Tag: Speeches

Wes Streeting – 2025 Speech on Men’s Health

The speech made by Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, at Central Hall in Westminster, London on 13 May 2025.

It is a genuine pleasure to be here alongside so many friends – people I don’t yet know, but people we want to work with.

It’s great to have such a wide range of people and organisations represented around the room, who are creating spaces for men to fight loneliness.

Encouraging open conversations about masculinity and providing positive role models for boys across our country.

I want to thank you, Richard, for picking up this agenda and helping to force it into the mainstream.

Society has been slow to wake up to the fact that a lot of men and boys are really struggling today, and you’re playing a big role in correcting that.

And, as you alluded to in your remarks, making sure that this is a mainstream agenda and not one that is surrendered to the margins and the extremes.

So, I’m looking forward to working with you and your institute as we begin to develop solutions to the inequalities and injustices that men and boys face in our country today.

The truth is it can be quite tough to be a young man in today’s society.

Lots of boys, particularly those from working class backgrounds like mine, are falling behind at school and are worried about their futures.

The proliferation of toxic influences and content on social media is leading a lot of boys astray.

A lot of content on social media that provided a real challenge for girls in terms of positive body image and what it meant to be a perfect girl or a woman in our society – those challenges are now applying to men and boys in similar if sometimes different ways.

And all of this is contributing to a crisis in masculinity.

Since taking on the health and social care brief in opposition 3 and a half years ago, I’ve been very outspoken about the fact that it takes 7 and a half years for women to receive a diagnosis for a common condition like endometriosis, or that a universal experience like menopause is still treated as if it’s a rare condition affecting alien species.

And I feel just as enraged about the inequalities in men’s health, frankly.

Men are living 4 years less than women.

The gap widens if you just look at working class communities.

Men are disproportionately affected by cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

The tragedy is that many of these conditions are treatable and even preventable.

Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as White men.

And suicide is the number one killer of men under the age of 50, which was a fact so shocking that I nearly fell off my chair when I first heard it and actually asked for the statistic to be checked. And the fact that it’s now more commonly cited should not make the fact itself less shocking or outrageous.

Nothing frustrates me more than when men’s health and women’s health are pitted in opposition to each other, as if by focusing on the men’s health strategy, we are in any way detracting from the work we’re doing on women’s health.

This is not an either or.

It very much has to be hand in hand, and we will address both.

And it also does a disservice to lots of women in our society, as if somehow women don’t care about their fathers and grandfathers, their brothers, their sons, their nephews any less than we care about our mothers or grandmothers, our sisters.

It’s really serious.

So I actually think that we are all in this together, and we will succeed as a society if we’re working together to tackle the injustices and inequalities that affect men and women.

There’s a common problem across the NHS that women’s voices are not heard, and women are not listened to.

When it comes to men, I think the problem is often we’re more reluctant to speak up in the first place.

One in 3 men have never had a conversation with a brother, father or grandfather about their health.

The same number would prefer to suffer in silence than go to the doctor about their mental health.

So, I think we’ve got to teach men from a young age that it’s okay to feel, to hurt and to ask for help.

Doing so doesn’t make you any less of a man.

And I think that making sure this generation of young men and boys are aware of that fact is how we make them less likely to channel their emotions into anger, aggression or depression.

This is all why we’re doing the first ever men’s health strategy.

I announced this last year at the Emirates Stadium to coincide with Movember, alongside a large number of men’s groups and organisations, charities and men’s health ambassadors.

It was a great event, but one of the things that came out of it on the day and since has never ceased to amaze me. And that is just how many people said, “thank you”.

That’s not just because as a politician, it’s rare for someone to say thank you.

I mean, to be fair, we’ve got to give people something to be grateful about.

But, actually, I was saying to people, look, you can thank us when we’ve done something.

All I’ve done is say we’re going to have a strategy.

We hadn’t even launched the call for evidence at that point.

When we’ve done something, when we’ve had an impact and we’ve started to change those statistics and change things about their lives and futures.

But actually the pushback I got was, no, actually, we’re genuinely grateful because we’ve been fighting for this for so many years and haven’t had a hearing, let alone someone being prepared to launch a call for evidence that will lead to a strategy.

And that tells us something about the extent to which men’s health has been overlooked, and particularly men’s mental health.

So we launched our call for evidence for the men’s health strategy in April, and I was about to say, I want to ask everyone who hasn’t responded yet to do so and spread the word further.

But actually, we have been really overwhelmed and really struck by just how positive and engaged such a large number of organisations have been.

But nonetheless, we want to make sure we engage as many men, as many organisations and as many different types of men and different parts of the country from different communities as we have.

Which is right.

We have to look at the data and we will take an evidence-based approach.

But as we know, statistics paint a picture to an extent, but what we also need to do is understand the story that we want to tell.

We’re talking about the experience of men and boys today and how we’re going to make it so much better, so we could do with more insight as well as data, especially from those grassroots organisations in this room and beyond, in a range of communities across the country, whether on physical health or mental health, whether we’re talking about White men or Black men, whether we’re talking about class inequality as well, which is at the heart of a lot of mental health. Any serious attempt to address mental health must confront these inequalities head on.

So, we’ve got our work cut out for us. Doing is a lot more important than talking.

We’ve done the easy bit, in my view.

We’ve committed to having a strategy to making a difference and making sure that we’re proud of the impact.

But in order to be successful, this isn’t just a challenge that government can address.

This is about government playing its part, but working in partnership with civil society, with businesses, with all of us as citizens to try and tackle what are a wide range of challenges and problems facing men and boys.

And that’s why this gathering is really important to me, the department and the government, because we need to do this with you rather than to you. And with this level of enthusiasm, this level of energy, we genuinely think we can do something impactful that we’ll be able to look back on for the rest of our lives with pride, knowing that we were prepared to confront the problems and the challenges head on, and make sure that boys growing up in this country today, whoever they are, whatever their background, can achieve their fullest potential and look forward to a life well lived, rather than experience the deep anxiety and despair far too many boys in our country are experiencing today.

So thank you very much in advance.

May 16, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments at the Immigration White Paper Press Conference (Island of Strangers Speech)

The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 12 May 2025.

[This text is from the civil service and so has the political text redacted]

Good morning.

Today, we publish a White Paper on immigration, a strategy that is absolutely central to my Plan for Change. This strategy will finally take back control of our borders and close the book on a squalid chapter for our politics, our economy, and our country.

“Take back control.” Everyone knows that slogan and what it meant for immigration, or at least that’s what people thought. Because what followed from the previous Government, starting with the people who used that slogan, was the complete opposite. Between 2019 and 2023, even as they were going around our country telling people, with a straight face, they would get immigration down, net migration quadrupled. Until in 2023, it reached nearly 1 million, which is about the population of Birmingham, our second largest city. That’s not control – it’s chaos.

And look, they must answer for themselves, but I don’t think you can do something like that by accident. It was a choice. A choice made even as they told you, told the country, they were doing the opposite. A one-nation experiment in open borders conducted on a country that voted for control. Well, no more. Today, this [political content redacted] Government is shutting down the lab. The experiment is over. We will deliver what you have asked for – time and again – and we will take back control of our borders.

And let me tell you why. Because I know, on a day like today, people who like politics will try to make this all about politics, about this or that strategy, targeting these voters, responding to that party. No. I am doing this because it is right, because it is fair, and because it is what I believe in.

Let me put it this way: Nations depend on rules – fair rules. Sometimes they’re written down, often they’re not, but either way, they give shape to our values. They guide us towards our rights, of course, but also our responsibilities, the obligations we owe to one another. Now, in a diverse nation like ours, and I celebrate that, these rules become even more important. Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together.

So when you have an immigration system that seems almost designed to permit abuse, that encourages some businesses to bring in lower-paid workers rather than invest in our young people, or simply one that is sold by politicians to the British people on an entirely false premise, then you’re not championing growth, you’re not championing justice, or however else people defend the status quo. You’re actually contributing to the forces that are slowly pulling our country apart.

So yes, I believe in this. I believe we need to reduce immigration significantly. That’s why some of the policies in this White Paper go back nearly three years, [political content redacted]. It’s about fairness.

Migration is part of Britain’s national story. We talked last week about the great rebuilding of this country after the war; migrants were part of that, and they make a massive contribution today. You will never hear me denigrate that. But when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration, to learning our language, and our system should actively distinguish between those that do and those that don’t. I think that’s fair.

Equally, Britain must compete for the best talent in the world in science, in technology, in healthcare. You cannot simply pull up a drawbridge, let nobody in, and think that is an economy that would work. That would hurt the pay packets of working people – without question. But at the same time, we do have to ask why parts of our economy seem almost addicted to importing cheap labour rather than investing in the skills of people who are here and want a good job in their community. Sectors like engineering, where visas have rocketed while apprenticeships have plummeted. Is that fair to Britain? Is it fair to young people weighing up their future to miss out on those apprenticeships, to see colleges in their community almost entirely dedicated to one-year courses for overseas students? No, I don’t think it is. And truth be told, I don’t think anyone does. And yet that is the Britain this broken system has created.

So, as this White Paper sets out, every area of the immigration system – work, family, and study – will be tightened up so we have more control. Skill requirements raised to degree level. English language requirements across all routes – including for dependents. The time it takes to acquire settled status extended from five years to ten. And enforcement tougher than ever because fair rules must be followed.

Now, make no mistake – this plan means migration will fall. That’s a promise. But I want to be very clear on this. If we do need to take further steps, if we do need to do more to release pressure on housing and our public services, then mark my words – we will. But it’s not just about numbers. Because the chaos of the previous government also changed the nature of immigration in this country. Fewer people who make a strong economic contribution, more who work in parts of our economy that put downward pressure on wages. So perhaps the biggest shift in this White Paper is that we will finally honour what “take back control” meant and begin to choose who comes here so that migration works for our national interest.

You know, this is where the whole debate is skewed, as if some people think controlling immigration is reigning in a sort of natural freedom rather than a basic and reasonable responsibility of government to make choices that work for a nation’s economy. For years, this seems to have muddled our thinking, but let me be clear – it ends now. We will create a migration system that is controlled, selective, and fair. A clean break with the past that links access to visas directly to investment in homegrown skills so that if a business wants to bring people in from abroad, they must first invest in Britain. But also, so settlement becomes a privilege that is earned, not a right, easier if you make a contribution, if you work, pay in, and help rebuild our country.

Now, some people may even be against that, but I think for the vast majority of people in this country, that is what they have long wanted to see. An immigration system that is fair, that works for our national interest, and that restores common sense and control to our borders. That is what this White Paper will deliver: lower net migration, higher skills, backing British workers, the start of repairing our social contract, which the chaos and cynicism of the last government did so much to undermine.

Thank you.

May 12, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments at Press Conference in Kyiv

The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in Kyiv on 10 May 2025.

Volodymyr, friends, it is a real pleasure to be here in Kyiv with you all. With Emmanuel, with Friedrich, and with Donald.

This is Europe, stepping up, showing our solidarity with Ukraine, and also showing during this week when we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day that we understand the lessons of history.

The lesson that any veteran of Normandy, of North Africa or any other campaign will tell you but that Putin has not yet grasped:

There is no glory in aggression and conquest – glory comes from fighting for your country, defending your people, and winning the peace.

And that is the message of this moment.

Volodymyr, we stand with you to secure the just and lasting peace that Ukraine deserves.

It’s almost two months now since you agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire. In that time Russia has launched some of the most deadly attacks on civilians of the entire war. Including here in Kyiv.

Normal lives, homes, families destroyed.

This is what Russia offers in place of peace along with delays and smokescreens – like the current 72 hour ceasefire.

And so all of us here – together with the US – are calling Putin out.

If he’s serious about peace then he has a chance to show it now – by extending the VE Day pause into a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire with negotiations to follow immediately, once a ceasefire is agreed.

No more ifs and buts. No more conditions and delays. Putin didn’t need conditions when he wanted a ceasefire to have a parade. And he doesn’t need them now.

Ukraine has shown their willingness to engage again and again. But again and again Putin has refused.

So we are clear – all five leaders here, all the leaders of the meeting we just had with the Coalition of the Willing – an unconditional ceasefire rejecting Putin’s conditions. And clear that if he turns his back on peace, we will respond.

Working with President Trump, with all our partners, we will ramp up sanctions and increase our military aid for Ukraine’s defence to pressure Russia back to the table.

And that’s what we have been discussing today – as well as securing Ukraine’s future for the longer term.

Convening the latest meeting of the Coalition of the Willing with partners joining virtually from around Europe and across the world – lining up to support Ukraine’s future strength and security, discussing operational plans and making concrete commitments of support across land, air and sea.

We want to help Ukraine look to the future with confidence – so we’re working to boost Ukraine’s economy.

And as a vital step, I’m pleased that UK experts have been on the ground leading work to support the resumption of flights into Ukraine, once a ceasefire is achieved.

It will take time – but this will be a huge moment in reconnecting Ukraine’s economy, boosting investor confidence, and helping to reunite families separated by this war.

Ukraine secure and thriving – that is what we all want to see.

With our 100-year partnership, the Critical Minerals deal with the US, and our Coalition of the Willing, we are building the framework for peace in Ukraine to support a better future for the Ukrainian people.

And to pledge once again, in our all interests, and on this anniversary, that aggression will never prevail on our continent.

Thank you.

May 12, 2025
Ursula von der Leyen – 2025 Statement on Election of New Pope

The statement made by Ursula von der Leyen on 8 May 2025.

We sincerely congratulate His Holiness Leo XIV on his election as Pope and head of the Catholic Church.

We wish that his pontificate be guided by wisdom and strength, as he leads the Catholic community and inspires the world through his commitment to peace and dialogue.

May 8, 2025
Ursula von der Leyen – 2025 Speech at the Choose Europe for Science Event

The speech made by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, on 5 May 2025.

It is an honour to be here in the Sorbonne – surrounded by some of the brightest minds in the world. Dear Emmanuel, you once said that before being a university, the Sorbonne was an idea. An idea of scientific excellence, collaboration and – if I may add – of opportunity. And no story encapsulates this better than that of Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie, also known a Marie Curie. In her homeland of Poland, then under Russian occupation, women were barred from universities. So, she and her sister joined underground night schools, dreaming of freedom through knowledge. That was at the end of the 19^th century. Her journey would eventually bring her to La Sorbonne. Here she was allowed to study and do her research. She ultimately revolutionised medicine and physics. Maria Skłodowska-Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different fields. And her discoveries and her work on radiation saved millions of lives. I start with this story not just because we are here in the Sorbonne – or even because it shows how scientific excellence can change the course of destiny. But because this is also a story about freedom. Freedom to learn and invent. It is a story about openness. Openness to turn ideas into groundbreaking discoveries. And it is a story about collaboration beyond borders. And this is exactly what Europe and the world need more today. Because I am convinced that science remains the fuel of progress and growth for our societies. Without the ideas and breakthroughs that come from scientific research, progress sooner or later stagnates.

Unfortunately, as your discussions have shown today, the role of science in today’s world is questioned. The investment in fundamental, free and open research is questioned. What a gigantic miscalculation. I believe that science holds the key to our future here in Europe. Without it, we simply cannot address today’s global challenges – from health to new tech, from climate to oceans. And as I look around the room – and at all the young people here – I know we are far from having run out of new ideas or bright minds. In fact, the truth is we have barely scratched the surface of the knowledge that science can offer us. So more than ever we need to stand up for science. Science that is universal – shared by all humanity – and that is unifying. Because the pursuit of knowledge and the yearning to understand how things work are values that bring us together as people, as it has done today. We can all agree that science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity or political party. And as such it does play a crucial role in connecting people and creating a shared future in today’s fractured world. We believe that diversity is an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science. It is one of the most valuable global goods and it must be protected.

That is why I am here today, to say that Europe will always choose science. And Europe will always make the case for the world’s scientists to Choose Europe. Scientific endeavour runs deep through European history – from Pythagoras and Aristotle in Ancient Greece to Galileo and Copernicus in the Renaissance period or to Koch or Pasteur in latter centuries. The oldest university in Europe was founded in Bologna, where teaching started as far back as 1088. And Europe was the home of the Scientific Revolution which saw one of the most consequential transformations in human history – thanks to breakthroughs in mathematics, astronomy, biology and much more. That tradition lives on today. Europe already has the second highest scientific output in the world. It is home to over 2 million researchers – one quarter of the world’s total. We lead in green tech, health, economics, business and social sciences. We excel in areas of scientific research and technologies that are pivotal to our future – from aerospace to robotics, from automotive to engineering, from biotechnologies to pharmaceuticals, just to name a few.

And we have a huge number of natural advantages that help set us apart. The first is sustained and stable investment from Europe and its Member States. Europe runs the world’s largest international research programme, Horizon Europe. It has a firepower of over EUR 93 billion. Over the last 40 years, the European Union has funded 33 Nobel Prize laureates. European support has made possible breakthroughs in genome sequencing and mRNA vaccines. It spurred the development of cutting-edge microchips, and even led to the first image of a black hole. These examples show what we all know – the return on investment in science is unparalleled. We have worldclass research infrastructure. From particle physics to molecular biology, and from space exploration to nuclear fusion. This helps make Europe a leader in fundamental research.

We have a world-leading supercomputing infrastructure, EuroHPC, and we are investing massively in AI, quantum and digital research. Finally, we also have a proud tradition of open and collaborative science. We uphold the principles of open science, open education and data sharing. Our European Research Council is run not by politicians, but by scientists, for scientists. Our Horizon Europe programme is a magnet for global cooperation. From the UK to Switzerland, from Canada to South Korea, more and more countries want to join it. We see scientists from across the world collaborating here in Europe. Take CERN as a case in point. Founded 70 years ago to carry out cutting-edge research that no individual nation could do alone, it is today the world-leading laboratory for high-energy particle physics and related technologies. Researchers from over 100 nationalities working together for the good of humanity. This is how science should work, and it is why scientific freedom and collaboration must always be at the heart of our institutions and our infrastructure.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Europe has everything that is needed for science to thrive: we have the stable and sustained investment; we have the infrastructure; we have the commitment to open and collaborative science, we have a social market economy that delivers access to good schools, education and healthcare for all. But at the same time, we have to be alert and work on our deficiencies. We know that researchers still face too much – or too complex – bureaucracy here in Europe compared to some other parts of the world. We know that the path from fundamental research to business and to market is not straightforward or fast enough here in Europe. We know that we need to offer the very best a longer-term perspective. We are ready to tackle this head on.

We want Europe to continue to be at the forefront of fundamental research. We want Europe to be a leader in priority technologies from AI to quantum, from space, semiconductors and microelectronics to digital health, genomics and biotechnology. We want scientists, researchers, academics and highly skilled workers to choose Europe. And this is why today I am presenting the first elements of our Choose Europe Initiative.

The first priority is to ensure that science in Europe remains open and free. This is our calling card. We must do everything we can to uphold it – now more than ever before. We want to strengthen the free movement of knowledge and data across Europe – just as we do for goods, talents and capital across our Single Market. And we want to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law in a new European Research Area Act. Because as threats rise across the world, Europe will not compromise on its principles. Europe must remain the home of academic and scientific freedom.

The second element of Choose Europe is financing. Science is an investment – and we need to offer the right incentives. This is why I can announce that we will put forward a new EUR 500 million package for 2025-2027 to make Europe a magnet for researchers. This will help support the best and the brightest researchers and scientists from Europe and around the world. We aim to create a new seven-year ‘super grant’ under the ERC to help offer a longer-term perspective to the very best. Through the ERC, we are already supporting researchers who relocate to Europe with a top-up beyond their grant. We are now doubling the amount they can receive this year. And I want to extend this support for 2026 and 2027.

At the same time, we must also focus on the next generation. This is why we are also increasing support to early career scientists through our Choose Europe pilot under Maria Skłodowska-Curie. Those that choose Europe will benefit from higher allowances and longer contracts. We will expand this support over the next two years, with targeted incentives in frontier fields, like AI. For the mid- and long-term: together with our Member States, we want to reach the 3% of GDP target for investment in research and development by 2030. And we will put forward ambitious proposals on research and innovation funding in the next long-term budget. Because we know that an investment in science is an investment into our future.

The third part of Choose Europe is the need to fast-track the pathway – from breakthrough science to transformative innovation and business opportunities. This is why we will put forward a first ever European Innovation Act and a Startup and Scaleup Strategy, to remove regulatory and other barriers, and to facilitate access to venture capital for innovative European startups and scaleups.

Last but not least: We have to make it easier and more attractive to come to Europe for research. We will better link up researchers with research institutions. We will speed up the process around entering and staying in Europe. We already have an excellent platform that links researchers worldwide with thousands of jobs in Europe, as well as providing visa support and career guidance. We now want to support public and private institutions to better link up to highly skilled workers and researchers, and to speed up and simplify the entry for top researchers. Because bringing the best from across the world is about bringing out the best of Europe.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Europe has made its choice. We are choosing to start a new age of invention and ingenuity. We are choosing to put research and innovation, science and technology, at the heart of our economy. We are choosing to be the continent where universities are pillars of our societies and our way of life. We are choosing to be the continent where innovation serves humanity, where global talent is welcomed. Because as the history of the Sorbonne and our excellent universities show, progress thrives on freedom, openness and collaboration. So, to every researcher, at home or abroad, to every young girl and boy who dreams of a life in science, as Maria Skłodowska-Curie once did, our message is clear: Choose Science. Choose Europe.

May 8, 2025
Donald Tusk – 2025 Statement on Election of New Pope

The statement made by Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, on 8 May 2025.

Habemus Papam! Evil will not prevail. Zło nie zwycięży. Ił male non prevarrà. The optimism and hope that the world needs.

May 8, 2025
Emmanuel Macron – 2025 Statement on Election of New Pope

The statement made by Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, on 8 May 2025.

A historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful. To Pope Leo XIV, and to all Catholics in France and around the world, I extend a message of fraternity.

On this May 8th, may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope.

May 8, 2025
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2025 Statement on Election of New Pope

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 8 May 2025.

Congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex on his election to the See of Saint Peter and the beginning of his pontificate.

Ukraine deeply values the Holy See’s consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians.

At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace.

I wish His Holiness Leo XIV wisdom, inspiration, and strength—both spiritual and physical—in carrying out his noble mission.

Ad multos annos!

May 8, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments Following UK’s Economic Trade Deal with the US

The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 8 May 2025.

Just a few moments ago, I spoke to President Trump, the President of the United States.

And I am really pleased to announce to you, and I wanted to come to you to announce it, that we have agreed the basis of an historic Economic Prosperity Deal.

That is a deal will protect British businesses and save thousands of jobs in Britain, really important, skilled, well-paid jobs.

It will remove tariffs on British steel and aluminium, reducing them to zero.

It will provide vital assurances for our life sciences sector, so important to our economy and grant unprecedented market access for British farmers without compromising our high standards.

And for the great British cars that you make here, that we see all around us, this deal means that US tariffs will now be cut from 27.5% to 10% for 100,000 vehicles every year, that’s a huge and important reduction.

And I know from when I was last here, how much that will have been weighing on your minds when you knew the size of the tariffs that would otherwise be in place.

To get that decrease was hugely important to me and I can tell you my teams were working really hard on this deal night and day for weeks. I was working with them.

And in politics what matters sometimes is who you have in your mind’s eye when you are making these deals, who do you have in your mind’s eye when you are taking decisions.

What I took away from here last time was you and the brilliant work that you do and had you in my mind’s eye as we did that.

We have scope to increase that quota as we go forward, this is not fixed, this is where we have got to.

And all of these tariff cuts will come into place as soon as possible and that’s really important in relation as well to the work that you are doing, and the brilliant cars that you make.

And as Adrian has said I was here with you just a few weeks ago and I promised you that I would deliver in the national interest.

And today I am really pleased to come back here, to be able to look you in the eye and say I have delivered on the promise I made to you.

And that’s why as soon as I knew this deal was coming in today, I said I want to come back to JLR to talk to the workforce there, for whom this means so such.

Now of course we are the first country to secure such a deal with the United States.

In an era of global instability that is so important. The great challenge of our age is to secure and renew Britain.

And that is what we are going to do.

Acting in the national interest.

Shaping this new era – not being shaped by it.

If it’s not good for Britain, we won’t do it.

If it doesn’t mean more money in people’s pockets, we won’t do it.

If it doesn’t mean security and renewal in every part of the country – we won’t do it.

But that doesn’t mean we’re turning inward.

Instead, we are sending a message to the world that Britain is open for business – seeking trade agreements with India on Tuesday, with the US today, and working to boost trade with other partners too – including of course the EU with who we have an important meeting just a week on Monday.

Making deals that will benefit working people.

You know – in recent years an idea has taken hold that you show strength by rejecting your allies.

That you shut the door, put the phone down, storm off. I’ve had plenty of people urging me to do that rather than stay in the room and fight for the interests of our country.

I want to be absolutely crystal clear – that is not how this Government operates. It is never how this Government operates. We don’t storm off, we stay in the room, and we negotiate, and we work for our country with the national interest at the foremost of our mind.

Because the other way of working doesn’t deliver the benefits that working people need.

And so I also want to be clear – this is just the start.

With the deal we have done today we can say: jobs saved. Jobs won. But not job done.

Because we are more ambitious for what the UK and US can do together.

So we are hammering out further details to reduce barriers to trade with the United States across the board.

We have £1.5 trillion invested in each other’s economies, creating 2.5 million jobs across both countries.

There are so many areas where I think we can even more than that and put more pounds in the pockets of working people across the United Kingdom.

As the two biggest services exporters in the world, we will work to bring down barriers, creating jobs in our thriving services sectors – in Leeds, in Manchester, London and Birmingham.

As the only two western nations with trillion-dollar tech sectors we will go further to deepen our partnership in new technologies to shape the innovations of this century together and create the jobs of the future.

Because, look – our history shows what we can achieve when we work together.

And what timing for this deal, that we have agreed this deal on VE Day.

80 years ago, today Churchill was addressing the nation at the end of the Second World War. Victory in Europe.

And we were standing the United Kingdom with the United States on defence and security. For 80 years we have been the closest of partners, and today we have added to that trade and the economy in the special relationship between us.

Defined by peace and economic prosperity.

So, it is fitting today that we renew the bond on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

May 8, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Speech at the London Defence Conference

The speech made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 8 May 2025.

It is a real privilege to be able to speak to you here today on VE Day.

80 years to the day…

Since an expectant nation turned on the wireless – as of course it was then…

To hear Churchill announce victory in our war against Nazi Germany.

Just imagine it.

Beacons lit across the country…

Bunting up…

People raising their glasses and thanking the bravery of our armed forces…

As we will do today.

And then they came to the streets.

The late Queen Elizabeth II – who was then a young princess of just 19 –

Remembering going unnoticed in the crowds, swept up in a ‘tide of happiness and relief’.

A celebration of defiance…

Of sacrifice…

The courage of that lion-hearted generation…

The greatest victory in the history of this great nation.

A victory not just for Britain.

But for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil…

For the light of our values – in a world that tried to put them out.

And, as you know…

There are people who would happily do likewise today.

Our values and security are confronted on a daily basis.

And we have to rise to this moment.

80 years ago, just round the corner from here, Churchill said…

“We must begin the task of rebuilding…

Do our utmost to make this country a land in which all have a chance…

And in which all have a duty to our countrymen”.

The post-war generation took on that task on with relish.

And we must use this moment…

To do the same.

Deepening our partnerships with allies old and new –

From across Europe to meet the defence challenges of our age…

To the United States…

an indispensable ally for our economic and national security…

As you know, talks with the US have been ongoing – and you’ll hear more about that later today.

But make no mistake – I will always act in our national interest…

For workers, businesses and families…

To deliver security and renewal for our country.

Because the world has changed, decisively.

I mean, I remember – as some of you will also too…

The day the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.

A landmark moment for my generation.

A sense of freedom, of possibility, of peace.

European countries finally free to choose their own future.

I didn’t think then that in my lifetime I would see Russian tanks entering a European country again.

Yet here we are.

And here we stand resolutely…

With the people of Ukraine.

Together with our allies…

Showing the strength of our values…

As well as the value of our strength.

A few weeks ago, I was with the Prime Minister of New Zealand…

To visit our forces delivering Operation INTERFLEX in Wiltshire.

This is a multinational military operation…

That has trained more than 50,000 Ukrainian troops for the frontline.

Men and women who are not soldiers by trade…

Far from it.

They are accountants, they are builders, businesspeople, you name it.

Who stepped up from their lives…

Stepped away from their families…

And, as veterans did eighty years ago…

Answered the call to defend freedom and liberty in their homeland.

And as these brave men and women leave their training in Britain…

And head to the frontline of freedom…

They are applauded by their British trainers.

I’ve seen this a couple of times now – it’s a really humbling sight.

A sign of our support and solidary in their struggle…

Pride and admiration at their courage.

Because in this country we know – this isn’t just a fight for freedom and democracy in Ukraine.

No – it is a new, more dangerous era of history.

A period of global instability…

That fuels insecurity for working people here at home.

The British people have already paid a price for Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, with rising bills and prices.

Russia already menaces our security…

They’ve launched cyber-attacks on our NHS.

Spread disinformation online…

And we cannot forget, just a few years ago – a chemical weapons attack on our streets in Salisbury.

In broad daylight, in the heart of England.

No – the battle lines in Ukraine are the front line for Western values.

And the argument that defines this age is simple…

National security is economic security.

And that is why we are boosting defence spending, with the largest sustained increase since the Cold War…

An increase of £13.4bn year on year compared with where we are today.

Not just meeting our commitment to spend 2.5% of our GDP on defence…

But bringing it forward to 2027.

And, alongside that, a new ambition for defence spending to rise to 3% of GDP in the next Parliament.

But look, I do want to be clear – this investment has two objectives.

Yes of course, the first goal is always the safety and security of the United Kingdom.

But the second is to create jobs, wealth and opportunity in every corner of our country.

Secure at home, strong abroad.

You know – at times like this there is a lot of talk about the end of the peace dividend.

Well, our task now is to seize the defence dividend.

Felt directly in the pockets of working people.

Rebuilding our industrial base.

Creating the jobs of the future.

The skills for the next generation…

From the shipyards in Scotland…

To the missile systems built in Stevenage and Belfast….

The artillery barrels made at Sheffield forgemasters…

And the land vehicle development in Wales…

Mark my words – the British defence industry will be the engine of national renewal.

Because this isn’t just about increasing our defence spending…

It’s also about reform and rebuilding.

And in the coming weeks, we will publish a first-of-its kind, root and branch strategic defence review…

It will scrutinise every aspect of defence – to determine how we can best meet the threats of today…

And return Britain to warfighting readiness.

Alongside our National Security Strategy and our defence industrial strategy…

We will set out a major overhaul of the British Armed Services…

Starting by treating our Armed Forces with the respect that they deserve –

delivering the largest pay rise for over 20 years…

And good homes for service personnel and their families.

But also – the biggest shift in mindset in my lifetime –

To see security and defence…

Not as one priority amongst many others…

But as the central organising principle of government –

The first thought in the morning – the last at night…

The pillar on which everything else stands or falls.

Because – as in 1945…

This has to be a collective endeavour.

A national effort.

A time for the state, business and society to join hands…

In pursuit of the security of the nation…

And the prosperity of its people.

So whether you’re a world-renowned business…

Or a smaller, family-run firm…

You have a vital part to play in boosting Britain’s defences.

That is why we have launched a new unit – to help SMEs get their foot in the door of the defence supply chain.

Because I am clear – the future belongs to the innovators.

Take the announcement made just last week…

StormShroud drones…

Flying as uncrewed guardians to RAF pilots and crew…

Now, for the first time, made in Britain.

An investment that supports hundreds of highly skilled jobs…

Boosting our capabilities for the modern age of drone-based warfare.

Possible – only because of industry and military working together.

Or take the submarines that we’re building in Barrow.

This one is personal for me.

Not just because I was there in Barrow at the keel laying in March –

Not just because I met the workers and the apprentices and saw for myself what it means for them…

And of course the 42,000 jobs it supports up and down the country…

It’s also personal for me because just a few days before that visit…

I went up to the Firth of Clyde, as another boat made in Barrow –

A Vanguard-class submarine…

Was coming in off a record-breaking patrol.

We boarded the sub and met the crew – who had been at sea for months on end.

And meeting those remarkable men and women is something I’ll never forget.

There is no greater duty than the one that they carry –

No task more vital.

Our security…

Nato’s security…

Depends on them.

They are the quiet custodians of the nation’s greatest capability…

Part of an unbroken watch that has been maintained for 55 years.

And in this moment – it’s time for the rest of us to step up and rebuild our country…

Leading the world in the opportunities of the future.

Recently, I visited the Carrier Strike Group off the coast of Cornwall…

And stayed aboard HMS Prince of Wales…

It was frankly humbling to see F35s taking off with just 100metres of deck to take off – and then returning and hovering to land on a sixpence

So imagine how I felt later the very same day when I went to see the apprentices at Rolls Royce…Who had made the engines for those very F35s.

And we need to keep those apprentices busy…

And mark my words – we are going to do that.

With the most ambitious programme of work to secure and rebuild our country since 1945.

Take an example: today, I can announce a £563 million contract to maintain Britain’s fleet of Typhoon fighter jets.

The backbone of Britain’s air defence…

Proudly part of the flypast for VE Day that you may have seen on Monday.

All 130 Typhoons will have their engines maintained by Rolls-Royce…

Supporting hundreds of jobs in Bristol and beyond…

Defending British airspace.

Helping a new generation of service come of age.

And just imagine – what this means for a young apprentice, aged about 18.

Entering into the work force with a good job.

The pride of that work – as a proud I understand from my dad…

Of knowing that what you do, what you make matters.

The pride of following in the footsteps of local families…

Who have been the backbone of their communities for generations.

The grandchildren of the young men who fought on the beaches of Normandy…

Now the submariners on a Vanguard-class submarine.

The descendants of the code breakers at Bletchley…

Now learning the skills to build a new generation of nuclear submarines in Barrow.

And the pride of stepping into our national story…

So those who follow us can say…

We also rose to meet the moment.

We also stood firm against tyranny and oppression.

We also rebuilt Britain – so it serves everyone that serves our country.

Because on VE day 80 years ago…

Politicians of all parties and stripes understood that a people who had sacrificed so much were owed a great debt.

And the truth is – people today are too.

After years of being buffeted about by insecurity and uncertainty…

They are owed the same security…

the same prosperity and peace of mind…

A good home to live in…

A well-paid job with strong rights at work…

An NHS that is there for them when they need it…

all underpinned by the foundation of national security.

A defence dividend – that will be felt in the pockets of working people and the prosperity of the country.

An investment in peace…

But also an investment in British pride and the British people…

To build a nation that, once again, lives up to the promises made to that generation…

Who fought for our values, our freedom and our security.

Thank you very much indeed.

May 8, 2025