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Tag: David Lammy

  • David Lammy – 2025 Speech in Lviv on the Special Tribunal

    David Lammy – 2025 Speech in Lviv on the Special Tribunal

    The speech made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, in Lviv on 9 May 2025.

    It is a fitting time and place for this discussion.

    It is remarkable that eighty years ago, Allied governments were dealing with detained Nazis, and thinking about accountability for the atrocities.

    Some considered simple revenge.   But others favoured a different approach.

    Holding those criminals accountable under international law.

    Drawing in part on work by two great sons of this great city, Rafael Lemkin Sir Hersch Lauterpacht.

    The resulting Nuremberg trials were a milestone in building a global order rooted in the rule of law and human rights.

    Today, the pursuit of such a global order again seems a tall order.

    Russia is waging a war of aggression, with mounting evidence that Russian soldiers are committing atrocities we would have hoped to consign to history – attacks which rain down on civilians, the deportation of children, torture and sexual abuse of civilians and prisoners of war.

    Russian leaders show not the slightest concern for the lives of individuals or the laws of war.

    But we need to remember figures like Lemkin were not naïve idealists.  Indeed, Sir Hersch wrote about anchoring his philosophy of international law in the ‘realities of international life’.

    Precisely our task today.

    We have it in our hands to hold those responsible for the invasion of Ukraine to account.  The UK is proud to have supported the idea of a Special Tribunal since the outset.

    A Tribunal is an essential part of the armoury of justice, alongside the efforts of Ukrainian authorities to bring prosecutions inside Ukraine, and the work of the ICC.

    As the country where Sir Hersch made his home, we are proud to support the Lviv Joint Statement and endorse the legal foundations for this Tribunal.

    It will take time for a Tribunal to become operational. We support using the framework of the Council of Europe. But also believe we must expand the Core Group to more partners from beyond Europe.

    The whole world is outraged at Russian crimes. The whole world should now come together to hold Russia to account. We must rally all countries in support of justice.

    Our friends in Ukraine are staying true to the legacy of VE Day.

    The legacy of Lemkin and Sir Hersch.

    Thank you.

  • David Lammy – 2025 Statement on India and Pakistan

    David Lammy – 2025 Statement on India and Pakistan

    The statement made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, on 7 May 2025.

    Current tensions between India and Pakistan are a serious concern. The UK government is urging India and Pakistan to show restraint and engage in direct dialogue to find a swift, diplomatic path forward.

    The UK has close and unique relationships with both countries. I have made clear to my counterparts in India and Pakistan that if this escalates further, nobody wins. The UK was clear in its condemnation of the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam last month. We need all sides to work urgently to see regional stability restored and ensure protection of civilians.

    The safety of British nationals in the region will always be our priority. The FCDO continues to monitor developments closely and stands ready to support any British nationals 24/7. Any British nationals in the region should follow the FCDO’s travel advice for the country they are in, along with the advice of the local authorities.

  • David Lammy – 2025 Statement on Events at El Fasher in Sudan

    David Lammy – 2025 Statement on Events at El Fasher in Sudan

    The statement made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, on 24 April 2025.

    The reports of violence in and around the city of El Fasher are appalling.

    Last week, the UK gathered the international community in London to call for an end to the suffering of the Sudanese people. Yet some of the violence in Darfur has shown the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing and may amount to crimes against humanity. Both sides must de-escalate urgently in Darfur and implement UNSCR2736, which calls on the RSF to halt its siege of El Fasher and bring an immediate stop to the fighting.

    The UK will continue to use all tools available to us to us to hold those responsible for atrocities to account.

    The warring parties have a responsibility to end this suffering. There are no exceptions to the laws of war: both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces agreed at Jeddah to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access.

    It is their responsibility to enforce these commitments, through command and control of their fighters and aligned militias. The RSF must immediately cease attacks on civilians, and the SAF and allied Joint Forces must allow safe passage for civilians to reach safety.

    Hundreds of thousands have been displaced; yet many more in Zamzam IDP camp and El Fasher are being blocked from fleeing this violence by the warring parties. They must be free to seek safety wherever they think best and be protected as they do so.

    The warring parties must give humanitarian actors the security guarantees needed to  deliver aid rapidly, safely and at scale, including through a 72-hour pause in fighting. This must be through transparent notification of movement, rather than permission, throughout North Darfur and beyond.

  • David Lammy – 2025 Speech at London Sudan Conference

    David Lammy – 2025 Speech at London Sudan Conference

    The speech made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, in London on 15 April 2025.

    Two years on from this war starting, with frontlines shifting again, I fear many onlookers feel a sense of déjà vu. The country’s fraught history also means that some conclude that further conflict is effectively inevitable.

    Many have given up on Sudan. That is wrong. It’s morally wrong when we see so many civilians beheaded, infants as young as one subjected to sexual violence, more people facing famine than anywhere else in the world.

    We simply cannot look away. And as I speak, civilians and aid workers in El Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp are facing unimaginable violence.

    With over four million refugees having fled the country, and instability spreading far beyond Sudan’s border, it’s also strategically wrong to forget Sudan. And that’s why, as Foreign Secretary, I refused to turn away. I felt a duty to confront this war’s horrors head on.

    I have been to the Sudanese border and met with survivors. I have called out attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers in the United Nations.

    And I have doubled our aid to Sudan, and today I am announcing a further £120 million worth of support. But the biggest obstacle is not a lack of funding or texts at the United Nations, it’s lack of political will.

    Very simply, we have got to persuade the warring parties to protect civilians, to let aid in and across the country and to put peace first.

    And so we do need patient diplomacy. Bringing together this group today, focusing of course on the areas where we agree and building out from there is very very important today, indeed. Today’s goal is then to do just that. We all want to see Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity upheld.

    We all want to see a united state, with functioning institutions. We all want to see Sudan’s civilians protected, and the millions of displaced people able to return to their homes.

    This is a strong basis to agree the steps needed then to relieve suffering and to end this awful war. I hope across our three sessions, we can agree a set of principles for our future diplomatic engagement.

    When I met with Sudanese refugees in Chad I was frankly humbled by their resilience. In the face of unimaginable trauma, they had not given up on their country or the communities around them.

    For their sake, we cannot resign ourselves to inevitable conflict. We cannot be back here one year from now, having the same discussion. So today, let’s show them and the world we have not given up on them. We have not given up on Sudan.

    I am hugely grateful for the support from the African Union, and to my colleagues from France, Germany and the EU in supporting the shared endeavour.

  • NEWS STORY : UK Pledges £120 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Sudan Amid Escalating Crisis

    NEWS STORY : UK Pledges £120 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Sudan Amid Escalating Crisis

    STORY

    The United Kingdom has announced a new £120 million humanitarian aid package for Sudan, aiming to address the country’s deepening crisis as conflict and famine continue to devastate the region.  The funding, unveiled at an international donor conference in London co-hosted by the UK, France, Germany, the European Union, and the African Union, is part of a broader effort to mobilise support for Sudan, where over 30 million people are in urgent need of assistance.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasised the UK’s commitment to supporting Sudanese civilians, stating that the aid will provide lifesaving food, nutrition, and emergency support for survivors of sexual violence. The conflict, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, has led to widespread displacement, with over 12 million people forced from their homes. The UK’s latest contribution brings its total humanitarian support for Sudan and neighbouring countries to over £226 million, reflecting a significant increase in aid amidst the worsening crisis. Despite the substantial aid commitments, challenges persist in delivering assistance to affected populations, with ongoing violence and access restrictions hindering relief efforts. ​The UK continues to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and unrestricted humanitarian access to ensure that aid reaches those in need.

  • David Lammy – 2025 Statement Following the Detention of Two British MPs in Israel

    David Lammy – 2025 Statement Following the Detention of Two British MPs in Israel

    The statement made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, on 5 April 2025.

    It is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities.

    I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British Parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support.

    The UK government’s focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza.

  • David Lammy – 2025 Statement on Thailand’s deportation of 40 Uyghur Muslims to China

    David Lammy – 2025 Statement on Thailand’s deportation of 40 Uyghur Muslims to China

    The statement made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, on 27 February 2025.

    The UK disagrees in the strongest terms with Thailand’s decision to deport 40 Uyghur Muslims to China. This is despite Thailand’s international obligations in relation to non-refoulement and the well-documented ongoing human rights violations in Xinjiang.

    The UK calls for the human rights of this group to be upheld, and we urge China to implement the wider recommendations of the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in relation to Xinjiang.

  • David Lammy – 2025 Article on Defence Spending

    David Lammy – 2025 Article on Defence Spending

    The article written by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, on 25 February 2025. The article was published in the Guardian newspaper and released as a press release by the Government.

    There are moments in history when everything turns, but the extent of change is not perceived until later when the fog has cleared. These are hinge points that require clear leadership and bold action. In the late 1940s, my Labour predecessor and hero Ernie Bevin, alongside Clement Attlee, saw through the fog when they led Britain into Nato and the UN, and secured the development of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

    In the 1960s, Harold Wilson saw through the paranoia of the cold war, refusing Lyndon Johnson’s request to send British troops to Vietnam. In the 1990s, Tony Blair understood that unless we stopped the president of Serbia, Slobodan Milošević, there would be no peace in the Balkans.

    Three years into Vladimir Putin’s brutal war, this is again a hinge point for Britain. Keir Starmer’s commitment to dramatically raise defence spending in both this and the next parliament shows his leadership through the fog. Putin’s Russia is a threat not only to Ukraine and its neighbours, but to all of Europe, including the UK.

    Over successive administrations, our closest ally, the US, has turned increasingly towards the Indo-Pacific, and it is understandably calling for Nato’s European members to shoulder more of the burden for our continent’s security. Around the world, the threats are multiplying: from traditional warfare to hybrid threats and cyber-attacks.

    The first duty and foundation of this government’s Plan for Change – GOV.UK is our national security. Seven months ago, the public gave us this responsibility, and we hold it with a profound sense of duty. Under the Conservatives, the foundations of our defence were weakened. The UK has not reached a defence spending level of 2.5% of GDP since Labour was last in government. And it falls to a Labour government to restore those foundations once again. We will deliver the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the cold war because we are the party of defence. So we will hit our 2.5% promise in 2027 and, subject to economic conditions, go further, with defence spending rising to 3% during the next parliament. This is a pledge to safeguard our future – and act as a pillar of security on our continent – in a world plagued by more active conflicts than at any time since the second world war.

    To make this commitment, and stick within our fiscal rules, we have had to make the extremely difficult decision to lower our spending on international development. As the Prime Minister said, we do not pretend any of this is easy.

    This is a hard choice that no government – let alone a Labour government – makes lightly. I am proud of our record on international development. It helps address global challenges from health to migration, contributes to prosperity, and supports the world’s most vulnerable people.

    It grows both our soft power and our geopolitical clout, while improving lives. For all of those reasons, this government remains committed to reverting spending on overseas aid to 0.7% of gross national income when the fiscal conditions allow.

    But we are a government of pragmatists not ideologues – and we have had to balance the compassion of our internationalism with the necessity of our national security.

    As we reduce the overseas aid budget, we will protect the most vital programmes in the world’s worst conflict zones of Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan. But there can be no hiding from the fact that many programmes doing vital work will have to be put on hold. The work of making further tough choices about programmes will proceed at pace over the weeks and months ahead, but our core priorities will remain the same.

    My vision for a reformed Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office fit for this more contested and dangerous world, in which diplomacy is more important than ever, remains paramount. We are working closely with the Treasury to ensure our diplomatic, intelligence and development footprint will align with our priorities. In a tough fiscal environment, all our spending must be laser-focused on delivering the maximum possible impacts for our national security and growth, equipping the FCDO to deliver the government’s plan for change internationally.

    At the height of the cold war, defence spending fluctuated between about 4% and 7% of GDP. At this moment of fiscal and geopolitical flux, not meeting the moment on defence would mean leaving Britain ill-prepared for a more dangerous world, potentially requiring even tougher choices down the line.

    I have written previously about this government’s foreign policy being founded on progressive realism. Being clear about our values, but treating the world as it is, not as we would wish it to be. These are the principles that guide our choices through these dangerous times. We will always do what is necessary to keep the public safe.

  • David Lammy – 2025 Speech at the G20 in South Africa

    David Lammy – 2025 Speech at the G20 in South Africa

    The speech made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, at the G20 Foreign Ministerial Meeting in South Africa on 20 February 2025.

    Thank you very much Ronald [Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa] and let me say, my dear brother, what a joy is to see the G20 in Africa at long last. And we thank Brazil for its stewardship last year.

    The challenges that we face are truly global. We will not begin to tackle them unless we harness the potential of this continent, bursting with growth and opportunities and with so many young people, talented young people at its heart.

    The starkest challenge we face is escalating conflict, both between and within nations, driving vicious cycles of grievance, displacement and low growth.

    Your presidency, Ronald, calls for solidarity, and solidarity starts by recognising and naming the victims of war and injustice:

    • innocent Ukrainians enduring bombardment night after night from Odessa to Zaphorizhya
    • the hostages still cruelly held underground by Hamas, 16 months on from the trauma of October the 7th
    • the Palestinian civilians driven from their homes in Gaza and the West Bank
    • the Sudanese refugees flee their burning villages to escape across the border to Chad, the overwhelming majority of them, women and children having endured the most unimaginable and indiscriminate violence

    As I said when I visited Chad, there can be no geopolitical stability, whilst there remains a hierarchy of conflicts, with those on this continent finding themselves at the bottom of the global pile.

    And that’s why, since starting this job, I’ve made a reset with the so called Global South, a central plank of the UK foreign policy, and it’s why I doubled British aid for Sudan, and I prepared a conference in London to push for a political process which will end the fighting and protect civilians.

    And that’s why I’ve called out the Rwandan Defence Force operations in the eastern DRC as a blatant breach of the UN Charter which risks spiralling into a regional conflict, and that’s why I will again make clear to President Kagame, that further breaches of DRC’s sovereignty will have consequences.

    Because at the heart of my government’s approach to foreign policy lies the belief that regional and geopolitical stability can only be delivered through respect for international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

    And as my Canadian, Australian, Japanese colleagues have said, respect for international law must underwrite a free and open Indo Pacific, just as it must underwrite the Euro Atlantic, with the security of those 2 regions ever more closely linked.

    And as we turn to the Middle East, the ceasefire in Gaza is painfully fragile, I’m grateful that so many of us here today are working together to ensure that it holds we must continue to work together tirelessly to secure the release of the remaining hostages, to bolster the Palestinian Authority, and to boost aid into Gaza and to develop a long term plan for governance and security on the strip so that we can advance towards, a two-state solution, which remains the only long-term viable pathway to peace.

    And finally, in Ukraine, the only just and lasting peace will be a peace that is consistent with the UN Charter, and we want that as soon as possible.

    You know, mature countries learn from their colonial failures and their wars, and Europeans have had much to learn over the generations and the centuries.

    But I’m afraid to say that Russia has learned nothing. I listened carefully to Minister Lavrov intervention just now – he’s, of course, left his seat -hoping to hear some readiness to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.

    I was hoping to hear some sympathy for the innocent victims of the aggression. I was hoping to hear some readiness to seek a durable peace.

    What I heard was the logic of imperialism dressed up as a realpolitik, and I say to you all, we should not be surprised, but neither should we be fooled.

    We are at a crucial juncture in this conflict, and Russia faces a test. If Putin is serious about a lasting peace, it means finding a way forward which respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and the UN Charter which provides credible security guarantees, and which rejects Tsarist imperialism, and Britain is ready to listen.

    But we expect to hear more than the Russian gentleman’s tired fabrications.

  • David Lammy – 2025 Comments on Donald Trump’s Statement that Palestinians Must Leave Gaza

    David Lammy – 2025 Comments on Donald Trump’s Statement that Palestinians Must Leave Gaza

    The comments made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, in Ukraine on 5 February 2025.

    Donald Trump is right. Looking at those scenes, Palestinians who have been horrendously displaced over so many months of war, it is clear that Gaza is lying in rubble. We have always been clear in our view that we must see two states and we must see Palestinians able to live and prosper in their homelands in Gaza, in the West Bank. That is what we want to get to.

    That is why it’s important we move out of phase one of this hostage deal, to stage two and then to phase three and reconstruct Gaza. We will play our part in that support for reconstruction, working alongside the Palestinian authority and Gulf and Arab partners. That’s the guarantee to ensure that there is a future for Palestinians in their home.