![PRESS RELEASE : British Prime Minister call with President Trump of the United States [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/downingstreet-150x150.png)
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 January 2026.
The Prime Minister spoke with President Trump this evening.
They discussed the joint operation to intercept the Bella 1 as part of shared efforts to crack down on sanctions busting, recent progress on Ukraine and the US operation in Venezuela.
The Prime Minister also set out his position on Greenland.
![PRESS RELEASE : Environment Secretary – Backing farmers with a new era of partnership to boost farm profitability [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ukpol-130x90-3-150x150.jpg)
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 January 2026.
Environment Secretary announces plans at Oxford Farming Conference focusing more support on smaller farms and those without an existing agreement to drive growth, secure a thriving future for the sector, and deliver high quality, affordable food.
Our farmers are essential for the nation’s food security, the Environment Secretary will say, setting out a new era of partnership between government and farmers aimed at boosting profitability.
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference on Thursday 8 January, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds will announce a package of measures to ensure the government works in partnership with farmers to drive growth, secure a thriving future for the sector, and deliver high quality, affordable food for British families.
She will announce reforms to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), designed to simplify the scheme, level the playing field, and provide stable, predictable delivery.
She will set out how there will be two application windows in 2026, with the first from June prioritising smaller farms and those without an existing agreement, followed by a second round from September for wider applications.
The government will continue working with the sector to refine these proposals and full scheme details will be published before the first application window opens.
The Environment Secretary will also outline a new £30 million Farmer Collaboration Fund to support farmer groups in growing their businesses, building partnerships and sharing best practice. This will empower them to find new opportunities to grow their businesses, share what works, build partnerships, and drive the kind of change that comes from the ground up.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds is expected to say:
Farmers are at the heart of our national life – for what you produce, the communities you sustain, and the landscapes and heritage you protect.
British farming is also a key growth sector we’re backing for the long term. Farmers who want to build, to export and to invest in new technology.
But too often, they’ve been held back by bureaucracy. We’re changing that to a system that backs our farmers.
The Secretary of State also set her vision to work in partnership with farmers:
We will work with you – through our new Farming and Food Partnership Board, through peer-to-peer networks, through community-led change, and through engagement on the detailed changes to SFI.
You will have the certainty you need to plan – clear budgets, clear timelines, clear future roadmap, and growth built on strong foundations.
That’s my commitment to you and it’s the foundation for the future we’re building together, to drive growth, secure a thriving future for the sector, and deliver high quality, affordable food for British families.
The Environment Secretary will also set out plans exploring a transformation of England’s uplands, recognising the unique challenges facing the rural communities that depend on them, from poor access to services to harsh farming conditions.
Building on research led by social entrepreneur Dr Hilary Cottam in six upland areas during the past year, the government will work over the next two years – first in Dartmoor, then Cumbria – to deliver system-wide change, create farming clusters, explore new mutual funding models, and lay the foundations for new income streams, from nature-based enterprises to regenerative tourism and circular economy initiatives.
In an additional boost for farmers in England’s most treasured rural areas, the government will extend the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme for three years, with £30 million in funding next year alone.
Since its launch, the programme has supported more than 11,000 farmers across 44 protected landscapes in enhancing nature recovery, tackling climate change, and preserving cultural heritage, including the planting of 362km of new hedgerows, equivalent to the distance of Oxford to Newcastle.
These measures build on the launch of the Farming and Food Partnership Board, bringing together senior leaders from farming, food, retail, finance and government to take a joined-up, farm-to-fork approach to improving profitability.
Alongside Baroness Minette Batters’ Farming Profitability Review, these new partnerships will help inform the government’s forthcoming 25-year Farming Roadmap, to be published later this year and setting out a clear, long-term vision for food production, environmental ambition, land use, and farm profitability.
![PRESS RELEASE : Convictions following EU Treaty Rights immigration scam [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/iaa-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Immigration Advice Authority on 7 January 2026.
Following an IAA investigation, Risalat Hussain and Syed Ali Shah Gilani were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 6 January 2026.
Two men were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 6 January 2026) for taking advantage of people seeking immigration advice, including some of those most in need and some of the most vulnerable in our society.
The pair were convicted of separate offences, including providing unregulated immigration advice and services, and defrauding vulnerable individuals through false representation. One of the men also sought to advise individuals how to defraud and exploit the regulations that the UK public rely on to protect them from illegal immigration.
Syed Ali Shah Gilani, 51, from Solihull, pleaded guilty on the day of trial (16 June 2025), to three counts of providing unqualified immigration advice and services, contrary to Section 84 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years to run concurrently, along with £11,000 in victim compensation plus a victim surcharge.
Risalat Hussain, 38, from Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty on the day of trial (16 June 2025), to one count of fraud by false representation contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006, and was sentenced to a £250 fine, to be paid within three months.
Mr Gilani provided unregulated immigration advice and services to vulnerable individuals seeking vital support. Operating from multiple offices, he orchestrated an immigration scam that involved advising clients how to exploit EU Treaty Rights. Individuals were charged approximately £5,000 each and instructed to travel to Ireland to fraudulently obtain documentation such as PPI numbers and bank accounts, with Mr Gilani claiming he would manage all arrangements.
Gaon Hart, Immigration Services Commissioner, said:
Mr Gilani was fully aware of the legal requirements to provide immigration advice, yet chose to abuse the system and exploit those most in need, including individuals who rely on advice to protect themselves. He acted unlawfully for personal gain – and was caught and investigated thanks to the great work of the Immigration Advice Authority.
This sentencing sends a clear message: the Immigration Advice Authority is actively looking to protect the vulnerable and will disrupt and prosecute individuals providing unregulated immigration advice.
This outcome would not have been possible without the courage and determination of the complainants, whose commitment was instrumental to this prosecution. The Immigration Advice Authority invites anyone harmed or at risk from illegal advisers to come forward, so that we can protect the vulnerable and ensure that legal immigration is supported while preventing illegal immigration.
Mike Tapp, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, said:
Shameless individuals offering immigration advice illegally must be held to account, and this successful prosecution shows they will not get away with it.
This is why we have included tough new penalties for rogue immigration advisers in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, with fines of up to £15,000.
This government is restoring order and control to our borders and will be relentless in pursuing those who abuse our immigration system.
While some clients were met in Dublin and escorted to various institutions, no genuine applications were submitted. The scheme was designed to create the illusion of relocation, enabling clients to apply for family members to gain EU status and return to the UK. Clients were unable to contact Mr Gilani after payment, and refund requests were largely ignored.
Mr Hussain, while denying formal employment by Mr Gilani, played a key role in facilitating communication between Mr Gilani and the clients involved in the scam.
The court heard that Mr Gilani was authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) to provide immigration advice and services at the highest level between 13 April 2011 and 31 January 2014. The IAA launched an investigation following complaints from clients who had paid for services they did not receive.
New penalties for fraudulent advisers under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act will give the IAA enhanced powers to better regulate immigration advisers, protect advice seekers, and support the disruption of serious and organised immigration crime. The IAA will have stronger enforcement and regulatory powers, including financial sanctions, fee refunds and compensation and immediate suspension or cancellation of registration.
Members of the public can check whether an immigration adviser is regulated by visiting the IAA’s Adviser Register. If you have concerns about poor or illegal advice, or wish to make a complaint about an adviser, you can report it directly through the IAA’s online portal.
![PRESS RELEASE : Deputy PM David Lammy travels to Washington to kick off UK role in America’s 250th celebrations [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Gemini_Generated_Image_fnxmipfnxmipfnxm-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 January 2026.
The Deputy Prime Minister begins visit to Washington DC at the invitation of his counterpart, Vice President JD Vance, to mark America 250 celebrations.
The Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, will today (Wednesday 7 January) begin a two-day visit to Washington DC at the invitation of his counterpart, Vice President JD Vance.
The Deputy Prime Minister will kick-off UK engagement in the America 250 celebrations, as the US marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence – its semi-quincentennial.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Vice President will discuss Europe’s role in delivering sustainable, long-term peace in Ukraine and shared endeavours to deliver jobs and economic growth both sides of the Atlantic.
At an America 250 event in Mount Vernon, the Deputy Prime Minister will reflect on how his experiences studying and working in America shaped his own public service and look ahead to the shared future of the UK and the US.
The Deputy Prime Minister will deliver the United Kingdom’s contribution to a time capsule, destined to be buried under the Washington Monument, as part of the celebrations. This comes the year after a sister time capsule was buried in Trafalgar Square in London.
He will also meet young men supported by Baltimore’s Next One Up charity to become the city’s next generation of leaders, as well as the 2026 cohort of Marshall Scholars who will study postgraduate degrees in the UK during the historic America 250 Anniversary Year.
The Deputy PM is expected to speak about the strength of the special relationship, saying:
Far from being an abstract idea, it is built through practical cooperation and shared purpose.
In defence and security. In the trade and investment that benefit us all. In working together to secure peace and stability across the globe. And in our partnerships on emerging technologies and energy security, which will help shape the world in the decades to come.
For me, it is deeply personal influenced by my own history in your country. First, studying in Massachusetts and then working in California. Opportunities here which enabled me, in turn, to serve the public of my own country.
So today is very much about history but it is also about looking to the future.
The 250th anniversary of your independence in July and events which will showcase this great nation and the huge amount it has to offer the world.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin and US Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum will be joined at Mount Vernon by students who had winning entries in Virginia’s statewide ‘Expressions of Freedom’ student competition included in the contents of the Time Capsule.
The Time Capsule – designed by architect Lord Norman Foster – will contain instructions to be reopened on 4th July 2276. The Deputy Prime Minister will gift the US Government with the Portland limestone Capstone – made from one of the original steps of the George Washington Statue plinth in London – which is inscribed with thirteen six-pointed stars replicating the design of George Washington’s famous Headquarters Flag.
During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister is also expected to meet US Supreme Justice Elena Kagan at the Supreme Court and members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
Following the Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to Washington DC he will travel to Toronto to gather vital information on how judge-alone trials operate in Ontario and what lessons could be learnt for court reform in England and Wales. He will discuss how the system works with senior members of the judiciary and the Attorney General of Ontario, Doug Downey.
![PRESS RELEASE : Madeleine Campbell appointed to the Horserace Betting Levy Board [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/cultureukpol-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 7 January 2026.
The Secretary of State has appointed Madeleine Campbell as Board Member of the Horserace Betting Levy Board for a term of four years.
Madeleine is the Professor of Veterinary Ethics at the University of Nottingham and an EBVS and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics, and Law. A leading authority in her field, she holds several high-level leadership roles, including Chair of the British Equestrian Federation’s Ethics and Welfare Advisory Group and Chair of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s Welfare and Veterinary Standing Committee.
She serves as an Independent Member of the Federation Equestre Internationale Welfare and Ethics Advisory Group and an Independent Member of the British Horseracing Authority’s Ethics Panel.
Madeleine Campbell has been appointed for a term of four years, commencing on 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2029.
Remuneration and Governance Code
Board Members of the Horserace Betting Levy Board are remunerated £19,665 per annum. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election.
Madeleine Campbell has declared no political activity.
![PRESS RELEASE : Thousands of lives to be saved under bold new Road Safety Strategy [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/transportlogo-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 6 January 2026.
New road safety strategy shows that the government is listening and leading: together, we can build a safer future for all UK road users.
The first road safety strategy in more than a decade will save thousands of lives on the nation’s roads by tackling drink driving, improving training for young drivers and introducing mandatory eye tests for older motorists.
Launched today (7 January 2026), the strategy sets out an ambitious plan to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035, with an even more stretching target of 70% for children under 16.
Approximately 4 people die on Britain’s roads every day, with thousands more seriously injured each year, but through targeted action on speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seat belts and mobile phone use, thousands of these tragedies can be prevented.
The government will consult on lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, which has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe.
In 2023, 1 in 6 road fatalities involved drink driving, but a consultation will explore the use of preventative technology, such as alcohol interlock devices and new powers to suspend driving licences for those suspected of drink or drug driving offences.
This could mean that, in future, some drink drive offenders might be required to have one of these devices fitted to their vehicle as a condition of being allowed to drive again.
With the number of older drivers continuing to rise as Britain’s population ages, a consultation on mandatory eyesight testing for those over 70 will be launched, while options for cognitive testing will also be developed to protect all road users.
New measures will also target the growing problem of illegal number plates, including ‘ghost’ plates designed to fool camera systems, while also cracking down on uninsured drivers and vehicles without a valid MOT.
Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said:
Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled. This strategy marks a turning point.
We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence. The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade.
Local Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said:
Our vision with this ambitious road safety strategy is clear: to ensure that people can travel safely on our roads however they choose.
One of the hardest parts of my job is speaking to families who have lost loved ones on our roads and this is something we as a government are taking action to prevent. No family should have to endure that loss, and this strategy sets out how we will work to ensure fewer do.
Experts and campaigners have long called for a comprehensive strategy that treats road safety as a shared responsibility – from car manufacturers and town planners to drivers and legislators.
This strategy, the first in over a decade, shows a government that is not just listening, but leading and together, we can build a safer future for all road users.
Independent road safety campaigner, Meera Naran MBE, whose 8-year-old son Dev died in a road traffic collision, said:
I welcome this much-anticipated road safety strategy and am pleased to see a number of measures set out to reduce road deaths and serious injuries.
I am especially grateful to the Secretary of State for giving me her word that she would honour Dev and recognise the importance of legislative change to adopt the General Safety Regulations, as Dev’s Law and for delivering on that commitment. I look forward to working closely with the department to ensure that the appropriate steps are taken to establish a robust and effective framework.
Over the past decade, 22 European countries have made more progress than the UK in reducing road fatalities, causing Britain to slip from third to fourth in European road safety rankings.
This strategy, therefore, sets out a new approach to reverse a decade of stalled progress. The bold strategy adopts the internationally recognised Safe System approach, which acknowledges that while human error is inevitable, deaths and serious injuries are not.
Rather than placing responsibility solely on individual drivers, the system ensures that road design, vehicle safety, enforcement and education work together to protect all road users.
A new Road Safety Investigation Branch will analyse collision patterns and inform prevention strategies, drawing on linked police and healthcare data to identify root causes and target interventions more effectively.
The strategy also mandates 18 new vehicle safety technologies, including autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. This will ensure drivers and road users in Great Britain benefit from access to these cutting-edge technologies and support growth by requiring manufacturers to meet the same requirements across Europe.
Edmund King OBE, Director of The AA Charitable Trust and AA president, said:
This is a positively radical reframing of road safety, which is long overdue. We commend the government for its wide ranging and ambitious strategy and ambitious targets, which we hope will save the lives of thousands of people.
Tackling drivers who drive under the influence of drink or drugs, people who don’t wear their seatbelts and those getting behind the wheel without insurance are key to reducing road deaths and serious injuries. We also endorse the mantra of road safety being a lifelong education, not just when learning to ride or drive.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards, Nicholas Lyes, said:
After what can be described as a lost decade in terms of reducing the number of killed and seriously injured on the roads, we welcome the government’s commitment to ambitious targets and robust policies to make our roads safer.
The strategy focuses on all key aspects, including behaviours, training, vehicle technology and enforcement – all of which play a crucial role in keeping us safe on the road. An emphasis on younger drivers and motorcycle safety is particularly positive, considering these are some of our most vulnerable road users.
We’re also pleased to see action being taken on drug driving, which is a growing menace and by giving police additional powers to take action against those caught at the roadside, it will serve notice that such dangerous behaviours will not be tolerated.
A new Road Safety Board, chaired by the Minister for Local Transport, will oversee delivery of the strategy, supported by an expert advisory panel drawing membership from local authorities, emergency services, active travel groups and road safety organisations.
Vulnerable road users remain a key focus. Motorcyclists account for just 1% of motor vehicle traffic but 21% of road deaths, while children from the most deprived neighbourhoods face 4 times the pedestrian casualty rate of those in the least deprived areas. To address these disparities, the strategy includes consulting on reforms to motorcycle training, testing and licensing and supporting trials to improve motorcycle safety on rural roads.
An estimated 1 in 3 road traffic fatalities involves someone driving or riding for work, prompting the launch of a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter pilot. This will establish a national standard for employers requiring people to drive or ride for work, covering HGVs, vans, cars, motorcycles, e-cycles and cycles. It aims to help businesses in both the public and private sectors reduce work-related road risk by promoting good practice, accountability and compliance with existing legislation.
The success of this strategy depends on strong partnerships between government, local authorities, businesses, road safety professionals, emergency services and the public working together to ensure that every journey starts and ends safely.
RAC road safety spokesperson, Rod Dennis, said:
We’ve long said the dial needs to be turned up when it comes to reducing road casualties, so we warmly welcome this strategy – and especially the reintroduction of casualty reduction targets, that were scrapped 16 years ago.
The simple truth is that this strategy can’t come soon enough. Britain might have some of the safest roads by international standards, but on average, 4 people are still killed and 76 seriously injured every single day. That’s an unacceptable number of lives being ruined or cut short.
The strategy addresses many areas we know drivers are concerned about, including drink and drug-driving, ‘ghost’ plates and dazzling headlights. The inclusion of a commitment to consult on the use of alcohol interlocks for convicted drink-drivers – which are internationally proven to save lives – is particularly encouraging, especially given the extent to which drivers are supportive of their use. It’s also positive to see proposals on the table for both improving young driver safety and tackling the scourge of uninsured drivers who push up motor insurance costs for everyone.
It’s important to remember that the ultimate success of any new or updated penalties or laws will depend on awareness among drivers and enforcement. But undoubtedly, this strategy is a real chance to give the whole topic of road safety the focus and public attention it deserves. What we need now is for it to quickly evolve into a set of concrete actions that make the roads safer for everyone.
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 January 2026.
Axel Heitmueller has been appointed as the Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and Expert Adviser on Delivery.
He will also advise ministers and drive forward the Government’s vision for national renewal to ensure more people get help with the cost of living and see a change in their bills, communities, and health service.
The full-time role is a Direct Ministerial appointment and will be paid.
Axel brings with him extensive experience, including as the Prime Minister’s Expert Adviser on Health. Prior to that, he was CEO of Imperial College Health Partners and Executive Director of Strategy at the Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust Hospital.
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 6 January 2026.
Have your say on how laws around powered mobility devices could reflect modern technology and improve safety by 31 March 2026.
Laws around powered mobility devices, including electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters, could be modernised, as the Department for Transport launches a 12-week consultation today (6 January 2026).
The government is inviting users, accessibility organisations, industry and the public to share views on how outdated rules should evolve to reflect modern technology and improve safety.
Current legislation, which dates back nearly 40 years, does not reflect the technological advances that have transformed these devices. For example, some modern wheelchairs used by adults and children exceed the current maximum legal weight limit, meaning they can only legally be used on private land.
The consultation seeks views on how regulations should evolve to better support people who rely on powered mobility devices, while ensuring safety for everyone who uses our roads and pavements.
Simon Lightwood MP, Minister for Roads and Buses, said:
Powered mobility devices give people independence and freedom and the law should enable their safe use.
This consultation is a chance for users and organisations to help us modernise these outdated rules and ensure they meet today’s needs.
Throughout this consultation, powered mobility device users, accessibility organisations, industry and other members of the public will be able to make their views heard on a variety of areas critical for updating these laws. These include:
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, said:
We are determined to break down barriers to opportunity for disabled people and improving access to assistive technology, as well as making sure that the laws around its use are up to date, is essential to this.
I encourage disabled people to respond to the Department for Transport’s consultation so their views and voices are used to shape this policy.
Isabelle Clement, Director of Wheels for Wellbeing, said:
We are delighted to see the Department for Transport consulting on modernising laws on ‘powered mobility devices’. Over 10 million people in the UK have mobility-related impairments and existing laws create confusion, restrict market innovation and limit disabled people’s freedom to travel.
New high-quality regulations that meet disabled people’s needs will enable millions more disabled people to legally use a growing range of existing and innovative safe, convenient, cost-effective, low-carbon mobility devices to move around our communities.
This has the potential to improve the independence, physical and mental health, employment, educational and social options of disabled individuals and our families across the UK.
Nick Goldup, CEO, Wheelchair Alliance CIC, said:
The Wheelchair Alliance wholeheartedly welcomes this government review of powered wheelchair legislation. For too long, wheelchair users have been sidelined by outdated legislation and offensive terminology. Many individuals using wheelchairs over 150kg have been left feeling anxious and worried about breaking the law.
Having worked closely with Simon Lightwood MP for over a year, we are beyond proud that our campaigning has secured this commitment to change. We will continue to amplify the voices of our community to ensure this review delivers a fairer, more inclusive future for all.
The powered mobility devices consultation will run for 12 weeks and will close on 31 March 2026. A government response will be published soon after.
STORY
Hauliers and fleet operators will be able to claim discounts of up to £120,000 on new electric lorries after the government announced an extra £18 million to extend the Plug-in Truck Grant until March 2026. The Department for Transport said the move is designed to cut the higher upfront cost of going electric and help firms benefit from lower day-to-day running costs compared with diesel vehicles.
Ministers said the funding sits within a wider £318 million green freight investment package aimed at reducing emissions while supporting growth and jobs. Under the updated grant levels, smaller trucks (4.25t to 12t) can receive up to £20,000, mid-sized trucks (12t to 18t) up to £60,000, larger trucks (18t to 26t) up to £80,000 and the biggest lorries (26t and over) up to £120,000.
Alongside the grant extension, the government said it will launch a consultation on a regulatory roadmap to phase out the sale of new non-zero emission HGVs by 2040, which it said is intended to give industry more certainty to plan investments.
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 6 January 2026.
We’re making electric lorries more affordable to help hauliers make the switch, while boosting growth and investment in the sector.
Hauliers and fleet operators will access discounts of up to £120,000 on new electric trucks thanks to an additional £18 million announced by the government today (6 January 2026) to increase the Plug-in Truck Grant until March 2026.
The move is part of a £318 million plan for green freight, which is backing British businesses by slashing upfront costs on new lorries and helping businesses to access the lower running costs. This is all part of the government’s plan to reduce emissions while cutting costs, sparking growth and creating jobs as the sector moves to the technology of the future.
See the list of electric and hybrid vehicles eligible for a plug-in grant for more information.
Similar to the government’s Electric Car Grant, which has saved over 45,000 drivers up to £3,750 when making the switch, the Plug-in-Truck Grant enables lorry operators to access savings of up to £120,000 when buying a new electric truck.
New grant levels mean:
Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, Keir Mather, said:
We’re backing British businesses to go green by making electric lorries more affordable, helping hauliers to make the switch whilst turbocharging growth, investment and jobs in the sector.
Our proposals will provide the certainty the industry has been calling for so that Britain becomes the best place for green investment.
The funding is set to increase zero emission truck sales to support delivery of the UK’s climate obligations and comes as the government has already invested over £120 million as part of the zero emission heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and infrastructure demonstrator (ZEHID) programme to roll out more zero emission lorries on UK roads.
Backed by this fund, companies like Amazon and Marks & Spencer have already rolled out more electric delivery trucks on UK roads, with ZEHID rolling out nearly 300 zero emission HGVs by March 2026.
Day-to-day running costs can already be lower for electric lorries compared to their diesel counterparts, but upfront vehicle costs are typically higher. The increase to the Plug-in Truck Grant will help businesses access those daily savings, cutting costs for businesses as well as emissions.
John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager, Amazon UK:
Amazon welcomes the government’s continued commitment to supporting the electrification of commercial fleets. The UK will be home to the largest number of electric heavy goods trucks in Amazon’s global transportation network and the first of our record-breaking order of eHGVs are already on the road.
We’re investing to help the UK decarbonise and meet our goal of being net zero carbon by 2040. We look forward to continuing to work with the government to ensure the growth of more sustainable logistics.
Alongside increased funding, the government will also launch a consultation on the regulatory roadmap to phase out sales of new non-zero emission HGVs by 2040, giving industry the certainty it needs to invest and plan for the future.
By consulting closely with industry, the government will ensure the road to net zero is one that works for businesses and supports jobs, growth and increased investment.