Tag: 2026

  • Cheryl de Freitas – 2026 Comments on Youth Sentencing

    Cheryl de Freitas – 2026 Comments on Youth Sentencing

    The comments made by Cheryl de Freitas, the Chief Operating Officer of the Youth Justice Board, on 26 May 2026.

    Confidence in the justice system matters, particularly in cases involving violence against women and girls and it is essential that public concern is not dismissed.

    It is also important that individual judges and frontline youth justice services are not unfairly critiqued for applying the legal framework and the evidence they are required to consider in youth cases.

    The overwhelming majority of children do not commit offences of this seriousness. But where they do, the response must balance accountability, public protection, victim harm, deterrence, and the long-term goal of preventing future violence.

    Above all, we must acknowledge the immense bravery of the girls who came forward, whose courage in speaking out is paramount as we work to ensure justice and safety for all victims.

    We welcome the Attorney General’s review of this case and will not be commenting further as we await the outcome of this review.

  • Alastair Campbell – 2026 Comments about David Miliband

    Alastair Campbell – 2026 Comments about David Miliband

    The comments made by Alastair Campbell on 23 May 2026.

    Whoever is Prime Minister in the coming months for heaven’s sake try to get David Miliband back into UK politics to be part of your team. His interview on Today programme just now a reminder of how much his voice and his brain are missed.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and Australia pact on fast-moving AI security risks [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and Australia pact on fast-moving AI security risks [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 25 May 2026.

    • The UK and Australia agree deeper ties to tackle AI risks, with new partnership between the UK AI Security Institute and the Australian AI Safety Institute.
    • Institutes to share information on frontier AI capabilities, collaborate on best practices in AI evaluation, and share research findings.
    • Agreement comes as latest research shows AI cybersecurity capabilities are advancing faster than ever before.

    The UK and Australia will deepen cooperation on AI security and safety when Ministers meet in Canberra later today (Monday 25 May), as both nations move to stay ahead of emerging threats from powerful AI systems.

    Under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the UK AI Security Institute and Australian Safety Institute will work together to track the latest developments in frontier AI – including how these systems could be used in cyber-attacks, as well as how they can strengthen defences.

    The partnership will see both countries share insights on AI capabilities, carry out research into emerging risks, and work together to develop international best practice for testing and evaluating AI systems – principles to help guide those working to ensure AI behaves as intended.

    It will also open the door to staff exchanges between the two institutes, strengthening day to day collaboration. The agreement builds on the strong and deep ties that the UK and Australia already share, bringing that cooperation into the AI era at a moment when the technology is evolving at pace. Working closely with key allies will be critical managing these risks, while ensuring AI can be harnessed to safely drive growth and improve lives.

    The UK’s AI Minister Kanishka Narayan will sign the agreement alongside Australia’s Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, Dr Andrew Charlton, when they meet in Canberra later today.

    UK AI Minister, Kanishka Narayan, said:

    Australia and the UK have always worked closely to keep our people safe – and that partnership matters more than ever in the age of AI.

    This technology is moving fast, and so are the risks that come with it – particularly in areas like cyber security. No country can tackle that alone.

    By working hand in hand with trusted partners such as Australia, we can stay ahead of the risks, strengthen our defences and make sure AI is used to improve lives for Brits and Aussies alike.

    AISI’s agreement with its Australian counterpart adds to the wealth of work the Institute conducts with international partners. AISI shares best practice with AI research bodies across the world’s major economies, developed through the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science and through its bilateral partnerships.

    New research from the UK’s AI Security Institute underlines the urgency of this work, showing that advanced AI systems are rapidly improving their ability to carry out complex cyber-attacks, in particular – with opportunities for both attackers and defenders. AISI’s world-leading frontier AI research continues to inform UK policymaking, to help keep British businesses, critical infrastructure and the public safe.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Wildlife habitat in most cherished landscapes set to be restored [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Wildlife habitat in most cherished landscapes set to be restored [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 May 2026.

    £30 million investment important step toward protecting 30% of England’s land for nature by 2030.

    Precious wildlife habitat in our most important places for nature is set to be restored thanks to a new government fund, Nature Minister Mary Creagh announced today (Monday 25 May).  

    The government will invest £30 million to restore and create wildlife-rich habitats across England’s most iconic landscapes from the wilds of Dartmoor to the rugged Lake District. 

    Our protected landscapes act as vital havens for the country’s most threatened species such as hedgehogs, hazel dormouse, water vole, and rare birds like the curlew and turtle dove, with habitat degradation being one of the main drivers for their decline. 

    The new Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund will deliver thousands of hectares of new habitat across England’s National Parks, National Landscapes, and the Broads over three years, helping to bring nature back to the places people love most.  

    The scale and ambition of projects that will soon be underway illustrates what investing in nature can achieve. For example, the Peak District National Park Authority is working with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, volunteers and contractors to start the transformation of over 80 hectares of upland moorland at Gun Moor. Following years of degradation with the Moor’s deep peat drying out and wildlife retreating, the project is restoring 24 hectares of wet heath, re-wetting deep peat, and establishing a new area of native woodland on the lower slopes. More funding means more projects like this getting off the ground.   

    Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:  

    “Our national parks and protected landscapes are home to some of our most marginal species. Our Wild Again funding is already turning the tide on their decline. It will mean more birdsong, flower meadows full of bees and butterflies, and new areas of native woodlands.” 

    “We’re funding this recovery with the highest ever budget for nature, field by field, across England’s most iconic and beautiful landscapes”. 

    Mary-Ann Ochota, Independent Chair of the Protected Landscapes Partnership, said:  

    “This multi-year investment in Wildlife-Rich Habitats is brilliant news. Protected Landscapes teams are empowered to make smart, efficient decisions, and support will reach local delivery partners quickly. These teams know their landscapes, understand the potential for change and can work together to achieve the best outcomes.   

    “Locally rooted, trust-building partnerships are key. The result? Thriving, wildlife-rich landscapes, nurtured and cherished by farmers, land managers and local communities. It’s the very essence of why National Parks and National Landscapes exist”.   

    Protected Landscape organisations will work closely with other conservation organisations, farmers and land managers, and the local communities who know their landscapes best.      

    The funding announced today follows a £90 million commitment made in March to fund species recovery projects, the largest investment ever announced in species recovery by a government as part of our Wild Again drive aiming to restore our nature and return lost species including beavers and white-tailed eagles. 

    The Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund forms part of Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife, the government’s umbrella campaign to halt species decline by 2030, bringing together species recovery and habitat restoration work across Defra and its arm’s-length bodies.   

    This will help meet our international commitment to protect 30% land for nature and our legal Environment Act target to restore over 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042. 

    Joan Edwards, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, said:  

    ‘‘Generations have been inspired by the wonderful wild animals and plants they find in England’s National Parks and Landscapes. However, these special connections with nature have been fraying, as climate change, land use pressures and pollution take their toll, and nature declines across the country.   

    “Today’s announcement of £30 million of new funding to help wildlife recover in protected landscapes is much needed if we are to reverse this loss and empower people to restore more habitats in cherished National Parks and Landscapes. With nature underpinning our economy, health and future resilience as a nation, there is still lots to do if we are to bring flourishing wildlife and habitats back and achieve vital Environment Act targets. This new funding is step towards delivering on that ambition.’’  

    Martin Lines, CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), said:   

    “This funding is a positive recognition that farmers are essential partners in protecting and restoring the habitats that make our protected landscapes so special. Through the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) scheme, farming businesses have already shown how productive farming and nature recovery can go hand in hand – creating and caring for habitats that support rare wildlife, strengthen landscapes and benefit local communities.”  
     
    “We warmly welcome this announcement, which reinforces the importance of farmers as key partners in restoring and protecting our most treasured landscapes. When farmers are trusted and supported to lead, nature can recover at scale.” 

    Additional information: 

    • The Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund provides £30 million in ring-fenced funding – £10 million per financial year – from 2026 to 2029. 
    • 36 of England’s 44 Protected Landscapes are participating in the first year with every project funded rooted in local priorities. 
    • The fund is delivered through the existing Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme infrastructure. 
    • The fund is separate from and does not affect the farming budget or the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme. 
    • Projects will be prioritised in line with Protected Landscapes management plans and Local Nature Recovery Strategies. 
    • The fund forms part of the government’s broader programme of action to restore nature, alongside the Environmental Improvement Plan, the Land Use Framework and new legislation to strengthen the purposes and powers of National Parks and National Landscapes.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Statement of the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG) on the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Statement of the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG) on the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) [May 2026]

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

    The International Contact Group (ICG) for the Great Lakes, including representatives of Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, met in Stockholm on 20-21 May 2026 and gave a statement on the situation in the Great Lakes region.

    The ICG reiterates its concerns over the continued conflict in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the impediment that the conflict poses to regional stability and prosperity. The ICG also restates its support for the ongoing international peace efforts facilitated by Qatar, the US, African Union-appointed mediator Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of the Togolese Republic, the Panel of Facilitators and regional partners.

    The ICG welcomes the progress achieved under both the Washington Accords between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and the Doha Framework Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23).

    The ICG commends the progress made by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the AFC/M23 on 13-19 April in Montreux, Switzerland, in supporting humanitarian operations and committing to release prisoners and implement the Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism, supported by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and MONUSCO, as stated in the public statement issued at the end of the meeting.

    The ICG also welcomes the progress achieved at the 23 April meeting in Washington DC, where the DRC and Rwanda convened the Joint Oversight Committee. The ICG welcomes the expressed commitment by both sides to uphold their engagements under the Washington Accords and recalls the importance of implementing Resolution 2773 of the United Nations Security Council. The ICG recalls the importance of creating conditions for an inclusive inter-Congolese dialogue with all key Congolese stakeholders – a necessary element for durablepeace in the DRC – and welcome the consultations undertaken by the Republic of Angola.

    The ICG urges all parties to the conflict to build on this momentum, fulfil their commitments under these and earlier agreements, and remain steadfast in their pursuit of peace through negotiations. The ICG reiterates that there can be no military solution to the conflict.

    All parties must protect civilians in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law. The escalating use of drones by various actors, including by state actors, has led to an increasing number of civilian casualties. The ICG condemns violations of international humanitarian law in the strongest terms. There is an urgent need for improved civil-military coordination and liaison mechanisms, notification procedures and pre-identification of humanitarian infrastructure.

    Political progress must immediately translate into improvements on the ground. The ceasefire must be respected by all parties, and the humanitarian situation must improve. Humanitarian relief personnel must be allowed safe, rapid and unimpeded access. The ICG calls on all parties to facilitate humanitarian access in line with international humanitarian law, including by working towards the sustained opening of the Goma and Kavumu airports, the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors in North and South Kivu, and simplified administrative procedures. The recent outbreak of Ebola, declared by WHO as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May, and declared by Africa CDC as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security on 18 May, adds to an already fragile humanitarian situation in the eastern DRC. The ICG urges all parties to the conflict to facilitate efforts to respond to the Ebola outbreak. This threat underscores the importance of regional cooperation to address common challenges.

    In line with the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, the ICG will continue to support regional partners in addressing the drivers of the conflict and support lasting peace and shared prosperity in the Great Lakes region. Inclusive governance, accountability and the safeguarding of rights are essential for long-term stability, helping to address grievances and break cycles of instability.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Preferred candidate for Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Preferred candidate for Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 22 May 2026.

    The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has confirmed that Lynne Berry CBE is his preferred candidate for the role of Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission.

    The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is the statutory body that identifies candidates for judicial roles in England and Wales. They also help fill positions for several specialist tribunals with UK-wide powers.  

    Lynne Berry CBE has been selected as the preferred candidate for the role of JAC Chair following a rigorous assessment process conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments and the Judicial Appointments Commission Regulations 2013.

    The role is subject to pre-appointment hearing by the Justice Select Committee. Pre-appointment scrutiny is an important part of the appointment process for some of the most significant public appointments made by Ministers. It is designed to provide an added level of scrutiny to the appointment process. Pre-appointment hearings are held in public and allow a Select Committee to take evidence before a candidate is appointed. Ministers consider the Committee’s views before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment.

    Biography

    Lynne Berry CBE is currently Chair of Governors and Pro-Chancellor at the University of Westminster, Chair of the Human Tissue Authority, and visiting Professor in Leadership at Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London. She has served as Chair or Senior Independent Director of many public sector and not-for-profit bodies and has held several Chief Executive posts in public bodies, including the Charity Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the General Social Care Council, as well as in charities such as the Royal Voluntary Service and the Family Welfare Association.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Head of the Joint Intelligence Organisation Appointed [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Head of the Joint Intelligence Organisation Appointed [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 May 2026.

    The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Adrian Bird CB as the new Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) and head of the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO). Adrian will replace Dame Madeleine Alessandri DCB, CMG, who is stepping down after three years in the role. 

    Adrian is currently Chief of Defence Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence, and has previously held senior roles in the Government Communication Headquarters. Adrian brings a wealth of experience from his current role and his career in GCHQ.

    Adrian will lead a multidisciplinary team of expert officials in the JIO, providing real time security and risk assessments and advice to Ministers and the Prime Minister, and helping to develop government policies that keep the country safe and secure.

    The Cabinet Secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, said:

    I am delighted to announce the appointment of Adrian Bird to this crucial role at this critical time for the country. Adrian’s extensive national security experience at the MoD and GCHQ make him an excellent fit to lead the dedicated security officials in the JIO, and to provide expert advice to the Prime Minister to keep the UK safe and secure. 

    I would also like to thank Madeleine Alessandri for her brilliant leadership as JIC Chair over the last three years, and her contribution to the wider Civil Service leadership, and to wish her well in her retirement.

    Commenting on his appointment, Adrian Bird said:

    It is an honour to be appointed as the new Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee. I am delighted to be joining the JIO team and to have an opportunity to lead the UK’s professional intelligence assessment community, and to work closely with our trusted partners to deal with national security challenges of today and tomorrow. 

    I wanted to thank Dame Madeleine Alessandri for her excellent leadership of the JIO and I know she leaves the organisation in a strong position. I look forward to building on this and working with the team to meet the future challenges. I wish Madeleine a well-deserved retirement.

    Outgoing JIC Chair, Madeleine Alessandri said: 

    The Joint intelligence Committee continues to play a vital role in the security of the United Kingdom. Amid unprecedented volatility in geopolitics and exponential advances in technology, clear-eyed assessment to reduce uncertainty for policymakers at moments of critical decision has never been more important.  

    It has been a privilege to chair the Committee.  And it has been an honour to work with the brilliant people across the breadth of the UK national security system who enable assessments that are rigorous, impartial, and relevant to the challenges we face as a country.

    I am delighted that Adrian has been chosen to take on this extraordinary role – at an extraordinary moment in our 90 year history.    

    Adrian will take up his new post on 3 July.

    Notes for Editors

    Adrian Bird is currently Chief of Defence Intelligence in the Ministry of Defence. Adrian is the first civilian to hold this MoD role, having previously been held by military personnel. His successor in the MoD will be Lieutenant-General Matthew Jones, OBE.  

    Adrian has been in his current role since 2022. He joined government service in 1993 and held a wide variety of positions in GCHQ and FCDO culminating in two successive GCHQ Director General posts before he moved to the MoD

    Adrian has been in his current role since 2022.

    The role

    The Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) is responsible to the Prime Minister for supervising the work of the JIC. The post-holder also leads the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) and is adviser to the Prime Minister on intelligence.

    The Joint Intelligence Committee

    The Joint Intelligence Committee is the cross-government committee responsible for providing Ministers and senior officials with timely intelligence assessments on critical strategic national security issues. 

    The Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee reports to the Cabinet Secretary. 

    The Joint Intelligence Organisation

    The JIC is supported by the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO), a multi-disciplinary team of data scientists, analysts, economists and national security professionals. This dynamic and highly collaborative team is responsible for drafting all-source assessments on policy-relevant strategic issues and provides warning of threats to UK national interests.

    The JIO sits at the heart of the UK intelligence assessment community and draws on the full range of reporting and expertise available across government, academia, business and international partners.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Passengers one step closer to booking taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Passengers one step closer to booking taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 22 May 2026.

    Applications open for operators to join the self-driving vehicles pilot scheme.

    • applications open for operators to run taxi, bus and private hire-style self-driving vehicles, in British first
    • passengers could book journeys through operators later this year
    • services will be held to strict safety requirements, driving confidence in an industry that will unlock significant economic growth and support thousands of jobs

    Passengers could book taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles later this year, as applications open today (22 May 2026) for operators to run cars across Great Britain.

    The pilot scheme will enable firms – including British self-driving technology company Wayve – to bring cutting-edge technology to British roads, creating thousands of jobs and unlocking billions for the economy by 2035.

    Services could enhance journeys by supporting greater freedom and independence for older and disabled people, as well as expanding travel options across both work and leisure.

    Self-driving technology could transform roads, with human error currently contributing to 88% of collisions on UK roads.

    Safety will be central to the pilot scheme, which will gather real-world evidence on how self-driving vehicles operate on everyday roads, from navigating busy urban streets to interacting with traffic and carrying passengers safely.

    Services will be subject to rigorous approval checks by government, including strict safety assessments to ensure the technology is protected against cyber and security threats.

    Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood, said:

    Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, while driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK.

    This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first.

    Local transport authorities, such as Transport for London, will also need to provide local consent to ensure services reflect local priorities.

    The government is working closely with safety and accessibility experts as it develops the regulations needed to safely bring self-driving vehicles to British roads.

    Learnings from the pilots will support the development of self-driving vehicle regulations, which are currently being progressed by government, following a call for evidence that closed in March.

    Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery, Uber, said:

    This is an exciting and important step toward launching autonomous vehicles in the UK.

    London has long been a pioneering city for Uber, where we’ve launched some of our biggest innovations and we can’t wait to give people in the capital the chance to experience autonomous rides this year.

    Ben Loewenstein, Waymo Head of Policy and Government Affairs for the UK and Europe, said:

    The UK is leading the way in enabling the safe deployment of pilot autonomous vehicle services. We hope to soon become part of London’s transport network and demonstrate the safety, accessibility and sustainability benefits of battery-electric autonomous vehicles through the government’s pilot scheme.

    We are working closely with the Department for Transport and Transport for London to ensure our operations align with their goals.

    Waymo is serving riders in eleven major metropolitan areas in the US, providing over 500,000 rides each week. We are excited to bring our world-leading, fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the UK and help make transport in London safer and more accessible.

    Sarah Gates, VP, Global Affairs and Assurance at Wayve, said:

    The UK has all the ingredients to become a global leader in the deployment of self-driving vehicles and today’s launch of the automated passenger services scheme marks an important milestone. Wayve has been developing its technology in the UK for nearly a decade and we’re excited to bring our supervised passenger service to market here this year.

    Self-driving vehicles represent a generational opportunity to make road transport safer, more accessible and more convenient for millions of people. Beyond the societal benefits, this sector also has the potential to drive significant economic growth — revitalising the UK’s industrial base, creating high-skilled jobs and strengthening the country’s position as a world-leading technology ecosystem.

    Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:

    Today is a significant milestone in the safe and responsible rollout of automated vehicles on British roads. For the first time, legislation will allow operators to offer passenger-carrying commercial services – such as robotaxis – to the general public.

    Government’s decision to bring forward this legislation has positioned Britain as a leading European market for automated vehicles and a frontrunner in physical AI investment, development and deployment. Automated passenger services represent a market expected to be worth some £3.7 billion annually in Britain by 2040, while having the potential to widen society’s access to mobility and improve road safety.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement on the Death Penalty by Members of the UN Inter-Regional Task Force on the Moratorium on the use of the Death Penalty [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement on the Death Penalty by Members of the UN Inter-Regional Task Force on the Moratorium on the use of the Death Penalty [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2026.

    Joint statement by UN Member States: Albania, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, as well as the European Union.

    We are deeply concerned about a recent series of backward steps going against the global movement towards universal abolition of the death penalty, as outlined in the Global Report on Death Sentences and Executions 2025 recently released by Amnesty International. 

    This includes a sharp increase in executions in the world, primarily due to a significant rise in executions in a small number of retentionist States. 

    Other United Nations Member States have resumed the use of the death penalty after periods of suspension or have taken steps to reintroduce it into national legislation or to expand the types of offences for which the death penalty can be imposed, sometimes creating a framework susceptible to group-based discrimination.

    These setbacks serve as a stark reminder of the continued relevance and urgency of the fight for the universal abolition of the death penalty.

    The death penalty is inhumane and degrading, contrary to human dignity, without any deterring effect. 

    We deplore the fact that the use of the death penalty leads to violations of the human rights of the persons facing the death penalty and of other affected persons, including violations of the right to life and to the prohibition of torture enshrined in international instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

    This is why we oppose the death penalty, in all cases and in all circumstances. Its rejection is a fundamental principle that unites us.

    We call for the universal abolition of the death penalty and commend the efforts undertaken worldwide towards this objective. 

    The number of countries resorting to the death penalty continues to decline, with more than two-thirds of United Nations Member States having abolished it in law or in practice.

    We urge all United Nations Member States to support the upcoming General Assembly resolution on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty, presented on behalf of the Inter-Regional Task Force, as well as the Human Rights Council’s biennial resolution on the abolition of the death penalty.

    We reiterate our full support for the work of the United Nations, the relevant treaty bodies and special procedure mandate holders, as well as Civil Society Organisations working towards these goals.

    We look forward to the 9th World Congress against the Death Penalty, to be held in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2026. 

    This Congress represents an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment towards universal abolition.

    The abolition of the death penalty is a universal fight for human dignity. We call upon all United Nations Member States to join us in achieving it.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York – Sarah MacIntosh [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York – Sarah MacIntosh [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2026.

    Dame Sarah MacIntosh DCMG has been appointed UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations at New York.

    Dame Sarah MacIntosh DCMG has been appointed United Kingdom Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations at New York, in succession to Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG OBE. 

    Dame Sarah will take up her appointment during the summer of 2026.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Sarah MacIntosh

    2025 to 2026British High Commissioner to Australia
    2022 to 2024 Prime Minister’s Adviser on International Affairs and Deputy National Security Adviser
    2017 to 2022NATO, Ambassador and Permanent Representative
    2014 to 2017FCO, Director General, Defence and Intelligence
    2011 to 2014FCO, Director, Defence and International Security
    2009 to 2011FCO, Director, Strategic Finance
    2008 to 2009Harvard, Weatherhead Fellow
    2006 to 2008British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone and HM Ambassador to Liberia
    2004 to 2005United Nations Mission in Kosovo UNMIK, The Strategy Coordinator
    2002 to 2004FCO, United Nations Department and then Conflict Department
    2000 to 2002United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations at New York, First Secretary
    1997 to 1999 FCO, Strategic Planning Department
    1996 to 1997British Embassy Madrid, Second Secretary
    1994 to 1995United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations at Vienna, Third Secretary
    1991 to 1993FCO, United Nations Department