Hamas Attack on Israel
October 2023
The events unfolding in Israel are truly horrifying. I join the UK Government in wholly condemning the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad that began on 7 October, and in standing resolutely with Israel as it seeks to defend itself against these atrocities. My thoughts are with those affected, especially the families of those civilians who have been murdered.
The Prime Minister and the UK Foreign Secretary have emphasised the UK’s unequivocal support for Israel to their Israeli counterparts respectively. The Foreign Secretary also visited Israel on 11 October, witnessing first-hand the devastation caused by Hamas and meeting with Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to reaffirm the UK’s steadfast support. I know that close engagement with Israel will of course continue as the situation develops. Discussions with leaders across the globe have also been ongoing, as the UK Government works to ensure that the world speaks with one voice in opposition to these brutal attacks. The Prime Minister has already issued a joint statement with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United States, to express the UK’s coordinated and united support for Israel with these allies, and ultimately, a joint commitment to setting the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East.
The Foreign Secretary has also spoken with the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister, and with the Foreign Ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Türkiye, Oman and Qatar, to encourage them to help reduce tensions. The Prime Minister has made clear his commitment to ensuring that the Jewish community in the UK feels safe and secure at this incredibly difficult time. This is a fast-moving situation, and I will be following developments closely.
Business and Human Rights
May 2023
Let me begin by assuring you that HM Government (HMG) is committed to promoting the protection and respect of human rights in business, both at home and abroad. The UK was the first country to create a National Action Plan to implement the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), widely regarded as the authoritative international framework to steer practical action by governments and businesses worldwide on this important and pressing agenda.
This plan sets out what is expected in regard to the conduct of UK businesses, including compliance with relevant laws and respect for human rights; treating the risk of causing human rights abuses as a legal compliance issue; adopting appropriate due diligence policies; and consulting those who could potentially be affected. HMG expects all UK businesses to respect human rights throughout their operations, in line with the UNGPs, including in regard to their supply chains.
The UK has engaged with the UN Working Group looking at proposals for a new international treaty on business and human rights since 2015 through to the seventh session, which took place on 25-29 October 2021. As things stand, the landmark UNGPs remain the most clear, global and legally sound framework for putting respect by businesses for human rights on governments’ respective national agendas. I know it is doing all it can to support their implementation worldwide.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Department of Business and Trade also produce guidance to assist businesses in exercising such due diligence in countries where particular concerns around human rights exist. The UK's Presidency of the G7 in 2021 and the resulting commitments from G7 members to tackle forced labour in global supply chains clearly demonstrates our country's commitment to ending modern slavery. I have no doubt that Ministers will continue these efforts going forward.
Falun Dafa Day
May 2023
The freedom to practice, change or share one's faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a human right that all people should enjoy. That is why my ministerial colleagues and I are committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and to promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities.
The UK remains deeply concerned about the ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners and other groups in China. The testimonies of their experiences are incredibly distressing and their treatment is one of many reasons why China is one of 31 human rights priority countries for the UK.
As befits its priority status, HM Government (HMG) regularly raises human rights concerns, including on the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities, directly with the Chinese authorities and in multilateral fora, including the OSCE, Council of Europe, International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance. This was done in a statement at the UN Human Rights Council, and in the then Foreign Secretary's personal address to the UN Human Rights Council, in March 2022.
Human Rights in Pakistan
May 2023
I share your concerns about the situation in Pakistan and know that my Ministerial colleagues at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) do too. Indeed, it is for reasons such as those you describe why Pakistan is one of 31 human rights priority countries for the UK.
The recent change in Government in-country is a domestic matter for Pakistan. HM Government respects Pakistan's democratic system and does not interfere in its internal political affairs. I have been assured by my Ministerial colleagues, however, that the UK will continue to work with the Government of Pakistan to advance our shared priorities and interests, including the promotion of regional stability. The UK is also clear that the right to peaceful protest should be protected.
The UK regularly raises concerns about reports of human rights abuses and violations in Pakistan at a senior level with the Pakistani Government. Lord Ahmad did so most recently on 30 January 2023, when he met with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, and 14 December 2022, when he met with. Pakistan's Foreign Minister.
I appreciate your concern following the arrest of the former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan by the military. I join Ministers in strongly condemning acts of political violence, and support the UK Government in its endeavour to protect basic human rights and an open civic society in Pakistan. I know that the British High Commission in Islamabad is closely monitoring the situation regarding Mr Khan.
Palestinian Political Prisoners
May 2023
Support for international humanitarian law (IHL) is a fundamental element of the UK's foreign policy. As a country, we have a strong history of upholding and promoting IHL, and we consistently call on state and non-state actors alike to respect IHL and to act in accordance with their obligations under it. Indeed, the UK repeatedly calls on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and regularly emphasises the importance of treating prisoners and detainees humanely and in accordance with IHL.
Nevertheless, the number of Palestinians who have been detained and imprisoned in the West Bank is concerning. Reports of Palestinians being imprisoned without a fair trial in contravention of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Israel is a signatory, is particularly concerning; as is the continued transfer of Palestinian child detainees to prisons inside Israel, in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv is in regular dialogue with Israel on this issue, and the UK also continues to fund projects providing legal aid to minors and capacity building to local lawyers.
It is for reasons such as the above that Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories remain a human rights priority for the FCDO. As befits this status, the UK will continue to monitor issues closely and raise them.
Tom Hurndall
May 2023
As a former journalist, I steadfastly believe that it is crucially important that journalists are able to operate without fear of death or injury and, as a politician, I have a tremendous amount of respect for those that are prepared to put themselves in danger for an ideal they believe in. The loss to his family and friends was immeasurable and I imagine this grief has not diluted, despite the time that has passed. I understand that a soldier was convicted for the manslaughter of Mr Hurndall and served six years in prison for his crime. I had a second cousin who was a journalist who was shot by Russian forces in the Caucusus, and his parents established the Frontline Club for journalists in his memory.
I am a strong supporter of the Israeli state. Israel is a thriving modern democracy. I am proud of the UK’s historic role in the birth of the state of Israel, and the decades of cooperation that has defined the relationship between our two democracies since. I welcome that, to this day, Israel remains a close ally of the UK, and that our two countries continue to work together on issues of shared interest. Israel is the Middle East’s only democracy and a beacon of progress in the region for women’s and LGBT rights.
The UK's position, which I support, is clear and longstanding. There should be a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a fair and realistic settlement for refugees. The UK consistently calls – bilaterally and via the UN – for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution.
The UK repeatedly calls on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and has a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian children. Nevertheless, the number of Palestinians, including children, killed and injured in the West Bank and Gaza is concerning. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regularly raises the issue of Palestinians killed and injured by Israeli Defence Forces in the West Bank and Gaza with the Israeli authorities, encouraging them to carry out swift, transparent and thorough investigations. If wrongdoing is found, the UK is clear that those responsible should be held to account.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
May 2023
My Ministerial colleagues and I are committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and to promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Indeed, promoting the right to FoRB is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities.
Jerusalem is a holy city to so many, and the UK remains firmly of the view that maintaining the historic status quo is the only means of ensuring freedom of worship. All religious sites including the Al Aqsa Mosque should be treated with utmost respect in line with UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/75/258. The UK's unwavering support for Jordanian custodianship of the holy sites in East Jerusalem was re-affirmed by Lord Ahmad and the Foreign Secretary during their visits to the Al Aqsa Mosque on 12 January and 22 March 2023 respectively.
At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK called for all parties to respect the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalem's holy sites and cease all provocative action. Indeed, the UK condemns the recent Israeli police violence at the Al Aqsa Mosque and calls on the Israeli security forces to ensure there are proportionate investigations in accordance with international law following the conduct of such operations.
I appreciate your suggestions on further sanctions. It is not appropriate for me to speculate on potential future designations, as to do so may undermine their effectiveness.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
May 2023
The UK's position, which I support, is clear and long-standing. There should be a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. To this end, I know that the UK repeatedly calls on Israel – both bilaterally and via the UN – to abide by its obligations under international law and is in close dialogue with Israel regarding various issues relating to the occupation.
Regarding your point about arms, HM Government takes its export control responsibilities extremely seriously and operates one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available. Licence decisions take account of prevailing circumstances at the time of application and include human rights and international humanitarian law considerations. Export licenses are not issued where to do so would be inconsistent with the consolidated criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the items might be used for a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
I extend my sympathies to those who have lost loved ones amidst the violence in the Gaza Strip. HMG continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the need to protect children. HMG also regularly raise the importance of the Israeli security force's adherence to the principles of necessity and proportionality when defending its legitimate security interest.
In instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, HMG advocates for swift, transparent investigations.
Hunger in East Africa
April 2023
I can assure you that I share the UK’s longstanding commitment to East Africa. As you note, devastating drought in the Horn of Africa and wider region is causing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with more than 68 million people facing high levels of food insecurity, and Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Somalia all at risk of famine. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is exacerbating pre-existing humanitarian crises by driving up the cost of food, fuel, fertiliser, and humanitarian supplies, and diverting already constrained humanitarian resources from pre-existing crises. That is why I welcome that the UK allocated £156 million in humanitarian support for crises across East Africa for the 2022/23 financial year (50 per cent of which had been distributed as of 13 October 2022).
Part of the £156 million funding commitment includes a new £14 million package that will help to protect women and children in Ethiopia from the devastating impacts of violent conflict and the worst drought in 40 years. You may also be interested to know that this funding is expected to reach up to 150,000 people with comprehensive health, water sanitation, hygiene and nutrition services; 50,000 people with emergency financial support; and 20,000 pupils with emergency education.
In addition, from the £156 million commitment, HM Government (HMG) has recently allocated £5 million to its bilateral response to acute food security in Somalia, which has already been reaching almost half a million of the most vulnerable people across the country. I also understand that the UK's funding to Somalia has helped 4.4 million people receive water, sanitation, and hygiene support since 2018, and 3.2 million receive emergency food. Meanwhile, in Sudan, HMG has provided a further £3 million to the World Food Programme, who will be helping to provide 120,000 vulnerable people with lifesaving food assistance.
I also welcome HMG's work, alongside allies, to mobilise international support for global food insecurity and famine risks at the Annual Meetings of the UN General Assembly, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and the forthcoming G20 Summit. This builds on earlier action, such as when the UK helped to bring states together at the UN Horn of Africa drought roundtable in April, which mobilised roughly $400 million in new commitments. In addition to this commendable work, a comprehensive plan to address food insecurity must also include preventative measures too. In this regard, I am encouraged that HMG is expanding disaster risk finance and insurance cover to help protect against future drought in African countries.
The UK is committed to transforming how we tackle crises. We will continue to use our diplomatic capabilities to push the international system to act ahead of shocks and famine, draw on innovative finance and insurance mechanisms, and harness our expertise to better manage and anticipate humanitarian emergencies.
Shahid Hussain
April 2023
I understand that Shahid Hussain was released on 27 March. More broadly, be assured that HMG is aware of reports of arrests and continues to monitor the situation on the ground. As always, where there are credible allegations of human rights violations, HMG will hold Pakistan to account to investigate in line with due process.
I share your concerns about the situation in Pakistan and know that my Ministerial colleagues at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) do too. Indeed, it is for reasons such as those you describe why Pakistan is one of 31 human rights priority countries for the UK.
The UK regularly raises concerns about reports of human rights abuses and violations in Pakistan, including in the province of Balochistan, at a senior level with the Pakistani Government. Lord Ahmad did so most recently on 30 January 2023, when he met with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, and 14 December 2022, when he met with. Pakistan's Foreign Minister.
Said Ferjani
April 2023
I too am concerned by the detainment of Said Ferjani. Lord Ahmad recently raised the latest arrests with the Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, emphasising the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society and independent media. I can assure you that HMG consistently raises the importance of freedom of expression and of the media, and the need to adhere to fair legal processes, with the Government of Tunisia.
Human Rights in Pakistan
April 2023
I share your concerns about the situation in Pakistan and know that my Ministerial colleagues at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) do too. Indeed, it is for reasons such as those you describe why Pakistan is one of 31 human rights priority countries for the UK.
That said, the recent change in Government in-country is a domestic matter for Pakistan. HM Government respects Pakistan's democratic system and does not interfere in its internal political affairs. I have been assured by my Ministerial colleagues, however, that the UK will continue to work with the Government of Pakistan to advance our shared priorities and interests, including the promotion of regional stability. The UK is also clear that the right to peaceful protest should be protected.
The UK regularly raises concerns about reports of human rights abuses and violations in Pakistan at senior level with the Pakistani Government. Lord Ahmad did so most recently on 23 June when he met Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Ministers in London, and officials based in the UK High Commission in Islamabad and at the UN, will continue to monitor the situation in Pakistan and urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all, as laid down in their Constitution and in accordance with international standards.
Procurement Bill: Surveillance Equpiment
April 2023
It is my view, and that of HM Government (HMG), that China poses a systemic challenge to the UK's values and interests. In line with this, the Prime Minister has been clear that we need to evolve our approach to China; strengthening our resilience, protecting our economic security, and being stronger in defending our principles. He has my full support on this.
Of course, we cannot simply ignore China’s significance in world affairs. Its growing economy, technological advancement and ambition to project global influence will have profound implications in the coming decade, on matters from global economic stability to issues like climate change. To manage this sharpening competition, HMG will deepen ties with like-minded partners, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, and exercise the UK's diplomatic expertise.
Be in no doubt, HMG is clear-sighted about the challenges that lie ahead, particularly with regard to national security and the differences that exist between our two nations, such as on democracy and human rights. On the former, I am assured that the UK is committed not to deal with China, or indeed any country, in a way that risks our vital interests or national security – as HMG's decision with regard to Huawei and the sale of Newport Wafer Fab demonstrate.
It is the long-standing position of HMG not to speculate about future sanctions or their potential impact. HMG continues to make clear the UK's deep concerns about the human rights violations occurring in Xinjiang, including the use of mass surveillance and the technology used to facilitate it.
Weapon Supplies to Ukraine
April 2023
The UK will be providing ammunition, including armour piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium. Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armoured vehicles. The MOD have confirmed that depleted uranium is a "standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons", as confirmed by the United Nations. To suggest otherwise is a deliberate attempt from the Russian regime to spread disinformation.
Whilst I appreciate you raising your concerns over the health implications of using such ammunition, independent research by scientists from groups such as the Royal Society has assessed that any impact to personal health and the environment from the use of depleted uranium munitions is likely to be low. Indeed, depleted uranium in its armour piercing shells has been used for decades by the British Army and other armies around the world.
UK Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Law
March 2023
The Government is committed to promoting the protection and respect of human rights in business, both at home and abroad. The UK was the first country to create a National Action Plan to implement the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), widely regarded as the authoritative international framework to steer practical action by governments and businesses worldwide on this important and pressing agenda.
This plan sets out what is expected in regard to the conduct of UK businesses, including compliance with relevant laws and respect for human rights; treating the risk of causing human rights abuses as a legal compliance issue; adopting appropriate due diligence policies; and consulting those who could potentially be affected. HMG expects all UK businesses to respect human rights throughout their operations, in line with the UNGPs, including in regard to their supply chains.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Department of Business and Trade also produce guidance to assist businesses in exercising such due diligence in countries where particular concerns around human rights exist. Indeed, although trade is vital for our economy and future prosperity, it need not come at the expense of our values or international obligations on human rights. I can assure you that the Government continues to assess and consider appropriate action in response to egregious human rights violations and abuses globally, and that this goes much wider than considering trade alone, drawing on the wider tools at the Government's disposal.
As President and host of COP26, the UK has led the way on securing agreement from 141 world leaders to work together to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030 under the Glasgow Leader's Declaration on Forests and Land Use. Signatory countries account for over 90 per cent of the world’s forests, including first-time commitments from Brazil and China. At home, HMG has introduced world-leading due diligence legislation through the Environment Act to tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains.
In light of the full range of action across Government outlined above, I do not think that a new Business, Human Rights and Environment law is required.
Chinese Surveillance Technology
March 2023
It is my view, and that of HM Government (HMG), that China poses a systemic challenge to the UK's values and interests. In line with this, the Prime Minister has been clear that we need to evolve our approach to China; strengthening our resilience, protecting our economic security, and being stronger in defending our principles. He has my full support on this.
Of course, we cannot simply ignore China’s significance in world affairs. Its growing economy, technological advancement and ambition to project global influence will have profound implications in the coming decade, on matters from global economic stability to issues like climate change. To manage this sharpening competition, HMG will deepen ties with like-minded partners, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, and exercise the UK's diplomatic expertise.
Be in no doubt, HMG is clear-sighted about the challenges that lie ahead, particularly with regard to national security and the differences that exist between our two nations, such as on democracy and human rights. On the former, I am assured that the UK is committed not to deal with China, or indeed any country, in a way that risks our vital interests or national security – as HMG's decision with regard to Huawei and the sale of Newport Wafer Fab demonstrate.
It is the long-standing position of HMG not to speculate about future sanctions or their potential impact. HMG continues to make clear the UK's deep concerns about the human rights violations occurring in Xinjiang, including the use of mass surveillance and the technology used to facilitate it.
EU Horizon Programme
March 2023
It would be good for the UK to be part of the Horizon Programme, and I have made that point both in private with ministers and in Parliament. However, as an experienced negotiator, the PM knows you should never enter a negotiation saying to the other side that you will accept whatever the outcome of the negotiation is, and that that you have no plan B to walk away to. That would lead to a far worse outcome for the UK. You would not dream of telling a house seller that you have no alternative to buying their house, and you will buy it whatever price they ask for.
The UK agreed to associate to EU R&D Programmes but there have been delays from the EU in finalising UK association. As a result, the UK Government launched the UK Horizon Europe guarantee in November 2021 to make sure all successful UK applicants to Horizon Europe could access the same, full value of funding from UKRI that they would have received from the EU. This has enabled researchers, businesses, and universities to continue their work in the UK and continue important R&D collaboration with European and international partners.
As of the end of February 2023, the Horizon Europe Guarantee has issued grants worth more than £882 million. I fully appreciate the UK's research community's need for stability, clarity and confidence. Therefore, I welcome the recent announcement from the Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Innovation extending the Horizon Europe Guarantee to protect thousands of researchers from uncertainty.
The guarantee will be in place to cover all Horizon Europe calls that close on or before the end of June 2023. Eligible, successful applicants to Horizon Europe will receive the full value of their funding at their UK host institution for the lifetime of their grant.
Going forward, the UK Government's position will continue to be the same - one of openness to discussions on research collaboration. I welcome the EU’s recent openness to discussions, following two years of delays. I understand that the EU has not yet made any proposals to address the financial terms of UK association, given we are now over 2 years into a 7-year programme, but the UK is ready to work swiftly and constructively together on a range of issues including UK association.
Illegal Migration Bill Legality
March 2023
Last year 46,000 individuals entered the UK illegally. That number is unsustainable. The Government should decide who lives in the United Kingdom not people smugglers. However you view the migration crisis, it is inarguable that it is satisfactory for people to cross the busiest shipping channel in the world in small boats. France is a safe country. When people choose to cross the channel to enter the UK illegally, they do so by paying people smugglers. Those same people smugglers therefore continue to profit by putting people in danger. If we do not break this cycle, vulnerable people will still cross the channel and UK taxpayers will continue to foot the bill. By making it clear that travelling illegally will never result in permanent settlement we will deter illegal crossings.
The Home Secretary made a statement under Section 19 (1) (b) of the Human Rights Act 1998. I understand that this does not mean that the provisions in the Bill are incompatible within the Convention rights, only that there is a more than 50 per cent chance that they may not be. The Government has said that it is testing the limits, but the Home Secretary remains confident that this Bill is compatible with international law. Both Houses will have an opportunity to thoroughly scrutinise the Bill and once approved the measures in the Bill will have been expressly endorsed by Parliament, and the Government expects the courts to take this into account.
The Home Secretary has said that the Rule 39 process that enabled the Strasbourg court to at the last-minute block removal flights to Rwanda last year, was deeply flawed. As such, that is why the Government has already initiated discussions with Strasbourg, to ensure that Rule 39 orders meet a basic natural justice standard, and one which will prevent the abuse of Rule 39 to thwart removals. The Bill sets out the conditions for the UK's future compliance with such orders.
Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions Bill
March 2023
There are strong views on this issue, and I appreciate that my position will not please everyone. The UK is a close friend of Israel and we enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship, built on decades of cooperation between our two countries across a range of fields.
The UK’s position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. The UK regularly raises its concerns on this issue with the Israeli authorities and urges them to reverse their policy of settlement expansion.
However, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is deeply complex: settlements are not the only obstacle to peace. The people of Israel deserve to live free from the scourge of terrorism and antisemitic incitement, which gravely undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.
While the UK should not hesitate to express disagreement with Israel wherever necessary, I know Ministers believe that imposing sanctions on Israel or supporting anti-Israeli boycotts would not support efforts to progress the peace process and achieve a negotiated solution. I agree. Imposing local level boycotts can damage integration and community cohesion within the United Kingdom, hinder Britain’s export trade, and harm foreign relations to the detriment of Britain’s economic and international security.
I understand that the Government intends to bring forward a Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Bill which would ban universities and local councils from organising boycotts, sanctions and disinvestment against other countries.
This would stop public bodies pursuing their own foreign policy agenda with public money. I understand that the proposed legislation would ban public bodies that are already subject to public procurement rules from conducting their own boycott campaigns against foreign countries or territories.
Foreign policy is rightly the reserve of national government. I believe that public institutions should prioritise securing long-term returns from their investment rather than dividing communities and making political statements. It cannot be right for public institutions to have the power to make divisive decisions which set different parts of the community against each other.
Israel-Palestine
March 2023
British Jews bear no responsibility for the actions of the Israeli Government, and they are no more obliged to offer comment on the Israeli Government than non-Jewish people.
The UK's position, which I support, is clear and longstanding. There should be a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a fair and realistic settlement for refugees. The UK Government consistently calls – both bilaterally and via the UN – for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution.
This includes the evictions of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem, as well as the demolition of Palestinian property – homes, schools and so forth – and Israeli settlements in the OPTs. The UK is clear that these actions not only undermine progress toward a peaceful two-state solution, but are also illegal under international law. I join Ministers in calling on Israel to halt these activities with immediate and permanent effect.
Ministers also continue to raise with their Israeli counterparts concerns about settler violence and the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the civilian Palestinian population. The UK Government consistently calls – both bilaterally and via the UN – for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution.
Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
March 2023
Israel is a thriving modern democracy. I am proud of the UK’s historic role in the birth of the state of Israel, and the decades of cooperation that has defined the relationship between our two democracies since. I welcome that, to this day, Israel remains a close ally of the UK, and that our two countries continue to work together on issues of shared interest. Israel is the Middle East’s only democracy and a beacon of progress in the region for women’s and LGBT rights. The UK's friendship with Israel and recognition of it as a thriving democracy and an example to the rest of the world for overcoming adversity does not prohibit criticism of some Israeli government policies. On the contrary, it is because of this close relationship that difficult issues can be discussed where they arise.
The UK's position, which I support, is clear and longstanding. There should be a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a fair and realistic settlement for refugees. Israelis and Palestinians both deserve to live in peace, with equal measures of freedom, security, and prosperity and, therefore, the UK Government consistently calls – both bilaterally and via the UN – for an immediate end to all actions that undermine these values and the viability of the two-state solution.
This includes the eviction of Palestinians from their homes, the demolition of Palestinian property – homes, schools and so forth – and Israeli settlements in the OPTs. Indeed, the UK is clear that these actions cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, call into question Israel's commitment to a viable two-state solution, and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to international humanitarian law. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent military necessity.
Settlement expansion is also particularly counterproductive in light of the normalisation agreements reached between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco in the last few years. The UK repeatedly raises our opposition to these actions with the Israeli authorities, both bilaterally and in cooperation with like-minded diplomatic partners, including at a ministerial level. The UK also regularly makes our position clear on the world stage, including via the main organs of UN such as the Security Council, Human Rights Council and General Assembly.
I note the comparisons that have been made between Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory. HM Government (HMG) does consider both illegal under international law. That said, I would argue that these are two very different political realities and that the position of, and specific action taken by, HMG is informed by the particular context of each situation, complex as they are. Sanctions, remember, are just one part of HMG's diplomatic arsenal, and their imposition is not always conducive to achieving the most satisfactory outcome for all concerned. In the case of Israel, HMG believes that open and honest discussions, rather than imposing sanctions or supporting anti-Israel boycotts, best supports efforts to help progress in the peace process and achieve a negotiated solution. Open and honest discussion is clearly wasted on Putin, whose deceitfulness has been shown to be without limit.
Iran
February 2023
The UK stands firmly with the people of Iran who are bravely calling for an end to the sustained repression of the rights and voices of women and girls by the Iranian regime. The use of violence in response to the expression of fundamental rights, by women or any other members of Iranian society, is wholly unjustifiable. HM Government (HMG) has called on Iran to respect the right to peaceful assembly and release unfairly detained protesters. The UK has also appealed to Iran, including by way of the United Nations (UN), to put an end to this appalling state-led violence and to carry out independent, transparent investigations.
The fact-finding mission established by the UN Human Rights Council and relating to the protests that began on 16 September is a welcome start, and the UK will work with partners to ensure it delivers for the Iranian people. Indeed, acting bilaterally and in coordination with the international community, the UK has been robust in its efforts to hold the Iranian regime to account. So far, the UK's response has included: summoning the most senior Iranian official in the UK; announcing coordinated sanctions on Iranian officials leading the violent repression of protests, including sanctioning the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s so-called 'Morality Police' in its entirety, as well as Iran's Prosecutor General, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, one of the most powerful figures in Iran's judicial system; temporarily recalled the UK Ambassador in Iran for consultation; and issuing a joint statement with our European partners calling on Iran to stop the violence and listen to the concerns of its people. These actions send a clear message to the Iranian authorities that they will be held to account for their violation of human rights, the repression of women and girls, and the shocking violence they have inflicted on their own people.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has long been clear about its concerns over the continued destabilising activity of the IRGC. This includes IRGC political, financial and military support to a number of militant and proscribed groups. Let me assure you that, as made clear in the 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, the UK is committed to addressing growing threats from Iran, as well as other states. UK officials regularly raise Iran's destabilising role in the region at the UN Security Council and are fully engaged in negotiations to try and secure a return to the Iran nuclear deal and the country's full compliance with it. The UK also maintains a range of sanctions that work to constrain the destabilising activity of the IRGC, which include sanctions against the entirety of the IRGC and on several senior security and political figures in Iran, including the Head of the Basij Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Israel-Palestine
February 2023
The loss of life in the conflict between Israel and Palestine is a tragedy. It is my sincere hope that there will come a time when a peace settlement advantageous for both parties is reached.
Israel is a thriving modern democracy. I am proud of the UK’s historic role in the birth of the state of Israel, and the decades of cooperation that has defined the relationship between our two democracies since. I welcome that, to this day, Israel remains a close ally of the UK, and that our two countries continue to work together on issues of shared interest. Israel is the Middle East’s only democracy and a beacon of progress in the region for women’s and LGBT rights.
The UK's friendship with Israel and recognition of it as a thriving democracy and an example to the rest of the world for overcoming adversity does not prohibit criticism of some Israeli government policies. On the contrary, it is because of this close relationship that difficult issues can be discussed where they arise.
The UK's position, which I support, is clear and longstanding. There should be a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a fair and realistic settlement for refugees. The UK consistently calls – bilaterally and via the UN – for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution.
The UK has said that it will recognise a Palestinian state at a time when it best serves the objective of peace. Bilateral recognition in itself cannot end the occupation; in the absence of a negotiated settlement the occupation and the problems that come with it will continue. In the interim, therefore, the UK, working with allies and the wider international community, will do all it can to facilitate renewed cooperation and substantive negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. As part of these efforts, the UK will continue to call on both sides to desist with immediate effect from all activities that undermine progress towards a peaceful two-state solution.
Shamima Begum
February 2023
It is clear that there were many safeguarding errors prior to Shamima Begum’s departure to Syria. Evidently, she was a vulnerable child and, of course, I sympathise with her parents. It is also a tragedy that she has lost three children.
The overriding reality is that Shamima Begum left the United Kingdom to join a terrorist organisation that actively sought to kill British people, whose adherents attacked British citizens and who held our ideals in utter contempt.
The Home Secretary concluded, based on evidence, including secret intelligence, that Shamima Begum should not return to the UK. The Supreme Court heard an appeal on Ms Begum’s right to re-entry on 26th February 2021. For security reasons, two of the witness testimonies (from a Mr Daniel Furnier and a further anonymous witness) remain confidential. The Supreme Court upheld the Home Secretaries decision. Obviously, I do not have access to the information the Home Secretary received or the confidential witness statements but whatever information the Supreme Court received was sufficient for them to conclude that Ms Begum remained a threat to British security.
Ms Begum was a member of a terrorist organisation and a citizen of a terrorist state for many years. We will, in all likelihood, never know the full extent of her involvement, if any, in the atrocities the organisation perpretated. I therefore support the Supreme Court’s ruling that Shamima Begum cannot ever return to the UK.
President Zelensky's Request for Fighter Jets
February 2023
Attending President Zelensky’s address to both Houses of Parliament at Westminster Hall was one of my proudest moments as an MP. The Prime Minister has asked that the Defence Secretary look into the feasibility of providing some aircraft to the Ukrainians. I am absolutely sure that any such decision will take into account the risk of escalation and affordability.
The three possible outcomes in this conflict are total Ukrainian victory, total Russian victory or a negotiated settlement. Peace is obviously preferable to conflict and President Zelensky has always been open to a diplomatic path to de-escalation. His Majesty’s Government supports President Zelensky in this approach.
However, a peace advantageous to Vladimir Putin would simply provide him with a propaganda victory at home and a welcome hiatus before staging his next land grab. Putin would have more resources and more time to learn from his mistakes from this conflict before setting his eyes on more of Ukraine or even on a NATO member. Putin invaded Crimea in 2014. Buoyed by his success in Crimea, he helped to orchestrate the re-assertion of President Assad’s tyranny in Syria.
I am afraid it is simply not logical to believe that any compromise solution that leaves Putin with more territory than in February 2022, or indeed legitimises his previous territorial violations would permanently satiate his expansionist ambitions. At every stage of his political rise from St Petersburg in the 1990s, Putin’s ambitions have been made reality in part by a mistaken belief that he can be reasoned with or appeased. On every occasion, he has used compromises as staging posts.
It therefore falls to us a nation to determine whether we should side with the invaded over the invader, democracy over dictatorship or whether we should simply spectate from the side-lines waiting for Putin’s next invasion. I fully support the former course of action. Indeed, not doing so but would be a signal to all dictators around the world that free nations are prepared to stand idly by while they reshape the world order.
Missing Unaccompanied Migrant Children
February 2023
The Government takes its safeguarding responsibilities very seriously and there are procedures in place to ensure all under-18s are accommodated as safely as possible while in hotels. This includes personnel who provide 24/7 supervision, with support from teams of social workers and nurses. Further staff, including contractors receive briefings and guidance on how to safeguard minors, and all children receive a welfare interview. The movements of under-18s in and out of hotels are also monitored and recorded, and they are accompanied by social workers when attending organised activities. We cannot ban them from leaving the hotel of their own free will. Just to put things in context, of the 200 under 18s who have gone missing, I am told only a handful are female, almost all are over 16 and the majority are Albanian – I understand it is overwhelmingly Albanian males who are registered as being between 16 and 18.
The Home Office does not have power to detain unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in these settings and we know a small number do go missing. When any child goes missing, a multi-agency missing persons protocol is mobilised alongside the police and the relevant local authority to establish their whereabouts and to ensure they are safe. Many of those who have gone missing are subsequently traced and located.
More broadly, the Government has made clear the use of hotels must end as soon as possible. I welcome that the Home Office is providing local authorities with children’s services with £15,000 for eligible young people they take into their care from a dedicated UASC—unaccompanied asylum-seeking children—hotel, or the reception and safe care service in Kent.
I can assure you that safeguarding concerns for unaccompanied minors are and will remain a priority for the Government. I agree that it is unacceptable to lose track of children and I am of course concerned about the implications for undocumented children in the short, medium and long-term. I will continue to monitor this area closely.
European Court of Human Rights
February 2023
There are no formal plans to leave the European Court of Human Rights. As I am sure you know, the ECHR is an international human rights treaty that protects the rights of everyone within the 46 states that belong to the Council of Europe. The UK led in drafting the Convention following the aftermath of the Second World in an attempt to protect the people from the State and safeguard fundamental rights. Signed in 1951, the UK was also one of the first States to ratify the Convention. To this day, the Convention remains a cornerstone in ensuring rights and liberties are protected domestically and in fulfilling our international human rights obligations.
The ECHR is divided into 14 articles, each representing a basic human right or freedom, including the right to life (Article 2) and the right to a fair trial (Article 6). It is important to note that not all member states are bound by all of these protocols, instead states choose whether or not to ratify the protocols. For example, the UK has not ratified Protocol 4, which protects the right not to be expelled from, or refused entry to, the country of one's nationality.
The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it in accordance with our international obligations under the ECHR and I am confident that the Government will continue to champion human rights at home and abroad.
The large scale of illegal arrivals on small boats is a major concern to a large part of the electorate, and they are quite right to demand that the Government exerts control over the national borders. Governments should decide who lives in a country, not criminal people smugglers.
Sanctions Implementation
February 2023
The war in Ukraine is a barbaric, illegal incursion into a sovereign nation by another. It has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, mass displacement and an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
In relation to reports regarding Yevgeny Prigozhin, it is a long-standing custom that the Government does not comment publicly on individual cases and I therefore do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment either.
It may be useful to set out general guidance on how the sanctions regime operates. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) oversees the implementation of sanctions. Within the sanctions regime broadly, because everyone has a right to legal representation, it is possible for frozen assets to be used to pay for that legal representation. OFSI grants licences to allow sanctioned people to cover their own legal fees, provided that the costs are reasonable. Decisions on the issuance of licences for legal fees are largely taken by OFSI officials in line with standard practice. The principles and guidance for assessing these applications are long-standing and have been published for a number of years. Applications are assessed solely on a cost basis.
In light of recent cases, I know that the Treasury is now considering whether this approach is the right one and whether changes can be made without the Treasury assuming unacceptable legal risk, while ensuring that we adhere to the rule of law. Ministers have pledged to update Parliament in due course and I will be sure to continue following this matter closely.
Afghan Refugee Families
January 2023
We owe a debt of gratitude to all those who have worked to make Afghanistan a better place over the last 20 years. It is the case that many of these people, particularly women and children, are now in urgent need of help. Thousands of Afghan women, children and others most in need will be welcomed to the UK. The Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is one of the most generous resettlement schemes in the history of the UK. The route is modelled on the successful Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement scheme, which resettled 20,000 Syrian refugees over a 7-year period from 2014 to 2021. 5,000 people will be resettled in the scheme's first year and up to 20,000 over the coming years.
The two remaining referral pathways onto the ACRS have now opened, which means the UK will honour its commitment to eligible personnel who were called forward or specifically authorised for evacuation, but were unable to board flights. Under pathway 2, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will refer for resettlement to the UK refugees who have fled Afghanistan. The Government anticipates receiving 2,000 referrals from UNHCR during the first year of this pathway, although this number will be kept under review. Under pathway 3, the Government committed to considering eligible at-risk British Council and GardaWorld contractors and Chevening alumni. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will refer for resettlement up to 1,500 people from Afghanistan and the region through this route, including any eligible family members. I would like to reassure you that this new scheme is separate from, and in addition to, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), which offers any current or former locally employed staff who are assessed to be under serious threat to life priority relocation to the UK. Around 9,000 people alone have already been helped by this scheme.
Masafer Yatta
January 2023
The FCDO is aware of the decision by the Israeli Supreme Court on the Masafer Yatta eviction case and is monitoring the situation closely. When the Minister for the Middle East visited the OPTs in January, he reinforced HMG's calls on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have regular dialogue with Israel on issues relating to the occupation.
The UK's position, which I support, is clear and longstanding. There should be a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a fair and realistic settlement for refugees. The UK Government consistently calls – both bilaterally and via the UN – for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution.
This includes the eviction of Palestinians from their homes, the demolition of Palestinian property – homes, schools and so forth – and Israeli settlements in the OPTs. Indeed, the UK is clear that these actions cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, call into question Israel's commitment to a viable two-state solution, and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to international humanitarian law. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent military necessity.
Settlement expansion is also particularly counterproductive in light of the normalisation agreements reached between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco in the last few years. The UK repeatedly raises our opposition to these actions with the Israeli authorities, both bilaterally and in cooperation with like-minded diplomatic partners, including at a ministerial level. The UK also regularly makes our position clear on the world stage, including via the main organs of UN such as the Security Council, Human Rights Council and General Assembly.
Jenin
December 2022
I extend my sympathies to those who have lost loved ones amidst the violence in Jenin. HMG continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the need to protect children. HMG also regularly raise the importance of the Israeli security force's adherence to the principles of necessity and proportionality when defending its legitimate security interest.
In instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, HMG advocates for swift, transparent investigations. Regarding arms exports, HM Government takes its export control responsibilities extremely seriously and operates one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available. Licence decisions take account of prevailing circumstances at the time of application and include human rights and international humanitarian law considerations. Export licenses are not issued where to do so would be inconsistent with the consolidated criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the items might be used for a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The UK's position, which I support, is clear and long-standing. There should be a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. To this end, I know that the UK repeatedly calls on Israel – both bilaterally and via the UN – to abide by its obligations under international law and is in close dialogue with Israel regarding various issues relating to the occupation.
Offshore Asylum Processing
June 2022
It is clear that the global asylum system is broken. Some 80 million people are on the move around the world, driven from their homes by conflict and instability. Many more people are on the move to seek better prospects, driven by a desire for a better life. The result is increased illegal migration flows, including into Europe and onto the UK, with the asylum systems collapsing under the strain of real humanitarian crises and people smugglers exploiting the system for their own gain.
About 30,000 people crossed the Channel last year illegally from France, and the numbers this year are around double that. They are overwhelmingly young men understandably seeking a better life, rather than women and children. France is obviously a safe country, so people risking their lives coming from France are not doing so to escape immediate danger. They are all free to seek asylum in France, but have decided not to do so. Indeed, there is an expectation under international agreements that asylum seekers should apply for asylum in the first safe country they come to, but they are not doing that. If they don’t want to risk going to Rwanda, they have the option of not leaving France to enter the UK illegally.
All Governments around the world have a right and a duty to control their borders, and decide who can live there. Voters overwhelmingly expect this. It should be governments, not people smugglers, which decide who can live in a country. It is expensive to employ people smugglers, and those who do so are generally not the most desperate and vulnerable people around the world, who do not have the money to do so.
The English Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and crossing it in small boats is incredibly dangerous. We have already seen tragic accidents with large losses of life. I am sure we can agree that it is not humanitarian having tens of thousands of people paying people smugglers to risk their lives to come to the UK.
The approach of the UK Government is to clamp down on illegal immigration while facilitating legal migration for the world’s most desperate and deserving. We have active legal migration routes for refugees from Syrian camps; for those persecuted by the Taliban in Afghanistan; for people in Hong Kong who are BNOs; and now for those seeking shelter from Ukraine. Around 100,000 visas have now been issued to people from Hong Kong since the Chinese clamp down. All these routes are in addition to existing labour migration and asylum routes. All of them involve legal migration where the UK Government decides who has the right to live in the UK and who doesn’t. They do not involve people smugglers or refugees having to risk their lives in small boats. The UK can be genuinely proud of its track record, historic and recent, of offering sanctuary to people from around the world.
The question then is what the UK does about illegal migration, and in particular the rapid growth in Channel crossings in small boats. Successive UK governments (Conservative, coalition and Labour) have tried to get the French government more engaged in stopping people leaving the French coast in the first place, but with decidedly mixed results. More recently, co-operation from the French government has been lacking. It is often not possible to return people who have arrived illegally in the UK and not been successful in claiming asylum, because their home countries either will not accept them or cannot be identified.
Hence, as a last resort, the UK government has now entered the world’s first Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda. This offshore processing was actually first proposed by Tony Blair when he was prime minister. Under the partnership, people who enter the UK illegally, including by small boat across the Channel, may have their asylum claim considered in Rwanda rather than in the UK, with a view to receiving the protection they need in Rwanda if their claim is granted. It only applies to young men, who are generally considered much more likely to be economic migrants compared to women and children. The aim is to break the business model of the people smugglers – if they can no longer sell a future in the UK, then people will not pay them. We know from the Australian experience that making it impossible for people smugglers to succeed means that the numbers willing to pay them falls dramatically. Hopefully, that would happen in this case, and very few people would ever need to be sent to Rwanda. Success of this scheme would be that no-one is sent to Rwanda because illegal channel crossings have stopped.
The UK is investing £120 million into the economic development and growth of Rwanda, with funding also provided to support the delivery of asylum operations, accommodation and integration, similar to the costs incurred in the UK for these services. Furthermore, it is the case that Rwanda has one of the fastest-growing economies and enterprise cultures, with growing trade links with the UK.
These new measures, combined with the reforms to the asylum system and the changes to our laws in the Nationality and Borders Bill, will help deter illegal entry into the UK. In doing so it will help break the business model of the criminal smuggling gangs, protect the lives of those they endanger, ensure continued support for the truly vulnerable, and enhance our ability to remove those with no right to be in the UK.
Anti-Boycott Bill
May 2022
The Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Bill will be brought forward to ban universities and local councils from organising boycotts, sanctions and disinvestment against other countries. Foreign policy is rightly the reserve of national government. I believe that local councils should have a responsibility to secure long-term returns from their investment on behalf of all their residents, rather than dividing communities and using their investments to pursue their own foreign policy.
On the issue of Israel, clearly the UK is a close friend of the country, and we enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship, built on decades of cooperation between our two nations across a range of fields. However, the UK’s position on the settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. The UK regularly raises its concerns on this issue with the Israeli authorities and urges them to reverse their policy of settlement expansion. However, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is deeply complex: settlements are not the only obstacle to peace. The people of Israel deserve to live free from the scourge of terrorism and antisemitic incitement, which gravely undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.
While the UK should not hesitate to express disagreement with Israel wherever necessary, I know ministers believe that imposing sanctions on Israel or supporting anti-Israeli boycotts would not support efforts to progress the peace process and achieve a negotiated solution. Imposing local level boycotts can damage integration and community cohesion within the United Kingdom, hinder Britain’s export trade, and harm foreign relations to the detriment of Britain’s economic and international security.
Masaffer Yatta
May 2022
I appreciate the concerns you have about Masafer Yatta and was sorry to learn of the difficult experience residents are facing.
My ministerial colleagues at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continue to raise with their Israeli counterparts concerns about settler violence and the importance of the Israel security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.
HM Government is clear that Israeli settlements cause unnecessary suffering to Palestinians, call into question Israel's commitment to a viable two-state solution, and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to International Law. I join ministers in calling for their expansion to cease with immediate and permanent effect.
British Embassy in Israel
May 2022
The position of the UK Government has remained constant since April 1950, when the UK extended de jure recognition to the State of Israel, but withheld recognition of sovereignty over Jerusalem pending a final determination of its status.
The UK recognises Israel’s de facto authority over West Jerusalem, but, in line with UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 242 (1967) and subsequent UNSC resolutions, regards East Jerusalem as under Israeli occupation. A final determination of the status of Jerusalem should be sought as part of a negotiated settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. It must ensure Jerusalem is a shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states, with access and religious rights of both peoples respected.
The British Embassy to Israel is based in Tel Aviv and there are no plans to move it before, or in the absence of, such a settlement
Arms Exports to Israel
May 2022
Her Majesty's Government takes its export control responsibilities extremely seriously and operates one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available, including advice received from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Ministry of Defence, and other government departments and agencies as appropriate.
Licence decisions take account of prevailing circumstances at the time of application and include human rights and international humanitarian law considerations. The Government will not issue export licences where to do so would be inconsistent with the criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the arms might be used for internal repression or in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
Ministers continue to monitor the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories closely, and will take action to suspend, refuse or revoke licences – in line with the criteria – if circumstances require.
Palestinian Journalists
May 2022
The UK is a longstanding champion of media freedom globally. As someone who was a journalist for 20 years, including reporting from war zones, this issues are very important for me. The work of journalists across the world is vital and it is essential that they are protected in order to carry out their work. I join my ministerial colleagues from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in urging for a rapid and thorough investigation.
Ministers are concerned by ongoing tensions in Israel and across the West Bank and are encouraging all parties to work to de-escalate the situation and avoid provocation. I am further assured that British officials in our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Consulate General in Jerusalem have been engaging with the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to support them in restoring calm.
International Treaty for Pandemic Preparedness
April 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the greatest challenges to the established international order since the Second World War; a global threat that has required global solutions borne out of global cooperation. It has been immensely heartening to have seen the peoples and nations of the world pull together as they have.
In the late 1940s, to avert a repeat of the war, world leaders came together to establish the multilateral system we have today. I think it is reasonably fair to argue that a similar effort is required on the part of world leaders to strengthen preparedness for potential future pandemics.
As such, I welcome the suggestion of the Prime Minister, writing with other world leaders last year, that the international community should commit to producing a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response. Such a treaty would aim to foster greatly enhanced cooperation in future pandemics, by further embedding the principles of shared responsibility and transparency into the multilateral system and through material improvements to global alert systems, data-sharing, research, production and distribution of medical technologies, such as vaccines.
Discussions are ongoing at the World Health Organisation to this end. The UK Government will engage with any such proposals, including at the World Health Assembly in May, with a view to a final outcome that learns the lessons of COVID-19.
I await the details with interest. I completely agree with the general point that it cannot infringe on a Government’s right to act in its national interest, or of the sovereignty that each of us have over our bodies. Clearly, all individuals must retain their full rights over their bodies, and as part of that vaccinations have to remain voluntary.
Deportation Flights
April 2022
The Home Secretary is required by the UK Borders Act 2007 (brought in under the last Labour government) to deport any foreign national who has received a custodial sentence of at least 12 months and those convicted of serious crimes, are persistent offenders or who represent a threat to national security, unless a specified exception applies. It is worth remembering these are serious criminals, and the wider public also have rights to be protected from them.
It is also the case that the UK only deports those whom the Home Office or courts, when a legal claim is raised, are satisfied do not need protection and have no legal basis to remain in the UK. I welcome the fact that every individual who meets the threshold for deportation is given access to legal advice and support and importantly has an opportunity to challenge their removal through the legal system.
The UK is one of the few countries in the world providing support to help people re-integrate upon their return. For example, the Home Office supports two non-governmental organisations in Jamaica who provide re-integration support to those who are deported. They provide initial support to those who may not have anyone to meet them at the airport or who need transport. They are also able to help with short-term accommodation for those without a place to stay. In the longer term, they can provide training, including recognised qualifications, to enable individuals to find employment and help with obtaining documentation.
Guidance on Boycotts
March 2022
There are strong views on this issue, and I appreciate that my position will not please everyone. The UK is a close friend of Israel and we enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship, built on decades of cooperation between our two countries across a range of fields.
The UK’s position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. The UK regularly raises its concerns on this issue with the Israeli authorities and urges them to reverse their policy of settlement expansion. However, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is deeply complex: settlements are not the only obstacle to peace. The people of Israel deserve to live free from the scourge of terrorism and antisemitic incitement, which gravely undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.
While the UK should not hesitate to express disagreement with Israel wherever necessary, I know ministers believe that imposing sanctions on Israel or supporting anti-Israeli boycotts would not support efforts to progress the peace process and achieve a negotiated solution. I agree. Imposing local level boycotts can damage integration and community cohesion within the United Kingdom, hinder Britain’s export trade, and harm foreign relations to the detriment of Britain’s economic and international security.
I welcome plans to bring forward legislation to ban universities and local councils from organising boycotts, sanctions and disinvestment against other countries. Foreign policy is rightly the reserve of national government. I believe that councils should prioritise securing long-term returns from their investment rather than dividing communities and making political statements. It cannot be right for councils to have the power to make divisive decisions which set different parts of the community against each other.
Modern Slavery
February 2022
Human trafficking and modern slavery are abhorrent crimes. The Government is committed to ending this terrible crime, having legislated for the first Modern Slavery Act in Europe in 2015. As you will be aware, the Government also established the National Referral Mechanism to identify and refer potential victims of modern slavery and ensure they receive appropriate support. Unfortunately, some illegal migrants and Foreign National Offenders do take advantage of the system and seek these referrals in order to avoid immigration detention, frustrating their removal from the UK.
This is why I support a thorough system in order to determine if a case is genuine. The Home Office has published its New Plan for Immigration which sets out landmark measures to support the victims of modern slavery. A key element of this plan is to ensure that these victims have the support they need to engage in the criminal justice system to ensure the perpetrators are rightly prosecuted. The new policies ensure that victims are provided with specific mental health support to aid their recovery from their traumatic experiences. For the first time in primary legislation, the Nationality and Borders Bill will set out the circumstances in which confirmed victims will receive temporary leave to remain. This approach provides victims and decision makers clarity as to entitlement, in line with the UK’s international obligations. Crucially, this includes providing clarity that temporary leave to remain will be provided for any length of time necessary to enable victims to engage with authorities to help to bring their exploiters to justice. It is, however, right that the system is protected from abuse.
I therefore welcome the Home Office's decision to put the current statutory guidance related to protection from removal for potential victims of modern slavery on a legislative footing. This will set out where the recovery period (during which time potential victims can access support) and protection from removal may be withheld, specifically on the grounds of public order, improper claims and multiple recovery periods – in specific circumstances. Of course, it is right that victims of Modern slavery should be entitled to certain protections and support to enable their recovery. Any decision to withhold protections from an individual will be balanced with the priority to safeguard vulnerable victims.
Myanmar
February 2022
Following an urgent review of the UK's development activities in Myanmar, new safeguards are now in place to prevent UK aid from indirectly supporting the military regime. Support for government led reforms has been axed and planned programmes will close. I am reassured that the UK is working on further measures to ensure that aid can still – and only – reach the most vulnerable people in Myanmar.
The UK has repeatedly demanded that the military allow unfettered access to humanitarian aid in order satisfy the critical needs of vulnerable populations, including in a Joint Statement of the Foreign Ministers of the G7 in May 2021.
The UK has imposed sanctions, most recently on 31 January, against senior members of the military regime in Myanmar in response to the coup and gross violations of human rights. These sanctions stop these individuals from travelling to the UK, and prevent businesses and institutions from dealing with their funds or economic resources in this country.
Along with the State Administration Council, the junta’s governing body, the UK has also sanctioned many of its economic interests, including:
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Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd
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Myanmar Economic Corporation
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Myanmar Gems Enterprise
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Myanmar Timber Enterprise
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Myanmar Pearl Enterprise
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Htoo Group
By sanctioning these entities, the UK is cutting off key revenue streams used to finance brutal human rights violations and the repression of the civilian population. These sanctions send a clear message that the UK will not allow financial support that props up the illegitimate military regime.
Finally, the UK has sanctioned key military components of the regime, all of which are complicit in the repression of the people of Myanmar, including the:
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Quarter Master General’s Office, which procures equipment for the military;
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Directorate for Defence Industries, which manufactures arms for the military;
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Directorate for Defence Procurement, which procures arms abroad for the military; and
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Myanmar War Veterans Organisation, a quasi-reserve force for the military.
Israel: Amnesty International Report
February 2022
I appreciate your concerns and can assure you that my ministerial colleagues are aware of the issues raised in the report. Indeed, Israel and the OPTs are a human rights priority for the UK. As befits this, the UK repeatedly calls on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and has a regular dialogue with Israel on issues relating to the occupation.
The UK's position, which I support, is clear and longstanding. There should be a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a fair and realistic settlement for refugees. HM Government consistently calls – both bilaterally and via the UN – for an immediate end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution. This includes many of those raised in the report in question.
The UK remains committed to a just peace between a stable, democratic Palestinian State and Israel, and will continue to do all it can to bring about a more peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
BDS
January 2022
The UK is a close friend of Israel and we enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship, built on decades of cooperation between our two countries across a range of fields. It is not only the world’s only Jewish state, but the only democracy in the Middle East.
While the UK should not hesitate to express disagreement with Israel wherever necessary, the Government believe that imposing sanctions on Israel or supporting anti-Israeli boycotts would not support efforts to progress the peace process and achieve a negotiated solution. Imposing local level boycotts can damage integration and community cohesion within the United Kingdom, hinder Britain’s export trade, and harm foreign relations to the detriment of Britain’s economic and international security.
I welcome plans to bring forward legislation to ban universities and local councils from organising boycotts, sanctions and disinvestment against other countries. Foreign policy is rightly the reserve of national government. Local councils should prioritise securing long-term returns from their investment rather than dividing communities and making political statements. It cannot be right for councils to have the power to make divisive decisions which set different parts of the community against each other.
The response I am looking for is not here
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