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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.

STORY

The Security Industry Authority has set out the next phase of work to prepare for Martyn’s Law. Laura Gibb, the SIA’s executive director for Martyn’s Law, said the regulator was working at pace ahead of the new regime coming into force.

The update said recruitment was progressing for new inspectors and assessors, with regional inspection teams being built across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The SIA said those roles would help premises and events understand guidance and proportionate, risk-based decisions.

Martyn’s Law is intended to strengthen security at publicly accessible premises and events in response to the Manchester Arena attack. The SIA said it wanted organisations to engage with the process and prepare for their responsibilities under the new law.

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The Avian Influenza Prevention Zones in place across Great Britain have been lifted from noon on 4 June. The Chief Veterinary Officer announced the change after the risk level reduced.

The zones had imposed additional biosecurity requirements to limit the spread of bird flu. DEFRA said the lifting of the measures reflected the latest assessment of risk, although poultry keepers and bird owners are still expected to maintain good standards of biosecurity.

The decision will be watched closely by rural communities and the poultry sector after repeated outbreaks placed

pressure on farmers, regulators and animal health services. The Government said vigilance remained important despite the easing of restrictions.

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The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has warned that Palantir’s growing role in the UK public sector represents an “unacceptable point of weakness”. The committee said the company was the most concerning example of dependence on a small number of major technology providers.

MPs urged the Government to exercise the 2027 break clause in the NHS Federated Data Platform contract with Palantir and either develop an in-house replacement or seek an alternative UK provider. The report also raised concerns about wider reliance on Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.

The committee called for a clearer definition of technological sovereignty, a strategy to reduce supplier lock-in and stronger leadership for digital transformation across Government. It also warned that proceeding with digital ID would be irresponsible unless data hygiene and public trust were improved.

STORY

International Development Committee chair Sarah Champion has criticised the Government for failing to give a firm commitment on aid spending. She had sought reassurance that official development assistance would remain at 0.3% of gross national income for the duration of the spending review period.

Development Minister Baroness Chapman said the Government’s commitment to international development remained important and that FCDO allocations had been set out for three years. However, she also said future plans remained subject to revision because of changing global needs and other allocation decisions.

Champion said the response did not fill her or the committee with confidence. She argued that if the UK wanted to deliver its new approach to global partnerships, it needed to ensure aid spending did not fall below 0.3% of GNI.

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Members of the House of Lords have debated the Sporting Events Bill at second reading. The legislation is intended to give the UK Government and devolved administrations a legal framework to fund and deliver major sporting events.

The Bill is linked to future events including Euro 2028 and support for the bid to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup. Peers used the debate to raise concerns and discuss areas where amendments may be needed.

Baroness Twycross opened the debate for the Government and responded to contributions from members including Lord Addington, Baroness Davies of Devonport and Baroness Grey-Thompson. Committee stage has been scheduled for 22 June.

STORY

The Cabinet Office has accepted a recommendation from the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee to amend the Ministerial Code. MPs had examined whether major Government announcements were being made to Parliament first, as required by convention.

The committee said the existing code did not adequately capture the relationship between ministers and Parliament. In its response, the Government accepted that the general principle should be rewritten to remove ambiguity over ministerial responsibilities during major announcements.

PACAC chair Simon Hoare said the current situation had been untenable and welcomed the Government’s willingness to adapt the code. The committee said it would monitor the changes to ensure Parliament continued to play a central role in the process.

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The Regulator of Social Housing has announced that Pivotal Housing Association is to be removed from the register of social housing providers. The regulator said the decision followed persistent and long-standing failures against governance and financial viability requirements.

RSH said Pivotal had failed to show effective governance and had not demonstrated that it was managing its affairs properly in the interests of tenants. The regulator also said Pivotal had failed to meet the Rent Standard and had incorrectly reported some homes as social housing.

Pivotal, a small supported accommodation provider operating mainly through leases in the West Country, may continue as a private landlord. RSH said de-registration was not a step taken lightly but that the landlord had failed to resolve serious weaknesses despite enforcement action.

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The Government has agreed to seek the creation of a new House of Commons committee to scrutinise Defence Nuclear Enterprise spending and programmes. The committee would examine expenditure relating to the UK’s nuclear deterrent and associated programmes.

The move follows a recommendation from the Public Accounts Committee and was also linked by the Government to the recent Strategic Defence Review. Ministers said the committee would provide a formal parliamentary route for considering National Audit Office reports on the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

The proposed committee would be appointed by the Prime Minister and established under House of Commons Standing Orders, subject to approval by the House. The Government said the arrangement would need appropriate controls because of the sensitivity of the material involved.

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Business Secretary Peter Kyle has criticised what he described as a sense of entitlement among potential Labour leadership challengers. His comments came as speculation continues over Keir Starmer’s future and possible bids from senior Labour figures.

Kyle argued that British politics too often rewards the wrong behaviours and said leadership should be based on substance rather than assumption. He pointed to Government work on trade, industrial support and business policy as examples of serious delivery that risk being overlooked.

The remarks were a clear intervention in Labour’s internal debate as the party faces poor polling, leadership speculation and the political impact of Reform UK’s rise. Kyle said leadership was a collective responsibility and rejected the idea that changing the person at the top would solve the party’s problems on its own.