of the Women’s Justice Board
- Visiting Professor in Practice at the Mannheim Centre, London School of Economics
- Honorary Fellow of St Hilda’s College Oxford
- Hon Professor of Law at Exeter and Newcastle Universities
- Hon Doctorates at Northumbria and Loughborough Universities
- Former Victims Commissioner for England and Wales (2019-22)
- DBE for Services to Women and Equalities 2017
- Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria (2012-19)
- Chair of Association of Police and Crime Commissioners 2016
- Association of PCCs’ National lead for Supporting Victims (2012-19)
- Solicitor General for England and Wales (2007-2010)
- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice (2006-7)
- Member of Parliament for Redcar 2001-2010
- Former Practising Criminal Barrister and QC
- Author of many articles, chapters & reports, most recently The Baird Review into Greater Manchester Police.
- Patron of Respect, Operation Encompass and Board Member of Revolving Doors
Dame Vera Baird DBE KC has declared the following political activity on behalf of the Labour Party: public speaking, Chair of the Women’s Branch Horney and Friern Barnet Constituency (HFBC), Member of the General Committee of HFBC, member of the HFBC Fabian Society, Member of the Labour Women’s Network and campaigning in elections.
03/07/2026
Bridget Phillipson – 2026 Comments on Vulnerable Teenagers

The comments made by Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education, on 2 July 2026.

This is one of the defining challenges of this government. Fixing it is crucial to the prosperity of our country: we cannot afford to let a generation of young people drift away from opportunity and more fulfilled lives.

Accurate, timely tracking is not a box-ticking exercise, it’s the difference between a young person getting support early or falling through the cracks entirely. While local authorities do incredibly difficult work, often against real constraints, it’s not consistent enough.

We’re supporting councils to intervene early to help, as part of our new deal for young people, to ensure they realise their potential through worthwhile training and stable careers.

03/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Councils supported to identify and support vulnerable teenagers [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 2 July 2026.

New data reveals 32,100 “Phantom NEETS” are being left to drift without help, with up to half of 16 and 17-year-olds unaccounted for in one area.

Thousands of vulnerable teenagers risk missing out on support because local authorities do not always have complete information about whether young people are in education, employment, or training.

Building on the Milburn Review, the government is providing additional support and tools to help councils identify those at risk earlier and intervene more effectively.

New data reported by councils reveals a stark postcode lottery in the data on youngsters who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), with 32,100 so-called “Phantom NEETS” going unaccounted for.

Data varies across councils, with North Lincolnshire Council reporting that it is missing information for nearly half of its 16- and 17-year-olds. In comparison, four councils report knowing the whereabouts of all of them.

Overall, official statistics published in March show that an estimated 57,000 16-and 17-year-olds are NEET.

The Education Secretary is today writing to all councils setting out expectations for improving the identification and support of young people at risk of becoming NEET. A separate letter will also be sent to 26 councils facing the greatest challenges, who do not know the activities of 3% or more of their teenagers, with improvement plans agreed over the next six months supported by new tools and guidance being made available.

This includes a new Risk of NEET Indicator (RONI) tool that is being rolled out to councils. It brings together factors like poor attendance, special educational needs, and care experience to help identify young people at risk sooner.

Meanwhile, new guidance for schools and colleges is being published today that will also help staff identify and support those most likely to drop out.

Existing data shows that participation in education and apprenticeships ranges massively across the country, from 71.8% to 94.2%, highlighting the need for targeted support to keep kids learning.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

This is one of the defining challenges of this government. Fixing it is crucial to the prosperity of our country: we cannot afford to let a generation of young people drift away from opportunity and more fulfilled lives.

Accurate, timely tracking is not a box-ticking exercise, it’s the difference between a young person getting support early or falling through the cracks entirely. While local authorities do incredibly difficult work, often against real constraints, it’s not consistent enough.

We’re supporting councils to intervene early to help, as part of our new deal for young people, to ensure they realise their potential through worthwhile training and stable careers.

As part of the government’s drive to boost youth employment, the Department for Work and Pensions has commissioned a major investigation spearheaded by Alan Milburn to determine the barriers preventing the young from accessing work.

To tackle the over one million young people currently NEET, the government is delivering the biggest youth employment reforms in a generation – backed by £2.5 billion – to support almost one million young people and help deliver up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. A new £2,000 incentive for small businesses taking on a 16-24 year old apprentice will help remove the barriers to accessing lifechanging courses.

From the Autumn 2026, we are expanding the Jobs Guarantee to all eligible 18- to 24-year-olds who are on Universal Credit and have been looking for work for 18 months. They will benefit from 25 hours/week of fully subsidised six-month paid work. Young people on the scheme will be paid at the relevant minimum wage and also receive fully funded wrap around support. The government is also piloting automatic enrolment into further education for those without a confirmed place.

Meanwhile, reforms to vocational and technical education, including by introducing V Levels and expanding T Levels, will break down barriers to education by helping to end the snobbery around hands-on learning.

This action forms part of the government’s wider mission to make sure every young person, regardless of where they grow up, has the chance to get on in life.

RONI tools draw together risk factors such as poor school attendance, mental health needs, special educational needs and care experience, enabling a risk score to be assigned to individual young people and targeted support to be provided. This could be securing a college place, arranging mental health support, or organising taster sessions to draw young people back into education and training.

For young people held back by health conditions, a further £3.5 billion is being invested by the end of the decade to help them into work.

03/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Russia talks peace while waging war – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 July 2026.

UK Senior Military Advisor, Colonel Joby Rimmer condemns the contradiction between Russia’s rhetoric of dialogue and its continued aggression, and calls for an immediate ceasefire and meaningful negotiations.

Mr Chair, the United Kingdom remains unequivocally committed to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine: one that protects Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right of every participating State to choose its own security arrangements, in line with the Helsinki Final Act. Our support for Ukraine is long-term, and we support every credible diplomatic effort to bring this war to an end. But credible diplomacy requires seriousness, a willingness to engage directly, and to negotiate in good faith.

The Russian Federation has not done any of these. It is not choosing negotiation. It is choosing to continue the war. This is the contradiction at the heart of Russia’s position. Russia speaks of dialogue but rejects the conditions that would make talks meaningful. Russia speaks of peace but refuses a ceasefire. Russia speaks of diplomacy but continues to attack Ukrainian cities. Russia’s message is negotiation but Russia’s method is war.

On 23 June, President Putin again claimed Russia was open to peace. Yet the Russian Federation continues to refuse a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. President Putin has not accepted President Zelenskyy’s repeated offers of direct dialogue, including in his recent open letter to the Kremlin. A State serious about peace does not refuse every opportunity to meet, to talk, and to stop the killing.

A short while ago on 6 May, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued formal notes to Embassies in Kyiv. On 25 May, after one of the largest single-night attacks on Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Russian Ministry of Defence advised diplomatic personnel to leave the city “as soon as possible”. And on 24 June, in this Forum, Russia reiterated that this threat “remains in force”.

This is not diplomacy. It is pressure. It is an attempt to intimidate the diplomatic community, undermine confidence in Ukraine’s capital, and present Russian escalation as inevitable. The response has been clear: Embassies have not left or announced plans to leave Kyiv.

Last week, in this Forum, the distinguished representative from Belarus stated the Union State framework includes the use of, in its own words, “all possible means available, including nuclear means”. The Russian Delegation repeated and amplified this nuclear signalling multiple times. This rhetoric is irresponsible and coercive nuclear signalling. This does not support negotiation. This is designed to intimidate. This does not bring peace closer, it increases risk. But let me reiterate, this is not a nuclear crisis, and nor should it become one.

The Russian Federation’s conduct of the war tells the same story. It continues to sustain casualties of some 38,000 a month, for negligible gains on the ground. It persists in the reckless use of Oreshnik nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missiles against Ukrainian cities. It intensifies long-range strikes that kill civilians far from the front line. These are not the actions of a State seeking peace. They are the actions of a State seeking to sustain the war while blaming others for the absence of negotiations.

The Russian Federation must stop the war and engage meaningfully in negotiations. Peace will not come through rhetoric while the Russian Armed Forces continue to fight. Peace will not come through threats while Russia refuses direct engagement. And peace will not come through claims of openness while Russia rejects the ceasefire.

Mr Chair, we continue to call on the Russian Federation to de-escalate, starting by ending its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Federation should agree to an immediate ceasefire and open the channels with Kyiv that President Zelenskyy has repeatedly offered. The path to peace is clear and Russia can choose to take it at any time. Thank you, Mr Chair.

03/07/2026
Bridget Phillipson – 2026 Comments on Pay Deal for Teachers

The comments made by Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education, on 1 July 2026.

Our brilliant school and college teachers go above and beyond every day, and I’m determined that dedication is not just recognised, but rewarded.

This multi-year deal, backed by significant additional investment, shows the immense value we place in our teachers, while giving schools and colleges certainty over pay and their budgets.

It’s also right that classroom teachers are not seeing executive pay rise faster than their own – or set at excessive levels in the first place – so tighter controls will mean unjustifiable exec salaries become a thing of the past, helping level the playing field for school staff and drive every pound towards classrooms.

03/07/2026