Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 May 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this evening.

The leaders began by reflecting on their meeting in Tirana, Albania, on Friday before discussing the UK’s latest package of sanctions on Russian military, energy and financial sectors announced today.

It was vital to keep the pressure on Russia while they continued their illegal invasion of Ukraine, the leaders agreed.

Looking ahead to further peace talks, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine and said he was steadfast in his commitment to helping Ukraine secure a just and lasting peace.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 May 2025.

The Prime Minister has today confirmed a new agreement with the European Union which will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, back British jobs and put more money in people’s pockets.

Extensive negotiations over the last six months have led to the third major deal struck by the government in as many weeks, following the US and India – which the Prime Minister says will be “good for jobs, good for bills and good for our borders”.

As part of the deal, a new SPS agreement will make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing the red tape that placed burdens on businesses and led to lengthy lorry queues at the border. This agreement will have no time limit, giving vital certainty to businesses.

Some routine checks on animal and plant products will be removed completely, allowing goods to flow freely again, including between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ultimately this could lower food prices and increase choice on supermarket shelves – meaning more money in people’s pockets.

The EU is the UK’s largest trading partner. After the 21% drop in exports and 7% drop in imports seen since Brexit, the UK will also be able to sell various products, such as burgers and sausages, back into the EU again, supporting these vital British industries.

Closer co-operation on emissions through linking our respective Emissions Trading Systems will improve the UK’s energy security and avoid businesses being hit by the EU’s carbon tax due to come in next year – which would have sent £800 million directly to the EU’s budget.

Combined, the SPS and Emissions Trading Systems linking measures alone are set to add nearly £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040, in a huge boost for growth.

British steel exports are protected from new EU rules and restrictive tariffs, through a bespoke arrangement for the UK that will save UK steel £25 million per year.

The UK will enter talks about access to EU facial images data for the first time, on top of the existing arrangements for DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data. This will enhance our ability to catch dangerous criminals and ensure they face justice more quickly.

British holidaymakers will be able to use more eGates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control. Pets will also be able to travel more easily, with the introduction of ‘pet passports’ for UK cats and dogs – eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will say:

It’s time to look forward. To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people.

We’re ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people’s lives here at home.

So that’s what this deal is all about – facing out into the world once again, in the great tradition of this nation. Building the relationships we choose, with the partners we choose, and closing deals in the national interest. Because that is what independent, sovereign nations do.

Today will also see the agreement of the new Security and Defence Partnership, which will pave the way for the UK defence industry to participate in the EU’s proposed new £150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence fund – supporting thousands of British jobs and boosting growth.

At a time of increasing global uncertainty and volatility, this will formalise UK-EU co-operation on defence to ensure Europe’s safety and security.

Minister for European Union Relations and lead Government negotiator, Nick Thomas-Symonds said:

Today is a historic day, marking the opening of a new chapter in our relationship with the EU that delivers for working people across the UK.

Since the start of these negotiations, we have worked for a deal to make the British people safer, more secure and more prosperous. Our new UK-EU Strategic Partnership achieves all three objectives. It delivers on jobs, bills and borders. Today is a day of delivery. Britain is back on the world stage with a Government in the service of working people.

The UK and the EU have also agreed to co-operate further on a youth experience scheme – which could see young people able to work and travel freely in Europe again. The scheme, which would be capped and time-limited, would mirror existing schemes the UK has with countries such as Australia and New Zealand.

The Prime Minister is clear that bringing down migration remains an absolute priority for him, which is why today’s agreement also majors on further work on finding solutions to tackle illegal migration – including on returns and a joint commitment to tackle channel crossings.

The UK and EU have also reached a new twelve year agreement that protects Britain’s fishing access, fishing rights and fishing areas with no increase in the amount of fish EU vessels can catch in British waters, providing stability and certainty for the sector. The UK will also back coastal communities by investing £360 million into our fishing industry to go towards new technology and equipment to modernise the fleet, training to help upskill the workforce, and funding to help revitalise coastal communities, support tourism and boost seafood exports. The British fleet will also benefit from the SPS agreement which slashes costs and red tape to help exports.

This agreement meets the red lines set out in the government’s manifesto – no return to the single market, no return to the customs union, and no return to freedom of movement.

The UK will continue to hold talks with the European Union on the details of each commitment.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 May 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to leaders of the United States, Italy, France and Germany last night [18 May 2025].

The leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine, and the catastrophic cost of the war to both sides.

Looking ahead to President Trump’s call with President Putin tomorrow, the leaders discussed the need for an unconditional ceasefire and for President Putin to take peace talks seriously.

They also discussed the use of sanctions if Russia failed to engage seriously in a ceasefire and peace talks.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 May 2025.

• This week, the Prime Minister will strike yet another deal that will deliver in the national interest of this country. It will be good for growth, good for jobs, good for bills, and good for our borders.
• In the last two weeks alone, the government has delivered trade deals with India and the United States. Jobs saved, faster growth, wages rising.
• These deals are a huge vote of confidence in the United Kingdom. They show that, even though times have been tough, the decisions the government have taken to stabilise the economy and lead the way internationally have made this a country people want to do business with again.
• Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will set out how a strengthened, forward-looking partnership with the European Union will deliver for working people and lead to more money in pockets as part of our Plan for Change – and sticking to the red lines set out in our manifesto.
• Because the British public deserve better than the deal reached under the previous government, which isn’t working for anyone.
• It will be better for UK producers – who face red tape and checks just to export to our nearest and biggest trading partner. Or sometimes can’t export at all.
• It will be better for British supermarkets, who have to pass these costs onto consumers and reduce the availability of products on shelves.
• And it will be better for British families who face higher bills, queues on holiday and whose safety and security is harmed by a lack of cooperation between neighbouring countries facing the same global challenges.
• First India, then the US, now the European Union. This is what outward-looking, independent sovereign nations do – we look at the problems facing our country and we work hard, alongside our allies, to find solutions that deliver for our people.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“In this time of great uncertainty and volatility, the UK will not respond by turning inwards, but by proudly taking our place on the world stage – strengthening our alliances and closing deals in the interests of British people.

“First India, then the United States – in the last two weeks alone that’s jobs saved, faster growth and wages rising. More money in the pockets of British working people, achieved through striking deals not striking poses.

“Tomorrow, we take another step forwards, with yet more benefits for the United Kingdom as the result of a strengthened partnership with the European Union. It will be good for our jobs, good for our bills and good for our borders.

“That’s what the British people voted for last year, and it’s what my government will deliver.”

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

The Prime Minister met the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen today.

The Prime Minister began by reflecting on the success of the European Political Community summit in Tirana.

The leaders welcomed the close cooperation between the UK and member states ahead of the UK-EU Summit on Monday.

A closer relationship with Europe – across defence and security, tackling irregular migration, trade and economic growth – would benefit working people on all sides, the Prime Minister said.

The leaders looked forward to seeing each other on Monday.

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.