Burnham Says Putin Will Not Attend Britain’s 2027 G20 Summit
Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Vladimir Putin will not attend the UK-hosted 2027 G20 summit in Manchester because of existing British sanctions.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readLatest in Foreign Affairs
Iran Designates Royal Navy and RAF as Terrorist Organisations and Declares MI6 Hostile
Iran has designated the Royal Navy and RAF as terrorist organisations under Iranian law and separately declared MI6 a hostile entity.
Staff member · 2 min readMPs Warn British Council’s Future at Risk Over £197 Million Government Loan
A Commons committee warns the British Council’s future is at risk over a £197m government loan and urges ministers to consider converting debt into grant funding.
Staff member · 3 min readBritain Announces More Than £10 Billion in Additional Ukraine Support, Including £500 Million for Air Defences
The Treasury has announced more than £10 billion in additional support for Ukraine, including £500 million for air defences, World Bank-backed economic support and expanded export-finance capacity.
Staff member · 3 min readBritain and Poland Sign Three-Year Defence Plan to Develop Missiles, Drones and Strengthen NATO’s Eastern Flank
The UK and Poland have signed a three-year defence cooperation plan covering missiles, drones, cyber security, Baltic maritime activity and military exercises.
James Ashcroft · 2 min readLords Advance Bill to Protect British Sovereignty Over Chagos Islands Despite Government Opposition
A DUP peer’s bill restricting any transfer of Chagos Islands sovereignty has passed its House of Lords second reading, despite ministers rejecting its proposed referendum.
Staff member · 2 min readBritain to Deploy RAF Typhoon Jets to Defend Saudi Arabia Against Houthi Attacks
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed RAF Typhoons will fly defensive missions over Saudi Arabia, alongside new transport and advisory support, amid Houthi attacks.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readDowning Street Rebukes US Defence Secretary Over Claims About NATO Troops in Afghanistan
Downing Street has challenged US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks about NATO allies in Afghanistan, citing the sacrifices made by British and other coalition forces.
Staff member · 2 min readBritish Troops to Join Major Exercise Preparing for Possible Ukraine Deployment
British troops will join multinational exercises in Poland in November to prepare for a possible future mission supporting Ukraine after a ceasefire. No UK deployment into Ukraine has been authorised.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readTrump Waives New Russia Sanctions as Britain Maintains Pressure on Moscow
Donald Trump has waived major new US sanctions and tariffs against Russia, while existing British sanctions targeting Russian oil, shipping and finance remain in force.
Staff member · 3 min readHome Secretary Threatens Total UK Visa Ban on Eritrea as Diplomatic Restrictions Take Effect
Shabana Mahmood has threatened a complete UK visa ban on Eritrean nationals unless the country resumes cooperation on returns, as restrictions on officials and diplomats take effect.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readUK Announces £17 Million for Repairs to Chornobyl Nuclear Plant After Russian Drone Strike
The UK government has pledged £17 million to help repair the protective shelter at Ukraine’s Chornobyl nuclear power plant following a Russian drone strike in 2025.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readUK Accelerates Air Defence Missile Deliveries to Ukraine Following Burnham–Zelenskyy Talks
The Prime Minister and Ukraine’s president discussed speeding up defensive military support before winter, following a £45 million UK missile announcement.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readBadenoch Accuses Farage of 'Humiliating' Britain Over Chagos and Falklands Proposal
Kemi Badenoch has criticised Nigel Farage over comments suggesting a Chagos-related deal with Donald Trump in exchange for restraint over the Falklands. Reform UK says Farage meant long-term US use of Diego Garcia, not a transfer of the archipelago.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readArgentina Seeks International Order to Halt Falklands Oil Project as UK Vows Robust Response
Argentina has asked an international maritime tribunal to halt the Sea Lion oil project near the Falkland Islands, while the UK defends the islanders’ rights and announces business protections.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBritain imposes fresh Russia sanctions targeting financial networks and shadow fleet
Britain has added 26 individuals and entities and 12 ships to its Russia sanctions regime, targeting oil revenues, financial networks and military supply chains.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readBritish consulate removes Jerusalem signs as UK confirms mission will remain open
Signs were removed from Britain’s East Jerusalem consulate as Israel’s closure deadline expired, but the Foreign Office says the building remains operational as UK Mission, Jerusalem.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readMarco Rubio says RAF Fairford incident ‘clearly involves’ a foreign actor
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the RAF Fairford incident clearly involves a foreign actor, while British counter-terrorism police say possible foreign-state involvement remains one of multiple lines of inquiry.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readGovernment confirms Manchester will host the 2027 G20 Leaders’ Summit
The Government has confirmed Manchester will host the G20 Leaders’ Summit on 27 and 28 November 2027, with world leaders gathering at Manchester Central.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readChagos deal being reviewed as annual Mauritius payments put on hold
The Government is reviewing the Chagos agreement after US opposition, with Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirming that planned payments to Mauritius will not be made at this stage.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readUK formally backs Falklands businesses after Argentina submits tougher sanctions bill
The UK Government has pledged its full support to businesses connected with the Falkland Islands after Argentina submitted legislation designed to strengthen sanctions against companies, individuals, shareholders and suppliers.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readRussia summons UK diplomat and warns British facilities in Ukraine could be targeted
Russia has summoned the UK’s chargé d’affaires in Moscow over British military aid to Ukraine and issued a conditional warning about alleged British facilities used for strikes on Russian territory.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readBurnham defends Israel sanctions in Commons: ‘Britain has to stand for something’
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has personally defended the Government's sanctions against Israeli settlements, telling MPs that Britain 'has to stand for something' and must back support for a two-state solution with action.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readIsrael gives British Consulate 30 days to close as UK diplomats ordered out and Corbyn banned
Israel has given Britain 30 days to close its consulate in East Jerusalem, while other UK officials have seven days to leave and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is among British nationals barred from entering Israel.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readIsrael orders closure of British Consulate in Jerusalem as UK relations plunge into diplomatic crisis
Israel has announced the closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem and a series of further retaliatory measures after the UK unveiled new restrictions targeting trade linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readUK bans Iranian aircraft from landing as Government unveils sweeping new sanctions
The Government has laid legislation imposing sweeping new sanctions on Iran, including a ban on Iranian aircraft landing in the UK and expanded restrictions on finance, energy, shipping, insurance and banking.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readUK bans trade with illegal Israeli settlements as Government unveils West Bank measures
The UK is banning imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and restricting services supporting settlement activity as the Government unveils its promised response to settlement expansion.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readBurnham raises UK security, Ukraine and Hong Kong in call with China's Xi Jinping
Andy Burnham has raised UK domestic security, Ukraine, Hong Kong, human rights and sensitive consular cases with Chinese President Xi Jinping while backing continued pragmatic engagement with Beijing.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readUK pledges £100m Ukraine winter air-defence package including Patriot missiles
The UK has pledged £100 million towards a winter air-defence package for Ukraine, including support for Patriot missiles, as Britain steps up military deliveries ahead of winter.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBurnham and Trump agree to push for Ukraine ceasefire as PM backs US-led peace talks
Andy Burnham and Donald Trump have agreed on the need to continue working towards a ceasefire in Ukraine, with the Prime Minister reiterating UK support for recent US-led peace negotiations.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBurnham confirms UK will introduce ‘comprehensive measures’ over Israeli settlement expansion
Andy Burnham has confirmed that the UK will introduce comprehensive measures in response to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, with targeted sanctions already identified as part of the planned package.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readMiliband faces backlash over Gaza remarks as Israel accuses Foreign Secretary of ignoring facts
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is facing a diplomatic and political backlash after saying he had heard accounts of medicines being blocked in Gaza and children dying while awaiting treatment, prompting a sharp public rebuke from Israel's Foreign Ministry.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readUK summons Russian diplomat after Germany blames Moscow for drone attack on Leipzig airport
Britain has summoned Russia's Chargé d'Affaires after Germany blamed Moscow for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Russia denies responsibility.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readFrance deploys new police ‘surge teams’ as Burnham and Macron target Channel ‘mega-dinghies’
France is deploying 45 additional officers to western beaches as the UK and France respond to smugglers using larger ‘mega-dinghies’ and launch sites further along the French coast.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readGovernment declares Falklands support ‘unwavering’ after report US could use islands as leverage over UK defence spending
The UK Government has declared its support for the Falkland Islands 'unwavering' after a senior US official reportedly refused to rule out using Washington's position on the islands as leverage in the dispute over NATO defence spending.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readIsrael weighs expelling British officials from Gaza headquarters
Israel is considering expelling British officials from the US-led Gaza coordination centre as tensions rise with Andy Burnham's Government over planned measures targeting Israeli settlements.
Staff member · 4 min readRussia threatens strikes on British military targets over Burnham’s missile deal with Ukraine
Russia has threatened that British military assets could be targeted in response to Ukrainian strikes using British-supported missiles, following Andy Burnham's agreement to help Kyiv produce long-range Storm Shadow weapons.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readBurnham poised to impose trade ban on Israeli settlements
Andy Burnham is poised to impose a trade ban on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as ministers prepare a wider response to the E1 settlement expansion.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readBurnham faces Chagos showdown at UN as Mauritius prepares to press PM over stalled sovereignty deal
Mauritius is reportedly preparing to press Andy Burnham at the UN over the stalled Chagos sovereignty agreement, leaving the Prime Minister caught between Port Louis and Donald Trump's opposition to the deal.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readBurnham prepares fresh Israel settlement sanctions as Government weighs trade restrictions
Andy Burnham is preparing further measures targeting Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, with trade restrictions and additional sanctions reportedly under consideration.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBritain backs Trump's new Iran economic offensive as Healey reveals more than 240 UK sanctions
Chancellor John Healey has backed increased US economic pressure on Iran and revealed that the UK Government has imposed more than 240 sanctions on Iran since taking office.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBurnham prepares first Trump meeting as he takes Zelenskyy's Patriot missile appeal to US
Andy Burnham is preparing for his first face-to-face talks with Donald Trump as he plans to press the US President over access to Patriot air-defence interceptors for Ukraine.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBritain gets access to Ukraine battlefield AI data in new defence partnership
Britain has become the first international partner to gain access to Ukraine's Avengers AI Labs under a new defence and artificial intelligence partnership signed in Kyiv.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBurnham and allies prepare multinational force for Ukraine after future ceasefire
The Coalition of the Willing has reaffirmed preparations for a multinational force that could deploy to Ukraine once a credible cessation of hostilities is in place.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBurnham says UK must be 'bolder' in seeking closer EU ties
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Britain must be bolder in seeking closer ties with the European Union as he and António Costa called for a step change in relations.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBurnham backs long-range missile production in Ukraine on first overseas visit as PM
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has travelled to Kyiv on his first overseas visit as PM as Britain backs plans to assemble long-range SCALP missiles in Ukraine.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readUK and Allies Call Israel’s World Central Kitchen Decision ‘Shameful’
Britain, Australia and Canada have condemned Israel’s decision not to pursue criminal investigations into the 2024 strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readUK and six allies demand Israel withdraw E1 settlement tenders
Britain and six allied governments have demanded that Israel withdraw construction tenders for the disputed E1 settlement project in the West Bank.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readIsrael accuses Ed Miliband of one-sided attack in E1 settlement row
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has rejected Ed Miliband’s demand to halt the E1 settlement project, calling the UK’s position one-sided.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readSarah Pochin Criticised After France 1940 Tweet Receives Community Note
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin has faced criticism after invoking France’s defeat in June 1940 during a dispute over Operation Fortress, with critics pointing to the tens of thousands of French soldiers killed defending their country.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readOperation Fortress Sparks Anglo-French Row as Reform MPs Attack France and BBC
Reform UK’s Operation Fortress has sparked a confrontation with France, an attack on the BBC from Richard Tice and a provocative Second World War jibe from Sarah Pochin.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readMPs and Peers, Including Kim Johnson, Urge Burnham to Sanction Israel
A cross-party group of MPs and peers, including Kim Johnson, has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging sanctions on Israel and full implementation of the ICJ's ruling on Palestinian rights.
Staff member · 3 min readPriti Patel Calls for Wider ICC Investigation Following Karim Khan's Dismissal
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has called for a wider investigation into former ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following his dismissal, while Mr Khan continues to deny allegations of sexual misconduct.
Staff member · 2 min readAndy Burnham 'Approves' Limited US Use of UK Bases for Iran Strikes
Reports are suggesting Prime Minister Andy Burnham has approved the continued use of British military bases for certain US strikes against Iran, with the Government describing the authorised operations as limited and defensive.
Staff member · 1 min readBritain needs a serious and credible politician to represent our country on the world stage.
Ed Miliband is Britain's Foreign Secretary. Britain needs a serious and credible politician to represent our country on the world stage.
Staff member · 1 min read