![PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Josh Simons [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/downingstreet-150x150.png)
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 January 2026.
The King has been pleased to approve the following appointment:
The speech made by Olly Grover, the Liberal Democrat MP for Didcot and Wantage, in the House of Commons on 8 January 2026.
I thank the Minister for her statement and for the strategy. We welcome it, having called for an updated road safety strategy for some time, following years of neglect of our roads by the previous Conservative Government. The strategy shows serious intent, and I commend the thought and research that has gone into it and the breadth of thinking on display. It is welcome that it is largely substance rather than gimmicks, which could have been the case. In particular, I welcome the fact that the Ryan’s law campaign on penalties for hit and run, championed by my hon. Friend the Member for North Cornwall (Ben Maguire), is incorporated into the strategy.
Our concern is that much of the strategy is based on a commitment to undertake consultations. I hope the Minister agrees that we would not want to see a repeat of the time it has taken to undertake a pavement-parking consultation—admittedly one initiated by the previous Government—with a wait of five years until the welcome announcement of something today. Consultations need to be meaningful, but they also need to be time-bound and then translated into action.
A number of areas need focus. We need to consider the significant impact on some groups in society that these measures will have, right though they are for advancing road safety. The first group is older people. The older generation have grown up in an age of decades-worth of Government policy promoting travel by car, so this runs the risk of having a significant impact on them. As I know from constituency casework, they also suffer from DVLA administration failures in processing medical changes and so on. This underlines the importance of improving public transport to reduce car dependency—in particular, the development of demand-responsive transport in rural areas, which the Transport Committee has looked at in detail.
These measures also run the risk of placing further pressure on the rural economy. Our pubs and farming communities are already under real pressure from increased alcohol taxation, business rates and inflation and poor international trade arrangements, which makes it even more important that they are properly supported and that the Government listen, including to Liberal Democrat calls for a 5% cut to VAT for hospitality.
It is welcome that the strategy mentions potholes, which drive all our constituents mad—particularly mine on the A4130 between Didcot and Wallingford and the Milton interchange in Queensway. Most importantly, we need to support young drivers. More is needed, given that the Government have twice moved the deadline for reducing the wait for tests to seven weeks. The six-month wait is understandable, but it is important that we support young people.
Madam Deputy Speaker
Order. Those on the Liberal Democrat Front Bench know that they have two minutes, not two minutes and 50 seconds or three minutes and 10 seconds.
Lilian Greenwood
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his words of support. Let me be clear that we are consulting on a number of the measures in the road safety strategy so that the public and stakeholders have an opportunity to share their views. The intent is not to delay. The consultations will be open for 12 weeks, and then we intend to take concrete action as a result of the feedback we receive. Some of the measures in this strategy will take very little time and do not require legislation. Others will require secondary or, indeed, primary legislation, but we intend to take action in order to meet the ambitious targets we have set for just nine years’ time.
I totally understand what the hon. Gentleman says about older people. We do not want to restrict older people’s independence, and we know how important driving can be, but the truth is that we need to keep people safe. We do not want anyone on our roads whose medical condition means that they are not safe to drive. Some people may be unaware that their eyesight has deteriorated and poses a danger to others. I know that many families find it difficult to have those conversations with an older relative about when is the right time to stop driving. We hope that the measures we are proposing on eyesight testing will help in those circumstances.
I recognise what the hon. Gentleman says about rural areas and the need to ensure that these measures are rural-proofed. When it comes to potholes, he is right: they are not only very annoying for all our constituents but a real danger to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. That is why this Government are investing £7.3 billion over the spending review period in local roads maintenance, on top of the additional £500 million this year. We are giving local authorities that long-term funding settlement so that they can improve the shocking quality of the roads we were left with by the previous Conservative Government.
When it comes to young drivers, we have considered carefully the right balance between protecting young people, who we know are at particular risk, and not curtailing their opportunities for work, education and social activities.
![PRESS RELEASE : 2026 – A crucial year for Tax Justice [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/taxjusticeuk-150x150.png)
The press release issued by Tax Justice UK on 9 January 2026.
Happy New Year! And what a start to the year. On day one, we saw crowds taking to the streets of New York City for new mayor Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration chanting “Tax the rich”. That’s the energy we need to bring to the UK as we head into a year full of opportunities to make the super-rich and mega-corporations pay their fair share, and for that money to be put to good use in our public services.
In early May 2026 Wales and Scotland elect new parliaments, and councils across the UK go to the polls. These elections matter. They give us the chance to win material reforms to our tax system that could change lives in the devolved nations, turn up pressure on the national government, and build the nationwide movement we need to win transformative change. And thanks to your generous support at our last fundraiser, we’re in a strong position to seize these opportunities.
We need to keep making it clear to everyone in Westminster that no party will win the next general election without offering a credible plan to improve people’s lives. This means the government standing up and tackling inequality, and showing they’re willing to face off the vested interests of the super-rich and corporations that are hollowing out our economy.
Mamdani’s victory in New York City showed how regional elections can spark hope far beyond their borders when they centre ordinary people make bold demands, and explicitly address inequality through tax reform.
But in just this first week of the year, we’ve also had stark reminders of the world as it is right now. A world where the rich and powerful rip up, rewrite or ignore any rules that don’t serve them, and where governments serve the interests of billionaires, by any means necessary.
Earlier this week, the OECD (an opaque club of rich countries that set a number of international tax regulations) announced that the 15% Global Minimum Corporation Tax (GMCT) will no longer apply to U.S. multinationals — effectively giving the green light to some of the world’s biggest corporations to continue dodging their taxes.
Even with the global minimum corporation tax agreed, the UK was already losing an estimated $9 billion a year to tax‑dodging by U.S. companies. Under the new “side‑by‑side system,” there’s no limits on the tax that U.S. giants’ can dodge by profit-shifting. This is an accounting trick used by multinationals to pretend they made £0 in profit on their massive sales & operations in countries like the UK, by recording £billions in profits from a tiny office somewhere in a tax haven like Luxembourg or the British Virgin Islands.
This change is technical, and with so much else going on it hasn’t got the headlines it deserves. But it’s incredibly important. It will mean yet another massive transfer of wealth into the bulging bank accounts of massive mega-corporations and their billionaire shareholders and CEOs, instead of being invested into services for our communities.
In June the UK is hosting a major summit on illicit finance and dirty money. With enough public pressure, this should be a turning point in the fight against profit shifting and tax evasion. We mustn’t let up on our demand to end UK tax havens that allow monumental amounts of tax dodging. The UK government must know the public is watching — and expects them to defend fairness, not fold to corporate pressure.
So we have a massive fight on our hands in 2026. We’ll be using every election, every platform, and every moment to push for a tax system that works for people, not just the powerful.
The speech made by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, on 9 January 2026.
Dear President Christodoulides, dear Nikos,
Dear President Zelenskyy, dear Volodymyr,
Dear President Sandu, dear Maia,
Dear President Rashid,
Dear President Aoun,
Dear President Costa, dear António,
Dear Deputy Minister Raouna, dear Marilena,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be back in Cyprus. A country blessed with more than 300 days of sunshine each year. A land of remarkable beauty, fitting for the birthplace of Aphrodite. Today, you are a proud European country with a thriving economy, and a society looking firmly to the future. We see that here in Nicosia, one of Europe’s fastest-growing centres for tech start-ups. Here, AI innovators are building the technologies of tomorrow, in the shadow of Byzantine churches. Cyprus captures what is best about Europe, our ability to combine tradition with innovation and to draw strength from our history as we shape the future. It is a fitting place to begin this new Presidency.
Dear Nikos,
You said recently that Cyprus is committed to a Europe that is ‘United in purpose and grounded in solidarity.’ Those words ring so true. We see it in the leadership Cyprus has shown across this region. I saw it first-hand with you, dear Nikos, during our visit to the port of Larnaca, witnessing Cyprus’s vital role in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. We see it in the bravery of Cypriot firefighters, literally running towards the flames to save lives and homes. And with the creation of a regional firefighting hub, Cyprus will play an even larger role in the years ahead. We see it in your experience as a frontline Member State. And we see it clearly in the central priority of your Presidency – to build a more secure and more independent Europe.
That responsibility begins in Ukraine. Because Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security. Together, we will work to deliver a just and lasting peace. And yesterday’s meeting in Paris was a very significant step in this direction. And we will continue to advance Ukraine’s and Moldova’s path towards our European Union – because a free and prosperous Ukraine and a united and prosperous Moldova belong in the EU.
We also know that only a more competitive Union can be a more independent Union. And I look forward to working with you to deliver that competitiveness. By cutting the unnecessary red tape that holds our businesses back. By completing our Single Market and bringing down barriers between our economies. And by advancing our Savings and Investment Union, to unlock the investment needed to finance Europe’s future. This Presidency marks a new moment of responsibility for Cyprus. And I have no doubt that you will once again rise to the challenge.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We meet in a country where the promise of reunification awaits to be fulfilled. Few places in the European Union understand as clearly what it means to live with the consequences of division – and, at the same time, to refuse to let division define the future. That is why it is so fitting that Cyprus assumes the EU Presidency at this moment. The European Union itself was born from conflict. Our Union is not perfect, but it is a promise: that cooperation is stronger than confrontation, that law is stronger than force. Principles that apply not only to our European Union, but equally to Greenland. Cyprus brings to its Presidency a unique moral authority. As a country at the crossroads of continents, cultures, and crises, Cyprus understands the strategic importance of peace and stability in our neighbourhood; the urgency of security in an uncertain world; and the enduring value of international law.
For the European Union, a comprehensive, fair and lasting settlement for Cyprus remains an absolute priority. That is why I appointed former Commissioner Johannes Hahn as EU Envoy for Cyprus. And it is why we will do all we can to ensure that the UN-led process succeeds, so that 2026 can bring renewed momentum towards a reunified Cyprus.
Dear friends,
It was on this island that Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, was born. A philosophy grounded in wisdom, justice, and courage. Stoicism teaches us not to fear challenges, but to meet them with clarity and resolve. To turn challenge into opportunity. To turn adversity into strength. That is what Cyprus has done, time and again, throughout the ages. And it is what Europe must do now, together. I look forward to working closely with you in the months ahead.
Congratulations to the Cypriot Council Presidency.
Thank you. And long live Europe.
The speech made by Richard Holden, the Shadow Transport Secretary, in the House of Commons on 8 January 2026.
I thank the Minister for advance sight of the statement, although obviously some of it was reported in The Times earlier this week. I welcome the fact that the Government have published the road safety strategy, and I welcome the broad ambition, shared right across the House, to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. As a former Roads Minister and as a local MP, I too have met many grieving families torn apart by deaths on our roads. The fact that we have seen a 10% to 15% reduction since 2010 does not mean that we do not need to go further.
In that spirit, I welcome the comprehensive look at motorcycle training that the Minister has announced, as well as the expansion of Project PRIME from Scotland on motorcycle safety. That will be a major improvement to our road safety. I also welcome stiffer fines and enforcement against bad faith drivers, particularly those on ghost plates, as has been mentioned, and against those trying to evade justice via the use of dodgy number plates and other things to conceal their identity. I also welcome the road safety investigation branch and the better use and collation of data and data sharing—those are incredibly important. I also welcome the inclusion of Sharlotte’s law, which will help to prevent people trying to evade justice by ensuring that timely blood testing can take place in the most serious of cases.
It is clear that there will be concern about some of the new moves announced and whether they are wholly related to road safety, and I would like to look at a couple of those. In oral questions, the Minister appeared to suggest that part of the reason for the six-month delay after getting a theory test was to ensure that more driving tests are available. In reality, it will mean an even larger group of people waiting to book driving tests, so I fear that the Government have not fully thought through the consequences of that. I remember meeting a woman aged 60 who had just lost her husband of 40 years. She lived in a small village with no bus service. She had always relied on him to drive. Are we really telling her that she will have to take a theory test and then wait six months after passing it to take a driving test?
I can think of women in similar circumstances—men take more driving tests than women at an earlier stage in life—who maybe only take a test when they move for jobs or after having children. We need to properly think through the consequences of some of what the Government are proposing. It is important that we look at this broadly to ensure that we are not restricting freedoms via legislation to fix problems that are the result of not sorting out driving tests.
No one in this House disputes that drink-driving is totally unacceptable, but I hope that Ministers and the Secretary of State will reflect on the experiences in Scotland, where changes in this space have already been made, and on the concerns right across the hospitality sector that there is no clear evidence of improved road safety outcomes following those changes. In fact, it is extraordinary that the Department—to quote an answer to one of my written questions—
“has not made an assessment of the impact on the economic viability of pubs in Scotland”
as a result of the changes that have already happened up there. Changing the legal limit alone will not change behaviour, and any reform must be based on a thorough examination of the evidence and impacts, not on attempts to look tough.
Alongside alcohol, the House must not lose sight of drug-driving, and I welcome some of the measures announced today. However, the commitments to testing seem rather vague. It would be great to hear more from the Minister on that because the police are pushing for more roadside drug testing. Governments of all stripes have pushed for an emphasis on education and behavioural change. However, that sits uneasily with this Government cutting the budget for the THINK! road safety campaign by £1.2 million last year, particularly when lifelong learning and changes are so critical to many of the plans that the Government have announced today.
That brings me to my final major point, which is around enforcement. This place can pass all the laws it wishes, but if they are not enforced, all that does is undermine faith in our democratic institutions. The House will be aware that police numbers under this Government are down by around 1,300 in the latest figures. Enforcement sits at the heart of any credible road safety policy, so are there are plans to ensure additional roads policing to ensure that enforcement happens?
Finally, there are some omissions. Why still exclude vulnerable road users and motorcyclists from bus lanes in many areas? There is a real missed opportunity to improve safety and survival for those people. There is also a glaring absence when it comes to tackling the scourge of unlicensed and uninsured criminals driving with impunity. Measures such as requiring proof of identity to register a vehicle could have been included, as recommended by the all-party parliamentary group for transport safety. I am sure that the hon. Member for Blaydon and Consett (Liz Twist) might mention that in her remarks, too.
Road safety is not delivered by strategies and consultations alone; it is delivered when the law is clear and evidence-based, enforcement is consistent and the Government are willing to confront difficult issues, rather than relying on process and pre-briefed headlines. While we welcome many of the measures, there are still many questions to be answered, and I look forward to the Minister’s response.
Lilian Greenwood
I welcome the support from the shadow Secretary of State for our measures to tackle road harm. I was slightly surprised by his comment about the coverage in the press because we did of course publish the strategy yesterday, giving him the opportunity to have a full 24 hours to read it. Nevertheless, I note his comments and welcome his support. I also note his comment about the reduction in those killed and seriously injured over the previous Government’s term. I welcome the fact that the numbers went down slightly, but they are nothing to the level of ambition that this Government are showing and the seriousness that this problem requires.
The right hon. Member questioned why we are introducing a minimum learning period for new drivers. This is a safety measure. It is about saying that in order to set people up for a lifetime of safe driving, whenever they take their driving test and learn to drive, they need to get a range of pre-test practice in a variety of conditions. We want people to take the time to learn properly, to ensure they know how to cope with things like extreme weather, driving at night and driving on different sorts of roads. We think that that is the right thing to do. Nevertheless, it is, of course, subject to a consultation, and we will listen carefully to all the views expressed in that.
When it comes to drink-driving, of course we do not want to stop people going out and enjoying our hospitality sector. What we are clearly saying is, “If you’re going to go out and have a drink, leave your car at home.” Reducing the drink-drive limit would simply bring England and Wales into line with Scotland and the rest of Europe. We are the only countries, except perhaps Malta, that have this higher drink-drive limit—
Jerome Mayhew (Broadland and Fakenham) (Con)
We are one of the safest.
Lilian Greenwood
We are no longer the safest. We have been dropping down the rankings, and progress has stalled compared with other countries across Europe. Sir Peter North’s review in 2010 estimated that reducing the drink-drive limit from 80 mg to 50 mg would save an estimated 43 to 168 lives each year and avoid a very large number of serious injuries—a conservative estimate put it at 280. We are acting on the evidence.
When it comes to drug-driving, we are looking at how we can make better use of testing. I know that too many people who have suffered as a result of someone drug-driving wait a long time for their case to come to court. It takes too long to process, which is why we are looking at things like roadside testing. Through our award-winning THINK! campaign, we continue to target publicity at those who cause the most danger: young men aged 17 to 24. At the end of last year, we did an anti-drug-driving campaign—the first in 10 years—using the sorts of media channels that get to those we are trying to target, including TikTok and Instagram.
Finally, the shadow Secretary of State is right to speak about enforcement. That is why this Government are investing in additional police officers—an extra 3,000 police officers by March and 13,000 by the end of this Parliament. We are responding to the requirements of the police. We are giving them the legislation and the powers they need to crack down on those who cause danger on our roads. I am pleased to see that our strategy has been welcomed by the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for roads policing, Jo Shiner. I welcome the right hon. Member’s other comments, and we look forward to reading the official Opposition’s comments in response to our consultations.
The statement made by Lilian Greenwood, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, in the House of Commons on 8 January 2026.
With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement on our new national road safety strategy.
It is a sad truth that, by the time I finish speaking and we hear the Opposition’s response, it is likely someone will have died or been seriously injured on our roads. It is an even sadder truth that that would likely have been entirely preventable. Even though we have some of the safest roads in the world, more than 1,600 people died on our roads last year, and nearly 28,000 were seriously injured.
Over the course of my lifetime, road safety has improved immeasurably—in no small part thanks to a titan of my party, Barbara Castle—but it is safe to say the last 10 years represent a lost decade. Death and serious injury numbers have plateaued despite improvements in vehicle safety. The UK has slipped from third to fourth in Europe’s road safety rankings, and the human cost of too little action and too much complacency is clear: lives taken too soon, lives altered beyond recognition, and lives grieved by the families left behind.
If that was not enough, a decade without a comprehensive road safety strategy has meant that the country lost out on nearly £7 billion in economic output last year. That should not just give us pause; it should spur us to action. We would not tolerate that on our railways or in our airspace, and I am determined to ensure that we no longer tolerate it on our roads. That is why I am standing here today: to say quite simply that enough is enough.
The targets that we are setting match the full measure of our ambition. We want to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035, and by 70% for children under 16. Our vision is clear: any road user—however they choose to travel—should be able to move safely on our roads. There are four main ways in which we will deliver that vision through the strategy.
First, we will put all road users at the heart of the strategy. When it comes to protecting vulnerable road users, we will be guided by the evidence. We know, for example, that young drivers between 17 and 24 are at a higher risk of death or serious injury on our roads. They account for 6% of driving licences yet are involved in 24% of fatal and serious collisions. That is why we will consult not just on a minimum learning period for learner drivers, but on a lower blood alcohol limit for novice drivers. I would also recognise the important debate on young driver safety that my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Julia Buckley) secured last January.
Another key area is the safety of older drivers. In 2024, about 24% of all car drivers killed were aged 70 or older. While driving is rightly seen as a vital form of independence in older age, it cannot come at the expense of safety, so we will consult on mandatory eyesight tests for drivers over 70 and explore options for cognitive testing, recognising the risks of driving with conditions such as dementia.
We also will not ignore the fact that motorcyclists are 40 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads compared with car drivers, so we will reform the motorcycle training, testing and licensing regime. That starts today with a consultation, including on removing the ability to ride on L-plates indefinitely.
Let me move to advances in technology and data. We will consult on mandating 18 new vehicle safety technologies under the GB type approval scheme—a change that could prevent more than 14,000 deaths and serious injuries over 15 years. That includes autonomous emergency braking, a proven safety technology that Meera Naran has tirelessly campaigned for as Dev’s law, after the tragic loss of her son. I am delighted to see her in the Public Gallery; she has been an incredible campaigner on this issue.
To learn from collisions and prevent future harm, we will establish a data-led road safety investigation branch covering the whole of Great Britain. It will draw on data to carry out thematic investigations and make recommendations. To give those involved in collisions the best chance of survival, we will ensure that police-recorded collision data and healthcare data are shared more effectively.
The third theme is about infrastructure. Safer roads and effective speed management are essential pillars of the “safe system” approach that guides the strategy. That starts with investment. The Government are providing £24 billion between 2026 and 2030 to improve motorways and local roads, building on record funding for pothole repairs. We will also publish updated guidance on setting local speed limits and the use of speed and red light cameras, supporting local authorities to make evidence-based decisions.
Because rural roads remain among the most dangerous, with motorcyclists often navigating sharp bends, we will build on the success of Project PRIME—perceptual rider information for maximisation of enjoyment and expertise—in Scotland, which saw real safety improvements thanks to new road markings.
Finally, let me talk about enforcement. We know that most drivers are safe, and we do not want to get in their way. However, they need to feel confident that the Government have their back, so my message to the minority of drivers who are unsafe and reckless is simple: if you drive dangerously, if you drive illegally or if you make our roads less safe, you will face the consequences.
Take drink and drug-driving. We know that it was a contributory factor in 18% of road fatalities in 2023, so we will consult on lowering the drink-drive limit, which has not been changed in England and Wales since 1967. We will review penalties for drink and drug-driving offences and explore the use of alcohol interlock devices. New powers will be considered to suspend licences for those suspected of the most serious offences.
We also propose tougher penalties for those who drive without insurance—I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon North (Will Stone) for his persistent advocacy on this issue. We will also look at penalty points for failing to wear a seatbelt and failing to ensure that child passengers are wearing theirs, too.
Thanks to the tireless campaigning of my hon. Friends the Members for West Bromwich (Sarah Coombes) and for Rochdale (Paul Waugh), we are tackling illegal number plates. We will increase penalties for using illegal plates and ensure that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is empowered to carry out more robust checks on number plate suppliers.
These rightly bold ambitions cannot be met by Government working alone. We call on the support of Members from all parts of the House and extend our hand in partnership to the devolved Governments, mayors, local authorities, the police and other stakeholders. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Ruth Cadbury) for her support on behalf of the Transport Committee and my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Andy MacNae) as chair of the all-party parliamentary group for transport safety for his advocacy on this important issue.
I have sat with families torn apart by deaths and serious injuries on our roads—it is one of the hardest parts of my job. Even through intolerable pain, they campaign, fight and demand change so that others can be spared their sense of loss. This strategy is for those brave families. I truly believe that this is a turning point for road safety in this country, when we finally put victims at the heart of policymaking, see road safety as a shared responsibility and understand that, while driver or rider error is inevitable, fatalities and serious injury are not. A multilayered system, from safer speeds and vehicles to safer roads and robust enforcement, is how we protect every road user. That is how we ensure that people walk away from collisions rather than being carried and how we deliver safer roads for everyone who relies on them. I have laid copies of the documents in the Libraries of both Houses, and I commend this statement to the House.
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 January 2026.
The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon.
The leaders discussed Euro-Atlantic security and agreed on the need to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia in the High North.
European Allies had stepped up in recent months to defend Euro-Atlantic interests, but more could be done to protect the area, the Prime Minister said.
The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 January 2026.
The Prime Minister spoke to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte this afternoon.
The leaders began by paying tribute to the UK personnel involved in operations in the the North Atlantic and Syria in recent days to protect UK and Euro-Atlantic security.
Turning to the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing on Tuesday, both leaders welcomed the strong commitments by all participants in Paris. It was vital that the security guarantees for Ukraine ensured Russia was never able to invade again, the leaders reiterated.
The Secretary General then updated on the North Atlantic Council meeting this morning. They agreed that more needed to be done to deter Russia in the High North and welcomed discussions on how Allies could further protect the region from increasing Russian threats.
Both agreed to stay in close touch.
The statement made by Paul Dennett, the Mayor of Salford, on 8 January 2026.
We are deeply saddened and appalled by the mindless vandalism and destruction of the Holocaust Memorial bench in Clowes Park. The bench was a memorial to Holocaust survivor Mr Chaim Ferster and the work he has done over many years sharing his story and experiences, while also teaching & reminding us all about the horrors of the Holocaust.
I have personally been in contact with Mr Chaim Ferster’s youngest son and community representatives to offer our sincerest condolences and full support at this time.
I’d also like to thank Councillor Andrew Walters for escalating this matter to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), who are investigating the incident. The City Council and City Mayor’s Office will continue to work closely with GMP’s officers, our local Jewish community and Mr Chaim Ferster’s family in connection with this shocking incident. Our thoughts continue to be with all those who are affected by this hateful act at this time.
Working with Mr Chaim Ferster’s family and our local Jewish community, the City Council will also seek to address concerns of safety and security within Clowes Park and restore and repair the Holocaust Memorial Bench, so it can be rightfully put back into place and serve, once again, as a place of peace and reflection.
Hate has no place in our great diverse and vibrant City of Salford and we stand shoulder to shoulder with our all our residents & communities in the face of such adversity, showing the Spirit of Salford in all that we do.
![PRESS RELEASE : Border Force seizes over 250 endangered species [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/homeoffice-150x150.webp)
The press release issued by the Home Office on 8 January 2026.
Hundreds of endangered species seized in crackdown on international wildlife smuggling.
Live snakes, tarantulas and lovebirds have been found crammed into vehicles at the UK border following a global crackdown on wildlife smuggling gangs.
In just one month, Border Force seized more than 250 endangered species and illegal wildlife products at airports, ports and mail depots across the country.
The seizures this autumn were part of an annual international operation to combat illegal wildlife smuggling – representing a 73% increase from 2023.
They include two rainbow boa constrictors, which officers found hidden under blankets in a car in Dover. The driver had bought them at a German reptile show without a licence.
Border Force also discovered over 100 endangered birds crammed into a car, including scarlet ibis, green-cheeked conures and lovebirds. Some had died and the rest were kept in filthy conditions, risking the spread of disease.
There has also been a surge in spider trafficking since 2023. In one instance, Border Force intercepted a car transporting over 2,000 live tarantulas from Europe – worth an estimated £70,000. The consignment included more than 300 protected species without the appropriate licences.
Adult tarantulas can sell for between £50 to £500 depending on the species.
Other items prevented from reaching the black market included an elephant hair ring from the United States, king cobra balm from Thailand and a blacktip shark jaw from Australia.
Wildlife crime is worth up to £17 billion a year globally, making it the fourth largest international crime – behind firearms, drugs and human trafficking.
The intercepted items are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which is currently marking its 50th year.
Migration and Citizenship Minister Mike Tapp said:
Wildlife smuggling is serious organised crime. It fuels corruption, drives species to extinction, and undermines our border security.
I congratulate Border Force on this year’s hugely successful operation, which has cut off a major source of funding for dangerous gangs.
But we won’t stop until we’ve broken this business model. Anyone attempting to bring illegal wildlife products into the UK – by air, sea, or post – will be searched and prosecuted.
DEFRA Minister Mary Creagh said:
The illegal wildlife trade is vile and destroys the natural world.
By tackling wildlife crime we’re sending a clear message to the criminal gangs that this government will strain every sinew to bring those involved to justice.
The seizures took place between 13 September and 15 October as part of Operation Thunder – an annual crackdown led by Interpol and the World Customs Organization to dismantle criminal smuggling networks.
Police supported this year’s operation, carrying out inspections across the country. Where sellers could not provide paperwork, officers seized items including shark and crocodile meat, ivory carvings and a tiger claw bottle.
Border Force’s specialist CITES team at Heathrow is recognised as world leaders in detecting and seizing illegal wildlife products.
More than ever before officers are taking an intelligence-led approach – working with international partners to share expertise and shut the trade down.
Where possible, seized items will be rehomed or used for research.
As part of the Plan for Change, the government is determined to strengthen border security and break the business model of organised crime.
Anyone who suspects smuggling and trafficking of any kind can report it online using the report smuggling service.