Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : British training of Ukrainian troops extended through 2026 as UK marks Ukrainian Independence Day [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 August 2025.

Extension supports UK’s objective of supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russian attack, while developing its Armed Forces to deter Putin in future.

Ukrainian soldiers will receive a further boost from the British military’s expert training, as the Government announces the extension of the UK’s world-leading training programme on Ukrainian Independence Day.

The UK is stepping up and evolving its training support to ensure Ukraine’s Armed Forces are in the strongest possible position as they resist ongoing Russian attacks, and to deter any further Russian aggression under a future peace deal by supporting the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces. Supporting Ukraine’s defence supports the UK’s own national security and helps counter the economic disruption caused by Putin’s illegal invasion.

Training support and military equipment from the UK has helped give Ukraine a crucial boost on the frontline, with Russia continuing to lose far more vehicles and equipment to damage or destruction than Ukraine.

The extension of Operation INTERFLEX to at least the end of 2026 was announced by the Defence Secretary amid Ukrainian celebrations today, marking 34 years since declaring independence from the Soviet Union.

More than 50,000 Ukrainian recruits have been trained on British soil so far, with the UK leading 13 other nations providing support to the INTERFLEX programme as one of the biggest schemes of its kind in the world.

The UK is also adapting INTERFLEX training to best suit Ukraine’s evolving military requirements, with a gradual shift from prioritising shorter courses centred on basic combat skills training, to a greater focus on leadership and instructor training. Two additional courses are now being delivered alongside the basic infantry course. One teaches soldiers how to be in command at a platoon and section leader level and the other is an instructor training course.

Working closely with Ukraine means the UK Armed Forces can learn valuable insights and techniques from the battlefield, helping to improve skills and tactics. Support for Ukraine has also seen closer industrial collaboration, benefiting British businesses and supporting the government’s Plan for Change.

The news comes as events take place across the UK today to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day and highlight the historic relationship that Britain and Ukraine have built. Nearly 2,000 Ukrainian recruits, British military personnel, and other attendees are set to celebrate at one of the INTERFLEX training sites in England.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

The UK is united for Ukraine. We will continue to step up our support alongside allies, so that Ukraine can defend today and deter tomorrow. In the face of ongoing Russian attacks, we must put Ukraine’s Armed Forces in the strongest possible position. And as the push for peace continues, we must make the Ukrainians into the strongest possible deterrent to secure that future peace.

On this special day for the freedom and democracy of the Ukrainian people, we are ramping up and evolving our world-leading training support that has given more than 50,000 Ukrainians vital combat skills.

This matters to Ukraine and it matters to Britain. A secure Ukraine is a secure Europe. From learning lessons from the battlefield to strengthen our own Armed Forces, to deepening our military industrial collaboration supporting jobs across the nation, Britain and Ukraine are growing closer than ever before.

INTERFLEX training began as a 5-week course to provide basic combat training to recruits, but following continued feedback and dialogue with Ukraine’s Armed Forces, has since become a 7-week course and offers alternative courses specifically designed to boost leadership and command skills for personnel, with new courses introduced, tailored according to seniority of trainees.

Training a new generation of Ukrainian instructors is one of the most effective methods to strengthen Ukraine’s security both now and in the long-term, increasing skills and capacity to expand its own training programmes. It will help Ukraine continue to regenerate its military capabilities, which would act as the strongest deterrent against further attacks from Putin under any peace deal.

New survey results of Ukrainian recruits who have completed training under Operation INTERFLEX from January to August 2025 revealed that 83% of those on leadership courses said they felt more able to make their troops under their command survivable at the end of their leadership training. The data also revealed that 93% of leadership trainees felt more confident they can make troops under their command more lethal at the end of their training.

Recent open-source reporting indicates that support from the UK and other nations has helped Ukraine achieve remarkable results on the battlefield, with more than 4,000 Russian battle tanks having been reported destroyed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, compared with around 1,250 in Ukraine’s case. Reporting suggests that Russia has lost more than double the number of armoured vehicles compared to Ukraine.

Artem, a Ukrainian soldier currently training on Operation INTERFLEX’s Platoon and Company Sergeants Course said:

I am very grateful to the UK for supporting the people of Ukraine in their struggle for independence and identity as a nation. I am grateful for the opportunity to take such courses, for the high level of professionalism of the instructors, their dedication to their work, and for their ability to organise both group training and find an individual approach for each of us.

Instructors ensure that classes are conducted in conditions as close to real-life as possible, whether it be in trenches, in a forested area, or in an urban area. I learned how important it is to be prepared for coordinated actions in conditions of increased danger, how to properly coordinate personnel during defence, and planning offensive actions. I learnt how to survive in conditions of minimal support and improve first aid skills.

Work on a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia has deepened in recent weeks under US leadership, with the Prime Minister flying out to Washington last week to meet with President Trump and President Zelenskyy alongside other European leaders. The Chief of the Defence Staff also held meetings on the Coalition of the Willing with other NATO chiefs.

The Coalition of the Willing – led by the UK and France – has developed plans for a multinational military force that could be deployed to Ukraine to provide support in the event of a peace deal. Several planning meetings in recent months have involved more than 200 military planners and input from around 30 countries.

The UK remains fully committed to securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort, which is why £4.5bn is being spent on military support to Ukraine this year, the largest amount provided to date.

In March, the Prime Minister announced a historic £1.6 billion deal to provide more than five thousand air defence missiles for Ukraine – creating 200 new jobs and supporting a further 700. The UK will also invest a record £350m this year to increase the supply of drones to Ukraine from a target of 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025.

August 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Tribunal system reforms to speed up asylum decisions [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 24 August 2025.

A new independent body will be set up to speed up decision making on asylum appeal cases.

Asylum appeals will be overhauled and speeded up to clear the backlog, accelerate returns and end hotel use under some of the most significant changes to the asylum system in decades.

As part of efforts to fix the broken asylum system the government inherited and end the use of asylum hotels, a new independent body to deal with asylum appeals made up of independent professional adjudicators, will be established to hear cases more quickly.

The proposals, driven jointly by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, will reduce the number of asylum appeal cases in the system by ensuring cases awaiting decision can be heard faster, in turn reducing the backlog and creating a more efficient system. They are driven by serious concerns among Ministers that existing measures including increased investment in court sitting days are not delivering the pace of change needed to clear the asylum appeal backlog.

The new body will be fully independent of government with safeguards to ensure high standards and is expected to use the expertise of independent professionally trained adjudicators focusing particularly on asylum appeals, and will allow capacity to be surged so cases can be cleared. It will have statutory powers to prioritise cases from those in asylum accommodation and foreign national offenders.

Currently, there is a backlog of 106,000 cases waiting to be heard by the First-Tier Tribunal, including at least 51,000 asylum appeals. Wait times are increasing, with an average wait time of 53 weeks.

As initial asylum decisions have accelerated, court delays over appeals are now the biggest cause of pressure in the asylum accommodation system which is costing the taxpayer billions of pounds each year.

Doubling of asylum decisions since the election means that the number of asylum seekers waiting for an initial decision has gone down 24% in the space of 12 months and is falling further. However, the number of failed asylum seekers now waiting in the appeal system has increased substantially as most failed asylum seekers then appeal and decisions even on a first appeal can take more than a year to be made.

To relieve pressure on the system, the government has provided funding to increase the number of sitting days in the First-tier Tribunal, with the aim of ensuring it operates at maximum capacity. However, the tribunal cannot keep up with fluctuating and increasing demand, so an alternative approach is needed that can provide wider and more flexible capacity.

Ministers are also introducing a new legal requirement for a 24-week timeframe for the First Tier Tribunal to determine asylum appeals by those receiving asylum accommodation support and appeals by foreign offenders.

But the current tribunal system is still failing to keep up with the particular requirements to clear the asylum system so that failed asylum seekers can be returned as swiftly as possible. Nor can it accommodate a fast track system for safe countries.

The government will set out further details of our plans to fast-track cases in the asylum system this autumn.

Lessons are also being learned from other European countries who have faster appeal systems including countries which run independent appeal bodies rather than absorbing appeals entirely into the main courts and judicial systems.

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, said:

We inherited an asylum system in complete chaos with a soaring backlog of asylum cases and a broken appeals system with thousands of people in the system for years on end. That is why we are taking practical steps to fix the foundations and restore control and order to the system.

We are determined to substantially reduce the number of people in the asylum system as part of our plan to end asylum hotels. Already since the election we have reduced the backlog of people waiting for initial decisions by 24% and increased failed asylum returns by 30%.

But we cannot carry on with these completely unacceptable delays in appeals as a result of the system we have inherited which mean that failed asylum seekers stay in the system for years on end at huge cost to the taxpayer. Overhauling the appeals system so that it is swift, fair and independent, with high standards in place, is a central part of our Plan for Change.

Since taking office, this government has taken immediate action to fix the asylum system to start exiting hotels and surging returns of more than 35,000 people with no right to be here, including more than 5,000 foreign national offenders.

At its peak under the last government over 400 asylum hotels were open in summer 2023, costing almost £9 million a day. There are now just over 200 and better use of the hotels of the ones we must use have helped cut asylum costs by 11%.

The government has surged asylum decision-making capacity, delivering over 31,000 initial decisions to people per quarter – triple the average under the previous government.

The case backlog is down 18%, with the number of people waiting decisions down by 24% and we’ve achieved the third-highest quarterly decision rate since records began in 2002.

The Immigration White Paper announced in May also details plans to introduce legislation that tightens the application of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights on such appeals.

August 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Criminals to face football, travel, club and pub bans [August 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 23 August 2025.

Criminals will be barred from pubs, concerts and sports matches under new sentencing powers.
- Judges given new powers to punish offenders with bans that curtail freedom
- Mandatory drug testing expanded to keep offenders on straight-and-narrow
- Part of the Government’s Plan for Change to make sure punishment cuts crime and keep streets safe
Criminals will be barred from pubs, concerts and sports matches under new sentencing powers unveiled by the Government today (Sunday 24 August) as part of its Plan for Change.

Judges will be able to curtail offenders’ freedoms with driving limits, travel bans and restriction zones confining them into specific areas.

The changes will toughen up community punishments to deter reoffending and force offenders back onto the straight-and-narrow.

As part of the Government’s work to do everything in its power to keep Britain safe, offenders coming out of prison and supervised by the Probation Service will also face similar restrictions and an expanded mandatory drug testing regime.

In future, criminals without known drug habits will face this scrutiny, not just those with a history of substance misuse.

Offenders who break the rules face being brought back to court or hauled back to prison as punishment depending on the sentence they are serving.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said:

Widening the range of punishments available to judges is part of our Plan for Change to cut crime and make streets safer.

When criminals break society’s rules, they must be punished. Those serving their sentences in the community must have their freedom restricted there too.

These new punishments should remind all offenders that, under this Government, crime does not pay.

Rightly, the public expect the government to do everything in its power to keep Britain safe, and that’s what we’re doing.

Currently, judges are able to give out limited bans for specific crimes, for example football bans for crimes committed inside a stadium on match day, to prevent further antisocial behaviour.

The Government will change the law shortly so such bans can be handed down as a form of punishment for any offence in any circumstance.

It will form part of wider reforms to sentencing to ensure punishments cut crime and prisons never again run out of places for dangerous offenders.

Over 2,400 prison places have opened since July 2024 with the Government investing £7 billion to create a total of 14,000 as the prison population increases.

Investment in the Probation Service will also receive a huge boost with an increase of up to £700 million by 2028/29, up from the annual budget of around £1.6 billion today.

This week it was revealed the number of Probation Officers has increased by seven per cent in the last 12 months, with trainee probation officer numbers also seeing a surge of 15 per cent. This follows the Government’s commitment to recruit a further 1,300 this year, in addition to the 1,000 trainee probation officers recruited last year.

New technology, including artificial intelligence, will lighten the administrative burden and free up time for probation staff to increase supervision of the most dangerous offenders and keep the public safe.
August 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Plan for wind developers to pay for skilled job training [August 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 23 August 2025.

New requirement for offshore wind developers to pay for skills training in their local communities.
- Proposals for companies to pay for training for workers to secure thousands of well-paid, good quality jobs in offshore wind for decades to come
- Measures propose better workforce protection for offshore wind workers, with stronger access to trade unions
- Provides a route into high-quality jobs for oil and gas workers, apprentices and school leavers as part of the Plan for Change
Working people in coastal areas and industrial heartlands are set to benefit from better workforce protection and skilled job opportunities in Britain’s mission to secure clean, homegrown energy.

A Fair Work Charter has been set out in proposals published today (Saturday 23 August) – working with Unions and business – that will require offshore wind developers to pay into a skills fund or spend a minimum amount on skills training in their local communities to support oil and gas workers, apprentices or school leavers move into the UK’s growing offshore wind industry.

Skills training could be provided through education schemes, training facilities, new equipment or work experience and internships, creating new opportunities for working people and unlocking growth across Britain.

Proposals also encourage developers and supply chain firms to create more high-quality, secure jobs in offshore wind, with better access to trade unions and stronger protections on pay and terms and conditions. This could include a commitment to a ‘Fair Worker Charter’ co-developed between industry and trade unions.

As we reach our clean power mission by 2030, offshore wind is estimated to support up to 100,000 jobs, with many jobs outside of London in coastal and rural parts of the country. Industry estimates a typical salary for an offshore wind worker is £10,000 higher than the UK average, with 90% of the UK’s oil and gas workforce having skills that are transferrable into offshore renewables.

These changes will help ensure these jobs are always skilled, secure and well-paid as more of these jobs become available on the clean energy transition providing long-term stability and job opportunities.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

Britain’s clean energy future will be powered by secure, unionised jobs for local people right across the country – from East Anglia to Teesside and Aberdeen.

We’re backing businesses that invest in working people in these communities, securing a route to long-term careers for oil and gas workers, apprentices and school leavers, as we deliver our Plan for Change.

Christina McAnea, General Secretary at UNISON, said:

Clean, homegrown energy is vital to Britain’s future growth and to tackling climate change. A highly skilled, fairly paid and secure clean energy workforce is essential to achieving these goals.

UNISON has long argued that the government needs to invest in retraining existing energy workers so their skills and experience can be transferred to clean energy jobs. Investment in apprenticeships and opportunities for young people is crucial in building the workforce of tomorrow.

This initiative offers a chance to boost skills across the energy sector, create and protect well-paid jobs, and support the renewal of coastal communities and industrial regions. Working together under a Fair Work Charter – unions, government and business – can deliver growth and stronger protection for workers.

Eddie Dempsey, General Secretary at RMT, said:

We welcome the commitments to make trade union recognition and strong pro-worker standards a part of offshore wind contracts, covering re-training, protecting pay, and working conditions.

This ensures that oil and gas workers are not being left behind.

Alongside the Employment Rights Bill and wider pledges to strengthen offshore workers’ rights, including for seafarers in the supply chain, the progress so far shows a plan is coming together.

That will give our members confidence that their livelihoods will be protected through these turbulent times.

Sue Ferns OBE, Senior Deputy General Secretary at Prospect, said:

Transitioning to a clean energy future will mean tens of thousands of new jobs being created across the UK, and it is welcome to see a clear commitment from the government that these should be good quality, unionised jobs.

Training the clean energy workforce of tomorrow is one of the biggest challenges we face, and it is only fair that renewables developers that rely on this labour contribute to skills programmes.

While progress has been made on unionisation in renewables, there is still more to do, and Prospect has been calling for the strongest possible signal from government that they expect companies receiving public money or participating in public procurement processes to work with and recognise trade unions.

This comes ahead of the UK’s first ever Clean Energy Workforce Strategy, which will ensure that clean energy jobs are not only widely available, but also high-quality. Offshore wind will be the backbone of Britain’s future energy needs, offering skilled jobs on good wages, and the opportunity to build a varied and fulfilling career.

Offshore wind requires skilled workers across the country in areas such as blade repair, mechanics, wind turbine maintenance, marine spatial planning and health and safety protocols.

But in some parts of the sector workers and trade unions have called for more consistency around workplace standards and trade union access to support these roles. Today’s proposals would ensure the industry is always delivering for its workforce by encouraging them to work in partnership with trade unions to develop stable, long-term jobs.

The measures would be introduced through the Clean Industry Bonus, which provides offshore wind developers with funding on the condition that they build new factories in deprived regions or invest in more sustainable supply chains to drive economic growth.

The consultation will also seek views on the introduction of onshore wind into the Clean Industry Bonus to help turbocharge its deployment in the UK after years of stagnation due to the de-facto ban under the previous government. This follows the government’s launch of the first ever onshore wind strategy earlier this year, and will get the country building again, as the sector is estimated to support up to 45,000 jobs in Great Britain by 2030.

Notes to editors

Earlier this year, the government allocated up to £544 million (2025 prices) through the scheme for offshore wind and partnered with Great British Energy – the UK’s publicly owned clean power company – alongside industry and The Crown Estate, to invest £1 billion in offshore wind supply chains.

These reforms will be included in the government’s flagship renewables auction in 2026, known as Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 8 subject to consultation.
August 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : All aboard for cheaper days out – the attractions you can reach with £3 buses [August 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 23 August 2025.

Families can continue to travel to dozens of popular destinations for no more than £3 for a single fare.
- families can travel to top UK attractions for no more than £3 a journey, thanks to the government’s extended bus fare cap
- the fare cap is part of the government’s mission to improve bus services, committing over £1 billion to improve bus reliability, frequency and access in towns, cities and rural areas
- new Bus Services Bill will put power back in local hands, protect vital routes and make buses more reliable, driving growth and access to opportunity as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
Families across the country can enjoy cheaper days out this summer, thanks to the government’s continued support for affordable travel through the £3 bus fare cap – making it easier than ever to reach top attractions without breaking the bank.

From seaside escapes to countryside adventures, the capped fare means families can travel to dozens of popular destinations for no more than £3 for a single fare on thousands of routes, opening up access to opportunities, boosting local economies and driving regional growth in towns, cities and rural communities.

Whether it’s exploring museums, getting out into nature, or enjoying coastal days out, the extended cap – backed by continued investment in the recent Spending Review – ensures that great days out remain affordable for all and puts money back in people’s pockets as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

Some of the destinations families can reach for no more than £3 per each single fare include Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Warwick Castle, West Midlands Safari Park and the National Space Centre.

Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood, said:

Whether it’s a trip to the seaside, a day out at a museum, or just visiting friends, we want people to get out and enjoy everything their area has to offer – without worrying about the cost.

That’s why we’ve kept the £3 fare cap in place and why we’re investing in better, more reliable buses across the country. It’s about making travel simpler, cheaper and better for everyone, driving growth and access to opportunity as part of our Plan for Change.

The fare cap is just one part of the government’s commitment to fixing buses. The incoming Bus Services Bill will reform the sector – putting buses back at the heart of local communities by giving local leaders the powers to overhaul how services operate and prevent vital routes from being scrapped.

Better buses are central to the government’s Plan for Change – connecting communities, strengthening the local economy and boosting access to jobs. The Bus Services Bill comes alongside the government providing over £1 billion this financial year to improve the reliability and frequency of bus services across the country, and confirming multi-year funding to maintain and improve buses long-term.

Sabrina de Carvalho, managing director of Merlin’s UK operations, added:

We see an increasing number of guests travelling to Merlin’s UK attractions by public transport and we always encourage them to leave the car at home – where they can – and make use of sustainable travel options when having memorable days out.

With bus fares continuing to be capped at £3, I have no doubt that more and more visitors will reach our entertainment destinations using this affordable mode of transport. Information about public transport options, including bus routes, is made available on our attraction websites.

Alison Edwards, director of policy and external relations at the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said:

Bus operators are ready for one of their busiest weekends of the year up and down the country this August Bank Holiday. With warm and dry weather forecast across most of the country, as many as 20 million journeys are likely to be taken by bus over the long weekend as people take the opportunity for an affordable day out.

Bus travel is enjoying a revival nationwide with journeys up steadily year-on-year, which is great news for communities, for tourist destinations and for the economy.

VisitEngland CEO, Patricia Yates, said:

England’s first-class attractions, from our world-renowned museums, art galleries and historic houses to our parks and gardens, remain vitally important to our tourism offer to both international and domestic visitors. By reducing the cost of public transport to these destinations, we’re removing barriers whilst supporting greener travel choices.

Our research shows people will be out exploring this weekend. I encourage you to get out and discover England’s fine attractions. Not only will you be giving our great attractions a much-needed boost, I know you will enjoy a fantastic day out with family and friends creating memories of a lifetime.
August 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : The UK is deeply concerned by the scale of human rights abuses, including sexual violence, by armed groups in eastern DRC – UK statement at the UN Security Council [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 August 2025.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

I will make three points.

First, the United Kingdom welcomes the positive momentum towards peace generated by the work of EAC-SADC and the AU, the signing of the Peace Agreement between DRC and Rwanda in Washington, and the Declaration of Principles between DRC and M23 in Doha.

Second, the United Kingdom condemns the widespread killing of civilians by the Rwanda-backed M23 in Rutshuru territory as well as killings by ADF in Ituri province.

The scale of human rights abuses, including sexual violence, by armed groups in eastern DRC is deeply concerning.

We call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to protect civilians.

The parties must comply with the ceasefires to which they have committed.

Reported violations by both M23 and Wazalendo groups are deeply concerning, as is the rise in inflammatory rhetoric by both sides.

The UK urges the parties to show restraint, avoid further escalation, and engage constructively in the peace process.

Third, President, the United Kingdom remains concerned by restrictions imposed on MONUSCO’s freedom of movement by M23.

UN peacekeepers must be allowed to deliver the mandate agreed by this Council.

We welcome news that supplies of fuel and water are no longer being restricted.

We also welcome that some of MONUSCO’s necessary troop rotations have now taken place. This must be sustained.

To conclude, the United Kingdom strongly supports all efforts towards peace in Eastern DRC.

We commend the ongoing efforts of US, Qatari and AU mediators and facilitators.

We welcome the resumption of talks between DRC and M23.

The parties should now urgently and fully comply with the commitments they have made to a ceasefire and the protection of civilians.

The Security Council should remain seized of their progress.

The full implementation of these agreements is critical to delivering the sustainable peace and prosperity that the people of DRC deserve.

August 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Professor Aoife Hunt MBE appointed as Board Member to The Sports Ground Safety Authority [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 21 August 2025.

The Secretary of State has appointed Professor Aoife Hunt MBE as Board Member to The Sports Ground Safety Authority for 3 years from 12 May 2025 to 11 May 2028.

Professor Aoife Hunt MBE

Aoife is a Professor of Crowd Safety and Security Science at the University of Greenwich and a leading specialist in crowd dynamics, simulation modelling and emergency evacuation strategies. She has over 17 years’ experience leading projects and research studies to advance the safety and security of crowded places, supporting the design and operation of sports grounds, arenas, major events, the public realm, hospitals, and transport systems. Aoife has extensive experience in designing video studies of human behaviour and led the world’s largest study into virus transmission risk behaviours in crowded places during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aoife regularly contributes to national and international guidance documents and is currently co-authoring the chapter on evacuation modelling in the SFPE Fire Engineering handbook. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland, and Co-Chair of the Security Institute’s Protective Security Special Interest Group. Aoife is passionate about inspiring children to continue studying mathematics and regularly works with national educational programmes to deliver outreach talks for schools and colleges. She holds memberships and committee roles across the industry and in 2023 was awarded an MBE for her services to the COVID-19 response.

August 23, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Millions of young minds prepared to progress [August 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 21 August 2025.

GCSE and vocational results stabilise following disruption during the pandemic with young people progressing on to A levels, T Levels or an apprenticeship.

Millions of pupils across the country are celebrating after receiving GCSE and other vocational and technical qualification (VTQs) results today (Thursday 21 August), as young people prepare to move on to the next stage of their education.

The proportion of entries achieving top grades (grade 7 or above), and grade 4 are broadly consistent with last year, reflecting a stable picture following the disruption this cohort experienced during the pandemic.

Students collecting results today will progress on to one of many high-quality education or training options including A levels, T Levels or exciting apprenticeship opportunities.

There are now 20 high quality T Levels to choose from including Marketing, Health, and Digital giving young people the skills, knowledge and experience they need to progress.

Despite the stability of results this year there are still wide variations between regions with pupils across the North West and West Midlands continuing to be held back compared to their peers in London, and historically poor outcomes year on year for pupils from white working-class backgrounds.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:

Behind every grade lies hours of dedication, resilience and determination and both students and teachers should feel an immense sense of pride in what they’ve achieved today.

But while results today are stable, once again we are seeing unacceptable gaps for young people in different parts of the country.

Where a young person grows up should not determine what they go on to achieve. Through our Plan for Change – from revitalised family services to higher school standards – I am absolutely determined to make sure every young person, wherever they live, has the opportunities they deserve.

The government has made tangible progress to fix the foundations of education through its Plan for Change – attendance is up, with over five million fewer days of absence this year compared to last, and teacher recruitment and retention is also up, with 2,300 more teachers in schools.

New Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) teams are also shining a light on those areas of the country that are not delivering for pupils. This sits alongside wider work to tackle disadvantage including expanding free school to reach half a million more children and rolling out free breakfast clubs across the country. Up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs will also be rolled out in every local authority by April 2026, revitalising family services and providing wide-ranging help for families, such as parenting and early development.

This builds on the government’s drive to support more young people to gain the skills needed to build successful careers including investing £625 million to create up to 60,000 more bricklayers, electricians, and joiners by 2029 and establishing ten specialist Construction Technical Excellence Colleges.

This year results show that:
- 23.0% of English 16-year-old entries achieved a grade 7 and above this year, a 0.3 percentage points increase on 2024 (22.6%) and an increase on 2019 (21.9%).
- 70.5% of English 16-year-old entries achieved grade 4 and above, similar to 2024 (70.4%) and 0.6 percentage points higher than in 2019 (69.9%).
- The proportion of 18- and 19-year-olds achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths has risen – for both ages by around 2 percentage points for English and 1 percentage points for maths.
- More students have entered Music this year with entries from 16-year-olds up 6.3% for Music GCSE and at the highest number since the pandemic ended.
- For all ages, where the gaps between regions grew during the pandemic these have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels across both A levels and GCSEs.
- This is particularly notable at Grade 4 where 72% of London students of all ages get a Grade 4 and above compared with just 63% in the West Midlands.
Later this year the government will publish Schools and Skills white papers which will build on the work already underway to tackle entrenched inequalities, setting out the further reforms needed for an education and skills system where every child and young person can achieve and thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.

For the first time some young people across Greater Manchester and the West Midlands will be able to view and share their GCSE results with their future post-16 school or college via a new app. The Education Record App is being trialled to explore how technology can be harnessed to support efficiencies in schools and colleges.

The app gives students the ability to access, control and share their education information easily, without the hassle of paper certificates, long forms or repetitive questions.

The government estimates the technology could save schools and colleges up to £30m per year if fully rolled out, enough money to pay the salaries of more than 600 new teachers in further education.
August 23, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Media Freedom Coalition statement on foreign media access to Gaza [August 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 August 2025.

Joint statement on behalf of 27 countries on foreign media access to Gaza.

Joint statement:

In light of the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, we, the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition, urge Israel to allow immediate independent foreign media access and afford protection for journalists operating in Gaza.

Journalists and media workers play an essential role in putting the spotlight on the devastating reality of war. Access to conflict zones is vital to carrying out this role effectively. We oppose all attempts to restrict press freedom and block entry to journalists during conflicts.

We also strongly condemn all violence directed against journalists and media workers, especially the extremely high number of fatalities, arrests and detentions. We call on the Israeli authorities and all other parties to make every effort to ensure that media workers in Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem – local and foreign alike – can conduct their work freely and safely. Deliberate targeting of journalists is unacceptable. International humanitarian law offers protection to civilian journalists during armed conflict. We call for all attacks against media workers to be investigated and for those responsible to be prosecuted in compliance with national and international law.

We reiterate calls for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of the remaining hostages, unhindered flow of humanitarian aid and for a path towards a two-state solution, long-term peace and security.

This statement has been signed by:
- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Ukraine
- For further information, please visit Home – Media Freedom Coalition
August 23, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK supports new training facility for the Lebanese Army [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 August 2025.

The facility upgraded through the UK’s Integrated Security Fund, will serve as a vital training facility for LAF troops deployed across South Lebanon.

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell inaugurated the newly upgraded Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) training facility in Zahrani, South Lebanon on Wednesday 20 August.

The LAF facility was developed and upgraded through the support of the UK Government’s Integrated Security Fund. It will serve as a vital training facility for LAF troops strengthening their readiness for deployment across South Lebanon. The UK is also providing 1,000 Personal Protection Equipment sets to protect LAF soldiers as they carry out critical duties.

Ambassador Cowell attended the inauguration ceremony with Head of the Second Intervention Regiment, British Defence Attaché Lt. Col Charles Smith, Deputy Head of the UK ISF James Barber and Head of Programme Sarah Kronfol.

Since 2024, the UK has committed over £17 million to support the expanded deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), including in southern Lebanon, reinforcing their role as the sole legitimate military force of the Lebanese state and strengthening their resilience across the country.

This latest training facility builds on over a decade of UK support. Since 2013, the UK has worked closely with the LAF’s Land Border Regiments to bolster Lebanese state authority along the border with Syria, counter smuggling, and protect local communities.

After the ceremony, Ambassador Cowell said:

I am honoured to inaugurate the newly upgraded training facility in Zahrani – a testament to our enduring partnership and shared vision for a safer Lebanon. The role of the Lebanese Armed Forces is more vital than ever in safeguarding Lebanon and its people.

Our support is designed to strengthen LAF resilience, address critical infrastructure needs and enable their permanent, and sustainable presence in South Lebanon.

The UK is committed to supporting security and stability in Lebanon, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the LAF and the nation they protect.

August 21, 2025