Tag: Downing Street

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

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik al Said, this morning.

He welcomed the long friendship between the UK and Oman, stretching back centuries, and committed to continue deepening that partnership in areas including trade, defence and security.

The leaders discussed the ongoing Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, agreeing that it was vital for international security and stability to deescalate tensions in the region.

The Prime Minister stressed that military action was a last resort in the face of intolerable threats to global shipping, and followed consistent international warnings. The UK continued to urge the Houthis to end their reckless attacks.

The Prime Minister also raised the UK’s position on the devastating conflict in Gaza. He said the immediate priority was agreeing a humanitarian pause to allow more aid to be delivered across Gaza and to secure the release of all hostages.

The UK was pushing for more routes to be opened to bring far greater quantities of aid into the suffering civilian population, including maritime routes.

He reiterated the UK’s support for progress towards a viable two state solution, where Palestinians and Israelis can live in dignity and security. That would require Israel’s security to be guaranteed, Hamas no longer in charge in Gaza, and a bolstered Palestinian Authority. The leaders agreed on the importance of international cooperation to reach a sustainable long-term settlement to the crisis.

The Prime Minister closed the call by reaffirming his personal commitment to building on the long UK-Oman relationship, and the leaders looked forward to working closely together in the future.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 January 2024.

The Prime Minister launches this year’s Business Council today (31st January) and will meet with members throughout the year to discuss economic growth.

The Prime Minister launches this year’s Business Council today (31st January) and will meet with members throughout the year to discuss economic growth.

The council will have a regular meeting with the Prime Minister in Downing Street to share intelligence directly from the shop floor to help boost the UK economy and create jobs. The first meeting will take place next month.

It includes Chief Executives from:

• BT Group
• Nationwide
• Unilever
• Rolls-Royce
• Scottish Power
• Almac Group
• Barratt Developments
• ITV
• Lloyds Banking Group
• OMass Therapeutics
• Raspberry PI
• Principality Building Society
• Informed Solutions
• Castore
• Greggs

These firms account for over 200,000 employees from across the United Kingdom, and are intrinsic to the success of this nation, whether this be the delivery of critical infrastructure, the development of new homes, or the production of aircraft engines.

This year’s Business Council builds on the economic success of 2023, which saw the Government stabilise the economy, cut inflation in half, and deliver the biggest business tax cut in modern British history – worth over £50 billion over the next five years.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

Coming from a small business family, I know how integral business is to communities and the wider economy.

Without the jobs, growth, and innovation created by UK firms, the country simply wouldn’t function.

That’s why I’m getting businesses in for a regular update on how well we are doing in delivering for business – straight from the shop floor.

The newly appointed Business Council will be a forum to bring a real-world perspective on how the current economic climate is impacting business and how government and industry can work together to boost investment and innovation, drive productivity and create highly skilled jobs.

The Minister for Enterprise, Markets & Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake, and the PM’s Special Advisor on Business & Investment, Franck Petitgas, will also host quarterly meetings in Downing Street with small business representative groups to ensure the Government hears from a broad range of SMEs, in addition to those that sit on the Council.

This year’s Council will continue to provide insights on how we ensure the UK remains a great place to invest; as evidenced by the bumper investments that landed in 2023:

• Tata Group’s £4bn UK gigafactory
• BMW’s £600m commitment to develop electrical vehicle production in the UK
• Nissan’s £2bn to support two new electric vehicle models in Sunderland
• Microsoft’s £2.5bn investment in AI infrastructure
• The Global Investment Summit where £29.5bn of investment was committed to the UK
• The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement that will drive £20 billion more business investment per year by the end of the decade

Debbie Crosbie, CEO of Nationwide said:

Business and government have a common interest in strong economic growth. It releases investment for communities, funds improvements in public services, and inspires innovation. I’m delighted to work with the Prime Minister’s 2024 Business Council on new growth strategies and to keep the UK competitive.

Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of Rolls-Royce said:

Rolls-Royce welcomes the opportunity to continue its ongoing dialogue with Government, building partnerships between business and politics to promote growth in the UK economy.

Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower said:

The Prime Minister has set out clear ambitions to significantly speed up investments in the critical infrastructure we need to deliver energy security and decarbonisation. From clean homegrown energy to modern electricity networks, ScottishPower has a £12bn plan to invest at record levels to help make these ambitions a reality – creating the conditions for wider economic growth in the UK and unlocking skills and capabilities right across the domestic supply chain and in communities throughout the whole country.

David Thomas, CEO of Barratt Developments said:

I welcome the chance to join the Prime Minister’s 2024 Business Council, the opportunity to share the challenges faced by all housebuilders and discuss solutions for a vital sector which provides the new sustainable homes the country needs and is a powerful driver of economic growth across the UK.

Carolyn McCall, CEO of ITV said:

ITV is a global company but one that remains firmly rooted in the UK – around half of our UK employees live and work outside of London in news teams and production bases across our nations and regions.  That’s why I want to work with the Government to create the right economic platform and incentives to encourage businesses to increase investment and economic activity across the UK, particularly in the development of skills and talent.

Ros Deegan, CEO of OMass Therapeutics said:

Given healthcare and scientific innovation is so strong and important to the United Kingdom, I am excited to accept this invitation and look forward to working with the Government and contributing to discussions around our scale up economy.

Elizabeth Vega, CEO of Informed Solutions said:

It is an honour to join the Prime Minister’s 2024 Business Council and help shape ambitious and dynamic policy that energises and sustains growth, productivity, international trade, and job opportunities across the UK. The UK needs great businesses with a growth, skills, innovation, and productivity mindset – from small to medium and large enterprises – to build a strong, resilient, and internationally competitive economy.

Thomas Beahon, CEO of Castore said:

It is a real honour to be joining the Prime Minister’s 2024 Business Council. I look forward to working with the PM and other business leaders from across the UK and making a positive contribution to the country’s long term economic growth priorities with a particular focus on bringing my experiences of starting and growing a business in the North of England.

Eben Upton, CEO of Raspberry Pi said:

At Raspberry Pi, we design computers and semiconductors, while our parent organisation, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, works to get young people excited about computing and electronics. I’m delighted to join the Prime Minister’s 2024 Business Council, and look forward to sharing perspectives on the needs of design and manufacturing companies in the UK high-tech ecosystem, and the opportunities for even greater focus on STEM skills in the school, further and continuing education sectors.

Julie-Ann Haines, CEO of Principality Building Society said:

I welcome the opportunity to sit on the Prime Minister’s 2024 Business Council and am proud there is representation from Wales and the mutual sector, bringing diversity of thought to the table. Housing and financial stability is critical to building a strong balanced economy which supports our communities and our mission to provide better homes, secure futures and a fairer society will be at the heart of the discussions.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 30 January 2024.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 January 2024.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, to Downing Street this morning.

He welcomed the close partnership and friendship between our countries, demonstrated by our ambitious new cooperation on illegal migration and law enforcement.

The leaders agreed on the vital importance of ending the cruel and dangerous people-smuggling trade, including in container trucks and small boats.

The Prime Minister welcomed the groundbreaking new UK-Belgium Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement, which is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks. The first-of-its-kind Agreement will enhance intelligence sharing and surveillance capabilities and will see UK law enforcement officials forward-deployed to Belgium to tackle shared threats, including in counter-people smuggling operations.

The leaders also discussed the value of partnerships with third countries, both to find solutions to illegal migration and to address the poverty and instability that pushes people into the arms of people smugglers.

The Prime Minister updated on his recent visit to Ukraine, highlighting the recent successes of the Ukrainian armed forces and importance of continued military and financial assistance. They agreed to continue joint action on sanctions and asset seizures to deprive the Russian war machine of resources and ensure Ukraine can be rebuilt.

Turning to the situation in the Red Sea and the strikes conducted by the UK and US overnight, the leaders agreed it was critical to take strong action to defend freedom of navigation and counter Iran’s malign activity in the region.

The leaders also discussed wider issues, including opportunities for greater cooperation on energy security. They noted the need to further develop renewable grid interconnection between the UK and the European mainland to meet our respective 2030 net zero ambitions.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 22 January 2024.

The Prime Minister spoke to US President Biden this evening.

They discussed the situation in Israel and Gaza, and the urgent need to secure the release of Israeli hostages while alleviating the very real impact of the conflict on civilians in Gaza. The Prime Minister stressed that supporting Israel in its efforts to defeat the threat from Hamas does not detract from the need for the IDF to take greater care to protect civilians and operate within International Humanitarian Law.

The Prime Minister and President Biden resolved to continue working together to encourage further humanitarian pauses to get hostages out of Gaza and allow more aid to enter. As part of this they underscored the need to open more aid routes into Gaza, including at Ashdod, while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of existing routes. The leaders also agreed that a two state solution which allows Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security is more important than ever.

The Prime Minister and President Biden paid tribute to the British and American personnel who are currently working closely together to uphold freedom of navigation and protect lives in the Red Sea. The Prime Minister passed on his condolences on the death of two US Navy Seals confirmed today.

The leaders condemned the surge in violent Houthi attacks on commercial ships transiting the area and undertook to continue efforts alongside international partners to deter and disrupt those attacks. This includes work through the multinational Operation Prosperity Guardian, putting diplomatic pressure on Iran to cease their support of Houthi activity and, as needed, targeted military action to degrade Houthi capabilities.

The Prime Minister updated President Biden on his recent announcement of £2.5 billion of further military support for Ukraine alongside the signing of a new UK-Ukraine bilateral security agreement. The leaders agreed that it is paramount that the world continues to back Ukraine as it resists unprovoked Russian aggression.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 January 2024.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this evening.

The Prime Minister updated on his recent visit to Kyiv, including the signing of the UK-Ukraine Agreement on Security Cooperation and the UK’s announcement of £2.5 billion in further military aid for Ukraine.

They agreed on the importance of allies continuing to support Ukraine’s defence, which is vital for European and global security, and providing the Ukrainian armed forces with the weapons they need to defeat Russia’s invasion. The leaders also discussed wider cooperation on defence and security, including on supporting regional stability in the Middle East.

Both leaders discussed the shared European challenge of illegal migration, noting the importance of strong joint action across the continent to deal with criminal people smuggling gangs. They agreed to continue working closely together on this issue, including through Italy’s presidency of the G7.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 January 2024.

The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Toby Wright, Team Rector of Witney and Honorary Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, to be appointed as Dean of Wells, in succession to The Very Reverend Dr John Davies following his resignation.

Toby was educated at New College, Oxford, and trained for ministry at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield. He served his title at St Peter with St Mary, Petersfield, in the Diocese of Portsmouth and in 2002 he was ordained priest.

From 2004, Toby served as Priest in Charge at St John Chrysostom with St Andrew, Peckham, in the Diocese of Southwark, and in 2006 he was appointed Vicar, also serving as Area Dean of Camberwell.

In 2009, Toby took up his current role as Team Rector of the Benefice of Witney, in the Diocese of Oxford, serving as Area Dean of Witney from 2013 to 2019. From 2020-2023 Toby was on secondment to the Dorchester Episcopal Area Team and during part of this time served as Acting Associate Archdeacon. In addition, Toby is Warden of the Sisters of the Community of Saint Mary the Virgin, Wantage.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 January 2024.

The Prime Minister will reiterate the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine in a visit to the capital Kyiv today.

Later today, the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy will sign a historic UK-Ukraine Agreement on Security Cooperation. The G7 nations agreed to provide Ukraine with bilateral security assurances at the NATO Summit in Vilnius last year; the UK is the first country to deliver a final agreement. The totemic agreement is intended to be the first step in developing an unshakeable hundred-year partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

The UK-Ukraine Agreement on Security Cooperation formalises a range of support the UK has been and will continue to provide for Ukraine’s security, including intelligence sharing, cyber security, medical and military training, and defence industrial cooperation.

It also commits the UK to consult with Ukraine in the event it is ever attacked by Russia again, and to provide “swift and sustained” assistance for their defence.

Ahead of meeting President Zelenskyy, Rishi Sunak has also confirmed the UK will provide £2.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024/25, an increase of £200 million on the previous two years.

The funding will help to leverage the best of UK military expertise and defence production to ensure Ukraine’s victory on the battlefield, including in critical areas like long-range missiles, air defence, artillery ammunition and maritime security.

Of the £2.5 billion, at least £200 million will be spent on a major push to rapidly procure and produce thousands of military drones for Ukraine, including surveillance, long-range strike and sea drones. The technology will give Ukraine cutting edge, battle-tested capabilities to defend their citizens and target the invading Russian forces on land and sea.

This will be the largest delivery of drones to Ukraine from any nation. Most of the drones are expected to be manufactured in the UK, and the Ministry of Defence will work with international partners to significantly scale up the number of drones provided for Ukraine’s defence.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

For two years, Ukraine has fought with great courage to repel a brutal Russian invasion. They are still fighting, unfaltering in their determination to defend their country and defend the principles of freedom and democracy.

I am here today with one message: the UK will also not falter. We will stand with Ukraine, in their darkest hours and in the better times to come.

“The UK is already one of Ukraine’s closest partners, because we recognise their security is our security. Today we are going further – increasing our military aid, delivering thousands of cutting-edge drones, and signing a historic new Security Agreement to provide Ukraine with the assurances it needs for the long term.”

During his visit to Kyiv, the Prime Minister is expected to meet emergency workers responding to the aftermath of Russian airstrikes. He will announce a further £18 million in aid for Ukraine, building on almost £340 million already provided. Some of that funding will support organisations like the UN and Red Cross to provide humanitarian aid on the frontline, and £8 million will go to fortify Ukraine’s energy infrastructure against further Russian attacks.

As part of efforts to cement the close bond between our two nations and Ukraine’s place at the heart of Europe, the UK will also provide additional funding and resources for English language training in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Government has proposed legislation to promote English in Ukraine, boosting economic competitiveness and diplomatic ties. Today’s announcement will see the UK fund online English lessons for Ukrainians of all ages, as well as providing resources and teacher training.

Today’s visit builds on months of direct diplomacy between the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy, as well as a world-leading record of UK military, diplomatic and economic support for Ukraine. With this latest funding, the UK has now provided almost £12 billion in support to Ukraine and has often been the first-mover on vital lethal aid, from Storm Shadow cruise missiles to a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks.

The statement made by 10 Downing Street on 12 January 2024.

Joint Statement from the governments of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Recognising the broad consensus as expressed by 44 countries around the world on December 19, 2023, as well as the statement by the UN Security Council on December 1, 2023, condemning Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, our governments issued a joint statement on January 3, 2024, which called for the immediate end of illegal attacks and warned that malign actors would be held accountable should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways. Despite this strong warning, attacks in the Red Sea have continued, including the launch of numerous missiles and one-way attack aerial vehicles against ships in the Red Sea on January 9, 2024, including U.S. and UK vessels.  On January 10, 2024, the UN Security Council passed UNSCR 2722, which also condemned these attacks and demanded that they cease.

In response to continued illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi attacks against vessels, including commercial shipping, transiting the Red Sea, the armed forces of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from the Netherlands, Canada, Bahrain, and Australia, conducted joint strikes in accordance with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence, consistent with the UN Charter, against a number of targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.  These precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of international mariners in one of the world’s most critical waterways.

The Houthis’ more than two dozen attacks on commercial vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge. Today’s action demonstrated a shared commitment to freedom of navigation, international commerce, and defending the lives of mariners from illegal and unjustifiable attacks.

Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and ensure the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 3 January 2024.

Joint Statement by the Governments of Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Denmark; Germany; Italy; Japan; Netherlands; New Zealand; United Kingdom; and United States.