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  • NEWS STORY : Zack Polanski seeks Green nomination for Holborn and St Pancras by election

    NEWS STORY : Zack Polanski seeks Green nomination for Holborn and St Pancras by election

    STORY

    Green Party leader Zack Polanski has announced that he intends to stand in the Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary by election. The contest was triggered by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to stand down as the constituency’s MP.

    Polanski said he had lived and worked in the community for many years and would represent people struggling with the cost of living. He accused Labour of standing up for corporations and wealthy interests, while arguing that the Greens could offer local voters an alternative. Polanski is currently a citywide member of the London Assembly, although Green Party members in Holborn and St Pancras will have the final decision over the selection of their candidate.

    Labour has represented Holborn and St Pancras continuously since the constituency was created in 1983. At the 2024 general election, Starmer secured 48.9% of the vote, independent candidate Andrew Feinstein finished second with 18.9% and the Greens came third with 10.4%. Polanski said the forthcoming contest offered the constituency an opportunity to elect London’s first Green MP.

  • NEWS STORY : Diane Abbott Calls Imminent Russian Threat ‘NATO Fiction’

    NEWS STORY : Diane Abbott Calls Imminent Russian Threat ‘NATO Fiction’

    STORY

    Diane Abbott has rejected claims that Russia poses an imminent threat to the West, describing the warning as a “NATO fiction” being used to support higher military spending. The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said the proposed increase in defence expenditure should not proceed.

    Writing on social media, Abbott said: “The imminent threat from Russia is a NATO fiction to justify their complete capitulation to Trump’s demands for more military spending.” Her comments came as the Government continues to face questions over how it will finance its commitments to increase defence spending in line with NATO targets.

    The remarks drew criticism from Conservative politicians. A spokesperson for Kemi Badenoch called Abbott’s position “reprehensible”, while Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty accused her of being “dangerously out of touch” and said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and hostile activity directed at European countries demonstrated the need for greater defence investment. Downing Street declined to comment on Abbott’s statement.

  • NEWS STORY : Government allocates £442 million to tackle rough sleeping

    NEWS STORY : Government allocates £442 million to tackle rough sleeping

    STORY

    The Government has announced a £442 million Rough Sleeping Programme intended to ensure that everyone sleeping on the streets is offered accommodation and support before Christmas. Homelessness Minister Florence Eshalomi said the programme would combine urgent winter provision with longer-term help for people who have experienced persistent rough sleeping.

    Local services will be able to provide accommodation alongside tailored assistance with mental health, substance use, employment, training and maintaining a tenancy. Part of the investment is expected to deliver more than 1,000 settled homes with intensive support for people who have the most complex needs.

    Funding will be concentrated in areas experiencing the greatest pressure, with mayoral strategic authorities and councils given flexibility to design local services. Guidance also requires accessible provision for women, who may be underrepresented in official figures and face particular risks of violence and exploitation. An additional £8.1 million will take the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund to £47 million, while total Government investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services over three years will exceed £4 billion.

  • Florence Eshalomi – 2026 Statement on Ending Homelessness

    Florence Eshalomi – 2026 Statement on Ending Homelessness

    The statement made by Florence Eshalomi, the Homelessness Minister, in the House of Commons on 1 September 2026.

    On 19 August, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced the next steps in his national drive to end rough sleeping, backed by £442 million of funding through a new rough sleeping programme.

    This will ensure that everyone sleeping rough is offered a route off the streets before Christmas this year, while providing longer-term accommodation and support for people with the most complex and long-term experiences of rough sleeping.

    No one should have to sleep rough. Yet too many people remain without the safety and stability of a secure home. This Government are determined to change that, combining urgent action this winter with longer-term investment to tackle rough sleeping and help people rebuild their lives.

    Ahead of Christmas, we are funding local areas to expand accommodation provision for people sleeping rough, alongside tailored support to address the issues that contribute to rough sleeping. This may include accommodation, support to access mental health or substance use services, help to access employment or training, help to access or maintain accommodation, or other support tailored to individual circumstances. At the same time, we are investing in settled accommodation and intensive support for people experiencing long-term rough sleeping, helping those with the most complex needs to leave rough sleeping behind permanently. This investment will help deliver more than 1,000 settled homes for people experiencing rough sleeping, alongside the support needed to sustain them.

    Funding has been targeted towards areas with the greatest rough sleeping pressures, while giving mayoral strategic authorities and local authorities the flexibility to shape services around local need. This reflects the Government’s commitment to devolving power and resources to local leaders, who are best placed to understand local challenges and shape the responses needed in their communities, and mayoral strategic authorities are expected to manage funding across their area, in partnership with local authorities.

    Alongside funding allocations, we have published guidance to help local areas mobilise quickly and deliver a consistent “route off the street” offer this winter. The guidance makes clear the need to ensure adequate and accessible provision for women experiencing rough sleeping, recognising that women are often underrepresented in official statistics and may be at greater risk of violence, abuse and exploitation.

    We are also increasing investment in the ending homelessness in communities fund, taking the total funding to £47 million, with £8.1 million additional funding, supporting voluntary, faith and community organisations, which are often the first point of contact for people furthest from mainstream support.

    This investment builds on the Government’s wider national plan to end homelessness and sits alongside action to prevent homelessness before it occurs. The £442 million package takes total investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years to more than £4 billion. By combining immediate action this winter with long-term investment in accommodation and intensive support, we are taking a significant step towards ending rough sleeping and helping people build stable lives away from the streets.

  • NEWS STORY : Government plans formal regulation of funeral industry

    NEWS STORY : Government plans formal regulation of funeral industry

    STORY

    The Government is developing proposals for the formal regulation of the funeral industry as part of plans to improve standards, remove rogue operators and provide stronger protection for bereaved families. Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said clearer safeguards and consistent oversight were needed to ensure the deceased were treated with dignity.

    The work follows the sentencing of Robert Bush, who operated Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull and received a 20-year prison sentence for 67 offences including preventing a lawful and decent burial, fraud, fraudulent trading and theft. Cooper said the case, together with the findings of the inquiry into David Fuller’s crimes in hospital mortuaries, demonstrated the need for improved standards across every setting responsible for caring for people after death.

    The Department of Health and Social Care will lead the work alongside the Ministry of Justice and other departments. The Law Commission will review the criminal law concerning the deceased, identify potential gaps in existing protections and consider whether new offences are required. Bereaved families, funeral providers, faith groups and local authorities will be consulted before detailed proposals and an implementation timetable are published.

  • Yvette Cooper – 2026 Statement on Funeral Industry Regulation

    Yvette Cooper – 2026 Statement on Funeral Industry Regulation

    The statement made by Yvette Cooper, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in the House of Commons on 1 September 2026.

    I wish to update the House on the Government’s proposals for formal regulation of the funeral sector, announced this summer following the sentencing of criminal funeral director Robert Bush. These proposals will seek to crack down on rogue operators in the funeral sector and ensure better protection for bereaved families.

    On 31 July, Bush, of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a total of 67 charges, including the prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud, fraudulent trading and theft.

    His actions were utterly abhorrent, and my thoughts remain with all the bereaved families in Hull who were so badly let down. Every person in every situation deserves dignity in death, and every bereaved family deserves certainty that their loved ones are being treated with care and respect.

    For those families, there can be few things more painful than knowing a loved one was not treated properly after they died. The deceased cannot speak for themselves, which is why clear safeguards, stronger oversight and consistent standards are needed to protect their dignity and give families the reassurance they deserve.

    Sadly, this case was just the latest horrendous example in our country of the deceased not being treated with the care and respect they deserved.

    Sir Jonathan Michael’s independent inquiry into the horrific crimes of David Fuller in the mortuary of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust showed the need to ensure better standards across all settings that look after our loved ones after they die, including those where some level of regulation is already in place.

    Building on the progress already made in responding to the Fuller inquiry—see HCWS26, 15 July 2026—and in the wake of the Robert Bush case, the Government will bring forward comprehensive proposals to ensure respect and dignity for the deceased in every setting, to drive rogue operators out of the funeral industry, and to protect other families from suffering this same heartache.

    The Department of Health and Social Care is leading this work alongside the Ministry of Justice and other Government Departments, and will draw up detailed proposals to drive up standards, including proper regulation of the funeral sector. As part of this work, the Law Commission will also undertake a review of the criminal law in relation to the deceased, consider any gaps in existing legal protections and make recommendations on the creation of new offences, if they are needed.

    The Government will work closely with bereaved families, funeral providers, faith groups, local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that future policy in this area is proportionate, effective and informed by those with relevant experience. This will ensure families can have confidence that funeral providers are meeting clear, consistent standards, no matter where they live or which provider they choose.

    These changes will also reinforce the profound responsibility placed on anyone entrusted with caring for someone after death. The majority of funeral providers live up to that responsibility, and offer compassionate and professional care every day. Nevertheless, stronger oversight, including proper regulation of the sector, will protect families from rogue operators, support good providers and restore confidence in a sector that people must be able to trust in moments of profound grief and loss.

    We will keep the House updated as this work progresses, and set out our detailed plans and timetables for the implementation of these new proposals in due course.

  • NEWS STORY : UK and Canada begin trading under CPTPP terms

    NEWS STORY : UK and Canada begin trading under CPTPP terms

    STORY

    British companies can trade with Canada under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership following the agreement’s entry into force between the two countries. Canada’s ratification means the UK’s accession now applies across all 11 other members of the trading bloc.

    In a written statement to Parliament, Reindustrialisation Minister Blair McDougall said Canada was the UK’s largest CPTPP trading partner during the four quarters ending in the first quarter of 2026. It accounted for 23% of British trade with members of the bloc, while its economy had a market of approximately 42 million people.

    The arrangements provide UK farmers and dairy producers with access to Canadian tariff rate quotas covering products including cheese, cream and ice cream. They also allow British business visitors to remain in Canada for up to six months, support digital trading without requiring physical data facilities in the country and expand access to public procurement opportunities in sectors including air transport, accountancy and financial services.

  • Blair McDougall – 2026 Statement on CPTPP Canada

    Blair McDougall – 2026 Statement on CPTPP Canada

    The statement made by Blair McDougall, the Trade Minister, in the House of Commons on 1 September 2026.

    From 1 September 2026, the UK’s accession to the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership (CPTPP) enters into force with Canada. Following Canada’s ratification, UK companies can trade with Canada under CPTPP terms for the first time.

    This means that the UK’s accession to CPTPP is now in force with all other member countries. British businesses can now access the full benefits of the agreement across all 11 CPTPP parties.

    Canada is a close UK partner and fellow G7 member. It was the UK’s largest CPTPP trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2026, accounting for 23% of all UK trade with CPTPP. Canada was also the world’s 10th largest economy in 2025, with a market of 42 million people and GDP of $2.3 trillion.

    Benefits for UK traders and consumers

    Entry into force of the UK’s CPTPP accession with Canada means that we have secured access to Canadian tariff rate quotas covering a wide variety of dairy products, including cheese, cream and ice cream. This provides UK farmers and dairy producers with additional tariff-free market access to Canada and opens further opportunities to increase exports.

    The agreement will also make short-term business travel to Canada more flexible. UK business visitors will be able to stay for up to six months, with the option to extend.

    Alongside this, new digital trade commitments will further support UK businesses by permitting them to store data entirely digitally, rather than having to establish physical facilities in Canada. These commitments will be particularly useful for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) looking to expand into Canada and across CPTPP economies.

    By improving access to information, reducing barriers to trade and increasing transparency, CPTPP will also help SMEs take advantage of new opportunities across the bloc.

    Additionally, there will be access to new public procurement opportunities by giving businesses in both countries enhanced access to markets not covered under previous agreements. For UK suppliers, this includes opportunities in sectors such as air transport, accounting and financial services.

    The UK will continue working with Canada and the other CPTPP members to build on the opportunities it creates for businesses, consumers and economic growth.

    I will keep the House updated on future CPTPP developments.

  • NEWS STORY : Farage faces questions over claim of second standards investigation

    NEWS STORY : Farage faces questions over claim of second standards investigation

    STORY

    Nigel Farage is facing questions over his previous claim that a second parliamentary standards investigation had been opened into his finances. The Reform UK leader made the statement when he resigned as MP for Clacton in July, arguing that the parliamentary standards system had been used as a political tool.

    Parliament’s published list currently records one investigation into Farage, opened in May under the rule covering the registration of interests. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has been considering separate information concerning reported payments by George Cottrell for social media work, accommodation and security before the 2024 general election, but there has been no official confirmation that the existing inquiry has been widened or that a second one has begun.

    Farage has said the social media work was personal rather than political and has compared his activities before returning to Parliament to those of an online influencer. He has since been returned as the MP for Clacton following a by-election. The Commissioner has declined to comment publicly on whether the scope of the investigation will change.

  • NEWS STORY : Restore Britain receives £500,000 donation from technology entrepreneur

    NEWS STORY : Restore Britain receives £500,000 donation from technology entrepreneur

    STORY

    Restore Britain has received donations totalling £500,000 from technology entrepreneur Simon Galbraith, providing the party with its first major financial contribution. Party leader Rupert Lowe said the funding comprised two separate donations of £250,000 made through Galbraith’s company, Cade Hill Investments.

    Galbraith co-founded the Cambridge-based database software company Redgate Software and has previously donated to the Liberal Democrats. He said he was supporting Restore Britain because of concerns about the performance of the state, the condition of British institutions and the representative nature of the country’s democracy.

    Restore Britain was registered as a political party in February 2026 and is seeking to establish itself as a challenger to Reform UK on the political right. Although £500,000 is below the largest donations received by Reform, the funding will give Lowe’s party substantially greater resources for campaigning and contesting targeted elections.