Tag: 2026

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Discrimination against Women and Girls [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Discrimination against Women and Girls [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 June 2026.

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Discrimination against Women and Girls. Delivered at the 62nd Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    Thank you, Madam Vice President.

    The UK is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls in all their diversity – including through tackling discrimination. The Foreign Secretary has placed women and girls globally at the heart of the UK’s foreign policy and is committed to championing their ability to live in a world free from violence and discrimination.

    Women and girls are disproportionately targeted by AI-enabled harms, including deepfakes and online abuse at scale. The lack of safety-by-design in AI is intensifying technology-facilitated gender-based violence, with real-world impacts on safety, participation, and wellbeing.

    States should adopt a human rights based approach to AI, with gender equality at its core. 

    Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) is a major international development programme, co-funded by the UK, Canada and Sweden, that aims to ensure AI works for inclusive, safe and equitable development outcomes in the Global South. Through AI4D Africa, the UK has supported women-led AI research and strengthened the pipeline of female AI leaders. 

    Madam Vice President,

    How can Member States work with the UN to ensure that protection from discrimination is embedded in the design of AI systems?

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government pushes forward with conversion practices ban to protect LGBT+ people from abuse [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government pushes forward with conversion practices ban to protect LGBT+ people from abuse [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Office for Equality and Opportunity on 25 June 2026.

    The government is banning abusive conversion practices in England and Wales to protect LGBT+ people from physical and psychological harm.

    • Government publishes a draft bill that will deliver a landmark ban on abusive conversion practices in England and Wales. 
    • Current legal loopholes leave victims at risk, and new legislation will fill gaps in the law to protect people from abhorrent abuse. 
    • Proposed ban includes safeguards for legitimate healthcare and therapy, and robust thresholds that protect open conversations, and free speech.  

    LGBT+ people will be protected from physical and psychological abuse to change who they are, as the government announces a landmark ban on abusive conversion practices in England and Wales, with the publication of the draft Conversion Practices Bill.

    The proposed ban will set the criminal threshold for conversion practices as conduct that aims to change someone’s sexual orientation or transgender identity through abusive acts that seriously harm the victim. 

    These abhorrent practices are still happening today, with people being subjected to physical, sexual, economic and psychological abuse. Victims of conversion practices have recounted stories that range from beatings and rape to verbal threats, manipulation and exorcisms.  

    Conversion practices are still happening in 2026 because of a series of legal loopholes that allow perpetrators to escape justice. Existing pieces of legislation that cover domestic violence, coercive control and communications offences do not adequately address the unique nature of abusive conversion practices, leaving a gap in the law that can be exploited. In addition, the lack of a legal definition of abusive conversion practices makes it challenging for police and prosecutors to act. The only way to tackle these problems is through this legislation.

    The legislation will create the following criminal offences: 

    • carrying out abusive conversion practices that cause serious harm, alarm or distress to the victim
    • encouraging or assisting an abusive conversion practice performed outside England and Wales

    It also creates new civil Conversion Practice Protection Orders and breach offences to support victims as well as those currently at risk of abuse. These will be similar to protection orders for forced marriage and female genital mutilation and will pre-emptively protect people.

    Someone found guilty of conducting abusive conversion practices could face an unlimited fine, a custodial sentence of up to 5 years, or both. 

    Olivia Bailey MP, Minister for Equalities, said: 

    Conversion practices are driven by the false belief that being LGBT+ is shameful and can be forcibly changed.

    No-one should face abuse just because of who they are. That’s why we are delivering on our manifesto commitment to ban abusive conversion practices.

    Legal loopholes have left LGBT+ people vulnerable to these harmful acts which is why we must legislate.

    Dr Hilary Cass, author of the Cass Review, said: 

    I am pleased to see that the government is bringing forward legislation which not only gives a clearer definition of what conversion practices are, compared to previous drafts, but also what they are not.

    It is important that healthcare professionals providing much needed holistic care to young people feel confident that they are able to do their job without fear of litigation and the minister has kept that important issue in mind at the same time as the need to protect vulnerable young people.

    I look forward to the pre legislative scrutiny process which will facilitate further constructive debate.

    Jasmine O’Connor OBE, Co-CEO at Galop, said:

    As LGBT+ anti-abuse experts, Galop frequently witnesses the devastating impacts caused by conversion practices. We know all too well how gaps in legislation have left LGBT+ people unprotected against covert and insidious forms of abuse, and we welcome this long-overdue legislation – it’s a vital first step toward addressing conversion practices as a distinct form of harm. As Galop’s latest research shows, conversion practices are happening today. This legislation is urgently needed, and we will keep working to inform the parliamentary process and ensure the ban protects LGBT+ people from all conversion practices.

    Simon Blake, CEO at Stonewall, said:

    People from the LGBTQ+ community are not broken or in need of ‘fixing’. That’s why I’m so pleased the government have published a draft bill to ban conversion practices that attempt to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. These practices are abuse, and every day without a ban in place leaves people at risk of serious harm.

    This is testament to the hard work of campaigners and survivors who have bravely shared their stories and refused to give up. We look forward to continuing our work with sector partners, Parliament, and government to ensure the legislation is robust and effective.

    Saba Ali, Chair at the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition, said:

    No one should ever be told they can’t be who they are, or love who they love. LGBTQ+ identities are beautiful, diverse, and should be celebrated, and yet attempts to change and suppress them are still happening across the UK, causing profound suffering.

    Today’s announcement of the publication of draft legislation to ban conversion practices is a significant and welcome step forward, but it is also long overdue. The coalition look forward to continuing to work with the government to ensure the legislation delivers the comprehensive protections all LGBTQ+ people deserve.

    This moment belongs to a movement. Over eighty coalition organisations, countless survivors, clinicians, faith leaders, Parliamentarians and campaigners have refused to let this be forgotten. Today proves what we achieve when we stand together.

    Professor Subodh Dave, President of Royal College at Psychiatrists, said:  

    The College have long called for a ban to these harmful practices and we strongly support the publication of this draft Bill.

    We welcome the pre-legislative approach that will help ensure the Bill works in practice. It is important that in protecting people from these unacceptable practices, this legislation also supports healthcare professionals to continue to have appropriate exploratory conversations with their patients.

    Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, said:

    Subjecting a family member or partner to harm or coercing them to change who they are is domestic abuse and it must be stopped. I’m pleased to see this draft Bill brought forward so we can finally ban these deeply harmful practices, which have damaged too many people’s lives. I look forward to continuing to work with Ministers, as this legislation progresses to ensure it delivers the much-needed protections for all LGBT+ victims and survivors.

    The Rt Revd Dr David Walker, Church of England, said: 

    I welcome the publication of this draft Bill as a positive step towards banning conversion practices. These have harmed LGBT people over many years, leaving many with lifelong trauma. This work is long overdue, and comes after the General Synod of the Church of England voted, by a very large majority, in favour of the Government bringing forward a ban in 2017. I am pleased that this will bring an opportunity for consultation and scrutiny, so that substantial progress can at last be made.

    The draft legislation is clear that the government is not seeking to criminalise expressing beliefs about LGBT+ identities, nor is it seeking to ban explorative conversations and questioning about someone’s identity. That is why a high threshold for criminality has been included, so that only the acts that are abusive, seeking to change someone’s identity, and create real harm to the person, will be in scope. 

    The proposed ban includes exemptions for legitimate healthcare. This ensures that healthcare professionals, therapists and counsellors can be confident that they can continue their work to support patients and have free and open conversations about sexuality and transgender identity. 

    Our proposed ban aligns with international best practices by being trans-inclusive, protecting individuals from harm, and including a custodial sentence for perpetrators. Through targeting abusive conduct intended to change someone’s identity, the offence mirrors parts of New Zealand’s approach while remaining tailored to the UK legal framework. 

    The government has recognised that this is a complex legal area and is seeking to build a genuine consensus around a ban. That is why the draft bill will now undergo pre-legislative scrutiny to give opportunity to draw on the expertise and insight of a range of parliamentarians and stakeholders, ensuring that a ban is as effective as possible in the long term. 

    Today’s draft bill is the latest action taken by the government to tackle abuse against the LGBT+ community and comes after legislation passed in spring equalised hate crime protections for LGBT+ people.

    The government has also taken further action to fulfil its commitments to the LGBT+ community, including: 

    • righting the historic wrongs committed against LGBT veterans 
    • publishing a HIV Action Plan to end new transmissions by 2030
    • investing £21 million in global LGBT+ rights
  • PRESS RELEASE : ‘Choose carefully’- new data shows degree choice drives earnings [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : ‘Choose carefully’- new data shows degree choice drives earnings [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 25 June 2026.

    Graduates earn on average around £100,000 more over their lifetime than non-graduate counterparts, but returns vary by degree subject.

    Students’ choice of degree subject has a hugely significant impact on their lifetime earnings, according to new research from the IFS.

    Graduates earn on average around £100,000 more over their lifetime than someone of the same background and attainment who did not attend university, even after taxes and student loan repayments. 

    But the returns vary sharply by subject. Medicine and economics are the highest-earning degrees, and offer up to £400,000 in increased salary over a graduate’s lifetime, while other subjects can offer little to negative financial return, compared to what someone similar without a degree earns.   

    The government has this week outlined plans to draw up options for legislation to limit the growth of some courses at some providers, where there are consistently poor returns for students. 

    Drastic action to tackle poor-quality degrees and crackdown on the rapid expansion of franchised, and often poor-quality, provision is also ensuring the system prioritises student outcomes over volume or profits. 

    A new consultation in the Autumn will look at options for a minimum English language requirement for prospective under-grads to access student finance, to ensure students taking on debt to earn a degree are equipped to succeed in their studies. 

    Minister for Skills, Jacqui Smith said:

    Going to university and getting a degree is one of the most transformational things a young person can do. But it is not a universal guarantee of success and not all degrees are equal. 

    As well as the variation by subject, too many franchised and poor-quality courses do not offer a good deal to young people – selling the dream then leaving students in the lurch.

    We’re making the system work better but my message to those thinking about university: choose carefully. Don’t walk into a degree by default.

    The data also comes as the government publishes its Pathways to Priority Occupations measure, highlighting that medicine, nursing, architecture and computing are among the top degree subjects to access jobs in the priority sectors in the UK’s Industrial Strategy, Construction, and Health and Social Care.

    Collectively an estimated 1.8 million additional skilled workers will be needed in these sectors by 2035.

    This measure provides a crucial first step in helping us identify which subjects will be eligible as part of our new targeted maintenance grant offer. It will be used alongside other data and stakeholder feedback to best assess how to target this funding for students in Academic Year 2028 to 2029.

    The government is also working closely with UCAS to ensure earnings and employment outcomes from different courses are clear and accessible to prospective under-grads.

    The government is also ensuring university is not the only choice for young people to succeed, with a record £3.3bn investment in apprenticeships this year, to help deliver the ambition of 50,000 more apprenticeship starts for young people by 2029.

    This will start to reverse nearly half of the 40% decline in 16–24 apprenticeship starts over the past decade which has left young people locked out of the first rung on the career ladder.

    This also builds on wider action through the government’s Youth Guarantee which will ensure every young person has the opportunity to earn and learn. This includes financial incentives for businesses to hire young people who have been out of work, providing guaranteed subsidised jobs — helping deliver up to 500,000 opportunities.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Young people with SEND to benefit from new guidance on inclusion [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Young people with SEND to benefit from new guidance on inclusion [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 24 June 2026.

    Government launches first of its kind guidance on creating dedicated teaching and support spaces for children with SEND.

    Children and young people with SEND across the country will be able to attend their local school, early years and college and know they belong there, as the government delivers a first of its kind package of advice to guarantee inclusion for all.

    For years families have faced a postcode lottery that has left hundreds of thousands fighting for the right support, travelling miles to access it or waiting months or years to receive it.

    Today, the government is taking an important step to end this lottery through clear expectations on how settings can design their SEND provision so children and young people can thrive.

    For the first time, new guidance sets out what families can expect to see on the ground, building on the commitment that every secondary school will, in time, have an inclusion base – a dedicated space providing targeted teaching and specialist support those who need it.

    Inclusion bases will be run by a qualified teacher, never used as a sanction, and allow access to an adapted, broad, ambitious curriculum to meet the needs of every child, serving as a bridge to school life rather than a barrier to it.

    That means more time for children in mainstream classes alongside their friends and will put a stop to inconsistent and patchy provision where children feel excluded from the wider school – being left out of lessons, trips or activities.

    The bases go hand in hand with an overhaul on physical spaces including classrooms, with landmark guidance for schools, early years and post-16, setting out a roadmap for how settings can adapt buildings that are shaped around the real experience of a child or young person with SEND.

    Whether that’s starting their day through an alternative entrance or taking time out in a calmer space, every child will be able to navigate the day with confidence.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    Every child and young person deserves to feel included, without fighting for the support they need to succeed.

    We are giving schools a clear, practical blueprint to become truly inclusive, from calmer classrooms and sensory-friendly spaces, to specialist support embedded right in the heart of the school, so children can learn alongside their peers rather than miles from home.

    Every child deserves to attend a school where they belong, where the environment works for them, and where the right support is simply part of the school day. That’s what we’re building.

    The results where high-quality inclusion bases already exist are striking. Eight in ten parents (80%) who want their child to attend a base report a positive experience, and nationwide they are delivering strong outcomes.

    In Sheffield, autistic pupils access up to 100% of mainstream lessons with tailored support and every single pupil from the base has entered education, employment or training after leaving, in Nottinghamshire 80% of pupils accessing a base achieve strong passes in GCSE Maths and English and in Oxfordshire, pupils who previously struggled to attend school at all are now averaging 93% attendance.

    To make sure the whole site meets the needs of children, the Inclusive Estates guidance suggests tools for understanding the daily experience of a child or young person with SEND, such as structured walkthroughs or “Day in the Life” approaches to identify challenges in navigating the physical space.

    It will include tangible improvements including adapting acoustics and light, introducing quiet and calm spaces like sensory gardens or installing ramps or handrails.

  • Keir Starmer – 2026 Comments at the E5 Summit

    Keir Starmer – 2026 Comments at the E5 Summit

    The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 24 June 2026.

    Thank you, Friedrich.

    It’s a real pleasure to be here with all of you and thank you so much for your kind words, it has been my privilege to work with you on these really important issues and I am proud of the work we have done over the last two years to rebuild our relationship with our allies in Europe and around the world.

    I’m proud that Britain is standing up once again for decency, respect, and the rule of law.

    Last week at the G7, and thank you again Emmanuel for hosting a successful G7, we pledged our unwavering support to Ukraine and we’ve been able to echo that here today – our determination to capitalise on Ukraine’s newfound momentum.

    They are increasingly able to push Russia back on the battlefield. That’s very much been the story of this year. There are clear signs that as Russia loses ground and their economy struggles, the mood in Moscow is turning against Putin’s war.

    So this is a really important moment to ramp up the pressure on their economy with more sanctions and providing Ukraine with more military support.

    We are committed to driving this forward and that this should be the first item on the agenda at the NATO summit in a couple of weeks time.

    The second key issue at the summit must be building a more European NATO.

    We’ve been making this argument for some time but now is the time at this summit to really push this argument forward.

    Our aim together should be to lead a decisive strengthening of European leadership and sovereign capabilities, working of course in full coordination with the United States.

    Because we know that is what it will take to keep our countries safe, deter those who would do us harm and preserve the most successful military alliance in history.

    That is the big strategic challenge of the moment in the face of a clear and growing threats that we face and we are all playing our full part.

    The UK is ready to implement the largest increase in defence funding since the cold war. We’ve already taken steps last year to that end and we’ll take further steps and we’re going further, working to deliver our defence investment plan ahead of the NATO summit, not just to increase how much we spend on defence but to completely overhaul how we spend it to learn the lessons of Ukraine and to ensure that we’re ready to meet the threats of today and of tomorrow.

    And look, one final point, it is clear that this renewal of European defence must be fuelled by a generational shift in European industrial cooperation.

    The reality of modern warfare is that as well as outmanoeuvring the enemy, we must be able to out-innovate and out-produce them as well.

    More than ever, economic and technological power is the basis for military power and so we must harness this moment to boost our cooperation and at the same time boost jobs, growth and opportunity for all of our people for many years to come.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : E5 Leaders’ Statement [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : E5 Leaders’ Statement [June 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2026.

    E5 Leaders’ Statement.

    Against the backdrop of the current threats and challenges to the security environment, leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and United Kingdom met today in Berlin. The Secretary General of NATO joined the meeting from Washington.

    Leaders affirmed their unwavering commitment to Euro-Atlantic security and the transatlantic bond, recognising the vital role the US continues to play in the Alliance. They agreed to collectively work towards a successful NATO summit in Ankara hosted by President Erdogan on 7-8 July 2026.

    They expressed their strong determination to build a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO and to pursue their respective defence industrial endeavors in the closest possible cooperation.

    Leaders decided to move forward in five specific areas:

    1. European Leadership and Burden Sharing: Leaders are committed to a stronger European role within NATO with Europe taking greater responsibility for our shared transatlantic security, coordinating closely with the US. Leaders welcome the significant progress made by Allies towards implementing The Hague Defence Investment Pledge and agree to jointly develop avenues to strengthen European contributions to Allied capabilities.
    2. Collective Security: Leaders agree to proactively strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture and increase contributions to NATO’s deterrence activities in order to respond to and deter the most significant and direct threat from Russia and the most direct asymmetric threat of terrorism to Euro-Atlantic security, in line with our 360-degree approach. Leaders reaffirm their fundamental commitment and determination to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and their determination to act timely together should this be threatened.
    3. Defense Industrial Cooperation: Leaders recognise the importance of closer defence industrial cooperation to deliver NATO’s capabilities, warfighting readiness and resilience essential for deterrence and defence at the necessary speed, scale and value. Leaders will further strengthen the defence industrial cooperation, with a focus on air defence, unmanned systems, AI, and other capabilities including long-range firepower. They agree to accelerate their commitment to European joint development and procurement of deep precision strike capabilities. In addition to strengthening European industrial efforts, leaders emphasised the importance of harnessing emerging technologies underpinned by financial mechanisms to unlock capital and investment. This includes extending existing instruments to close critical capability gaps and increase interoperability.
    4. Support for Ukraine: Leaders are committed to further substantially support Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression, including through sanctions and economic pressure on Russia as well as support for the resilience of Ukraine’s energy sector. They support pledges in military support at the NATO Summit and intensified co-operation with Ukraine through NATO initiatives, including JATEC and NSATU. They reiterate their commitment to deepening NATO’s partnership with Ukraine, bringing Ukraine closer to the Alliance and recognizing the vital contribution Ukraine makes to Euro-Atlantic security. Leaders are aligned regarding the conditions for a just and lasting peace and support proposals for direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia – with active US and European participation.
    5. United on Iran: Leaders welcomed the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, secured under the leadership of President Trump with the support of mediating countries, and agreed this is a moment of opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilise the global economy. Leaders reiterated their commitment to supporting implementation of the MoU as part of urgent and comprehensive follow-up that delivers lasting peace. Leaders underlined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. Leaders reaffirmed the importance of unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. They confirmed their commitment to participate in the UK-France led Multinational Military Mission as soon as conditions allow and in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements. It could play an important role in reassuring the shipping industry and re-opening the Strait including through verification of demining.
  • PRESS RELEASE : We call on all parties to cease grave violations against children and to comply fully with their obligations under international law – UK statement at the UN Security Council [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : We call on all parties to cease grave violations against children and to comply fully with their obligations under international law – UK statement at the UN Security Council [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 June 2026.

    Statement by Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on Children in Armed Conflict.

    First, the scale of grave violations and abuses against children in armed conflict remains deeply shocking.

    The 9,465 grave violations against children, attributed to Israeli armed and security forces, are utterly unacceptable, as are the grave violations against Israeli children. 

    The impact of the conflict in Gaza on children is a moral outrage. 

    It is also deeply concerning that hundreds of Palestinian children remain in Israeli detention, many reportedly without charge, for months.

    In Sudan, millions of children are displaced, out of school, and facing violence amid a deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

    In Ukraine, Russia continues its attacks against civilians, including children, against critical infrastructure, and refuses to return over 20,000 forcibly deported Ukrainian children.

    We call on all parties to cease grave violations against children and to comply fully with their obligations under international law.

    Second, protecting education is critical. 

    Attacks on schools deny children their right to education and expose them to heightened risks, including recruitment and exploitation.

    The United Kingdom is proud to support Education Cannot Wait and the Global Partnership for Education, providing millions of children with critical education and psychosocial support.

    We call on all parties to refrain from deliberate or indiscriminate attacks on schools and to fully implement the Safe Schools Declaration. 

    And we call on those who have yet to endorse it to do so.

    Third, tackling sexual violence against children in conflict, which disproportionately affects girls, is essential. 

    From South Sudan, to DRC, to Haiti, sexual violence is being used as a tactic of war alongside other grave violations.

    This causes children long-term physical and psychosocial harm. 

    The United Kingdom will continue to champion the rights of child survivors, child witnesses, and children born of rape in war. 

    Improving prevention and protection of children from sexual violence is critical, as is delivering survivor-centred responses. 

    Perpetrators of sexual violence should be held to account.

    Madam President, the United Kingdom remains steadfast in our commitment to the Children and Armed Conflict mandate.

    We call on all listed parties to engage constructively with the United Nations and the Special Representative to agree and implement action plans in order to end and prevent further grave violations against children.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary announces support for Gaza with new child medical evacuations and assistance to Palestinians going to top UK universities [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary announces support for Gaza with new child medical evacuations and assistance to Palestinians going to top UK universities [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 June 2026.

    The UK will support Gazan students to take up places at British universities and continue efforts to medically evacuate critically ill children for treatment in the NHS.

    • Government supports high-achieving students from Gaza to take up scholarships at UK universities
    • Government is facilitating new evacuations for critically ill children needing specialist NHS care
    • announcement is part of the UK Government’s sustained response to provide immediate support amidst the humanitarian catastrophe and support the rebuilding of Palestinian society

    Young people in Gaza whose education has been disrupted by conflict will be supported to study safely at top UK universities. 

    The Foreign Secretary has outlined in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament today that a group of high-achieving students holding fully funded scholarships and meeting the Immigration Rules will be helped to leave Gaza to continue their studies in the UK.

    They build on more than 100 fully funded scholarship students that government supported to come to the UK this academic year, ensuring talented young people and adults can continue their education. 

    Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:  

    The UK must continue to support students and injured children from Palestine.

    Talented young people from across Gaza must not be denied their chance to study because of the horrendous conditions and restrictions they still face. We will continue to run special arrangements to help Chevening scholars and other students with places at world-class UK universities to support the next generation of Palestinian leaders. We’re also helping some of the most vulnerable children to leave Gaza and get expert medical attention in the NHS, building on similar evacuations we facilitated last year.

    The situation in Gaza remains dire, with continued restrictions on aid flows, unsanitary conditions and inadequate access to medical care. Hospitals are destroyed or only partially functioning, and over 1000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the ceasefire was announced. New international energy is urgently needed to revive the 20-point peace plan and pursue a two-state solution which delivers stability and peace to Israelis and Palestinians alike.

    The group includes a number of Chevening Scholars. This prestigious programme, funded by the Foreign Office, awards scholarships for fully-funded Masters studies to individuals with leadership potential, helping to secure the future of the next generation of Palestinian leaders. 

    The statement also outlined new evacuations of critically ill children, with immediate family members, in need of specialist medical support available in the UK following a pause due to the regional conflict. 

    The humanitarian situation remains dire in Gaza, with many people in urgent need of medical care. Most hospitals in Gaza are no longer fully functioning after nearly 3 years of war and many key supplies remain scarce.  

    In 2025 a cross-government taskforce supported 50 sick and injured children to leave Gaza with their immediate family members and receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK.  

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:  

    Behind every place is a person whose education has been put on hold by this appalling conflict. 

    This Government is acting to help students from Gaza return to learning in safety and stability. Restoring not just education, but dignity and opportunity. 

    Education is a lifeline. It restores hope, unlocks potential, and builds the foundations for the future.  We will continue to stand with those whose futures have been disrupted and do everything we can to help them rebuild.

    The UK has worked with the World Health Organization to identify patients in urgent need and match them with specialist treatment in the UK. 

    The government continues to press Israel to allow those who need urgent medical care to leave Gaza temporarily for treatment. 

    All those arriving in the UK will undergo security checks and provide biometric information ahead of travel. 

    Background

    • universities with eligible students will be contacted with further guidance on next steps. Due to the complexity of the situation, timelines remain uncertain and cannot be guaranteed
    • the Government will also support the evacuation of eligible dependants of some students in line with the Immigration Rules
    • full eligibility criteria will be published in due course

    Health Secretary and Social Care Secretary James Murray said:

    No one can fail to be distressed by the devastating impact the war has had on the children of Gaza. Every child deserves the chance to heal, to play, to simply be able to dream again. 

    These young patients have witnessed horrors no child should ever see, but this marks the start of their journey towards recovery, and reflects the very best of our NHS values – compassion, care and expertise.

    Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:

    This country proudly provides safe harbour to those in need. 

    I am proud the Government is giving medical support and a new life to children suffering in Gaza. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : New plan to make English farming profitable, productive, sustainable and resilient [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New plan to make English farming profitable, productive, sustainable and resilient [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 24 June 2026.

    The 25-year Farming Roadmap gives English farmers certainty beyond the next harvest for the first time.

    For the first time in this country’s history, the government is today committing to the future of farming beyond the next harvest, ending years of uncertainty with a landmark roadmap that marks the most significant moment for English agriculture since the Second World War. 

    Farmers produce around 65% of the nation’s food, manage 70% of England’s land, and underpin the £153 billion agri-food sector recognised as Critical National Infrastructure. With the growing impacts of extreme weather and climate, Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England’s Future sets out how farmers can adapt through nature-based solutions such as improved soil health and water management. 

    Developed in partnership with farmers, the roadmap sets out how the government will provide long-term stability. Backed by immediate action from the government’s response to Baroness Minette Batters’ independent Farming Profitability Review, farmers will have better access to the tools, technology, skills and supply chains they need to invest, innovate and grow.  

    Collaborative models such as co-operatives will play a much larger role, enabling collective purchasing and joint investment that lower costs, spread risk and support stronger returns.  

    An additional £53 million for the Farming Innovation Programme brings total innovation funding this year to £123 million, including dedicated funding rounds focused on robotics and soil health and water management.  

    The government will also review how the economic value of agriculture is measured, ensuring farming receives the recognition it deserves. A single figure of 0.6% of Gross Value Added is misleading because it captures only primary agricultural activities. Working with the Office for National Statistics, the government will look to develop new supplementary statistics to include the wider food supply chain, from processing and manufacturing to distribution and retail.

    Seasonal Worker visas will continue until at least 2030, providing reassurance to the UK horticulture sector. 

    Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:   

    Farmers feed our nation and manage the land that shapes our countryside, yet their contribution has never been valued in the way it deserves. Our roadmap marks a shift away from only looking to the next harvest and towards a plan that gives farmers the long-term clarity they need to innovate, invest and grow with confidence for generations to come.

    I have spent every day in this role rebuilding our relationship with farmers brick by brick because they’re such an important part of our economy, our society and our environment. We are looking at how farming is valued economically and socially to ensure it receives the recognition it deserves.

    To boost profits and productivity, the government will work in partnership with industry to create Sector Growth Plans starting with horticulture and poultry and bring farmers, retailers and investors together on the Farming and Food Partnership Board. It will also cut EU trade friction through a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement and give egg and fresh produce growers legal protection against unfair supply chain practices. 

    To build resilience, the roadmap sets out how farmers can reduce reliance on costly inputs like fertiliser through new technology and smarter nutrient management and adapt to the growing impacts of extreme weather and climate change through nature-based solutions such as improved soil health and water management. Multiple government services will, over time, be replaced with a single digital farming account to reduce administrative burdens, alongside improved data quality and standards to enable access to private markets. 

    On sustainability, Environmental Land Management schemes will become more focused and better targeted, with mitigation and conversion payments phased out over time as good practice becomes standard practice with regulatory standards increasing in some areas, while long-term payments for public goods such as habitat creation will continue. 

    While the roadmap sets the long-term direction, the government response to the Farming Profitability Review reflects immediate action to improve farm profitability now. Measures being taken forward include:  

    • Extending supply chain fair dealing regulations to egg producers and fresh produce 
    • Launching a dedicated task-and-finish group to unlock private sector investment in sustainable farming 
    • Establishing a new UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary area to cut export friction 
    • Opening the new SFI26 application window to all eligible farmers this month 
    • Opening the new £30 million Farmer Collaboration Fund this summer to support groups of farmers to grow their businesses, build partnerships and share best practice 
    • Transferring the Groceries Code Adjudicator from the Department of Business and Trade to Defra to support a more joined-up approach to food supply chain fairness 
    • Considering changes to the National Planning Policy Framework following recent consultation, including proposals to make the system more supportive of the infrastructure farmers need.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Domestic abuse specialists embedded in 12 more 999 control rooms [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Domestic abuse specialists embedded in 12 more 999 control rooms [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 24 June 2026.

    Domestic abuse specialists will be deployed to 12 new 999 control rooms, under the second phase of ‘Raneem’s Law.’

    Domestic abuse specialists to be embedded in 12 more 999 control rooms.

    More victims and survivors of domestic abuse will be protected by specialists in 999 control rooms, as the number of forces operating the pioneering ‘Raneem’s Law’ is trebled.

    Six months on from the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy – Phase Two of the rollout of ‘Raneem’s Law’ will see domestic abuse specialists embedded in 12 more 999 control rooms across England and Wales. This includes police forces in Thames Valley, West Yorkshire, Essex, Merseyside and North Wales – bringing the total number of forces to 17. 
        
    The measure was established in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in August 2018 despite multiple 999 calls to police – who failed to turn up.   

    The initiative has already helped to protect victims, with early reports from police forces suggesting that ‘Raneem’s Law’ has led to: 

    • increased confidence among call handlers and officers in handling domestic abuse incidents
    • earlier identification of high-risk cases
    • swifter action taken to deploy safeguarding measures and protect victims

    Placing domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms aims to strengthen the police response to domestic abuse from the first point of contact. The specialists oversee how calls for help are assessed and managed, often providing real-time advice to responding officers and call handlers.   

    They also review cases and risk assessments, support staff training and ensure victims are swiftly referred to specialist services where needed.

    The news comes as the government marks one year since the launch ‘Raneem’s Law,’ which has so far embedded specialists in West Midlands, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Humberside and Northumbria. It is part of the government’s unprecedented mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.   

    With an estimated 3.8 million people experiencing domestic abuse last year, the continued expansion of ‘Raneem’s Law’ is a vital step towards ensuring that every victim – no matter where they live – can rely on a system built to protect them.   

    As part of its ambitious Violence against Women and Girls Strategy, the government has committed to rolling out ‘Raneem’s Law’ across every police force in England and Wales by 2029.    

    Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls Natalie Fleet said: 

    Last year, one in 8 women experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. No society that tolerates this level of violence can claim to be safe for women. 

    That’s why we are rolling out the pioneering ‘Raneem’s Law’ to another 12 police forces in England and Wales, because every victim – no matter where they live – should be able to rely on a system that truly supports them.     

    But we will not stop there. We will deploy the full power of the state to make this country safe for women and girls.

    Nour Norris, lead campaigner, aunt and sister of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem, said:

    When my sister Khaola and my niece Raneem called for help, they should have been heard, understood and protected. Instead, our family lost two beautiful lives in circumstances that should never have happened.

    Every step forward for ‘Raneem’s Law’ is deeply emotional for me because it comes from unimaginable pain and loss. Knowing that 12 more police forces will have domestic abuse specialists in their 999 control rooms gives me hope that other families may be spared the heartbreak that ours lives with every day.

    Raneem’s Law’ is more than a policy. It is a legacy built on love for my sister and niece and on the determination that their voices, and the voices of all victims of domestic abuse, are never ignored again.

    I am incredibly proud to see this expansion and remain committed to ensuring that every victim who reaches out for help is met with understanding, expertise and, most importantly, protection.

    This announcement builds on the government’s progress to tackle violence against women and girls including through rolling out the pioneering Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to provide victims with protection for as long as needed.   

    We are also investing over £1 billion over the next 3 years to support victims of violence against women and girls. This includes nearly £500 million for safe accommodation for domestic abuse victims, £550 million for counselling, court guidance and children’s services, and up to £55 million for specialist therapeutic and support.     

    This forms part of the government’s ambitious Violence against Women and Girls Strategy which deploys the full power of the state to halve this issue in a decade.    

    The full list of ‘Raneem’s Law’ Phase 2 sites:   

    • Thames Valley Police      
    • West Yorkshire Police      
    • Hampshire Constabulary      
    • Essex Police      
    • Merseyside Police      
    • Nottinghamshire Police      
    • Derbyshire Constabulary      
    • Cambridgeshire Constabulary      
    • North Wales Police      
    • Gloucestershire Constabulary      
    • Cleveland Police    
    • Dyfed-Powys Police