Tag: 2026

  • Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Comments on Filton Four

    Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Comments on Filton Four

    The comments made by Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Conservative Party, on 13 June 2026.

    These thugs fractured the spine of Sgt Kate Evans, who spoke in court of the medical and emotional trauma she still lives with.

    Prison is where they belong.

    Unlike Zack Polanski, I want serious consequences for anyone who attacks police officers risking their lives to protect us.

  • Ed Davey – 2026 Comments on Nigel Farage

    Ed Davey – 2026 Comments on Nigel Farage

    The comments made by Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, on 14 June 2026.

    I’m old enough to remember when Nigel Farage would hold a press conference at the drop of a hat.

    So why is he now launching his divisive policies in a blog post from the safety of his keyboard?

    I can think of 5 million reasons why…

  • Keir Starmer – 2026 Comments on the Death of Roy Hattersley

    Keir Starmer – 2026 Comments on the Death of Roy Hattersley

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 14 June 2026.

    Roy Hattersley was a giant of the Labour movement.

    Through decades of service, including as deputy leader and a minister, he never lost his belief in a more equal Britain.

    My thoughts are with his wife Maggie and his family.

  • Yvette Cooper – 2026 Statement on the Anniversary of Air India Plane Crash

    Yvette Cooper – 2026 Statement on the Anniversary of Air India Plane Crash

    The statement made by Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, in the House of Commons on 11 June 2026.

    Tomorrow marks one year since Air India flight 171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad en route to London. This tragic accident claimed the lives of 260 people, including 52 British nationals and 113 others who lived in the UK—one of the largest losses of British life in any air accident. The continued heartache of the families and loved ones of those who died is impossible to imagine, not least for those who still have questions about the tragedy and the aftermath.

    The thoughts of the whole Government remain with all those affected by this tragic accident. When I visited New Delhi last week, I joined Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar in commemorating the tragedy. I also raised the importance of closure for all those who have been left bereaved, as we continue to wait for the full accident investigation report, and as some families still wait for answers regarding their loved ones’ remains.

    The UK Government response to the crash was both immediate and long lasting. Following the crash, officials initiated our crisis response to provide direct support to bereaved families and address the needs and welfare of all affected British nationals. Our high commissioner, Lindy Cameron, travelled to Ahmedabad on the day of the crash and has continued to support the UK deputy high commission team in the city. Trained consular staff were deployed to Ahmedabad to support families through the immediate period following the crash, along with experts from disaster victim identification, Red Cross and the UK air accidents investigation branch.

    UK police family liaison officers also supported the families of deceased British and foreign nationals who were residents in the UK, and the FCDO continues to provide support to each family in need of help, including through dedicated consular caseworkers to hear feedback from the families and their representatives. As the Indian air accident investigation continues, AAIB family liaison teams have provided support to affected families. We also continue to engage with Air India and Indian Ministries to resolve outstanding issues that families have raised.

    At every level, from family liaison officers to Ministers, what we have heard constantly from those who lost loved ones a year ago is that they want information and answers, to help them understand how a tragedy like this could have happened, and to know for certain what happened to their loved ones remains in the aftermath. Not knowing what caused the crash can only add to their sense of grief and frustration, and I hope that the accident investigation report, when completed and published by the Indian authorities, will answer some of their questions. The UK Government will continue to provide all the help and support we can as they seek answers to the rest.

    In the meantime, my deepest sympathies remain with all those who lost their lives a year ago, and with all those who continue to mourn that loss today.

  • Angela Eagle – 2026 Statement on the  Sustainable Farming Incentive

    Angela Eagle – 2026 Statement on the Sustainable Farming Incentive

    The statement made by Angela Eagle, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, in the House of Commons on 11 June 2026.

    I am today updating the House on the sustainable farming incentive, one of this Government’s environmental land management schemes that pay farmers to manage their land in ways that improve nature, soil health and the environment, alongside supporting sustainable food production.

    Farmers in England will soon be able to apply for the improved SFI. Building on previous announcements, the revised scheme is designed to be simpler to access and better suited to modern farm businesses.

    The new SFI cuts unnecessary complexity while continuing to reward the practical actions that underpin productive, resilient farm businesses, from healthier soils and cleaner water to better habitats for bees, birds and other wildlife.

    We have worked with farmers and industry to shape the new scheme, backed by £240 million for new SFI agreements and building on around £560 million already committed to farmers delivering over 39,000 live SFI agreements.

    Applications are scheduled to open from 30 June 2026 for two groups: small farms and farms without an existing ELM revenue agreement. A second application window will open in September 2026, giving all farmers and land managers the opportunity to apply.

    The first application window opens with up to £60 million available, followed by a second window opening in September to all farms with the remainder of the £240 million budget available.

    The SFI offer in 2026 is an iterated version of the 2024 scheme. For continuity, the large majority of scheme features will remain as they were—the look and feel of SFI should be familiar to farmers who have applied previously. However, we have made some improvements to produce a simpler and more streamlined offer.

    In the previous version of SFI, a quarter of funding went to just 4% of farms. For SFI in 2026, we have introduced a new £100,000 annual agreement cap to help ensure funding reaches more farm businesses. Each farm business will be able to hold one SFI26 agreement, helping spread available funding more fairly across the sector.

    The new offer also contains several actions which encourage the reduced use of synthetic fertilisers in favour of more sustainable options, cutting input costs and boosting resilience to global market shocks such as the closure of the strait of Hormuz.

    The Government have listened to farmers who said they need time to understand the offer before applications open. We published “Get ready to apply” guidance on gov.uk on 6 May and near-final versions of the scheme guidance, terms and conditions, and actions last week on 2 June, allowing farmers to review the offer available and consider which actions may work best for their farm business. Final scheme guidance, developed with industry input, will be published next week.

    Alongside the new SFI offer, the Government are making at least £50 million available for new countryside stewardship higher tier agreements this year, helping farmers and land managers deliver targeted environmental improvements where they can have the greatest impact.

    The Government are also progressing the next group of landscape recovery projects expected to move into implementation this year, supporting large-scale action to restore rivers and habitats across England.

    Together, these schemes form a comprehensive package of support for farmers, helping to boost food production, strengthen farm resilience and drive nature recovery, while underpinning the UK’s long-term food security.

  • Joe Powell – 2026 Speech on the Ninth Anniversary of the Grenfell Tower Fire

    Joe Powell – 2026 Speech on the Ninth Anniversary of the Grenfell Tower Fire

    The speech made by Joe Powell, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater, in the House of Commons on 11 June 2026.

    This Sunday will be the ninth anniversary of the Grenfell tower fire. With thousands of others, I will join the silent walk on father’s day to remember the 72 people who lost their lives in an entirely preventable and foreseen tragedy, and to support families who lost parents, siblings and children in unimaginable circumstances.

    I know that for the bereaved and for survivors, and for our community in Kensington and Bayswater, this is always a difficult time, because nine years on, there has been no criminal accountability for those responsible; nine years on, the pace of change at local government and at national level is too often too slow; and nine years on, the cladding crisis still affects hundreds of thousands of people across the country. I pay tribute to all those who continue to advocate for truth, justice and change for Grenfell, and to everyone across the country affected by this national scandal.

    But it would be a mistake to give up hope. The Metropolitan police said last month that it will hand over files to the Crown Prosecution Service in September this year and that the CPS will make charging decisions by the 10th anniversary in 2027—20 organisations and 57 individuals could face criminal charges, and potential offences under consideration include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud, health and safety breaches, and misconduct in public office.

    Dawn Butler (Brent East) (Lab)

    Justice delayed is justice denied. It is great that the Met has now come to this position. Does my hon. Friend agree that we should try to ensure that the cases are fast-tracked in our criminal system so that justice can now be speeded up?

    Joe Powell

    My hon. Friend is right. We have seen, in recent history, that with events of national significance—from Southport to the recent disturbances on our streets—the criminal justice system has moved really quickly because of the importance of showing that justice is seen to be done. I hope that once the CPS has made its decisions, we will do everything we can to ensure that the court capacity is in place to deliver the trials as soon as possible. I hope the Minister can reassure us that the investigation will continue to be fully funded and that that planning is already taking place with the judiciary and the Ministry of Justice so that the cases are prioritised. If those trials take place, which I obviously hope they will, they will be some of the most complex ever held in the UK. I therefore hope that consideration is also given to a special court or a Nightingale-style court. I know that is being looked at.

    Corporate manslaughter convictions are incredibly rare, so it is essential that those responsible face the full force of the law. I also believe that it is completely wrong for any company cited in the public inquiry still to be receiving public contracts. In December I uncovered dozens of contracts with implicated companies, including two current NHS contracts with Rydon, the main contractor for the refurbishment, which was cited in the public inquiry. I urge all public bodies to do a full audit of their contracts, including subcontractors and supply chains, and publish exactly what they find. It is good news that this Government have introduced new powers to exclude companies on grounds such as professional misconduct. Now is the time for procurement offices to start using them.

    We have already had a public inquiry that has laid out in stark terms why the fire happened and where responsibility lies, and I am glad that this Government have accepted the recommendations in full and that important progress is being made. It is important not to forget that. The last report shows that 20 of 61 recommendations are complete and 40 are in progress. I am glad that those include progress towards a single construction regulator, the expansion of product regulation, the introduction of residential personal emergency evacuation plans, the idea of a college of fire and rescue, and proposed changes to the statutory fire safety guidance in approved document B.

    I am also pleased that, under Lord Roe in the other place, the performance of the Building Safety Regulator is improving, including signing off remediation works more quickly. I welcome the remediation Bill in the King’s Speech, on which I look forward to engaging in this parliamentary Session, so that we can address the outstanding unremediated buildings and the knock-on effects, such as crippling insurance bills for leaseholders.

    I acknowledge all that progress, but there is one missing piece of the jigsaw: oversight and accountability. The online tracker for Grenfell recommendations is no doubt helpful, but Grenfell would not have happened at all if we had properly learned the lessons from the Lakanal House fire in 2009 and listened to the coroner’s recommendations. Instead, they sat on a shelf, and an opportunity to save lives was missed. We need a proper system of tracking and following up, not just on major inquiries that get a lot of attention here, but on all the inquests and investigations that lead to recommendations for change. That is why I continue to support the idea of a national oversight mechanism as a legacy for Grenfell.

    On 25 February, the Secretary of State said in this House, in answer to my question:

    “Work is continuing across Government, including in my Department, on setting up a national oversight mechanism”.—[Official Report, 25 February 2026; Vol. 781, c. 363.]

    I hope that the Minister can provide us with an update on that work and tell us when we can expect a decision to be made. Such a mechanism would sit alongside the Public Office (Accountability) Bill—the Hillsborough law—which I hope to see back here soon, as landmark reforms that put power in the hands of citizens: a real duty of candour for the state, a level playing field for legal aid, and clear deterrence for misconduct in public office. If we design those well, they will lead to fewer and shorter inquiries, more rapid lesson learning by the state and a culture shift towards openness, which can contribute to the rebuilding of trust in politics and in government in this country.

    The culture shift that we need extends to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. I am deeply disappointed that the first decision of the Conservative leadership in the new council term last month was to remove an opposition chair of the housing scrutiny committee. Since Grenfell, that position has been promised to an opposition councillor. It is still unclear to me why or how that decision was taken, because avoiding scrutiny, especially for this council, which is so culpable for the fire, is an extremely bad look. I call on the leadership to think again and to reverse that decision.

    Residents in RBKC know that the council needs scrutiny. The independent Regulator of Social Housing reported last year that the housing department was seriously failing, giving it a C3 rating. The council has the third worst complaints record in the country. It likes to say that it gets the basics right. Well, meeting the decent homes standard, so that everyone can have the minimum of a safe and healthy home, is surely a basic human right that any council should be delivering.

    The Lancaster West estate surrounding Grenfell is a good example. After the fire, the promise was a model 21st-century housing estate, and that promise is still unfulfilled. I am glad that the Government have stepped in with an additional £8 million to ensure that there are no further delays to the current work, and that that will come alongside additional scrutiny on how that money is spent. I hope that the Minister can provide more details on how residents can be involved, including leaseholders and others, so that new oversight can be shaped by them and that they have confidence in the arrangement. I am also pleased that support was extended to NHS services through the period of the deconstruction of the tower, given the acute risk of mental health issues, and to five local primary schools to provide trauma-informed education around the community.

    My final point is a simple one: with the passage of time, we cannot allow a return to business as usual before the fire. Already, we hear rumbles from parts of the construction industry and even, shamefully, some political parties, saying that Grenfell is somehow responsible for the slowdown in house building or that fire safety is a trade-off worth considering. There will always be policy choices for local and national Government to make, but putting life at risk should not be a trade-off we accept. I hope we can work together with empathy and respect—something I suspect Jo Cox would have wanted—and ensure that the legacy of Grenfell is that everyone in this country, regardless of class, race, geography or age, lives in a safe and healthy home.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with Prime Minister Takaichi of Japan [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with Prime Minister Takaichi of Japan [June 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 June 2026.

    The Prime Minister hosted the Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi for a meeting in Downing Street today. 

    The leaders celebrated upgrading the strategic partnership between the UK and Japan and bringing in a new era of cooperation between our two countries.

    They welcomed the signing of the UK-Japan Frontier Technology Partnership, enhancing world-leading British research capabilities with Japan’s advanced manufacturing, along with a joint Economic Security Declaration for advancing cooperation on economic security.

    The Prime Minister also welcomed significant new Japanese investment into the UK, supporting tens of thousands of jobs, including in real estate and financial services.

    The leaders discussed the conflict in the Middle East, Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, stability in the Indo-Pacific region and the importance of resilient global supply chains and free trade. 

    On defence, they agreed to deepen industrial collaboration, including through a new Defence Capability and Industrial Council. They also welcomed closer work together including the shared commitment to the Global Combat Air Programme.

    They looked forward to meeting again at next week’s G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains and building further on the close partnership in the months ahead.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-Japan Frontier Technology Partnership [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-Japan Frontier Technology Partnership [June 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 June 2026.

    Context

    The UK-Japan relationship has reached an all-time high, anchored by a powerful alliance in science and technology. This momentum is driven by high-impact collaboration – including our Strategic Cyber Partnership (2026), Economic Security and Industrial Strategy Partnerships (2025), Semiconductor Partnership (2023), and Digital Partnership (2022) – all of which build upon the enduring foundation of the 1994 Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology.

    As each other’s closest security partners in Europe and Asia respectively, the UK and Japan are uniquely positioned to harness our shared innovation capabilities. By working together as like-minded nations, our science and technology relationship will deliver high-value growth and technological agency. This collaboration will leverage our complementary strengths to enhance our economic and national security in an era of growing geopolitical unpredictability with the overarching goal of achieving peace, prosperity and stability for the international community.

    In January 2026, UK Prime Minister Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi announced their intent to work together to progress high priority frontier technology challenges, harnessing our foundational science and technology strengths to bolster mutual economic growth and economic resilience.

    Commitment

    This Frontier Technology Partnership will deliver that commitment, combining the UK’s world-class software and research leadership with Japan’s unparalleled hardware and manufacturing power to support collaboration across our distinct yet highly compatible industrial bases. It accelerates and advances our nations’ ambitions as set out in the UK’s Industrial Strategy and Japan’s Growth Strategy.

    We will build on our deep and valued science and technology relationship, setting out a shared ambition to go further, with a focus on the technologies that are most crucial for the future and with innovation ecosystems based on security, safety, trust and cooperation.

    • We will promote and protect these critical and emerging technologies through government co-operation and coordinated, targeted R&D support.
    • We will generate growth and build a competitive edge by mobilising private capital towards strategic technologies​, fostering commercial collaboration and supporting high-potential companies to emerge and scale.
    • We will shape the development of critical technologies and safeguard our shared values through multilateral coordination on international standards and regulation.

    Cooperation

    Both the UK and Japan have identified emerging technologies that are critical for the flourishing of each nation. These are technologies that are already fundamentally disrupting economies and societies across the world.

    The UK and Japan recognise that now is the moment to invest in these technologies and work together as like-minded and complementary innovation ecosystems.

    We have a shared vision and ambition:

    • Together, the UK and Japan will be AI makers and not just AI takers, fostering resilient, safe, secure, and trustworthy AI ecosystems and enhancing our national AI capabilities. We have committed to promoting ties between our respective AI innovation ecosystems, advancing joint research to unlock the power of AI for Science, and exploring formal pathways to interlock our AI semiconductor strengths. We reaffirm the need for a stable and safe AI supply chain, and recognise the importance of promoting efforts, in cooperation with diversified partners and suppliers to enhance the resilience of AI supply chains. We will deepen cooperation between Japan AISI and UK AISI in driving forward the science of AI evaluation through the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science. Furthermore, we will work to further promote the Hiroshima AI Process and to explore synergies between our respective initiatives on AI cooperation with the Global South in co-creating a safe, secure, and trustworthy AI ecosystem globally. We concurred on establishing a high-level dialogue on AI to advance cooperation in these priority areas and supporting Japan toward hosting a successful AI Summit following Switzerland in 2027.
    • We will develop globally competitive, commercially scalable and deployable quantum technologies, including computing, sensing and communications, building on our Quantum Memorandum of Cooperation (2025). We will strengthen the connection between the UK and Japan’s quantum computing capabilities. UK and Japanese businesses will export, invest, and conduct R&D in one another’s markets, and both governments are committed to joint, long-term collaboration on quantum high-performance computing (HPC) integration. In parallel, we will advance practical applications of quantum technologies across computing, sensing, communication and networking domains through strengthened cooperation on testbeds, evaluation frameworks and system integration.
    • We will work in close collaboration to explore new approaches to mobilise investment and accelerate innovation in the next generation of defence and dual-use technologies.
    • We will deepen our efforts to counter and deter novel and emerging biological threats as part of our broader approach to dual-use S&T, strengthening our shared commitment to non-proliferation, and our strategic approaches to enhancing biological security as part of our wider cooperation on science and technology.
    • We will drive forward shared priorities on space through the UK-Japan Space Consultation, including space security, space sustainability, and commercial development, pursuing opportunities for joint industry-led research under JAXA and the UK Space Agency, including on satellite communications technologies to protect and enhance the vital networks that underpin our nations’ shared security and prosperity.
    • We will shape advanced connectivity technologies to ensure that future telecoms networks are secure and resilient and address the needs of our societies and economies. This will include delivering on our joint research programme and working through the Global Coalition on Telecommunications to implement the 6G Security & Resilience Principles.
    • We will deepen efforts to decommission our nuclear legacies more efficiently and safely, furthering the collaboration between our cutting-edge robotics capabilities to solve some of the world’s most complex engineering challenges—more efficient and safer decommissioning of nuclear sites like Sellafield and TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
    • We will deepen efforts to develop civil nuclear collaboration, including advanced nuclear technologies and fusion energy, by strengthening practical cooperation between industry and research institutions in the UK and Japan.
    • We will build resilience to cyber threats, reinforcing and strengthening long term cyber cooperation through the UK-Japan Strategic Cyber Partnership, welcoming industry-led initiatives that harness complementary capabilities and working together to strengthen the resilience of critical national infrastructure against the full range of cyber threats facing the UK and Japan.
    • We will work together to protect critical and emerging technologies through deepening cooperation on research security, recognising the need to manage risks associated with those technologies, while supporting open, secure, and trusted international research collaboration. We commit to working bilaterally and with like-minded partners to share information on policy measures to reduce loss of critical technology. This work will be complementary to the Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation.
    • We will work together to promote research and development in the field of healthcare whilst building our capabilities as globally connected world-leading hubs for drug discovery.

    Commercial Announcements 

    Alongside this Statement, the UK and Japan welcome commercial announcements by industry partners launching collaborative projects in critical technology sectors identified in the UK-Japan Industrial Strategy Partnership such as Quantum, AI and Cybersecurity. These commercial initiatives demonstrate the real-world practical and economic benefit of our partnership on Frontier Technology.

    This Frontier Technology Partnership does not constitute or create any legally binding obligations.  Nothing in this Partnership is intended to alter or affect any existing agreements between the Participants. Cooperation is intended to take place within the framework of applicable national legislation and international obligations.

    Signed in duplicate at London on 14 June 2026 in the English language

    For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer

    For the Government of Japan:

    Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-Japan Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-Japan Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation [June 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 June 2026.

    UK-Japan Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation.

    1, We, the Prime Ministers of Japan and the United Kingdom, acknowledge that UK-Japan relations are the strongest in living memory, grounded in deep cooperation on economic and security priorities. This Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation, complementing the Hiroshima Accord in 2023, and accompanied by the Japan-UK Frontier Technology Partnership on critical and emerging technologies, sets out our strategic and coordinated vision to advance our bilateral cooperation on economic security.

    Bilateral Economic Security Cooperation

    2, We will deepen our collaboration on economic security through bilateral dialogues such as the Economic 2+2 and the Japan-UK Strategic Economic Policy and Trade Dialogue, the Japan-UK Financial Dialogue, the Japan-UK Energy and Climate Dialogue, the Ministerial Digital Council, and the Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation, as well as through the Industrial Strategy Partnership and the Economic Security Partnership. 

    Bilateral Trade and Investment

    3, We will enhance cooperation to promote trade and investment opportunities in strategic sectors, increasing the predictability and transparency of the investment environment in a way that is consistent with market principles and private-sector ownership. To do this, we will promote our countries as favourable destinations for bilateral investment and trade, and facilitate deeper coordination between our strategic finance agencies. We will deepen collaboration on investment security through furthering information sharing on investment screening policies and practices.

    Public-Private Partnership

    4, We will strengthen our public-private partnerships to maximise opportunities and enhance collective resilience, including by proactively seeking input from industries. We recognise, as embodied in the Joint Statement issued by the Keidanren and CBI in November 2025, the importance of dialogue between the business communities of Japan and the UK on economic security. We will jointly explore approaches to encourage corporate behavioural change across both Japan and the UK to enhance economic security through efforts such as joint initiatives to promote secure and resilient growth in and through critical technologies. We will encourage further exchanges on policy and research in our two countries, and deepen collaboration between our respective policy research institutions, including with the economic security focused think-tank to be established by the Government of Japan.      

    5, In this context, we welcomed the announcement of concrete cooperation projects across the spectrum of our Industrial Strategy Partnership sectors. These include offshore wind, with the launch of the “Offshore Wind Industrial Compact” to promote finance, R&D, and supply chain development collaboration.

    Supply Chain Resilience including Energy

    6, Transparent, diversified, secure, sustainable, trustworthy and reliable supply chains and access to key sectors are central to our economic security and resilience. We will further enhance cooperation to develop resilient and reliable supply chains, complemented by efforts to enhance collective resilience among Japan, the UK and our strategic partners. Recognising heightened risks to the global economy amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, especially through pressures on energy supply chains, we reaffirm the importance of ensuring energy trade flow, effective emergency response measures including through national oil reserve systems, and close international cooperation including with relevant international organisations such as the IEA, coordination between producer and consumer countries, and via initiatives including Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA) and Partnership On Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia (POWERR Asia). We underscore the importance of restoring free navigation of critical commodities that underpin the resilience of our economies, and recognise the heightened impact of disruption on vulnerable countries.

    7, We express our grave concerns regarding economic coercion and arbitrary export restrictions, including on critical minerals, that destabilise global supply chains and undermine economic security and resilience. We reiterate that, whenever implemented, export control measures should be narrowly defined, non-discriminatory, and in line with international law and practice, so as not to disrupt strategic supply chains, notably those for critical minerals. We will work together to share information and consult on instances of economic coercion and consider appropriate responses.     

    Critical Minerals and Related Supply Chains

    8, We will deepen cooperation on critical minerals under the 2023 Japan-UK Memorandum of Cooperation on Critical Minerals. We will work together with partners to reduce critical dependencies by enhancing cooperation among G7 members and like-minded countries in areas such as mining, refining, processing, recycling, and stockpiling. We will encourage closer engagement between relevant public finance institutions and other agencies. We have tasked officials to take forward a focused dialogue on projects of mutual interest, including in battery materials and recycling, and on opportunities for cooperation in third countries.

    9, We further recognise the importance of maintaining and strengthening our midstream and downstream industries’ competitiveness, including in relation to critical minerals, by protecting critical technologies, and commit to working bilaterally and with like-minded partners to coordinate on policy measures for technology control.

    Innovation

    10, Jointly maintaining and developing our respective strengths and indispensability in critical technologies will help drive resilience, productivity and economic growth in both our countries and sustain essential manufacturing and technological capability. We remain committed to deepening cooperation on Critical and Emerging Technologies, including in areas outlined in the Frontier Technology Partnership (FTP).

    11, Both innovation and protection of such technologies are equally important. We will coordinate our efforts to do this, for example on research security and research integrity where we will work together to manage risk in international research collaboration while supporting open, secure and trusted research.

    12, We will increase collaboration among our innovation, VC and startup ecosystems and relevant agencies, including by encouraging greater two-way investment and supporting joint commercialisation in emerging technology, including dual-use, and jointly explore approaches to understand and mitigate potential risks to innovation and commercialisation.

    13, Collaboration in critical and emerging technologies, including in the defence industry, plays a vital role in strengthening our collective resilience and economic security. We are committed to further deepening cooperation between our defence industries through industrial and supply chain collaboration, leveraging technology transfer, and expertise sharing, with GCAP as a catalyst for promoting such cooperation.

    The Rules-Based International Economic Order

    14, We reaffirm that a well-functioning rules-based multilateral trading system regulated by the set of trade rules within the World Trade Organization (WTO) should continue to serve as the bedrock of our economic prosperity, resilience and security. To this end, we will work towards the meaningful and necessary reform of the WTO to ensure that it is fit for purpose and addresses the challenges we face. We also reaffirm our shared concerns about the use of non-market policies and practices (NMPPs) leading to harmful overcapacity and market distortion, which could deepen economic dependencies and vulnerabilities.

    15, We will work together to ensure that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) continues to support the prosperity of our economies including through implementation and continued expansion in line with the Auckland Principles, while reaffirming our commitment to adhering to the CPTPP, the Japan-UK Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and WTO rules. We will update and enhance the CPTPP, including through the areas of supply chain resilience, economic coercion, and market-distorting practices.

    16, We share the importance of further enhancing cooperation with Global South countries, including those in the Indo-Pacific, to enhance their economic resilience and security and to maintain and strengthen a rules-based international economic order through respective and coordinated outreaches in providing assistance and sharing best practices and knowledge including on relevant legislations and systems to address economic security challenges.

    Signed in duplicate at London, UK, on 14 June 2026 in the English language.

    For the Government of the United Kingdom                          For the Government of Japan

    Keir Starmer                                                                 Takaichi Sanae     

    Prime Minister                                                               Prime Minister

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK forces intercept Russian shadow fleet vessel for the first time in blow to Putin’s war chest [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK forces intercept Russian shadow fleet vessel for the first time in blow to Putin’s war chest [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 June 2026.

    British forces this morning boarded a sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel in the latest blow to Russia’s war economy.

    • British Armed Forces interdict Russian shadow fleet vessel in the early hours of this morning
    • Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency board the ship in the channel, which will disrupt Putin’s war chest
    • Vessel will now be held and monitored off the South Coast as investigations continue

    In the first UK-led operation of its kind, the vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, despite Russia’s best efforts to evade sanctions and continue fuelling its barbaric war with Ukraine.

    The military operation, which lasted 6 hours, was supported with aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, as well as HMS SUTHERLAND and HMS LEDBURY.

    The Prime Minister agreed in March that British Armed Forces and law enforcement officers were able to board shadow fleet vessels, in accordance with international law.

    The SMYRTOS will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England and will be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns.

    The enforcement action against this vessel in UK territorial waters was carried out in accordance with domestic and international law.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide.

    I want to pay tribute to all those involved, including our Armed Forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

    Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said:

    Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage. I pay tribute to our Armed Forces personnel and all those involved.

    Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers a blow to Putin’s illegal war.

    The operation builds on recent support provided by the UK to its allies to interdict shadow fleet vessels, which included RAF and Royal Navy capabilities supporting US and French operations. Today’s operation was conducted in close coordination with the French.

    By disrupting the shadow fleet, we and our international partners are directly bearing down on the resources sustaining Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and reducing its capacity to threaten security across Europe and beyond.

    Responsible for carrying 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil, the shadow fleet of over 700 vessels provides a critical lifeline for the Kremlin, generating a war fund that supplies missiles and drones targeting innocent Ukrainian civilians and sustaining Russia’s illegal war.

    The UK is a leader in tackling the shadow fleet, having already sanctioned over 500 vessels. And these sanctions are working, Russia’s oil and gas revenues fell by 24% year-on-year in 2025.

    Today’s action sends a clear message to Russia that the UK will use the full range of legal tools available to enforce those sanctions and protect our security.

    Background

    • The UK has sanctioned almost 600 Russian shadow fleet vessels to date.
    • Russia’s oil revenues are down 27% compared to October 2024, the lowest since the start of the war.
    • In the first quarter of 2025, ships sanctioned by the UK carried $1.6 billion less in Russian oil than a year ago.
    • Over 72% of shadow tankers are more than 15 years old. There have been over 50 incidents involving Russia’s shadow fleet.
    • UNCLOS Article 110 permits a warship to exercise a right of visit to verify the flag where there are reasonable grounds to suspect the vessel is without nationality. Where a vessel is determined stateless, the UK can exercise powers available under its domestic legislation.  Potential domestic powers include the ship-sanctions provisions in the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, criminal and maritime enforcement powers under the Policing and Crime Act 1979