Tag: 2026

  • John Slinger – 2026 Comments about Keir Starmer’s Leadership

    John Slinger – 2026 Comments about Keir Starmer’s Leadership

    The comments made by John Slinger, the Labour MP for Rugby, on 11 May 2026.

    I haven’t ever equivocated or hedged my bets about whether Keir Starmer should remain Prime Minister.

    I’ve always been clear: he must stay.

    Here’s why.

    Keir was the right person to lead Labour after Jeremy Corbyn, the right leader to change the Labour Party and make us electable again, and definitely the right leader in government.

    I’ve not supported the Prime Minister for personal gain, nor because I’ve been told to, and certainly not to make myself popular either within the Labour Party or with the public. I’ve done so, and continue to do so, because I believe, sincerely, that Keir is the right person to lead our country.

    I completely understand that some colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party, the wider party and many members of the public don’t share my view. I respect their views, but I want people to understand why I support Keir Starmer. As a party, and as a country, we need to learn to disagree agreeably. We must set a good example at this difficult time.

    What the Prime Minister’s speech told us

    Over the last few days, following the local election results, and before the PM’s speech today, I set out my thinking in LabourList and on my Substack. Keir’s speech today has only reinforced my belief that he should stay as Prime Minister.

    In the Prime Minister’s speech we saw more of the person, a man from a working class background, who has committed himself to public service. We saw passion, someone who knows that this isn’t just the fight of his political life, but one far more important than that. He said he will “never stop fighting for the decent, respectful, diverse country that I love, I will never give up on the hope we can unlock in this country.” He has accepted responsibility as a leader, but rightly acknowledges that taking responsibility must include responsibility for taking action to resolve things. And finally, the plan: whether on the vital need for us as a country not to go back to the status quo ante after this recent Iran war-related crisis, but to make the long term changes we need to make, or closer ties to Europe, or much more support for our younger and future generations, with far more to come on Wednesday.

    A complete break with the past

    In moving beyond the status quo, in his speech today, the PM set out that we need a “complete break” with the past. He set out that we need to build a stronger and fairer country. He mentioned renationalising British Steel, he spoke of strengthening ever further our vital relationship with the European Union, and he spoke movingly about the need to offer a brighter future for our young people, in which every young person can realise their potential.

    This last point has been one of my priorities since becoming an MP. As long ago as January 2025 I called for a Youth Triple Lock and for more resources and attention to be directed towards young people. I’ve been calling for this repeatedly since then, as well as for a Cabinet level Minister for the Younger and Future Generations.

    Action this day

    We’ll hear more from the Prime Minister and the government on Wednesday with the King’s Speech, which will set out our legislative programme for the next session of Parliament. The Prime Minister was clear in his speech that we must bring the same urgency with which the government acted over the Scunthorpe steelworks to “everything now”. This is something I wholeheartedly agree with, and I myself called for an “action this day” approach to government that takes a wartime mentality, much like the one that Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones spoke about recently when he said we need the Covid vaccine taskforce model to be applied across Whitehall.

    The mainstream parties such as Labour must be able to demonstrate clearly to the public that democratic government should, can and will change their lives for the better, and that impediments to this will be overcome.

    Why I oppose calls for the Prime Minister to resign

    In addition to what I’ve already written about the Labour leadership, here’s why I support Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and oppose calls for him to resign, or to set out a timetable to resign.

    Despite being hugely talented, and potentially being leadership material, none of the alternative leaders mentioned have set out their stall effectively enough on how to resolve the deep-set problems facing our country. What is at stake is the political leadership of the fifth largest economy in the world. The public expect us to treat this accordingly. We seem to be talking about the leadership of the Labour Party as if it’s something that can just be given to people relatively casually, rather like the presidency of a debating society.

    Keir Starmer is not an accidental leader. He won a leadership election, reformed the Labour Party to ensure it was electable again, led us through opposition into an election campaign, won a huge majority and has led the country through a difficult period.

    Why I wouldn’t support a challenge, even if there were credible alternatives
    Even if there were a phalanx of alternatives, of “big beasts”, each capable of being Prime Minister and having set out their strategic vision, I would still not support a leadership challenge. Why?

    Firstly, Keir Starmer has been a good leader, a good Prime Minister, who has begun the mammoth task of rebuilding a country reeling from years of underinvestment, deep-set structural problems and a deeply unstable international environment. He’s led a government that has stabilised and grown the economy, invested in public services, begun to carry out the long-term strategic reforms of our health system and our infrastructure, brought down NHS waiting lists, increased workers’ rights and the minimum and national living wage, and much more.

    Secondly, the public would not forgive us for plunging the country back into the chaos that beset the last Conservative government, when they thought that replacing Prime Ministers would solve the country’s problems. We need stability and we need a grown-up approach to governing, and also to levelling with the public about the challenges that we face and what will be necessary to resolve them.

    Another reason is how this must make us look internationally at a time of great peril overseas. Leaders and populations of foreign countries must be looking on aghast as some of my colleagues consider defenestrating a leader who won a major majority pretty much at the first sign of trouble, less than two years after he won big.

    The political moment demands seriousness

    We mustn’t replicate in politics, when the stakes are so high, some of the worst elements of the modern age: doomscrolling on social media, doom-headlining in the media, unrealistic demands for simple solutions to complex problems, looking to blame others rather than accept our own responsibility, a lack of decorum in political debate, or allowing frustration to turn into destructive anger and recrimination rather than into resolve to tackle challenges and unlock opportunities.

    Pinning all our current problems as a government or as a country on the Prime Minister is unreasonable. It’s about all of us in the Parliamentary Labour Party, and in the wider labour movement, pulling together and accepting our responsibility. The Prime Minister has a responsibility, but so do cabinet ministers, ministers and MPs to set out the vision of this Labour government and to persuade the public about what we are doing. More widely, all of us in the party should now pull together, rally behind this Labour Prime Minister, and this Labour government, which is already delivering huge change in our country.

    That is what I will be focused on, in supporting the Prime Minister in doing.

  • PRESS RELEASE : PM vows to tear up “status quo” that failed young people on apprenticeships and skills [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : PM vows to tear up “status quo” that failed young people on apprenticeships and skills [May 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 11 May 2026.

    The Prime Minister will meet with apprentices to underline the Government’s drive to overhaul the apprenticeship system, break down barriers to opportunity for young people and ensure the economy works for people in every part of the country.

    • Apprenticeships put on an equal footing with university degrees as PM vows to “tear up the status quo” that held young people back
    • Small businesses can take on young apprentices with training fully funded from August, reversing years of underinvestment that locked young people out of opportunity
    • Part of the Prime Minister’s plan to build a stronger, fairer Britain by backing young people with real opportunities into work

    The Prime Minister will meet with apprentices today [Tuesday 12 May] to underline the Government’s drive to overhaul the apprenticeship system, break down barriers to opportunity for young people and ensure the economy works for people in every part of the country.

    Apprenticeships are being placed at the heart of a new approach to skills, giving young people more ways to build secure careers and offering employers the workforce they need to grow.

    The Government is now making it even easier for young people to find and access opportunities in one place through JobHelp – bringing together online support on jobs, skills, apprenticeships and training. JobHelp is designed to help young people navigate the system more easily and find routes into work that fit around their needs.

    The visit follows the Prime Minister’s speech yesterday, where he set out how the Government is not just fixing what went wrong, but changing how the country works and who it works for. Despite strong headline growth in recent years, too many communities and families have not felt the benefits, and too many young people were left without a clear route into secure, skilled jobs.

    For decades, underinvestment in apprenticeships and technical education drove too many young people away from opportunity and left employers without the skills they need. This Government is determined to reverse that failure and place apprenticeships at the heart of a fairer economy.

    Central to that mission is the Prime Minister’s ambition for more young people to take part in higher‑level learning – whether academic, technical or through apprenticeships – so that success is no longer defined by a single path, and talent and hard work are recognised in all their forms.

    That ambition is now being delivered through a major, previously announced package of reforms to the apprenticeship and skills system. A £1 billion investment will support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships and high‑quality training over the next three years, helping tackle youth unemployment while boosting economic growth. 

    Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden said:

    “Too many young people have been locked out of good work and real opportunity. We are changing that and we are already making good on that promise.

    “Through apprenticeships, training and the new JobHelp service, we are opening up clear, supported routes into work for young people in every part of the country. 

    “A stronger, fairer economy is one where every young person has a real chance to succeed, and this Government is delivering that.”

    Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson said:

    “For too long, young people have been let down by a system that offered too few routes into skilled, well-paid work. That is changing as more people learn the skills and get the hands-on experience that will help them build their careers.

    “I believe talent exists everywhere, and opportunity should too. We are building a system that works for every young person, wherever they live and whatever path they choose.”

    A cornerstone of the reforms is removing the financial barriers that have held back opportunity for years. The Government will be covering the full cost of apprenticeship training for eligible under‑25s at smaller businesses, by abolishing the 5% co‑investment rate. This change opens up thousands of new opportunities for young people and makes it easier for local employers to grow their workforce and invest in young talent. 

    The government is also offering businesses £3,000 for every young person aged 18–24 they hire who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months which is expected to support 60,000 young people into work over three years. 

    This comes alongside a £2,000 Apprenticeship Incentive for each new 16–24‑year‑old taken on by a smaller will help drive progress towards the Government’s ambition of creating 50,000 more apprenticeships for young people. 

    The Jobs Guarantee is also being expanded from 18–21 to 18–24, creating more than 35,000 additional subsidised jobs and taking the total number of opportunities supported through the scheme to over 90,000 in the next three years.  

    In March, the government launched a major youth employment drive, backed by a further £1 billion investment in young people. This takes the total investment into the Youth Guarantee and the additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy to £2.5 billion over the next three years. This will support almost one million young people and help deliver up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. 

    The package also includes £140 million for new regional pilots, giving mayors the power to connect young people, including those not in education, employment or training – with apprenticeship opportunities at local employers. Working with regional leaders who understand their economies will ensure training meets real local skills needs.  

    Employers and learners will benefit from a more flexible system, with new short training courses launched last month in areas such as AI, engineering and digital skills. The Government is also working closely with the defence sector to develop new work‑based training routes, helping build the critical skills needed for the future. 

    Alongside this, new waves of foundation apprenticeships are being rolled out in sectors including hospitality and retail, creating more entry‑level routes for young people to earn, learn and progress. Taken together, the reforms are simplifying and modernising the apprenticeship system, making it quicker, more flexible and more responsive to employers and learners. 

    Today’s visit underlines the Government’s commitment to breaking down barriers for young people, restoring pride in place and ensuring that growth and opportunity are felt all across the country.

  • Sam Rushworth – 2026 Comments about Keir Starmer’s Leadership

    Sam Rushworth – 2026 Comments about Keir Starmer’s Leadership

    The comments made by Sam Rushworth, the Labour MP for Bishop Auckland, on 11 May 2026.

    As the Labour MP elected for Bishop Auckland with a majority of just over 1,500 votes, I know something about the difficult political landscape facing Labour in the North East. I speak to constituents every week who are struggling with the cost of living, who are worried about public services, and who desperately want to see change after years of Conservative failure.

    The Labour Government has already done important things in its first two years. We have delivered the biggest expansion of workers’ rights in a generation, taken serious steps to tackle child poverty, brought rail franchises back into public ownership, set up Great British Energy and started to rebuild the NHS. In County Durham, we have seen investment in our high streets, support for our schools, and a renewed focus on jobs and growth.

    But I also know that many people feel impatient. They want change to come faster, and they want to feel that politics is on their side. That is why the message from last week’s elections must be taken seriously. Voters are not giving us a free pass. They are telling us to listen harder, move quicker and make sure that the benefits of a Labour Government are felt in every town and village.

    I do not believe the answer is to turn inwards or to spend the next few months arguing with ourselves. The country needs a Labour Government that is focused on delivery, not division. Keir Starmer led our party from its worst defeat in modern times to a landslide general election victory, and he deserves the chance to finish the job of changing Britain.

    There will be difficult conversations ahead, and there should be. Labour MPs have a duty to be honest about what is working and what is not. But those conversations must be rooted in the interests of the people we represent, not in Westminster speculation or personal ambition.

    My focus remains on Bishop Auckland, the villages and communities across our constituency, and making sure that this Labour Government delivers the change people voted for.

  • Mary Kelly Foy – 2026 Comments about Keir Starmer’s Leadership

    Mary Kelly Foy – 2026 Comments about Keir Starmer’s Leadership

    The comments made by Mary Kelly Foy, the Labour MP for the City of Durham, on 11 May 2026.

    After listening to the Prime Minister carefully this morning, I’ve decided to offer my honest opinion about the situation we currently find ourselves in.

    From as early as September 2024 I tried to issue well intended warnings to colleagues, Regional Office, and senior Labour figures including the party’s own General Secretary, highlighting that some of the key policy decisions being made by Labour were going to cause additional and unnecessary strain on my constituents in Durham and many of the people across the country who voted for us at the 2024 General Election. Those who voted for change, and for hope, following 14 years of crippling austerity.

    As local elections in County Durham loomed in the first half of 2025 – less than a year after our spectacular GE victory – the mood amongst the electorate had changed dramatically. Again, I raised my concerns about the catastrophe that would follow.

    After the election, and the loss of huge numbers of hardworking Labour Councillors in County Durham, I had urgent calls with senior Labour officials. I also met with Number 10 to outline exactly where Labour had got it wrong. I implored them, again, to change direction; to allow our communities to feel heard and to show them that this Labour Government was on their side.

    No one listened.

    What seemed like a constant desire to beat Reform at their own game continued. It was a misguided tactic – we don’t win back support by mirroring right wing populist policies or parroting their rhetoric. Especially not when it became clear that Labour was losing more votes to progressive parties to the left than to Reform. Voters in May 2026 responded to those who have clear vision and strong values. Things that Labour sadly do not currently offer.

    Backbench MPs like me have felt consistently ignored, disappointingly branded the ‘usual suspects’ who aren’t ‘playing the team game’. As an MP, one of the most difficult decisions you can ever make is to vote against your own party; but when it comes down to it I will always do my best to put the City of Durham constituency first, and be guided by my Labour values.

    Due to the misguided efforts of those at the top of Government, division in our communities has increased and the gap between the many and the few continues to grow, and the continued disfunction in Downing Street has led to even the most hardcore Labour voters turning their backs on the party that once was a beacon of hope to working class and marginalised communities.

    My heart breaks at the current state of the party I’ve called my political home for my entire life and I’m embarrassed by the never-ending sound bites from Cabinet Ministers stating they don’t hear issues about the leadership on the doorstep. Perhaps they should knock on the same doors I have, but their lack of interest in listening to backbench colleagues has been made abundantly clear.

    Apologies won’t cut it any longer. I know I might disappoint some Labour members by saying this, but we’ve reached an existential crisis. Labour lies on its death bed – with the only realistic cure being a change in direction and a change in leadership.

    The best thing that could happen now is for the Prime Minister to set out a clear timetable for his departure, and for the process of a fair and democratic leadership election to be agreed.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions Iranian targets in response to national security threats [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions Iranian targets in response to national security threats [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 May 2026.

    Foreign Secretary announces sanctions against organisations and individuals enabling hostile Iranian activity

    • New UK sanctions target organisations and individuals who threaten international and UK security. 
    • Action demonstrates UK commitment to countering Iranian threats to UK national security, regional stability, and the global economy. 
    • Sanctions will deter attacks against dissidents overseas and disrupt illicit revenue generation for the Iranian regime.

    Organisations and individuals enabling hostile Iranian activity are amongst those being targeted under new sanctions announced by the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, today (11 May). The measures come in response to Iranian action against global security and its use of criminal gangs to carry out threats overseas. 

    The measures target illicit finance flows which enable the Iranian regime to pursue destabilising action across the Middle East, including their blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – contravening international law and disrupting the global economy – and military strikes against regional and Gulf allies. 

    Today’s sanctions also target criminal proxies who act on behalf of the Iranian state to threaten the US and Europe by preventing criminal gangs from travelling to the UK or accessing assets which finance their illegal activity. 

    Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 

    This package of sanctions directly targets organisations and individuals who threaten security on UK streets and stability in the Middle East. Criminal proxies backed by parts of the Iranian regime who threaten security in the UK and Europe will not be tolerated, nor will illicit finance networks. We are coordinating these actions across Europe. 

    We continue to press for a negotiated settlement and a long-term diplomatic solution in the Middle East, which urgently restores freedom of navigation to the Strait of Hormuz.

    The package of sanctions is aligned with action taken by the EU and builds on recent action by the UK government to hold the Iranian regime accountable for hostile activity, including threats to national security. 

    More broadly, the Prime Minister has made clear that we need stronger powers to tackle threats posed by states like Iran, which is why we will fast-track Home Office state-threats legislation. On 28 April, the Minister for the Middle East summoned the Iranian Ambassador for the third time this year. The government has censured the Iranian embassy’s unacceptable and inflammatory comments on social media and made clear that any attempts to cause violence or inflame tensions in our communities will not be tolerated. 

    The UK also sanctioned 10 individuals and one organisation in February for their brutal response to Iranian protestors in January and in previous protests. 

    The UK already has imposed more than 550 sanctions on Iranian individuals and organisations, including the entirety of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps i and over 90 sanctions in response to Human Rights violations. 

    These sanctions form part of a UK day of action against destabilising activity by Iran and Russia. Earlier today, the UK announced sanctions against Russia’s hostile and heinous attempts to undermine democracy and destroy Ukraine’s future. 

    Background:

    The following entities are today sanctioned by the UK government and are subject to an asset freeze and director disqualification: 

    • Berelian Exchange 
    • GCM Exchange 
    • The Zindashti Network 

    The following individuals are today sanctioned by the UK government and are subject to a travel ban, asset freeze and director disqualification: 

    • Mansour Zarringhalam 
    • Nasser Zarringhalam 
    • Ekrem Abdulkerym Oztunc 
    • Nihat Abdul Kadir Asan 
    • Reza Hamidiravari 
    • Namiq Salifov  

    The following individuals are also today sanctioned by the UK government and are subject to an asset freeze and director disqualification: 

    • Fazlolah Zarringhalam 
    • Pouria Zarringhalam 
    • Farhad Zarringhalam 

    Information in this Press Release was accurate at the time of publication. Please see the UK Sanctions List for the current list of those subject to sanctions https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-sanctions-list 

    Definitions:   

    1. Asset freeze: an asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world. 
    2. Director disqualification: Where director disqualification sanctions apply, it is an offence for a person designated for the purpose of those sanctions to act as a director of a UK company, or a foreign company that is sufficiently-connected to the UK, or to take part in the management, formation or promotion of a company. 
    3. Travel ban: a travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, as the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and France set to host multinational Strait of Hormuz meeting as British Warship to pre-position in the region [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and France set to host multinational Strait of Hormuz meeting as British Warship to pre-position in the region [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 11 May 2026.

    UK and France to host first meeting of Defence Ministers to advance the Strait of Hormuz multinational mission. This comes as HMS Dragon, one of the UK’s most capable warships, will forward deploy to the region.

    • UK and France to host first meeting of Defence Ministers to advance the Strait of Hormuz multinational mission.

    • HMS Dragon to deploy to the region, ensuring the UK has options to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz when conditions allow.

    • The UK will outline its military contributions with further coordinated multinational commitments to be confirmed.

    Under UK and French leadership, international partners are expected to use tomorrow’s meeting to discuss and outline their military contributions to the defensive mission to reopen and secure the Strait of Hormuz when conditions permit.

    The Defence Secretary John Healey MP will co-chair a meeting of over 40 nations, alongside his French counterpart, Minister Catherine Vautrin, for the multinational mission’s first Defence Minister’s meeting.  

    This comes as HMS Dragon, one of the UK’s most capable warships, will forward deploy to the region, ensuring that the UK can contribute to a future multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz and safeguard freedom of navigation when conditions permit. 

    Tomorrow’s meeting builds on the significant progress made in the last few weeks by military planners from 44 nations, spanning every continent. The UK has consistently led the way, including hosting a meeting of military planners at the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters on the 22-23 April, which was critical in converging national perspectives into a multinational plan.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: 

    The UK is leading this multinational, defensive mission because trade, energy, and economic security for working people here at home depend on it.

    We are turning diplomatic agreement into practical military plans to restore confidence for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. When I co-chair this meeting of nations from around the world, our job will be to make sure we are not just talking, we are ready to act.

    That is why I have directed HMS Dragon to the Middle East, so Britain is in position to support this mission the moment it is needed. This government will not stand by when instability drives up costs for British families and businesses. We will give people hope for the future by securing Britain and our national interests.

    Tomorrow’s discussions follow the international summit convened by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron, as well as military planning sessions which brought together national perspectives and potential contributions into a coherent, multinational approach. The plan is strictly defensive and, once conditions allow, will focus on restoring confidence for commercial shipping along this critical trade route. 

    HMS Dragon could play a key role in this mission. Equipped with the advanced Sea Viper air defence system, HMS Dragon will provide a credible contribution to a defensive, multinational mission. The ship’s forward presence will help strengthen confidence among commercial shippers, support mine-clearance efforts, and protect vessels once hostilities have ceased.

    The deployment follows HMS Dragon’s completion of rigorous weapons and sensor testing at a NATO facility off Crete, where the ship’s company honed their skills, including live firing, in realistic, high threat conditions to ensure readiness for operations in the region. 

    The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, disrupting international shipping including to around a fifth of the world’s oil supply. This has driven up global energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and increased costs for households and businesses in the UK and around the world.

  • Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Statement Following Local Elections

    Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Statement Following Local Elections

    The statement made by Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, on 11 May 2026.

    It’s rare for political parties to say something nice about their opponents. I doubt the favour will be returned, but I can say that Reform had a good set of local election results, although not as good as they had hoped. They threw the kitchen sink at it, yet went backwards while we went forwards from last year’s locals.

    Conservatives had some good successes. No one had expected us to win back Westminster, or hold on in places like Bexley, Broxbourne and Fareham. So, there is everything to play for, but we are rebuilding from a low base and there is a long road ahead.

    The alleged attempted murders in Golders Green cast a shadow over this election. People can see the fragmentation, not just in our politics as voters retreat into tribes, but in the importation of foreign conflicts, grievances and values into British public life.

    It is because we are sticking to our values – on integration, on the economy, on our national security – that the green shoots of Conservative recovery are starting to be seen.

    Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, East and West Sussex, however, were painful losses. Voters who were still sceptical about us and loathe Labour had a free hit voting Reform, knowing the county councils will be abolished next year. Trust, easily lost, is harder to regain, and former Conservative voters in those places were entitled to send us a message.

    In the areas where voters wanted to register anger, Reform was often the vehicle. But where they wanted something protected, fixed or delivered, they looked again at the Conservatives.

    Just look at Harlow. Reform expected to take all 11 seats. They got zero. In Bromley, Conservative defectors who had gone to Reform even lost their seats. Why? Because these Conservative councils have visibly delivered, investing in the town centre and keeping council tax low.

    This was the same message I heard everywhere I went across the country, from Aberdeen to the Solent. Where voters wanted practical solutions and delivery, not just angry protest, where local Conservatives had clear plans and a record of work, Reform looked like wreckers rather than people who could run things, and voters chose the serious governing option.

    This is now our way ahead: be a proper Conservative Party. Do not talk Right while governing Left. Be competent and show delivery and we will earn back your trust.

    Reform boasted that May 7 would be the day they killed off the Conservative Party and we’d cease to be a national party. Hubris.

    The figures tell the real story. Last local elections, Reform was on 32 per cent support nationally and the Conservatives on just 18 per cent. This year, we rose to 20 per cent and second place nationally, while Reform fell back to 27 per cent. It is still a difficult position for us, but while Reform may be ahead, they are going backwards and we are marching forwards.

    Reform said at the start of the year that they intended to empty their bank accounts, and it certainly looks as if they did. A blizzard of expensive letters and leaflets, postcode lottery giveaways to Reform party members and other gimmicks have likely burned through £7m-£8m on these elections.

    That’s about ten times what most parties would have spent. If they need to spray that much money at local elections and still fall back, why would anyone trust them to be careful with taxpayers’ money?

    Conservatives have been careful with our members’ money and our donors’ money, because we know every pound matters.

    The next election will not be decided by who can sound angriest. Reform has the same diagnosis on issues like immigration as the Conservatives. But on the economy, welfare, defence, education and health, they still haven’t quite worked out what they think or what to do. Britain does not need a louder opposition. It needs a serious government.

    That is why those on the Right tempted by Reform should be clear-eyed. Reform is not a conservative party in the usual sense. It is not offering coherent centre-Right government, rooted in fiscal responsibility, strong institutions, personal freedom and clear plans.

    Reform promises different things to different voters. This election, they have won more Left-wing votes from Labour than Right-wing votes from the Conservatives. We should all ask which voters they will choose if they get into government?

    The Conservative Party is in the business of providing solutions. We know where we went wrong and we are not just demanding trust back as if the last 14 years did not happen.

    But anger alone will not secure the borders, grow the economy, reduce bills, protect green spaces, fix welfare, back business or rebuild trust in government. That takes serious people, serious plans and the discipline to deliver them.
    It’s why, despite the setbacks, I am encouraged by our results this week. The Conservative Party is rebuilding steadily, seriously and with purpose. We are not asking people to forget the past but to judge us by what we do next.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The National Lottery Community Fund Board Appointments [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : The National Lottery Community Fund Board Appointments [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 May 2026.

    The Secretary of State has reappointed Richard Collier-Keywood, Dame Helen Stephenson, and Paul Sweeney, and extended the terms of John Mothersole and Kate Still.

    Richard Collier-Keywood 

    Richard Collier-Keywood has been reappointed as a Member for a term of 18 months, commencing on 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2027. 

    Richard Collier-Keywood holds a variety of prominent roles, primarily as a Chair. He chairs the School for Social Entrepreneurs, Fair4All Finance (the UK financial inclusion organisation funded by dormant assets), New Forest Care (a provider of bespoke care and education to children with complex needs), and the Welsh Rugby Union.

    Richard holds several other board positions: Board member and Chair of the finance committee for the Women of the World Foundation; Board member and Chair of the finance committee for St George’s House (Windsor Castle); and Non-executive director on the international Board for Eversheds Sutherland LLP.

    Previously Richard was a Global Vice-Chairman of PwC from November 2011 to February 2017 and served as Managing Partner of PwC UK from 2008 to 2011. Richard is a barrister and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

    Dame Helen Stephenson

    Dame Helen Stephenson has been reappointed as a Member for a term of 18 months, commencing on 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2027.

    Her career includes serving as the former Chief Executive and Board Member of the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Before this, she was the Director of Early Years and Child Care at the Department for Education. Earlier in her career, she worked in the Cabinet Office as Director of the Office for Civil Society and Government Innovation Group.

    Prior to joining the Civil Service, Helen was Head of Strategic Policy and Partnerships at the Big Lottery Fund. Her experience also spans the statutory and voluntary sectors as a researcher and consultant, and she served as a development manager for a major national charity. She holds a PhD from Bristol University.

    Helen is on the Board of the Independent Football Regulator and is a Trustee of The King’s Foundation. Furthermore, she is a Board member of the ECB Regulatory Board and serves on the People and Governance Committee at the Royal Academy of Dance.

    Helen’s contributions have been recognised with a CBE in 2014 and a DBE in the 2024 Birthday Honours for her services to charity and regulation.

    Paul Sweeney

    Paul Sweeney has been reappointed as a Member and Northern Ireland Chair for a second term of four years, commencing on 18 August 2026 to 17 August 2030. Paul has a wealth of experience working in the voluntary, community and public sectors in Northern Ireland.

    From 1987 to 1994, he was the Director of the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, which supported community-based self-help initiatives.

    He joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) in 1994, initially on secondment, as an adviser on community development and reconciliation. Throughout his subsequent career in the NICS he held a number of senior positions including Deputy Secretary in the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, Permanent Secretary in the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure and Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education.

    Since retiring from the NICS in 2017, Paul has undertaken a trustee role in a number of not-for-profit organisations involved in regeneration, culture and young people. 

    John Mothersole 

    John Mothersole’s second term as a Member and England Committee Chair has been extended by 2 years from 14 May 2026 to 13 May 2028. 

    John’s extensive career includes senior local government roles in UK cities, culminating in 11 years as Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council until December 2019. Since then, he has focused on non-executive and advisory roles.

    His current appointments include Chair of The Sheffield College, a trustee position with a community care charity, and advisory work with companies specialising in regeneration and environment. He was also an assessor for the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry, concluding this role with the final report’s publication in September 2024.

    John has been a key figure in policy development for UK cities, actively participating in the Core Cities network, the Northern Powerhouse initiative, and working with the Government to secure city and city region devolution deals and participate in trade missions.

    More recently, John has been appointed as Trustee of the Historic Royal Palaces. He also chairs the Nature Towns and Cities Panel, a joint initiative by The National Trust, Natural England, and The Heritage Lottery Fund.

    His early career was rooted in the arts, primarily in London and the North-East. A key achievement from this period was the reopening of the Roundhouse in London, which paved the way for its subsequent redevelopment.

    Kate Still

    Kate Still’s second term as a Member and Scotland Committee Chair has been extended by 2 years from 14 May 2026 to 13 May 2028. 

    Kate brings over 30 years of relevant experience, having worked with and for communities across various fields, including grant-making, education, apprenticeships, employability, community enterprise, and regeneration. She is deeply committed to addressing issues of poverty, equality, diversity, and social justice.

    Her extensive career spans senior roles in the public, private, and charity sectors. In July 2024, she was appointed by the Scottish Government to lead the independent review of Community Learning and Development, which resulted in the report “Learning For All. For Life.”

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Board Members of The National Lottery Community Fund are remunerated at £7,848 per annum.

    The Chairs of the England and Scotland Committee of The National Lottery Community Fund are both remunerated at £24,000.

    The Chair of the Northern Ireland Committee of The National Lottery Community Fund is remunerated at £29,232.

    These appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 

    Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. 

    Richard Collier-Keywood, Dame Helen Stephenson, Paul Sweeney, Kate Still and Paul Sweeney have declared no political activity.

  • Catherine West – 2026 Comments on Keir Starmer’s Leadership

    Catherine West – 2026 Comments on Keir Starmer’s Leadership

    The comments made by Catherine West, the Labour MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet, on 11 May 2026.

    I have listened to the Prime Minister’s speech this morning. I welcome the renewed energy and ideas. However, I have reluctantly concluded that this morning’s speech was too little too late.

    The results last Thursday show that the PM has failed to inspire hope. What is best for the party and country now is for an orderly transition.

    I am hereby giving notice to No10 that I am collecting names of Labour MPs to call on the Prime Minister to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September.

    I want to thank everyone who has been in contact over the weekend to offer good wishes. We need our best top team in place to fight the next election. We owe working people up and down the country nothing less.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Dr Simon Fabri appointed Chief Executive of HMGCC

    PRESS RELEASE : Dr Simon Fabri appointed Chief Executive of HMGCC

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 11 May 2026.

    HMGCC (His Majesty’s Government Communications Centre) has today announced the appointment of Dr Simon Fabri as its new Chief Executive, leading the organisation’s work at the forefront of national security and defence technology.

    Dr Fabri takes up the role today (11 May), succeeding Dr George Williamson CMG, who has left HMGCC to join the Alan Turing Institute.

    Founded in 1938, HMGCC is the UK government’s centre for national security engineering. Based at Hanslope Park in Milton Keynes, it brings together engineers, scientists and technologists to develop specialist tools and technologies that support national security, defence and law enforcement, helping to keep the UK safe.

    For much of its 88-year history, HMGCC operated almost entirely behind the scenes. In recent years, it has begun to share more of its technology challenges openly, working with partners across industry and academia through initiatives such as HMGCC Co‑Creation to source the best innovation from across the UK and beyond.

    Dr Fabri joined HMGCC in 2023 to lead its product and engineering teams. Since then, he has overseen significant changes to how the organisation designs and delivers technology, strengthening its ability to respond to rapidly evolving national security threats.

    Before joining HMGCC, Dr Fabri built a career spanning academia and industry, with senior roles across the telecommunications, energy and automotive sectors, followed by leadership positions at Amazon.

    Commenting on his appointment, Dr Fabri said:

    I am proud to be taking on this role at a time of both significant challenge and opportunity for HMGCC.

    Technology and national security are becoming ever more closely linked, and that intersection sits at the heart of HMGCC’s mission. I feel a deep sense of responsibility for the work we do and the impact it has on the UK’s security and defence capability.

    As Chief Executive, Dr Fabri will focus on building on HMGCC’s existing strengths: investing in its in‑house technical expertise, deepening partnerships with industry and academia, and ensuring that the organisation continues to deliver cutting‑edge capabilities for the national security community.

    He added:

    HMGCC brings together exceptional people, world‑class facilities and a strong location within the Oxford–Cambridge growth corridor. This gives us a unique opportunity to work with partners across the UK to strengthen our national security technology base.