Oxford News
‘Global food crisis’ looming amid Strait of Hormuz closure
Yvette Cooper’s warning comes as the government launches a fresh international drive to reshape development partnerships and tackle mounting global challenges.
Speaking at the Global Partnerships Conference in London, Ms Cooper called for urgent collective action to strengthen global resilience amid rising instability in the Middle East and its knock-on effects on food and energy security.
Ms Cooper said: “The world is sleepwalking into a global food crisis.
“We cannot risk tens of millions of people going hungry because one country has hijacked an international shipping lane.
“Iran’s continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz while the agriculture clock is ticking shows why we need urgent global pressure to get the Strait reopened, fertiliser and fuel moving and ease the costs of living pressures.”
She warned that if the Middle East conflict is not resolved soon, nearly 45 million more people could face acute food insecurity.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has restricted the movement of fertiliser, risking further disruption to essential supplies and threatening harvests worldwide.
Ms Cooper said: “This crisis is affecting developed and developing countries, the private and public sectors alike.
“It shows why we need a new approach to global partnerships, to drive international development to prevent crises in the first place.”
She explained that the conference represents the UK’s “modern approach” to development, bringing together a broad coalition of international partners to devise practical solutions to urgent problems.
The UK, alongside co-hosts South Africa, British International Investment (BII), and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), is encouraging a renewed, pragmatic approach to aid and development.
This week’s events will focus on the economic and humanitarian fallout of the Iran crisis, with particular emphasis on supply chain disruption, fertiliser shortages, and rising food insecurity.
The Foreign Secretary will use her keynote address to advocate for a more shock-resilient model of international cooperation.
Central to the conference is the Global Partnerships Compact—a shared agreement to work together differently, faster, more openly, and in genuine partnership.
The Compact aims to help countries respond to crises while strengthening their systems to withstand future shocks and take ownership of their growth.
Baroness Chapman, minister for development, said: “We have heard what our partners have been calling for.
“They want to work in partnership with the UK.
“Countries want to have more control, move beyond aid, attract investment, strengthen their own health and education systems, and take charge of their own futures.
“Traditional development finance alone cannot meet that call, indeed it never could.
“Nor can it respond to the scale of today’s challenges. We need to bring new ideas and a broader coalition of partners to the table,
“The decisions that come out of this conference will benefit everyone: stronger economies, fewer crises, and a more stable and prosperous future that unlocks opportunity.”
Ms Cooper said the UK’s commitment to development reflected both national values and interests.
She said: “In an increasingly interconnected world, instability abroad affects us here at home, from energy prices to food security.
“Building resilience abroad makes the UK stronger, that’s what this week’s conference is about.”
The conference aims to unlock billions of pounds in innovative finance, harness technology including AI, and build new partnerships that help countries strengthen systems, manage risk earlier and become more self-sufficient in the face of future shocks.
It emphasises investment, innovation, and early action to help countries become more self-sufficient and better protected against future crises.
The crash was on the B4015 Clifton Hampden Road, which was closed between the A4074 and Chiselhampton Village.
Thames Valley Police has confirmed the road will be closed for several hours and motorists are being told to avoid the area.
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Police said: “The B4015 Clifton Hampden Road, Oxfordshire is currently closed following a serious collision. The B4015 is closed between the A4074 and Chiselhampton Village whilst officers investigate a serious collision.
“This closure is anticipated to be in place for a number of hours – please avoid the area and find an alternative route.
“If you were on the B4015 around 07:50 this morning, Sunday 9th August, and witnessed the collision, or a Harley Davidson Motorcycle in the moments leading up to the collision, please contact Thames Valley Police quoting reference 43260411339.”
The road re-opened at around 11.25am.
A record crowd of 27,500 people descended on Hill Farm, Steventon, near Didcot, for four days of live music and dancing from an impressive bill of big name stars and up-and-coming acts.
Organisers have now finished tidying up the site, which for rest of the year is a peaceful mixed arable and dairy farm.
While always a sell-out event, this year’s festival attracted a record crowd – with families of young children making up much of the increased numbers. They joined a friendly crowd made up of everyone from enthusiastically partying teenagers to veteran artists and festival-goers and volunteers serving up treats to revellers to raise money for local charities and good causes.
They enjoyed an array of rock, pop, country and dance acts including indie-rock bands The Maccabees, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, The Vaccines and The Cribs.
Also playing the hallowed Truck Stage were Bobby Gillespie’s dance-rock band Primal Scream, fans’ favourite Kaiser Chiefs and The K’s. Among the best-known bands were iconic rabble-rousing rockers The Libertines who delighted the Sunday night crowd with a punchy, poetic set of familiar tunes – bandmates Carl Barât and Peter Doherty bonding over their songs having healed their much-publicised supposed rift.
The best-loved section of the festival for lovers of the Oxford music scene was the so-called Veterans and Virgins stage, which featured bands and artists who had played previous Truck Festivals along with new talent making their debut.
The stage is curated by brothers Robin and Joe Bennett of the band The Dreaming Spires, who set up the festival in 1998 as a birthday celebration for Robin – now a Green councillor on South Oxfordshire District Council.
While the brothers no longer run the whole festival, they continue to attract international and local artists to their popular stage as well as performing.
Robin, who launched his own solo act at the festival on the Sunday, said: “It has been a really good one this year. The sun has helped and everyone seems happy. We have had some great music.”
Robin was joined by charismatic Guatemalan/ Los Angeles rocker ‘Y’ on drums, guitar and vocals. He said: “It was the best one yet. It’s a great festival. You find new friends and always meet old friends – it’s like that first sip of wine. It’s Truck-tacular!”
Festival organisers said: “It’s hard to think of a Truck Festival weekend that has left us so delighted and full of joy than this one. From the moment gates opened on the Thursday, that atmosphere which makes Truck so special has shone bright and has made this year one that’s going to sit as the biggest and best Truck in festival history.
“Looking out across the festival site under stunning summer skies, we couldn’t help but feel emotional and grateful for the love and support that Truckers have showed us this year.”
A highlight was a surprise appearance by Supergrass star Gaz Coombes, from Wheatley, who joined the Oxford Symphony Orchestra as a special guest.
Fellow artist Nick Fowler, who lives near Wantage, also joined the orchestra – as well as making a number of other appearances on guitar throughout the weekend.
He said: “I have been going to Truck since 2003 and this was the best one yet. Having Gaz Coombes join the Oxford Symphony Orchestra was unbelievable – and the audience reaction was amazing. What a moment!”
Hill Farm’s Richard Binning was among those helping to feed punters at the Feel Good Food Hall, in which volunteers from charities and local good causes served everything from corn on the cob and steak sandwiches to Thai curry and macaroni cheese – with proceeds going to their respective organisations.
Richard follows in the footsteps of his farmer father, Alan, who, for many years, manned the grill with Didcot Rotary Club members, serving bacon butties, burgers and chips.
Richard joined volunteers dishing up steak sandwiches. He said: “This has been a great year. The weather makes a difference and the atmosphere has been fantastic.
“Having volunteers raising funds for good causes is what makes Truck Festival so unique. There is nothing else like it.”
David Wilson Homes’ The Pavilions, located on Bowlers Close, is now over 95 per cent sold, with just seven homes remaining.
The development offers three and four-bedroom properties designed to suit first-time buyers and growing families.
Helen Lewis, managing director at David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: “We are delighted to announce that we are over 95 per cent sold at The Pavilions and it’s the final opportunity to secure a new home in the community.”
Launched in September 2021, The Pavilions will provide a total of 148 new homes.
The project also includes more than 23 acres of green space, 49 bird and bat boxes, 325 new trees, a wetland meadow, and community allotments.
Ms Lewis added: “We’ve enjoyed great success at the development and it’s been fantastic to see the community take shape.
“We encourage anyone interested in securing a place at The Pavilions to visit our marketing suite to learn more about the properties available.”
More than £750,000 was pledged to support the local area through S106 agreements, including £300,000 for schools and early year education, £186,869 for onsite outdoor sports facilities, and a £34,230 bus infrastructure contribution.
The developer has supported the wider Banbury community through event sponsorships and donations to organisations such as Banbury Men’s Shed and The Let’s Play Project.
All remaining homes are ready to move into, with prices starting from £390,000.
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