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  • PRESS RELEASE : Former M&S Chief Executive hired to spearhead Government drive to help young people into work [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Former M&S Chief Executive hired to spearhead Government drive to help young people into work [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 30 May 2026.

    A business leader with decades of experience at the most senior levels has been appointed to drive forward the Government’s Youth Guarantee and ensure all young people have the chance to earn or learn.

    • Marc Bolland appointed Lead Non-Executive Director at DWP, tasked with convening business leaders to help address the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
    • Bolland – whose charity Movement to Work has helped over 200,000 unemployed young people into work – will help drive delivery of the Government’s Youth Guarantee to ensure every young person can earn or learn.
    • Appointment confirmed after interim findings of the Government-commissioned Alan Milburn review which set out the scale and complexity of the youth unemployment crisis.

    Former Marks & Spencer Chief Executive Marc Bolland has been tasked with convening CEOs across sectors to help implement Youth Guarantee reforms, bringing the voice of businesses into policy delivery. This will help create opportunity for young people and tackle the crisis of one million not in employment, education or training (NEET).

    As well as leading major companies including Marks & Spencer, Morrisons supermarkets and Heineken, Marc is founder chairman of the charity Movement to Work, which working with the DWP has helped over 200,000 unemployed young people into work.

    In his new role as Lead Non-Executive Director at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Marc will convene leading Chief Executives across sectors to help expand opportunity, create clear routes into work and tackle the long-standing challenge of youth unemployment.

    He will also advise Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden on the Government’s response to the Alan Milburn Review, which has just released its interim report. In this role he will be asked to place partnership with business and the third sector at the heart of the Government’s approach.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

    The number of young people not in education, employment or training is a serious challenge that has been allowed to persist for too long. That is why I asked Alan Milburn to look hard at the underlying causes and what it will take to fix them.

    Marc Bolland’s appointment sends a clear signal that we are serious about tackling that challenge. His track record in business and through Movement to Work make him uniquely placed to bring employers together and open up real opportunities for young people who need them most.

    I’ve also commissioned senior officials in my department to look at how we go even further in the support we provide young people – particularly young people with health conditions. And I’ve asked that that be done together with employers, charities, disabled people’s organisations and young people themselves.

    Marc’s role will:

    • Turbo-charge delivery of the Government’s Youth Guarantee, helping ensure 1 million young people, including those with a disability or health condition, have access to employment, training or education – backed by £2.5 billion investment.
    • Convene employers to business support for youth employment, alongside disabled people’s organisations, charities and young people
    • Advise the Secretary of State on the Government’s response to the Milburn review – putting partnership with business and the third sector and disabled people’s organisations at the heart of Government’s response.

    Marc Bolland said:

    As founder and chairman of Movement to Work we have, in close cooperation with DWP, brought over 200,000 NEETs into work and I am honoured and passionate to join the DWP now.

    I believe the Government is serious about tackling this generational crisis of youth unemployment, and I know that working hand in hand with business to support young people gives them the best possible chance of success.

    Marc brings experience at the most senior levels of business, having served as Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer plc, Chief Executive of Morrisons supermarkets, and Chief Operating Officer at Heineken.

    He also brings a deep passion for improving young people’s lives through work, as demonstrated in his role as founding chairman of Movement to Work, a charity that offers free support to businesses to create youth employability programmes. The organisation has so far delivered more than 200,000 opportunities for 16 to 30-year-olds facing barriers to work.

    Marc will help bring business into solving this national crisis – with some employers already stepping in to be part of the solution.

    Severn Trent is the latest major employer to back the Government’s Youth Guarantee, which aims to give every young person the chance to earn or learn. Other supporters include the Premier League, Channel 4, Royal Shakespeare Company and Pinewood Studios.

    The Government has commissioned Alan Milburn to look into the root causes of youth inactivity and identify what more can be done to support young people into work and learning. Last week, Alan Milburn published his interim findings which highlighted calls for a system reset to support more young people into work.

    The report found that, without urgent action, the number of young people who are NEET – not in education, employment, or training – will rise from 1-in-8 to 1-in-6 young people within five years, representing 1.25 million young lives.

    The government is prioritising early intervention, ensuring young people are supported before they reach crisis point, identifying and supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), speech delays, and behavioural risks as early as possible to improve long-term outcomes.

    Marc is the latest major figure from the world of business brought in by the department to utilise their extensive experience and expertise. Last year, former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield was asked to lead the Keep Britain Working Review which, with the support of employers, has been looking at ways to help people return to or stay in work.

    Additional information

    • Marc Bolland is founder chairman of Movement to Work, a registered charity offering free support to businesses to create youth employability programmes. It has delivered more than 200,000 opportunities for 16 to 30-year-olds facing barriers to work.
    • The Youth Guarantee aims to ensure every young person aged 18 to 21 has access to employment, training or education.
    • Alan Milburn was commissioned by the Secretary of State to conduct an independent review into youth inactivity. Final recommendations for fundamental system reform will follow later this year.
    • Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working review has gained the support of some 150 organisations employing 1.5million people across 24 sectors, 10 mayoral and strategic authorities and all nations of the UK: Keep Britain Working: Final report – GOV.UK
  • Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Comments on Doctor Strikes

    Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Comments on Doctor Strikes

    The comments made by Kemi Badenoch on 28 May 2026.

    If the Conservatives were in power, these strikes simply wouldn’t be happening.

    That’s because we’ll add doctors to the list of professions banned from striking. Just like police officers and members of the Armed Forces.

    Our health should never be held ransom by unions.

  • Ed Davey – 2026 Comments on TNT Sports

    Ed Davey – 2026 Comments on TNT Sports

    The comments made by Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, on 30 May 2026.

    As the Champions League final kicks off today, football fans are being priced out by TNT Sports locking it behind a paywall.

    While the PM has politely asked TNT to make it free, I’m calling on the government to change the law and guarantee these games are always free-to-air!

  • NEWS STORY : Court Rules Home Office Policy on Torture Survivors Unlawful

    NEWS STORY : Court Rules Home Office Policy on Torture Survivors Unlawful

    STORY

    The High Court has ruled that Home Office policy changes requiring some torture survivors and other vulnerable asylum seekers to share rooms with strangers were unlawful. The case concerned changes introduced in 2024 that removed a previous presumption against shared accommodation for survivors of torture, trafficking and serious violence.

    Mr Justice Sweeting found that the department had failed to assess the risks properly or consult specialist organisations before making the policy change. Charities including Freedom from Torture and the Helen Bamber Foundation argued that shared rooms could cause serious harm to people with a history of trauma.

    The ruling creates a further challenge for ministers as they seek to reduce the cost of asylum accommodation and increase the use of shared housing. Campaigners said the decision could affect thousands of people, while the Home Office will need to review how it treats vulnerable asylum seekers in accommodation decisions.

  • NEWS STORY : Steel Tariff Plans Raise Defence Industry Concerns

    NEWS STORY : Steel Tariff Plans Raise Defence Industry Concerns

    STORY

    Government plans to double some steel import tariffs and reduce tariff-free quotas have prompted warnings from businesses and MPs about the possible effect on defence, aerospace and shipbuilding. The changes are due to begin on 1 July and are intended to protect domestic steel production.

    Critics, including Liam Byrne, the chair of the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee, have warned that some downstream manufacturers depend on specialist steel products that are not made in the UK. Businesses have argued that higher costs could hit sectors involved in warships, nuclear submarines, aircraft and other strategic industries.

    The Government has defended the policy as an attempt to balance support for British steelmakers with wider supply chain needs. Industry groups are calling for urgent changes before the measures take effect, warning that the policy could damage the competitiveness of firms employing hundreds of thousands of people.

  • NEWS STORY : Government Faces Pressure Over Mandelson Files

    NEWS STORY : Government Faces Pressure Over Mandelson Files

    STORY

    The Government is preparing to release more than a thousand pages of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States. The disclosure is expected next week and could include messages about Sir Keir Starmer and internal discussions about Mandelson’s suitability for the role.

    Mandelson was appointed to the Washington post in 2024 and later dismissed in 2025 after further scrutiny of his links to Jeffrey Epstein. The forthcoming publication follows parliamentary pressure for transparency over vetting, ministerial decision-making and the handling of warnings raised before the appointment was confirmed.

    The issue is politically difficult for Downing Street because it touches on judgment, security and trust in appointments. Ministers have said they will comply with the request for documents, although redactions are expected where officials argue that security or diplomatic sensitivities apply.

  • NEWS STORY : Javid Says Backing Liz Truss Was His Biggest Political Mistake

    NEWS STORY : Javid Says Backing Liz Truss Was His Biggest Political Mistake

    STORY

    Sajid Javid has said that backing Liz Truss for the Conservative leadership was the biggest political mistake of his career. The former chancellor made the comments at the Hay Festival, reflecting on the 2022 leadership contest and the short premiership that followed.

    Truss resigned after 49 days in office, following market turmoil caused by her Government’s economic plans. Javid had endorsed her after his own leadership bid failed, but said he no longer had contact with the former Prime Minister and accepted his judgment had been wrong.

    Javid also criticised the quality of British political leadership and suggested reducing the number of MPs while increasing their salaries. His remarks come as the Conservative Party continues to rebuild after its 2024 general election defeat and amid continuing pressure from Reform UK on the political right.

  • NEWS STORY : Burnham Allies Say He Would End Asylum Hotel Contracts

    NEWS STORY : Burnham Allies Say He Would End Asylum Hotel Contracts

    STORY

    Allies of Andy Burnham have said he would end the multibillion-pound asylum accommodation contracts used to house migrants in hotels if he became Prime Minister. The Greater Manchester mayor is reported to favour replacing the private contractor model with a system giving local authorities greater responsibility for sourcing accommodation.

    The current Home Office contracts with Serco, Mears and Clearsprings Ready Homes were signed in 2019 and include a break clause that can be used before they expire in 2029. Burnham’s supporters argue that the Government should use the clause to reduce reliance on hotels and move towards dispersal housing, although councils would face questions about capacity and funding.

    The proposal comes as Labour continues to face pressure over asylum policy and the cost of hotel accommodation. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said the system needs improvement, but the Government’s current position is to work within existing arrangements while seeking to end hotel use by 2029.

  • NEWS STORY : Unions Criticise Delay Risk on Living Wage Pledge

    NEWS STORY : Unions Criticise Delay Risk on Living Wage Pledge

    STORY

    Labour is facing union criticism after pensions minister Torsten Bell said the timetable for extending the national living wage to workers aged over 18 would depend on Low Pay Commission advice. Labour pledged at the general election to remove what it described as discriminatory age bands in the minimum wage system.

    The national living wage currently applies to workers aged 21 and over, with younger adult workers paid lower minimum rates. Bell said the Government remained committed to the principle of equalisation, but did not confirm that the policy would be completed before the next general election.

    Union leaders criticised the comments and said younger workers should not have to wait for equal pay protection. The issue is politically sensitive for ministers because it sits alongside wider pressure over living standards, low pay and Labour’s attempt to show that its Government is delivering practical improvements for working people.

  • NEWS STORY : Labour Reports Farage Hacking Claim to Security Authorities

    NEWS STORY : Labour Reports Farage Hacking Claim to Security Authorities

    STORY

    Labour has reported claims that Nigel Farage’s phone was hacked to the Metropolitan Police and the National Cyber Security Centre. The party said the matter raised potential questions about national security and democratic integrity, after Reform UK suggested hostile actors may have gained access to Farage’s personal data.

    The hacking allegation emerged after reporting about a £5 million gift from the cryptocurrency businessman Christopher Harborne to Farage. Reform UK said the alleged hacking was likely linked to hostile actors, while critics questioned why the matter had not been clearly reported to the relevant authorities earlier.

    Labour chair Anna Turley asked for the matter to be investigated. Farage has said he believed he had been targeted by spear phishing, while Reform UK said it had acted appropriately. The dispute has added to scrutiny of Farage’s finances and the transparency rules around major political figures.