Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 May 2025.

The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of North Macedonia at the European Political Community summit today.

The Prime Minister began by welcoming the new strategic partnership between the two countries, further strengthening the relationship between the UK and North Macedonia.

The partnership would underline the growing friendship between the two countries and signalled an intent to work more closely on shared challenges, including economic growth, trade, defence and security, the Prime Minister added.

The leaders also discussed North Macedonia’s recent agreement to join the Joint Migration Taskforce, further boosting regional cooperation to prevent irregular migrants transiting the Balkans and disrupting the criminal gangs that facilitate them.

Looking ahead to the Western Balkans summit in October, the leaders welcomed the strengthening of the friendships between the UK and the region.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 May 2025.

Piling the pressure on the Kremlin will be the focus of discussions at the European Political Community [EPC] today, after Putin dodged US arranged peace talks in Istanbul yesterday.

Piling the pressure on the Kremlin will be the focus of discussions at the European Political Community [EPC] today, after Putin dodged US arranged peace talks in Istanbul yesterday [Thursday].

More than 40 leaders will attend the Tirana summit today, discussing shared challenges facing the continent and the threat to global stability and security posed by Putin.

It comes after President Zelenskyy underscored Ukraine’s position as the party of peace and travelled to Turkey in good faith this week, in preparation for peace talks with Russia.

But Putin failed to attend.

Leaders are expected to reiterate calls for a full and unconditional ceasefire today and demand Russia prove that they are serious about bringing its invasion to an end. For more than two months, Russia has failed to substantively respond to the US’ calls for a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire and genuine peace talks.

Work has already begun on what further sanctions can be implemented to degrade Russia’s ability to prolong the war if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire.  Today, leaders are expected to progress the conversations held in Kyiv at the weekend about sanctions, with a focus on Russian energy revenues.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

People in Ukraine and across the world have paid the price for Putin’s aggression in Ukraine and across Europe, now he must pay the price for avoiding peace.

Putin’s tactics to dither and delay, while continuing to kill and cause bloodshed across Ukraine, is intolerable.

For the past three years, Ukraine has been fighting for peace and security, while Russia has sent thousands of young men and women to their deaths and compromised global stability.

Alongside the US and more than 30 other partners, we have been clear that we will not stand for Russia kicking a ceasefire down the road.

A full, unconditional ceasefire must be agreed and if Russia is unwilling to come to the negotiating table, Putin must pay the price.

During the summit, the Prime Minister is expected to lead a security roundtable with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, as well as discussing with key partners including France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Ukraine latest efforts with the US to secure peace and an end of the bloodbath in Ukraine. It comes as Putin repeatedly ignored requests for peace talks in Istanbul this week.

The Kremlin’s biggest source of tax revenue is oil exports, and with forecasts cut by almost a quarter because of Western sanctions and compounding slowing global growth prices, further measures are likely to cause significant pain. Oil and gas tax revenues were already a third lower in dollar terms 2024 than in 2022, the first year of the war; and they are already down by almost 20% year-on-year in February and March.

The Prime Minister is clear that supporting Ukraine, and degrading Russia’s economy and ability to prolong the war as they wreak havoc across Europe, is vital to protecting national and Euro-Atlantic security, and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

Russian aggression is plain for all to see. Just this week the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed that the Russia Secret Service was behind a major blaze at a Polish shopping centre, while in a landmark decision, the International Civil Aviation Organisation ruled that the Russian Federation was behind the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014, killing 298 people, including 10 UK citizens.

Last week, the Prime Minister announced the UK’s largest ever package of sanctions on Russia’s Shadow Fleet. The sanctions will apply further pressure on the Russian economy, which is stalling as Putin’s national wealth fund starts to run out, the non-defence sector is in recession and global oil prices are falling.

Russia’s defence and security spending is now 40% of all federal spending and 8% GDP – a post-1990 high and double the size of federal social services spending.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 May 2025.

The Prime Minister was hosted by Prime Minister Edi Rama in Albania today, ahead of the European Political Community summit tomorrow.

The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Rama for Albania’s warm hospitality and the leaders reflected on the significance of the first official visit by a UK Prime Minister.

They noted the UK and Albania’s joint work on tackling migration and sharing intelligence had been crucial in stemming the flow of migrants from the country.

The two countries agreed they would take that work even further with the updated UK-Albania Strategic Partnership agreed today. The Prime Minister said the model between the UK and Albania had been such a success, he wanted to roll out the approach with partners across Europe through the Joint Migration Taskforce, which both leaders welcomed the expansion of.

Reflecting on the partnership, the Prime Minister also welcomed the addition of strengthened defence cooperation between the two countries and growing economic ties.

Discussing the European Political Community summit tomorrow, both leaders agreed it was a crucial moment for Europe to demonstrate their solidarity with Ukraine and commitment to shared security.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again tomorrow.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 May 2025.

The Prime Minister met the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, in Tirana this morning.

The Prime Minister began by reflecting on his visit to the Port of Durrës earlier in the day to see the UK and Albania’s close cooperation to tackle organised crime.

It was clear that across all areas of the relationship – from defence and security to trade, migration and economic growth – the partnership between the UK and Albania was thriving, the Prime Minister added.

The leaders discussed their resolute support for Ukraine and the need to uphold peace and security in Europe.

Turning to the Western Balkans summit being held in London in the Autumn, the Prime Minister said it offered the chance to discuss how the UK could further support the region to tackle shared challenges.

In a more uncertain world, dialogue and diplomacy needed to be the answer to resolving regional tensions, the leaders agreed.

Both looked forward to speaking again.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 May 2025.

The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Nicholas Brown, Precentor and Sub-Dean of Lincoln Cathedral, to the College of St George, Windsor, in succession to The Reverend Dr Mark Powell following his retirement.

Background

Nick Brown was educated at Royal Holloway University of London, and the University of Durham, obtaining a BMus, an MA and a PhD, and trained for Ministry at Ripon College, Cuddesdon.  Ordained in 2009, he served his title as Assistant Curate in the Parish of Warminster St. Denys and St. Mary Upton Scudamore in the Diocese of Salisbury.  From 2013 he served as Rector of the Parish of Louth.  From 2019 he served additionally as Acting Archdeacon of Lincoln.  In 2020, he took up his current role as Precentor of Lincoln and as Sub-Dean of Lincoln Cathedral in 2021.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 May 2025.

The UK will step up efforts to break the crime web fuelling illegal migration across the Western Balkans on a historic visit to the region by the Prime Minister.

The UK will step up efforts to break the crime web fuelling illegal migration across the Western Balkans on a historic visit to the region by the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will begin a two-day visit to Tirana today, to step up cooperation on migration and expand successful joint initiatives with Albania to more countries in the region.

It comes after the Prime Minister unveiled the government’s Immigration White Paper, a comprehensive plan that will bring net migration to the UK down significantly, earlier this week.

During the first ever official visit to Albania by a UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer will visit the Port of Durres to see firsthand how UK cooperation is intercepting people smugglers, deterring would-be migrants and snaring criminals using fake documents.

The UK’s cooperation with Albania has underlined how this government’s approach of intercepting and deterring migrants upstream can dramatically cut illegal migration to British shores.

There has been a 95% reduction in Albanian small boat arrivals in the last three years, while the number of Albanians returned to the country has also doubled in the past two years, with 5,294 Albanians returned in 2024, more than double the 2,035 Albanian nationals returned two years earlier.

But the Prime Minister has been clear that the government cannot be complacent about the success, and while in Albania this week, he is expected to announce the expansion of the Joint Migration Task Force with Albania and Kosovo to include North Macedonia and will further progress positive discussions with Montenegro.

The task force brings together specialists from the countries involved to design and execute operations to detect, deter and manage illegal migration. It will see the UK share greater intelligence to allow local law enforcement to intercept smuggling gangs and deploy UK funded drones to snare gangsters funnelling migrants through the Western Balkans corridor and on to the UK.

The UK will also support both countries to reinforce checks at border crossing points.

The expansion of the task force comes ahead of the UK hosted Western Balkans Summit in the Autumn, which is expected to focus on regional security, economic growth and tackling shared challenges such as foreign interference and illegal migration with innovative solutions.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Global challenges need shared solutions, and the work the UK and Albania is doing together is delivering security for working people in both countries.

And our joint work to deter, detect and return illegal migrants is further proof that intervening upstream to protect British shores and secure our borders is the right approach.

Every step we take to tackle illegal migration overseas, cripple the criminal networks that facilitate it and stem the finance streams that fund it is delivering safer streets in the UK, and reducing the strain on taxpayer funded services.

But we cannot take this action alone, through closer partnerships and greater cooperation, we are creating real change with our partners across Europe and delivering on our Plan for Change.

The UK will also double down on its success with Albania, ensuring the barriers deterring migrants from making the journey from Tirana to British shores remain in place.

As part of an enhanced strategic partnership with Albania, the Prime Minister and Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama are expected to agree to go further on clamping down on people smuggling, supporting human trafficking victims and ensuring Albanians deported home do not attempt a second journey.

The two countries will also launch a new project to tackle illicit finance and investigate underground finance streams that are laundering money between Albania and the UK.

Two forgery detection machines will also be donated to the Albanian State Police to quickly identify discrepancies and confirm document authenticity through regular checks, allowing Albanian law enforcement to track and apprehend individuals trying to illegally enter the UK on stolen or fake passports.

And the UK will support Albania tackle what is known as the ‘revolving door effect’ – when a migrant is returned home, only to evade law enforcement and leave the country again –  through a new programme to help young Albanians reintegrate into society and find meaningful employment. The focus of the programme will be in northern Albania, where the majority of migrants who arrive illegally in the UK are traced back to.

The leaders are also expected to step up cooperation to counter serious organised crime, including the funding of a new forensic evidence programme to share and track the DNA swabs of criminals in Albania to solve crimes in the UK.

The recent roll out of the programme saw more than 55 serious criminals – including murderers, rapists and manslaughter offenders – taken off UK streets thanks to the closer cooperation between the two countries. The project has seen 1000 hits in the past 18 months in UK data bases, resulting in 55 arrests in the UK.

The government will invest a further £1 million in the partnership this year to upgrade Albania’s forensics, biometrics and digital capability to detect and detain further criminals and protect UK streets. It will also allow law enforcement in both countries to identify and gather evidence in some of the most serious crimes committed in Albania, the UK and beyond.

Later in the day, the Prime Minister will see firsthand the deeper defence and security cooperation between the UK and Albania when he visits troops from both countries working together to train up Ukrainian soldiers under Operation Interflex.

Day two of the programme will see the Prime Minister attend the European Political Community summit, where he will convene a roundtable on Defence and Security and continue conversations on innovative solutions to the challenge of illegal migration.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 May 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin this morning.

The pair discussed the productive Coalition of the Willing meeting on Saturday and agreed good progress had been made in support of Ukraine. They agreed to continue working with international partners and put pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table without conditions.

The Prime Minister updated the Taoiseach on his ongoing discussions with the European Union, ahead of the first UK-EU summit next week. Both leaders agreed that there was an ambitious package on the table that would serve to benefit hard-working people and businesses across Europe.

Finally, the Prime Minister and Taoiseach reflected on the constructive bilateral discussions held recently at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in April on a joint approach to dealing with legacy issues of the past in Northern Ireland. They agreed that their respective teams would continue these discussions at pace.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 May 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, this evening.

The Prime Minister began by congratulating Prime Minister Carney on his fantastic election win.

The leaders reflected on the opportunities to deepen the friendship between the two countries, including through economic cooperation and technology ties to deliver for working people in both the UK and Canada.

Discussing the Coalition of the Willing call in Kyiv on Saturday, the Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Carney for joining, and leaders underlined the need to increase pressure on President Putin to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.

Looking ahead, the Prime Minister said he was looking forward to travelling to Canada for the G7 Summit next month, which would be another important moment to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 May 2025.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson to Downing Street this afternoon.

Following the successful Joint Expeditionary Force meeting in Oslo last week and the Coalition of the Willing call in Kyiv on Saturday, the leaders underlined that now more than ever it is vital to be united on defence and security.

They agreed to continue support for Ukraine and put the pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table – without conditions. The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Kristersson for Sweden’s contribution to Operation Interflex – the training programme for Ukrainians in the UK.

On trade, defence and civil nuclear, the leaders agreed to closer working.

They both looked forward to discussing migration, security and defence at the European Political Community meeting later this week.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 May 2025.

The Prime Minister will today announce an end to Britain’s failed experiment in open borders that saw migration soar to one million a year by ensuring people coming here earn the right to stay in the country.

The Prime Minister will today announce an end to Britain’s failed experiment in open borders that saw migration soar to one million a year by ensuring people coming here earn the right to stay in the country.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of today’s (Monday 12 May) publication of the Immigration White Paper, the Prime Minister will say that living in this country is a privilege that must be earned.

New immigration rules will reduce reliance on overseas recruitment, prioritise those who contribute to Britain’s economy and put more money in the pockets of working people, the first priority of our Plan for Change.

The new system will end automatic settlement and citizenship for anyone living here for five years.

Instead, migrants must spend a decade in the UK before applying to stay unless they can show a real and lasting contribution to the economy and society.

Under a new framework to be rolled out high-skilled, high-contributing individuals who play by the rules and contribute to the economy and society would be fast-tracked, such as nurses, doctors, engineers and AI leaders.

The government will also raise English language requirements across every immigration route to ensure those wishing to live and work in the UK speak a higher standard of English.

For the first time this will also extend to all adult dependents by requiring them to demonstrate a basic understanding of English – helping individuals integrate into their local community, find employment and reducing the risk of exploitation and abuse.

The changes are part of the government’s Plan for Change to turn the page on over a decade of decline that saw Britain’s immigration system spiral out of control with record migration numbers, undermining the confidence of working people.

The Prime Minister will take a new common-sense approach, one that backs British workers over cheap overseas labour and links migration policy with skills to boost economic growth.

The full package of radical reforms will be unveiled by the Home Secretary in Parliament later today and builds on action already taken by the government to restore order to the immigration system. More than 24,000 people with no right to be here have been returned since the election – the highest rate in 8 years – including a 16% increase in foreign national offender removals.

In a press conference today the Prime Minister will announce his overhaul of the broken system, and is expected to say:

For years we have had a system that encourages businesses to bring in lower paid workers, rather than invest in our young people.

That is the Britain this broken system has created.

Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened up so we have more control. Enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall.

We will create a system that is controlled, selective and fair.

One that recognises those who genuinely contribute to Britain’s growth and society, while restoring common sense and control to our borders.

This is a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right.

And when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language.

Lower net migration, higher skills and backing British workers – that is what this White Paper will deliver.

The Immigration White Paper comes after net migration reached nearly one million in the year ending June 2023 – four times the levels seen in 2019.

Public services were stretched, housing costs soared, and employers swapped skills investment for cheap overseas labour. In sectors like engineering, apprenticeships almost halved while work visas doubled and communities were asked to absorb record numbers.

Visas have already fallen by 40% since the government took power, but our new approach will go further and faster – reshaping the system around the needs of the economy and fairness for working people.

There will be tougher rules on who can come to work, study or bring family. Every part of the system is being tightened. Backdoor routes to settlement will be closed, enforcement will be stepped up as we end abuse of the system.

Britain will remain open to the best global talent – but the days of mass recruitment to plug avoidable skills gaps will end. New mechanisms will ensure employers wanting visas must show they are investing in British workers and raising skills in this country to boost economic growth.

We will support businesses to take on British workers through new industry workforce strategies, while introducing much tighter restrictions on recruitment for shortage occupations.

The full package of policies in the Immigration White Paper will be published later today (Monday 12 May).