Tag: 2026

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Foreign Secretary concludes visit to Egypt [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Foreign Secretary concludes visit to Egypt [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 June 2026.

    UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced over $15 million of funding to support Egypt’s humanitarian response and economic resilience, as the UK and Egypt prepare to conclude a Strategic Partnership.

    The UK Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, made her first visit to Egypt from 17 to 18 June. During her visit, the Foreign Secretary met with interlocutors including Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty and Chief Commissioner of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) Dr Ali Shaath.

    The Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Abdelatty co-chaired the third meeting of the bilateral Association Council. The 2 ministers took stock of the bilateral relationship, and discussed ways of deepening co-operation on growth, migration, and regional security, looking forward to the agreement of an Egypt-UK Strategic Partnership later in the year.

    On the region, the ministers discussed how to further align the 2 countries’ efforts to secure lasting stability and peace, including in relation to the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, Gaza, Sudan, and Lebanon.

    In her meeting with Dr Ali Shaath, the Foreign Secretary reiterated the UK’s firm belief that the future of Gaza must be Palestinian-led. The Foreign Secretary welcomed the NCAG’s vital role in leading Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction, as Gaza transitions to Palestinian Authority governance as part of a pathway towards a two-state solution. She discussed the importance of Palestinian policing in Gaza as a first step towards implanting the 20-point Peace Plan, and the vital importance of rapid shelter provisions for displaced people.

    Egypt continues to play a crucial role in addressing the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza. This is why the Foreign Secretary announced an additional £3 million ($3.9 million) in UK funding, including to support the Egyptian Red Crescent in scaling up aid delivery, by providing logistics support to the Egyptian Red Crescent’s humanitarian aid operations, through the IFRC’s Middle East appeal.

    On bilateral issues, the Foreign Secretary acknowledged the impact of regional conflicts on Egypt’s economy, and announced a new £8.7 million ($11.5 million) partnership with the World Bank to provide technical assistance for Egypt’s ambitious economic reform agenda and longer-term economic development. The programme will provide advice and analysis to the Government of Egypt to boost inclusive private sector-led growth, making it easier for businesses to invest, trade and expand, ultimately boosting Egypt’s economic resilience.

    Meeting Sudanese migrants – at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – who have escaped the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, the Foreign Secretary described migration as “a global challenge requiring global co-operation” and announced £9 million ($11.9 million) of UK funding to help countries across North Africa – including Egypt – deal with the migration impacts of regional conflicts.

    British Ambassador to Egypt Mark Bryson-Richardson said:

    The Foreign Secretary’s visit demonstrates the UK’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and working closely with Egypt during this time of regional uncertainty. The UK and Egypt work together to drive stability, support prosperity, and build the foundations for lasting peace across the region and we look forward to the formal elevation of the UK-Egypt relationship into a Strategic Partnership later this year.

    On Gaza, the UK provided over £80 million in humanitarian and early recovery support to Gaza last year. This has helped deliver food to 650,000 people and improved water and sanitation access for 300,000.

  • Keir Starmer – 2026 Remarks to Hospitality Leaders

    Keir Starmer – 2026 Remarks to Hospitality Leaders

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in Downing Street on 29 June 2026.

    Today we’re talking about young people and opportunity.

    Very often as politicians, most of us say that we want every child or young person to go as far as their talents and ability will take them, and I’m comforted by things like that.

    The trouble is, it’s not really true if they’ve grown up in poverty, if they’re wanting to take the non-university route into work, or if they’re one of the 13% or more who are not in employment, training or education.

    Today I want to focus on how we provide opportunity to them.

    So, the three steps that we’ve put in place – which are more of a broad strategic view – are building blocks.

    Firstly, on poverty, how do we stop children growing up in poverty? There are a number of really important measures, which, when you put them together, begin to make this realistic.

    First is breakfast clubs – children get to school really early and to have something to eat before school, and for some children they would otherwise not get breakfast, so that’s hugely important, and that also helps them learn. It’s useful for parents and carers as well, because they can get to work and actually that is really good for the children, because the socialisation of being with other children before school really matters.

    Second is pre-school childcare, from nine months to four years. I can’t overstate how proud I am of this, because it saves parents a lot of money.

    As anyone who uses childcare already knows, including my family when ours were younger, it means that children get the chance between nine months and four years to have that good childcare, and that means when they arrive at school they’re more likely to have an equal start in life.

    Almost every primary school I go to talk to, those who are receiving the children at age four, they will say there’s a massive difference between those that are reasonably advanced, ready to learn, and those who are way behind. And already at age four, there’s a gap that schools are trying to make up, so that really makes a good difference. And then the two-child benefit limit will be lifted, so that’s building block number one.

    Building block number two is what I call the technical tilt – but this is the tilt towards technical skills, and not always thinking that university is the only route. So, we’ve set up new technical excellence colleges across the country with an intense focus on things like advanced manufacturing, digital, defence, energy – the things that are going to be needed most in the future – with a real sense of excellence there.

    I have taken down the target of the number that go to university and replaced it with a different target, which is that two thirds of our young people should either go to university or go on high-level skills routes.

    Now, for anyone going to university – many times I’d wax lyrical about what a difference it made to my life, being the first in my family to go to university. I have not denigrated those who go to university, but I think we’ve overdone it now. I don’t think we’re giving the guidance to those that don’t go to university, who actually are using their brains and their skills in a different way, and there are several young people that felt pushed into university, then after a year or so realised it wasn’t right for them, and ended up doing something else.

    And then there is prioritising youth apprenticeships, so rather than just all apprenticeships across the board, there is a focus on young people.

    Then the third pillar, if you like, is the additional support we need to give to those who are not in employment or training or education. Two things I want to highlight here: first is the youth guarantee.

    Now this helps young people apply for work, helps them with the support they need, but the most important thing is, if after 18 months they’ve still not managed to get a job, there’s a guarantee of a job placement for six months. From previous schemes we know is probably the single most effective way to help people. Just working differently for six months than the cycle they’re in can transform outcomes.

    And then from tomorrow we’re announcing a £3,000 incentive to businesses to take young people who’ve been out of work for six months and give them a job, on this strong belief that I’ve got, which is if we are able to get people into work, then most of them will actually hold down the job. Some will need more support, but getting that first step into work is critical.

    So, they’re the three areas I wanted to talk to you about. What I want to make sure is that having put these blocks in place over the last two years, the next stage of this administration, this government, takes that on and builds from there. But what I really want now is to hear from you, and I assume you’re involved in some of the schemes, so where we’ve already got something going, it’d be good to get some first-hand feedback on how it’s working and how we could improve it, because it is crucial that when we say every young person should go as far as their talent and ability will take them, we mean it.

    And I have a vested interest, I should declare, not just as Prime Minister – I’ve got two teenage children. My son is 18 tomorrow, and therefore these are live discussions in our household. And actually, it’s really interesting to see first-hand the sort of pressures and opportunities that young people actually go through when they’re in their teenage years.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meets hospitality leaders to boost opportunities for young people [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meets hospitality leaders to boost opportunities for young people [June 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 29 June 2026.

    The Prime Minister hosted a roundtable discussion this morning with hospitality organisations working to support those facing barriers to employment, training and education, setting out the government’s ambition to ensure every young person can fulfil their potential regardless of background.

    He set out the government’s focus on technical education and skills, arguing that university should not be seen as the only route to success. He outlined plans to increase participation in high-level skills training, expand technical excellence colleges and prioritise youth apprenticeships to meet the needs of the economy of the future.

    The Prime Minister also set out the government’s wider approach to supporting young people, including action to tackle child poverty through breakfast clubs, expanded childcare and lifting the two-child benefit limit, alongside the Youth Guarantee and a new £3,000 incentive for businesses to recruit young people who have been out of work for six months.

    He invited participants to share first-hand experiences of existing schemes and how they could be improved.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New world-leading lab to be built at secretive UK research site [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New world-leading lab to be built at secretive UK research site [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 June 2026.

    Expert UK scientists working on the most innovative defence technologies will be backed by £580 million of infrastructure funding over the next four years, including to build a new world-leading new laboratory and expand their research.

    • £580 million funding for Dstl infrastructure, including building a new laboratory to expand work against biological warfare threats.
    • New lab named after former British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, one of founders of NATO.
    • Organisation renowned for new technologies and chemical weapons analysis, including DragonFire laser, drone technology for Ukraine and Novichok nerve agent response.

    Expert UK scientists working on the most innovative defence technologies will be backed by £580 million of infrastructure funding over the next four years, including to build a new world-leading new laboratory and expand their research.

    The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is dedicated to cutting- edge research into new science and technologies for defence, and in 2018 its site at Porton Down notably analysed samples of the military-grade Novichok nerve agent used by Russia on UK soil.

    This funding, allocated as part of the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan, will help develop a new laboratory in Porton Down to enable the organisation to expand its work on biological threats. The lab will be named after former British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, one of founders of NATO.  

    This support will ensure the UK continues to be a global leader in innovative research.  

    Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP said:

    Our scientists and experts working at Dstl do so much, often unseen, to keep our country and our allies safe at this increasingly dangerous and unpredictable time.

    The £580 million investment will create the facilities needed at Porton Down to expand their vital work, delivering for our Armed Forces and our national security.

    For the last 25 years Dstl has led the UK’s defence science and technology research from Artificial Intelligence to underwater systems. 

    From developing smart ‘find and strike’ systems for faster battlefield decisions, providing cutting-edge technology used by the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers and their F-35 Lightning fighter jets, to trialling the UK’s first high-energy laser weapon DragonFire, and supporting operations worldwide, Dstl plays a vital role in keeping the UK safe at home and strong abroad.  

    Dstl Chief Executive, Paul Hollinshead said:  

    This investment reinforces the essential work delivered daily by Dstl to protect the UK Armed Forces and defend the nation. 

    As part of a broader infrastructure programme at Dstl, this new laboratory will strengthen our capacity to stay ahead of evolving biological threats and maintain the UK’s leading edge in defence and security.

    To further bolster the UK’s leadership in science and technology, the UK has also ringfenced £1.6 billion investment by 2030 for the UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) fund to accelerate innovation, strengthen security, and grow UK defence technology.  

    UKDI funding played a crucial role in delivering the UK’s first fully autonomous full-sized helicopter, Proteus, in a major milestone for the Armed Forces, which will support the Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare efforts.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointments to National Park Authorities and National Landscape Conservation Boards [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointments to National Park Authorities and National Landscape Conservation Boards [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 29 June 2026.

    A series of appointments and reappointments have been made to the boards of England’s National Park Authorities and National Landscape Conservation Boards.

    Members of National Landscape Conservation Boards are responsible for ensuring that the Conservation Board advances the statutory purposes set out in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, specifically to conserve and improve the natural beauty of their designated area.

    Caroline Cotterell and Emilie Brignall have been appointed to the Cotswolds National Landscape Board, both on three-year terms from 1 July 2026.

    National Park Authority board members are responsible for ensuring that the Authority furthers its statutory purposes, specifically to preserve and enhance natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage, as well as to provide opportunities for the public to understand and enjoy their unique attributes.

    Tony Grayling has been reappointed to the Broads Authority and Lizzie Bushby to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, both for four-year terms.

    All appointments are made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, with selections based solely on merit. Political activity plays no part in the selection process.

  • PRESS RELEASE : At least six new air defence warships to defend UK waters and boost shipbuilding [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : At least six new air defence warships to defend UK waters and boost shipbuilding [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 June 2026.

    At least six new warships will be built for the Royal Navy under the Defence Investment Plan, delivering the UK’s most advanced maritime air defence capability and keeping British shipyards working for decades to come.

    • The Royal Navy will procure at least six Common Combat Vessels, as part of the system that will replace the current Type 45 destroyers.
    • This Common Combat Vessel will be the Royal Navy’s first ‘Hybrid’ warship, coordinating uncrewed systems in the air, on the surface and under the sea to deliver more resilient air defence.
    • The programme will sustain jobs and skills across UK shipyards, with the ship’s adaptable design opening further opportunities for British industry and export partners.

    At least six new warships will be built for the Royal Navy under the Defence Investment Plan, delivering the UK’s most advanced maritime air defence capability and keeping British shipyards working for decades to come. 

    The Common Combat Vessel will replace the current fleet of six Type 45 destroyers, with delivery expected from the early 2030s. Unlike its predecessors, the new warship will act as a control hub for uncrewed systems – extending the Navy’s reach, resilience and firepower without a proportional increase in crew or cost. 

    Due to be outlined in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan, these new ships will replace earlier plans for a Type 83 destroyer. Rather than concentrating capability in a small number of large, expensive ships, the Royal Navy’s shift to a hybrid navy will mix crewed and uncrewed capabilities and be more suited to the pace and nature of modern warfare. The funding announced in the DIP allows the National Armaments Director Group to commence the design work that will underpin the fundamental shift in how to deliver Air Defence at and from the sea.

    When in service, these CCVs will work alongside eight Type 26 and five Type 31 crewed frigates, as well as Type 91 uncrewed missile platforms, Type 92 uncrewed underwater sensing platforms, Type 93 Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles and Type 94 uncrewed sensor platforms, representing a once in a generation investment in new maritime capability.   

    It will also sustain and grow the UK’s shipbuilding sector, providing new work for British shipyards and maintaining vital skills. It demonstrates defence as an engine for growth and programmes funded through the Defence Investment Plan are expected to back tens of thousands of new UK jobs.  

    Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP said:

    Our Royal Navy is a formidable force, operating to protect our nation and our allies in the Atlantic and beyond. These Common Combat Vessels will provide our dedicated sailors with hybrid ships that are designed and built for the increasing threats we face.

    Developed with exceptional British innovators, the new ships will be British-built, supporting jobs across the nation and giving the Royal Navy a capability built for modern warfare.

    The programme will also anchor three new Atlantic programmes – Atlantic Bastion, Atlantic Shield and Atlantic Strike – designed to counter Russian activity in the North Atlantic and High North, protect critical underwater infrastructure, and enhance NATO deterrence. 

    The CCV’s adaptable design creates opportunities across the UK defence industry and positions the platform for global export potential. The Type 26 frigate, already selected by Australia, Canada, and Norway, demonstrates strong international appetite for British-built warships.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Health assessments to be recorded as standard in major transparency drive [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Health assessments to be recorded as standard in major transparency drive [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 29 June 2026.

    All face-to-face and telephone health assessments for disability and sickness benefits will be audio recorded as standard from today to improve transparency in the benefit system.

    • Health assessments for disability and sickness benefits to be automatically audio recorded as standard.
    • The change moves from an opt-in system – used by fewer than 3% of claimants – to opt-out as the default.
    • Recordings to be used to improve assessment quality and improve transparency.

    The change means that claimants undergoing assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Work Capability Assessments (WCA) in Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance, and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) will have their assessment automatically recorded, unless they choose to opt out.

    The move marks a significant shift from the previous opt-in system, under which claimants had to request a recording themselves. Despite being offered the option through invitation letters and assessment supplier websites, fewer than 3 percent of claimants took up the offer.

    The new policy will improve public trust in the health assessment process through greater transparency. Recordings will also be used as a learning tool to identify potential improvements to assessment quality and will be made available to claimants who wish to appeal their initial benefit award.

    Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said:

    Improving transparency and trust in the benefits system is one of this government’s key aims, which is why we’re making this important change.

    Audio recording health assessments as standard will mean we are available to make improvements and increase assessment quality, resulting in a better experience for claimants.

    Feedback from disabled people, the organisations that represent them and disability-focused research has found that some disabled people who claim health and disability benefits lack trust in the health assessment process.

    The policy delivers on a commitment first made in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, published in March 2025, which set out the government’s intention to make recording standard practice across assessments.

    Written reports will still be used as part of the decision-making process, with audio recordings providing a more accurate record should that be required.

    Today’s announcement comes alongside the government’s wider work to improve people’s experience of, and trust in, the benefits system. That includes delivering on our commitment to increase face-to-face assessments from 12 percent to 30 percent, which fell sharply under the previous government, as well as employing nearly 500 additional staff to clear the inherited Access to Work backlog.

    Additional Information:

    • Claimants who do not wish to have their assessment recorded may opt out.
    • The Pathways to Work Green Paper was published on 18 March 2025.
  • PRESS RELEASE : The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial marks major milestone with new features [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial marks major milestone with new features [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee on 29 June 2026.

    The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial marks a significant milestone today with the launch of a new collection of archive content and records with the publication of the first selection of memories from those who knew her.

    Memories of the Late Queen Elizabeth shared by members of the public and those who knew her are now live as part of a milestone digital archive into her life, and can be viewed at www.queenelizabeth.com. 

    Also launching today is a fully digitised version of the Court Circular (Queen Elizabeth’s official diary) covering the entirety of Queen Elizabeth’s reign from 1952 to 2022. The digitisation gives the public a searchable, complete record of her public engagements and duties across seven decades. The project was supported by volunteer students from a number of schools, working with data provided by The Times Online.

    His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales was among those to share a personal memory of his grandmother, recalling having tea with her and Prince Philip in Windsor Castle when he was young, as his own contribution to the digital memorial project.

    The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial, which launched on 21 April 2026, is a Cabinet Office-led project that brings together rich archive material, photography and video to map key events from Queen Elizabeth’s life and reign, and invites the public from around the world to contribute their own memories, creating a lasting public record.

    Since launch, personal memories of Queen Elizabeth have been shared. A first selection of these memories goes live today through an interactive map, illustrating the remarkable breadth of her reach: across the United Kingdom.  Further memories will be published during 2026. 

    “I was working as an aircraft handler. I spent 24 years looking after the Queen’s helicopter, and when it had moved to RAF Odiham. The Queen came to meet the staff. When the chief pilot introduced me, Her Majesty said What a wonderful job I do and, “I must apologise, they picked me up in a field this morning and I’ve dragged grass through the carpet”. I said, “That’s not a problem, ma’am”.

    “I remember HM Elizabeth II visiting Belfast in 2012 at the location where I work. She drove through in a cavalcade.  I got a photo of her waving majestically with her famous white-gloved hand in her passing limousine to the waiting crowds”

    “Of my many memories, that of her riding Burmese in Trooping The Colour, when shots were fired, is one that stands out to me the most. I was a teenager at the time, and watching her control Burmese, calm him down, and then carry on was amazing. The only sign of something different was a brief moment when she turned back to look and then gave a smile and a laugh to someone near her. Her amazing skills as a rider and her determination to keep going both epitomise the last Queen to me and will always be a vivid memory.”

    The digital memorial brings together contributions from some of the UK’s leading cultural and heritage institutions — including The National Archives, Royal Collection, Royal Mint Museum, Royal Mail, and Press Association. Today, archival material covering further key moments across the Queen’s life and reign is published on the interactive map for the public to explore.

  • Jess Brown-Fuller – 2026 Speech on Windrush Day

    Jess Brown-Fuller – 2026 Speech on Windrush Day

    The speech made by Jess Brown-Fuller, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chichester, in the House of Commons on 25 June 2026.

    I thank the hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Helen Hayes) for bringing forward this important debate, as I know she does every year on behalf of her constituents. I also thank her for setting the scene so beautifully as we celebrate Windrush Day.

    It is a pleasure to speak today to celebrate the incredible contribution of the Windrush generation to our society, while also recognising the immense failings of the state in its treatment of them. The Caribbean and broader black communities have enriched the social fabric of the United Kingdom, adding vitality to our streets, shops and culture throughout the country. That generation and their children and grandchildren have inspired us, as the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Joy Morrissey) has said, and served our national interest through their contributions to our public institutions.

    We would be a poorer, less exciting, less dynamic and less colourful country had individuals not boarded ships such as the HMT Empire Windrush destined for the United Kingdom to help us rebuild after the second world war. The hon. Member for Brent East (Dawn Butler) spoke about Winston being embarrassed or ashamed by being a victim of what was a scandal, when he should just have felt pride in his contribution to our society after serving the council for decades.

    The hon. Member also asked some really important questions about the efficacy of the compensation scheme. We often hear similar issues raised, when we are talking about the infected blood compensation scheme or the LGBT veterans who were kicked out of the armed forces, about how these schemes run and the case workers on them. It is so important that we get this right, so that people are not retraumatised or expected to provide information that they quite often do not have and cannot provide.

    In my constituency of Chichester there were four passengers on the Empire Windrush—that we know of—Roger, who was a student; Violet, a domestic worker; Samuel, a member of the Royal Navy; and we, too, had a Winston, an accountant. Their stories and experiences will no doubt have varied, but Chichester was undoubtedly enriched by their presence, no matter how long they stayed with us. Winston’s daughter was the late Andrea Levy, who represented so many of that generation in her writing about the lived experiences of Jamaicans who moved to the UK.

    In my constituency we have seen extraordinary performances at Chichester festival theatre, often featuring and written by black actors. I refer members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests: I am a trustee of Chichester festival theatre. Our city is not very multicultural—I think we are 96.8% white—so we have been on a real journey, as a theatre, to make sure that when people come to provide incredible shows, they feel welcome while staying in our city. I know that the theatre has done a lot of work to make sure that those experiences are the best they can be.

    Our local students in Chichester have benefited from the work of Hakim Adi, the first African-British historian to become a professor of history in the UK, who taught at the University of Chichester. Meanwhile, locals and tourists can learn much about the involvement in Britain of those who came here during the Roman empire when they visit our remarkable Fishbourne Roman palace.

    In Chichester, and throughout the country, we owe our black communities so much, yet at times we have let them down badly. The scandal that led to people being wrongly detained and deported due to a lack of documentation was a shameful chapter in our history. They were invited here as British citizens, yet their dignity and rights were disregarded because of failings in the state apparatus.

    The previous Conservative Government failed to deliver the justice that those Windrush victims deeply deserve. There was dither and delay in the implementation of the recommendations of the Windrush lessons learned review, and the independent Windrush commissioner has recently emphasised that the Windrush compensation scheme is not fit for purpose, as the hon. Member for Brent East mentioned. Claimants often find the process of applying for compensation exhausting and painful. Many receive no payment at the end of a lengthy and difficult process. Currently, six in 10 applications result in no compensation being awarded. The Liberal Democrats would urgently implement all the recommendations of the lessons learned review in full and make the compensation scheme independent of the Home Office.

    Beyond the scandal, far too many people’s lives are still blighted by prejudice, discrimination and inequality. We all have a responsibility to recognise that reality, and the role that we can play in challenging those injustices. That is even more important in this Chamber because of the unequal experiences of people from ethnic minority backgrounds across our public services. Whether it is in the criminal justice system, the NHS or education, outcomes and opportunities are not equal, and it should be the ambition of us all to change that. It is particularly important in parts of the country that are not as diverse as others. As I said, my constituency of Chichester is proportionately less diverse than others. Having said that, growing numbers of individuals from different ethnicities are moving into my city. It is important that we commit to ensuring that this is not used as a political football to stoke division or hate.

    I am proud that the Liberal Democrats are committed to fighting for racial equality, which means unequivocally condemning racism in all its forms and tackling injustice wherever we see it. In our election manifesto, we committed to implementing a comprehensive race equality strategy aimed at reducing the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates experienced by black women and eliminating racial disparities in maternal health through a cross-departmental target and strategy. We also want to end the disproportionate use of stop and search and require all police forces to adopt ambitious targets for improving the diversity of their workforce throughout the country. We have also called for the reversal of the Conservatives’ voter ID scheme, which disproportionately excludes minorities from democracy, and for all parties to publish candidate diversity data.

    As has been outlined today in the outstanding contributions, the Windrush generation, and our Caribbean and black communities more broadly, have given so much to this country. I would particularly like to put on record a tribute to my noble Friend Baroness Floella Benjamin. Her story, her upbringing, her work and her continued advocacy on behalf of the Windrush generation—those invited here to help rebuild Britain—are truly inspiring. She continues to hold the Government to account in the other place to ensure that people just like her, who came here from the Caribbean in the 20th century, receive the justice they deserve. I believe that she first proposed the idea of a national Windrush Day, so I pay tribute to her. I put on record our thanks to the Windrush generation for their incredible contribution to our society over the past 80 years.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prolific thief jailed and banned from all Co-ops in England and Wales [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prolific thief jailed and banned from all Co-ops in England and Wales [June 2026]

    The press release issued by Essex Police on 26 June 2026.

    A prolific Colchester thief has been jailed and banned from all Co-op stores in England and Wales thanks to the work of the city’s neighbourhood policing team.

    Scott Butcher, 39, was jailed for 20 weeks, having been committed to Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing for three thefts from Co-ops in Peartree Road and Old Heath Road, Colchester, and two from Sainsbury’s in Layer Road.

    He’d also admitted at a previous hearing to three breaches of a previous three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) which forbade him from entering any Co-op in Essex.

    The court heard on 24 June that Butcher, of Devon Road, stole a total of £507.55 of chilled foods and detergents from Co-op and Sainsbury’s stores between 3 & 13 March 2026, breaching a three-year CBO issued in September 2023.

    Butcher was arrested in Colchester city centre three days later by a Colchester Neighbourhood Policing Team officer who knew that he was wanted for the thefts.

    Working with our Business Crime Team, the team successfully applied to have Butcher’s previous CBO extended to cover all Co-op stores in England and Wales, for a further three years.

    PC Mike Lee says:

    “The court clearly took a dim view of Butcher’s re-offending and part of his sentence related to the fact that he had ignored a previous court order banning him from entering those Co-op stores.
    “Criminal behaviour orders are not to be taken lightly because, as Butcher has found out, breaching them can result in jail time.
    “Shop theft harms businesses, their staff and customers, pushing up prices and insurance premiums, and it has a detrimental effect on the wider community, too.”

    Butcher was also ordered to pay a court surcharge of £154.