Exclusive: City firms matched with UK diplomats in growth push April 10, 2025 Top City firms including Big Four consultancies are hosting Foreign Office diplomats as part of the department’s efforts to become the “salesforce for UK plc”. More than 100 diplomats and representatives from professional services firms, including KPMG and EY, have been paired up in a bid to improve British business representation overseas. The scheme was [...]
More than 30,000 migrants crossed Channel since Starmer took office April 5, 2025 More than 30,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister, according to the latest government figures. A total of 154 people made the crossing in four boats on Friday, according to the Home Office. This brings the migrants total for the year so far to 6,796, [...]
Number 10 slaps down David Lammy ‘protectionism’ comments as tariff shockwaves continue April 4, 2025 Downing Street has distanced itself from comments made by the foreign secretary, who told reporters on Friday that he regrets “the return of protectionism in the United States.” David Lammy said that Britain is “a nation that believes in open trade” and that these curbs on trade are “something we’ve not seen for nearly a [...]
US tariffs set to damage UK economy, Reeves tells cabinet ministers April 1, 2025 Donald Trump’s tariffs are expected to “have an impact” on the UK’s economy, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has told cabinet ministers, after business secretary Jonathan Reynolds warned the country faces “a very serious and significant moment”. The US President is set to unveil sweeping – but as yet unknown – tariffs on goods from around the [...]
UK ambassadors to have growth ‘KPIs’, foreign secretary tells trade summit March 21, 2025 The UK’s ambassadors will have “KPIs that contribute to our economic growth” as diplomats shift to a more economic mindset, the foreign secretary has said. David Lammy told an audience of businesses that he wants the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to become the “international delivery arm of the government’s missions, the first of [...]
Ukraine peacekeeping talks reaching ‘military plan’ stage, says Starmer March 20, 2025 Talks on the Ukraine peacekeeping force are reaching the stage of a “military plan” aimed at “keeping the skies safe”, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister has said the “timetable now is coming into focus”, and that if a deal comes to fruition, the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ needs to be ready [...]
UK needs new settlement with EU, business group boss urges March 20, 2025 The UK’s businesses need a new settlement with the EU, the boss of one of the biggest business groups is urging. Shevaun Haviland, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), is calling for growth-driven improvements to the UK-EU relationship. It comes ahead of the organisation’s 2025 Driving International Trade Conference in central London, on [...]
Sanctions: Kremlin-linked oligarchs hit by UK regime on ‘grim milestone’ of war February 24, 2025 The UK is extending its sanctions regime against Russia as it marks the “grim milestone” of the third anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. Ministers have unveiled the largest sanctions package against Russia since 2022, with 107 new sanctions targeting Russian military supply chains, third-country supporters and revenue and profits fuelling the war chest and [...]
UK to unveil new Russia sanctions to mark three years of Ukraine war February 23, 2025 The UK will unveil new sanctions to “turn the screws” on Russia as it marks three years since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. David Lammy said he would announce the sanctions, which he called the largest package of measures since the early days of the conflict, on Monday to coincide with the anniversary. The foreign secretary [...]
No10: Starmer had ‘very good early engagement’ with President Trump January 27, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has had “very good early engagement” with Donald Trump, Downing Street has said, after the leaders spoke for the first time since the US president’s inauguration. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman did not provide any updates on when Sir Keir might travel to Washington to meet the US president, or whether President [...]