Jon Silver

It has been the greatest privilege of my life, coming from humble beginnings in Tottenham, to serve in government as @Keir_Starmer’s Foreign Secretary, Justice Secretary and Britain’s first Black Deputy Prime Minister. I am immensely proud of what we achieved, in Opposition and in Government. As Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, I helped rebuild Britain’s relationships with our European allies after the catastrophic Brexit years, stood steadfastly with Ukraine in its darkest hours, championed a new partnership of equals with the Global South and was proud to play a leading role in Britain’s recognition of the State of Palestine. I worked to secure the Special Relationship with the United States in a new era and deepened our partnerships with the Gulf and India to deliver trade, growth and security for the British people. As Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, I put record investment in our courts to begin stabilising the backlog for victims left waiting too long for justice, put in changes to take our prisons back from the brink to prevent a collapse in prison capacity ever again, put massive investment in the probation service and victims and helped deliver the Hillsborough Law. I also put in place a new approach to improving the diversity of our judiciary and made the Ministry of Justice a Whitehall leader in harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence. I would have been proud to continue serving in Cabinet. But a new Prime Minister is entitled to build his own team, and I wish @AndyBurnham and the new Cabinet every success. I will continue to serve the great people of Tottenham, support this Labour government from the backbenches and do everything I can to help defeat Reform again at the next general election.

Burnham to announce plans for new North Sea oil and gas drilling bbc.in/3TqzsfD