Special relationship with Britain ‘cuts across' political divide, says Vance
Speaking to American soldiers at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, the US vice-president said: 'Over the past couple of days, I've met with a number of leaders across the UK, across political parties, across the generations.
'Because that's one of the great things about the UK's special relationship with the United States is it cuts across political alliances, it cuts across political parties, it cuts across generations, because we've been working together for literally centuries.
'And you know what every single person that I meet often tells me? They tell me about how impressed they are by the skill, by the determination and by the dedication of the American military.'
Mr Vance made the speech while holidaying in Britain with his family.
He also said Britain and the United States 'win every single time' they fight together.
'We've got a beautiful country here,' he said. 'We've got a beautiful alliance. And I think every single one of you know that for over 100 years, we have worked with our friends from the United Kingdom to achieve great victories.'
Mr Vance added that US military strength is what allows the country to bring peace to the world.
'The fact that so many people are frankly, afraid of you, is why we're able to do what we do as an administration,' he said.
Mr Vance is currently visiting Britain with his family.
David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, could be fined more than £2,000 after fishing with the vice-president without a licence.
The Vance family holiday has seen the vice-president meet several political figures, including Mr Lammy, and there are plans for him to meet Robert Jenrick, the former Tory leadership contender, and Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
24 minutes ago
- Metro
Inside where Trump and Putin will hold crunch summit
All eyes are turning to Alaska, where Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will have a one-on-one summit centered on Ukraine. With the high-profile meeting just a day away, the main details have been revealed, including the exact location. The US and Russian leaders will come face-to-face at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in the state's largest city, Anchorage. It is Alaska's biggest military base and spans 64,000 acres at the northern end of the city. Surrounded by mountains, glaciers and frigid lakes, the remote installation is home to American fighter jets that historically intercepted Russian aircraft. The base dates back to the Cold War era and was constructed in the 1940s as an air defence and central command center to fend off Soviet opponents. In the 1950s, the base held more than 200 fighter jets and was dubbed 'Top Cover for North America' as its mission was to track and monitor threats from enemies overseas. It was formed in 2010 with the merger of the US Air Force's Elmendorf Air Force Base and the US Army's Fort Richardson. More than 32,000 people reside at the base today, making up about 10% of Anchorage's population. White House officials have said that the installation meets safety requirements for welcoming Trump and Putin. Summit planners found Anchorage to be the most suited, after also considering the state capital of Juneau and the city of Fairbanks, according to CNN. They reportedly decided that Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson was the only site in Anchorage that fulfills security requirements. Officials with the base and White House have declined to disclose specifics around securing the site for the historic meeting. A commander retired from the base last year said the discussion is unlikely to unfold close to area used for sensitive military operations. 'We always had visitors on base from different countries, and obviously not necessarily a Russian citizen on base, but we're always very mindful of that,' David Nahom, who led the Alaskan NORAD region, Alaskan Command and 11th Air Force, told Defense One on Wednesday. 'My guess is these conversations are not going to happen in areas that are required for the mission or would have any security concerns.' More Trending Trump went to Elmendorf-Richardson numerous times during his first term, and in his initial trip in 2019 said that troops stationed there 'serve in our country's last frontier as America's first line of defence'. Trump has expressed optimism on what can be accomplished at the summit toward ending the war in Ukraine. 'I believe now (Putin)'s convinced that he's going to make a deal,' Trump told Fox News Radio on Thursday. 'He's going to make a deal. We're going to find out – I'm going to know very quickly.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Melania Trump threatens to sue Hunter Biden over Epstein link – but he won't apologise MORE: What will happen after Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska? MORE: Trump and Putin to discuss 'huge untapped potential' for Russia-US economic gains
The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Large drop in number of pupils studying Welsh at A-level since 2005, data shows
There has been a dramatic drop in the number of pupils studying Welsh at A-level, with almost a third fewer taking the subject than two decades ago. More than 500 fewer students studied Welsh to a high level this year than in 2005, the latest data shows. The drop has come despite the Welsh Government having set a target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050. Around 538,000 people can speak the language in Wales. Data examined by the PA news agency shows some 372 students took Welsh as a first or second language at A-level this year, down from 927 in 2005. The lowest year on record was 2023, when just 353 pupils took the subject. This year has been the lowest year for people taking Welsh as a first language, with 185 entries, compared with 260 in 2020. Some 187 pupils took the subject as a second language, with 209 having taken it in 2020. Efa Gruffudd Jones, the Welsh Language Commissioner – an officer appointed by the Welsh Government to oversee an independent body aiming to promote the use of the Welsh language – described the drop as a 'matter of concern'. Speaking to PA, Ms Gruffudd Jones said she supported calls from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (Welsh National College) for Welsh to become a protected subject. She said: '(This would) make sure that every educational institution post-16 offers the course. 'What I hear from people who get in touch with my office, if only you know three or four people want to study it, then schools don't offer the subject at all. 'I believe they need 12 before they decide to run the course. I don't think that's right. 'I think it should be offered at every educational institution post-16.' Ms Gruffudd Jones also said the qualification itself is under review, and the content needs to be made more attractive and relevant to students. She added: 'The other thing is that you can study many more courses through the medium of Welsh now than you used to be able to. 'You can study psychology, criminology, etc, through the medium of Welsh. 'Maybe people in the past who would have wanted to study through the medium of Welsh chose Welsh, but now they have a wider range of choice.' The commissioner stressed that Welsh is not the only language to have seen a decline, with many European languages having seen a drop across the UK. Total entries for French, German, and Spanish were down by 20% from 443 to 352 in Wales this year, with Ruth Cocks, director of British Council Wales, describing the drop in interest in international languages as a 'concerning story'. Ms Gruffudd Jones said the reason for the move away from studying languages was unclear, but may be due to pupils being encouraged to study more Stem subjects. 'I understand that we need people with technical ability, but I would argue that you also need linguistic ability in order to communicate with people in workplaces, to articulate yourself well in future,' she said. 'I would argue that literature gives you some insight into the world. 'I don't think really that it should be either or. 'What's important is that it doesn't go any lower, and we continue to make efforts to attract people to learn Welsh to a high standard.' The Welsh Government's aim to have one million Welsh speakers by 2050 was first set out in 2017. Earlier this year, a new five-year plan was unveiled by the commissioner to help achieve the goal. And the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill, which aims to close the gap in Welsh speaking ability among pupils from different schools, passed in the Senedd. Figures from the 2021 census showed a decline in the number of people who can speak Welsh compared with a decade earlier. Around 538,000 people in Wales – roughly 17% of the population – said they could speak Welsh, compared with 562,000 in 2011, around 19% of the population. Recent years have seen Welsh place names take prominence over English as the default, with Eryri replacing Snowdonia on official communications from the national park authority. In response to the decline in A-level entries, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: 'We would like more learners to take Welsh as a subject. 'A consultation is taking place to look at creating new Welsh AS and A-levels, making them engaging and attractive to learners. 'We see the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 as a means to provide more children and young people with access to the language within the education sector than ever before. 'We want all young people to leave school with better Welsh skills, regardless of whether they do A-level Welsh or not.'
Telegraph
24 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Arts centre to overhaul leadership after pro-Palestinian occupation
An arts centre has pledged to appoint new leadership and condemned the 'genocide' in Gaza after it was occupied by pro-Palestinian activists earlier this summer. Glasgow's Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) has been closed since Art Workers for Palestine Scotland occupied the building on June 24 after the venue could not come to a consensus on endorsing their cultural boycott of Israel. The campaign group had planned to host an unofficial week-long programme of workshops and screenings at the centre, but police were called and a violent altercation ensued. The CCA has now issued an apology and announced that plans to 'turnaround' the board would be 'accelerated'. In a statement, a spokesman said the centre 'acknowledges the disruption, confusion and harm experienced over recent weeks' and 'we sincerely regret the outcome of our decisions on 24 June'. He added: 'We recognise that a lack of clarity on our choices had real human consequences, and for this we are deeply sorry.' Art Workers for Palestine Scotland had called on the CCA to back the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). But on June 6, the centre announced on Instagram that its board had not come to a consensus on publicly endorsing the boycott. The CCA has now said it will 'revisit the decision on endorsement of PACBI when the new leadership is in place' and is now working towards adopting 'ethical fundraising and programming policy'. The centre said it 'respects' and recognises the 'urgency' of calls to endorse PACBI and it is 'grateful to those who have challenged us and held us to account', though it will reopen without formal endorsement until the new leadership is in place. It said new diverse board members would be recruited with an intention to 'widen the scope of experience, background and representation, including global majority'. The centre said recruitment would also be launched to replace the current chairman when she completes her term of office in October. The centre, heavily subsided by Creative Scotland, added: 'We condemn the violence of the Israeli state, the ongoing occupation, genocide, and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. We stand firmly against all forms of oppression and in support of the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.' The announcement was celebrated by Art Workers for Palestine Scotland, which said: 'CCA's leadership have agreed to almost every demand that has been made of them. 'We understand this statement to mark a vital and momentous change of direction at CCA – a signal towards real institutional decolonisation. It is a huge win, not only for our city of Glasgow's proud and defiant solidarity with Palestine, but also internationally. 'As Glasgow's contemporary art centre, CCA must be a beacon for our city's solidarity with Palestine, for anti-colonialism, and for art to stand on the side of liberation. We urge everyone to use the example and precedent of CCA to apply pressure to publicly funded arts organisations.' The group had previously condemned the centre for calling the police, which led to the arrest of a 63-year-old woman and an injury to a person. 'The illusion has been shattered, all trust is lost, the mask has dropped,' it had said. The CCA hopes to reopen from the week commencing August 25.
