Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 October 2024.

The Prime Minister spoke to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon, and they discussed the escalating situation across the Middle East.

The Prime Minister condemned Iran’s attack on Israel today in the strongest terms, which began during the leaders’ conversation, and expressed the UK’s steadfast commitment to Israeli security and the protection of civilians.

During the call, the Prime Minister also underlined the importance of a ceasefire in Lebanon to allow space for a political solution in line with UNSC Resolution 1701.

The Prime Minister also raised the situation in Gaza and the importance of a ceasefire and action to bring home the hostages.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 October 2024.

The Prime Minister spoke to King Abdullah II of Jordan earlier this afternoon from Downing Street.

The leaders began by underscoring the urgent need for a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza. They both called for de-escalation to prevent the extreme humanitarian situation from worsening.

The Prime Minister said he will work alongside partners and do everything possible to push for de-escalation and push for a diplomatic solution.

The leaders agreed to stay in touch.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 September 2024.

The Prime Minister has approved the appointments of Professor Kirstie Blair and Rupert Morley as Trustees of the Kennedy Memorial Trust, for a term of five years from 30 September 2024.

Professor Kirstie Blair

Kirstie Blair is Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Sterling. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Cambridge, and MPhil and DPhil degrees from the University of Oxford. She studied at Harvard University as a Kennedy Scholar.

Rupert Morley

Rupert is Chairman of Pershing Square Holdings, a FTSE 100 company, Chair of Bremont Watches and Trustee for Comic Relief. Rupert holds a degree in economics from Cambridge University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, which he attended as a Kennedy Scholar.

Note for editors

The Kennedy Memorial Trust was established in 1964 to administer monies raised in the United Kingdom as a tribute to the late President John Kennedy. Part of the fund was used to create and maintain the Kennedy Memorial site at Runnymede. The remaining capital is used to provide Kennedy Scholarships which enable British postgraduate students to study at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Trustees are responsible for the selection process for those scholarships and for managing the maintenance of the Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 September 2024.

The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados at UNGA.

Both leaders stressed the strength of the relationship between their two countries and discussed the importance of working together on key issues such as international financial institution reform, climate change and pandemic preparedness.

They looked forward to meeting again soon.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 September 2024.

The Prime Minister met Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati at UNGA.

The Prime Minister opened by giving his sincere condolences to Prime Minister Mikati for the loss of civilian life in recent weeks.

They discussed the escalating conflict in Lebanon, and agreed on the importance of an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 26 September 2024.

The Prime Minister met the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres at UNGA this morning.

They discussed some of the most pressing global issues including Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan.

The Prime Minister underlined his commitment to working with the United Nations to tackle global challenges, including climate change and development.

The UN Secretary General thanked the UK for continuing to play a central role in the work of the UN.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, human rights and international humanitarian law.

The two agreed to work together to implement the Pact for the Future.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 26 September 2024.

The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan in New York this morning.

They discussed the deep relationship between the UK and Pakistan, including strong people to people links, and on trade and investment.

They agreed to work together to deepen these relations further, particularly on trade, climate, and security.

The Prime Minister also congratulated Prime Minister Sharif on Pakistan’s election to the UN Security Council and agreed on the importance of working to strengthen the multilateral system.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 26 September 2024.

The Prime Minister met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at UNGA this afternoon.

The Prime Minister expressed his condolences for the civilian death toll in Gaza.

He said that we need an immediate ceasefire, the release of the hostages and unrestricted humanitarian aid.

The Prime Minister also condemned the increase in settler violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank.

The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s strong support for the Palestinian Authority, and they agreed to continue close collaboration.

He underlined that the only solution to the cycle of violence was to create a credible and irreversible pathway to a Palestinian State, alongside the State of Israel.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 26 September 2024.

The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Mark Birch, Minor Canon and Precentor at Westminster Abbey as Canon Rector of Westminster Abbey and Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, in succession to The Venerable Tricia Hillas following her appointment as Bishop of Sodor and Man.

Background

Mark was educated at Bristol, Cambridge and Oxford Universities, initially in Veterinary Science. He trained for ministry at Westcott House Cambridge, served his title at the parish of Cirencester with Watermoor in the Diocese of Gloucester, and was ordained priest in 2001. In 2003 Mark was appointed Chaplain and Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford and in 2006 moved to become Chaplain and co-ordinator of spiritual care at Helen & Douglas House, a children’s hospice, in Oxford. In 2010 he was appointed as Chaplain at Lord Mayor Treloar’s School and College before moving into parish ministry as Priest in Charge of St Faith, Winchester, in 2012, alongside which he continued in chaplaincy work as Chaplain of the Hospital of St Cross, Winchester. In 2015 Mark was appointed Minor Canon and Chaplain at Westminster Abbey, becoming Sacrist in 2018. He was appointed to his current role as Precentor in 2020.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 26 September 2024.

The Prime Minister met Kenyan President William Ruto at UNGA this afternoon.

The two leaders stressed how pleased they were to meet each other for the first time, and agreed the UK and Kenya share a close and important partnership.

They agreed to take forward work to further strengthen the bilateral relationship, building on the existing Strategic Partnership between our two countries.

In particular, both leaders shared their determination to deliver world-leading action to tackle climate change and accelerate the energy transition.

The Prime Minister praised President Ruto’s extensive and pioneering leadership in this area, both in Kenya and through his international work across Africa and the world to accelerate the clean energy transition, and reiterated his ambition to turn the UK into a clean energy superpower.

Both looked forward to working together more closely and agreed to take forward work to champion clean power internationally– including leveraging the power of private sector investment and international financial institution reform to deliver on their climate ambitions.