Tag: 2026

  • PRESS RELEASE : Two teenage boys given custodial sentences after Attorney General intervenes [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Two teenage boys given custodial sentences after Attorney General intervenes [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 2 July 2026.

    Two teenage boys who raped two girls and filmed their crimes in Fordingbridge will now spend time in custody after the Attorney General referred their sentences to the Court of Appeal.

    Two teenagers responsible for raping two girls, across two separate incidents, and filming the abuse had their sentences increased to four years detention and indefinite restraining orders (preventing them from contacting the victims), after Attorney General Richard Hermer KC referred their case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The third teenagers’ sentence was left unchanged.

    The court heard that on 26 November 2024, one victim, a 15-year-old girl was led to an underpass in Fordingbridge, after arranging to meet one of the offenders. Two others attended without her prior knowledge. She was then raped by two of the offenders, while a third watched. The attack was filmed and the footage later shared online. The victim was threatened and told not to report the abuse.

    All three offenders were convicted of the rape of a second victim, a 14-year-old girl, on 17 January 2025. The attack was again filmed.

    In a victim personal statement, the 15-year-old victim described experiencing significant emotional and physical distress. The 14-year-old victim said that the abuse had negatively impacted her attendance at school and described severe emotional distress including ongoing issues with anxiety.

    Attorney General Richard Hermer KC said:

    Rape is a horrifying crime, and one that our justice system should and will punish severely. I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase the sentences of the two boys, resulting in their detention.

    No one should have to endure what the victims went through, and I commend their bravery in coming forward and campaigning for justice. This government will continue to do everything it can to tackle violence against women and girls.

    On the 21 May 2026 at Southampton Crown Court:

    • One 15-year-old boy was sentenced to a three-year Youth Rehabilitation Order, a ten-year restraining order, and deprivation of his phone, for two counts of rape and two counts of taking indecent images of children.
    • One 15-year-old boy was sentenced to a three-year Youth Rehabilitation Order and a ten-year restraining order, for six counts of rape and four counts of taking and indecent images of children.
    • One 14-year-old boy was sentenced to an eighteen-month Youth Rehabilitation Order and a ten-year restraining order for two counts of rape and one count of taking indecent images of children.

    On the 2 July 2026, two offenders’ sentences were increased to four years Detention and Training Order with whole life restraining order. The third offender’s sentence was left unchanged.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Stronger tourism ties between UK and Greece under new Memorandum of Understanding [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Stronger tourism ties between UK and Greece under new Memorandum of Understanding [July 2026]

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

    UK and Greek tourism ministers meet in London to sign tourism cooperation agreement.

    • New commitment to promote investment opportunities, entrepreneurship and vocational training and cooperate on innovation and sustainability
    • Focus on special interest tourism, including Film, Culture, Gastronomy and Rural Tourism, working together to diversify both countries’ offerings and ensure holidaymakers can make the most of their trips

    British holidaymakers travelling to Greece will benefit from a new Memorandum of Understanding, which has now been signed between the UK and Greece. The new agreement will strengthen cooperation from both countries on tourism, committing to work together on promotion, investment, innovation and sustainability across their respective sectors.

    Both countries will seek to boost entrepreneurship in the tourism sector, and will promote cooperation, exchange of information and practical experience in digitalisation and innovation in travel and tourism technologies, as well as in the field of tourism education and vocational training.

    Around five million Brits choose to holiday in Greece each year, while the number of Greeks travelling to visit the UK has grown year-on-year since the Coronavirus Pandemic.

    This milestone builds on the strong tourism relationship between the two countries, marking the first time a cooperation agreement in the field of tourism has been signed between the two countries.

    Running for an initial five-year period, the MoU covers eight main areas of cooperation, including institutional collaboration, tourism promotion, sustainability, investment, digitalisation and vocational training, ensuring that British holidaymakers are able to enjoy and make the most of Greece’s tourism offer.

    It will see greater cooperation between Greece and the UK in the areas of investment opportunities and the holding of fairs, exhibitions, seminars and other tourism promotion events in both countries.

    There is a commitment for an exchange of information and know-how relating to tourism policy and legislation, visitors’ satisfaction within each country, research and developments in the global tourism market and new tourism products and services. 

    There is also an emphasis on special interest tourism – film, culture, luxury shopping, gastronomy and wine as well as rural, mountain and hiking tourism. 

    Best practice around sustainable tourism – aimed at minimising the environmental impact of tourists in the respective countries – will also be shared.

    The MoU highlights the government’s commitment to strengthening the UK’s relationship with EU member states while also growing the UK’s own visitor economy. Plans for this will be set out in an upcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy.

    Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock said:

    Both Greece and the UK share a rich history, stunning landscapes and amazing coastlines which are enjoyed by millions of visitors each year. 

    This agreement will strengthen our cooperation and support sustainable growth across both our tourism sectors. By working together, we can help those who work around the clock to provide a great experience to the millions that travel between our countries every year.

    Greek holidaymakers have always been welcome in the UK and we look forward to welcoming many more in the years ahead.

    Greek Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni said:

    The United Kingdom remains Greece’s leading tourism market. Visitor flows continue to grow – a testament to the deep friendship between our two countries. 

    Today’s Memorandum of Understanding marks an important step in deepening our strategic partnership in tourism. It establishes a modern framework for cooperation that goes beyond promotion to encompass sustainability, innovation, investment, tourism education, and shared expertise. 

    This is an investment in the future of both our tourism sectors that opens new opportunities for businesses, destinations, and travellers alike.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Report by OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Report by OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2026]

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

    Ambassador Holland thanks the Director of the OSCE’s Conflict Prevention Centre for the institution’s work across the region, which remains crucial at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, with Russia’s malign activities a key factor.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    Director, Dear Kate, thank you for your report and for your leadership of the Conflict Prevention Centre in what you rightly describe as a highly challenging operating environment. Please also pass on our thanks to your hard-working and brilliant team.

    As your report makes clear, the context in which the CPC operates is marked by heightened geopolitical tensions and increasing polarisation. At the heart of this challenge lies Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and its continued hybrid activity across the OSCE region. These actions fundamentally undermine our shared security and reinforce the importance of strong and effective conflict prevention tools.

    The Russian Federation has a long track record of establishing frozen conflicts on its periphery which it uses as tools to manipulate and to control.  Georgia has been under hybrid attack from Russia since the 2008 war which saw 20% of Georgian territory effectively annexed. We reaffirm our full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We call on Russia to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, and rebuild the trust that underpins the OSCE and our common security.

    Dear Kate, against this backdrop, your report clearly demonstrates the central role of the CPC, its impact across the region, and the breadth of its reach. The United Kingdom places particular value on its core functions: providing early warning and situational awareness; delivering timely, fact-based reporting; facilitating dialogue and mediation; and maintaining strong connections between the Secretariat, participating States, and field operations.

    We are grateful in particular for the CPC’s role in coordinating the Support Programme for Ukraine. This work is vital in helping Ukraine to address the consequences of Russia’s aggression and in strengthening resilience across civilian institutions. And in this context, I am pleased to announce a further UK contribution of about half a million Euros to support this programme.

    We also note the CPC’s continued engagement across key regions. Its support to mediation and dialogue processes – including the Transdniestrian Settlement Process and the Geneva International Discussions – underlines the enduring importance of sustained attention to Moldova and the South Caucasus. The CPC’s ability to connect field insight, analysis, and dialogue facilitation remains a critical asset.

    The CPC plays a pivotal role, but, like the organisation as a whole, does not always get the recognition it deserves, though I note your great work on digitalisation from your presentation.  I would welcome your thoughts, Director, on whether there is scope to increase the Centre’s visibility?

    Director, we reiterate our strong support for your mandate and for the role of Director CPC. Looking ahead, we note ongoing discussions on the structure and resourcing of the Secretariat and we stand ready – alongside other participating States – to work in partnership with you and with the Secretary General on the future structure and focus of the CPC. Your report rightly highlights the need to ensure that the Centre remains flexible, responsive, and adequately resourced to meet evolving challenges. And we strongly agree with that.

    Mr Chair, in an increasingly contested security environment, the CPC’s ability to link early warning with action, and policy with implementation, remains essential. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that this capability is preserved and strengthened.

    I thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2026: Joint statement to the OSCE [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2026: Joint statement to the OSCE [July 2026]

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

    Denmark, on behalf of the UK and 38 other countries, reaffirm commitment to the absolute prohibition of torture, condemning its continued use across the OSCE region, including by Russia and Belarus.

    Thank you, Mr. Chair,

    I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the following 40 participating states: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia Herzegovina, Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the European Union and its Member States, including my own country, Denmark.

    The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture provides us with an opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to prevent and eradicate torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The prohibition of torture under international law is absolute and unconditional.

    Civil society organisations, human rights defenders, media and international bodies have all reported the use of torture by a number of participating States. There can be no doubt that torture is a grave assault on human dignity. Yet worryingly, such acts continue to be perpetrated in the OSCE region.

    Such practices stand in stark contrast to the spirit of the Helsinki Final Act and to the human rights commitments that all participating States have undertaken since.

    Various international mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, and ODIHR report that members of Russia’s forces have committed widespread and systematic acts of torture and ill-treatment against prisoners of war and civilians.

    Staggering accounts from Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees describe torture and ill-treatment experienced during detention by Russian authorities clearly indicating patterns of systemic abuse.

    In addition, the lack of Russian cooperation with independent international monitoring mechanisms is alarming. Constrained access to places of detention and external verification denies redress for the victims. This is a continuation of the abuse.

    In Belarus, the UN Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in 2026 documented widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment. This includes beatings, electric shocks, forced psychiatric treatment, sexual violence, and inhumane detention conditions.

    We condemn these gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the strongest possible terms. We regret the decision of the Russian Federation to withdraw from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (ECPT) and urge them to reconsider before the withdrawal becomes effective by November this year.

    We recall the commitments by all participating States undertaken in the 2020 Tirana Ministerial Council Decision on the Prevention and Eradication of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and call for their full implementation throughout the OSCE region.

    These commitments are unequivocal: no exceptional circumstances, whether armed conflict, security concerns or states of emergency, can ever justify torture. We welcome the Swiss Chairpersonship’s important work developing a Roadmap on the Prevention and Eradication of Torture in the OSCE region.

    Mr. Chair,

    Torture does not end when the act itself ends. It leaves victims and survivors with deep, long-lasting trauma, affecting them both physically and psychologically. And its impact extends to families, communities, and societies as a whole.

    Fighting torture and ensuring accountability requires a joint effort, grounded in a victim- and survivor-centred approach. Victims and survivors must have access to effective remedies, including justice, redress and rehabilitation.

    This includes ensuring access to appropriate medical, psychological and social support, particularly for victims of sexualized torture, conflict-related sexual violence and other forms of gender-based abuse.

    We welcome the survivor-centred approach reflected in the Charter of Rights of Victims and Survivors of Torture as presented by the UN Special Rapporteur on torture. Independent and impartial efforts to document, investigate and prosecute such violations remain essential. The relevant OSCE,

    UN and other international accountability mechanisms play an important role in this regard. To this end we recognize the important, autonomous mandate of ODIHR and their valuable contributions towards efforts to combat torture and uphold human rights across the OSCE region.

    We urge the participating States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) as well as its Optional Protocol (OPCAT)

    Mr. Chair,

    We as participating States must continue to advance our efforts. And in these efforts, the needs of victims and survivors have to come first.

    We further encourage investigation and documentation of allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence, to align with the “Méndez Principles” that outline Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering.

    We urge all participating States to use all appropriate measures to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and to apply international standards such as the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the so-called Bangkok Rules), the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (the so-called Beijing Rules) and the UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty.

    Mr. Chair,

    In closing, we jointly reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the absolute prohibition of torture and to strengthening our efforts to eradicate its use across the OSCE region. We owe that to the people of our region. I thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK steps up support for Venezuela following devastating earthquakes [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK steps up support for Venezuela following devastating earthquakes [July 2026]

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

    The UK is scaling up its humanitarian response to Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes on 24 June.

    • UK deploys Emergency Medical Team and field hospital to earthquake-affected areas
    • UK field hospital to deliver life-saving primary healthcare, including maternal and paediatric services, treating up to 100 patients a day
    • UK has matched £2 million in donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal to support urgent humanitarian relief in Venezuela

    The UK is scaling up its humanitarian response to Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes on 24 June, mobilising an additional £3.8 million in emergency funding – on top of £2 million announced last week – to support life-saving efforts and provide urgent humanitarian assistance.

    The UK has matched £ for £ donations from the British public to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal to the value of £2 million, helping trusted UK charities reach those most in need with food, shelter and essential supplies.

    Alongside this, the UK is deploying its Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) to deliver lifesaving healthcare to communities devastated by the two powerful earthquakes. Following an invitation from the Venezuelan Ministry of Health, the team will establish a fully equipped field hospital in one of the worst-affected areas.

    Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean Chris Elmore said:

    The scale of destruction caused by these earthquakes is devastating, and the UK is stepping up support for the people of Venezuela.

    Alongside our deployment of specialist search and rescue teams and emergency humanitarian funding, we have matched £2 million in public donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal and deploying the UK Emergency Medical Team and field hospital, helping deliver life-saving healthcare and support to communities hit hardest by this disaster.

    The UK stands with those affected and remains committed to helping save lives and supporting recovery in the weeks ahead.

    Staffed by a highly skilled and trained clinical team, the UK EMT will deliver emergency primary healthcare to help relieve pressure on overwhelmed local health services. The UK field hospital is fully self-sufficient and will deploy with its own infrastructure, medicines and supplies, with capacity to treat up to 100 patients per day on an outpatient basis.

    The hospital will focus on urgent primary healthcare needs, including chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart conditions that require continuous care. The team will also be treating minor injuries, stabilising patients and providing rehabilitation support, whilst also delivering vital maternal, newborn and child healthcare services.

    To address critical gaps in local capacity, the field hospital will include a 20-bed ward providing short-stay inpatient care, alongside basic emergency maternal and newborn care to manage common complications and support safe deliveries.

    The deployment follows a rapid UK assessment which found that hospitals in affected areas are overwhelmed and that access to essential healthcare, particularly primary and maternal care, has been severely disrupted.

    Background

    • the British Government’s UK Emergency Medical Team is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and delivered by UK-Med, a Manchester-based humanitarian medical charity
    • the UK EMT brings experience from responding to major global emergencies, including the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria and the conflict in Gaza, and will support local health services through the critical early phase of the response
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government apologises for historic forced adoption practices [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government apologises for historic forced adoption practices [July 2026]

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

    Apology comes with £4 million package of support which includes easier access to adoption records.

    People affected by the injustice of forced adoption have today received the formal apology they deserve, as the government acknowledged the role of the state in the appalling practice and unveiled a package of practical support worth £4 million over three years.

    The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, delivered the apology in Parliament as campaigners watched on, ahead of a reception for them in Westminster.

    In a speech, the Prime Minister reflected on the harm caused to an estimated 185,000 mothers, adopted people and their wider families by practices that took place primarily between 1949 and 1976.

    The apology recognises that many women were denied genuine choice, made to feel ashamed or unworthy, and that children were taken from their birth families, their identity and their history. Fathers and wider families were also affected, with harm lasting across lifetimes and, in some cases, generations.

    The £4 million support fund will go towards helping people access their adoption records via the Coram BAAF charity, fund intermediary services like Family Connect that helps people reconnect with family members, and research and testimonial projects to document the long-term impact on people’s lives.

    Speaking directly to campaigners watching from the House gallery, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said:

    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.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    The pain carried by mothers, adopted children and their families who suffered this appalling injustice is unimaginable. They were cruelly denied irreplaceable moments, shared experiences and relationships which should have been theirs, and were made to feel ashamed.

    Today, on behalf of the British state, we say with one voice: this was wrong, and we are sorry. An apology cannot undo what happened, but it can be the start of real change, alongside providing the practical action, care and support that people need.

    Governments funded, enabled and relied on systems that were not consistently or effectively overseen. In some cases, records were lost, altered, or not made fully accessible to those seeking answers. The state did not do enough to protect mothers, children and families and it failed to prevent harm from continuing. It bears responsibility for the systems it funded and legitimised, which enabled these practices to take place.

    The Government recognises that an apology alone is not enough. Alongside today’s statement, ministers are setting out practical steps to improve support for those affected, including:

    • improving access to adoption records;
    • expanding services which support family reconnection;
    • working with NHS England to improve access to appropriate health support, including with mental health challenges;
    • developing peer support;
    • strengthening awareness across public services;
    • establishing a lived experience reference group to review progress; and
    • commissioning a testimonials project to capture the stories of those with experience of historical forced adoption.

    To ensure that lessons are learned and continue to make improvements, the government will also work to gather data on how the support announced today is working over time, keeping the need for further research under review.

    This package reflects what those affected have said matters most: being able to understand their past, access records, reconnect with family where possible and receive support that recognises what they have lived through.

    The apology relates to historical adoption practices in England. Scotland and Wales have each issued their own formal apologies, which the UK Government supports, while in Northern Ireland work is underway to establish a statutory public inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses, led by the Northern Ireland Executive.

    The Government recognises that some people’s experiences extend beyond the 1949 to 1976 period, and that it is deeply upsetting to hear examples where coercive practices continued. Today’s adoption system is fundamentally different, with strong legal safeguards, clear consent requirements and independent judicial oversight.

  • Keir Starmer – 2026 Statement on Historic Forced Adoption

    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. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : Three new Trustees appointed to the Royal Armouries Board [July 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. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : Trustees appointed to the Science Museum Group Board [July 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. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : Independent Review of the Use of Non-corporate Communications Channels in Government [July 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.