Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : WPP appointed to be UK Government’s lead media agency [December 2025]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 December 2025.

In a major step forward for the modernisation of government communications, the UK Government has appointed media agency WPP Media, part of WPP, to provide media strategy, planning, and buying services across the public sector.
- British media agency WPP Media (part of WPP) appointed to lead government media strategy and support vital public sector campaigns.
- Innovative new approach will ensure that Government communications connect and engage with audiences directly on the platforms where they are most active.
- New agreement to focus on vital campaigns, including the National Blood Donation drive and Armed Forces and teacher recruitment.
In a major step forward for the modernisation of government communications the UK Government has appointed media agency WPP Media, part of WPP, to provide media strategy, planning, and buying services across the public sector.

WPP Media will plan high-impact public sector campaigns to engage and inform citizens across the increasingly diverse media landscape. Additionally, WPP Media has also been awarded the out-of-home buying duties on behalf of the Government.

Public information campaigns and the efficient running of frontline services depend on good Government communications and it is vital that the Government keeps pace with the media landscape, especially on digital platforms. WPP Media will support recruitment campaigns for essential frontline roles such as nurses, teachers, social workers, and prison staff. It will also support life-saving campaigns for NHS blood, plasma, and organ donation, alongside initiatives such as the THINK! Road Safety, Fire Kills and Violence Against Women and Girls campaigns.

The media procurement agreement also promotes the UK globally through the GREAT campaign – the UK’s flagship international communications programme – which in 2024/25 delivered £218 million in foreign direct investment and more than £300 million in trade wins.

By uniting media planning and buying under a single agency, the Government will streamline its work to more effectively reach target audiences across the platforms it engages with, such as TikTok, Instagram and Reddit, as well as television, radio and print media. Government Communications will also benefit from advances in AI-powered advertising technologies and audience insight to personalise messaging to the public.

The changes will also:
- Reduce the number of suppliers from 33 to 23 across the whole agreement:
- Reduce campaign planning times and management costs
- More effectively reach its citizens across the UK with messaging relevant to the platforms they use.
- Unify cross-government messaging to ensure every pound of public money is spent effectively.
- Support British jobs and investment through WPP’s extensive UK operations.
The Government is committed to using innovative technologies to transform the way the state and public services are run. WPP’s appointment will help the Government deliver modern, data-driven communications directly to citizens, broadening its reach beyond traditional politically-interested audiences.

A new targeted online audience-led approach will move Government Communications beyond traditional advertising and PR. Government Communications’ New Media Unit has proven the value of this approach and this appointment gives the Government the ability to replicate this approach at scale across all government campaigns.

Crucially, the agreement managed by the Crown Commercial Service – will play an important role in ensuring that the UK public receives clear, accurate, and authoritative information from the Government.

Permanent Secretary for Government Communications, David Dinsmore said:

Today’s media landscape is unrecognisable when compared to even a decade ago. The public has changed where and how they get their information and Government needs to communicate its story with the best tools available.

Our appointment of WPP Media means that we will transform how we deliver communications and secure the best value for money for the taxpayer.

Cindy Rose, CEO of WPP, said:

It’s a profound honour to be entrusted with the UK Government’s media strategy, planning and buying and OOH buying duties. We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership, combining the very best of British creativity and media innovation to support vital public service communications.

This decision is a powerful endorsement of our data capabilities and our AI-powered WPP Open platform to create a truly integrated and forward-thinking solution to connect the UK Government with the public it serves.

Kate Rowlinson, CEO of WPP Media UK, said:

It is such a huge privilege to be the first agency group to bring government planning and buying together to oversee hundreds of vital national campaigns. Our deep expertise in planning public sector communications, combined with our exceptional talent and innovative WPP Open platform, puts us in a brilliant position to ensure every government message resonates and drives action.
December 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Government appoints interim commissioners to the EHRC [December 2025]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 December 2025.

The Minister for Women and Equalities has appointed Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry as interim commissioners at the EHRC.
- Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry appointed as interim commissioners at Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
- They will ensure the EHRC can operate effectively while new commissioners are recruited.
- Appointments will run for 12 months from 1 January 2026.
- Appointments will ensure the EHRC can continue upholding and promoting equality and human rights and safeguarding and enforcing the laws that protect people’s rights to fairness, dignity and respect.
The Minister for Women and Equalities has appointed Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry as interim commissioners at the EHRC.

Ali Harris is Chief Executive of Equally Ours, a human rights charity. Shazia Choudhry is Professor of Law at the University of Oxford, and the Jeffrey Hackney Tutorial Fellow in Law at Wadham College. Their appointments ensure the EHRC can continue upholding and promoting equality and human rights while recruitment takes place for fixed commissioners.

On 3 November the Minister for Equalities launched a full, open recruitment campaign for at least 4 commissioners. These commissioners will continue to develop the EHRC and support long-term change and improvements to equality and human rights issues. The minister is working with the devolved governments to recruit a Wales and Scotland Commissioner.

Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson said:

This government is committed to embedding fairness and equality into the heart of our agenda, and the EHRC has a key part to play in this.

Both Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry bring a wealth of experience and expertise in equality and human rights, and their appointments will ensure the EHRC can continue their crucial work as Britain’s independent equality and human rights regulator while recruitment is ongoing.

The EHRC is Britain’s equality and human rights regulator. They:
- regulate equality law in England, Scotland and Wales
- uphold human rights in England and Wales
- make their own decisions on enforcement and investigations
December 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : MI6 Chief says the “front line is everywhere” in first speech, as the UK faces new “age of uncertainty” [December 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2025.

In her first public speech, the new Chief of MI6 Blaise Metreweli will set out how MI6 is tackling new and emerging threats to the UK and its allies.
- new MI6 Chief underlines power of human agency in tackling new threats to UK security
- in first public speech, Blaise Metreweli will say that MI6 is keeping Brits safe in a world where the rules of conflict are being rewritten, by Russia and other hostile actors
- speech builds on Foreign Secretary’s Locarno Centenary speech which highlighted how the UK is utilising partnerships and technology to respond to new hybrid and information threats
In her first public speech, the new Chief of MI6 Blaise Metreweli will set out today (Monday 15 December) how MI6 is tackling new and emerging threats to the UK and its allies.

The Chief will describe the increasingly complex and interconnected nature of global threats, ranging from technological disruption and hybrid threats to terrorism and information manipulation.

Speaking from inside MI6 HQ, Metreweli will describe how the UK is evolving to meet these challenges, through building partnerships and harnessing the technology needed to protect our national security and stay ahead of our adversaries.

Mastery of technology must infuse everything we do. Not just in our labs, but in the field, in our tradecraft, and even more importantly, in the mindset of every officer. We must be as comfortable with lines of code as we are with human sources, as fluent in Python as we are in multiple languages …

Focusing on the new hybrid threat landscape the UK faces, Blaise Metreweli will call out the acute threat posed by an “aggressive, expansionist, and revisionist” Russia.

Putin should be in no doubt, our support is enduring. The pressure we apply on Ukraine’s behalf will be sustained.

The export of chaos is a feature not a bug in the Russian approach to international engagement, and we should be ready for this to continue until Putin is forced to change his calculus.

This builds on recent UK actions to expose and disrupt harmful activities threatening our national security, as the Foreign Secretary outlined the modern threats the UK now faces through information warfare. In response, the UK has sanctioned several Russian entities delivering the Kremlin’s information warfare, and 2 China-based companies for their campaign of indiscriminate cyber activities against the UK and its allies.

The Chief will conclude today’s speech by emphasising the importance of human agency in tackling traditional and emerging threats to our national security.

The defining challenge of the twenty-first century is not simply who wields the most powerful technologies, but who guides them with the greatest wisdom. Our security, our prosperity, and our humanity depend on it …

We all have choices to make ahead about how we deal with the undercurrents shaping the world. About how, in our new, faster, more dangerous and tech-mediated world, it will be our rediscovery of our shared humanity, our ability to listen, and our courage that will determine how our future unfolds …

It is not what we can do that defines us, but what we choose to do. That choice – the exercise of human agency – has shaped our world before, and it will shape it again …
December 21, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK Statement for Trade Negotiations Committee [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2025.

Delivered by Kumar Iyer, Ambassador and Permanent Representative for the UK Mission to the WTO and UN in Geneva.

Thank you Chair.

Responding to your recommendations on agriculture, we accept and note the difficulties in making progress noted by the CoASS Chair and we can see value to Members in a political discussion which can advance the agenda such as clear guidance on scope and stepping stones. Like others have said, we would urge keeping the discussions to be narrowly focused to only focus on areas where progress is possible and the UK stands ready to engage as needed.

On fish we think that a Ministerial recommitment post MC14 work is worthwhile as expressed by the Seychelles and others on Wednesday. We also welcome the new appointment of Ambassador Ramsammy as Chair and look forward to working with him.

On CTD SS we welcome the constructive approach of the G90 and the focus on process and moving substantive technical elements of the discussions on TBT, SPS and TRIPS to the relevant committees.

On Services, we support your recommendations. The Trade for Services for Development Conference last week showed why this is such an important file for the development agenda. Overall, we welcome the realistic assessments that in most cases, no substantive negotiated outcome is likely on the TNC file at MC14. We believe this helps create space and focus for the items to discuss next week, you have asked us to not list them so I will not list the priorities for the UK, but I’m sure there will be no surprise for the other Members in this room.

December 21, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen [December 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 11 December 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen this evening.

Their discussion focused on the ongoing work on the US-led peace plan to bring an end to the killing in Ukraine.

Both agreed that this is a pivotal moment for Ukraine’s future, and that Europe will stand with them for as long as it takes to achieve a just and lasting peace. They also discussed the latest progress on mobilising frozen Russian sovereign assets.

The leaders then discussed the ongoing negotiations to drive forward the ambitious package of measures announced at the UK-EU summit in May. Both acknowledged the positive momentum of the talks, and hoped to make further progress in the coming weeks.

December 20, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : This resolution mandates a strong package of measures to degrade Al-Shabaab – UK Explanation of Vote at the UN Security Council [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2025.

Explanation of Vote by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Somalia.

The United Kingdom welcomes the unanimous adoption of this resolution.

We thank all Council members for their constructive approach to negotiations, which enabled us to arrive at this consensus outcome.

The resolution we have adopted today mandates a strong package of measures to degrade Al-Shabaab, including constraining its access to arms, disrupting its finances, and supporting Somalia to enhance its capabilities.

This resolution also sets out a responsible pathway towards appropriate changes to the arms embargo in the future, ensuring the regime can continue evolving to effectively counter the threat from Al-Shabaab.

And this resolution recognises the continuing threat posed by terrorist groups intent on undermining the security and prosperity of Somalia and the region.

We welcome the ongoing campaign against the Islamic State in Somalia, and urge Council members to work closer together on efforts to degrade them.

We also remain concerned about links between Al-Shabaab and the Houthis in Yemen, which represent a significant threat to the stability of Somalia and the region.

We encourage the 2713 and 2140 sanctions committees to coordinate closely on monitoring and countering this threat.

We now turn our attention to the AUSSOM mandate, where we look forward to maintaining our close collaboration with Somalia and all other Council members as we work to continue driving forward the security transition in Somalia.

December 19, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever [December 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 December 2025.

The Prime Minister met Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever in Downing Street this afternoon.

The leaders welcomed the close and growing relationship between their two countries on a range of shared priorities, with an emphasis on migration, security and growth.

On Ukraine, they discussed the latest on peace talks and agreed that these were at a pivotal moment for Ukraine’s future. It was clear, they agreed, that keeping up the economic pressure on Russia and putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position would remain the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace.

They discussed ongoing work, together with European partners, on addressing Ukraine’s financial needs, including through the use of the value of immobilised Russian Sovereign Assets. They agreed to continue to work together closely to make progress on this complex issue.

The Prime Minister also welcomed agreement from Belgium to strengthen efforts to tackle the shared challenge of illegal migration, including greater collaboration on innovative solutions on returns and readmissions and enhanced law enforcement cooperation.

They looked forward to speaking again soon.

December 19, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on Bilateral Cooperation between the United Kingdom and Belgium [December 2025]

The press release issued by Downing Street on 12 December 2025.

The United Kingdom and Belgium are close neighbours, like-minded partners and Allies committed to working together to promote our common interests. Today, we deepen our bilateral cooperation and friendship, within the framework of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and the Renewed Agenda for European Union – United Kingdom Cooperation (‘the Renewed Agenda’ agreed 19 May 2025). We look forward to an ongoing dialogue. We recognise each other’s institutional differences and encourage exchanges with and between the different substate entities each within their own competences.*

Security and defence cooperation – As committed NATO Allies, we are determined to invest in our collective defence and to strengthen European security. We will remain steadfast in our support to Ukraine for as long as it takes and will work with partners as committed members of the Coalition of the Willing. We will continue existing cooperation, including joint military exercises and exchange programmes and will undertake regular consultations with regard to international security challenges and new disruptive threats. In order to prevent operations from malign actors in the North Sea, we will build upon the NorthSeal Platform and enhance our collaboration in safeguarding strategic infrastructure, including with the JEF+ mechanism and through bilateral, regional or multilateral defence industrial partnerships. We will look to cooperate on emerging hybrid threats such as cyber and electronic warfare, through both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

Safety of our citizens and combatting organised crime – We will enhance our joint efforts to combat terrorism, violent extremism and international crime, including human trafficking, drug trafficking and illicit finance. We will build on the provisions agreed in our Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement (LECA) and we look forward to signing this in 2026. Our Law Enforcement Agencies will work closely within EUROPOL, INTERPOL and Prüm contexts and explore opportunities to further enhance data sharing. We will enhance our cooperation between law enforcement, security and customs services to dismantle international criminal organisations. We will continue to reinforce the security of our logistic hubs, particularly our ports. As fellow International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council members, we will work together closely to deliver shared priorities across the IMO on areas such as safety, security and decarbonisation. Belgium and the UK will enhance our cooperation on crisis preparedness and resilience. We also reaffirm our commitment to continued and enhanced judicial cooperation, with a view to facilitating the effective investigation and prosecution of serious and organised crime.

The fight against irregular migration – We will strengthen our efforts to prevent irregular migration through greater collaboration on innovative solutions, including on strategies and approaches on returns and readmissions, mutual information exchange, effective security technology and operational enhancements, notably at Zeebrugge Port. We will increase our operational and strategic dialogue on migration cooperation, on a bilateral, regional (Calais Group) and multilateral level, in close cooperation with EU Member States and countries of origin and transit, in order to address the root causes of irregular migration. We will enhance our cooperation between law enforcement services in order to disrupt and dismantle the international criminal organisations that move people and small boats equipment into and through Europe. We will expand our joint efforts to disrupt criminal networks operating upstream, including through communications campaigns in source countries and joint investigations where appropriate. The UK and Belgium are committed to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). However, we must also ensure that our legal frameworks allow us to face the contemporary challenges so that they protect against exploitation, deter those trying to undermine our systems, and remain guided by the public interest. We will work with like-minded countries to ensure that our governments are fully equipped to tackle the challenges we face.

Growth – We will work together to enhance and facilitate our bilateral trade and reduce frictions, within the framework of the TCA and the Renewed Agenda. Our shared prosperity is built upon developing a competitive and innovative industrial base, by fostering collaboration in sectors such as defence, life sciences, biopharma, energy, technology and agrifood. We recognise the importance of temporary mobility, including for business and research activities, and look forward to working together to enhance our approaches and reduce barriers. Recognising our ports as global gateways, we aim to enhance their cooperation even further, including through exploring autonomous shipping. We will also increase our dialogue on economic security, which could include foreign direct investment screening in strategic and critical sectors, the management and diversification of supply chains as well as the protection of critical infrastructure. Belgium and the UK will continue to cooperate on fiscal and tax matters, including through the exchange of information, while fully respecting the autonomy of our central banks. We commit to strengthening the cooperation between our customs services in order to simplify procedures and to provide targeted information to stakeholders, including SME’s.

Research, innovation and health security – We will continue to build connections across our science and technology sectors, with a focus on pharmaceuticals, life sciences, AI, semi-conductors and engineering biology. We recognise the key role of higher education and universities in supporting these links and will support our research communities and higher education institutions to foster excellence, openness, academic freedom, research integrity and innovation. We look forward to deepening exchanges through research programmes such as Horizon Europe and bilateral initiatives. We will cooperate on enhancing resilience of medical supply chains, including cooperation on critical medicines shortages, building on the UK’s current membership of the EU Critical Medicines Alliance. We will continue our cooperation on pandemic resilience and vaccines, supporting the leadership role of the WHO. We will foster closer collaboration in medical research and innovation – including on clinical trials, medical devices, digital health technologies and AI – to support more effective, accessible and sustainable healthcare system for all.

Energy security – We will update our Memorandum of Understanding (February 2022) on energy cooperation. We will continue to cooperate to ensure the smooth functioning of our existing interconnectors and will continue discussion on Nautilus, a new electricity interconnector between Belgium and the UK, while fully respecting each other’s legislation and the role of regulators. We will continue yearly exchanges on the security of supply between all relevant parties and will hold biennial bilateral energy dialogues. We look forward to increasing our cooperation with like-minded partners in the framework of the North Sea Summit to protect our energy security and path to net-zero. We will explore the potential for cooperation regarding the development and deployment of low carbon hydrogen. We aim to conclude in the first half of 2026 a bilateral arrangement under the London Protocol on cross-border transportation of CO2 for the purpose of permanent geological storage. We aim to establish green shipping corridors between our shores to contribute to the decarbonisation of international shipping. We will explore avenues for cooperation and exchanges on Nuclear energy, recognising that both our countries face common challenges in securing reliable, competitive and low-carbon energy supplies.

*For the Kingdom of Belgium, this statement is supported by and implies the involvement of the federal government, the Government of Flanders, the Walloon Government, the Government of the Brussels Capital Region, the Government of the French Community and the Government of the German Community. The provisions in this joint statement do not affect the division of competences.

December 19, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : We condemn the recent M23 offensive and takeover of Uvira in eastern DRC: UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2025.

Statement by Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

I will make three points:

First, the United Kingdom welcomes the signing last week of the Washington Accords and the signing of the Framework Agreement in Doha last month. We commend the leadership of the United States, Qatar and of the African Union in driving these efforts. We call on the parties to implement the agreements and to honour their commitments in full.

Second, we are deeply concerned that, despite progress on the political tracks, violence has increased in South Kivu. We condemn the recent M23 offensive and takeover of Uvira, with the support of the Rwandan Defence Forces.

The UK urges an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to fully comply with Security Council resolution 2773. There can be no military solution to this conflict. This escalation in fighting has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation, which will only further deteriorate as refugees flee across the border into Burundi following M23’s latest offensives.

We are greatly concerned by continued reports of human rights violations and abuses, including conflict-related sexual violence – on which we have heard tragic testimony from Médecins Sans Frontières today – perpetrated by the parties to the conflict and, in particular, by M23 and Wazalendo.

The United Kingdom calls on the parties to fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including ensuring the protection of civilians.

Third, the United Kingdom reiterates our full support for MONUSCO. The mission continues to play a vital role, especially in supporting the protection of civilians. We also express our support for a MONUSCO role in ceasefire monitoring, to embed the progress towards peace and security made through the political process.

It is critical that MONUSCO is able to deliver its mandate without hindrance. We again call for M23 to lift all obstructions to the mission’s operations. We urge all parties to ensure MONUSCO’s freedom of movement, in compliance with the decisions of this Council.

The UK calls on all parties to now seize the opportunity to deliver the peace, prosperity and security that the people of eastern DRC so deserve.

December 19, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK and others mark Human Rights Day – Joint statement to the OSCE [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2025.

The UK and others recall that human rights and fundamental freedoms are essential for lasting peace and security.

Thank you, Mr. Chair,

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

Against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing, war of aggression against Ukraine, and Russia’s repeated efforts to destabilize our region through disinformation and hybrid threats sustaining the OSCE’s focus on security cooperation has never been more vital.

From the Helsinki Final Act to the Charter of Paris to the Astana Declaration participating States have affirmed repeatedly that security is comprehensive in nature; that human rights are not peripheral; that they are at the core of this Organization’s work and our commitments.

Moreover, since the Moscow Meeting of 1991, participating States have expressly confirmed that human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and rule of law are “matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the State concerned.”

As we mark Human Rights Day in 2025, we must all reaffirm our commitment to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and recall that they are the underpinning of lasting peace and security.

Discussing human rights is essential to our work; it is part of the dialogue needed to restore security in our region.

It is in this context that we express our deep concern about the following situations.

Seven interim reports of ODIHR’s Ukraine Monitoring Initiative and multiple Moscow Mechanism expert missions have concluded that, in relation to its war of aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation has repeatedly violated international humanitarian law and international human rights law notably in its treatment of Ukrainian children, civilian detainees and prisoners of war.

Domestically, internal repression in Russia – which targets opposition, civil society and independent journalists, among others – is clearly linked to external aggression.

In Belarus, the authorities have pursued a relentless campaign to shut down civil society, silence independent media and eliminate any form of political opposition. Thousands have been unjustly detained, subjected to torture and ill-treatment, or forced into exile.

In Georgia, restrictions on civil society and media independence threaten to suffocate public dissent, and the lack of investigation of reports of excessive use of force against peaceful protesters creates a dangerous atmosphere of impunity.

In Serbia, police raids on civil society organizations and repeated incidents of violence surrounding the ongoing protests contribute to a shrinking democratic space.

In Azerbaijan, although there have been positive steps towards peace with Armenia, severe local restrictions on civil society and independent media continue to cause deep concern.

And in Turkmenistan, the lack of information about historic cases of enforced disappearances and intimidation continue to raise deep concern.

No participating State has a perfect human rights record, but it is our shared responsibility to ensure that human rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled across our region.

December 17, 2025