Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 February 2024.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron spoke at the United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine, marking 2 years since Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Thank you, Madam President, and Mr Secretary General.

We meet 2 years since Vladimir Putin ordered a wholly unprovoked invasion of a sovereign member of the United Nations. Airstrikes at dawn. Tanks rolling across the border. Preposterous claims this was not a declaration of war.

In many ways, the most remarkable thing was the total lack of any justification whatsoever of any threat from Ukraine. The abject disregard for the laws that bind nations, and for the principles of this United Nations. The brazenness with which Putin still claimed this was somehow legitimate.

Days after February the 24th, the United Nations General Assembly declared that the invasion was wrong and that Russia must withdraw immediately. Two years on, this has not changed. And so today, I want to pose 2 questions.

My first, to the Kremlin.

My first visit as Foreign Secretary was to Ukraine.  I stood in the wreckage of Odesa’s bombed-out cathedral. I saw brave Ukrainians kissing loved ones goodbye as they left to defend their homeland.

And I know that such scenes are not limited to Ukraine. Russian mothers too have had to bid farewell to Russian sons, Russian cities too now bear the scars of war.

So my question to Putin is simple. Why? His government claims this to be a battle between brothers. What twisted form of brotherhood is this, for which so many lives must be ruined?

How is Russia living up to its responsibilities as a permanent member of this Council to uphold international peace and security? And how many ridiculous explanations have we now had for the invasion? Are they criminals, or fellow Russians?

One minute Ukraine is an existential threat. The next we’re told it doesn’t exist. Are you fighting stooges of NATO, or Nazis?

The only people behaving like Nazis are the Putin regime: invading another country and hoping the world will be weak and let you get away with it. That is the simple truth: Putin believes he can take territories, re-draw borders, exercise force to build his empire. And we must not let this stand.

We know Ukraine’s answer. We saw the courage of President Zelenskyy 2 years ago.

And I say to the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, he is quite capable, and the Ukrainian people are quite capable, of making up their own mind about whether they should surrender part of their country to your illegal invasion.

And today, we admire the perseverance of the Ukrainian people, day in, day out. They won’t falter.  Indeed, they are continuing to push Russia back, liberating half the land Putin has seized and driving the Russian navy out of its base in Sevastapol.

The course of the war may ebb and flow. But the seizure of a small town does not change the reality of Russia’s situation. The Russian military is being drained of its modern equipment. You’re having to rely on poor quality shells from Pyongyang.  And you’ve sent a generation of Russian boys into the meat grinder. What do you tell their mothers they died for? Or don’t you even bother?

The Kremlin expected Ukraine to fold. But they are standing firm for their freedom. And you should all know Britain’s answer as well.

Last month, the Prime Minister was the first foreign leader to address the Rada. We are the first country to have signed a security pact with Ukraine.

And yesterday we imposed further sanctions, clamping down on Russia’s military-industrial complex and those enablers seeking to keep it running. These sanctions are a reminder. We won’t falter. We will stand firm for Ukraine’s freedom.

And the world has also seen Alexei Navalny’s answer. He showed incredible courage in returning to Russia. He didn’t falter. And he has now suffered terrible consequences for standing firm for Russian democracy.

And today is an opportunity, Secretary General,  to give the world’s answer.

All of us abhor needless suffering. None of us have escaped the economic consequences of the war. And yet, we all know what is at stake here.

In acting so brazenly, Putin is not only trying to seize a chunk of his neighbour’s territory. He is not only trying to extinguish the Ukrainian people’s right to self-determination. He is openly trying to upset the international order, replacing it not with some progressive vision of equality of nations but with a return to a 19th century ideology where might – particularly his might – is right.

This is why we all must stand up to Putin. Not just out of sympathy for Ukraine. But because his actions in Ukraine are so dangerous for everyone else.

If we give into the idea that one country can invade another with impunity, then we will be left in a dreadful situation where any country could face a similar fate. Respect for sovereignty lies at the heart of the international system. At the heart of the United Nations.  Nothing matters more to its members than having our borders treated as inviolable.

And that’s why nothing should matter more to us than seeing Putin fail. We must not falter. We must stand firm.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 February 2024.

The Foreign Secretary and Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira held talks at the G20 in Rio de Janeiro today [22 February 2024] to discuss how the international community can respond to major global challenges.

They agreed on the urgent need for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. The Foreign Secretary set out the UK’s plan for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, and then progress towards a sustainable permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting, and loss of life.

On Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary stressed the devastating human impact of the war and the importance of Brazil’s perspective on the world stage in building peace. He encouraged Brazil to follow its own principles and use their available channels, including BRICS and their G20 Presidency, to urge Russia to end its unprovoked and illegal invasion and create room for diplomacy.

The UK supports the Brazil Presidency in reforming global governance and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals. The Foreign Secretary said that international order needs to adapt and global institutions ‘needed to be reformed, not completely upended,’ including the UK’s support for permanent Security Council seats for Brazil, India, Japan, Germany and permanent representation from Africa.

The Foreign Secretary emphasised the need to go beyond national aid budgets and use all the resources at countries’ disposal to deliver a bigger, better, bolder and fairer international financial system that delivers for all. This includes making Multilateral Development Banks operate more effectively and reforming the World Trade Organisation to reduce protectionism. He pushed for global action to tackle Anti-Microbial Resistance, which is now responsible for more deaths than Tuberculosis, HIV AIDS, and Malaria.

The Foreign Secretary also signed a Defence Capability Collaboration Arrangement which will help modernise Brazil’s defence industrial base via UK expertise, strengthening UK-Brazil ties.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 February 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Gaza.

Thank you, President, and thank you Special Coordinator Wennesland for your briefing today.

Mr Lockyear I join others in offering condolences to the families and friends of those who’ve lost their lives, and also I salute the courage of those who’ve decided to stay. Your briefing to us was harrowing and your message was unequivocal and clear and I thank you for that.

Colleagues, we all know that Palestinian civilians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We want the fighting to stop now.

But simply calling for a ceasefire now doesn’t make it happen and won’t make it sustainable.  That is why we are calling for an immediate suspension in fighting to get aid in and hostages out, and then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and death.

That means: the release of all hostages; the formation of a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by an international support package; removing Hamas’s capability to launch attacks against Israel; Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza; and, a political horizon which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.

Current negotiations are critical to secure the release of the hostages held in Gaza as well as progress towards our shared objective of a sustainable ceasefire. The UK government continues to work intensively with partners across the region to support this and we call on all actors to do the same.

President, we are gravely concerned by the prospect of an Israeli offensive on Rafah which would have disastrous consequences for the civilians sheltering there with nowhere else to go.

Over half of Gaza’s population are sheltering in the area, and the Rafah crossing is vital to ensure aid can reach the people who so desperately need it.

That is why the immediate priority must be a suspension in the fighting, which is the best route to secure the safe release of hostages and significantly step up the aid reaching Gaza.

We are also gravely concerned that the UN World Food Programme has had to pause deliveries of food aid to northern Gaza. We continue to stress the need for Israel to support the UN to distribute aid effectively across the whole of Gaza, including in the north as the Special Coordinator referred to. And for Israel to open more crossing points into Gaza. Nitzana and Kerem Shalom must be open for longer.

Israel must also ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza, and take all possible measures to ensure the safety of medical personnel and facilities.

As we approach Ramadan, we urge all parties to call for calm and not inflame tensions around the holy sites. We call on everyone to respect their sanctity and security.

Now more than ever we need to generate momentum towards a permanent peace. The UK will continue to work intensively in support of a two-state solution which guarantees justice, peace and security for the people of two states – Israel and Palestine.

I thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 February 2024.

Mr Ross Matthews has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Chad in succession to Mr Jon Dean who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Matthews will take up his appointment during early summer 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Ross Harvey Sutherland Matthews

Date	Role
2018 to 2023	Lisbon, Deputy Head of Mission
2014 to 2017	FCO, Head, NATO Section, Euro-Atlantic Security Policy
2010 to 2014	Buenos Aires, Head, Political Team
2008 to 2010	FCO, Head, Operations Team, Crisis Management Department
2006 to 2008	Yaoundé, Second Secretary Political
2004 to 2005	FCO, Desk Officer, Australia/South Pacific
2002 to 2003	FCO, Desk Officer, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
2002	Joined FCO

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

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is in North Wales today to see how the Levelling Up agenda is helping to spread opportunity, create jobs and revitalise local communities across North Wales.

He will today meet engineers in Anglesey to see the work that goes on behind the UK Government’s rollout of faster, more reliable broadband, as well as visit communities and businesses across the two-day tour of the region.

The visit comes just as the UK Government announces that more than one million homes, businesses and public buildings can now access the best internet speeds on the market as a result of UK Government investment.

Growth in gigabit coverage in Wales over the past year is among the fastest in the UK. Today nearly 70 per cent of Welsh premises have access to a gigabit capable connection. Before our rollout, only seven per cent of Welsh premises had access five years ago.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Levelling Up is about providing people with better opportunities to work, travel and feel proud of where they live.

Upgrading one million premises with high-speed gigabit broadband is part of our long-term plan to deliver a brighter future by connecting people, businesses and regions across the entire United Kingdom.

We’re breathing new life into communities across North Wales through greater connectivity, a brand new freeport, more cash for high streets and a £1 billion investment into North Wales rail.

As part of our Levelling Up agenda, the Government has stepped in to upgrade places which have been left out of the commercial rollout.

Where previously many people would have struggled to stream TV shows or run small businesses, we are delivering greater connectivity – growing the rural economy, creating jobs and ensuring all communities across the country can reap the rewards of lightning-fast connectivity.

This follows the Government’s recent delivery of major projects to spread jobs, prosperity and investment right across North Wales:

• The new Anglesey Freeport, visited by the Prime Minister and First Minister last year, is expected to bring forward over a billion in private and public investment and create thousands of new, high-skilled jobs.
• A major upgrade and electrification of the North Wales Main Line – backed by an unprecedented £1 billion investment – will bring parts of North Wales within an hour of Manchester.
• A further £20m from the Levelling Up Fund will go to projects to develop and boost areas in Denbighshire, which will include regenerating Rhyl town centre, creating more community centres, improving cycle and footpaths, and improving routes between the town and coast.
• The investment in Denbighshire is one of seven projects across Wales which have been allocated a total of £111 million from round three of the Levelling Up Fund.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will visit North Wales today to see how the Levelling Up agenda is helping to spread opportunity, create jobs and revitalise local communities across North Wales.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 February 2024.

The UK announces more than 50 new sanctions to mark 2 years since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

The Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, has today (22 February) announced more than 50 new sanctions targeting individuals and businesses sustaining Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.

Sanctions crack down on those supplying his depleted armoury with munitions such as rocket launch systems, missiles and explosives.

These new sanctions also target key sources of Russian revenue, clamping down on metals, diamonds, and energy trade, and cutting off funding for Putin’s illegal war from every angle.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

Ukraine has shown that it can and will defend itself. Putin mistakenly thought that because Russia’s economy is bigger than Ukraine’s, he would gain a quick victory. But the economies of Ukraine’s friends are 25 times bigger than Russia’s.

And 2 years on, we stand united in support for Ukraine.

Our international economic pressure means Russia cannot afford this illegal invasion. Our sanctions are starving Putin of the resources he desperately needs to fund his struggling war.

Together, we will not let up in the face of tyranny. We will continue to support Ukraine as it fights for democracy- for as long as it takes.

Today’s measures will disrupt Putin’s ability to equip his now struggling military with high tech equipment and much needed weaponry, as well as blocking him from refilling his war coffers – while Ukraine defends itself.

This round of designations serves as a clear signal that 2 years on, the UK stands united with our allies in unwavering support for Ukraine.

Today’s package forms part of wider UK action to restrict Putin’s war revenue streams and clamp down on his repeated attempts to evade western sanctions. We are preparing to bolster our existing powers to target malign Russian shipping activity and individual ‘shadow fleet’ vessels used by Russia to soften the blow of oil-related sanctions imposed by the UK alongside G7 partners.

This week new measures to strengthen the existing Oil Price Cap also came into force and we have expanded the list of items critical to Russia’s war machine that we are seeking to prevent getting to Russia.

The UK also launches its first sanctions strategy today, which sets out how our sanctions regimes are tackling malign activity and making a difference. We are in a more dangerous and uncertain world. Our latest Russia sanctions are one example of how our enhanced approach to sanctions enables us to respond. The new strategy sets out how we are working with allies and partners to address changing threats, to maximise our impact on the ground and to protect the UK.

This comes as Foreign Secretary David Cameron is due to visit New York for a special UN session dedicated to Ukraine. While there, he is expected to meet Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. His visit will mark the 2-year milestone of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, and he is expected to underscore the UK’s unending support for Ukraine.

Among those sanctioned today are:

• companies linked to manufacturing munitions such as rocket launch systems, missiles, explosives and other critical goods used in military equipment. This includes Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise, the largest enterprise in the Russian ammunition industry
• key Russian importers and manufacturers of machine tools, which are instrumental in manufacturing vital defence systems and components ranging from missiles and engines to tanks and fighter jets
• oil trader Niels Troost and his company Paramount Energy & Commodities SA. Troost facilitates the unfettered trade of Russian oil outside the reach of UK and G7 sanctions, including through UAE-based Paramount Energy & Commodities DMCC, which the UK designated in November 2023
• Fractal Marine DMCC, Beks Ship Management, and Active Shipping, which operate in the Russian energy sector as part of Putin’s shadow fleet
• 2 Russian diamond companies and Pavel Alekseevich Marinychev, the new CEO of Alrosa, the largest state-owned Russian diamond producer, estimated to hold a 30% share in the global diamond market
• 5 senior executives or owners of Russia’s top producers of copper, zinc and steel

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 February 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Colombia.

Thank you, President, and let me echo your appreciation to the Government of Colombia, the UN Secretariat, the United Nations Verification Mission led by SRSG Ruiz Massieu and to all the interlocutors we engaged with in Columbia.

I’d also like to thank my co-leads Guyana Presidency and Switzerland for their close cooperation throughout the visit. And I’ll reflect upon the sessions led by the United Kingdom.

In Bogota, the Security Council heard firm commitment as you said President, to the 2016 Peace Agreement and the importance of security guarantees for former combatants from Government entities in charge of peace implementation.

The Council also met with the High Commissioner for Peace, Otty Patiño, to discuss the Government’s vision to broaden peace through dialogue. It was an opportune moment to discuss the ELN process given the recent ceasefire extension, which we mandated the Mission to monitor. The Council discussed the dialogue with the EMC which we’ve indicated a willingness to consider mandating the UN to support.

The High Commissioner shared his vision of territorial transformation, extending the state’s presence in rural areas which you referred to,  and the importance of peace delivering benefits such as schools, healthcare, and infrastructure. The Council welcomed efforts to strengthen the humanitarian provisions of the ceasefires and encouraged further steps to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population.

In our meeting with the signatories to the Peace Agreement in Agua Bonita, we welcomed their unwavering commitment to peace and also we met them in Bogota. The signatories called on the Government to accelerate the implementation of the Agreement including by appointing an entity at the highest level to coordinate efforts.

The Council shared concern about former combatants’ insecurity and the 418 former combatants killed since the signing of the Agreement. We encouraged the Government to accelerate efforts to develop rapid protection plans.

As you mentioned President, we also went to Buenaventura, and just to add to what you said, I think it’s worth saying that five years ago, the Council was unable to meet a female community leader because of fears for her security, and this time that very same leader – who is now the Vice President – accompanied us to her region, which I think shows the extent of the transformation underway in Colombia.

This was an opportunity as you said President,  for Council members to focus on the Ethnic Chapter and to hear first-hand from those whose daily work focuses on building peace at local levels. And the Council also heard from youth representatives to understand their daily reality and their calls for educational and economic opportunities.

As you said President, everywhere we saw the UN Verification Mission, UN agencies, Colombian Government, communities, and individuals working together to build sustainable peace. Peace is not an abstract concept – it’s a real social cause which is a whole of society effort.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 February 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Archie Young at the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34).

Thank you Chair.

As we have clearly heard today, peacekeeping remains a vital tool to reduce global conflict and create stability. But as peacekeeping faces new and systemic challenges, it must continue to adapt and evolve.

We have made great progress in implementing the Action for Peacekeeping initiative and Action for Peacekeeping Plus priorities, which remains the key overarching reform framework, but there is more to be done to ensure that peacekeeping is fit for the future. As we start this year’s session, I would like to stress three points.

First, we underline the importance of partnership and collaboration, as well as political support and consent, in the effective delivery of mandates and well-planned transitions.

Missions continue to suffer from restrictions on freedom of movement and of violations of Status of Forces Agreements, including in the Central African Republic, Lebanon and Western Sahara.

Sustainable transitions require UN structures and the host government’s peace and security architecture to work together. It is the people on the ground who suffer most when host governments fail to support a sustainable transition, and there are significant risks in how we safeguard the protection of civilians during withdrawals.

Second, we must ensure all peacekeepers have the necessary training and capabilities, including the right medical capabilities, to meet the challenges of today and deliver their mandates.

Among these challenges, misinformation and disinformation is growing and puts the safety and security of our peacekeepers at risk.

Effective strategic communications are essential enablers of mandate delivery and it is vital that we continue to use tools such as the Comprehensive Planning and Performance Assessment System, now rolled out in all missions, to their fullest extent and find ways to apply data in decision-making.

Third, we should recognise the progress made on Women, Peace and Security issues and commit to fully representative and safe operations. A growing number of Troop- and Police-Contributing Countries have shown significant increases in the number of their women personnel.

But there is much more to be done to ensure women’s participation is meaningful and that women, as part of missions or as civilians, are safe from harassment and abuse.

We urge the UN and Member States to hold themselves to the highest of standards on gender parity, civil society engagement, and countering sexual exploitation and abuse.

The United Kingdom values the work of this Committee in driving forward peacekeeping reform through practical consensus-based recommendations, and we will continue to contribute to improvements in peacekeeping through deployments, extrabudgetary funding and expertise, as set out by the range of our pledges in Ghana at last year’s Peacekeeping Ministerial.

Finally, I want to end by paying tribute to peacekeepers across the globe and to the memory of the brave peacekeepers who lost their lives. We commit to engage in collaborative and constructive discussions over the coming weeks to achieve a substantive report this year.

Thank you Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 February 2024.

Ambassador Neil Holland notes the environmental impacts of Russia’s invasion that have had far-reaching consequences in Ukraine and beyond its borders.

Thank you Chairs. To our keynote speakers, Minister Dalli, Minister Panayiotou and Secretary General, dear Helga, thank you for your remarks. Thank you also to our expert panel.

Before I speak to today’s important topic, it would be remiss of me to not acknowledge the tragic death of Alexi Navalny who dedicated his life to exposing the corruption of the Russian system. It is clear the Russian authorities saw Navalny as a threat, that is why they imprisoned him on fabricated charges, poisoned him with a banned nerve agent and sent him to an Arctic penal colony. No-one should doubt the brutal nature of the Russian system. Our thoughts are with his family, his supporters and the people of Russia. We will revert to this issue at the next Permanent Council.

In addition to acts of internal repression, Russia’s war of aggression has had devastating impacts on the environment, with far-reaching consequences in Ukraine and beyond its borders. At a time of global climate crisis, Russia’s actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the environmental consequences of war.

We have witnessed the widespread destruction of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, including industrial facilities and energy installations. This has led to severe pollution and environmental degradation which pose threats to both human health and ecosystems across large areas.

While thankfully the risk of radiological release remains low, Russia’s seizure and ongoing occupation of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains cause for grave concern. Russia must immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine and return full control of the nuclear facilities at ZNPP to their rightful owner to ensure safe and secure operation, and to minimise the risk of an incident with catastrophic environmental consequences.

The UK sees an undeniable link between climate, nature, and security. Environmental and climate factors can act as both catalysts and multipliers for conflict. And both the environment and our climate can be impacted by military activity.

The growing climate and nature crisis demands that we consider more carefully the environmental impact of military actions. Tackling climate change and biodiversity loss is one of the UK Government’s key international priorities.  It is underpinned by a commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The UK Defence establishment is fully committed to playing its part. Climate change is now seen as a whole-of-Defence issue in the UK.

The intersection of gender, conflict, and the environment is a complex and crucial area. Existing gender inequalities mean that the impact of climate change and disasters fall unequally on women and girls. Inequality means that their access to resources is limited and their exposure to disaster-induced risks and losses is increased. Recognising these impacts is essential for sustainable recovery and peace efforts. Women and girls are often excluded from formal systems to address the drivers of climate change yet are key to finding localised solutions.

We welcome this important discussion today. The OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security makes it the right place to discuss the intersection between security and climate. We are grateful to the Secretary General and Chair-in-Office for continuing to make climate security a key theme within the organisation.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 21 February 2024.

The Secretary of State reappointed Michael Birshan and Eleanor Whitley as governors of the British Film Institute.

Michael Birshan

Reappointed for a four year term commencing 17 February 2024.

Michael is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and global co-leader of the firm’s Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice.

Based in London, and previously in San Francisco and Mumbai, Michael has worked with CEOs, boards, and executive teams around the world across a diverse set of industries, as well as institutions in the public and social sectors. He also serves on the Council of the McKinsey Global Institute, which researches economic, business and technology issues. Committed to helping talented leaders succeed as individuals, Michael co-leads McKinsey’s work research on CEO excellence. He writes and speaks widely on strategy, finance, economics, trends, and leadership.

Passionate about education, communication and creativity, Michael is a governor of the Royal College of Art, the world’s top-ranked art and design university, and has been a commissioner of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission that stewards the Marshall Scholarships, a trustee of the World Schools Debating Championships, and a member of the advisory council of King’s Business School. He is also a director of British American Business.

Michael has served as a governor of the BFI for four years and chairs the Finance Committee.

Eleanor Whitley

Reappointed for a four year term commencing 17 February 2024.

Eleanor (Nell) Whitley has a reputation for driving forward ambitious work in a variety of forms – live events, art installations & digital media – her collaborations with Marshmallow Laser Feast (where she is Partner & Executive Producer) demonstrate a unique vision for the future of creative experiences. She has produced the critically acclaimed In the Eyes of the Animal (featured at Sundance & winner of the Wired Award for Innovation in Experience Design) and other mixed reality works, including; Treehugger (Tribeca Film Festival Storyscapes Award & Best VR Film at Arles Festival) and We Live in an Ocean of Air which premiered at the Saatchi Gallery, London winning the British Animation Award for VR. Marshmallow Laser Feast’s work has been included in major exhibitions at institutions including; ACMI, Barbican Centre, YCAM, DDB Seoul, Sundance Film Festival, Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal, SXSW, and Lisbon Architecture Triennale.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Governors of the British Film Institute are not remunerated.

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Michael Birshan and Eleanor Whitley have not declared any significant political activity.