Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Cambridge South – new station’s opening date revealed [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Cambridge South – new station’s opening date revealed [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 11 May 2026.

    New Cambridge South rail station opening in June 2026.

    • date revealed for opening of new Cambridge South station next month giving direct rail link to Europe’s largest medical research facility and its 40,000 daily visitors
    • backed by £250 million government funding the station will host up to 9 trains an hour to Cambridge alongside further direct services to London, Stansted and Birmingham Airport – boosting access to jobs, opportunities and housing
    • Cambridge South will be the first new Great British Railways branded station as the rail reform programme ramps up with over 660 million passengers now travelling on publicly owned services annually

    Passengers will soon be able to take trains from the new Cambridge South station after its opening date was revealed today (11 May 2026). Services will begin calling at Cambridge South on Sunday 28 June before the station’s official opening ceremony takes place the following day.

    The first Great British Railways (GBR) branded station in the country, Cambridge South, is expected to welcome 1.8 million passengers annually as the government’s public ownership programme gathers steam.

    The station will benefit from up to 9 trains an hour to the centre of Cambridge as well as a direct link to the city’s Biomedical Campus, with its world-class science, NHS hospitals and business facilities. The Cambridge Biomedical Campus contributes £4.7 billion annually to the UK economy, a figure expected to rise to £18.2 billion by 2050 alongside a doubling of its 20,000 current employees, thanks in part to the boost brought by the new station.

    Passengers will also be able to take trains to London, Birmingham, Stansted Airport and international rail services via St Pancras, with up to 20 services calling at Cambridge South in peak hours. This signals a huge boost to vital links to jobs, housing and businesses.

    Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said:

    Backed by £250 million government investment, Cambridge South will open up access to jobs, homes and world-class facilities for people across the region, boosting the growth of the Biomedical Campus as one of the most important engines of growth in the country.

    As the first new Great British Railways branded station, the opening is an important milestone for our railways and a sign of the real change public ownership will deliver. Faster connections supporting economic growth, thousands more jobs and homes and a railway that works for the communities it serves.

    The opening comes as the public ownership programme continues apace alongside the creation of GBR, which will coordinate the whole rail network in the UK. The creation of GBR will end the country’s convoluted rail system involving over 17 different organisations, cut through the frustrating bureaucracy and instead run Britain’s railways as a single organisation for the first time in decades.

    As a single organisation, GBR will deliver lasting change and build a railway fit for Britain’s future, owned by the public, for the public. The full public ownership programme is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with 8 out of the 14 train operators now publicly owned and operators managing more than 1,100 stations.

    Jeremy Westlake, Chief Executive for Network Rail said:

    We’re excited to welcome passengers to this landmark station from next month, providing direct access to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and better connections across the UK and beyond. Cambridge South station will significantly improve travel and connectivity for campus staff, visitors and the wider community for many years to come.

    Thousands of people have worked tirelessly on this fantastic project to build a modern, accessible and sustainable station that reflects the excellence of the work that is being undertaken in Europe’s largest biomedical facility. It’s been a truly collaborative experience working alongside government, contractors, industry partners and the wider rail network to make this station a reality and we’re really proud of the result and the role it will play in connecting people to jobs, research and opportunity across the region.

    Alongside setting up GBR, the government is focused on getting better value for passengers now and keeping the cost of rail tickets down. Regulated rail fares have been frozen across England until March 2027 so passengers are not paying a penny more on season tickets, peak returns for commuters and off-peak returns between major cities.

    Cambridge South station has been built thanks to more than £250 million of government funding, alongside £5 million contributions from AstraZeneca, Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Military conducts daring parachute drop to deliver critical medical support to Tristan da Cunha [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Military conducts daring parachute drop to deliver critical medical support to Tristan da Cunha [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 10 May 2026.

    An Army specialist team has parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha to deliver critical medical support after it was confirmed that one British national on the island was suspected of contracting Hantavirus.

    • Specialist Army team parachute from an RAF A400M onto remote island, with medical personnel in-tandem and oxygen supplies and medical equipment.
    • Tristan da Cunha – Britian’s most remote overseas territory – is located deep in the South Atlantic, has no airstrip, and is normally only accessible by boat. 
    • Drop comes after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Friday confirmed one suspected case of Hantavirus of a British national on Tristan da Cunha.

    An Army specialist team has parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha to deliver critical medical support after it was confirmed that one British national on the island was suspected of contracting Hantavirus.

    The team of six paratroopers and two military clinicians, all from 16 Air Assault Brigade, parachuted from an RAF A400M transport aircraft. Meanwhile, vital oxygen supplies and other medical aid were air dropped almost simultaneously onto the remote island. 

    This operation is the first time the UK military has inserted medical personnel to provide humanitarian support via a parachute jump, demonstrating how the military can deploy at very short notice across the world on a range of tasks.

    Tristan da Cunha, a group of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, is Britian’s most remote inhabited overseas territory. It is accessible only by boat, has no airstrip, and has a population of 221 inhabitants. 

    Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

    “I am deeply grateful to the personnel across the Armed Forces and the RAF who acted at pace to get urgent medical support to Tristan da Cunha. This extraordinary operation reflects our unwavering commitment to the people of our Overseas Territories and to British nationals, wherever they are. The safety and well-being of all members of the British family is our number one priority.

    “We will continue to work closely with international authorities and the Tristan da Cunha administration, keeping those affected informed and ensuring the right support is in place in the UK and across the Overseas Territories.”

    With oxygen supplies on the island at a critical level, an airdrop with medical personnel was the only method of getting vital care to the patient in time. The operation will also ensure the resilience of wider healthcare on the island by supporting Tristan da Cunha’s two-person medical team.

    The military team flew 6,788 km from RAF Brize Norton to Ascension Island. The aircraft then proceed to fly over 3,000 km to Tristan da Cunha, where the personnel parachuted onto the island. They were supported by an RAF Voyager aircraft to refuel the A400M mid-air.

    Weather conditions at Tristan da Cunha can be exceptionally challenging, with average wind speeds often exceeding 25mph, presenting difficult conditions for the paratroopers. 

    Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns said:

    “This was an extraordinary operation in incredibly challenging circumstances to get vital help to our citizens on Tristan da Cunha.

    “I want to pay a huge tribute to our brave personnel for carrying out their task with the utmost professionalism and composure under pressure. 

    “This is a real cross-government effort showing our determination to support our overseas territories and British nationals affected by the Hantavirus outbreak.”

    Brig Ed Cartwright, Officer Commanding 16 Air Assault Brigade said:

    “This was a joint effort with the Royal Air Force and highlights the speed, reach and utility of parachuting.

    “The arrival of paratroopers, medical personnel and medical supplies from the sky has hopefully reassured the people of Tristan da Cunha.”

    The mission comes as the UK government continues to work with international authorities to respond to the outbreak of Hantavirus from the MV Hondius cruise ship.

    British nationals are being repatriated from the MV Hondius to the UK via a special chartered flight. None of the British citizens who are being repatriated have reported symptoms but are being closely monitored.

    All British passengers and crew on board the MV Hondius are being isolated for 45 days upon returning to the UK and UKHSA is closely monitoring these individuals, with testing as required. 

    Follow up is underway for individuals who may have been in contact with cases and have since returned to the UK or are in in UK Overseas Territories. The UK government will ensure those self-isolating are given appropriate support. 

    The Ministry of Defence has worked with UKHSA to provide vital diagnostic supplies, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which were delivered to Ascension Island via a military plane on 7 May.

    The risk to the general public remains very low.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New missions to transform childhoods of most disadvantaged [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New missions to transform childhoods of most disadvantaged [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 10 May 2026.

    New education missions launched to open doors for children in the most under-served communities.

    Thousands of children from England’s most under-served communities are set to benefit from targeted support that will transform their life chances through two pioneering new education programmes. 

    Mission North East and Mission Coastal will bring expert support into classrooms and new opportunities beyond the school gates for children in the North East, Hastings and Scarborough from this September — communities where too many young people have been held back for too long, with persistently low results. 

    Announced by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson today, these landmark programmes will transform children’s lives — giving the most disadvantaged children the mentoring, careers support, and enrichment opportunities they need to achieve and thrive.

    The data driving these decisions is stark. The North East has the lowest exam results of any region in England at 1.9 points below the national average of 46.0 in Attainment 8. In Hastings, disadvantaged pupils average just 26.0 and in Scarborough around 27.

    Across the country, disadvantaged White British pupils are being consistently let down, scoring 30.9 against 48.6 for their better-off peers. That is a generational injustice.

    These missions will change that. Expert practitioners will work directly with leaders and teachers, building teacher capacity and raising standards. Schools will work together in local clusters, learning from each other rather than tackling challenges alone. 

    Beyond the school gates, new partnerships with employers, sports clubs, faith groups and youth organisations will provide vital mentoring, careers support and cultural enrichment — the building blocks of a full childhood.

    These programmes build on the success of the London Challenge, which launched in 2003, and proved what is possible when you concentrate expert-led, place-based support in communities that have previously been left behind. 

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    I grew up in the North East and know the challenges families face. I want every child there, and in coastal communities like Hastings and Scarborough, to have the same opportunities I was lucky enough to have.  

    For too long, children living in these areas have grown up without the opportunities that they need and deserve to be able to achieve and thrive. 

    That is not a matter of ability. It is a matter of justice. Mission North East and Mission Coastal are our commitment to change that postcode lottery for good.

    Designed with a Test, Learn and Grow approach, these programmes will identify what works quickly and feed those lessons back into national policy – so these missions benefit not just local communities, but similar communities across the country.

    Over time, we will look to form a wider alliance of other coastal areas with similar challenges, where children and families can benefit from the approach being taken in Scarborough and Hastings.

    The landmark Schools White Paper set out the government’s plans for Mission North East and Mission Coastal as part of our plan to cut the link between background and success and halve the disadvantage gap for this generation, so that every child can achieve and thrive.

    This work builds on the passing of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, which introduced free breakfast clubs to all primary schools and places new limits on branded school uniform costs. Together, these measures form part of the most ambitious programme of investment in children and childhood England has seen in a generation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign office Summons Chinese Ambassador [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign office Summons Chinese Ambassador [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 May 2026.

    The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office summoned the Chinese Ambassador on Friday 8 May following convictions under the National Security Act.

    An FCDO spokesperson said: 

    On instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the Chinese Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This summons follows the conclusion of a case which resulted in convictions under the National Security Act to assist the Hong Kong authorities. 

    It was made clear that the UK will not tolerate any attempts by foreign states to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK, and that such activity constitutes a serious breach of the UK’s sovereignty. We will continue to use the full range of tools available to protect our security and hold China to account for actions which undermine our safety and democratic values.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Gordon Brown as the Prime Minister’s Special Reviewer on Global Finance and Cooperation [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Gordon Brown as the Prime Minister’s Special Reviewer on Global Finance and Cooperation [May 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 May 2026.

    Keir Starmer has appointed Gordon Brown as the Prime Minister’s Special Reviewer on Global Finance and Cooperation today.

    The former Prime Minister will advise on how global finance cooperation can build a stronger Britain, boosting the country’s security and resilience.

    His appointment comes as the UK prepares to hold the Presidency of the G20 next year.

    He will be tasked with developing new international finance partnerships that can support defence and security-related investment, including measures that underpin the UK’s relationship with Europe.

    As part of the role he will engage with international leaders and finance institutions as well as private finance partners to establish multilateral finance mechanisms.

    Gordon Brown was Britain’s longest-serving modern Chancellor of the Exchequer.

    As Prime Minister, he worked with international counterparts as they responded to the worldwide financial crisis.

    In April 2009, he hosted the G20 Summit in London where world leaders pledged to make an additional $1.1 trillion available to help the world economy through the crisis and restore credit, growth and jobs.

    Gordon Brown will report directly to the to the Prime Minister. This is an unpaid part-time role.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Harriet Harman as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Women and Girls [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Harriet Harman as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Women and Girls [May 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 May 2026.

    Keir Starmer has appointed Harriet Harman as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Women and Girls today.

    Baroness Harman will advise the PM on how to galvanise Government to deliver for women and girls.

    She will work with ministers across Government to drive an impactful agenda focusing on tackling violence against women and girls, unlocking economic opportunity, and improving representation.

    The role will see her draw on work with women across Parliament to identify action needed to tackle misogyny and deliver greater opportunity for women in parliamentary and public life.

    As part of the appointment, she will also work with the Cabinet Secretary to drive a shift in culture across the Civil Service and Ministerial offices, enhancing opportunity for women and enhancing government delivery for women.

    Throughout her career, Baroness Harman has been a vocal advocate for women and girls, including on issues such as women’s political representation, maternity rights, and tackling violence against women and girls.

    In her previous role as Solicitor General, Harriet led a successful drive within government to make tackling domestic violence a priority.

    The campaign led to the introduction of a new law – the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act – to ensure more effective prosecutions for domestic violence and a new network of 60 specialist domestic violence courts.

    Her appointment underlines the Government’s commitment to empowering women and girls.

    For the first time, this government has declared the scale of violence and abuse suffered by women and girls in this country is a national emergency.

    The landmark Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy sets out how we will achieve our pledge to halve these vile crimes in a decade – stopping violence before it starts, relentlessly pursuing perpetrators and better supporting victims and survivors.

    Baroness Harman will report directly to the to the Prime Minister. This is an unpaid part-time role.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Settlements in the West Bank are a flagrant violation of international law and must cease – UK statement at the UN Arria meeting on the West Bank [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Settlements in the West Bank are a flagrant violation of international law and must cease – UK statement at the UN Arria meeting on the West Bank [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 May 2026.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Arria meeting on the West Bank.

    Colleagues, at the outset, I want to underline UK concern at rising conflict in the region and beyond. 

    I also want to stress that peaceful co-existence between communities is essential. 

    The United Kingdom was shocked by the despicable antisemitic terror attack in London last week. 

    There is no place in our societies for racially motivated hatred and violence, and we will continue to work to end such attacks and to promote tolerance amongst all communities. 

    Returning to the Arria, I will make three points.

    First, the United Kingdom is clear that a two state solution remains the only way to achieve lasting peace and security for the Israeli and Palestinian people.

    However, as we have heard today, the viability of that future is being deliberately and rapidly eroded.

    The current Israeli Government has nearly doubled the number of illegal settlements, including the E1 plan, which would cut the West Bank in two as we’ve just seen.

    Security Council Resolution 2334 is clear. 

    These settlements are a flagrant violation of international law and must cease.

    And while settlements expand, so does the displacement of Palestinians from that same land.

    This includes Basel’s hometown of Masafer Yatta. 

    It also includes the homes of many more. 

    2,500 Palestinians have been displaced this year due to demolitions, evictions, and settler attacks.

    In Silwan in East Jerusalem, families have been forced out and watched as settlers take over the homes they have had for generations.

    And as we’ve heard today, Israeli restrictions on movement and the withholding of Palestinian tax revenues are worsening the humanitarian situation, weakening the Palestinian Authority, and driving instability.

    Second, these policies are accompanied by extreme violence. 

    OCHA report that 2025 saw the highest number of settler attacks on record. 

    Last year, Israeli security forces and settlers killed 240 Palestinians, with Palestinian militants killing 17 Israelis. 

    The United Kingdom strongly condemns all attacks on civilians.

    As the occupying power, the Israeli Government has clear responsibilities for the protection of civilians, which are not being met.

    Acts of settler violence are not a series of isolated incidents. 

    They represent an accelerated campaign to prevent a future Palestinian State driven by an extremist ideology, which even includes acts of settler terrorism.

    Finally, these actions are underpinned by a culture of impunity. 

    While attacks by Palestinians are rightly investigated and prosecuted, the same cannot be said for crimes by settlers. 

    Accountability remains weak, with few criminal investigations and many cases closed without justice.

    The United Kingdom is also concerned by recent comments by a senior IDF figure, noting that lethal force is used against Palestinian stone-throwers, but not against settlers committing the same crime. 

    If accurate, this suggests a discriminatory application of force that raises serious concerns under international law.  

    Colleagues, these actions constitute a coordinated effort to permanently change the demographic makeup of the West Bank and prevent the two state solution.

    They undermine President Trump’s 20-Point Plan and risk further violence in the region. 

    Depriving the Israeli and Palestinian people of the peace they deserve.

    We desperately want to see a different future: one that delivers peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. 

    That different future is possible.

    And it is our duty to strive to achieve it.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Second World War veterans to travel to overseas commemorations paid for by the Government [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Second World War veterans to travel to overseas commemorations paid for by the Government [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 8 May 2026.

    The Ministry of Defence will pay for Second World War veterans to attend commemorations in Europe this summer in partnership with the Royal British Legion.

    Second World War veterans will travel overseas for commemorations of the Normandy Landings and the Battle of Arnhem, paid for by the Government.  

    This commitment ensures that those who served can attend remembrance ceremonies in Europe, returning to sites of profound historical and personal importance. 

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will provide the funding to the Royal British Legion, which offers lifelong support and expert advice to the Armed Forces community including serving personnel, veterans, their families and the bereaved.

    The Royal British Legion will give the funding to charities such as The Spirit of Normandy Trust and The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans to make the visits to commemorative events possible. 

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    VE Day reminds the nation of the importance of coming together to honour those who secured our freedom more than eight decades ago.

    Standing at Utah Beach during previous D-Day commemorations, I was struck by the extraordinary courage of those who came ashore in 1944 – young men facing unimaginable danger to secure the freedoms we endure today.

    While we can never repay the depth of their service, I am determined to ensure we honour our Second World War veterans and their extraordinary contribution to our freedom.

    The funding follows the 2025 publication of a 10-year Veterans Strategy and the Strategic Defence Review, which commit to use a whole-of-society approach to defence and celebrate the contribution of veterans to the community and national security. The government is investing record levels in veterans, with Office for Veterans’ Affairs in the MOD rolling out a new £50m support system called VALOUR across the UK.  

    Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones MP said: 

    We are delivering on our promise in our Veterans Strategy, providing visible support to the devoted veterans who have served in our Armed Forces.

    This government is renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve, and our actions are guided by the change that veterans want to see. 

    I have seen firsthand how important these commemorations are to our veterans and am committed to supporting their continued attendance.

    With the number of living Second World War veterans declining, the government recognises the importance of supporting them to pass on their legacy to future generations.  

    The enduring relationship between the UK and its Armed Forces remains invaluable and must be protected. 

    This essential defence funding enables veterans to return to the places where they served, honour those who did not come home, and reconnect with their shared history.  

    From the beaches of Normandy to battlefields in Europe, these journeys are a vital act of remembrance. 

    Richard Palusinski, Chairman, Spirit of Normandy Trust said: 

    Over the many years that I have been taking veterans to Normandy for the annual D-Day commemorations I have come to understand that they make the trip each year not out of any sense of bravado, but to remember those who paid the ultimate price.   

    As a small charity we have limited ability to raise the necessary funds to ensure a safe and meaningful pilgrimage for the veterans, particularly as they have reached a great age and their needs are more complex. The funding from the Office for Veterans Affairs is vital, enabling us to embark or the pilgrimages with confidence and give the veterans the opportunity to honour their friends.

    Steve Baynes, the Royal British Legion’s Head of Grants, said:

    The freedoms we enjoy today would not have been possible without the courage and sacrifice of the Second World War generation, and as the nation’s champion of Remembrance, the RBL is dedicated to ensuring their legacy is always remembered.

    We’re proud to be working with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs to ensure those who served can attend commemorative events across Europe, and delighted to be collaborating with the Spirit of Normandy Trust and the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, whose long-standing experience in organising these deeply meaningful visits is invaluable.

    This government remains committed to supporting veterans emotionally and financially as they continue to pay their respects through these annual pilgrimages.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK government shows “unwavering support” for war crime accountability [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK government shows “unwavering support” for war crime accountability [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 May 2026.

    Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones visits Ukraine to address the United for Justice Conference.

    • Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones visits Ukraine to address the United for Justice Conference, underlining the UK’s commitment to holding Russia to account for crimes committed throughout the war  
    • Minister also made “harrowing but essential” visit to Bucha and Irpin, towns that saw civilian suffering at the start of the war 
    • In line with the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, the UK is also seeking Ukrainian expertise to turbocharge counter-drone technology development 

    “Russia must be held to account for its crimes”, the Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls stressed on a visit to Kyiv yesterday [Thursday 7 May]. She was in the city to address the United for Justice Conference, an event aiming to coordinate global efforts to investigate, prosecute, and ensure accountability for international crimes committed during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  

    In Kyiv, the Minister also met with frontline organisations directly supporting survivors of sexual violence, which Russia has used as a weapon of war. The visit also furthers the government’s commitment, under the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, to support Ukraine in the reform and recovery of its justice system.  

    Addressing the conference, Minister Davies-Jones expressed the UK Government’s “unwavering” commitment to supporting the Ukrainian people in securing justice and accountability. The UK is supporting Ukraine politically, financially, and practically, including with £16.5 million in funding for domestic war crimes investigations, providing Ukraine with the skills and expertise it needs to drive this action forward.  

    While in Ukraine, Minister Alex Davies-Jones also visited the towns of Bucha and Irpin, defining sites of civilian suffering caused in the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion and during Russian occupation. Russian forces occupied Bucha until early April 2022, during which widespread war crimes including conflict related sexual violence were reported. The Minister visited the memorial at the town’s mass grave site, which pays tribute to the Ukrainians who were killed during the occupation.  

    Irpin became one of the heaviest-hit areas during Russia’s early invasion of Ukraine and was a front-line battlefield in February 2022. The Minister visited the “Bridge of Life” in Irpin, which was exploded by the Ukrainian armed forces to prevent Russian troops and tanks from entering Kyiv city. The remnants of that bridge were the only route through which Ukrainians could seek evacuation and leave Russian occupation, and many Ukrainians were killed trying to make their way there. 

    Reflecting on the visit, Minister Davies-Jones said: 

    While here in Ukraine I’ve heard powerful testimonies from survivors and seen the harrowing evidence of war crimes firsthand. Working daily with survivors of violence at home, I know that behind every statistic is a person whose life has been changed forever. >  The courage it takes to speak out, to bear witness and to demand justice is something I deeply commend.  

    Ukraine is still living under daily attack, and the UK stands firmly with its people in that same pursuit of the justice, accountability and freedom they deserve. Russia must be held to account for its crimes.” 

    The Minister also reflected on the expertise Ukraine has to share with the UK, forged through the experiences of government under the pressures of the full-scale invasion. The Minister announced the opening  of a new competition worth £5m by InnovateUK, an initiative that  will accelerate counter-drone research in the UK, with a hope to encourage further technological partnerships between our nations.    

    The visit follows the Deputy Prime Minister’s trip to Ukraine to mark the first anniversary of 100 Year Partnership between the UK and Ukraine in January this year. Whilst there, he announced £6.5 million investment to support research and development on stopping drones smuggling contraband into prisons – including phones, drugs and weapons. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : 52nd Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Palau [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : 52nd Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Palau [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 May 2026.

    UK Statement at Palau’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    Thank you Mr President and a warm welcome to the delegation of Palau.

    The United Kingdom welcomes Palau’s efforts to strengthen its anti-trafficking legal framework, including updating its Anti-Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking Act. We also commend Palau’s progress in updating its Family Protection Act to improve access to services and address gender-based violence. 

    We encourage Palau’s continued engagement with the UK and other international partners to support the effective establishment of a national human rights institution and ratification of CEDAW.

    We recommend that Palau: 

    1. Updates relevant legislation to set the minimum age of marriage to 18, without exception.
    2. Amends the Anti-Discriminatory Act to explicitly prohibit all forms of disability-based discrimination and establish clear procedures for the investigation and remedy of complaints.
    3. Aligns the minimum age of employment with the end of compulsory education, in line with ILO Minimum Age Convention standards.

    Thank you.