Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Russia talks peace while waging war – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Russia talks peace while waging war – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 July 2026.

    UK Senior Military Advisor, Colonel Joby Rimmer condemns the contradiction between Russia’s rhetoric of dialogue and its continued aggression, and calls for an immediate ceasefire and meaningful negotiations.

    Mr Chair, the United Kingdom remains unequivocally committed to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine: one that protects Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right of every participating State to choose its own security arrangements, in line with the Helsinki Final Act. Our support for Ukraine is long-term, and we support every credible diplomatic effort to bring this war to an end. But credible diplomacy requires seriousness, a willingness to engage directly, and to negotiate in good faith.

    The Russian Federation has not done any of these. It is not choosing negotiation. It is choosing to continue the war. This is the contradiction at the heart of Russia’s position. Russia speaks of dialogue but rejects the conditions that would make talks meaningful. Russia speaks of peace but refuses a ceasefire. Russia speaks of diplomacy but continues to attack Ukrainian cities. Russia’s message is negotiation but Russia’s method is war.

    On 23 June, President Putin again claimed Russia was open to peace. Yet the Russian Federation continues to refuse a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. President Putin has not accepted President Zelenskyy’s repeated offers of direct dialogue, including in his recent open letter to the Kremlin. A State serious about peace does not refuse every opportunity to meet, to talk, and to stop the killing.

    A short while ago on 6 May, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued formal notes to Embassies in Kyiv. On 25 May, after one of the largest single-night attacks on Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Russian Ministry of Defence advised diplomatic personnel to leave the city “as soon as possible”. And on 24 June, in this Forum, Russia reiterated that this threat “remains in force”.

    This is not diplomacy. It is pressure. It is an attempt to intimidate the diplomatic community, undermine confidence in Ukraine’s capital, and present Russian escalation as inevitable. The response has been clear: Embassies have not left or announced plans to leave Kyiv.

    Last week, in this Forum, the distinguished representative from Belarus stated the Union State framework includes the use of, in its own words, “all possible means available, including nuclear means”. The Russian Delegation repeated and amplified this nuclear signalling multiple times. This rhetoric is irresponsible and coercive nuclear signalling. This does not support negotiation. This is designed to intimidate. This does not bring peace closer, it increases risk. But let me reiterate, this is not a nuclear crisis, and nor should it become one.

    The Russian Federation’s conduct of the war tells the same story. It continues to sustain casualties of some 38,000 a month, for negligible gains on the ground. It persists in the reckless use of Oreshnik nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missiles against Ukrainian cities. It intensifies long-range strikes that kill civilians far from the front line. These are not the actions of a State seeking peace. They are the actions of a State seeking to sustain the war while blaming others for the absence of negotiations.

    The Russian Federation must stop the war and engage meaningfully in negotiations. Peace will not come through rhetoric while the Russian Armed Forces continue to fight. Peace will not come through threats while Russia refuses direct engagement. And peace will not come through claims of openness while Russia rejects the ceasefire.

    Mr Chair, we continue to call on the Russian Federation to de-escalate, starting by ending its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Federation should agree to an immediate ceasefire and open the channels with Kyiv that President Zelenskyy has repeatedly offered. The path to peace is clear and Russia can choose to take it at any time. Thank you, Mr Chair.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Teachers to benefit from multi-year pay deal [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Teachers to benefit from multi-year pay deal [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 1 July 2026.

    School teachers to see pay boosted over the next 2 years, as part of 17% increase since the general election, backed by significant additional investment.

    School teachers and leaders will see their pay increase by 6.5% over the next 2 years, after the Education Secretary accepted the School Teachers Review Body’s pay recommendations in full today (1 July 2026).

    Teachers will receive an increase of 3.5% from September 2026, followed by 3% from September 2027, delivering a cumulative 17% rise since the general election.

    In further evidence of this government’s continued investment in public services, additional funding of £1.8 billion will be provided to schools over 2 years, supporting pay rises for hard working teachers and support staff.

    Schools, like the rest of the public sector, will need to continue to play their part and will be expected to find the first 1% of each pay award through continued efforts to maximise value from their budgets.

    An additional £485 million will be provided to colleges and other further education providers over 2 years so they can continue to recruit and retain more excellent teachers and deliver high quality vocational, academic and technical courses.

    To ensure taxpayers’ money is being invested where it is needed most, the government will also put curbs on academy trust executive pay.

    From September, trusts will need to seek government approval before advertising roles over £174,000, bringing the sector in line with other public sector workforces including the NHS and colleges. Annual increases for executives will also be brought in line with the wider school workforce, meaning executives will not be able to receive pay rises higher than those set for classroom teachers.

    Education Secretary Bridget Philipson said:

    Our brilliant school and college teachers go above and beyond every day, and I’m determined that dedication is not just recognised, but rewarded.

    This multi-year deal, backed by significant additional investment, shows the immense value we place in our teachers, while giving schools and colleges certainty over pay and their budgets.

    It’s also right that classroom teachers are not seeing executive pay rise faster than their own – or set at excessive levels in the first place – so tighter controls will mean unjustifiable exec salaries become a thing of the past, helping level the playing field for school staff and drive every pound towards classrooms.

    The announcement today means school teachers will see an increase in their pay of 17% since this government took power – equating to almost £7,900 over 4 years – with the average school teacher salary rising to over £52,800 from September 2026 and over £54,400 from September 2027.

    It builds on significantly improved recruitment and retention figures, with over 4,500 more teachers in secondary schools, special schools and colleges since 2024 reaching over 70% of the government’s commitment to recruit 6,500 new teachers with three years to go.

    And beyond those figures, fewer schoolteachers are leaving the profession and there has been a 13% rise in the number of people choosing to train to teach this year – a post-pandemic record – signalling a strong pipeline for the future.

    The government’s Maximising value for pupils programme will play a vital role in supporting schools to get the best value from their budgets, by offering better deals on areas like energy, recruitment, and banking. Schools across the country are already reaping the rewards, including – Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust – which increased its annual interest income from £16,000 to over £1.1 million by reviewing its banking arrangements.

    The government’s work to tackle child poverty, in particular lifting the 2-child benefit limit, is also widely recognised as supporting teachers and easing pressure on school finances, with schools increasingly going above and beyond to support young people in their day-to-day lives over the past decade. Over 1.5 million children in Great Britain will benefit from the removal of the 2-child limit, and 450,000 children will be lifted out of poverty.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Public to have their say on National Lottery Good Causes [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Public to have their say on National Lottery Good Causes [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 1 July 2026.

    • The government is launching a 12-week call for evidence asking the public to help shape the future of National Lottery Good Cause funding
    • Since 1994, players of the National Lottery have generated over £53 billion for good causes across the UK, funding everything from Olympic and Paralympic champions and iconic institutions to local youth clubs and community halls
    • For 12 weeks, anyone can take part in the ‘National Lottery Good Causes: Fund What Matters to You’ call for evidence. You can share your views at GOV.UK 

    The government is launching a comprehensive review of National Lottery Good Cause funding, asking the public to have their say on where the money should go and how it should be spent – the first opportunity in more than twenty years. 

    Since the very first draw in 1994, the National Lottery has generated over £53 billion for good causes, powering Team GB and ParalympicsGB to hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic medals, saving national treasures like the Flying Scotsman, funding iconic British films like Billy Elliot, helping create beloved institutions like the Lowry in Salford, and restoring heritage sites like Beamish Museum. 

    Across the UK, it has supported youth clubs, funded community halls, backed local choirs and grassroots sports teams, maintained the parks and green spaces where neighbourhoods come together, and supported the small voluntary organisations that provide friendship, purpose, and belonging to people who might otherwise have none.

    Nearly a quarter of every pound spent on a lottery ticket goes to causes like these, but its funding model is rooted in a different era. There has been no major review of how it works since former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell’s in 2002-2003. 

    With the National Lottery’s operator Allwyn committed to an ambition to double Good Cause funding to £60 million a week by the end of the Fourth Licence in 2034, the government believes now is the right moment for the public to have more of a say in where their contribution is spent, so every pound reaches the communities that need it most. A 12 week call for evidence launches today.

    Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

    The National Lottery is played by millions of people every single week. It is not just public money, it is literally the public’s money and they must be in the driving seat of how it is spent.

    But for two decades no government has asked people how they want their money to be spent. Decisions are made hundreds of miles from communities who know best and favour larger organisations who can meet the needs of the system, rather than bending the system to work for the small, grassroots organisations who are the lifeblood of our communities.

    This Government is determined that will change. With this consultation we are bringing people back into the conversation. They will write the next chapter in the story of the National Lottery and of our country.

    Andria Vidler, Chief Executive of Allwyn UK, operator of The National Lottery, said: 

    People don’t just play The National Lottery for the chance to win, they play knowing that it supports a vast number of charities and good causes up and down the country, funding the things that people really care about.

    At Allwyn, we want everyone to know the difference that our players make to their communities every time they play. It’s about reigniting the conversation around The National Lottery with positivity, with energy, and with pride, reminding everyone that every ticket is a chance to do some good as well as a chance to win.

    The review will explore where future investment can have the greatest impact and how funding can become more accessible to communities across the UK.

    Lottery funded projects have been made possible because of the crucial work undertaken by the 12 National Lottery Distributor Bodies that deliver for their sectors across Arts, Heritage, Sport, and Communities, and the Government is committed to working closely with them throughout this review.

    The latest figures from 2025 show that the National Lottery generated over £8 billion in total revenue from ticket sales, of which good cause funding equated to at least £1.7 billion. Therefore approximately 23p in each pound raised from National Lottery ticket sales goes to good causes and 12p goes on Lottery Duty for the exchequer. 

    This amount is then distributed across four causes and to each national lottery distributor, based on the following percentages that are set out in legislation:

    • 20% – Arts and Culture (ACE, BFI, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, and Arts Council of Northern Ireland)
    • 20% – Sport (UK Sport, Sport England, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales, Sport Northern Ireland)
    • 20% – Heritage  (NLHF – UK wide) 
    • 40% – Community: charitable activities, health, education and the environment. (TNLCF – UK wide) 

    Once the distributors receive their statutory allocation of funding, they are responsible for distributing this across the UK, on both a national and local level. These distributors operate at arms length from the government. As operator of the National Lottery, Allwyn UK has no part in grant making and is independent from Government.

    Baroness Twycross, Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling, said:

    When people buy a National Lottery ticket, they are also contributing to good causes up and down the country. This call for evidence is a genuine chance to shape where the money this generosity raises goes and make sure it reflects what players and communities want and need. 

    Visiting the De La Warr Pavilion in Hastings recently, I saw exactly what National Lottery funding can do for arts and culture and for the communities that depend on them. Places like this don’t just preserve our heritage; they bring people together. 

    After 30 years, now is the right time to ask you how we make sure your community is funded properly from the National Lottery.

    The 12-week call for evidence is open to players, organisations, and communities across the UK. The government wants to hear what is working, what could be improved, where future funding should go, and how to make it easier to access, including how to make sure the National Lottery genuinely reaches those communities most in need and gives local people a greater say in how funding is used where they live.

    Notes to Editors:

    • The Call for Evidence runs for 12 weeks from Wednesday 1 July and is open to members of the public, organisations, and National Lottery Distributors. 
    • The National Lottery has 12 Distributor Bodies operating across arts, heritage, sport, and communities. 
    • On average, 23p of every £1 spent on a National Lottery Ticket goes to National Lottery: Good Causes funding
    • Allwyn the current lottery operator has committed to an ambition to double good cause income by the end of the Fourth Licence in 2034, from £30m to £60m a week
    • To respond, visit GOV.UK. 
    • The National Lottery (TNL) has raised:
    • £38bn of funding for nearly 480,000 Good Cause projects in England.
    • £4.3bn of funding for over 83,000 Good Cause projects in Scotland. 
    • £2.6bn of funding for over 77,300 Good Cause projects in Wales.
    • £1.6bn of funding for over 34,000 Good Cause projects in Northern Ireland (NI).
  • PRESS RELEASE : Amber Rudd to lead review into safety and security of prisons [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Amber Rudd to lead review into safety and security of prisons [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice in 1 July 2026.

    Former Home Secretary Amber Rudd will lead a major review to make prisons safer, tackle crime and deliver long-term reform that protects the public.

    • Former Home Secretary Amber Rudd to lead prison review to tackle drugs, violence and criminal gangs
    • Review marks next phase of prison reform to fix prison crisis to keep the public safe
    • Latest figures show prisons improving as number of assaults and self-harm incidents fall

    Violence, Illicit drugs and organised crime in prisons will be rooted out, as former Home Secretary Amber Rudd leads a review into how to make prisons safer, more secure and better at cutting crime.

    After inheriting a prison system days from collapse, the government took immediate action to pull our prisons back from operating in constant crisis. Recent figures show early signs of progress with rates of staff assaults, self-harm and self-inflicted deaths all falling, while inspections published over the last 12 months show improvements across a number of prisons.

    Ministers are now turning to the long-term challenges facing prisons, including violence, corruption, staffing, prison capacity and the condition of the estate, ordering a review led by former Home Secretary Amber Rudd to look at the deep-rooted security and safety challenges that continue to blight jails despite the government stabilising the crisis.

    The review will look at how emerging threats – from drones to cyber risks – are evolving, and what action is needed to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics. It will also examine how prisons can strengthen rehabilitation, improve staffing and leadership, and ensure the estate is fit for the future, alongside preventing violence, reducing self-harm and improving day-to-day conditions.

    The review will report back by December and builds on significant Government action over the last two years to stabilise the prison system and make streets safer. As well as falls in assaults against staff and self-harm, there have also been hundreds of arrests linked to smuggling illicit items into prisons.

    Inspection reports published over the last 12 months have also shown improvements across a number of prisons. Of the 21 His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons reports published this year, 14 (two thirds) recorded improved Healthy Prison Test scores compared with their previous inspection.

    While these figures show encouraging signs of progress, violence, assaults on staff and self-harm remain too high, underlining the need for long-term reform.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor David Lammy said:

    We inherited a prison system in crisis, with overcrowded jails rife with violence, drugs and organised crime. Thanks to the dedication of prison staff and the action we have taken, the system is now on a more stable footing.   

    But recovery is only the first step, not the final word. This independent review will help us tackle the deep-rooted problems facing our prisons and set out a long-term plan to build a safer, more resilient system that cuts crime, reduces reoffending and delivers punishment that works.

    Chair of the Independent Review into Prisons, Amber Rudd said:

    Prisons are fundamental to public safety. As Home Secretary, I saw the damage that terrorism, serious violence, and organised crime can cause to communities, and the importance of ensuring prisons do not become places where criminal behaviour is reinforced. 

    This review will examine how we improve the security and safety of prisons, better protect staff, and strengthen the system’s ability to reduce reoffending and keep the public safe. 

    I look forward to working independently across government and with frontline staff to identify practical reforms that make prisons safer, more resilient and fit for the future.

    Clinks CEO, Dr Summer Alston-Smith, said:

    The Sentencing Act was a welcome first step in addressing several of the immediate challenges that have been impacting the justice system. We are therefore pleased that this review goes further and builds on the Act by taking a long-term view as to how to ensure a more sustainable and effective prison system.

    The role of the voluntary sector in supporting such a system, one focused on rehabilitation, cannot be overstated. There is a wealth of evidence to draw on, which the voluntary sector has contributed to significantly over many years, and we look forward to championing the role of the sector in engagement with the review’s work.

    The review will look to build on efforts already been made to keep prisons safer, with 40 million already invested to bolster prison security, alongside a further £35 million announced this month to install heavy duty steel grilles on up to 13,000 prison cell windows to stop drones smuggling contraband into jails.

    This is on top of government action to build 14,000 extra prison places by 2031, with 3,100 already opened up after just 500 net places were added in the 14 years before, and investing an extra £700 million into the probation system. 

    ENDS

    Notes to editor

    • As Home Secretary, Ms Rudd led the Government’s response to terrorism, serious violence and organised crime, and worked closely with the Ministry of Justice following the Acheson Review to strengthen prison security and tackle the threat of extremism in custody, including through the introduction of specialist separation units for the most dangerous offenders.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Brighton’s first Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair sees hundreds of young people connect with local employers [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Brighton’s first Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair sees hundreds of young people connect with local employers [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 July 2026.

    More than 650 young people from across Brighton and the wider local area descended on the world-famous Brighton Centre to meet with some of the region’s best-known employers yesterday.

    • Over 650 young people attended Brighton’s first ever youth jobs fair – part of the government’s Youth Guarantee – held at the Brighton Centre. 
    • The event brought young people face to face with more than 50 employers and training providers including Mace Construction, JD Sports and Gatwick Airport Employers and saw more than 200 job interviews secured. 
    • Youth Guarantee Jobs Fairs are part of wider youth employment support, backed by £2.5 billion which will ensure every young person has the chance to earn or learn.  

    “Launch Your Future” was Brighton’s first ever youth jobs fair to be hosted as part of the Youth Guarantee, the government’s scheme to ensure every young person is either earning or learning.  

    Young jobseekers were given rare, direct access to a huge range of employment and training opportunities, all brought together under one roof. With employers including Pure Gym, Gatwick Airport Employers and more offering sector specific advice.  

    Employers and training providers provided jobseekers with details of the hundreds of open vacancies and apprenticeships opportunities with more than 200 interviews scheduled, including second stage interviews. 

    Sessions provided young jobseekers with a chance to discuss and ask for advice on AI tools to support job searching, the apprenticeship assessment process, CV and interview advice and an introduction to Movement to Work placements.  

    Alongside this, DWP advice desks shared tailored support for individuals on job searching, live vacancies, apprenticeship opportunities, support with childcare costs and more. 

    Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: 

    Brighton’s first Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair showed exactly what this government’s youth employment drive is all about – creating opportunity and bringing young people face to face with employers.  

    Young jobseekers have been shown what the next step in their career journey could be – and in some cases will have left with a job offer.  

    I’m delighted so many local employers are choosing to back our Youth Guarantee, and we will keep going further so we can ensure every young person has the chance to earn or learn.

    Before the event, young jobseekers received specialised group information sessions to help them get the most out of meeting employers face-to-face. 

    They also received hands-on advice covering everything from filling in applications to preparing for interviews – giving them the skills and confidence they need to take their first step into the world of work. 

    Yesterday’s jobs fair forms part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to tackling youth unemployment and ensuring young people can access the opportunities available in their local area.  

    By bringing together jobseekers from across the region alongside a broad range of employers the event has helped create lasting pathways into sustainable employment for young people across Brighton and the southeast. 

    Yesterday’s event reinforces the Government’s commitment that all young people under the age of 25 should be offered one of the following high-quality pathways:  

    • employment  
    • continued education  
    • an apprenticeship  
    • a traineeship, work experience placement or Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) 

    Additional Information:

    Over 50 employers and providers from across Brighton and the southeast attended the jobs fair, including: DWP FSF Desk / Success Desk 

    • The Latest 
    • Arundel Care Services 
    • Play9 LTD 
    • Disability Services Access To Work 
    • Home Instead 
    • Churchill Services  
    • Ansacare 
    • PACEY 
    • The Gym Group 
    • National Careers Service 
    • BHCC HR team (Cheryl )  
    • Rybka Fish and Chips 
    • DWP WEX Desk 
    • Castle Accommodation Ltd 
    • Quint Education 
    • All Care Ltd 
    • Brighton Palace Pier  
    • Bright Horizons Nursery  
    • FEDCAP 
    • BHAFC ( stewarding)  
    • B&M 
    • JD Sports  
    • C&C Healthcare 
    • The Grace Eyre Foundation 
    • Gatwick Airport employers 
    • Murder Actually 
    • GBR Met 
    • Concordia  
    • Aldridge Adult Learning 
    • Tungsten Training 
    • Brighton Probation  
    • Guild Care Limited 
    • Red Skye Personnell Ltd 
    • PureGym 
    • Nandos (Brighton and Horsham) 
    • Plumpton College (inclusive of One Garden) 
    • Brighton & Hove Education Academy  
    • Creative Process (courses and apprenticeships) 
    • Sodexo 
    • Sussex Police 
    • South Downs Leisure 
    • WSCC (West Sussex CC) Connect 2 Work 
    • Mace Construction 
    • ATW Cargo 
    • Oxfam 
    • Brighton Youth Hub 
    • Dnata 
    • Brighter Horizons Training 
    • Lindfield Coffee 
    • DWP Apprenticeship Matching Desk 
    • Queen Victoria Hospital 
    • The Talent People 
    • Movement to Work 
    • Andy Taylor Foundation 
    • Randstad 
    • Creative Futures 
    • DWP Job Matching Desk 
    • DWP Job Matching Desk 
    • DWP Upfront Childcare Desk 
    • DWP Armed Forces Desk
  • PRESS RELEASE : Green Book changes to drive investment in all parts of UK [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Green Book changes to drive investment in all parts of UK [July 2026]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 1 July 2026.

    Communities that have been under-invested in and overlooked for decades are now getting a fair hearing as the Chancellor pushes forward with her overhaul of how investment decisions are made by government.

    Rachel Reeves has written to mayors today [30 June] to update on new action being taken one year on from the review of the Green Book to ensure projects in all parts of the country get the backing they deserve and strengthen confidence in how government invests where they live.

    The Green Book – the government’s guidance on value for money of investments – was updated in February to ensure decisions are no longer based solely on single metrics such as benefit-cost ratios but take into account the full range of economic and social impacts that matter for growth. That could include how favourable the business environment is or where there are higher levels of innovation.

    Findings of an independent review into the discount rate have also been published, ensuring the government is taking a fair view of long-term investment decisions.  Business case guidance has also been streamlined and cut by more than half, cutting through government ‘sludge’ and reducing unnecessary red tape. 

    The government is working in lockstep with regional leaders in Plymouth, Birmingham, Liverpool and Port Talbot to progress place-based business cases – putting local priorities and local expertise at the centre of appraisal. 

    In Plymouth work on the place-based business case is ongoing to maximise the impact of the government’s defence investments, in Birmingham, on coordinated investments in health, housing and skills, in Liverpool, on unlocking investment in infrastructure to drive growth and ramp up housebuilding, and in Port Talbot, to break down barriers in the system to growth.

    For the first time, business cases for major projects and programmes are being published consistently, strengthening transparency so the public can see how decisions are made and ensure they have confidence that every pound is delivering maximum value. 

    These reforms will shape decisions on the likes of Northern Powerhouse Rail, ensuring wider considerations like the impact on local growth, jobs and prosperity are taken into account. It will also support mayors with investing £900 million of local growth funding more effectively over the next four years.

    In her letter, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, told mayors:

    This work sits at the heart of the government’s commitment to drive growth and increase living standards in every region.  I am grateful for the continued partnership between central government and mayors in shaping and delivering this crucial agenda. 

    While there is more to do to fully embed these changes, we are on the path to building a system that supports better decisions, strengthens confidence in how investment is allocated, and helps deliver the long-term growth that communities across the UK both need and deserve.

    This follows the Chancellor’s Mais lecture – where she identified regional growth as one of her three economic priorities.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Welfare reforms saving taxpayer £1 billion come into force [July 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Welfare reforms saving taxpayer £1 billion come into force [July 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 July 2026.

    Reforms to the Motability scheme come into force today saving taxpayers £1 billion by 2030 while protecting disabled people’s access to cars, scooters and powered wheelchairs.

    • Reforms to the Motability scheme to ensure fairness for taxpayer, whilst still supporting disabled people’s mobility, come into force today.
    • New tax rules on Motability car leases due to save taxpayers £1 billion by 2030.
    • Follows removal of luxury vehicles – including BMW and Mercedes – from the scheme after the Budget.

    VAT will now apply to advance payments – the optional one-off top-up paid by customers who choose a more expensive vehicle – and Insurance Premium Tax will apply to new leases.

    Both changes were announced at the Autumn Budget and are part of a wider package of welfare reforms set to save nearly £2 billion by the end of the decade.

    The scheme was set up to help disabled people stay mobile and independent, and these changes ensure it continues to do exactly that, while delivering genuine value for taxpayers.

    Disabled people on enhanced mobility benefits will continue to receive their full award of £77.05 per week and remain eligible for the scheme, with vehicles still available that require no advance payment, meaning people can access a car using their benefit alone.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden MP said:

    Today’s changes are driven by the fairness that underpins this Government – fairness for the taxpayer, fairness for disabled people, and fairness for the country.

    We’re saving £1 billion of taxpayer money by removing VAT relief from some new Motability leases, whilst ensuring the scheme still supports disabled people’s mobility and independence.

    We’re building a fair welfare system and an economy that works for everyone.

    The reforms are part of a wider government drive to fix the broken welfare system it inherited, including:

    • Introducing a Right to Try Work Guarantee to give everyone who can work the chance to do so.
    • Investing £3.5 billion in tailored employment support for sick or disabled people.
    • Increasing face-to-face assessments for health benefits
    • Tackling fraud and error in the benefit system, saving £14.6 billion over this parliament
    • Rebalancing Universal Credit to tackle the perverse incentives which push people away from work.

    Today’s changes follow action taken immediately after the Budget to remove luxury vehicles – including BMW and Mercedes – from the scheme, returning Motability to its original purpose of giving disabled people access to a practical vehicles, and not subsidising premium extras that go beyond what most people in this country can afford.

    Additional information

    • These changes do not apply to Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles.
    • The core Motability package remains in place: eligible disabled people continue to access a vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair, with insurance for up to three drivers, UK breakdown cover and maintenance.
    • There is no change to existing leases and no change to eligibility for PIP or the Motability scheme.
    • The Motability Foundation continues to offer means-tested grants to support people who would otherwise struggle to afford an advance payment, adaptations or a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK targets services exports in China trade talks [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK targets services exports in China trade talks [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 30 June 2026.

    UK targets services exports in China trade talks.

    • Cooperation with China to increase exports already showing results as iconic British brands like Barclays and Formula E expanding in the Chinese market 
    • 200 UK and Chinese businesses to meet and deepen trade ties 
    • New ‘Trade Booster’ will increase routes for UK SMEs to export to China 

    UK exporters are set for a major boost as the country welcomes a delegation of Chinese business leaders to open new markets and deepen commercial ties.  

    Government and business leaders from both nations will come together to strengthen ties and increase growth as UK Trade Secretary Peter Kyle and China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao chair the 15th UK–China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) tomorrow (July 2), at Mansion House. 

    Building on the success of the Prime Minister’s visit to China earlier this year, the JETCO will support UK firms in high-value sectors from life sciences to professional and business services to increase trade with China.  

    The UK will continue to engage with China where there are clear opportunities to co-operate and increase trade and investment ties, whilst continuing to challenge where needed to protect the UK’s national security.  

    Despite the UK being the second-largest exporter of services in the world, China ranks as our 9th largest service export destination, showing the massive untapped potential for our world-leading service sector. 

    Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:  

    The UK is a services superpower, and I want us to turbocharge our services exports and get more British engineers, architects, and accountants exporting their skills to China. 

    We need to be even more ambitious to promote secure and resilient growth for the next generation amidst a backdrop of global uncertainty.

    Ahead of the JETCO, around 200 UK and Chinese businesses representing some of the most innovative brands in the world will showcase the strong appetite for deeper commercial links as part of a landmark new Export to China event. Ranging from Brompton Bikes and HSBC to Clifford Chance  on the UK side and big Chinese names JD.com and ICBC.   

    New commercial wins between both countries have also been delivered including:  

    • Formula E increasing commercial partnerships in China
    • Barclays’ Panda Bond issuances mark the first entry by a UK-incorporated bank into China’s domestic bond market. 
    • The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) working with the Chinese government to advance the mutual recognition of its qualifications.   
    • The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) are partnering with multiple healthcare institutions in China to boost surgical, educational, and training standards. 
    • Life Sciences and textile company Intelligent Fabric Technologies establishing operations in Hong Kong and Shanghai to commercialise its patented DreamSkin technology in clothing for sensitive and ageing skin. 

    The visit also marks the launch of “Trade Booster”, an initiative led by the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), HSBC, ICBC and JD.com to help UK businesses expand exports to China by providing practical and targeted support to succeed in the world’s second-largest consumer market. 

    There are vast opportunities for UK goods exporters in China and this booster gives SMEs a new mechanism to scale up. 

    Meanwhile, the UK-China Professional and Business Services Matchmaking platform has been established to connect major Chinese companies to leading UK services companies to support them in raising capital and investing overseas. 

    Stuart Tait, Head of Commercial Banking, HSBC UK said:  

    UK exporters are a vital engine of growth, jobs and innovation. Today’s announcement is a welcome step, building on the Prime Minister’s visit to China in January, to help more businesses take their products and services to customers in new markets.  

    HSBC UK is pleased therefore to partner with the UK-to-China Export Booster, helping more businesses to trade with the world’s second-largest economy. We are committed to supporting ongoing work to strengthen services trade, which will bring significant opportunities to both economies.

    Will Butler-Adams FREng, OBE, CEO of Brompton Bikes said: 

    Brompton has been exporting to China for nearly twenty years, beginning with a small team but a big belief that Brompton was relevant to cities across China and that we could help transform cities to become cleaner, healthier and happier.   

    We now have over sixty stores selling our bikes across China, and a wonderful community encouraging an active lifestyle. From the first days we have had fun, and have built great friendships, learnt about the rich Chinese culture and enjoyed wonderful regional food! We have worked hard but enjoyed every step of the way.

    Sir Sebastian Wood KCMG, Chair of the China-Britain Business Council said: 

    The China-Britain Business Council welcomes the visit of Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao to the United Kingdom for the 2026 Joint Economic and Trade Commission. We have been honoured to support the visit, including the co-organisation of the Export to China: Big Market for All event on July 1, to take place alongside JETCO. 

    China, including Hong Kong, is equivalent to the UK’s third largest trading partner, and with total trade reaching £135 billion in 2025, an increase of 5.6% from the previous year.  Across the same period, our services exports reached £21 billion, indicating the strong momentum that exists in our trade relationship. We look forward to building on the visit to demystify the China opportunity and support UK businesses in tapping the vast opportunities available through deepened trade with China.

    Officials this week also met for discussions on a Joint Feasibility Study to explore a bilateral Trade in Services Agreement which would open up the Chinese market further to the UK’s world-leading services sector. 

    This underlines the Government’s commitment to a pragmatic, business-focused relationship with China which supports jobs, drives growth, and promotes the UK as a leading destination for investment. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : UNRWA remains indispensable to the delivery of essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees across Gaza and the Middle East – UK statement at the UNRWA Pledging Conference [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UNRWA remains indispensable to the delivery of essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees across Gaza and the Middle East – UK statement at the UNRWA Pledging Conference [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 June 2026.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UNRWA Pledging Conference 2026.

    Let me start by paying tribute to the 392 UNRWA staff who have been killed since October 2023, and to those who continue to serve in the most challenging conditions. 

    UNRWA remains indispensable to the delivery of essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. 

    In Gaza, UNRWA has delivered over 18.7 million health consultations since October 2023. It is also reaching around 860,000 people each day with clean water. This is essential public health work.

    In Lebanon, UNRWA has been operating two emergency shelters, supporting 1,900 people displaced by the conflict, and providing more than 200,000 medical consultations through its clinics. 

    Across the region, UNRWA anchors stability and, through its mandate, supports Palestine refugee rights pending a just and lasting political solution. 

    But the extensive challenges facing the agency are undermining its ability to operate. 

    The United Kingdom condemns actions taken by the Israeli Government including Knesset legislation aimed at restricting its operations in Palestine and the demolition of UNRWA’s headquarters in East Jerusalem. Israel must comply with its obligations to respect the inviolability of UN premises. 

    UN Security Council Resolution 2803 is clear. Humanitarian assistance must reach civilians in Gaza at scale, in coordination with the United Nations and its agencies. UNRWA remains indispensable to that effort.  

    So we must work together to protect its vital mandate, both politically and through adequate and sustained financing. 

    To this end, I am pleased to announce that the United Kingdom will provide $30.7 million to UNRWA this year, including $1.3 million to support implementation of the Colonna Report. 

    We welcome progress on implementation to date and urge UNRWA to continue this effort. Through our role as co-chair of the Neutrality Working Group, we will continue to support reforms to strengthen neutrality, governance, and oversight. 

    Chair, the United Kingdom stands ready to work with partners here today to support and safeguard UNRWA’s important role, ensuring it can continue to provide stability, dignity, and hope across the region.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Civil Service Commissioners Appointed [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Civil Service Commissioners Appointed [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 30 June 2026.

    Four new Commissioners appointed as part of the Civil Service Commission.

    Patricia Gallan QPM, Thomas Goldsmith, Susan Lapworth and Baroness Hunt of Bethnal Green have been appointed as Commissioners as part of the Civil Service Commission with their terms to commence from 1 July 2026 (Thomas Goldsmith’s term will commence from 1 November 2026). Together they bring valuable skills and experience from a range of sectors.

    Patricia Gallan has also been appointed as the Commission’s Link Commissioner for Scotland.

    The Civil Service Commission is an independent statutory body, which oversees appointments to the Civil Service, ensuring that they are made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Commissioners also promote and hear appeals brought under the Civil Service Code.

    Following an open competition, the new Civil Service Commissioners have been recommended by the Prime Minister and subsequently approved by HM The King.

    Baroness Gisela Stuart, the First Civil Service Commissioner, said:

    Patricia, Ruth, Susan, and Tom bring a wealth of leadership experience from a range of sectors to our work as the independent regulator for Civil Service recruitment.

    Their experience and expertise will benefit our work across the entire civil service career lifecycle; from ensuring fair, merit based entry, to providing assurance that exit maintains the integrity of government via the Business Appointment Rules.

    I look forward to them joining our board of Commissioners. Together, we will work to maintain a Civil Service appointed on merit, with the skills needed to deliver public services across the country.

    The new Commissioners announced today have joined the Commission for a 5 year, non-renewable term. Commissioners work part-time, typically between 4 and 8 days a month.