Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Preferred candidate for Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission [May 2026]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 22 May 2026.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has confirmed that Lynne Berry CBE is his preferred candidate for the role of Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission.

The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is the statutory body that identifies candidates for judicial roles in England and Wales. They also help fill positions for several specialist tribunals with UK-wide powers.

Lynne Berry CBE has been selected as the preferred candidate for the role of JAC Chair following a rigorous assessment process conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments and the Judicial Appointments Commission Regulations 2013.

The role is subject to pre-appointment hearing by the Justice Select Committee. Pre-appointment scrutiny is an important part of the appointment process for some of the most significant public appointments made by Ministers. It is designed to provide an added level of scrutiny to the appointment process. Pre-appointment hearings are held in public and allow a Select Committee to take evidence before a candidate is appointed. Ministers consider the Committee’s views before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment.

Biography

Lynne Berry CBE is currently Chair of Governors and Pro-Chancellor at the University of Westminster, Chair of the Human Tissue Authority, and visiting Professor in Leadership at Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London. She has served as Chair or Senior Independent Director of many public sector and not-for-profit bodies and has held several Chief Executive posts in public bodies, including the Charity Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the General Social Care Council, as well as in charities such as the Royal Voluntary Service and the Family Welfare Association.

25/05/2026
PRESS RELEASE : New Head of the Joint Intelligence Organisation Appointed [May 2026]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 May 2026.

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Adrian Bird CB as the new Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) and head of the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO). Adrian will replace Dame Madeleine Alessandri DCB, CMG, who is stepping down after three years in the role.

Adrian is currently Chief of Defence Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence, and has previously held senior roles in the Government Communication Headquarters. Adrian brings a wealth of experience from his current role and his career in GCHQ.

Adrian will lead a multidisciplinary team of expert officials in the JIO, providing real time security and risk assessments and advice to Ministers and the Prime Minister, and helping to develop government policies that keep the country safe and secure.

The Cabinet Secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, said:

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Adrian Bird to this crucial role at this critical time for the country. Adrian’s extensive national security experience at the MoD and GCHQ make him an excellent fit to lead the dedicated security officials in the JIO, and to provide expert advice to the Prime Minister to keep the UK safe and secure.

I would also like to thank Madeleine Alessandri for her brilliant leadership as JIC Chair over the last three years, and her contribution to the wider Civil Service leadership, and to wish her well in her retirement.

Commenting on his appointment, Adrian Bird said:

It is an honour to be appointed as the new Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee. I am delighted to be joining the JIO team and to have an opportunity to lead the UK’s professional intelligence assessment community, and to work closely with our trusted partners to deal with national security challenges of today and tomorrow.

I wanted to thank Dame Madeleine Alessandri for her excellent leadership of the JIO and I know she leaves the organisation in a strong position. I look forward to building on this and working with the team to meet the future challenges. I wish Madeleine a well-deserved retirement.

Outgoing JIC Chair, Madeleine Alessandri said:

The Joint intelligence Committee continues to play a vital role in the security of the United Kingdom. Amid unprecedented volatility in geopolitics and exponential advances in technology, clear-eyed assessment to reduce uncertainty for policymakers at moments of critical decision has never been more important.

It has been a privilege to chair the Committee. And it has been an honour to work with the brilliant people across the breadth of the UK national security system who enable assessments that are rigorous, impartial, and relevant to the challenges we face as a country.

I am delighted that Adrian has been chosen to take on this extraordinary role – at an extraordinary moment in our 90 year history.

Adrian will take up his new post on 3 July.

Notes for Editors

Adrian Bird is currently Chief of Defence Intelligence in the Ministry of Defence. Adrian is the first civilian to hold this MoD role, having previously been held by military personnel. His successor in the MoD will be Lieutenant-General Matthew Jones, OBE.

Adrian has been in his current role since 2022. He joined government service in 1993 and held a wide variety of positions in GCHQ and FCDO culminating in two successive GCHQ Director General posts before he moved to the MoD

Adrian has been in his current role since 2022.

The role

The Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) is responsible to the Prime Minister for supervising the work of the JIC. The post-holder also leads the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) and is adviser to the Prime Minister on intelligence.

The Joint Intelligence Committee

The Joint Intelligence Committee is the cross-government committee responsible for providing Ministers and senior officials with timely intelligence assessments on critical strategic national security issues.

The Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee reports to the Cabinet Secretary.

The Joint Intelligence Organisation

The JIC is supported by the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO), a multi-disciplinary team of data scientists, analysts, economists and national security professionals. This dynamic and highly collaborative team is responsible for drafting all-source assessments on policy-relevant strategic issues and provides warning of threats to UK national interests.

The JIO sits at the heart of the UK intelligence assessment community and draws on the full range of reporting and expertise available across government, academia, business and international partners.

25/05/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Passengers one step closer to booking taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 22 May 2026.

Applications open for operators to join the self-driving vehicles pilot scheme.
- applications open for operators to run taxi, bus and private hire-style self-driving vehicles, in British first
- passengers could book journeys through operators later this year
- services will be held to strict safety requirements, driving confidence in an industry that will unlock significant economic growth and support thousands of jobs
Passengers could book taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles later this year, as applications open today (22 May 2026) for operators to run cars across Great Britain.

The pilot scheme will enable firms – including British self-driving technology company Wayve – to bring cutting-edge technology to British roads, creating thousands of jobs and unlocking billions for the economy by 2035.

Services could enhance journeys by supporting greater freedom and independence for older and disabled people, as well as expanding travel options across both work and leisure.

Self-driving technology could transform roads, with human error currently contributing to 88% of collisions on UK roads.

Safety will be central to the pilot scheme, which will gather real-world evidence on how self-driving vehicles operate on everyday roads, from navigating busy urban streets to interacting with traffic and carrying passengers safely.

Services will be subject to rigorous approval checks by government, including strict safety assessments to ensure the technology is protected against cyber and security threats.

Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood, said:

Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, while driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK.

This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first.

Local transport authorities, such as Transport for London, will also need to provide local consent to ensure services reflect local priorities.

The government is working closely with safety and accessibility experts as it develops the regulations needed to safely bring self-driving vehicles to British roads.

Learnings from the pilots will support the development of self-driving vehicle regulations, which are currently being progressed by government, following a call for evidence that closed in March.

Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery, Uber, said:

This is an exciting and important step toward launching autonomous vehicles in the UK.

London has long been a pioneering city for Uber, where we’ve launched some of our biggest innovations and we can’t wait to give people in the capital the chance to experience autonomous rides this year.

Ben Loewenstein, Waymo Head of Policy and Government Affairs for the UK and Europe, said:

The UK is leading the way in enabling the safe deployment of pilot autonomous vehicle services. We hope to soon become part of London’s transport network and demonstrate the safety, accessibility and sustainability benefits of battery-electric autonomous vehicles through the government’s pilot scheme.

We are working closely with the Department for Transport and Transport for London to ensure our operations align with their goals.

Waymo is serving riders in eleven major metropolitan areas in the US, providing over 500,000 rides each week. We are excited to bring our world-leading, fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the UK and help make transport in London safer and more accessible.

Sarah Gates, VP, Global Affairs and Assurance at Wayve, said:

The UK has all the ingredients to become a global leader in the deployment of self-driving vehicles and today’s launch of the automated passenger services scheme marks an important milestone. Wayve has been developing its technology in the UK for nearly a decade and we’re excited to bring our supervised passenger service to market here this year.

Self-driving vehicles represent a generational opportunity to make road transport safer, more accessible and more convenient for millions of people. Beyond the societal benefits, this sector also has the potential to drive significant economic growth — revitalising the UK’s industrial base, creating high-skilled jobs and strengthening the country’s position as a world-leading technology ecosystem.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:

Today is a significant milestone in the safe and responsible rollout of automated vehicles on British roads. For the first time, legislation will allow operators to offer passenger-carrying commercial services – such as robotaxis – to the general public.

Government’s decision to bring forward this legislation has positioned Britain as a leading European market for automated vehicles and a frontrunner in physical AI investment, development and deployment. Automated passenger services represent a market expected to be worth some £3.7 billion annually in Britain by 2040, while having the potential to widen society’s access to mobility and improve road safety.
25/05/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement on the Death Penalty by Members of the UN Inter-Regional Task Force on the Moratorium on the use of the Death Penalty [May 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2026.

Joint statement by UN Member States: Albania, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, as well as the European Union.

We are deeply concerned about a recent series of backward steps going against the global movement towards universal abolition of the death penalty, as outlined in the Global Report on Death Sentences and Executions 2025 recently released by Amnesty International.

This includes a sharp increase in executions in the world, primarily due to a significant rise in executions in a small number of retentionist States.

Other United Nations Member States have resumed the use of the death penalty after periods of suspension or have taken steps to reintroduce it into national legislation or to expand the types of offences for which the death penalty can be imposed, sometimes creating a framework susceptible to group-based discrimination.

These setbacks serve as a stark reminder of the continued relevance and urgency of the fight for the universal abolition of the death penalty.

The death penalty is inhumane and degrading, contrary to human dignity, without any deterring effect.

We deplore the fact that the use of the death penalty leads to violations of the human rights of the persons facing the death penalty and of other affected persons, including violations of the right to life and to the prohibition of torture enshrined in international instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

This is why we oppose the death penalty, in all cases and in all circumstances. Its rejection is a fundamental principle that unites us.

We call for the universal abolition of the death penalty and commend the efforts undertaken worldwide towards this objective.

The number of countries resorting to the death penalty continues to decline, with more than two-thirds of United Nations Member States having abolished it in law or in practice.

We urge all United Nations Member States to support the upcoming General Assembly resolution on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty, presented on behalf of the Inter-Regional Task Force, as well as the Human Rights Council’s biennial resolution on the abolition of the death penalty.

We reiterate our full support for the work of the United Nations, the relevant treaty bodies and special procedure mandate holders, as well as Civil Society Organisations working towards these goals.

We look forward to the 9th World Congress against the Death Penalty, to be held in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2026.

This Congress represents an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment towards universal abolition.

The abolition of the death penalty is a universal fight for human dignity. We call upon all United Nations Member States to join us in achieving it.

25/05/2026

PRESS RELEASE : Change of UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York – Sarah MacIntosh [May 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2026.

Dame Sarah MacIntosh DCMG has been appointed UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations at New York.

Dame Sarah MacIntosh DCMG has been appointed United Kingdom Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations at New York, in succession to Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG OBE.

Dame Sarah will take up her appointment during the summer of 2026.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Sarah MacIntosh

2025 to 2026	British High Commissioner to Australia
2022 to 2024	Prime Minister’s Adviser on International Affairs and Deputy National Security Adviser
2017 to 2022	NATO, Ambassador and Permanent Representative
2014 to 2017	FCO, Director General, Defence and Intelligence
2011 to 2014	FCO, Director, Defence and International Security
2009 to 2011	FCO, Director, Strategic Finance
2008 to 2009	Harvard, Weatherhead Fellow
2006 to 2008	British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone and HM Ambassador to Liberia
2004 to 2005	United Nations Mission in Kosovo UNMIK, The Strategy Coordinator
2002 to 2004	FCO, United Nations Department and then Conflict Department
2000 to 2002	United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations at New York, First Secretary
1997 to 1999	FCO, Strategic Planning Department
1996 to 1997	British Embassy Madrid, Second Secretary
1994 to 1995	United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations at Vienna, Third Secretary
1991 to 1993	FCO, United Nations Department

24/05/2026

PRESS RELEASE : Government steps in to back long-term resilience of UK’s chemicals and ceramics industries [May 2026]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 21 May 2026.

The Government has announced new funding packages for the ceramics and chemicals sectors, worth £120 million and £350 million respectively.
- Business Secretary announces new funding packages for chemicals and ceramics sectors, boosting stability and economic resilience.
- £350 million Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund will support strategically important producers and sites, strengthen critical supply chains and help support thousands of skilled jobs.
- Ceramics package worth £120 million will back energy efficiency, decarbonisation and long-term competitiveness in sector vital to UK manufacturing.
The Government has today (21 May) unveiled a major new funding package to revitalise British industry and shore up the UK’s long-term economic resilience.

Thousands of UK jobs across British industry are set to be secured thanks to £350m of Government support for strategically important chemicals producers and sites alongside a separate £120m scheme for the ceramics sector.

The funding – targeted at strategically important parts of the economy that keep vital everyday UK infrastructure running, support thousands of skilled jobs and protect Britain’s economic security – is designed to help firms stay competitive, modernise infrastructure, decarbonise, and transition their energy supplies from gas to electricity.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said:

At a time of global uncertainty it’s never been more important to ensure Britain’s resilience and back the industries our country depends on, and this funding will support thousands of jobs and put businesses on a secure footing for the long term.

This is what a strategic state looks like: acting swiftly with targeted support in the national interest and giving certainty to the industries crucial to both our everyday lives and our economic future.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

The chemicals and ceramics industries underpin our economic resilience and support skilled jobs across the UK.

We have the right economic plan. It includes backing those workers, backing the communities that depend on them, and backing British industry for the long term.

The £350 million Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund will back the UK’s most strategically important chemical producers – the firms that supply the critical inputs relied on by sectors including food, energy, water and healthcare.

The fund has been designed to keep these key producers and sites competitive, put businesses on a more sustainable footing and strengthen supply chain resilience. It will be developed in partnership with industry representatives and independent experts.

The Government will continue to work hand-in-hand with industry to ensure broader policy delivers decarbonisation and not deindustrialisation. We are committed to tackling unfair foreign trade practices, and Ministers will urgently convene the chemicals industry to explore potential trade defence action.

The Government is also committed to driving down regulatory costs faced by the industry. We have already cut back the need for UK businesses to buy expensive and unnecessary data, cutting transition costs while maintaining health and environmental protections. We will work with the industry to identify where the UK can go further to reduce regulatory costs and remove duplicative procedures for businesses.

Chief Executive of the Chemical Industries Association Steve Elliott said:

The Government rightly included the chemical industry as a key foundational sector in its Industrial Strategy for the country. Today’s announcement of a £350m fund to be made available to chemical businesses underpinning our critical national infrastructure and wider resilience is therefore a very welcome first step in turning those words into action.

Much is needed – both in terms of policy and funding support – to address the industry’s energy, carbon reduction and broader regulatory costs – and the Government’s additional commitment to work in partnership with the industry to tackle those huge competitiveness challenges is also encouraging.

A separate package for the ceramics sector will include £120m of support to back capital investment in energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects, as well as provide operational support for successful applicants to the fund who require additional support to manage increased costs.

Ceramics are not only crucial for housebuilding and everyday items like plates, bowls and smartphone screens but strategic industries such as advanced manufacturing, defence and tech, backed by the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

Their ability to operate at very high temperatures and resist corrosion make them vital for products from armour plates to plane engine coatings, and hip implants to space shuttle panels.

Support for the ceramics sector will be open to eligible UK manufacturers across subsectors including refractory products, clay building materials, household ceramics and technical ceramics.

The support will also help modernise an industry with proud UK heritage and a major local employer in communities from Stoke-on-Trent to Devon. The Government will work closely with the industry on delivery of the support, with further details to be confirmed shortly in the summer.

In a fresh call today, Ministers are also urging ceramics producers to engage with the Trade Remedies Authority, who can impose tariffs, to provide evidence where they believe existing trade remedy measures are not enough, or to support new investigations.

CEO of Ceramics UK Rob Flello said:

Ceramics UK is delighted by this landmark decision by the Government which recognises the fundamental role of our sector in the UK economy.

Ceramics are critical to the UK economy in the manufacture of vital products such as steel, glass and other high temperature products, as well as items that are used daily in homes and businesses across the UK.

Now, working with our members as the voice of the industry, Ceramics UK looks forward to working closely with Ministers and civil servants in designing and implementing the measures outlined in the Business Secretary’s statement of intent.

Our priority is to ensure that the scheme works for all members of Ceramics UK, from the smallest ceramics companies through to the largest organisations, creating a sustainable future for our industry.

Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB National Secretary, said:

GMB has been calling for the Government to step up support for energy intensive industry.

This is a hugely welcome step in the right direction and will be reassurance to workers in our chemicals and ceramics industry that Government is finally listening.

These announcements, targeted at longer-term economic resilience, come alongside temporary help the government has announced to support people and businesses this year.

These steps entail a near term cost but HM Treasury has confirmed that the overall package will not increase borrowing in the medium term. All costings will be subject to certification in the next OBR forecast in the usual way.

Background:
- The Government will work with industry to design and shape the Critical Chemicals Resilience fund to deliver the greatest impact. The fund will be developed in collaboration with independent experts and industry, which we expect to start in summer 2026 and made available over a multi-year period, with further details to be set out shortly.
- Today’s announcement follows recent Government action to back the chemicals sector, including a £120 million package to protect vital chemical production at Grangemouth, and restarting production at the Ensus bioethanol plant in Teesside to protect CO2 supplies.
- Applications to the ceramics package are expected to open in the summer once final design work is complete.
- The strategic new support comes on top of the Government’s action to tackle industrial energy costs through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) and the British Industry Supercharger, which will save thousands of UK businesses hundreds of millions of pounds on their energy costs.
24/05/2026
PRESS RELEASE : International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia – Joint Statement to the OSCE [May 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2026.

The UK and likeminded participating States reaffirm their commitment to equality, non discrimination and the human rights of LGBT+ people and call on participating States to uphold OSCE commitments.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

I am delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom, and my own country, Norway.

May 17th marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Discrimination and Transphobia – IDAHOBIT. This day is an important moment to reaffirm our shared commitment to the equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by all people, without discrimination. As we look ahead to Pride Month in June, this commitment must be sustained and translated into action, both within the OSCE and beyond.

This year’s global IDAHOBIT theme, ‘At the heart of democracy’, underlines a fundamental truth: that respect for human rights, equality and non‑discrimination is essential to strong, inclusive and resilient democratic societies.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. Yet for many people across the OSCE region and beyond, this promise remains unfulfilled due to their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. Discrimination, harassment and violence persist in education, employment, healthcare and public life.

In some participating States, laws and policies continue to criminalise consensual same‑sex relationships, restrict freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, or deny legal recognition and protection to trans and gender‑diverse people. Regrettably, over the past twelve months, the situation for many LGBT+ people in the OSCE region has further deteriorated.

In many of our societies, transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse people still face stigma, harassment, and violence. Intersex people can also face the possibility of medically unnecessary or deferrable interventions. These trends are often exacerbated by disinformation, hostile rhetoric and the shrinking of civic space, which together undermine social cohesion and the security of individuals and communities.

Human rights defenders and civil society organisations play a vital role in responding to these challenges. Across the OSCE region, they provide support to victims, document abuses, and advocate for inclusive, human rights‑compliant policies. Their work strengthens our societies and contributes directly to comprehensive security. We therefore reiterate the importance of protecting civic space and ensuring that human rights defenders can operate freely and safely, including through full respect for the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

Mr Chair, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is a core OSCE commitment. Participating States have freely undertaken commitments to respect and promote these rights, to combat discrimination, and to protect individuals from violence. Full implementation of these commitments is essential to comprehensive security, and to the credibility of this Organisation.

On this IDAHOBIT, we reaffirm our solidarity with LGBT+ communities and human rights defenders across the OSCE region and worldwide. We call on all participating States to uphold their commitments, to repeal discriminatory laws and practices, and to promote policies that ensure all people can live free from fear, violence and discrimination.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to a world in which all people are equal, safe and free to live their lives with dignity and respect.

Thank you.

24/05/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Address by the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of the Republic of Moldova – UK statement to the OSCE [May 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 May 2026.

The UK thanks Deputy Prime Minister Chiveri for his remarks to the Permanent Council, welcomes the resumption of in person 1+1 meetings between Chief Negotiators, and encourages Chisinau and Tiraspol to build on this renewed momentum.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Deputy Prime Minister Chiveri, welcome to the Permanent Council, and thank you for your remarks this morning.

The United Kingdom remains a steadfast and consistent supporter of Moldova’s path towards European integration. We were pleased to host the fifth session of the UK-Moldova Strategic Dialogue in London last month. We commend the sustained progress your government has made on democratic reform, the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental rights. The United Kingdom also recognises Moldova’s significant contribution to regional security, including in support of Ukraine’s security.

Deputy Prime Minister, the UK welcomes the resumption of in‑person 1+1 meetings between Chief Negotiators in February and April. These meetings mark an important step forward and underscore the value of sustained, direct dialogue in unlocking meaningful progress. We are grateful to the OSCE Mission to Moldova for facilitating and moderating these meetings. We also welcome the increased activity of the Working Groups, which provide an important channel for addressing issues that affect people’s daily lives.

The United Kingdom encourages Chisinau and Tiraspol to continue engaging constructively and in good faith across all established formats, and to build on this renewed momentum.

The United Kingdom recognises and strongly supports the vital work of OSCE Mission to Moldova on reintegration, including through the Mission’s support to implementation of measures agreed under the Berlin‑plus package, delivering tangible benefits for communities on both banks of the river Nistru. Practical cooperation on issues such as education, vehicle registration, and access to land remains essential to building confidence and trust over time.

The United Kingdom reiterates our longstanding concern over the continued presence of Russian military forces in Transnistria, which is incompatible with Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We underline the importance of the full and unconditional withdrawal of these forces and associated ammunition stockpiles, in line with international commitments.

Deputy Prime Minister, the United Kingdom stands ready to support further efforts towards achieving comprehensive, peaceful, and sustainable settlement that fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, within its internationally recognised borders. We will remain a committed partner to Moldova as you continue to advance democratic reforms and pursue your European future.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

24/05/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Statement – Summoning the Israeli Chargé d’Affaires

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2026.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has today summoned the Israeli Chargé d’Affaires to the United Kingdom.

The UK has today summoned the Israeli Chargé d’Affaires to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office following the inflammatory video posted by Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The summoning reflects the UK’s strong condemnation of his conduct in taunting those involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla. This behaviour violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity for people.

We are also deeply concerned by the detention conditions depicted and have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities. We made clear their obligations to protect the rights of all those involved.

The flotilla’s attempt to deliver aid underlines the severity of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Israel must ensure significantly more aid can enter safely and at scale through land routes.

We are in contact with the families of a number of British nationals involved and stand ready to provide consular support at any time.

24/05/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Russia rejects peace efforts with intensified aerial attacks – UK statement to the OSCE [May 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2026.

The UK condemns Russia’s escalating attacks on Ukrainian civilians following Ukraine’s good faith ceasefire offer. Credible peace requires restraint and constructive engagement, not intensified violence.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Words about peace matter only if they are matched by actions. Last week, Ukraine demonstrated that principle by offering to extend the ceasefire brokered by the United States, with the clear aim of reducing civilian harm and opening space for dialogue. That offer was clear, constructive, and made in good faith.

Russia’s response was to unleash the most intense aerial assault of this war. In the 24 hours up to the morning of 14 May, Russia launched more than 1,470 drones and 56 missiles at Ukraine — the highest number fired in any 24‑hour period since the full‑scale invasion began. In Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities report that 24 people were killed and 47 injured, including children, when a residential building was struck.

While Ukraine proposes ceasefires to stop the killing and open space for dialogue, Russia seeks or agrees to short pauses for different reasons. These moments of silence are not used to pursue talks or to build confidence. They are used to stockpile missiles and drones and prepare the next wave of attacks. Russia seeks ceasefires for convenience, spectacle and military advantage.

We have seen the consequences of this approach not only in Kyiv, but across Ukraine. Civilian areas continue to be attacked. Critical services continue to be disrupted. At least 238 Ukrainian civilians were killed and a further 1,404 injured in April – a 13% increase from March and the highest since July 2025.

Mr Chair, we cannot allow ourselves to become immune to the horror of what we are seeing. Attacks on civilian areas are not normal. The destruction of homes and the killing of families should never be met with resignation or indifference. If we lose our sense of shock, we weaken the principles this Organisation exists to uphold.

The United Kingdom supports efforts to bring this war to an end. We support serious diplomacy that leads to a peace which is just and lasting. But credibility in peace efforts is demonstrated through actions, not declarations. Russia can show a willingness to move in that direction at any time: by stopping these attacks, by engaging constructively, and by choosing restraint over violence.

The UK will continue to support Ukraine in defending its people and its territory. And we will continue to work with partners to ensure that these attacks are neither ignored nor normalised.

Thank you.

24/05/2026

Tag: Press Release

Biography

Notes for Editors

The role

The Joint Intelligence Committee

The Joint Intelligence Organisation

Curriculum vitae

Background: