Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Local journalism to benefit from new government funding to reach new audiences [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 7 July 2026.

Local news outlets can now apply for grants of up to £125,000 to support their long-term financial sustainability.
- Local News Fund is part of the government’s Local Media Action Plan – a strategy backing the essential role of local media in our towns and communities
- Second year of the Fund will also be used to tackle ‘news deserts’, by helping to revive a local news presence in communities that currently lack one.
Local news outlets can now bid for a share of up to £12 million in government funding over the next two years, which will ensure communities can continue to benefit from trusted, high-quality local journalism.

Part of ‘Amplify: The Local Media Action Plan’, the Fund will provide £6 million in 2026/27 and up to a further £6 million in 2027/28, which will help ensure the long-term provision of high-quality local news by enabling organisations to continue innovating towards a digital and sustainable future.

The Plan demonstrates the government’s commitment to the future of local journalism, ensuring it can continue to enrich our national conversation, strengthen communities and social cohesion, rebuild social trust, and support local growth.

The majority of the 2026/27 Fund will be awarded to local news outlets in print, online, or independent local TV and radio stations, through a competitive bidding process, with £125,000 the maximum available to a single organisation. The funding can be used to invest in the tools and services – such as apps or innovative use of multimedia channels – needed for sustainable innovation which can help local media tap into new or younger audiences and generate new sources of revenue.

The remainder of the Fund will be allocated through a separate bidding process which also opens today, reserved for organisations which are developing the infrastructure that can benefit the industry as a whole, with bids allowed up to £275,000.

Evidence shows that up to 37 local authority districts now have no print, online, TV or radio outlet dedicated specifically to that area – leaving as many as 4.4 million citizens in local ‘news deserts’, which disproportionately occur in the most deprived urban areas.

That’s why in the second year of the Fund, £1 million will be dedicated to tackling these local news deserts in collaboration with key community stakeholders, to revive or establish a local news presence in areas of need. This will help address news inequality, as local news closures disproportionately affect deprived urban districts, while new enterprises are concentrated in more affluent communities.

Subject to availability, up to a further £5 million in 2027/28 will provide continued support for the financial sustainability and innovation of the sector.

To qualify for local news outlet funding, prospective bidders must be able to demonstrate a track record in the provision of local news to audiences in England or Wales.

Media Minister Ian Murray MP said:

Local media is a cornerstone of our civic life and when it declines, communities lose access to accurate information, scrutiny of decision-makers and a vital local voice. That’s why we’re launching the Local News Fund – with up to £12 million available over the next two years, it marks an important step towards securing the future of local media across the UK.

I encourage local news organisations, publishers and innovators to come forward with ambitious proposals that will help to strengthen local media for the long term, ensuring communities continue to benefit from high-quality, trusted local reporting.

Polly Curtis, Co-Chair of the Local News Fund Steering Board, said:

Strong local news creates stronger communities. This £6 million fund is an investment in civic life, democracy and the trusted journalism that helps bring people together.

We encourage everyone who is working in local news to put forward their most innovative ideas to help build shared resilience for the future for local journalism.

Jeremy Clifford, Co-Chair of the Local News Fund Steering Board, said:

The local news industry has a track record of innovating and responding to the many challenges it has faced down the years. However, often those innovations fail to get off the ground because they cannot be funded.

We strongly believe this fund can help to ignite that innovative thinking and be the catalyst for delivering some exciting and imaginative experiments.

Laura Davison, NUJ General Secretary, said:

The NUJ welcomes the launch of the Local News Fund. For many years the union has campaigned for government grants to preserve and bolster local journalism subject to appropriate safeguards.

The Fund is recognition that the industry cannot be left to the vagaries of the market and that our members working in local news play a pivotal role in upholding social cohesion and democracy.
08/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Explanation of Vote on the draft resolution on Eritrea [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 July 2026.

UK Explanation of Vote on the draft resolution on the human rights situation in Eritrea. Delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

Mr President,

The UK remains concerned by the human rights situation in Eritrea. The system of indefinite national service has a suffocating impact on the lives of Eritreans, especially young people, and has contributed to mass emigration including to the UK. It requires urgent reform.

We welcome areas of progress that have been made in Eritrea; including relating to essential health services and education. In particular, and as recognised in this draft resolution, we are pleased to see the release of some arbitrarily detained persons held for political or religious reasons. We encourage the Eritrean government to extend these releases to the many more that remain arbitrarily detained.

It is clear that the Special Rapporteur’s efforts to report on the human rights situation in Eritrea continues to be needed. As such, the UK supports the draft resolution on the human rights situation in Eritrea and its outcome to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.

We thank the core group behind this resolution for constructive and transparent engagement with the Council and support the adoption of this resolution by consensus.

If a vote is called, we will vote YES and encourage others to do the same.

Thank you.

08/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Introductory Statement on the draft resolution on Sudan [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 July 2026.

UK Introductory Statement on the draft resolution on Sudan. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

Thank you, Mr President,

I deliver this statement on behalf of the Sudan Core Group: consisting of Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the UK.

Mr President, as we heard from so many during the Urgent Debate last week, the imminent risk of large-scale atrocities in and around El Obeid demands our attention.

Escalating drone strikes have killed civilians and destroyed civilian infrastructure in El Obeid. Key supply routes have been hit, along with fuel stations and the electricity grid. 500,000 civilians are in grave danger, at risk of atrocities that would deepen the wounds already inflicted on Sudan.

Mr President, just eight months ago this council stood united in condemning the wave of devastating violence and displacement by the Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher. These horrors must not be repeated.

The Rapid Support Forces must end their siege of El Obeid. All parties to the conflict must immediately de-escalate, facilitate safe, voluntary passage for civilians and guarantee rapid, unhindered humanitarian access.

Mr President, we know that ending impunity in Sudan is essential for long-term peace. The key outcome of this resolution is the urgent inquiry to be carried out by the UN Fact-Finding Mission. Its efforts to document and preserve evidence of any violations and abuses lay the groundwork for justice. Without it, accountability will remain out of reach, and the cycle of impunity will continue.

We also pay tribute to the Sudanese civil society actors who continue to serve their communities under extraordinary pressure. Their courage and resilience are a reminder of the values this Council is designed to uphold.

It is not enough to express shock and concern. We must take concrete action to support accountability for these crimes. This Council must make a reality of its role in preventing atrocities.

The strongest signal we can send is to adopt this resolution by consensus today.

Let us show the people of El Obeid that they are not forgotten. And that this Council will take action to prevent atrocities.

Thank you.

07/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Better protections for children in custody [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 July 2026.

Children in youth custody will be better protected through stronger safeguarding, dedicated social workers, tougher vetting and independent oversight.
- Dedicated social workers to investigate abuse concerns
- Stronger staff vetting, improved training and new unit to oversee child protection
- Part of Government action to make sure horrors of historical abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre are not repeated
Children in youth custody settings will be better protected from abuse under major safeguarding reforms announced by the Government today (7 July).

Set out by the Minister for Sentencing and Youth Justice Jake Richards, the new measures include stronger staff training, tougher vetting for anyone working directly with children and overhauled safeguarding processes to ensure all allegations of wrongdoing are investigated robustly and acted upon swiftly.

Central to the reforms will be a requirement for every site in the youth estate to have access to a dedicated social worker with extensive child protection expertise. This means no serious concern can be ignored or handled only internally. It also gives each child a trusted, independent person they can turn to if something is wrong.

Today’s intervention comes in direct response to an independent review into youth custody safeguarding arrangements published today by Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families in England. The Government commissioned the review following a report into the horrific abuse that took place at Medomsley Detention Centre, Co. Durham, between 1961 and 1987.

Ministers have now accepted all 34 of Ms Trowler’s recommendations in principle, with several already implemented to ensure children in custody receive the best possible protection and the systemic failures at Medomsley are never repeated.

This action builds on the Government’s Youth Justice White Paper published in May, which seeks to provide earlier intervention, more targeted support and tackle the root causes of youth crime.

Minister for Sentencing and Youth Justice, Jake Richards, said:

The abuse that took place at Medomsley is a national scandal and it is right that the Government has apologised. While we cannot undo the pain suffered by victims, we can make sure nothing like it ever happens again.

That is why we’re taking forward all 34 recommendations, including independent oversight of every abuse allegation, giving every child in custody access to a social worker, and strengthening staff vetting to keep children in custody safe.

A system that fails to protect children in custody creates more victims, not fewer. These reforms are about breaking that cycle.

Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families for England, said:

Following on from the Ombudsman’s important report last year into the Medomsley Detention Centre, my review examined the safeguarding challenges that persist across the youth custodial estate. I make a number of recommendations which make clear the urgent action required to better protect some of our most vulnerable children. While there have been improvements in recent years, the evidence is unequivocal: more must be done to ensure every child in custody is safe, listened to and treated with dignity. It is now incumbent upon the Government and, in turn, HMPPS and local authority children’s services to make change happen.

Meeting children currently in custody and hearing directly about their experiences has been both a privilege and a profound responsibility. This experience, and the stories children shared, will likely stay with me forever. We owe it to them, and to those who suffered in the past, to ensure that the findings of this review lead to meaningful and lasting change.

The courage and determination of the survivors of Medomsley in their pursuit of truth and justice was instrumental to this work. Without them, the vulnerability of today’s children in custody would not have been brought into sharp relief.

Adrian Usher, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, said:

My investigative report revealed the full scale and horror of what happened to thousands of victims at Medomsley Detention Centre. The abuse that took place there was a profound failure by those responsible for the care and protection of children and young people in custody.

I welcome the Government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations from the Trowler Review and strengthening safeguarding across the youth estate. While nothing can undo the harm suffered by victims, these reforms are an important step towards ensuring lessons of the past are learned and that children in custody are better protected in the future.

Meanwhile, a new safeguarding board has been set up to monitor child protection across all youth custody sites, reporting directly to Ministers. All staff working with children in custody must now also complete mandatory safeguarding training, and enhanced criminal record checks will be renewed every three years.

Recruitment processes have also been strengthened to better root out unsuitable candidates, with training for frontline staff being redesigned to better meet the needs of vulnerable children.

Further action announced today includes:
- Under the new system, a trusted adult, such as a family member, advocate or social worker, will be able to raise a complaint on a child’s behalf.
- Welcome packs and information given to children on arrival will be redesigned so that children with reading difficulties or learning differences can understand their rights from day one.
- The Government will take forward plans to give all children in custody the same formal protections as children in care. This will require new legislation, but in the meantime social workers will proactively check in with children and provide a safe, private space to raise any concerns.
- A new National Practice Framework will set clear, consistent standards for how all staff working with children in custody should behave, train and develop in their careers.
- A formal learning review process at the heart of how the Youth Custody Service approaches safeguarding, ensuring continuous improvement.
- A review of policies, with a focus on those that do not account for the needs of children.
The Government has apologised unreservedly to the men who suffered shocking and systematic abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre.

The youth custodial estate today bears little resemblance to the one in which the abuse took place, with children no longer detained for less serious offences and the number of children in custody having fallen significantly in the last 20 years.

However, the Government is determined that those who do require custody receive the best care and support they need to turn their lives around.

Today’s announcement comes ahead of a Youth Custody Transformation Plan later this year, setting out the long-term vision for a safer system which rehabilitates children, reduces crime and protects communities.

Notes to editors
- The Trowler Review was commissioned by the Minister for Sentencing and Youth Justice and led by Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families in England.
- The review makes 34 recommendations for the Ministry of Justice, the Youth Custody Service, the Department for Education, and other government partners. All recommendations are being accepted in principle.
- The youth custodial estate comprises Young Offender Institutions, Secure Training Centres, Secure Children’s Homes and the Secure School, Oasis Restore. As health, social care and education are devolved in Wales, the majority of the actions set out in the response relate to England.
- The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report into Medomsley Detention Centre was published in November 2025 and examined abuse that occurred at the centre between 1961 and 1987.
07/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Businesses across Britain sign up to Cyber Resilience Pledge as ministers urge firms to strengthen cyber defences [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 7 July 2026.

Firms including M&S, Nationwide, ITV, Microsoft UK and Cloudflare are some of the first to pledge to strengthen their cyber defences.
- Firms including M&S, Nationwide, ITV, Microsoft UK and Cloudflare are some of the first to Pledge to strengthen their cyber defences
- Signatories will take practical steps to strengthen their cyber resilience, including board-level oversight, use of National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) tools and stronger supply-chain security
- Launch forms a central pillar of the government’s National Cyber Action Plan to raise cyber resilience across the UK economy – with cyber-attacks costing the UK £14.7 billion a year
More than 60 businesses from every corner of the British economy, and strategic suppliers to government, have committed to strengthen their cyber defences as cyber threats grow in scale, frequency and sophistication.

Set to launch at 10 Downing Street later today (Tuesday 7 July), the new Cyber Resilience Pledge comes as businesses face an increasingly urgent threat environment – with over 5 million cyber crimes committed against UK firms last year – equivalent to 1 every 6 seconds (source: NCSC Annual Review 2025).

Hostile cyber activity in the UK continues to escalate, with the NCSC handling 204 nationally significant incidents in the year to September, up from 89 the year before. The average cost of a significant cyber-attack on an individual UK business now stands at almost £195,000, with the annual cost to organisations estimated at £14.7 billion, excluding wider disruption across the economy (source: Independent research on the economic impact of cyber attacks on the UK).

The threat is also evolving. While AI provides new capabilities for defenders, it is also lowering the barriers for attackers – by helping them find weaknesses in software, write the code to exploit them, and do so at a speed and scale that would have been impossible even a year ago.

Founding signatories to the Pledge span retail, financial services, media, utilities and technology – including M&S, Nationwide, ITV, Microsoft UK, Cloudflare, Deloitte LLP, Accenture UK, Vodafone Group and VodafoneThree.

The voluntary pledge, which has been designed for medium and large organisations but is open to organisations of all sizes and sectors, asks signatories to take 3 concrete actions to improve their cyber security:
- Making cyber security a board-level responsibility, by implementing the Cyber Governance Code of Practice and ensuring all board members complete the NCSC’s Cyber Governance Training
- Registering for the NCSC’s free Early Warning service, a tool that alerts organisations to potentially suspicious activity on their networks
- Taking a risk-based approach to requiring the government-backed Cyber Essentials certification across their supply chain
The Pledge will be formally launched at a reception at 10 Downing Street later today, hosted by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and attended by founding signatories.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

Today, some of Britain’s biggest businesses are taking action to strengthen their cyber defences and setting a powerful example for others to follow. By signing this Pledge, they are showing that cyber resilience is no longer just an IT issue – it is a business imperative.

Cyber attacks can disrupt services, put customers’ data at risk and have a real impact on the bottom line. As AI makes these threats more sophisticated and easier to launch, no organisation can afford to stand still.

That’s why we’re working with businesses to help them strengthen their defences. The steps in this Pledge are practical, achievable and proven to make a difference. Today’s signatories are leading the way, and I encourage organisations across the UK to follow their example.

The launch comes ahead of the new National Cyber Action Plan, which will set out how the government will continue to work with industry to protect the nation from the cyber threats it faces in the AI era, including through investment in AI-powered defensive capabilities, the adoption of new secure technologies, and through new measures under the National Security Bill to tackle cyber crime. The Pledge is a central pillar of this work.

Alongside the Pledge, DSIT has been developing a government Cyber Charter with its 39 strategic suppliers: companies that deliver critical services to the government. As part of that Charter, all of the strategic suppliers have been invited to sign the Pledge as an initial commitment to bolstering their cyber resilience, with more than 20 of them having done so as part of this first cohort of signatories.

Darren Hardman, CEO, Microsoft UK and Ireland, said:

As AI reshapes both the threats we face and our response to them, stronger board-level accountability and supply chain security are how the UK stays ahead. Microsoft has been a cybersecurity partner to the UK Government for more than 20 years, and we’re proud to sign the Cyber Resilience Pledge, using AI to help defend the UK’s critical national infrastructure, public services and businesses against cyber attacks.

David Boda, Chief Security and Resilience Officer at Nationwide, said:

Uplifting the cyber resilience of the UK economy is a collective endeavour that no one organisation or sector can achieve alone. As a modern mutual Nationwide Building Society are proud to play our part and be a signatory of the Cyber Resilience Pledge.

Simon King, CEO of Autotech Group, said:

As a company that works with major automotive organisations, as well as organisations operating across the wider mobility sector, we understand that trust is built on how well we protect the information, systems and people our customers rely on every day. That’s why we’ve focused on embedding security and governance into the way we operate as a business. As an early signatory of the UK’s Cyber Resilience Pledge, we are reinforcing our commitment to continual improvement and ensuring cyber resilience remains a board-level responsibility as both our business and the automotive sector become increasingly connected.

Julian David, CEO of techUK, said:

We have long held the view that cyber resilience is a critical business and organisational enabler. It underpins our growth, our economic security, and the safety and security of our people. With the average cost of significant cyber-attacks to the UK economy recently estimated to be £14.7billion annually – the equivalent of 0.5% of our GDP – it’s clear that cyber security and resilience must be recognised as a leadership responsibility and should no longer be viewed as an IT issue alone. We are, therefore, proud signatories of the Government’s Cyber Resilience Pledge, committing to the practical actions set out for our own organisation as well as continuing to champion, more widely, accountability for cyber risk at the board level.

Experts at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) are urging organisations of all kinds to urgently focus on their cyber security as the threats evolve at pace. The steps organisations should take to protect themselves, their supply chains and their customers against AI-driven cyber threats are the same fundamental cyber hygiene measures recommended to combat traditional attacks, though businesses are being urged to act with increased urgency given damaging cyber incidents over the past year.

The NCSC says the 3 actions enshrined in the Pledge are practical steps that will help improve an organisation’s resilience and, if adopted at scale, strengthen resilience across the wider economy.

Resilient organisations are better able to recover from incidents, protect their customers and demonstrate to investors, partners and suppliers that they are taking cyber risk seriously.
07/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Views sought to transform benefit paid to carers [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 7 July 2026.

Opening today (Tuesday 7 July 2026) the six-week call for evidence will gather views on: modernising the earnings limit to reduce the impact of the current cliff edge, improving predictability for carers with varying incomes, and better supporting those with work and caring responsibilities.
- Carers, people with care needs and carers’ organisations encouraged to have their say on reforms to be made to the outdated system inherited from previous Government.
- Findings will inform work on the future modernisation of Carer’s Allowance.
- Comes after action taken to improve carers’ lives with the biggest ever boost to the earnings allowance.
Unpaid carers and their organisations are being invited to share their views on how to improve Carer’s Allowance, as part of the first major review of the benefit since it was first introduced half a century ago.

Issues with the Carer’s Allowance system inherited by the Government were laid bare in the landmark Sayce Review. This found unclear guidance on averaging fluctuating earnings left carers building up debts without realising, and that the earnings limit had failed to keep pace with modern working patterns.

The Government has already raised the weekly earnings limit to a record £204 a week, updated guidance, and taken decisive action to address the failures the Sayce Review identified. Carers can now earn around £10,000 a year while keeping their support.

This call for evidence goes further by looking at whether to introduce an earnings taper and changes to rules that cap how many hours a carer can work before losing their benefit, to reflect modern caring patterns.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said:

Unpaid carers are the backbone of our communities — quietly providing support that makes an enormous difference to the lives of those they love.

They deserve a system and level of support that properly reflects the contribution they make, and we are determined to deliver that.

This call for evidence is our commitment to going further — and to making sure carers’ voices shape every step of what comes next.

Earlier this year, the DWP launched a reassessment exercise reviewing 200,000 cases — with around 25,000 cases set to see debts reduced, cancelled, or refunded. New capital disregard regulations coming into force next week will ensure those refunds do not affect entitlement to Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit.

Emily Holzhausen CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, said:

We need to see further reform to Carer’s Allowance because the current system is outdated and no longer reflects the realities of caring today. This includes inflexible rules around the earnings limit which are hard to navigate for carers with fluctuating earnings and can dissuade some from claiming what they are entitled to altogether.

We welcome the government’s call to gather further evidence around this and its acknowledgement that Carer’s Allowance, which was first introduced 50 years ago, should be a priority for change to better support those who contribute so much to society. Caring is not a one-size-fits-all experience, and so it’s important that the government hears from as many people as possible on this topic in the next six weeks.

Carer’s Allowance has supported carers and their loved ones since 1976 — but it hasn’t kept pace with how people work today. This call for evidence is the next step in changing that.

Carers, their organisations, and anyone with experience of caring are encouraged to have their say before the call for evidence closes on 18 August 2026.

The evidence gathered will inform future changes the government makes to Carer’s Allowance – putting carers voices at the heart of the effort to build a benefit that is fair, modern and reliable for the people who depend on it most.

Kirsty McHugh, CEO of Carers Trust said:

This major review of Carer’s Allowance is something we, carers, and the 130+ local carer services in our network have long called for. It has been clear for some time that Carer’s Allowance needs to be modernised and brought into the twenty-first century. Society, work and caring have all been thoroughly transformed since Carer’s Allowance was first introduced in 1976, so it’s incredibly encouraging that the Government has recognised this and committed to creating a system that not only reflects these changes but also gives carers the support they really need.

We look forward to working with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure the voices of carers and the services dedicated to them are at the heart of any reforms to Carer’s Allowance. We want this review to be a real step change in the way carers are supported – paving the way for a fairer world for carers.

Additional information
- The call for evidence covers modern patterns of care that were not in place when Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1976.
- Carer’s Allowance is available in England and Wales only, but views and experiences are sought from anyone in the UK.
- Carer’s Allowance is a devolved matter in Scotland. It has been fully replaced by the Scottish Government’s Carer Support Payment.
- Social security is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, but the Department for Communities there maintains parity with DWP.
07/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : New penalties introduced in crackdown on water companies [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 July 2026.

Half a million-pound financial penalties introduced in latest crackdown on polluting water companies.

Water companies that flout environmental rules now face faster penalties of up to £500,000 in the latest set of reforms to improve our waterways.

As part of the government’s once-in-a-generation overhaul of the water system, the Environment Agency will see their powers strengthened and expanded.

Previously, the regulator was limited in its ability to impose financial penalties for frequent, minor and moderate offending – such as breaches of a licence or permit.

This was because it needed to prove an offence to the same high legal standard used in criminal courts, often making penalties too expensive and time-consuming to pursue.

In future, the regulator will be able to use the lower civil standard of proof – meaning more financial penalties, delivered quicker in a move that ensures those who violate the rules have nowhere to hide.

These changes follow a host of improvements over the last two years to tackle pollution, streamline regulation, protect customers, and secure long-term investment in the sector.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

This government has been clear that polluting water companies and bosses will face the consequences of their actions. The introduction of automatic penalties will give the Environment Agency the teeth it needs to deliver cleaner rivers, lakes and seas.

This is just one of the actions we’re taking to clamp down on water companies including the introduction of a more powerful water regulator, no-notice inspections, MOT-style checks of water company assets and banning bonuses for polluting bosses.

The changes to the civil penalties framework were enabled in the Water (Special Measures) Act but had to be put out to consultation before going for Parliamentary approval.

A £500,000 cap will be introduced to variable monetary penalties that are proved to the civil standard of proof. There will also be the introduction of new automatic penalties – like a speeding ticket – for clearly defined breaches. This would involve a £10,000 payment, which would double if the company failed to pay within 28 days.

The changes are in addition to other enforcement tools, including unlimited financial penalties – known as Variable Monetary Penalties – where offending is proved to a criminal standard.

The Environment Agency will continue to pursue criminal prosecution for the most serious offences.

The size of the penalty will be dependent upon the size of the water company, meaning penalties cannot simply be factored into the cost of doing business.

Environment Agency Chair, Alan Lovell, said:

We care deeply about protecting our waterways and welcome measures that will deter pollution incidents and other harmful permit breaches.

These changes complement our current enforcement powers, including criminal prosecution, and will further our aim of delivering quick and proportionate punishment where failures happen.

We now have more people, better data and increased powers to drive better company performance and achieve a cleaner water environment for us all.

Modelling, based on water company performance in previous years, suggests the changes could cost the water sector between £50million and £67million annually.

The expectation is this will drive improved performance by water companies and see improvements in asset management and data collection – therefore the cost will reduce over time.

Water companies cannot pass the financial penalties onto customer bills.

These changes are the latest in two years of progress delivering on the government’s priority of improving the water system.
- The landmark Water (Special Measures) Act, introducing the toughest enforcement powers in a decade, including criminal liability for water bosses who cover up illegal sewage spills and the power to ban unfair bonuses, which in 2025 blocked £4 million in bonuses across six water companies.
- Ringfenced water company investment, ensuring customers’ money is spent on fixing pipes, reducing sewage spills and improving water quality, not dividends or bonuses.
- Improved transparency, introducing real-time monitoring at every emergency overflow so the public can see what is happening in their local waters.
- Boosted protections for customers, doubling compensation when basic water services fail and making it easier for vulnerable households to access bill support.
- Signed into law a ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes, marking a major step forward in tackling plastic pollution which devastates our waterways.
- Set out once-in-a-generation reforms in the White Paper, including plans for:
  - a new single water regulator, delivering tougher oversight and stronger accountability for water companies.
  - a new Chief Engineer role which will bring back the hands-on checks of water infrastructure.
  - long-term, systematic reforms where assets are properly maintained, and problems can be spotted before they lead to water shortages.
  - a roll-out of smart metering and mandatory efficiency labels to help households monitor their water use.
  - Stronger inspection powers, including the new regulator able to conduct ‘no notice’ inspections.
  - These measures are underpinned by over £104 billion in private investment, to upgrade water infrastructure over the next five years – the largest programme since privatisation – creating jobs, supporting new homes, and cutting pollution.
07/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement from member countries of the Multilateral Defence Mechanism [July 2026]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 6 July 2026.

Joint statement from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland and Poland.

Ahead of the Ankara NATO Summit the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, and Poland reiterate our shared commitment to strengthen defence financing and improve the cost-efficiency of defence spending to transform our collective defence capabilities. In light of the rapidly evolving international security environment and the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, we shall act together to be prepared to address future threats. We remain committed to supporting Ukraine in defending its sovereignty and resisting Russian aggression.

We are making significant progress to develop the new Multilateral Defence Mechanism together with partners. The MDM is an innovative new financing model intended to accelerate defence investment, stimulate joint procurement, and aggregate demand in critical defence capabilities, with the ultimate objective of meeting the military needs of like-minded allies. We aim to move quickly to formal Treaty negotiations, respecting individual members’ ratification processes, while maintaining the shared ambition of setting up the MDM by 2027. We have benefitted from the support of a wider group of allies in developing the technical details of the model.

To further progress the MDM, the UK, the Netherlands, Finland and Poland will therefore:
- work with core partners to expand the MDM into a broader coalition of participants;
- build on technical development and move to the next phase of mechanism design and development with subscribed partners during the Autumn
- ensure that emerging approaches to international defence financing are aligned and complementary, including by working with other NATO allies on aligning our efforts for increased capability and interoperability
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

Defence procurement in Europe is too fragmented, expensive and slow. That’s why I’ve been working to establish the Multilateral Defence Mechanism will enhance collaboration, to improve procurement and strengthen our collective deterrence.

In a world which is changing around us, we are strongest when we work in lockstep with our allies. I am glad to welcome Poland to the Multilateral Defence Mechanism to bolster our defences and keep us and our allies safe.
06/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Government to cut costs for parents ahead of new school year [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 6 July 2026.

From September, 1,400 more schools get free breakfast clubs, branded uniform costs are capped, saving families up to £1,000 a year on school costs.

Families will see the cost of going to school slashed even further from September, as guidance confirming caps on branded uniforms is issued to schools and more free breakfast clubs are confirmed.

Parents at 1,400 more schools will find out if they can save up to £450 through free breakfast clubs from September, when more than 2,700 will be up and running. It means the government has smashed its target of adding 2,000 schools to the programme this year. Over 680,000 children will attend them after the summer holidays – up from 300,000 today.

The clubs are already delivering cumulative savings of nearly £25million to families by serving up over 10 million free breakfasts and five million hours of childcare unlocked. For a family using their club every day that’s worth up to £450 and 95 hours a year, or nearly two working weeks back on the morning juggle. Children arrive more settled, fed and ready to learn from the moment the school day begins.

From September schools must comply with the new legal limits on the number of branded uniform items they can require. It means parents can buy more of the everyday basics, like trousers and shirts, from any shop or supermarket rather than one pricey supplier.

After polling found a third of parents still worry about uniform costs the government is also publishing strengthened statutory guidance today telling schools to take more steps to bring down the cost of individual items, especially for more expensive items like blazers and jumpers, in time for the 2027 school year.

Taken together, heading back to school is now set to be almost £1,000 cheaper for many families. A child could benefit from up to £450 a year through a free breakfast club and up to £500 a year through the expansion of free school meals to every household on Universal Credit – on top of cheaper uniform as the new branded-item limit bites.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

No parent should have to choose between a summer day out to the beach and kitting their child out for school.

From September, families will feel the difference at the school gates: free breakfast clubs at 1,400 more schools, an end to expensive lists of branded uniform, and more free lunches for those who need them.

That’s the British childhood this government believes in – and why we’ll always fight to give every child the very best start in life.

Today’s announcement builds on the biggest ever expansion of funded childcare, now saving families using their full 30 hours an average of £8,000 a year per child – with more than 548,000 codes validated by parents for the working parent entitlement in spring 2026.

Ahead of the new school year, the government is making it easier for all families to enjoy the weekend treats, days out and day trips over the summer with the government’s Great British Summer Saving scheme. From 25 June to 1 September, VAT has been cut on children’s meals in restaurants, children’s and family tickets for theatres and cinemas, and tickets for family attractions, alongside free bus travel for children aged five to 15 in England throughout August. This is part of the government’s work to ease the cost of living, including action to take £117 off household energy bills, freezing rail fares and prescription charges and increases the national minimum and living wage.

A consultation on early years funding, published today, will also set out plans to tackle the postcode lottery holding some children back.

Government is setting out proposals that will mean councils pass more funding for disadvantaged two-year-olds directly to nurseries and childminders.

Families will also feel the difference at their local Best Start Family Hub – the one-stop shops where parents can find everything from stay-and-play sessions to health visitors and parenting advice. Backed by over £900 million, more than 200 are already open, on the way to up to 1,000 by 2028.

To drive that ambition forward, the government is today launching the Best Start Improvement Coalition – bringing together business, charities and social investors to ensure every hub delivers for the families who need it most.

06/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Communities backed to lead local climate and nature action [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 6 July 2026.

Bradford, Manchester, Bristol, London and Birmingham are the first cities to host annual ‘Energising Britain’ events.

Across the country today, communities are coming together to showcase how they are accelerating clean energy, nature protection and tackling climate change, as the government today (Monday 6 July) launches its first ever wave of ‘Energising Britain’ events.

Through local action, communities are helping deliver the benefits of climate action for British people – from clean, homegrown energy and lower bills to nature restoration and cleaner air.

As families and businesses across the UK brace themselves for what is expected to be the third heatwave of the summer this week, the government is launching its first ever series of events to connect with local communities on climate and nature action, bringing together over 500 people in climate and nature leadership, local business, civil society, education and more to ensure people’s voices help shape the UK’s net zero agenda.

In Bradford, the Minister for Climate, Katie White, opened the inaugural ‘Energising Britain’ event at Bradford City FC. The event will include speakers from the football club and Feversham Primary School who have saved money on their energy bills by rolling out rooftop solar panels.

In Manchester, Minister White opened the afternoon session ahead of a panel on culture, youth and faith, where Liverpool FC will speak about their role engaging large audiences on climate change, the Youth Focus North West on how the young can engage adults around them, and the Carbon CO-OP on energy cost savings in the home.

Bristol’s event focused on how community-led climate and nature action is improving lives locally. Sessions will take place on the Creative Clean Power Pilot project powering live events with renewable energy, practical electrification projects, future energy systems and effective climate communication, as well as boat tours of Bristol Harbour visiting England’s largest harbour-based water source heat pump and a floating ecosystem with more than 6,000 native aquatic plants and trees to support wildlife.

In London, local partners came together to explore how communities can help accelerate electrification across homes, buildings and transport.

In Birmingham, local partners came together to explore how local action can support electrification and climate and nature action. There will be a focus on regional activity across local authorities, communities, businesses and sector partners, connecting electrification to rural communities, faith groups, culture, music and the arts.

The events are being organised by the Local Net Zero Hubs, the national network of local partnerships to support local authorities and the communities they serve develop clean energy projects local people see and feel the benefit of.

Minister for Climate, Katie White, said:

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent as our climate changes – from heatwaves in summer to flooding in the winter.

The need to take climate action has never been clearer, and through our ‘Energising Britain’ events, we’re making sure local communities across the country have their say on climate action and clean, homegrown energy.

We know government cannot drive this mission alone – by working together with local communities, we can accelerate our work on climate action and clean power to deliver lower bills, good jobs and cleaner air now and for generations to follow.

Rachael Orr, CEO of Climate Outreach said:

We’ve made incredible progress in tackling climate change – but too few people know about it. The ‘Energising Britain’ events are a brilliant opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come in lowering our emissions and electrifying our energy supply – and energise the people leading the charge to build on this momentum.

We also know there’s so much more to do. Recent heatwaves across the UK have reinforced the importance and urgency of tackling climate change and restoring nature so we can protect the people and places we love. The events today can also help us think about how people and communities can come together and rise to this challenge together.

Dr Sue Griffiths, CEO of The Young Foundation, said:

Across the country, communities are already demonstrating what a fair and inclusive green transition can look like, and the ‘Energising Britain’ events shine a spotlight on that leadership. The transition to a cleaner, greener future will only succeed if people feel part of it.

By bringing together communities, practitioners and local leaders to share ideas, build relationships and shape solutions that reflect the realities of different places, these events show how local knowledge, participation and collaboration can help turn national ambition into lasting change on the ground. Involving people in shaping the future of their communities helps ensure that the benefits of the transition are felt widely, fairly and in ways that strengthen communities.

James Johnson, Head of Regional Programme at the North West Net Zero Hub, said:

The transition to clean energy is vital if we are to achieve a sustainable future, and that transition cannot happen without the support and inclusion of our citizens. This is why the Public Participation Strategy is such an important part of the country’s work on climate and nature action. We are delighted to celebrate some of the best engagement practitioners from the North West as part of ‘Energising Britain’, and we look forward to the new approaches and partnerships that this event will help to create.

North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub Manager Karen Oliver Spry, said:

The government and Great British Energy have set the ambition of every community in the country having the opportunity to benefit from locally-owned energy by 2030, and this event is a sign of the extent to which this has been embraced by our region, with communities in every corner of Yorkshire and the North East generating clean electricity which local people see and feel the benefit from.

When the Hub was created there were only 9 community energy groups in the North East and Yorkshire and today we’re working with close to 150 – growth of over 1,000% – and we’re delighted to have had the opportunity to bring so many of these energy communities together to learn from and inspire each other and the next generation of community energy projects, and to welcome the Minister to see the progress which is being made.

Steve Ransom, Head of Net Zero Delivery, West of England Combined Authority said:

We are very excited to be working with DESNZ and The South West Net Zero Hub to deliver this flagship event. ‘Energising Britain’ will showcase some of the amazing work on climate change and nature recovery already happening across all sectors in the South West. We look forward to meeting the passionate communities already involved for an inspiring day to explore how we can strengthen public participation and communicate the benefits of the transition to clean energy for all.

Maxine Narburgh, Regional Director, Greater South East Net Zero Hub said:

Communities across the Greater South East are already showing that the transition to clean energy is something that happens with people, not to them. From local organisations and community energy groups to businesses and public sector partners, there is real momentum behind community-led electrification.

‘Energising Britain’ is an opportunity to bring those voices together, celebrate what’s already working, share practical experience, and build the partnerships needed to accelerate progress. By working collaboratively, we can ensure the transition to clean, affordable energy is inclusive, delivers tangible benefits for local people and places, and leaves a lasting legacy for communities across our region.

06/07/2026