Category: News Story

STORY

The Timms Review into Personal Independence Payment is expanding its public engagement work after the closure of its call for evidence. The Department for Work and Pensions has launched new resources designed to help organisations run workshops with disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.

The materials are intended to gather views on what PIP is for, people’s experiences of applying and how decisions are made. The Government said the review had already received 38,000 responses through its call for evidence, with the new toolkit designed to reach groups whose views may not otherwise be heard through formal consultation routes.

Sir Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, said disabled people’s experiences were vital to the review. The work is politically significant because welfare reform remains one of the most sensitive areas facing Labour, with ministers seeking to present the process as co-produced rather than imposed from Whitehall.

STORY

The Government is considering new restrictions on access to harmful social media platforms for children under 16. Reports suggest ministers are looking at an Australian-style approach, although the immediate package may focus first on tighter rules around dangerous online content, addictive features and the misuse of sexualised material involving young people.

The proposal follows pressure from bereaved parents, online safety campaigners and MPs who argue that existing protections do not go far enough. Earlier this year, the Government consulted on possible measures including time limits, curfews and controls on platform design features that encourage prolonged use by children.

The issue is likely to become one of the most contested parts of the Government’s technology agenda. Supporters argue that stronger intervention is needed to protect children from harm, while critics have warned that any age-based restriction would raise practical questions around enforcement, privacy and the ability of young people to bypass controls.

STORY

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to use a speech at London Tech Week to argue that the technology revolution must benefit the whole country rather than a narrow group of companies or already prosperous areas. The Prime Minister is due to say that artificial intelligence and new digital tools should be used to create jobs, support public services and improve opportunity across the United Kingdom.

The speech comes as the Government seeks to place technology at the centre of its wider economic and public service agenda. Ministers are expected to present AI as a tool for growth, with a particular focus on skills, employment support and the use of digital systems inside Government departments.

The intervention also comes at a politically sensitive moment for Starmer, with pressure on his leadership continuing inside Labour and the Makerfield by-election approaching. Downing Street will hope that a focus on technology and opportunity helps shift attention back towards policy delivery rather than internal party tensions.

STORY

Reform UK has raised significantly more than other parties from private donations, prompting renewed debate about political finance rules. Figures published by the Electoral Commission showed the party received around £9 million in the first quarter of 2026, outstripping Labour and the Conservatives.

The Guardian reported that much of the money came from cryptocurrency-linked donors, including Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo. Nigel Farage is also under scrutiny over a separate £5 million personal gift from Harborne, which the Reform leader has said was connected to security and his Brexit campaigning.

STORY

Downing Street has rejected a US State Department suggestion that the UK has a problem with two-tier policing following the Henry Nowak case. The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said the Government rejected the allegation, while stressing that the UK-US relationship remained strong.

The comments followed criticism from senior American figures about the police handling of Nowak after he was stabbed. Ministers have said mistakes can occur in public services, but that the proper response is investigation, accountability and reform rather than sweeping claims about the entire policing system.

The issue has become politically charged because it is being used by Reform UK, Conservative figures and international right-wing commentators to argue that police treat people differently because of race. The Government is trying to hold the line between acknowledging serious failings and rejecting broader claims of systemic anti-white bias.

STORY

The UK-led Operation Interflex training programme for Ukraine is moving into a new specialist phase after training more than 63,000 Ukrainian personnel. The Ministry of Defence said the programme would now expand further into areas including aviation, medical, engineering and logistics training.

Operation Interflex was launched after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and originally focused on rapid basic infantry training for Ukrainians with little or no military experience. The Government said the programme had also trained leaders and instructors, with support from international partners.

The new phase is intended to help Ukraine build longer-term military capability rather than focusing solely on immediate battlefield replacement training. The announcement comes as the UK continues to emphasise long-term support for Ukraine in talks with European allies.

STORY

More than 400 additional prison places are being delivered across HMP Norwich and HMP Wayland as part of the Government’s plan to expand capacity in the prison estate. Ministers said the project formed part of the drive to create 14,000 extra places nationwide by 2031.

The development includes 170 additional places at HMP Norwich, with modern security features including reinforced windows intended to address threats such as drones. The Government said 3,100 places had already been added since July 2024.

Ministers have argued that expanding prison capacity is necessary to keep the public safe and avoid running out of jail space. The policy comes amid continued pressure on the justice system, with overcrowding and sentencing policy both central to the wider political debate.

STORY

The Government has begun the roll-out of new Experts at Hand teams to provide specialist support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Ministers said the service would help families access support without always needing a formal diagnosis first.

The teams are intended to bring specialist expertise into schools and communities, reducing the need for families to navigate lengthy assessment routes before help is available. The Government said the programme was backed by a wider £1.8 billion investment in SEND support.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (in photo) said the aim was to end the postcode lottery faced by families seeking help. Guidance for local areas has been published, alongside the appointment of a national panel of experts to help shape the new system.

STORY

The Government has launched a consultation on strengthening legal protections for unmarried couples when relationships end. Ministers said the review would invite views from the public, legal professionals, academics, charities and other interested groups.

The consultation will run for 10 weeks and is intended to consider whether the law provides fair outcomes for cohabiting couples. The Government said many people incorrectly assume that long-term unmarried partners already have similar rights to married couples or civil partners.

The issue affects millions of people across England and Wales and has been the subject of repeated calls for reform. Ministers said the consultation would help determine whether changes are needed to provide clearer and fairer protections when relationships break down.

STORY

The Foreign Secretary has completed a three-day visit to China and India, with the Government saying the trip strengthened UK links with two major global powers. Ministers said the visit focused on security, economic resilience and the UK’s role in international diplomacy.

In India, the Foreign Secretary held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The discussions covered maritime security, supply-chain resilience, critical minerals and the impact of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz on international shipping.

The UK also co-launched a Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence with India. The Government said the centre would support work on maritime security and resilience, while helping to deepen cooperation under the UK-India Vision 2035 framework.