Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Home Office on 8 January 2025.

The government will seek expert advice on reclassifying ketamine to become a Class A substance, after illegal use of the drug reached record levels in the year ending March 2023.

Ketamine is currently controlled as a Class B substance and the maximum penalty for supplying and producing it is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

The prevalence of the drug in England and Wales has risen significantly in recent years. In the year ending March 2023, an estimated 299,000 people aged 16-59 had reported ketamine use in the last year – the largest number on record.

It can cause serious health problems, such as irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys, and is one of the most detected drugs in incidents of spiking.

Recent reports have shown Ketamine is often an ingredient included in ‘pink cocaine’, the dangerous synthetic drug cocktail taken by users without knowing what mix of substances it contains.

The policing minister, Dame Diana Johnson will write to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to commission advice on ketamine and to consider whether it should remain controlled as a Class B substance or become a Class A drug.

Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson, said:

Ketamine is an extremely dangerous substance and the recent rise in its use is deeply concerning.

Through our Plan for Change and mission to make the nation’s streets safer, we will work across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply.

It is vital we are responding to all the latest evidence and advice to ensure people’s safety and we will carefully consider the ACMD’s recommendations before making any decision.

Independent experts will now assess the evidence of the health and social harms of ketamine when misused and will submit their findings to Home Office Ministers for review.

The Home Office has a statutory duty to consult the ACMD under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 before any amendments to legislation are made.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has issued a statement marking five years since the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development spokesperson said:

Today marks five years since Iran’s unlawful downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.

The UK, alongside our partners in Canada, Sweden and Ukraine, remains committed to delivering transparency, justice and accountability for the 176 innocent victims and their families, including UK nationals.

For five years, Iran has refused to take full legal responsibility for the downing, despite admitting its military shot Flight PS752 out of sky. This cannot stand. We will continue our pursuit of justice through the International Court of Justice and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The UK is clear in its commitment to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its breaches of international law.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

The UK will develop a new sanctions regime to cripple people smuggling crime rings and starve them of illicit finance fuelling their operations.

• innovative new sanctions regime will be designed to crack down on people smuggling ringleaders and smash the gangs
• this new regime will boost our ability to prevent, combat, deter and disrupt irregular migration and hold the perpetrators accountable.
• bold innovation delivers on the government’s Plan for Change and commitment to protect the UK’s borders

The UK will develop a new sanctions regime to cripple people smuggling crime rings and starve them of illicit finance fuelling their operations.

In a major speech tomorrow, the Foreign Secretary will reveal plans to bring forward legislation for a new sanctions regime targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime to secure UK borders in a decade of national renewal.

As the world’s first standalone sanctions regime dedicated to targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime, it will allow the UK to target individuals and entities enabling dangerous journeys.

The announcement forms part of the government’s bold and credible plan to bring back control of the immigration system, smash the gangs and secure our borders.

As part of the Plan for Change, the government is committed to reducing small boat crossings and net migration and ending the routine use of asylum hotels, meeting our fiscal rules and strengthening national security.

The regime, which is expected to come into force within the year, will target organised immigration networks. Criminal networks are making huge profits exploiting vulnerable people by facilitating irregular migratory movements, including dangerous sea crossings across Europe.

Sanctions experts from across government will work with law enforcement and operational Home Office colleagues to deliver an effective and targeted regime that stems finance flows at their source and deters smugglers from profiting off the trafficking of innocent people.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

We must dismantle the crime gangs facilitating breaches of our borders. By crippling illicit finance rings allowing smugglers to traffic vulnerable people across Europe, we will deliver on our Plan for Change and secure UK borders.

That means being bold and innovative in our policy making to ensure we are leaving no stone unturned. My government will do everything in our power to save lives and protect our borders for years to come.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

It is completely unrealistic to combat irregular migration without a role for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

It is an issue which ties together the foreign and the domestic most acutely.

I’m proud to announce that the UK is set to be the first country in the world to develop legislation for a new sanctions regime specifically targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime. This will help to prevent, combat, deter and disrupt irregular migration and the smuggling of migrants into the UK.

People smuggling poses significant challenges to global security and the UK, and alongside partners across Europe, we are working hand in glove to develop novel and bold solutions to tackle irregular upstream migration.

This sanctions development is the latest innovative move by the government to use every tool possible to crack down on vile people smugglers risking people’s lives in the Channel.

While the regime will be an autonomous scheme, the Foreign Office expects to collaborate closely with international allies to combat people smugglers. It builds on months of work with partners by this government, including through the UK-hosted European Political Community in July, hosting the Calais Group, bringing together ministers from France, Belgium and the Netherlands alongside EU agencies, improved working with countries like Moldova, Iraq and Vietnam on returns, and announcing a new anti-Smuggling Action Plan signed with other G7 nations.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Since coming into power, we have taken swift and robust action to smash the gangs, working with international partners to track down and disrupt dangerous criminal networks.

With these new sanctions, we will target those profiting off putting lives at risk and disrupt the gangs’ finances, making it harder for them to operate.

This builds on our work to launch the Border Security Command backed by £150 million, major deals signed with countries including Iraq and Germany to disrupt supply chains and tackle the root of the issue, as well as an anti-Smuggling Action Plan signed with G7 nations. And this year we will introduce new legislation which will go even further to restrict the people smuggling gangs.

This year, the government will also introduce landmark new legislation on border security and asylum to empower law enforcement with the tools they need to dismantle the gangs.

And backed by £150 million in funding, the Border Security Command will continue to coordinate and build the UK’s enforcement capability to go after organised immigration crime.

The announcement comes after the Home Office announced last week a major upgrade to Serious Crime Prevention Orders, with new interim orders allowing suspected people smugglers to face immediate travel bans, social media blackouts and restrictions on phone usage.

In his speech, the Foreign Secretary will reflect on his first 6 months in office through the lens of Progressive Realism. This takes the world as it is not as we wish it to be, with the aim of advancing progressive ends by realist means.

He will illustrate how this government is reforming the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to play an even more vital role in achieving the government’s missions of generating growth and tackling migration, through innovations including harnessing technology and establishing new partnerships.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Sir Oliver (Olly) Robbins as the new Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Olly is currently Partner and Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Hakluyt, a global strategic advisory firm.

He has previously worked at Goldman Sachs and also held senior leadership roles in the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, Downing Street and as the Second Permanent Secretary in the Home Office and Permanent Secretary in the Department for Exiting the European Union.

Olly  will replace Sir Philip Barton who is stepping down after nearly four decades in the FCDO.

The Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, said:

I have set out from day one that I want to rewire the FCDO to act as the international delivery arm of this government’s missions, as well as devising our broader international strategy. Olly Robbins is exactly the person to help me deliver this and I am delighted to welcome him into the FCDO.

His extensive experience of economic and security issues, gained across a range of Whitehall departments, will stand us in good stead as we reorient the FCDO to focus on growth and migration, while continuing to double down on national security – the foundation of our Plan for Change.

I would like to thank Sir Philip Barton for his many years of dedicated public service, in particular his leadership as PUS and his support through the recent political transition.

Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, said:

I would like to congratulate Olly on his appointment and welcome him back to the Civil Service. He brings huge experience to this role, both from his time previously in the Civil Service and his recent experience in the private sector. I look forward to working with Olly in this role as he leads the FCDO to deliver on a wide range of international issues and make a positive difference in a world where geopolitical change is intensifying.

I would also like to thank Sir Philip Barton for his outstanding dedication and service over his 38 year career in the Civil Service, and in particular for almost five years service in his role as Permanent Under-Secretary of FCDO.

Sir Oliver Robbins said:

It has been my pleasure to work alongside the FCDO’s predecessors for most of my Civil Service career. I’ve seen our extraordinary diplomatic and development capabilities first hand from Washington DC to Mogadishu, Dublin to Sana’a and Abuja to New Delhi. After five years out of the Civil Service I return believing more strongly than ever in the value of those capabilities and the public service principles that underpin them, while convinced that maintaining the UK’s lead depends critically on understanding and co-opting the pace of change evident in the UK and around the world.

It is therefore with huge excitement that I take this role on. I look forward to supporting the Foreign Secretary and leading the FCDO’s first-rate staff to strengthen the UK’s influence with our partners around the world.

Notes to Editors:

• This is a Permanent Secretary level appointment, offered on a fixed tenure basis for five years.
• The Permanent Secretary for FCDO is appointed by the Foreign Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister.
• The appointment was approved by the independent Civil Service Commissioner.
• Sir Philip Barton has served for 38 years in the Civil Service and almost five years in his role as Permanent Under-Secretary.
• In this role he led the FCDO through complex organisational change – with the merger of the Foreign Office and Department for International Development  – whilst at the same time navigating major global events including the fullscale invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing instability in the Middle East.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

I will make three points today.

First, as we mark the start of this new year, the first for over half a century without the Assad family in power in Syria, this is a moment of hope for the future of Syria and the Syrian people.

But rebuilding a country is not a place for quick fixes.

So we call on all involved to focus on the opportunity to build a democratic state, representative of Syria’s rich diversity and to take the necessary steps to establish participation across all of Syria’s society.

We’re encouraged by the new interim authorities’ timelines for drafting a new constitution and holding elections and national dialogue.

We are encouraged by early engagement with the international community and call for continued cooperation with the UN throughout the transitional period.

Second, there is much to be done, as we’ve heard, in the short term to protect civilians and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the 17 million people who need it.

We call on all parties to stop activity that could lead to further escalation or suffering for the civilian population and to protect vulnerable displaced populations.

Since the fall of Assad, the UK has committed a further $76 million to support vulnerable Syrians in Syria and across the region.
Third, Syria must eliminate the chemical weapons the Assad regime used against its own citizens.

Colleagues, now is the moment to close the Syria chemical weapons file once and for all.

We welcome the interim authorities’ commitment to secure chemical weapons stocks and their commitment to engage constructively with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to fully declare and verify the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons.

I encourage members of this Council to support cooperation between the interim authorities and the OPCW, to ensure these appalling weapons can never be used again.

In conclusion, President, we look forward to working together, across the Security Council, to support the Syrian people in moving towards a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political transition leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner on the human rights situation in Ukraine. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you, Mr. President,

Let me begin by thanking you, Deputy High Commissioner and your Office, for your continued efforts to shine a light on human rights in Ukraine almost three years on from the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Your update today is a stark reminder of the barbaric character of that invasion. In recent months, as you have recounted, we’ve seen hundreds of civilian deaths including healthcare workers and emergency personnel. Systematic attacks on energy infrastructure. Forced deportations. And further grim evidence of systematic and systemic torture – and more executions – of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Routine abuse that is facilitated by Russian state entities, with the full knowledge of facility supervisors. Severe beatings, electric shocks, prolonged stress positions, and mock executions have become the norm. Sexual violence during internment is pervasive. Rape, castration and sexualized humiliation have all been reported.

The torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war is not just endemic. It is Russian State policy, in complete violation of the Geneva Conventions. All of this from a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which purports to be a great world power.

Deputy High Commissioner,

We are now three years into this invasion. Three years into the horrors. When will Russia accept its obligations to International Law and end this senseless war?

Thank you and Slava Ukraine.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 January 2025.

The FCDO has released a statement following a ballistic missile launch by The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 6 January.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

DPRK’s ballistic missile launch on 6 January is another breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). Unlawful ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK strongly urges the DPRK to stop such provocations, return to dialogue and take credible steps towards denuclearisation.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 January 2025.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in Sudan.

First, the United Kingdom expresses its alarm at the latest IPC report confirming that famine is rapidly spreading in Sudan.

As we’ve heard, children are acutely malnourished, preventable disease is spreading and basic services collapsing. On current projections, over 630,000 people face famine by May 2025.

Urgent action is needed now or more lives will be lost.

We are concerned that the Sudanese authorities have halted their participation in the IPC system in response to this report. Continuing to deny the food insecurity spreading across Sudan will only exacerbate suffering.

We call on the authorities to fully cooperate with the humanitarian response.

Second, we reiterate our support for bold international action, including by the UN, to tackle the humanitarian crisis.

In November, the UK doubled its aid commitment to Sudan and the region to almost $140m.

We call on the international community to step up support to both the UN and Sudanese local responders on the front line.

Third, President, we know that these devastating IPC figures are driven by the ongoing conflict and poor humanitarian access. It is within the power of the warring parties to prevent a deepening of this man-made crisis.

We welcome the Sudanese Armed Forces agreement to establish humanitarian supply hubs and extend permissions for the Adre crossing, which should be sustained.

But humanitarian access needs to be expanded to all civilians in need. This includes enabling other access routes, including through South Sudan and cross-line.

We also encourage the authorising of further humanitarian hubs, including in areas held by the Rapid Support Forces.

We urge both sides to lift all bureaucratic impediments and to put in place necessary safety guarantees for aid workers. And we fully condemn the killing of three WFP staff members in December and call for a thorough investigation.

President, to conclude, with excess deaths potentially reaching into the millions, the latest IPC warning should be a rallying call for action to end this conflict now and to scale up humanitarian support.

In 2025, this Council and the international community must work together to bring an end to this dark chapter for Sudan and to forge a pathway towards lasting peace.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 January 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Gaza.

President, we are all horrified by the deterioration of the healthcare situation in Gaza.

It is completely unacceptable that since 7 October many medical facilities have been destroyed or damaged and over 1000 medical personnel have been killed, injured or detained. And, as Dr. Hassan has reminded us, their SOS calls have been ignored.

Following the forcible evacuation of Kamal Adwan hospital, there are now no functioning hospitals in North Gaza Governorate. Deteriorating access to medical services across Gaza is compounding acute child malnutrition, the risk of imminent famine and the spread of infectious diseases.

As we face this devastating situation, the UK reiterates three key and fundamental demands.

First, we call for civilians and medical staff to be protected in line with international humanitarian law. Israel is responsible for ensuring that civilians have access to vital medical care and for enabling medical practitioners to operate safely.

The UK continues to urge Israel to abide by their international obligations, including those set out in Security Council resolution 2286. And we also call on Israel to clarify the whereabouts of medical staff detained from hospitals in the north.

We are aware of reports of Hamas using civilian infrastructure for their operations, including hospitals.

The UK strongly condemns any such actions. By embedding themselves in civilian infrastructure, Hamas clearly put Palestinian civilians and medical staff at risk.

We reiterate however, that obligations under IHL to protect hospitals and healthcare workers are unconditional.

President, second, UNRWA must be allowed to play its essential role, including in delivering medical services and we unequivocally reject attempts to undermine its mandate.

On 11 December, my Prime Minister committed an additional $16.5 million to UNRWA to support vital services, including for medical care.

The UK is also supporting the provision of essential healthcare including through funding to UK-Med to run a field hospital and provide other healthcare services in Gaza.

President, third, Israel must do much more to immediately address this crisis and both sides must finally end this war.

The UK will keep pushing for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages cruelly detained by Hamas, for the better protection of civilians, for more aid consistently entering Gaza, and for a path to long-term peace and stability.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 January 2025.

Mr David Ashley has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan in succession to Mr Guy Warrington. Mr Ashley will take up his appointment during January 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: David William Ashley

Year	Role
2020 to 2024	Antananarivo, His Majesty’s Ambassador to Madagascar and non-resident Ambassador to Comoros
2018 to 2020	FCO, Deputy Head (for Syria and Iraq), Near East Department
2017 to 2018	Dhaka, Deputy High Commissioner
2014 to 2016	Kabul, Political Counsellor
2011 to 2014	FCO, Head, Levant Team, Near East Department
2009 to 2011	Colombo, First Secretary – Regional Conflict Advisor (South Asia)
2006 to 2009	Nairobi, First Secretary – Regional Conflict Advisor (Central-East Africa)
2004 to 2006	FCO, Head, Justice and Rule of Law Team, Conflict Issues Group
2002 to 2004	Belgrade, Second Secretary – Political
1999 to 2001	FCO, International Criminal Court Desk Officer, War Crimes Section, UN Department
1999	Joined FCO