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  • NEWS STORY : EU Leaders Use Western Balkans Summit to Push Enlargement Agenda

    NEWS STORY : EU Leaders Use Western Balkans Summit to Push Enlargement Agenda

    STORY

    European leaders have used a summit with Western Balkans countries in Tivat, Montenegro, to underline their support for EU enlargement. European Council President Antonio Costa said the summit had demonstrated renewed momentum, including work on Montenegro’s accession treaty and progress in Albania’s accession process.

    Costa said Montenegro could become the 28th EU member state by 2028, while Albania had moved into the next phase of its accession process. He also said the EU was unlocking the process for opening the first enlargement cluster for Ukraine and Moldova, presenting this as evidence that reforms and engagement with civil society could accelerate accession.

    The summit came amid wider pressure for the EU to make enlargement faster and more credible. EU leaders and western Balkan counterparts discussed gradual integration and closer alignment before full membership, while the accession process remains dependent on reforms, good neighbourly relations and unanimity among existing member states.

  • NEWS STORY : EU Car Industry Presses for Further Delay to Brexit Electric Vehicle Tariffs

    NEWS STORY : EU Car Industry Presses for Further Delay to Brexit Electric Vehicle Tariffs

    STORY

    The European Union and UK car industries are pressing the European Commission for a further delay to electric vehicle tariffs due to take effect under the Brexit trade agreement at the start of 2027. The issue centres on rules of origin, which determine whether vehicles qualify for tariff-free trade between the UK and the EU.

    Under the current timetable, vehicles will need to meet tougher local content thresholds, including requirements on battery packs and battery cells. Industry representatives have warned that European battery supply chains have not developed quickly enough to meet those thresholds, with one estimate suggesting that just under 20% of batteries will be made in the EU by 2027.

    The dispute has direct political and economic importance for both sides of the Channel. The European Commission has said discussions can take place within the framework of ongoing EU-UK negotiations, while car manufacturers argue that tariffs would be self-defeating at a time when Governments are seeking to increase electric vehicle take-up and protect domestic manufacturing.

  • NEWS STORY : EU Calls for Israel and Lebanon to Uphold Ceasefire Agreement

    NEWS STORY : EU Calls for Israel and Lebanon to Uphold Ceasefire Agreement

    STORY

    The European Union has urged Israel and Lebanon to use the latest ceasefire agreement as an opportunity to end the conflict and achieve lasting peace and security. The statement was issued by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on 6 June, following the agreement brokered by the United States.

    The EU said all military action should cease immediately, called for Hezbollah to withdraw from the South Litani Sector and urged Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory. Brussels also said it was ready to support implementation of an agreement between the two countries and repeated its backing for Lebanon’s Government.

    The statement also linked the diplomatic process to the EU’s wider support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, after the Council adopted a €100 million European Peace Facility assistance measure on 4 June. The EU said the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 remained essential and condemned attacks on UNIFIL personnel, including the killing of another peacekeeper on 4 June.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Power of Youth Charter gives young people a voice in government [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Power of Youth Charter gives young people a voice in government [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 June 2026.

    DCMS becomes the first central Government department to sign the Power of Youth Charter.

    • Charter will give young people the opportunity to shape how Government programmes are designed and measured from the start.
    • Charter will commit to young people having opportunities to hold the government to account on its National Youth Strategy  through an Annual Hearing. 

    Youth and Civil Society Minister Stephanie Peacock has signed ‘The Power of Youth Charter’, meaning young people will continue their direct role in shaping 

    the £500 million investment in National Youth Strategy ‘Youth Matters’, from sitting on recruitment panels to influencing how youth programmes are designed and evaluated.

    Developed by the #iWill movement and backed by more than 400 organisations including NHS England and the Premier League, the Power of Youth Charter commits signatories to creating meaningful opportunities for young people to influence decisions and drive positive change in their communities. 

    The commitment is the next step in the government’s engagement of young people in its work following a major consultation with over 14,000 young people for the creation of the National Youth Strategy.

    As part of its commitments, DCMS will:  

    • Provide shadowing opportunities for young people within DCMS policy teams to demystify the civil service and its processes
    • Give young people opportunities to hold the Government to account on the National Youth Strategy: Youth Matters through an Annual Hearing
    • Involve young people in grant-making or recruitment panels that relate to Youth Matters
    • Invite young people to speak at DCMS events so they can share their experiences directly with Ministers, staff and other partners

    Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth Stephanie Peacock said:

    The Power of Youth Charter demonstrates our commitment to making sure the voices of young people are heard at every stage of the decisions that shape their lives. 

    Since we began developing the National Youth Strategy, young people have told us clearly what they need: real opportunities, spaces to connect with each other and trusted adults, and their voices heard in government. 

    We’re taking the steps by investing in grassroots sport, and community spaces but we know they need to have a voice in the room where it happens. This charter gives young people that voice

    The signing takes place on Power of Youth Day, held annually during Volunteers’ Week, which this year is themed Common Ground. Minister Peacock was joined at the signing by #iWill co-chair Molly Taylor alongside representatives from the #iWill movement including Volunteering Matters and UK Youth. The event also brought together #iWill ambassadors from across the country to mark Power of Youth Day. 

    #iWill co-chair, Molly Taylor said: 

    DCMS signing the Power of Youth Charter signals the importance of youth social action in building Common Ground amongst young people across the country. 

    We see this in our work supporting young people to build towns and cities of youth social action, where youth power through volunteering and activism changes communities every day.

    The Power of Youth charter signing builds on the Government’s landmark National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, published in December 2025 the first cross-government youth strategy for England in 15 years. 

    ENDS

    • Power of Youth Day is held annually during Volunteers’ Week (1–7 June).
    • The #iWill movement is a cross-sector movement working to make social action part of life for as many young people as possible.
    • The #IWill Movement is co-ordinated by Volunteering Matters and UK Youth 
    • The National Youth Strategy was published in December 2025 following engagement with more than 14,000 young people.
    • Young Futures Hubs are currently open in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, County Durham, Nottingham, Bristol, Tower Hamlets and Brighton & Hove.
  • Shabana Mahmood – 2026 Statement on the Henry Nowak Case

    Shabana Mahmood – 2026 Statement on the Henry Nowak Case

    The statement made by Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, in the House of Commons on 2 June 2026.

    With permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement about the murder of Henry Nowak.

    Last December, Henry – aged just 18 – was a first-year university student with his life ahead of him. He was kind, hard-working, loved by his family and friends. His murder – at the hands of Vickrum  Digwa – was a horrifying act.

    Digwa murdered Henry and then lied about him, as he lay dying, falsely accusing him of racism. It was an evil act and I know the thoughts of the whole House will now be with Henry’s family and his friends just as mine are.

    What they have been through is heart-breaking and for most of us, unimaginable. I know nothing can take their pain and loss away, but yesterday, we saw some measure of justice. Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment. He will serve a minimum term of 21 years.

    His mother, Kiran Kaur, has been convicted of “assisting an offender”. She is due to be sentenced on 17 July and today, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised further charges against other members of the attackers’ family with further sentencing and possible charges pending. We must be cautious still in what we say about this case so that we do not place any proceedings at risk.

    However,I can and must pay tribute today to the dignified and powerful words of the Nowak family, in the statement they gave after yesterday’s sentencing. They deserve answers. They deserve answers, in particular, about what happened on that awful night and the actions of the police officers who arrived on the scene.

    I expect many in this House and many more across this country have now seen the police officer’s bodycam footage, released last night. It is, without question, a disturbing and tragic thing to see.

    People are rightly asking questions about how the situation was handled and they are shocked, and disquieted, to hear Henry’s words: “I can’t breathe.”

    I know that it is difficult to wait any longer for answers but there is a proper process to assess whether there have been incidents of police misconduct led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct – the IOPC. They will determine what could and should have been done differently. They will determine what action may need to be taken against individual officers.

    The family yesterday called on me and I quote: “To ensure the IOPC has the resources, authority and independence it needs to conduct a full, fearless and transparent investigation.” I can confirm to you today that we will do so. The IOPC will be equipped and encouraged to act, to find the truth and to ensure, if necessary, that there are consequences.

    There have been accusations, I know, of two-tier policing: That one community has been prioritised over another. It will be for the IOPC to determine the facts with regards to this specific case and I cannot and will not comment on them, but let me say this on the question of preferential treatment more widely. The police in this country have a sacred duty: To police without fear or favour.

    Everyone in this country is equal before the law. It is the promise upon which our whole justice system rests and the equality of every citizen is the foundation on which the openness, tolerance and generosity of this country rests.

    Let me also be clear about one other thing – a dangerous undercurrent that I have seen in the reaction to this awful crime. Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable. There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse or attempts to take the law into one’s own hands.

    A police officer, unrelated to this case, has been misidentified online and subjected to death threats. He has been forced to relocate, to protect himself and his family. Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse. We must all, together, condemn it and we must allow the facts to be established through the appropriate investigations and the courts. We must do so calmly and responsibly.

    The Nowak family, and Henry’s memory, deserve answers. They have also called on us all to take action: action to address the daily tragedy of knife crime in this country. This government is committed to halving knife crime in this decade.

    Since the start of this Parliament, we have made progress: knife crime has fallen by 10%, Knife homicides are down 27%, at their lowest level in a decade. Clearly, we must do more, while there are still tragedies like this one. For that reason, we have recently published our Halving Knife Crime Plan. It sets out how we will go further to drive sustained reductions in violence. It brings together action across government and across society to stop people from turning to knife crime and to ensure perpetrators are caught and brought to justice.  

    Amongst a range of measures, this will see: Schools and families supported to address the root causes of knife crime through the establishment of 50 Young Futures Hubs; police using new crime mapping tools to target enforcement more precisely; and making better use of Stop and Search and cruel and exploitative drug gangs stopped from criminally exploiting children, preventing the knife violence driven by the county lines trade.

    In relation to knife controls, there have been calls to limit the right of Sikh’s to carry their ceremonial knife, the kirpan – one of the 5 holy items in their faith. The Offensive Weapons Act of 2019, passed under the previous government, clarified and strengthened existing legal protections in relation to long kirpans. This included extending defences so that kirpans can be lawfully possessed for religious reasons and used in religious and ceremonial contexts.

    Let me be clear: carrying a knife for the purpose of religious observance is one thing. Using it, as so tragically occurred in this case, is quite another: it is a vile act. A crime of the utmost severity and it will be met with the severest punishment.

    Yesterday, the Nowak family ended their statement with a powerful call to us all. I quote: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.” They quoted the words of the prosecuting lawyer and I quote again: “This is not a case about Sikhism. This is not a case about racism. This is a case about murder.”

    I echo those words. We cannot allow this murder to turn communities against one another. We must condemn those who seek personal political profit from tragedy.

    Instead, we must show who we really are in this country. This was a murder: a vile and violent crime. The punishment must be reserved for those who are responsible for the act. We do not believe in collective punishment in this country.

    Instead, we stand together against an act of pure evil. We condemn those who committed this heinous crime, not all those who share their faith or their ethnicity.

    Yesterday, a sentence was handed down in court. I know it will never be enough. The loss felt by Henry Nowak’s family and friends will last forever. A wonderful young man will never enjoy the promise of the life that stretched out before him.

    The evil acts of his murderer and accomplice will never be undone. But we can choose to use this moment to pursue positive change. We are still limited in what we can say: there is a sentence to be handed down and further charges may follow and there is an IOPC investigation ongoing.

    I call on everyone here to be responsible in this moment, to allow justice to run its full course. However, while we must be limited in what we say, we must not be limited in how we act.

    I will end with the words of the Nowak family, once more. Last night, they wrote that “no other family should experience the heartbreak and horror of losing a child to knife crime.”

    Let that be the challenge to us all. Across this House, across government and across society.

    It is the very least we can do to honour the memory of Henry Nowak.

    I commend this statement to the House.

  • NEWS STORY : EU Opens Talks To Extend Roaming Area To Western Balkans

    NEWS STORY : EU Opens Talks To Extend Roaming Area To Western Balkans

    STORY

    The Council has authorised the European Commission to open negotiations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia on extending the EU’s Roam Like at Home scheme to the Western Balkans. The decision would eventually allow travellers to use calls, texts and mobile data without extra roaming charges under the same conditions as at home.

    The current roaming area covers the European Union, the European Economic Area countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well as Moldova and Ukraine. Extending the scheme to the Western Balkans is being presented by the Council as a practical sign of the region’s closer integration with the EU.

    The Commission will now negotiate sectoral agreements with each of the six partners. Before any market opening takes place, each country will need to align with EU roaming rules and be assessed as meeting the necessary conditions, with the agreements tied to existing stabilisation and association arrangements.

  • NEWS STORY : EU Approves New Action Plan Against Drug Trafficking

    NEWS STORY : EU Approves New Action Plan Against Drug Trafficking

    STORY

    The Council of the European Union has approved a framework to implement the EU drugs strategy and endorsed a new EU action plan against drug trafficking. The decision was taken at the Justice and Home Affairs Council and is intended to strengthen the EU response to organised crime, drug use and the wider security risks linked to trafficking.

    The action plan will run from 2026 to 2030 and will focus on practical action by member states, EU agencies and international partners. It includes a stronger follow the money approach, work through the European Ports Alliance and an expanded maritime role through the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre for Narcotics.

    The Council said the measures would also improve cooperation with postal and parcel companies, technology firms, customs authorities, police and judicial bodies. EU leaders are expected to discuss the challenge of drug use and trafficking at the European Council meeting on 18 and 19 June, the first time the issue has been placed before leaders in this way.

  • PRESS RELEASE : End of exploitative zero hours contracts to give people security and predictability at work [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : End of exploitative zero hours contracts to give people security and predictability at work [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 2 June 2026.

    Changes to end one-sided flexibility and uncertainty for workers through ban on exploitative zero hours contracts set out in consultation.

    • Changes will end one-sided flexibility, help people plan their finances and daily lives, or enjoy benefits of a zero hours contract if they wish to keep one.
    • This will help save workers in some of the most deprived areas up to £600 in lost income from the hidden costs of insecure work.
    • Millions of workers who currently face uncertainty over their weekly hours and earnings will benefit from government reforms that will give them certainty and predictability over their income.

    Ministers have today taken the next step to ending exploitative zero hours contracts by launching a consultation to help deliver reforms to benefit more than 18 million people, some of whom currently face uncertainty over their weekly hours and earnings. 

    Nearly six in ten of workers who have variable hours currently receive less than a week’s notice of their shifts, according to the Living Wage Foundation. That means millions of working people struggling to plan their lives and budgets. In the worst cases it means shifts cancelled the night before or even while people are already on their way to work.  

    This will help save workers in some of the most deprived areas up to £600 in lost income from the hidden costs of insecure work. 

    While those who value the flexibility of a zero hours contract will still be able to choose one, exploitative arrangements, where employers take all the flexibility and workers bear all the risk, will be banned.  

    Workers, who qualify, will also be entitled to receive reasonable notice of their shifts and a payment if their shifts are cancelled, moved, or curtailed at short notice. This will stop workers travelling into work for shifts or arranging care for children and relatives, only for a shift to be cancelled at the last minute without pay. 

    This open consultation, which will close at the end of August, will ask employers and workers about a range of potential hours thresholds to help the Government to strike the right balance between protecting workers from insecure work and retaining flexibility for businesses and workers who benefit from it, while building a more resilient economy and guarding against unintended consequences from this major change to the Labour market. 

    Employers who already provide this security and predictability for their workers will benefit from a level playing field. These measures will help drive up standards and eliminate undercutting. 

    Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: 

    It’s not right that people can work regular hours but still have no certainty about their pay from week to week. These vital changes will mean more certainty for millions of people and will save the lowest paid workers hundreds of pounds. 

    Banning exploitative zero hours contracts is totemic because this government believes that people should be treated with dignity and respect at work.  

    We’re consulting because we need to get the detail right to ensure these reforms work in practice and guard against unintended consequences from this major change to the labour market.

    Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden said:  

    Ending uncertainty over hours and pay is one of the best ways we can boost living standards for millions of people and families across the country. 

    These reforms put workers in the driving seat, giving those who want guaranteed hours the certainty they deserve, whilst protecting others who prefer the flexibility a zero hours contract offers.

    Businesses can reduce staff turnover, improve skills, and boost productivity by improving job quality and workforce wellbeing by giving workers more security. This in turn can provide a boost to growth in the economy. 

    The government wants to hear from workers, employers and other organisations to help shape the final detail of these reforms and ensure they work in practice. 

    Niall Mackenzie, Acas Chief Executive, said: 

    These reforms aim to end irresponsible use of zero hours contracts, with guaranteed hours for workers to help give them financial stability and security. Some workers may value the flexibility of a zero hours contract if they are being used fairly and responsibly and this consultation aims to get this balance right. 

    I would encourage employers and workers to respond with evidence on what would work best in practice, alongside any further guidance that would be useful. Acas currently has free advice for employers on how to use zero hours contracts responsibly, which will be updated once these new changes come into effect.” 

    Notes to Editors 

    • The consultation has been published here and will close on 25th August 2026:  Make Work Pay: ending one-sided flexibility – reforms of zero hours and similar contracts – GOV.UK
    • Living Wage Foundation data on variable hours workers receiving less than a week’s notice of shifts: Almost one-third of working adults given less than a week’s notice of working hours
    • Right to guaranteed hours – Employers will be required to offer qualifying workers guaranteed hours reflecting the number of hours they work over reference period, which will be further set out in regulations. The Government is consulting on the length of the initial reference period with a Government preference of 12 weeks.  Qualifying workers will be able to reject an offer of guaranteed hours and remain on a zero hours contract if they wish.
    • Right to reasonable notice of shifts – Employers will be required to provide eligible workers with reasonable notice of shifts. If an employer schedules shifts with unreasonable notice, the worker can bring a tribunal claim. The tribunal will decide whether the worker was given reasonable notice of the shift. The Government will use regulations to state how much notice should be ‘presumed reasonable’. This will be the tribunals’ starting point. The Government will also set out the factors the tribunals should look at when determining whether the notice was reasonable or not as part of this consultation.
    • Right to payment for shifts cancelled, curtailed, or moved at short notice – Employers will be required to make payments to eligible workers if they cancel, move or curtail a shift at short notice.
    • Please find below some scenarios which explain the benefits of the policy and how it could affect the lives of everyday workers. These examples are fictional and purely to assist with understanding the policy:
    • Jordan from Middlesbrough is 24 and works as a warehouse operative on a zero hours contract. Some weeks he gets 35 hours, other weeks he gets none. The new reforms could give Jordan an opportunity to qualify for the right to guaranteed hours – a right intended to improve stability and certainty in working hours.
    • Priya from Leicester is 38 and works in a hotel as a housekeeper. She relies on her zero hours contract as her main source of income, but her employer regularly cancels her shifts with less than 24 hours’ notice — sometimes after she’s already arranged childcare for her two children. When that happens, she doesn’t get paid, but she still has to cover the childcare cost. Under the new reforms, Priya could be entitled to a payment when shifts are cancelled at short notice, meaning she’s not bearing the full cost of the flexibilities her employer wants or needs.
    • Amara from Wolverhampton is 32 and works through an agency for a care home while studying part-time for a nursing qualification. She is given very little notice of her shifts, which makes it almost impossible to plan her classes or coursework around her work schedule. She’s had to turn down shifts she could have worked — and miss lectures she wanted to attend — because of last-minute changes. The new reforms could give Amara reasonable notice of her shifts, helping her manage both her career and her studies without having to choose between them.
    • Marcus from Bristol is 58 and works in a local shop on a zero hours contract, which suits him perfectly. Having taken early retirement from a full-time teaching role, he enjoys being able to pick up work when it suits him and turn it down when he wants time to travel or spend with his grandchildren. He’s now worried that reforms might force him onto a contract with set hours that would take away the flexibility he’s built his lifestyle around. In reality, Marcus will be able to stay on a zero hours contract if he chooses.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Major expansion of research and treatment for prostate cancer [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Major expansion of research and treatment for prostate cancer [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 2 June 2026.

    Government announces over £20 million to improve prostate cancer research and treatment, including improving access to a major trial for Black men.

    • More Black men to be invited to join major prostate trial to help find best screening strategy for cancer and tackle inequalities
    • Over £20 million to improve prostate cancer research and treatment, including improving access to TRANSFORM trial for Black men
    • Broadening access to less invasive treatments for prostate cancer, to support expansion of the TRANSFORM trial

    Men at highest risk of prostate cancer will benefit from research to find the best screening strategy and more treatment choices under a major new £20 million package announced today (2 June 2026).

    A landmark prostate cancer screening trial will be expanded so that for the first time, all eligible Black men will be invited to take part. The TRANSFORM study – jointly funded by Prostate Cancer UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) – is testing the best ways to detect prostate cancer earlier and save more lives, while avoiding unnecessary treatment and the associated harms.

    The move recognises that Black men face a higher risk of prostate cancer and aims to build the evidence needed to find the best screening strategy and tackle long-standing inequalities.

    To ensure the expansion reaches Black men from all communities, supported by the funding from NIHR, the TRANSFORM investigators are working with Prostate Cancer UK to boost community engagement around the country and encourage Black men to take part in the trial.

    The Secretary of State will also host a roundtable alongside the Deputy Prime Minister with representatives of local community organisations – supported by Prostate Cancer UK and NIHR – this week to hear directly from community organisations about their work supporting Black men to be part of this research.

    The government is also broadening access to focal therapies. These are less invasive treatments that target prostate cancer, giving men greater choice about their options when they receive a new diagnosis.

    Alongside this, the government has accepted a recommendation from the independent UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) to introduce England’s first targeted prostate cancer screening programme.

    Men who carry the BRCA2 gene variant and have a family history of prostate, breast, pancreatic or ovarian cancer will be offered a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test every 2 years between the ages of 45 and 61. The final recommendation follows a public consultation that received nearly 1,000 responses, with the programme expected to be rolling out in 2027.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, James Murray, said:

    This is a major step forward in how we tackle prostate cancer – focusing on those most at risk, improving the treatments available, and backing the research we need to close the evidence gaps and save lives.

    We’re following the science to make sure men get earlier answers and better care, and to avoid doing unnecessary harm.

    By investing in research through trials such as TRANSFORM, we’re building a fairer, more effective prostate cancer screening system for the future.

    Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, said:

    Tackling prostate cancer is personal for me. I’ve got 2 brothers living with the disease, and I’ve seen first-hand the toll it takes on individuals and their loved ones.

    Helping more Black men take part in this research is about saving lives, closing deadly inequalities and making sure we understand what works best for those most at risk.

    Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive Officer of NIHR, said:

    Expansion of the TRANSFORM trial to all eligible Black men is a massive step forward in strengthening the evidence to find the best, most effective and safest ways to screen those at highest risk of prostate cancer.

    The investigator team will continue to work closely with Black community leaders and organisations to support meaningful participation in research across all parts of our society.

    Building a screening programme on the strongest possible evidence depends on people from all backgrounds taking part. We encourage anyone invited to take part to take up this opportunity.

    Laura Kerby, Chief Executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said:

    After so much disappointment, this announcement is a truly historic moment. Black men are twice as likely to get the disease and twice as likely to die from it.

    That’s why we’re delighted that the government has more than doubled its support for TRANSFORM and is backing our Black Health Equity Strategy, allowing us to generate the vital evidence needed to ensure those at highest risk are diagnosed earlier, when treatment is most effective.

    This is only possible because of the commitment and leadership of Black communities across the country, bringing us a step closer to a world where no man dies from prostate cancer.

    Director of Policy at Cancer Research UK, Dr Ian Walker, said:

    The government’s decision to accept UK NSC’s recommendation for a targeted prostate cancer screening programme is in line with the currently available evidence. We appreciate this will be disappointing for some, but screening must be evidence-led and we welcome the committee’s assurance to assess any new evidence quickly. Cancer Research UK funded treatments like abiraterone have made a huge difference for men with prostate cancer, and we continue to invest in research for new tests and treatments.

    Meanwhile, we will be working with the government and wider cancer community to improve guidance for GPs to enable them to support men worried about their risk of prostate cancer.

    Actor Colin McFarlane said:

    History has been made with this decision. Black men have been left to fend for themselves against prostate cancer for far too long – in fact, my own diagnosis only came after a chance conversation with another actor who told me I was at risk of getting it.

    Now Black men have been given a lifeline, a solid shot at getting an early diagnosis like I luckily had. I’m proud to have campaigned with Prostate Cancer UK for a number of years to push for change and to raise vital funds for their research like this incredible TRANSFORM trial. We’re now a huge step closer to young men like my son one day getting a lifesaving routine screening programme.

    Matt Green (also known as the Rapping Science Teacher) said:

    Our family has been hit by the fear and heartbreak of prostate cancer. My dad got diagnosed with the disease when it had already spread, and we were devastated to lose him.

    This extra funding is incredible news that really changes the game for Black men everywhere. I’m proud to support Prostate Cancer UK, especially as they lead the groundbreaking TRANSFORM trial. This research represents our biggest opportunity in decades to find the definitive evidence needed to build a much-needed national screening programme and help to save thousands of lives.

    My 2 boys – and all of us – deserve a future where they can be confident that, if there is a problem, they will get an early prostate cancer diagnosis.

    Charles Kwaku-Odoi DL, Chief Executive, Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN), said:

    We welcome the renewed commitment to ensure that the TRANSFORM trial has a clear target for Black men: one in 10 invitees at stage 1 and all eligible Black men at stage 2. CAHN will work with government and Prostate Cancer UK to ensure this ambition translates to equitable participation and positive experiences, where feedback is valued.

    The TRANSFORM trial could be critical in directly tackling the disproportionality of prostate cancer in Black men if trust is built at different levels of its governance. Through the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Black Health and partners, we would develop a dedicated independent Black community stakeholder group to ensure accountability and scrutiny over the course of the trial.

    Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said:

    GPs are committed to improving the early detection of prostate cancer and reducing the number of lives lost to the disease.

    Screening programmes should be introduced where there is clear evidence that the benefits outweigh the potential harms. UK NSC’s recommendation reflects the current evidence on PSA-based population screening, including concerns about overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment, and we note the government’s decision to accept this.

    At the same time, we recognise the need for continued progress. We welcome ongoing research, including the expansion of the TRANSFORM trial, to develop more accurate approaches to identifying clinically significant prostate cancer. We hope advances in testing and risk assessment will inform future screening policy and improve outcomes for patients.

    The independent UK NSC recommendation recognises that a national screening programme for all men could lead to large numbers being diagnosed and treated for cancers that would never have caused harm. This targeted approach focuses testing where the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.

    The government is also working with the UK Cancer Genetics Group (UKCGG) and Cancer Research UK to develop guidance for GPs. This will help them support men who have a suspected family history of prostate cancer but are not eligible for screening and who ask about having a PSA test.

    Guidance for GPs and the public will be updated in line with the new recommendation to make advice clearer and easier to follow, including ensuring that those men who are already offered annual tests under existing clinical guidance will continue to receive them.

    From 2027 men diagnosed with prostate cancer that is being actively monitored or treated will be able to order a PSA test at home or book an in-person blood test locally through the NHS App.

    More widely, the government is making strong progress on cancer, with around 95,000 more patients receiving a diagnosis or the all-clear for suspected cancer on time as compared to last year. The recently published National Cancer Plan for England will ensure patients get a faster diagnosis, quicker treatment and the support to live well.

    As results come in from trials like TRANSFORM and the evidence base develops, UK NSC will keep recommendations under review to ensure screening policy continues to reflect the best available science.

    Karen Robb, Director of Programme Implementation for Cancer at Movember, said:

    Movember are delighted to see the government inject significant funds to ensure the landmark TRANSFORM trial includes all eligible Black men, giving those most at risk of prostate cancer a seat at the table. We’ve proudly contributed funding to the TRANSFORM study from its inception, alongside Prostate Cancer UK, NIHR and the NHS.

    Knowing that funds raised by the grassroots Movember community are now backed by another major government investment is hugely significant.

    Vishwanath Hanchanale, Chair of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Section of Oncology, said:

    We recognise today’s announcement as a positive and important development, and acknowledge DHSC’s further commitment to invest over £20 million towards the expansion of stage 2 of the prostate cancer screening (TRANSFORM) trial.

    We appreciate the government’s commitment to work with UKCGG and Cancer Research UK to better support GPs and strengthen public guidance, while ensuring that secondary care is appropriately recognised and embedded within this approach.

    Today’s commitments represent meaningful progress, and we strongly believe that to realise the full benefits of earlier detection and advances in treatment there must be sustained investment across the diagnostic pathway, including workforce, capacity, infrastructure and robust genetic testing, alongside equitable access to evidence-based treatments across the UK and action to reduce unwarranted variation in care.

    Commitments announced today

    The over £20 million package announced today comprises the following commitments:

    • NIHR is providing up to £18 million in new funding to expand the TRANSFORM trial, enabling all eligible Black men to be invited to stage 2 of the trial, subject to successful stage 1 outcomes
    • the government is investing up to £2.8 million in capital funding to strengthen and expand provision of focal therapy – a minimally invasive prostate cancer treatment – in line with the expansion of the TRANSFORM trial
    • NIHR and Prostate Cancer UK, as co-funders of the TRANSFORM trial, are also asking the TRANSFORM investigators to accelerate and increase community engagement – particularly with Black men – using existing trial funding already committed by both organisations
    • the government will be working with Prostate Cancer UK, as they establish a national network as part of their Black Health Equity Strategy, to increase and accelerate engagement of Black men into the TRANSFORM trial. Over the next few years, Prostate Cancer UK will invest £150,000 a year, as well as funds from the trial, to build and utilise this network
    • the government will increase its commitment to the TRANSFORM trial so that invitations to stage 2 can be extended to all eligible Black men, subject to successful stage 1 outcomes

    In stage 1, one in 10 invitees are Black men. In stage 2 all eligible Black men will be invited, including Black men who:

    • are aged 45 to 74
    • are residents in the UK
    • have not had a PSA test or prostate MRI scan in the last 5 years
  • NEWS STORY : UK Says Russia Lacks Credibility Over Civilian Harm Claims

    NEWS STORY : UK Says Russia Lacks Credibility Over Civilian Harm Claims

    STORY

    The UK has used an OSCE statement to reject Russian claims about civilian casualties caused by Ukraine. Deputy Ambassador James Ford said Russia lacked credibility given its continuing aggression and the civilian harm caused by its own actions.

    The statement said Russia had criticised other states for not responding to its accusations, but argued that Moscow’s invasion remained the cause of the conflict and the associated civilian suffering. The UK also pointed to wider support for Ukraine and accountability for abuses.

    The intervention forms part of the Government’s continuing diplomatic response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It comes as foreign policy, defence spending and the credibility of international institutions remain central to Westminster’s security debate.