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PRESS RELEASE : Government convenes expert group to secure future of water industry workforce [November 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 November 2025.

Water skills group, co-chaired with Energy & Utility Skills, holds inaugural meeting today.

The water industry is set to benefit from a new group created by government to ensure it has the skilled workforce it needs to deliver record levels of investment and reform.

The Water Skills Strategic Group held its first meeting today, 13th November 2025, bringing together senior leaders in government from and across the water sector and its supply chain.

The group’s focus will be the delivery of the £104 billion investment – the largest since privatisation – which will create more than 30,000 new jobs, support the building of 1.5 million new homes, and help restore the nation’s rivers, lakes and seas.

Convened by Defra and co-chaired with sector skills body Energy & Utility Skills, the group will drive coordinated action to grow a future-ready, highly skilled workforce across England and Wales, which will form the future of the water sector.

The Group will ensure the water sector has the skills needed to deliver huge infrastructure projects including nine new reservoirs, nine large-scale water transfer schemes and reducing leaks from water pipes. This will include roles such as bioresources technicians, hydraulics specialists, engineers, construction workers, and surveyors.

Meeting quarterly, the group will focus on identifying where skills are needed most across the sector, exploring how to improve its attractiveness to new, diverse talent and ensuring the right training and qualifications are in place. A framework for measuring progress will ensure the group is achieving its objectives, creating impact and robustly planning to support the implementation of the government’s water reform.

Water Minister Emma Hardy said:

We’re driving the biggest overhaul of the water sector since privatisation – making sure record investment goes where it’s needed most to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.

That means opening up jobs and opportunities across England and Wales so we have skilled people on the ground, in every community, delivering the change we all want to see.

This partnership between government, industry and training bodies will help build the workforce we need for the future of our water sector.

Paul Cox, Group Chief Executive, Energy & Utility Skills, said:

The water sector stands at a pivotal moment with a shared responsibility to deliver for customers and the environment. Skills are central to that ambition. The scale of AMP8 investment will bring lasting benefits for communities, families and individuals across the United Kingdom.

By grounding decisions in evidence, attracting new talent, developing expertise and retaining experience, the sector can build a skilled and resilient workforce ready to meet future challenges. Through collaboration and pace, the sector can turn ambition into delivery and secure clean, reliable and sustainable water for generations to come.

This builds on commitments made at the Water UK Skills Summit earlier this year where government and industry leaders signed the Water Skills Pledge, affirming the government’s commitment to ensuring the water sector has the skills and workforce it needs to succeed.

Defra also established the Water Delivery Taskforce, which brings together Government, regulators, and water industry representatives, to ensure water companies complete their planned investments on time and on budget – providing value for money for customers.

The government will fast-track key recommendations from the Independent Water Commission and outline further actions in a White Paper later this year, paving the way for new legislation to attract investment, speed up infrastructure delivery, and restore public confidence in the sector.

Notes to editors:
- The Water Skills Strategic Group is jointly chaired by Defra and Energy & Utility Skills.
- Membership includes senior representatives from Defra, Energy & Utility Skills, Water UK, British Water, the Institute of Water, CIWEM, the Future Water Association, major water companies across England and Wales, supply chain contractors and key government departments.
- The group will run until March 2030, aligning with Asset Management Period 8.
November 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Armed forces set to benefit from £50 million novel blood products research [November 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 November 2025.

A £50 million funding opportunity is available for the development of a novel blood products research centre, set to benefit armed forces on the frontline over the next 14 years.

Novel blood products research aims to improve treatment in emergency and trauma care and address current critical blood product challenges nationally.

The funding opportunity is being delivered by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in partnership with MOD’s Defence Medical Services and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).

Research applications are invited to advance the development of novel blood products which include a focus on current and future challenges such as:
- Improving traditional blood products, by reducing the requirement for cold storage and developing products that can be administered universally rather than to a specific blood group.
- Accelerating the development of laboratory-derived blood, whether synthetic or from cell-lines, which will reduce the reliance on donors.
- Develop novel products with characteristics that natural blood cannot achieve.
Blood transfusions are critically important, including in emergency situations such as trauma-related haemorrhage, blood disorders such as anaemia, and treatment-related complications including cancer.

The existing supply chain is fragile due to a shortage of blood donors. Each of the UK’s four nations relies on a single provider to meet demand, while successful transfusions require blood from compatible, cross-matched donors to avoid reactions.

Global challenges including blood products that have specific requirements for storage, handling and shelf-life are exacerbated in a warfighting at scale scenario, where access to specialist biomedical support, state-of-the-art facilities and cold-chain storage may be limited, and geography may prevent blood provision close to the point of need.

Dr Paul Hollinshead, Dstl Chief Executive, said:

Protecting the lives of our armed forces is our highest priority.

Battlefield injuries involving severe trauma and blood loss often occur in austere conditions, many miles from hospitals.

Our scientists have worked seamlessly with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive strategy for research in novel blood technology. This MRC CoRE funding opportunity offers applicants the ability to work closely with industrial partners and other initiatives to ensure provision of blood when and where it is needed.

Director General of the Defence Medical Services, Air Marshal Clare Walton, said:

Ensuring adequate blood supply on operations is critical part of the work of the Defence Medical Services, and it is crucial that we continue to invest in this area.

This collaborative effort between different parts of Defence, UK Research and Innovation, and civilian academia is a prime example of the whole-of-society approach required to meet national challenges emphasised within the Government’s recent Strategic Defence Review.

Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair of MRC, said:

MRC Centres of Research Excellence bring together ambitious, multidisciplinary teams to tackle complex health challenges with the potential for transformative impact.

This targeted funding opportunity, delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, invites applications to develop clinically effective, scalable blood products for use in emergency and trauma medicine, including in military and low-resource settings.

Our aim is to accelerate progress from mechanistic understanding to clinical testing, overcoming key barriers to translation and adoption, and delivering solutions that can be applied across diverse healthcare environments.

How to apply

Outline proposals must be submitted by 4 February 2026. Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal in autumn 2026, with the outcome of the funding opportunity expected in spring 2027.

Interested parties are invited to attend a webinar on 25 November. Further information and details on how to apply are available at: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mrc-centre-of-research-excellence-round-four-outline-application/
November 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Rugby League legends tackle male loneliness with Government-backed programme [November 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 November 2025.

Boys and young men in Wigan and Wakefield to receive support to tackle loneliness and isolation through new Government and Rugby League Cares initiative.
- Rugby League greats including Keith Senior and Adrian Morley will lead sessions challenging harmful masculinity narratives and promoting mental health
- Sessions to teach life skills and emphasise that toxic online cultures are no match for positive, in-person experiences
Boys and young men in Wakefield and Wigan will benefit from a new sense of community, purpose and wellbeing as the Government teams up with independent charity Rugby League Cares to tackle male loneliness. This is part of the Government’s plans to break down barriers to opportunity as part of our Plan for Change.

Rugby League legends Keith Senior and Adrian Morley are among a group of former players leading pilot programmes across the two regions. They will kickstart honest conversations about male mental health and help young men build confidence and resilience, so they are better equipped to cope when life gets tough.

Young men are more than twice as likely to take their own lives as young women, according to the Office for National Statistics. Since the pandemic, there has been a sharp rise in the number of young men not in employment, education or training, leaving many without regular opportunities to forge friendships and meaningful connections.

Now, the Government is harnessing sport’s unique power to give people the feeling of belonging and ensure fewer boys and young men are left vulnerable to isolation.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

Too many young men today are struggling with loneliness and isolation. We know the devastating consequences this can have, both for their mental health and for our communities. When young people can’t find a sense of belonging where they live, they are vulnerable to finding it in the wrong places.

Rugby League has always been more than just a sport in towns like Wigan and Wakefield. It is the heartbeat of these communities. By bringing together the legends of the game with the next generation, we are creating spaces where young men can open up, build genuine connections and develop the resilience they need.

Everyone deserves to feel they’re part of something bigger than themselves. Through this work with Rugby League Cares, we are making sure more young men get that chance and can reach their full potential.

The Culture Secretary will make the announcement on Thursday during a visit to a Rugby League Cares programme in Wigan. The Government investment of more than £330,000 will fund two Rugby League Cares pilot programmes, reaching 1,300 boys and young men by March 2026.

The first programme, Offload, is designed to give men aged 16 to 24 who are at risk of isolation a safe environment to open up without pressure or judgement, while developing the tools they need to look after themselves and contribute positively to their communities.

The second, the Movember Ahead of the Game programme, will use rugby to deliver sport-focused mental health training to younger boys aged 11-18, as well as parents, carers and youth workers, engaging those at risk early through the game they love and the heroes they admire.

RLC Head of Wellbeing Programmes, former England and GB international Keith Senior said:

The difference these programmes make is incredible. They’re delivered by people who are embedded within the villages, towns and cities where the sport is played and who know all about the challenges boys and young men face growing up in these communities.

Being able to call on our own experiences of tackling issues like loneliness, social isolation and having little sense of belonging as we grew up is invaluable in helping us to relate to, and engage with the people we are reaching out to.

The values I learned as a professional athlete equipped me with many of the same coping mechanisms and strategies that we all need to thrive and lead fulfilling lives, and I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with boys and young men in Wakefield and Wigan.

Notes to editors

Programme details
- Both programmes aim to increase awareness of loneliness, isolation and mental health impact, as well as improving wellbeing, confidence and aspirations of participants.
- Each will be led by former professional players who are trained in mental health support, including Bob Beswick, Paul Broadbent, Teddy Chapelhow, James Chapelhow, Ian Hardman, Robbie Hunter-Paul, Dan Keane, Kevin Larroyer, Craig Lingard, Johnny Lawless, Shaun Lunt, Adrian Morley, Keith Senior, Jordan Turner and Adam Walne. *Programmes will run across four sites in the Wigan and Wakefield local authority areas, each linked to a Rugby League club: Castleford, Featherstone, Wakefield and Wigan.
Offload:
- For boys and young men aged 16-24 who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) and at higher risk of isolation and loneliness.
- The programme consists of six two-hour sessions.
- Sessions will include team-building challenges, physical activity and teach mental fitness skills, while providing a supportive, no-pressure space to talk.
Ahead of the Game:
- Consists of four workshops: two for boys and young men aged 11-18, one for parents and carers, and one for youth workers.
- The workshops for 11-18-year-old’s will teach participants how to start conversations about mental health, how to support themselves and friends, and where to seek help when needed.
- The workshops for adults will help participants develop the skills and knowledge they need to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people, as well as recognise warning signs around loneliness and isolation.
November 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : North Wales to pioneer UK’s first small modular reactors [November 2025]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 November 2025.

Anglesey set for thousands of new jobs as Prime Minister confirms Wylfa will host UK’s first small modular nuclear reactors.
- Wylfa on Anglesey in North Wales selected as site to deliver the UK’s first small modular reactor nuclear power station
- Most significant industrial investment in North Wales for a generation, supporting 3,000 new good jobs in local economy
- Government continues to deliver ‘golden age’ of nuclear, after years of dither and delay, as part of clean energy superpower mission, and will also identify new sites for potential future large nuclear
A generation of young people on Anglesey / Ynys Môn and across North Wales are set to benefit from thousands of new jobs and billions of pounds in investment over the next decade, as the Prime Minister today confirms that Wylfa has been selected to host the UK’s first small modular reactor nuclear power plant.

North Wales will become a beacon in the “golden age” of nuclear, delivering the UK’s first ever small modular nuclear reactors built by publicly-owned Great British Energy-Nuclear and, subject to final contract, designed by Britain’s Rolls-Royce SMR – proving that the UK can still build big projects that stand the test of time.

The confirmation of Wylfa as the host site rights the wrongs of previous failure to bring new nuclear power to North Wales. Sitting on the North Wales coast, Wylfa has a strong nuclear heritage dating back to the 1960s. The first-of-its-kind project is expected to support up to 3,000 good jobs in the local community at peak construction, underpinned by billions of pounds of infrastructure investment out to the mid-2030s.

This investment of over £2.5 billion builds on the government’s record of investment into the North Wales economy, including an Investment Zone to boost advanced manufacturing, the Anglesey Freeport and critical rail upgrades to the North Wales mainline.

The UK’s first small modular reactors – mini nuclear reactors which are smaller and quicker to build than some traditional nuclear power stations – are expected to deliver power for the equivalent of around 3 million homes as part of the government’s clean energy superpower mission, giving the UK energy independence that will power the NHS, national security and British innovation.

The SMRs will be backed by the British people through Great British Energy-Nuclear, giving the British people a stake in a leading-edge technology that has global export opportunities and builds a vital sovereign capability for the country.

This is part of our modern industrial strategy, directing every lever of the state to win in technologies like SMRs. In the Spending Review, the government confirmed major investment in Sizewell C, which will provide power for the equivalent of 6 million homes and 10,000 jobs, as well as over £2.5 billion funding for the country’s first SMR programme.

The government is working closely with the US on nuclear and recently agreed a major agreement between regulators to make it quicker for companies to build new nuclear power stations in both countries, alongside major commercial deals such as X-Energy and Centrica’s plans to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool.

The Prime Minister said:

Britain was once a world-leader in nuclear power, but years of neglect and inertia has meant places like Anglesey have been let down and left behind.

Today, that changes. We’re using all the tools in our armoury – cutting red tape, changing planning laws, and backing growth – to deliver the country’s first SMR in North Wales.

This government isn’t just reversing decline, it’s delivering thousands of future-proofed jobs, driving billions in investment, and providing cheaper energy bills in the long term.

That’s national renewal in action: powered by British talent, powered by nuclear, and powered by a government that’s delivering for working people.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

This nuclear revival in Anglesey will fire up the Welsh economy, marking the start of a new era in British innovation and energy security.

Wylfa will revitalise local communities, attract major investment and open up exciting opportunities for young people – creating world-class training and apprenticeships in North Wales for the next generation of engineers, technicians and innovators.

Alongside the siting announcement, to pursue the option of a further large-scale reactor project beyond the current deployments at Hinkley Point C and the recently confirmed Sizewell C, the government is announcing that Great British Energy-Nuclear has been tasked with identifying suitable sites that could potentially host such a project. GBE-N will report back by Autumn 2026 on potential sites to inform future decisions in the next Spending Review and beyond. The Energy Secretary has requested this includes sites across the United Kingdom including Scotland.

Any further large-scale project, subject to future policy decisions, would be similar in scale to the Hinkley Point C or Sizewell C projects, with the potential to power the equivalent of 6 million homes. Alongside SMRs and other advanced nuclear projects, this could further deliver the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower, boosting the country’s energy security, securing the next generation of good, skilled jobs and protecting billpayers.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

This landmark investment proves Britain can still build big projects that stand the test of time.

A generation of young people across North Wales will benefit from the good jobs, homes across Britain will get clean power and we will take a big step forward in meeting our ambition to create a network of small modular reactors across the UK.

This is the government’s clean energy mission in action – driving for energy sovereignty and abundance to take back control of our energy.

First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan said:

This is the moment Ynys Môn and the whole of Wales has been waiting for. New nuclear is a step into the future with secure jobs and secure energy guaranteed for the next generation.

We have been pressing the case at every opportunity for Wylfa’s incredible benefits as a site and I warmly welcome this major decision to invest in north West Wales. Wales is once again leading the way.

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

This is huge news – one of the largest public investments in Welsh history that will bring thousands of high-quality jobs to the local economy.

We said we would deliver new nuclear where other governments dithered and delayed and we said we would deliver growth and prosperity across Wales. Today we are doing just that.

It comes after the government announced there will be 400,000 extra jobs in clean energy by 2030, including 15,000 extra jobs in Wales, with 31 priority occupations such as plumbers, electricians and welders particularly in demand. GBE-N will start activity on the site in 2026. The initial project will be for 3 SMR units, but Great British Energy-Nuclear assesses the site could potentially host up to 8 mini reactors. The ambition is for Wylfa’s small modular reactors to be supplying power to the grid from the mid-2030s.

There is also strong export potential for small modular reactors, after the UK and Czechia signed a deal to cooperate on civil nuclear. It comes after Rolls-Royce SMR and Czechia’s largest public company, ČEZ, agreed last year to partner on SMRs, with ČEZ acquiring a 20% stake.

Great British Energy-Nuclear also owns the Oldbury nuclear site in Gloucestershire. As a site which has previously hosted a nuclear power station, it also has great potential for new nuclear, including the potential to support the privately-led projects being developed by the nuclear industry.

Simon Bowen, Chair of Great British Energy-Nuclear, added:

This is a historic moment for the UK, and is another momentous step in realising Britain’s potential in leading the way on nuclear energy.

These first SMRs at Wylfa will lay the groundwork for a fleet-based approach to nuclear development, strengthening the UK’s energy independence and bringing long-term investment to the local economy.

Wylfa has a proud history of nuclear excellence, and we’re excited to build on that foundation to deliver jobs, training, and low-carbon energy for generations to come.

Chris Cholerton, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce SMR, said:

We are honoured to have the opportunity to establish our UK fleet programme with an initial three units at the Wylfa site. Today’s announcement marks the first step in what will be a 100-year commitment to clean energy, innovation, and community partnership at Wylfa.

This is a tremendous opportunity not just for North Wales but for the whole country, as we establish an enduring supply chain that will enable our fleet deployment in the UK and a large export programme, starting in Czechia.

We will deliver nuclear power very differently by utilising modularisation and a high level of factory build, therefore minimising the impact on local people from infrastructure delivery. We are excited to be working with the local community to create jobs and growth.

Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, said:

The nuclear renaissance can bring clean, reliable energy and good, secure jobs to all corners of the UK and it is welcome that government is pressing ahead with the SMR programme that will play a crucial role in the future of our energy mix.

Wylfa has a proud nuclear past and a bright nuclear and is uniquely placed to play a key strategic role in the mission to become a clean energy superpower.

Nuclear can support thousands of well-paid jobs and sustain local economies, and this announcement is the first page of the next chapter for Wales’ Energy Island.

Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said:

Bringing nuclear back to Wylfa is a historic moment for Wales and for the UK’s clean energy future. Wylfa’s revival offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver clean, reliable power for decades to come, create thousands of skilled jobs, attract major investment, and revitalise North Wales’s proud industrial heritage.

With Great British Energy-Nuclear and Rolls-Royce SMR leading the way, the project will bring lasting economic and social benefits to the communities that have long been at the heart of our energy story. We look forward to working with government, local partners and industry to make Wylfa’s return a lasting success.

Ben Martin, Policy Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said:

Nuclear power is critical to supporting the UK’s energy supply, powering homes and businesses, strengthening energy security and providing essential back up to renewables. Expansion of the nuclear sector also offers significant opportunities to support skills development and SMEs across its supply chain.

News that Wylfa has been selected to host the UK’s first small modular reactor plant will bring investment and thousands of jobs to North Wales and beyond, supporting wider economic growth.

Sarah Bailey, Chief Executive Officer at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce, said:

The announcement that Wylfa on Anglesey will host the UK’s first small modular reactor marks a transformative moment for North Wales.

This project represents not just a huge investment in clean, secure energy but also in the long-term prosperity of our region.

Thousands of skilled jobs, billions in infrastructure investment, and the opportunity to further establish North Wales as a hub for low-carbon innovation will create ripple effects across our business community for decades to come.

Notes to editors

Great British Energy-Nuclear is the UK government’s nuclear delivery body.

Rolls-Royce SMR was announced in June as Great British Energy-Nuclear’s preferred bidder to partner with to build the UK’s first small modular reactors, subject to final government approvals and contract signature, expected later this year.

Earlier this year the government announced a shake-up of planning rules to allow new nuclear projects including SMRs to be built in a range of sites across England and Wales.

Following a fair and open competition, Simon Bowen has been appointed as Chair of Great British Energy – Nuclear, following his tenure as interim Chair since 2023. This appointment marks a key step as the organisation moves into the next delivery phase of the SMR programme, which Simon will oversee.
November 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s narrative of inevitable victory is contradicted by its military and economic failures – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2025.

Politico-Military Counsellor Ankur Narayan highlights that Russia’s claims of inevitable victory in Ukraine are undermined by minimal territorial gains, unsustainable casualties, and severe economic strain. The UK and its partners remain resolute in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russia’s ongoing aggression.

Madam Chair, Russia’s victory in Ukraine is not inevitable.

Russia has repeatedly tried to persuade Ukraine’s supporters and the wider world that its victory in Ukraine is inevitable. Despite sustained aggression and significant investment of personnel and resources, Russia has made only marginal territorial gains since its full-scale invasion in February 2022. After nearly four years since its illegal invasion, Russia controls less than 20% of Ukrainian territory. This is up from the 7% it claimed to control before February 2022. Since the frontlines stabilised in November 2022, Russia has gained just 1.1% more territory, at the cost of over one million casualties.

Russia’s military advances remain slow and costly. Reported Russian advances in September and October were the smallest since April. It has taken over a year for Russia to advance 15 kilometres towards Pokrovsk, suffering nearly 100,000 casualties in doing so. The city’s infrastructure has been largely destroyed, offering little strategic value.

Russia’s losses are unsustainable. Over 320,000 casualties have been recorded in 2025 alone, and the Kremlin is increasingly reliant on inexperienced recruits. Reports indicate that many receive less than three weeks of training before being deployed. Desertions reportedly exceed 50,000, and coercive practices within the ranks are widespread.

Russia’s economy is also under strain. The IMF has revised its 2025 growth forecast down to 0.6%, from 4.3% in 2024. Military spending now exceeds $159 billion. That is over a third of the national budget. Tax revenues from oil and gas have declined 27% year-on-year, and Russia has already depleted over half of its liquid sovereign wealth fund since February 2022. Those around President Putin are admitting that the economy is in trouble. The Head of Sberbank, Herman Gref, warned that interest rates would have to be cut to 12% from their current 16.5% to “create hope” for an economic recovery. Alexander Shokhin, Head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, said that “the cooling, or well managed soft landing, is neither very soft nor very well managed.”

Sanctions continue to have a significant impact. Russia has lost access to $450 billion in assets, and 80% of its banking system is under sanction. Import costs for strategic goods have risen by 122%, and domestic production of microchips remains unreliable. Chinese financial institutions are increasingly distancing themselves from Russian entities, further limiting Russia’s economic options.

The burden of war is increasingly falling on Russian citizens. Value Added Tax (VAT) has been raised from 20% to 22%, and social spending is facing real-term cuts. Food price inflation and new tax thresholds are placing additional pressure on households and small businesses.

Madam Chair, Russia’s military and economic trajectory does not support its narrative of inevitable victory. This is a war characterised by minimal territorial gains, at disproportionate cost in lives and livelihoods. Ukraine continues to resist with determination and capability. To that end, the UK – and Ukraine’s many other international partners – remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

November 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Three members reappointed to the Online Procedure Rule Committee [November 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 November 2025.

The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Gerard Boyers, Brett Dixon and Sarah Stephens as expert members of the Online Procedure Rule Committee.

Sarah Stephens

Sarah Stephens is the OPRC lay advice member who is a non-practising solicitor and a legal technologist specialising in access to justice. She spent over a decade as a commercial lawyer with Linklaters and Kennedys, before transitioning to KPMG East Africa where she led their international development portfolio overseeing justice, education, and economic growth programs.

For the past 10 years, she has worked as an independent consultant on projects promoting access to justice, gender equality, and technology for development, working with UN agencies, the World Bank, and various NGOs.

Brett Dixon

Brett Dixon is the OPRC legal member. He is a Deputy Vice President of the Law Society and a Senior Fellow of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. Admitted as a solicitor in 1999, he holds higher rights of audience in civil matters and is also an accredited mediator.

Gerard Boyers

Gerard Boyers is the OPRC technology member and a Director at Deloitte where he leads Digital Transformation Strategy. He brings extensive experience in delivering digital products, having served as the Head of Digital at HSBC and Aviva as well the Government Digital Service and BBC iPlayer

The Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC) was established under Section 22 of the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022. The aim of the OPRC is to improve access to justice for all by harnessing the power of modern digital technology in the pre-action space, in the civil and family courts and in the tribunals.

These reappointments are made by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lady Chief Justice, the Senior President of Tribunals and, in the case of the legal member, the Law Society.

November 17, 2025
NEWS STORY : Starmer Government Unveils Major Overhaul of Asylum Rules to Tackle Illegal Migration

STORY

The UK Government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, today announced sweeping changes to the country’s asylum system aimed at reducing the attractiveness of the UK to irregular arrivals and accelerating removals of those without a legitimate claim.

Although the Government argues these reforms represent the most significant overhaul of the asylum regime in decades, the proposals have already sparked criticism. Campaigners and some Labour MPs warn the changes risk harming vulnerable individuals fleeing persecution and could undermine integration by creating longer-term uncertainty. Mahmood is to make a more detailed statement on the Government’s plans later on today.

November 17, 2025
NEWS STORY : UK Condemns Russia’s Strikes on Ukraine’s Power Grid as Humanitarian and Nuclear Safety Crisis

STORY

In a forceful address at the Organisation for Security and Co‑operation in Europe, British Ambassador Neil Holland accused Russia of mounting a deliberate campaign of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, plunging communities into darkness, hobbling hospitals and water supplies and creating a “nuclear risk just waiting to happen.” The UK stated that the strikes, which have led to widespread blackouts and are being assessed by the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission as likely breaches of international humanitarian law, were not acts of restraint but rather tactical efforts to degrade Ukraine’s civilian resilience as winter sets in.

Holland warned that the damage to power networks feeding nuclear plants and spent-fuel cooling systems presents a “persistent risk” of catastrophe, and called Russia’s purported proposals for peace “coercion dressed up as diplomacy”, arguing that any settlement which rewards territorial theft would merely lay the groundwork for further aggression. The UK reaffirmed its commitment to a just and lasting peace grounded in international law and suggested Russia’s “security interests” cannot outweigh the basic rights of nations to sovereignty and safety.

November 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure deepen humanitarian harm and endanger nuclear safety – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2025.

Ambassador Holland condemns Russia’s recurrent strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, highlighting severe humanitarian impacts and nuclear safety risks. Russia’s proposals for a settlement would last only until Moscow decided it wanted more. A settlement that rewards territorial theft would only guarantee future war.

Thank you, Chair. Last weekend, Russia again struck Ukraine’s power system with large waves of drones and missiles, killing civilians, damaging energy facilities across multiple regions and triggering blackouts.

Russia has insisted that it targets only military-relevant facilities and that anything short of plunging Ukraine into total darkness – which would bring with it a nuclear catastrophe – was showing restraint. This argument collapses on contact with the facts.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission has assessed Russia’s campaign against Ukraine’s electricity network as likely violating international humanitarian law because of its predictable, severe and widespread civilian impacts on heating, water, sanitation, healthcare and education. Recurrent strikes on energy infrastructure are not restraint. They are deepening humanitarian harm as winter approaches.

These attacks also endanger nuclear safety. The IAEA has warned repeatedly that degrading Ukraine’s external power supplies and striking grid nodes that feed nuclear facilities create a persistent risk to reactor and spent-fuel cooling. We are one accident away from a catastrophe for the region. Recent incidents forcing plants to use backup power underline how fragile safety margins are in a war zone.

True to form, Russia returns to deception and deflection, using its disinformation machine to spread lies of “western sabotage” rather than demonstrate some responsible behaviour.

Chair, we do not doubt the sincerity of Russia’s stated desire for a “long-term settlement” to this war. For Russia, it has been a strategic disaster, has sadly resulted in more than a million Russian casualties, and has led Russia’s economy into very troubled waters. But what Russia actually wants is to bake its violation of our shared principles into any settlement. To force Ukraine and the rest of us to accept aggression as the new normal. Its so-called conditions for peace would reward invasion, legitimise occupation, and give Russia a veto over its neighbour’s future. That is not peace: it is coercion dressed up as diplomacy. And it would not be for the long-term: it would last only until Moscow decided that it wanted more.

Russia has argued that its security interests need to be considered in any settlement. In fact, the UK agrees with this. But we believe that Russia’s security interests – like the rest of ours – are best served by respecting the principles and laws that we have all collectively agreed. But when the Kremlin talks of its security interests, it does not mean the many; it means the few.

The UK remains strongly in support of peace – and has been firmly behind US and Ukrainian efforts to end this war.

A just and lasting peace is not a slogan; it means upholding the foundational principles of global peace and security that we have all committed to. A settlement that rewards territorial theft would only guarantee future war. Peace built on justice and shared principles can endure. Peace built on fear and force will not.

Thank you.

November 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen [November 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 November 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen this evening.

They discussed the ongoing progress to implement the ambitious package agreed at the UK-EU Summit in May.

They reaffirmed their commitment to moving forwards rapidly, as it is in the UK and the EU’s interests to have a broad and constructive relationship that delivers for both sides.

The Prime Minister was clear that any deals must result in tangible benefits to the British public and strengthen wider European security.

They agreed to stay in close contact.

November 17, 2025