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  • NEWS STORY : Ministers Consider Giving Business Rates Revenue To England’s Regions

    NEWS STORY : Ministers Consider Giving Business Rates Revenue To England’s Regions

    STORY

    The Government is considering proposals to allow England’s regional mayors to retain more of the revenue raised from business rates. The plan is part of wider work on fiscal devolution and would be intended to give regional leaders more control over economic development and public services.

    Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has said regions should benefit from growth generated in their areas, while retaining arrangements to prevent poorer areas being disadvantaged. The proposals could be developed further by the Treasury ahead of the Budget.

    Business rates remain a significant source of revenue and have been the subject of long-running debate among councils, high street businesses and hospitality firms. Any reform would be scrutinised for its impact on regional inequality, local budgets and the balance of power between Whitehall and devolved institutions in England.

  • NEWS STORY : Government Still Discussing Defence Spending After Healey Resignation

    NEWS STORY : Government Still Discussing Defence Spending After Healey Resignation

    STORY

    The Government is continuing discussions over future defence spending after John Healey resigned as Defence Secretary over the level of funding in the Defence Investment Plan. Dan Jarvis has been appointed to replace him, following confirmation from Downing Street that Healey and Armed Forces Minister Alistair Carns had left the Government.

    Reuters reported that ministers are still considering the final spending position ahead of the NATO summit. Jarvis has said the Armed Forces must be properly supported, while the Government has said it must balance defence requirements with wider fiscal pressures.

    The resignation has increased pressure on Starmer over national security policy and public spending choices. Opposition parties are expected to continue pressing ministers on whether the final plan will meet the scale of the threats identified in recent defence reviews.

  • NEWS STORY : British Forces Intercept Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker

    NEWS STORY : British Forces Intercept Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker

    STORY

    British armed forces have intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel in an operation involving military personnel and the National Crime Agency. The vessel, identified in reports as the Smyrtos, was boarded near the south coast as part of enforcement action linked to sanctions on Russia.

    The Government said the operation was aimed at disrupting attempts to move Russian oil outside the sanctions regime. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the action, saying it was an important step in restricting revenue used to fund Russia’s war.

    The National Crime Agency has said an Indian national was arrested on suspicion of sanctions offences. The incident comes amid wider debate in the UK about defence spending, support for Ukraine and the enforcement of sanctions against Russia.

  • NEWS STORY : Assisted Dying Bill To Return To The Commons

    NEWS STORY : Assisted Dying Bill To Return To The Commons

    STORY

    Labour MP Lauren Edwards is to reintroduce an assisted dying bill to the House of Commons after securing a high place in the private members’ bill ballot. The proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults to seek assistance to end their lives, subject to safeguards and approval processes.

    A previous version of assisted dying legislation passed the Commons but was blocked in the House of Lords after extensive opposition and amendments. Supporters of the bill have argued that the elected House had expressed a clear view and that Parliament should be given another opportunity to consider the issue.

    Opponents of assisted dying have continued to warn about the risks to vulnerable people and the adequacy of proposed safeguards. The return of the bill is likely to renew a major parliamentary debate on end-of-life law, medical ethics and the respective roles of the Commons and the Lords.

  • NEWS STORY : Labour MPs Call For Action To Recruit More Male Teachers

    NEWS STORY : Labour MPs Call For Action To Recruit More Male Teachers

    STORY

    Labour MPs have urged the Government to set targets to increase the number of male teachers in England, arguing that schools should play a larger role in supporting boys and young men. The Labour Men and Boys group has said the issue should form part of a broader response to concerns about harmful online influences and social isolation.

    The group has highlighted figures showing that men make up a minority of the teaching workforce, with particularly low representation in primary schools. Supporters of the proposal say that a more balanced workforce could provide more visible role models for pupils and help schools respond to the needs of boys as well as girls.

    The Department for Education has said it is considering ways to attract more men into teaching, including financial incentives. The proposal sits alongside calls from Labour MPs and campaign groups for improvements to paternity leave and wider policies focused on fathers, boys and family life.

  • NEWS STORY : Starmer Announces Ban On Social Media For Under-16s

    NEWS STORY : Starmer Announces Ban On Social Media For Under-16s

    STORY

    Keir Starmer has announced that children under the age of 16 will be banned from using major social media platforms, saying the Government intends to introduce the measure as part of wider online safety reforms. The Prime Minister said the policy was intended to reduce harms linked to online abuse, addictive content and contact from strangers.

    The Government said the ban would build on the Online Safety Act and would be brought forward through regulation. Starmer said ministers would look at international examples, including Australia, and argued that age restrictions could still be justified even if some young people attempted to bypass them.

    The announcement follows pressure from campaigners, bereaved families and MPs who have called for stronger protections for children online. Opposition parties and campaign groups are expected to scrutinise the details of enforcement, age verification and the responsibilities placed on technology companies.

  • Liz Kendall – 2026 Comments on Social Media Ban for Children

    Liz Kendall – 2026 Comments on Social Media Ban for Children

    The comments made by Liz Kendall, the Technology Secretary, on 15 June 2026.

    Today we take a bold and significant step, towards creating a safer, healthier life online, for our children and future generations. 

    Tech companies have had countless opportunities to keep children safe, yet they have failed to act. That is why we are a taking power away from the tech giants and putting it back in parents’ hands. 

    My driving force has always been to give every child, from every background, the best possible start in life. That is what these regulations will deliver.

  • Keir Starmer – 2026 Comments on Social Media Ban for Children

    Keir Starmer – 2026 Comments on Social Media Ban for Children

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 15 June 2026.

    Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever. 

    I’ve heard first hand from families crying out for change and we will do right by them.  

    That’s why we’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back. 

    This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 15 June 2026.

    Social media platforms to be blocked from offering services to under-16s, marking a line in the sand and setting a new normal for future generations.

    • UK will go further to protect kids with world-leading additional restrictions on harmful features online such as live streaming and strangers communicating with children 
    • Government action shows clear choice to side with families over tech companies to put power back in parents’ hands and give kids the childhood they deserve 
    • Decisive action – backed by 9 in 10 parents – expected to be brought to Parliament before Christmas, with protections expected to come into force in Spring 2027 

    Children will be given back their childhoods thanks to government action to ban social media platforms from offering services to under-16s, with less time for scrolling and more time for play. 

    The plans will set a new normal for future generations, kickstarting a cultural shift and driving forward the government’s fight to give every child the best start in life. 

    The government plans to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia. This would capture user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material, alongside algorithms. The ban will therefore include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. We do not intend for messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to be included in the social media ban.

    In a move to protect children online and address the scale of the challenge, the government will also go further than a blanket ban on social media with world-leading blocks on harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s. These restrictions – which together with the ban go further than any other country – will apply to a wider range of online services, including on gaming sites. 

    Restrictions on these functionalities will also be on by default for under 16- and 17-year-olds to prevent a cliff-edge at 16. The government will also be looking in more detail at overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18-year-olds and will set out more detail in July. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:  

    Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever. 

    I’ve heard first hand from families crying out for change and we will do right by them.  

    That’s why we’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back. 

    This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.

    So-called AI ‘romantic companion’ chatbots – designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users – will have to enforce a minimum age of 18. Similar intimate functionalities will be restricted for under-18s on AI chatbots more widely. 

    Taken together, these measures will mean a much more comprehensive model than just a blanket ban on social media — one that responds to how children experience harm online, rather than just where it happens. 

    The changes will back parents grappling with the risks for children that come from the online world and help empower them by providing a clear decision on what is safe and age-appropriate for children. 

    This is a decisive first step by the government which marks a clear choice to put children’s wellbeing first and give them a healthy life online. We stand ready to take further measures in the future.

    Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: 

    Today we take a bold and significant step, towards creating a safer, healthier life online, for our children and future generations. 

    Tech companies have had countless opportunities to keep children safe, yet they have failed to act. That is why we are a taking power away from the tech giants and putting it back in parents’ hands. 

    My driving force has always been to give every child, from every background, the best possible start in life. That is what these regulations will deliver.

    The government will also learn the lessons from Australia’s experience by introducing more highly effective age assurance (HEAA) measures to support compliance, making it far harder for children to bypass safeguards. 

    Ofcom will conduct a rapid study on what is effective age assurance for verifying whether someone is over 16. The Secretary of State has also written to the new Chair of Ofcom to ask for an urgent review of Ofcom’s enforcement capabilities with a clear enforcement strategy to be published as soon as possible.

    In her letter, the Secretary of State confirmed the government will ensure Ofcom has the funding it needs to carry out its new responsibilities – as well as continue its vital work to enforce the existing provisions of the Online Safety Act, including protecting women and girls online, tackling harmful content that puts vulnerable people at risk, and taking action against serious illegal activity such as child sexual abuse material and online fraud and scams.  

    Today’s announcement follows one of the biggest national conversations held by this government, with more than 116,000 responses submitted by parents, children and experts across the country. The responses showed overwhelming public backing for tougher action. 9 in 10 parents said they would support a social media ban for children under 16.

    The majority of young people also backed action, with two-thirds agreeing that children younger than 16 should not be allowed to use at least some social media platforms. 

    On social media services, real-time content makes harmful material harder to moderate, and algorithmic feeds can intensify exposure to dangerous, distressing or overly engaging material.

    Parents rightly expect government to take action as quickly as possible, which is why the government has already taken powers through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act to act fast — using secondary legislation to introduce targeted protections without needing to wait to bring in a whole new Act. This means the first set of regulations could be in effect in Spring 2027. 

    Today’s action builds on the government’s work to date to go further and faster to protect children online and fight for their wellbeing. Last week, the Prime Minister challenged tech companies so that Britain will be the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images – with a 3-month deadline to make meaningful progress. 

    This watershed moment will come alongside the government’s drive to remove barriers to opportunity and set every child up for happy, fulfilling lives. Yesterday, the government set out further steps to make sure children in every part of the country get greater access to enrichment opportunities in sport, creative activities, nature and the arts both in and out of school.

    This builds on wider work to halve the participation gap and reclaim childhood for all young people, including through reforms to the curriculum so that every child gets the skills they need to get on in life, and support throughout their school years to explore and develop their talents, regardless of their background or where they live.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint E4 Leaders’ Statement on the US-Iran peace deal [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint E4 Leaders’ Statement on the US-Iran peace deal [June 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 June 2026.

    Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy on the US-Iran peace deal.

    We warmly welcome the announcement of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. We congratulate the United States, the Iranian government and all those involved, including Pakistan, Qatar and all other mediators, on this diplomatic breakthrough.

    This is a moment of opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilise the global economy.

    It is now vital that the detailed negotiations are concluded and this agreement is implemented rapidly and comprehensively. We are ready to support that effort.

    The urgent re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation is essential. We are committed to playing our part to achieve this —in accordance with our respective constitutional requirements— including through a strictly defensive and independent mission to reassure commercial shipping and conduct mine clearance operations.

    Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon. We stand ready to work with the US, Iran and the IAEA to this end. We are prepared to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear programme.

    We will work intensively with the US, Iran and regional partners to seize this moment, maintain momentum and achieve a long-term diplomatic settlement.

    We also reaffirm our full support to the stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and the importance of a robust ceasefire.