Author: admin

PRESS RELEASE : First Olympics in the North of England in government’s sights alongside stadium regeneration push [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 17 May 2026.

Initial strategic assessment commissioned into potential bid for Olympic and Paralympic Games in the North of England in the 2040s.
- Assessment will test if hosting could deliver transformational regeneration and growth in the North
- Towns and cities across England also set to benefit from sports infrastructure accelerator programme, to remove barriers to major sports led regeneration
The government has commissioned its expert arm’s-length body UK Sport to carry out an initial strategic assessment examining whether the UK could host an Olympic and Paralympic Games in the North of England during the 2040s, as part of an ambitious growth drive to use sports to power regeneration of towns and cities.

Initial work examining whether the UK could host the Games for the first time since London 2012 will assess key factors such as potential cost, socioeconomic benefit and any bid’s chance of success.
The Government firmly sees major sporting events and sporting facilities as playing a key role in driving economic growth, regeneration, improving pride in place, and bolstering the UK’s global appeal.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

London 2012 showed what the Olympics can do for our country. It inspired a generation through sport, attracted huge investment and showed the best of Britain to the world.

But while the North of England has driven so much sporting excellence, no matter the talent we produce, the sporting moments we create, and the world-class events we attract – for too long we have been told the Olympics is simply too big and too important to be hosted in the North.

Not any more. It’s time the Olympics came North and we showed what we can offer to the world. I couldn’t be more pleased to announce that we’re starting the firing gun on a long overdue vote of confidence in the North.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

Britain’s sporting prowess is recognised and respected around the world. It’s something we are determined to capitalise on to breathe life into our communities and build a stronger and more secure economy.

That’s why we’re throwing our full support behind bringing the Games back home which will boost our Northern Growth Corridor. It’s also why we’re backing stadium regeneration plans, like at Elland Road, to deliver new homes, business opportunities and public spaces in Leeds and beyond.

The Government has also announced a wave of new work to use sport as a catalyst for local regeneration and economic growth. This includes:
- A Stadium Regeneration Accelerator:In a further growth boost for towns and cities across England, a new cross-government programme will work with sporting bodies on priority sports infrastructure development projects – such as stadiums – that can help deliver local regeneration and commercial growth. Funding will not be used for the regeneration of these stadiums but the government will work with sports clubs and leagues to unlock opportunities for large-scale housing delivery, jobs, apprenticeships, transport improvement and community sports facilities. DCMS will work alongside the Office for Investment (OfI) HM Treasury and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government with sports bodies such as the Premier League, the English Football League and the WSL Football. Together they will identify, and unblock, barriers to development at both a national and local level – and will include projects across the sports sector. The OfI will act as the front door for potential investors to be involved in the programme. Planned projects across England include proposals in Greater Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool and London that have the potential to regenerate their surrounding areas. The government will also look at how we can learn lessons and share best practice with counterparts from Europe and further afield.
- A new Sporting Events Bill:Introduced to Parliament on Thursday, the new Bill will make it easier to bid for, secure and deliver major sporting events in future, including UEFA EURO 2028. It will also make the unauthorised resale of tickets for designated major events a criminal offence, ensuring more tickets reach real fans at face value rather than being snapped up by touts and resold.
- UK Government Strategy for Major Events:The government will set out its plans to support and provide leadership to the nation’s wider major events sector, by delivering a cross-sector strategy within the coming year. The strategy will cover major events in all sectors – cultural, sporting and business – and will ensure that major events continue to drive economic growth, enhance the UK’s soft power across the globe, and strengthen social cohesion in our towns and cities. This will build on the UK’s outstanding track record — from the 80th commemorations of VE day and the billions of pounds generated every year from hosting business events, to the record-breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup last year.
- A Ministerial Adviser on Soft Power and Major Events:The government has also appointed Lord McConnell as a Ministerial Adviser on Soft Power and Major Events. Lord McConnell, who was central to bringing the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow in 2014, will support the government’s ambition to cement the UK’s position as the go-to destination for the world’s most prestigious sporting and cultural events, drawing on his experience in international affairs, public policy and supporting the delivery of major events.
The UK has a phenomenal pipeline of major sporting events to look forward to. This summer alone brings the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In 2027, the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grands Départs will be the most accessible major sporting event ever held in Great Britain. UEFA EURO 2028 is forecast to generate £3.2 billion in socioeconomic benefits – creating jobs, driving regional growth, and drawing a surge of international visitors to communities the length and breadth of the country.

The Government is already backing bids to host the World Athletics and Para-Athletics Championships in 2029, as well as the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as part of its commitment to driving a decade of change in women’s sport.

Alongside more than £500 million invested into the delivery of major sporting events, the Government is making a serious and sustained commitment to grassroots sport. At least £400 million is being invested in community facilities across the country, ensuring that the legacy of every major event is felt far and wide.

Additional quotes:

Chair of The Great North, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:

From our great cities and towns to our coastlines and countryside, the North has the venues, the passion and the sporting pride to deliver a world-class Olympic and Paralympic Games that showcases the very best of Great Britain to the world.

A Great North Olympics would be a global showcase, leaving a legacy of prosperity, unity and renewal. It’s an opportunity not to be missed, delivering transformational investment in transport, regeneration and public spaces across the North of England. This could become the most people-powered Games ever hosted: inspiring millions of people into sport, volunteering and community action.

Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive said:

Football clubs across the country are important institutions in their communities. The stadium investment pipeline across the Premier League now amounts to an estimated £5 billion, with a number of clubs actively considering significant additional projects. New and redeveloped stadiums will deliver over 100,000 extra seats for supporters, as well as thousands of new jobs. These private investments can deliver substantial public benefits, and accelerating delivery can help to boost economic growth.

Developing partnerships to create transport and community infrastructure is often vital to unlocking redevelopment. That will help to strengthen the pipeline of viable projects and enable faster delivery, benefiting football fans as well as local residents and businesses. We welcome this programme and look forward to working with our clubs, the government, mayors and local authorities to help make it a success.
17/05/2026
NEWS STORY : UK Deploys New Anti-Drone System in the Middle East

STORY

The Royal Air Force has deployed a new low-cost anti-drone weapon on operations in the Middle East, with the Government saying the system will help protect British citizens, UK interests and regional partners from drone attacks. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System will be fitted to RAF Typhoon fighter jets and is designed to destroy targets precisely at a lower cost than missiles currently used for similar operations.

The Ministry of Defence said the system had moved from testing to operational deployment in less than two months, following work with BAE Systems and QinetiQ. A successful test strike on a ground-based target took place in March, followed by air-to-air firing by RAF Typhoon pilots from 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron in April. The system has now been deployed with 9 Squadron RAF Typhoon fighter jets in the Middle East.

17/05/2026
NEWS STORY : Labour MP Says Government Migration Messaging Has Been Too Timid

STORY

Labour MP Uma Kumaran has criticised the Government’s communication on migration, saying ministers had been too timid in setting out their position to voters. She made the comments at a Progressive Britain event as Labour continues to examine the reasons for recent electoral losses.

Ms Kumaran argued that the Government needed to make a clearer case on migration and not allow its opponents to define the issue. Her remarks form part of a wider debate inside Labour about how the party should respond to voter concerns while maintaining its own policy approach and language.

Migration has remained one of the most sensitive issues in British politics, with pressure from opposition parties and campaigners on different sides of the argument. The intervention suggests some Labour MPs believe the Government needs a more confident public message as it tries to recover political support.

17/05/2026
NEWS STORY : Government Commissions Assessment of Northern Olympics Bid

STORY

The Government has commissioned UK Sport to assess whether the UK could bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the North of England in the 2040s. Ministers said the initial strategic assessment would examine costs, likely benefits and the chances of a successful bid.

The proposal is being considered alongside a wider push to use major sporting events and stadium regeneration to support economic growth. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the work would explore whether hosting the Games could deliver major regeneration and wider benefits for northern towns and cities.

London has hosted the Olympic Games three times, most recently in 2012, but no other part of the UK has staged the event. The assessment does not amount to a formal bid, but it marks the first step in considering whether a future Games could be used as part of a long-term regional growth strategy.

17/05/2026
NEWS STORY : Badenoch Criticises Labour Rivals Over EU Rejoin Debate

STORY

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised Labour figures who have suggested that Britain should rebuild its relationship with the European Union, arguing that the debate showed the party lacked a clear plan for the country. Her comments came after Wes Streeting called for the UK eventually to rejoin the EU and Andy Burnham indicated support for a closer European relationship.

Badenoch said that policies such as removing VAT or green levies from energy bills would be harder to pursue inside the EU, presenting the issue as a question of domestic policy freedom. Her intervention sought to draw a contrast between the Conservative Party’s approach to Brexit and Labour’s internal dispute about future relations with Brussels.

The comments show that Europe is again becoming a live dividing line in national politics. Although the Government has not adopted a policy of rejoining the EU, senior Labour figures’ remarks have allowed opposition parties to argue that the party is being pulled back into the Brexit debate.

17/05/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK deploys new low-cost anti-drone system in the Middle East [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 May 2026.

British citizens and regional partners will be better protected against drone attacks as the Royal Air Force deploys a new low-cost anti-drone weapon on operations in the Middle East.
- UK deploys new low-cost missile system to defend UK citizens and partners in the Middle East from drone attacks.
- Ministry of Defence worked rapidly with industry to move from testing to deployment in months.
- Strengthens Typhoon fighter jets as backbone of UK combat air.
British citizens and regional partners will be better protected against drone attacks as the Royal Air Force deploys a new low-cost anti-drone weapon on operations in the Middle East.

The new Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) will be fitted to RAF Typhoon fighter jets so that they can destroy targets precisely and at a fraction of the price of missiles currently used.

Rapid procurement and testing work by the Ministry of Defence and industry partners BAE Systems and QinetiQ has enabled the system to move from testing to deployment on operations in less than two months.

March saw a successful test strike on a ground-based target, and RAF Typhoon pilots from 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron conducted successful air-to-air firing in April, demonstrating the system’s ability to defend against drone attacks.

The system has now been deployed on operations in the Middle East with sorties flown by 9 Squadron RAF Typhoon fighter jets as part of the missions to defend British people, interests and partners from threats.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said:

This has been a superb effort working with industry to test and deploy this system in a matter of months, which will help the RAF shoot down many more drones at a much lower cost.

Our Typhoon fleet is the backbone of UK and NATO air defence, with the RAF protecting European’s Eastern flank from Russian drone incursions and defending our partners across the Middle East.

The APKWS uses a laser targeting system which turns unguided missiles into low-cost precision weapons able to take down enemy drones and other threats. Developing low-cost systems provides a more effective and sustainable means of countering the increasing threat of drones to UK forces and partners.

Simon Barnes, Group Managing Director BAE Systems Air sector, said:

Our priority is to ensure the Royal Air Force and its allies have the advanced technologies they need today and into the future, to keep them ahead of evolving threats. This capability demonstrates Typhoon’s exceptional versatility and underlines its continued role as the backbone of combat air across Europe and the Middle East.

Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer, QinetiQ, said:

From engineering expertise to live trials, our teams are providing the fundamental support needed by our armed forces, to deliver the urgent capabilities that ensure the UK and its allies remain safe and warfighting ready.

UK aircraft continue to operate across the Middle East and are ready to defend British people, interest and partners from threats. Pilots and aircrew have surpassed 2,500 flying hours since the conflict in the region began, equivalent to over three months of continuous flying on defensive missions.

Air Commodore Donal McGurk, Air 11 Group Deputy Director Operations:

We welcome the speed of development and meticulous testing behind the deployment of these missile systems for use on our Typhoons. They are a valuable addition to the air defence package we are already employing with agility across the Middle East.

UK ground-based and helicopter-based air defence assets are also deployed at very high readiness to support Gulf partners, including the Sky Sabre system in Saudi Arabia, the Lightweight Multirole Missile in Bahrain, and the Rapid Sentry and ORCUS systems in Kuwait.

Today’s news comes just weeks after the Ministry of Defence signed a multi-million-pound contract with to buy Skyhammer interceptor missiles for the UK Armed Forces designed to counter Shahed-style attack drones. In January, the Ministry of Defence committed over £650 million to upgrade the RAF’s Typhoon fighter jet fleet, securing over 1,500 jobs across the UK and ensuring the fleet will continue protecting British skies until at least the 2040s.

This Government is backing UK Armed Forces with the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027.
17/05/2026
NEWS STORY : Minister Dismisses Labour Leadership Speculation as Pressure Continues

STORY

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has dismissed speculation about a Labour leadership challenge as “froth and nonsense”, saying the Government should focus on delivery rather than internal debate. Her comments came after a series of public interventions from Labour figures following the party’s poor local election performance.

Keir Starmer has resisted calls to stand down and has described his Government as a long-term project. Ministers loyal to the Prime Minister have argued that Labour must demonstrate discipline and concentrate on policy delivery, particularly on public services, economic growth and living standards.

The political pressure has nevertheless continued, with Wes Streeting saying he would stand in any future leadership contest and Andy Burnham seeking to return to Parliament. Any formal Labour leadership challenge would require sufficient support from MPs before a contest could be triggered.

17/05/2026
NEWS STORY : Streeting Says He Would Stand in Any Labour Leadership Contest

STORY

Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he would stand in any future Labour leadership contest, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a difficult period for the Government. Streeting, who recently resigned from the Cabinet, said Labour needed a clearer political direction and argued that the party should hold a full contest if the leadership became vacant.

Streeting also used his intervention to call for a closer relationship with the European Union, describing Brexit as a serious mistake and saying Britain should ultimately seek to rejoin the bloc. The comments place Europe back near the centre of Labour’s internal debate at a time when the party is also facing pressure from Reform UK in several areas that voted heavily for Brexit.

The remarks come as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham seeks a route back to Westminster through the expected Makerfield by-election. Starmer has said he intends to continue in office, but the public interventions from senior Labour figures have underlined the scale of unease within the party following recent election setbacks.

17/05/2026
NEWS STORY : UKHSA Updates Response to Hantavirus Cruise Ship Outbreak

STORY

The UK Health Security Agency has said the Government is continuing to work with the NHS, local authorities and UK Overseas Territories in response to the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. UKHSA said people currently at Arrowe Park and those isolating at home are being closely monitored, with a further individual leaving Arrowe Park to complete their 45-day isolation period at home after clinical and public health assessments found it was safe to do so.

A medic from Ascension Island who developed symptoms has arrived at the High Consequence Infectious Disease unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust for specialist assessment. UKHSA said the individual is not a confirmed case, but had been medically evacuated as a precaution because hantavirus cases can deteriorate rapidly and Ascension Island does not have a specialist infectious diseases unit.

UKHSA is also working with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and UK Overseas Territories to relocate nine asymptomatic contacts from St Helena and Ascension Island to the UK, where they are expected to complete their self-isolation at Arrowe Park. Dr William Welfare, UKHSA’s Director of Health Protection in Regions, said teams would continue to support all those affected and added that the risk to the general public remains very low.

16/05/2026
Wera Hobhouse – 2026 Speech on Getting Britain Working Again

The speech made by Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, in the House of Commons on 14 May 2026.

It is an honour and a pleasure to take part in this King’s Speech debate. I am a member of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, and I look to grow our economy and get Britain working, with a special focus on the green economy and its many opportunities and challenges.

The regulating for growth Bill promises a framework that supports innovation, yet current proposals from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero risk doing the opposite. Under the plans for the new home energy model, any technology other than a heat pump or heat battery could automatically receive an energy performance certificate rating of D. In practice, that means that innovative zero-emissions systems would be treated the same as fossil-fuel heating. That would make many new technologies commercially unviable and leave consumers without practical alternatives where heat pumps are not suitable. The plans are already affecting innovative businesses in Bath, including Luthmore, which has developed a pioneering, zero-emission alternative to the gas combi boiler. Combined with exclusion from support schemes, VAT barriers and delays in the assessment process, such policies risk pushing Britain’s clean tech innovators overseas instead of backing them at home.

I am encouraged by the announcement of an energy independence Bill in the King’s Speech. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and now the war in the middle east have laid bare the need to go much further and faster to secure our energy supply, which means getting off the rollercoaster of global prices. In the midst of an energy price crisis, cheap, home-produced energy has never been more vital. There is huge nationwide potential for growth in small-scale renewable energy generation, especially by community groups that can distribute the benefits locally. Nobody in the House will be surprised to hear me say that we Liberal Democrats are the greatest champions of community energy.

Community energy puts people at the heart of their energy future by allowing them to generate, manage and own their own local renewable energy projects. These are projects run by the community, for the community. One of many pioneering projects is Bath and West Community Energy in my constituency, which, because of surplus income from renewable energy projects, has been able to donate to more than 100 community projects across Bath in the past decade.

What really worries me, when hearing in the ESNZ Committee about proposals for community energy and the way the Government look at that, is that it is only about an ownership model, rather than a beneficiary model. Community energy should also benefit consumers of energy, not just the energy producers. I get it—it is about both. It is not one or the other, but we must focus on ensuring that the community benefits from community-generated energy.

Community energy projects also strengthen energy security by diversifying sources of energy, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. In 2025, community energy groups saved people almost £2 million on their fuel bills due to energy efficiency upgrades. However, community energy schemes currently generate less than 0.5% of the UK’s electricity. With the right support, that could increase by 20 times, powering more than 2 million homes and saving more than 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

However, there are two main blockers to the rapid expansion of community energy projects. The first major barrier is a shortfall in Government funding to scale up energy generation projects. While the £15 million Great British community energy fund is welcome, it has led to minimal growth. I hope that through the energy independence Bill more funding will be allocated to these projects so that their potential can be realised.

Another major barrier facing community energy projects is the prohibitive cost of accessing energy markets to sell the electricity that they generate. This is what I mean: there are now more than 600 community energy groups operating across the UK, yet not a single one is able to sell power directly to local customers. Although it is legally possible, the various regulatory burdens and obligations associated with energy licensing rules make the cost of selling power to local people impossibly high.

In the 2022-23 Session, legislation was brought forward to unlock the potential of community energy and selling directly to local people. The proposal was supported by the current Secretary of State and more than 320 MPs across the House. We have a Secretary of State for Energy who supports reform of local energy supply, but we are still waiting for the legislation to make that reform a reality.

We Liberal Democrats welcome the regulatory changes promised in the local power plan, in particular the commitments from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to establish a route to market for unlocking a smart local energy system. However, if community energy initiatives want to plan ahead with confidence, the Government must provide clear detail on how and when these reforms will be implemented. One option is to untangle completely the licensed supplier model that we currently have and to ask Ofgem to establish a local supply licence. The proportioned costs could create the ability for community schemes to sell to local customers if they wish and make a viable business model. The other option is to have current licensed suppliers offering contracts for the export of community energy to local residents.

Whichever route the Government choose, we need to see action. We must see the necessary regulatory changes in the energy independence Bill to establish a workable model for local energy supply so that community energy products can scale up, become commercially viable and play their full part in delivering a cleaner and more resilient energy system.

16/05/2026