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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and Ukraine hail scientists’ role in the fight for freedom [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and Ukraine hail scientists’ role in the fight for freedom [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology on 20 May 2025.

    • From healthcare to energy, collaboration with UK researchers is supporting Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction, and the UK’s Plan for Change
    • Academic, business and political leaders gather in London later today to celebrate UK-Ukrainian joint science endeavours – and look ahead to more
    • Science, tech and innovation are a key pillar of UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership: the long-term pact to support long-term security and growth for both our countries

    The critical role that Ukraine’s scientists and researchers are playing in the battle for their country’s freedom, and its hopes for a brighter future, working hand-in-hand with UK colleagues, will be celebrated at an event at the British Academy in London later today (Tuesday 20 May).

    The UK is resolute in its support for Ukraine, as the country defends itself in the face of Russia’s illegal and barbaric invasion. Our backing is cemented by the landmark 100 Year Partnership, unveiled by the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy in January, of which strong and deep science and technology ties form a key part.

    Joint work by the UK and Ukraine’s researchers is not only supporting Ukraine’s freedom and future, but also unlocking benefits to the UK economy, and more besides, all of which bolsters the Plan for Change. In one joint project, on health, the University of Warwick have worked with Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics to train AI models to quickly and accurately triage shrapnel wounds. And work by Manchester, Aston and Aberystwyth Universities and Ukrainian experts to boost Ukraine’s electricity grid with green energy, is also being applied to help Britain adapt as we get more energy from renewables, and as energy-intensive industries like data centres grow.

    Meanwhile efforts like the UK-Ukraine Techbridge are helping bring innovative new technologies to bear on critical tasks like clearing landmines and unexploded bombs. The TechBridge is also focused on AI, health, cyber security, education, and agritech, and is building opportunities in both countries for trade, upskilling, and investment.

    Much of this important work will be showcased at London’s historic British Academy later, at an event hosted by the UK’s Science Minister and Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Education and Science, who will be joined by a host of academic, business and research leaders. Lord Vallance will announce an additional £100,000 for the UK-Ukraine Techbridge at the event, as well as £400,000 for trilateral efforts to harness digital technologies to improve government across the UK, Ukraine and Estonia.

    UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

    Freedom is an essential ingredient for scientific progress. Without it we are denied the ability to act on the curiosity that sparks so many breakthroughs, or to get the answers that make us think that maybe we have been wrong about the way we have thought about something in the past.

    Science is also international, which means that Ukraine’s inventions and innovations are ones that the UK and the entire world ultimately benefits from, and vice versa. We only stand to gain from working with Ukraine to keep the flame of freedom alive, and it is only natural, that the joint endeavours of our researchers, are critical to those efforts.

    Ukraine’s Minister for Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, said

    For Ukraine, science is not only about development — it is also about resistance. Today, our researchers are working side by side with international partners not only to support the country in its most difficult times, but also to lay the foundations for recovery. This collaboration is a mutual investment in freedom, humanity, and the future. We are grateful to the United Kingdom for a partnership built on shared values and trust.

    The UK-Ukraine partnership on science, innovation and technology has already delivered important work, starting with the:

    Since it was launched in 2022, it has helped over 170 Ukrainian experts endangered by the war to relocate to just under 70 UK universities, and continue their work on a temporary basis – as well as funding their research with £22.5 million. The UK Government has also supported the UK-Ukraine Twinning Initiative, which has enabled Ukrainian researchers to keep making progress, despite wartime disruption, by pairing up UK and Ukrainian universities. This has provided remote access to UK facilities and equipment, and avenues for joint funding, including £5 million of Research England grant funding to support new research partnerships.

    We are also harnessing the AI, data science and digital expertise of the UK, Ukraine and Estonia with a view to enhancing digital government and public services through technology and innovation under an initiative on trilateral cooperation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint donor statement on humanitarian aid to Gaza [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint donor statement on humanitarian aid to Gaza [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 May 2025.

    Joint statement on behalf of 27 humanitarian partners on aid to Gaza and the proposal for a new aid delivery model.

    Joint statement:

    “Whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid, Israel blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza for over two months. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted. The population faces starvation. Gaza’s people must receive the aid they desperately need.

    “Prior to the aid block, the UN and humanitarian NGOs delivered aid into Gaza, working with great courage, at the risk of their lives and in the face of major access challenges imposed by Israel. These organisations subscribe to upholding humanitarian principles, operating independently, with neutrality, impartiality and humanity. They have the logistical capacity, expertise and operational coverage to deliver assistance across Gaza to those who need it most.

    “Israel’s security cabinet has reportedly approved a new model for delivering aid into Gaza, which the UN and our humanitarian partners cannot support. They are clear that they will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles. Humanitarian principles matter for every conflict around the world and should be applied consistently in every warzone. The UN has raised concerns that the proposed model cannot deliver aid effectively, at the speed and scale required. It places beneficiaries and aid workers at risk, undermines the role and independence of the UN and our trusted partners, and links humanitarian aid to political and military objectives.  Humanitarian aid should never be politicised, and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change.

    “As humanitarian donors, we have two straightforward messages for the Government of Israel: allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity. We remain committed to meeting the acute needs we see in Gaza. We also reiterate our firm message that Hamas must immediately release all remaining hostages and allow humanitarian assistance to be distributed without interference. It is our firm conviction that an immediate return to a ceasefire and working towards the implementation of a two-state solution are the only way to bring peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability for the whole region.”

    This statement has been signed by:

    • The Foreign Ministers of Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
    • The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management and the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Trade Envoy Visits Ghana to Deepen Bilateral Economic Relations [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Trade Envoy Visits Ghana to Deepen Bilateral Economic Relations [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 May 2025.

    This is Bell Ribeiro-Addy’s first official visit to Ghana since her appointment as Trade Envoy in January 2025 to strengthen UK-Ghana economic partnerships.

    The British High Commission Accra is pleased to announce that Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the UK’s Trade Envoy to Ghana, will undertake her first official visit to Ghana from 19 –22 May 2025. The four-day mission will include engagements in Accra and Kumasi, underscoring the UK’s commitment to deepening bilateral trade relations and fostering economic growth.

    Appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in January 2025, Ms. Ribeiro-Addy is part of the UK government’s global network of Trade Envoys, working to promote British trade interests in over 70 countries. Her visit to Ghana marks a significant milestone in her role and reflects the UK’s strategic focus on strengthening partnerships across Africa.

    During her visit, Ms. Ribeiro-Addy will meet with a range of high-level stakeholders, including:

    • Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Minister of Finance
    • Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry
    • Hon. Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Deputy Minister of Education
    • Senior government officials, traditional leaders, and academic representatives
    • UK businesses operating in Ghana and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC)

    These discussions will focus on expanding trade and investment opportunities, enhancing economic cooperation, and identifying areas for mutual growth.

    In Kumasi, Ms. Ribeiro-Addy will tour two major UK Export Finance (UKEF)-backed projects: the Kumasi Airport and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital maternity block. These initiatives highlight the UK’s ongoing support for infrastructure development in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.

    She will also host a roundtable with the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, aimed at fostering collaboration on gender-inclusive economic development and leadership.

    Ms. Ribeiro-Addy said:

    I am honoured to represent the UK in Ghana and look forward to engaging with our Ghanaian partners. This visit is an important step in strengthening our trade relations and exploring new avenues for collaboration. I am confident that our discussions will pave the way for a brighter economic future for both our countries.

    British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, added:

    We are thrilled to welcome Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP to Ghana. Her visit reflects our shared commitment to building stronger international partnerships, promoting global trade, and realising a vision of inclusive prosperity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York: Christian Turner [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York: Christian Turner [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 May 2025.

    Dr Christian Turner CMG has been appointed UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York in succession to Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG, OBE.  Dr Turner will take up his appointment at the end of 2025.

    Curriculum Vitae

    Full name:  Christian Philip Hollier Turner

    Year Role
    2023 to present FCDO, Director General Geopolitics & Political Director
    2019 to 2023 Islamabad, British High Commissioner
    2017 to 2019  Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser & Deputy National Security Adviser
    2016 to 2017  FCO, Director General MENA & Africa
    2016  No10, Director, London Syria Conference
    2012 to 2016  Nairobi, British High Commissioner
    2009 to 2012  FCO, Director, Middle East & North Africa
    2008 to 2009  FCO, Deputy Director, Middle East & North Africa
    2007 to 2008 Cabinet Office, Deputy Director, MENANA, Overseas & Defence Secretariat
    2007 No10, Private Secretary to Prime Minister
    2002 to 2006 Washington, First Secretary
    1998 to 2002 Cabinet Office Fast Stream including roles in Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, Private Secretary to Minister of State, Secretary to Economic & Domestic Committees of Cabinet
  • PRESS RELEASE : Recruitment consultant, Rico Iheagwara, sentenced after fraudulently using Covid loans for personal purposes [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Recruitment consultant, Rico Iheagwara, sentenced after fraudulently using Covid loans for personal purposes [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 19 May 2025.

    Suspended sentence for Bounce Back Loan fraudster.

    • Rico Iheagwara fraudulently applied for two £20,000 Bounce Back Loans during the summer of 2020
    • Iheagwara’s SJR Recruitment Limited company was not trading at the time of the applications
    • SJR Recruitment was placed into liquidation in 2021 with liabilities of more than £67,000

    A recruitment consultant who fraudulently spent Covid support funds for personal purposes has been handed a suspended sentence.

    Rico Iheagwara secured two Bounce Back Loans worth £20,000 each from different banks for his Essex-based SJR Recruitment Limited company when businesses were only entitled to a single loan under the scheme.

    Iheagwara, 36, of River Meads, Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, for fraud when he appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Friday 16 May.

    He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity.

    David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Rico Iheagwara blatantly abused a taxpayer-backed scheme designed to support genuine small businesses through the pandemic. He knew he was not entitled to support yet continued with his fraudulent applications nonetheless.

    Iheagwara’s business was not trading at the time of his application so he was not entitled to a single penny from the scheme, let alone the £40,000 he fraudulently secured.

    Tackling Covid support scheme abuse remains a key priority for the Insolvency Service and we will not hesitate to prosecute fraudsters such as Iheagwara who stole from the public purse during a national emergency.

    SJR Recruitment was incorporated in January 2017 with Iheagwara as its sole director. The company’s registered office address was on High Road in Loughton.

    Iheagwara was also the sole signatory on both company bank accounts which were opened in May 2020, just one month before his first fraudulent application.

    For both applications, made in June and July 2020, Iheagwara claimed the company’s turnover was £82,000.

    Iheagwara transferred the first £20,000 loan into his personal account on the same day he received the funds. For the second loan, he moved all £20,000 into his personal account the following day.

    None of the £40,000 was used for the economic benefit of his business. Insolvency Service analysis of bank statements suggested that the funds were used for everyday expenses and paid to various family members.

    In interviews, Iheagwara said he spent the funds on rent, paying off personal finance and supporting his children.

    SJR Recruitment went into liquidation in April 2021. No repayments were made on the loans.

    The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

    Further information

    • Rico Iheagwara is of River Meads, Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire. His date of birth is 21 August 1988
  • PRESS RELEASE : Summoning of the Iranian Ambassador to the United Kingdom [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Summoning of the Iranian Ambassador to the United Kingdom [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 May 2025.

    The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has today summoned the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Kingdom.

    An FCDO spokesperson said:

    Today, upon instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Kingdom was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. His Excellency Seyed Ali Mousavi was summoned in response to three Iranian nationals charged under the National Security Act.

    The UK Government is clear that protecting national security remains our top priority and Iran must be held accountable for its actions.

    The summons follows this weekend’s announcement which stated that three Iranian nationals had been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Professor Nick Webborn has been appointed as Chair of UK Sport [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Professor Nick Webborn has been appointed as Chair of UK Sport [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 19 May 2025.

    The Secretary of State has appointed Professor Nick Webborn as the Chair of UK Sport for a term of four years, which will commence on 22 May 2025.

    Professor Nick Webborn

    Professor Nick Webborn CBE DL has a lifetime’s experience in high performance sport as an athlete, medical director, clinician, researcher and most recently as Chair of the British Paralympic Association.

    As a world leading expert in sport and exercise medicine, Nick has worked on 13 Paralympic Games and has decades of experience in providing performance support to British athletes. He was also Chief Medical Officer for Paralympics GB at the London 2012 Paralympics and for the Invictus Games 2014. In the former role, Nick helped develop the winning bid for London 2012 and played a critical role in the delivery of athlete healthcare services for the Games.

    Since then, Nick has gone on to become one of the UK’s most prominent sport administrators. As Chair of the BPA, Nick played a critical role in leading the organisation through a period of change as they delivered a new 10 year strategy which sustained Paralympics GB’s position near the top of successive Paralympic medal tables, whilst embedding social impact as a cornerstone of their work. Nick is also incredibly experienced in the world of international sport, having served on the Medical and Anti-Doping Committees of the International Paralympic Committee.

    In 2016, Nick was awarded an OBE for services to Paralympic Sports Medicine and the British Paralympic Association and a CBE in the 2022 New Years Honours List for services to Sport and Sports Medicine.

    Nick is delighted to have been appointed as Chair of UK Sport and looks forward to leading the organisation to deliver the next phase of its Strategic Plan, ensuring the positive future of Olympic and Paralympic sport and major sporting events in the UK.

    Nick continues to practice in the field of Sport and Exercise Medicine and has published over 100 peer reviewed articles and book chapters.

    Nick Webborn said:

    “It is a great honour to be appointed as Chair of UK Sport and to have the opportunity to continue the work of my predecessor, Dame Katherine Grainger, who I have had the privilege to work alongside over the last eight years.

    Having spent much of my life in high performance sport, I know how much the UK public value the Olympic and Paralympic success that our wonderful sports and athletes have achieved over the last 25 years and how much the UK is respected as a host of sporting events.

    However, I also know that our sporting success is not guaranteed in the face of mounting global competition. I therefore look forward to working with the incredibly talented people we have across the UK sporting system to deliver continued success on the field of play and to unite, inspire and excite people all across the nation.”

    Sally Munday, Chief Executive of UK Sport, said:

    “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Nick to the UK Sport team. His decades of experience in high performance sport mean that he is perfectly positioned to Chair UK Sport through the next phase of the delivery of our ten year strategic plan and to drive the system change needed to continue a positive future for Olympic and Paralympic sport and major sporting events in the UK.

    I know that people across the Olympic and Paralympic sport community in the UK will join me in giving Nick a very warm welcome to his exciting new role”.

    Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy said:

    “I am delighted to welcome Professor Nick Webborn as the new Chair of UK Sport. His expertise in sports medicine and sports administration will bring invaluable perspective to this role.

    “Nick’s leadership will be crucial as UK Sport continues its efforts to grow Olympic and Paralympic sports, while continuing work with government to cement the UK’s position as a world-leading host of prestigious competitions that leave lasting legacies in communities across the country.”

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Chair of UK Sport is remunerated at £40,000 per year. 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. Professor Nick Webborn has not declared any significant political activity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister secures new agreement with EU to benefit British people [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister secures new agreement with EU to benefit British people [May 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 May 2025.

    • UK secures new agreement with the European Union to support British businesses, back British jobs, and put more money in people’s pockets.
    • Package will help make food cheaper, slash red tape, open up access to the EU market and add nearly £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040.
    • Prime Minister hails agreement as ‘good for jobs, good for bills, and good for our borders’.

    The Prime Minister has today confirmed a new agreement with the European Union which will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, back British jobs and put more money in people’s pockets.

    Extensive negotiations over the last six months have led to the third major deal struck by the government in as many weeks, following the US and India – which the Prime Minister says will be “good for jobs, good for bills and good for our borders”.

    As part of the deal, a new SPS agreement will make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing the red tape that placed burdens on businesses and led to lengthy lorry queues at the border. This agreement will have no time limit, giving vital certainty to businesses.

    Some routine checks on animal and plant products will be removed completely, allowing goods to flow freely again, including between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ultimately this could lower food prices and increase choice on supermarket shelves – meaning more money in people’s pockets.

    The EU is the UK’s largest trading partner. After the 21% drop in exports and 7% drop in imports seen since Brexit, the UK will also be able to sell various products, such as burgers and sausages, back into the EU again, supporting these vital British industries.

    Closer co-operation on emissions through linking our respective Emissions Trading Systems will improve the UK’s energy security and avoid businesses being hit by the EU’s carbon tax due to come in next year – which would have sent £800 million directly to the EU’s budget.

    Combined, the SPS and Emissions Trading Systems linking measures alone are set to add nearly £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040, in a huge boost for growth.

    British steel exports are protected from new EU rules and restrictive tariffs, through a bespoke arrangement for the UK that will save UK steel £25 million per year.

    The UK will enter talks about access to EU facial images data for the first time, on top of the existing arrangements for DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data. This will enhance our ability to catch dangerous criminals and ensure they face justice more quickly.

    British holidaymakers will be able to use more eGates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control. Pets will also be able to travel more easily, with the introduction of ‘pet passports’ for UK cats and dogs – eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer will say:

    It’s time to look forward. To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people.

    We’re ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people’s lives here at home.

    So that’s what this deal is all about – facing out into the world once again, in the great tradition of this nation. Building the relationships we choose, with the partners we choose, and closing deals in the national interest. Because that is what independent, sovereign nations do.

    Today will also see the agreement of the new Security and Defence Partnership, which will pave the way for the UK defence industry to participate in the EU’s proposed new £150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence fund – supporting thousands of British jobs and boosting growth.

    At a time of increasing global uncertainty and volatility, this will formalise UK-EU co-operation on defence to ensure Europe’s safety and security.

    Minister for European Union Relations and lead Government negotiator, Nick Thomas-Symonds said:

    Today is a historic day, marking the opening of a new chapter in our relationship with the EU that delivers for working people across the UK.

    Since the start of these negotiations, we have worked for a deal to make the British people safer, more secure and more prosperous. Our new UK-EU Strategic Partnership achieves all three objectives. It delivers on jobs, bills and borders. Today is a day of delivery. Britain is back on the world stage with a Government in the service of working people.

    The UK and the EU have also agreed to co-operate further on a youth experience scheme – which could see young people able to work and travel freely in Europe again. The scheme, which would be capped and time-limited, would mirror existing schemes the UK has with countries such as Australia and New Zealand.

    The Prime Minister is clear that bringing down migration remains an absolute priority for him, which is why today’s agreement also majors on further work on finding solutions to tackle illegal migration – including on returns and a joint commitment to tackle channel crossings.

    The UK and EU have also reached a new twelve year agreement that protects Britain’s fishing access, fishing rights and fishing areas with no increase in the amount of fish EU vessels can catch in British waters, providing stability and certainty for the sector. The UK will also back coastal communities by investing £360 million into our fishing industry to go towards new technology and equipment to modernise the fleet, training to help upskill the workforce, and funding to help revitalise coastal communities, support tourism and boost seafood exports. The British fleet will also benefit from the SPS agreement which slashes costs and red tape to help exports.

    This agreement meets the red lines set out in the government’s manifesto – no return to the single market, no return to the customs union, and no return to freedom of movement.

    The UK will continue to hold talks with the European Union on the details of each commitment.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Former Chinese takeaway owner, Zhang Jin Chen, sentenced after spending money on Apple and Burberry products instead of paying VAT bill [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Former Chinese takeaway owner, Zhang Jin Chen, sentenced after spending money on Apple and Burberry products instead of paying VAT bill [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 19 May 2025.

    Suspended sentence for bankrupt who defrauded HMRC.

    • Former Chinese takeaway owner Zhang Jin Chen sold his house in Portsmouth and spent money from the sale in shops such as Apple and Burberry
    • Chen knew he owed HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) more than £43,000 in VAT at the time he made the purchases and other cash withdrawals
    • The 51-year-old then filed for bankruptcy, claiming he only had £20 in his bank account

    A former Chinese takeaway owner who withdrew thousands of pounds from his bank account and bought items from shops such as Apple and Burberry instead of settling his tax bill has been sentenced.

    Zhang Jin Chen owed HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) more than £43,000 in VAT when he sold the house he owned with his then wife in Portsmouth in the autumn of 2020.

    However, Chen disposed of £107,550 of his proceeds from the house sale without paying HMRC back.

    The 51-year-old then applied for his own bankruptcy the following summer, claiming he only had £20 in his bank account, and £100 in cash.

    Chen, of Havant Road, Portsmouth, was found guilty of fraudulently disposing of property as a bankrupt under the Insolvency Act 1986.

    He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 16 May.

    He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation activity.

    Mark Stephens, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Zhang Jin Chen had the money available to pay the VAT he owed to HMRC twice over following the sale of his house but chose not to do so. Instead, he withdrew huge sums of money in cash and made purchases from the likes of Burberry and Apple.

    Individuals who are declared bankrupt commit a criminal offence when they put assets out of the reach of creditors in the five years leading up to their bankruptcy.

    Chen clearly intended to conceal his affairs and defraud HMRC so he could be more than £100,000 better off, instead of little over £60,000 if he had paid his debts.

    Chen ran a Chinese takeaway called Fortune House from an address on Albert Road in Portsmouth. He registered Fortune House as a business with HMRC in February 2012 but did not register it for VAT.

    HMRC officials visited the takeaway in February 2020, finding evidence that Fortune House should have been VAT registered since December 2012.

    Chen applied for bankruptcy in July 2021, stating that he knew he owed HMRC £43,876 in VAT but that he could not repay the debts.

    However, in October 2020, Chen and his ex-wife sold their jointly owned house on Garnier Street in Portsmouth.

    Over the next two months, Chen withdrew his proceeds of the sale in cash, the largest of which were two withdrawals of £30,000 in November 2020.

    He also spent more than £3,500 on Apple products in November and December 2020 and a further £880 on a purchase from Burberry nine days before Christmas.

    Chen signed a five-year Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking in March 2022 restricting him from being able to borrow more than £500 without disclosing his bankrupt status.

    The restrictions also prevent him holding certain roles in public organisations.

    The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

    Further information

    • Zhang Jin Chen is of Havant Road, Portsmouth. His date of birth is 26 June 1973
  • PRESS RELEASE : Major investment partnership worth £24 billion to transform key growth sectors and deliver affordable housing across UK [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Major investment partnership worth £24 billion to transform key growth sectors and deliver affordable housing across UK [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 May 2025.

    A major new partnership between the Crown Estate and Lendlease has been agreed which will unlock housing and science innovation hubs across the UK worth £24 billion.

    • Joint venture between The Crown Estate and Lendlease will unlock housing and science innovation hubs across the UK worth £24 billion.
    • Major investment pipeline includes land portfolio with the potential to build 26,000 new homes, with around one-third allocated to affordable housing – supporting the government’s aim to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029.
    • Pipeline also includes plans to build vast new office space and labs, creating 100,000 new jobs across the country, boosting economic growth and delivering on the Plan for Change.

    Major new partnership from the Crown Estate and Lendlease with a Gross Development Value (GDV) of £24 billion will develop housing and science and innovation hubs and help create 100,000 new jobs and 26,000 new homes, backing the Government’s Plan for Change.

    The joint venture allows The Crown Estate to invest in Lendlease’s undeveloped UK land and land management portfolio, providing support on existing projects, helping to transform the UK’s science, tech and innovation sectors and deliver new housing.

    The projects have the potential to deliver around 10 million square feet of workspace and labs, and deliver vital investment in digital and technologies and the life sciences sectors – two of the key growth sectors in the government’s upcoming modern Industrial Strategy.

    The pipeline is also hoped to deliver over 26,000 new homes for people across the country – of which a third are expected to be affordable housing – backing this Government’s plans to build 1.5 million new homes and get Britain building again as part of the Plan for Change.

    In support of the partnership, the Chancellor and Minister for Investment met with Lendlease’s Group CEO Tony Lombardo and Dan Labbad, CEO of The Crown Estate in Downing Street

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    We are pulling every lever to grow our economy so we can put more money in people’s pockets, boost home ownership and make Britain a global hub for life sciences through our Plan for Change.

    This includes creating the right environment for organisations like The Crown Estate and Lendlease to partner, helping us to unlock capital to get Britain building and get Britain growing.

    Minister for Investment Baroness Gustafsson CBE said:

    This is yet another strong endorsement of the UK’s investment environment and our thriving real estate sector as this government has committed to get Britain building again, a crucial part of delivering our Plan for Change.

    This pipeline and the creation of additional research labs across the UK, will be a massive boost for our world-leading science, innovation and technology sectors, all key growth sectors in our upcoming modern Industrial Strategy.”

    The government’s upcoming modern Industrial Strategy will make doing business quicker, easier and more profitable than ever before. Its 10-year plan will provide business with the certainty they need to invest and innovate in the growth-driving sectors that will shape the UK’s economy, drive regional development, enhance living standards and create high quality jobs.

    Businesses have identified that inadequate infrastructure has impacted the growth of UK firms, with the UK suffering from a chronic lack of lab space compared to other leading global hubs, but this pipeline will ensure high-growth sectors have the lab space, transport and housing they need.

    If the life sciences real estate markets of Cambridge, Oxford and London were to match their US counterparts by 2035, it could mean 67,000 more high-skilled, high-wage jobs and £4bn a year in additional GVA.

    Areas poised for office and housing development include around Euston Station, Silvertown and Thamesmead Waterfront in London, as well as Smithfield in Birmingham.

    The joint venture will provide a substantial boost to the UK’s thriving tech ecosystem, which is the third biggest in the world and worth more than £1 trillion.

    Group CEO of Lendlease Tony Lombardo said:

    This landmark partnership between our two organisations will combine our shared expertise in delivering city shaping precincts and creating long-term benefits for communities.

    As master developer, we look forward to working with The Crown Estate to unlock value within our UK development portfolio, for partners, government clients and our securityholders.

    Dan Labbad, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate, said:

    With strong support from local and national government, we look forward to working with Lendlease and others to realise the potential of these projects to create jobs, stimulate growth and positively impact lives, while also generating income for the UK.

    As a country, we face challenges to unlocking growth. To support this, we need to spark investment in sectors like science, technology, and housing, alongside deep collaboration across communities, government, and the private sector. This joint venture is an example of how The Crown Estate is harnessing its mandate to act in the UK’s long-term national interest, supported by new investment powers, and stepping up its ambition to support inclusive growth for the nation.”

    Since entering office, the government has been focused on restoring economic stability – the foundation of growth – to give businesses the confidence to invest and expand in the UK. Today’s announcement demonstrates how confidence in the UK’s investment environment translates to real jobs and growth for local communities.

    This major announcement comes due to the Crown Estate Act 2025 which increased The Crown Estate’s powers to unlock further investment, kickstarting growth and generating greater returns for the public purse whilst benefitting public services across the UK.

    Notes to editors:

    • The Crown Estate has a diverse £16 billion portfolio that includes urban centres and development opportunities; one of the largest rural holdings in the country; Regent Street and St James’s in London’s West End; and Windsor Great Park. They also manage the seabed and much of the coastline around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, playing a major role in the UK’s world leading offshore wind sector.
    • Lendlease is an integrated real estate group. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, it is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Its core capabilities are reflected in the operating segments of investments, development and construction, and providing a sustainable competitive advantage in delivering innovative integrated solutions for its customers.