Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 April 2026.

The Prime Minister met His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, in Jeddah today.

The Prime Minister began by welcoming the ceasefire and set out how efforts must now be focused on upholding it and turning it into a lasting peace. 

He was clear that it was vital now to continue work to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and discussed the UK’s ongoing efforts to convene partners to agree and plan the practical steps required to give shipping the confidence to transit the Strait. 

Reflecting on the defensive operations which have taken place in the region since the conflict began, the Prime Minister thanked His Royal Highness for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to protect British nationals in the country. 

The Prime Minister committed to continue to support Saudi Arabia as a steadfast ally including through the recent deployment of the Sky Sabre air defence system, having met UK personnel deployed to operate it earlier today. 

The leaders then discussed how the UK and Saudi Arabia could further deepen their defence industrial cooperation to boost capability and mutual security for the long term, as well as continuing to grow their thriving trade and investment relationship.

The Prime Minister said he was pleased that the UK and Saudi Arabia would soon be marking 100 years of friendship under the Treaty of Jeddah and they looked forward to speaking again soon.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 April 2026.

Statement by President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Starmer, Prime Minister Albanese, Prime Minister Carney, President Dan, acting Prime Minister Frederiksen, Prime Minister Frostadóttir Prime Minister Jetten, Prime Minister Kristersson, Prime Minister Michal, Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Prime Minister Montenegro, Prime Minister Sanchez, Prime Minister Siliņa, Prime Minister Støre, President Stubb, Prime Minister Takaichi, President of the European Commission von der Leyen, President of the European Council.

We welcome the two-week ceasefire concluded between the United States and Iran today. 

We thank Pakistan and all partners involved for facilitating this important agreement.

The goal must now be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the war within the coming days. This can only be achieved through diplomatic means.

We strongly encourage quick progress towards a substantive negotiated settlement. 

This will be crucial to protect the civilian population of Iran and ensure security in the region. It can avert a severe global energy crisis.

We support these diplomatic efforts. To this end, we are in close contact with the United States and other partners.

We call upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon.

Our Governments will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 April 2026.

• The Prime Minister will travel to the Gulf this week to meet leaders of countries who have been in the front line, and will set out his full support for the newly agreed ceasefire 
• In meetings with regional leaders, he will reiterate unwavering UK support and need for a long-term diplomatic resolution to make sure the ceasefire leads to a lasting agreement 
• He will hold talks on ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains permanent, with the United Kingdom continuing to lead international efforts

The Prime Minister is travelling to the Gulf today to meet with Gulf partners and discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire in order to bring about a lasting resolution to the conflict and protect the UK and global economy from further threats.   

On the visit, the Prime Minister will make clear his government’s commitment to de-escalation, and hold further talks on practical efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz following promising progress reported as a result of the ceasefire. As announced by the Prime Minister last week, the United Kingdom is continuing to lead the international effort, convening allies from across the world to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.  

He will also see in person the defensive support the UK has provided in the collective self-defence of our allies in the region and thank UK personnel for their brave service. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world. 

Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

The Prime Minster’s travel follows the UK-convened meeting last week of more than 40 countries to begin work on a viable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz when the fighting subsides, and subsequent military planning meeting hosted by the UK on Tuesday to further advance this work. 

Work will now continue at pace in light of the ceasefire and the Prime Minister is expected to discuss this further in meetings with leaders in the region.

The Prime Minister’s first stop will be to thank the UK and local personnel who have bravely put their lives at risk in the defence of our people, our interests and those of our allies. 

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that UK personnel have intercepted more than 110 drone attacks in the region, and the RAF have conducted more than 1600 hours of defensive operations.

The Prime Minister will also pay tribute to the work of our partners in the Gulf, whose armed forces have protected the hundreds of thousands of UK nationals living in the region in the face of Iran’s brutal aggression.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 April 2026.

• New measures come into force today to support workers, pensioners, and families with the cost of living
• Two‑child benefit cap scrapped from today – lifting nearly half a million children out of poverty
• Comes as the Prime Minister renews his commitment to defend Britain’s interests abroad and stand up for people at home

The Prime Minister has vowed to “always be on the side” of the British people as changes today help workers, pensioners, and families with the cost of living. 

At a time of international uncertainty, the Government is focused on what matters most to people at home: easing the cost of living now, and making sure the country is better prepared for future shocks. 

A raft of changes coming into effect today will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, provide millions of pensioners with extra help to manage rising costs, and deliver the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.

Keir Starmer understands that families are worried about bills, the weekly shop, and what global instability could mean for their household finances. Today’s measures provide certainty now — while laying the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy. 

As a result of decisions made by this government, policies coming into effect today include:

• Scrapping the two child benefit cap which will lift 450,000 children out of poverty
• The biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation through the Employment Rights Act – delivering day one paternity and parental leave as well as major reforms to Statutory Sick Pay, ensuring workers can take time off when sick without worrying about going without pay.
• Increasing the basic and new State Pensions by 4.8% for more than 12 million people – an increase worth up to £575 a year for someone on the new State Pension.
• Uprating benefits such as PIP and Housing Benefit, and increasing most working-age benefits by 3.8%, helping millions of low-income families and sick and disabled people.
• This comes alongside action the Government is taking to incentivise work and tackle ill-health, as well as boosting the standard rate of Universal Credit by 6.2% – the first ever permanent, above-inflation increase – worth around £265 more a year for a single person, or £465 more a year for a couple.

These measures follow last week’s increase in the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage for millions of workers, alongside an average £117 a year cut to energy bills for households across the country – locked in until the end of June. 

Taken together, this action leaves the UK better placed to weather current economic challenges, while working with global partners to secure de‑escalation and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to relieve pressure on prices globally.  

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said: 

No matter the global uncertainty, my government will always be on the side of the British people in bearing down on the cost of living. 

I will never lose sight of how restless people are for change, and I am proud that today we are lifting nearly half a million children out of poverty, boosting support for pensioners, and delivering the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.

“I know families across the country are concerned about the conflict in Iran and what it means for the cost of living. We are working closely with international partners to push for a de-escalation in the Middle East and the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. This is the most effective way to ease the pressure on the cost of living. > >I am clear that our response to the current global situation will define us for a generation, which is why we are taking the right long-term decisions now to ensure we emerge from this as a stronger, more secure nation.

All these policies take effect alongside the Prime Minister’s five‑point plan to deal with the immediate impact of the conflict in the Middle East on the cost of living. 

This includes cutting energy bills by an average of £117 per household; extending the cut in fuel duty until September while closely monitoring prices at the pumps; providing £53 million to support households most exposed to heating oil price rises; strengthening Britain’s energy security by investing in clean, home‑grown energy; and continuing to push for de‑escalation in the Middle East. 

During the past week, the Prime Minister has hosted a roundtable with leaders from the energy, insurance and shipping sectors to hear directly about the challenges they are facing, chaired a COBR meeting of Cabinet ministers to coordinate the UK’s response, and asked the Foreign Secretary to bring together more than 40 countries to drive forward a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and protect freedom of navigation.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 3 April 2026.

The Prime Minister spoke to His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah this morning. 

The Prime Minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery. He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf. They discussed the deployment of the UK’s Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait, which will protect Kuwaiti and British personnel and interests in the region, while avoiding escalation into wider conflict. 

Regarding ongoing disruption to global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Prime Minister and Crown Prince welcomed the meeting convened by the Foreign Secretary yesterday on a viable plan to reopen the Strait. 

They agreed to continue to work together on this and stay in close contact over the coming weeks.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 April 2026.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, this morning.

The leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed on the urgent need for de‑escalation.

They underlined the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to restore freedom of navigation, noting the significant impact current disruption is having on global shipping, which is driving up costs worldwide. This will be central to discussions at the UK-hosted meeting later today, chaired by the Foreign Secretary and attended by the Italian Foreign Minister amongst more than 35 nations.

The Prime Ministers also agreed to continue working closely together in support of Europe’s collective security, and to remain in close contact.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 April 2026.

A raft of new measures – coming into force today (1 April 2026) – will see wages go up, bills come down, and more support for those who need it most.

In an uncertain and volatile world, the Prime Minister is continuing to work with allies to push for de-escalation in the Middle East – which is the surest and quickest way to bring down pressures on prices.

On Monday, he hosted a roundtable with energy, insurance, and shipping companies and on Tuesday he chaired a COBR(M) meeting to assess the situation with Cabinet colleagues.

Measures coming into force today include:

–       Increasing the National Living wage to £12.71 – a £900 boost for 2.4 million workers

–       Increasing the National Minimum Wage to £10.85 – a £1,500 boost for over 200,000 young workers

–       Cutting energy bills by an average £117 a year for millions across the UK – locked in until end of June

–       The Crisis & Resilience Fund starts running – enabled by £1bn of funding – which helps vulnerable households with things like heating oil

–       A freeze on prescription prices – so people aren’t spending more than a tenner on their medicines

This follows an update to the public on 16th March where the Prime Minister set out five steps that were already in place on the cost of living. These were:

1)    Cutting the energy price cap until the end of June – thanks to last year’s Budget

2)    The Chancellor’s decision to extend the cut in fuel duty until this September

3)    £53 million for households that are most exposed to heating oil rises

4)    Building Britain’s energy security and independence

5)    Ongoing work towards a swift resolution of the situation in the Middle East

The cut to the energy price cap comes on top of the £150 Warm Home Discount that around 6 million families will have received this winter, following its expansion last year – and eligible billpayers will continue to receive this support every winter for the rest of the decade.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“In an uncertain and volatile world, it is my government’s duty to protect the British people at home and abroad.

“I know the public are concerned about the conflict in Iran and what it means for them and their families.

“I want to reassure them that they have a government on their side, working with allies on de-escalation and bearing down on the cost of living.

“Today, millions of people up and down the country will see energy bills go down by £117, wages go up for the lowest paid, and more support will be available for people who need it most – because of the decisions this government has taken.

“But we must go further to bear down on costs, and that means pushing for de-escalation in the Middle East and a re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. That is the best way we can bring down the cost of living for families and that is my focus.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 March 2026.

The King has approved the nomination of The Venerable Roderick (Rod) Ernest Alexander Green, BA, MA, MTh, Archdeacon of Llandaff, in the Church in Wales, to the Suffragan See of Stepney, in the Diocese of London, in succession to The Right Reverend Dr Joanne Woolway Grenfell, MA, DPhil, following her translation to the See of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

Rod was educated at the University of Reading and the London School of Theology, and trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.  He served his title at Christ Church, Spitalfields, in the Stepney Area of the Diocese of London and was ordained priest in 2008.

In 2011 he took up the role of Associate Rector at St Paul’s, Shadwell, also in the Stepney Area of the Diocese of London.  In 2014 he was appointed Vicar at St. Peter’s, West Harrow, in the Willesden Area of the Diocese of London. 

He has served in his current role as Archdeacon of Llandaff, in the Diocese of Llandaff, in the Church in Wales, since 2021.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 March 2026.

The Prime Minister spoke to His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah today. 

The Prime Minister began by condemning Iran’s unacceptable and reckless strikes on Kuwait’s oil refineries yesterday, as well as the wider attacks on the Gulf. He shared his condolences for those who have lost their lives in Kuwait and reiterated the need for de-escalation.

The leaders agreed on the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and to continue working together, including on defensive capabilities in the region.

They agreed to keep in touch.