The statement made by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, on 3 January 2026.
Following very closely the situation in Venezuela. We stand by the people of Venezuela and support a peaceful and democratic transition. Any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter.
With HRVP @kajakallas and in coordination with EU Member States, we are making sure that EU citizens in the country can count on our full support.
![PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/downingstreet-150x150.png)
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 3 January 2026.
The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this morning.
The leaders welcomed the US’ continued push for a just and lasting peace, and agreed it was clear no party wanted that more than Ukraine.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people, who continued to suffer as Russia bombarded cities with missiles and drones, and systematically destroyed critical national infrastructure to plunge families and the elderly into the cold and dark.
The Prime Minister welcomed National Security Advisor level discussions in Kyiv today, and looked forward to leaders progressing that work in Paris on Tuesday.
They discussed the ongoing work to ensure a multi-national force could deploy to Ukraine in the days following a ceasefire.
The Prime Minister welcomed the appointment of Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov as the head of the Office of the President in Ukraine, and said his team looked forward to working closely with him.
The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.
![PRESS RELEASE : Thousands of new magistrates wanted in 2026 as Government launches national recruitment campaign [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 3 January 2026.
Thousands of ordinary people from all walks of life are being called on by the Government today (3 January) to volunteer their time to delivering justice by becoming a magistrate.
Over 2,000 extra magistrates have been trained since 2022 and this new, ambitious recruitment drive aims to boost the magistracy by the same number again in just the next financial year.
Magistrates are representative of the communities they serve. Latest figures show that 57% of magistrates are female and 14% come from an ethnic minority background, with London having the highest proportion of magistrates from an ethnic minority background at 31%.
Magistrates play a vital role in delivering justice locally. They are all volunteers and are expected to dedicate a minimum of 13 days a year to sitting on cases, meaning many magistrates can fulfil this crucial role easily alongside full-time employment and caring responsibilities.
Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, said:
Magistrates play a vital role in our court system – hearing thousands of cases across every jurisdiction and delivering justice.
They are everyday heroes – and we need more people of every age and background to volunteer not just to deliver justice but to serve and represent their local communities.
Volunteering to become a magistrate can make a real difference to your life and the lives of others – that’s why I’m calling on the public to apply and play your part.
New research shows that 45 percent of people in England and Wales would consider volunteering in the next 12 months.
The Ministry of Justice has launched a new call for people across England and Wales to volunteer and help deliver swifter justice for victims.
All magistrates are given robust training and an experienced mentor in their first year to develop their skills and legal knowledge.
They are also supported with specialist legal advisors to allow them to deal with a range of cases. The top qualities that the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary look for in potential candidates are good communication skills, a sense of fairness and the ability to see an argument from different sides. Candidates are being sought to fill positions across all jurisdictions including criminal work, youth cases, as well as certain civil and family proceedings.
![PRESS RELEASE : Black cabs backed with fairer tax system [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/hmtreasury-150x150.png)
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 2 January 2026.
Today (Friday 2 January) online mini cab firms have been barred from illegitimately using a niche scheme to avoid tax.
As announced at the Budget by the Chancellor, private hire vehicle operators in London will no longer be able to use the Tour Operators Margin Scheme – a niche tax scheme designed for tour operators and holiday coach trips – to significantly reduce the VAT they pay on fares.
This means that black cabs will no longer have to compete with online mini cab firms who are misusing this scheme to pay less VAT.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:
We’re putting the brakes on the illegitimate use of a niche tax scheme to protect everyday cabbies. We’ll use the £700m a year this raises to deliver the country’s priorities – cutting the cost of living, cutting waiting lists and cutting debt and borrowing.
Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said:
The government’s decision to apply VAT to all private hire journeys is a landmark step for fairness and integrity in our industry. For too long, drivers and small operators paying the full 20% VAT have had to compete with online mini cab firms benefiting from a niche tax scheme.
We welcome this move and commend the government for taking decisive action.
The Tour Operator’s Margin Scheme is a specialist VAT rule designed for genuine travel and holiday businesses, allowing them to pay VAT only on the profit they make on package trips, not the full fare, typically reducing the effective VAT rate to 4%.
First announced by the Chancellor at Budget 2025, today’s measure will prevent the small number of big companies accessing the Tour Operator’s Margin Scheme, as they have been doing.
By supporting fairer competition, the government is protecting around £700 million in revenue, helping deliver the public’s priorities – cutting waiting lists, cutting debt and borrowing, and cutting the cost of living.
Smaller operators outside London, where passengers book directly with drivers, and all black cabs will not be affected by this reform to the Tour Operator’s Margin Scheme.
![PRESS RELEASE : Families to have better access to childhood vaccinations [January 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/health-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 1 January 2026.
A new £2 million pilot will see health visitors reach families facing barriers to vaccines, to ensure more children are protected.
Health visiting teams will offer vaccinations to children, providing a vital safety net for families who might otherwise miss out.
The new pilot targets families who’ve fallen through the cracks – including those not signed up with a GP, struggling with travel costs, childcare juggling, language barriers or other tough circumstances that stop them getting to the doctor.
By offering vaccinations during routine health visits, the pilot removes these obstacles and ensures more children can access life-saving protection.
Health visitors are specialist public health nurses who support families with children under five. They provide advice on healthy child development, feeding, and family health through regular home visits and clinic appointments.
The twelve pilot schemes will roll out from mid-January across five regions of England – London, the Midlands, North East & Yorkshire, North West, and South West – designed to boost uptake and protect children from preventable diseases.
While the scheme isn’t designed to replace your GP – families should continue to get vaccinated at their local surgery first – it supports families with children who’d otherwise slip through the net.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:
Every parent deserves the chance to protect their child from preventable diseases, but some families have a lot going on and that can mean they miss out.
Health visitors are already trusted faces in communities across the country. By allowing them to offer vaccinations, we’re using the relationships and expertise that already exist to reach families who need support most.
Fixing the NHS means tackling health inequalities head-on. By meeting families where they are, we’re not just boosting vaccination rates – we’re building a health service that works for everyone.
The year-long trial will be evaluated before rolling it out across the country from 2027.
Health visitors on the pilot will get extra training to tackle tricky conversations with worried parents – including those who have doubts about vaccination – and to give vaccinations safely.
Struggling families will be identified by the NHS using GP records, health visitor notes and local databases.
The pilots form part of the commitment to ramp up vaccination programmes, with over 18 million flu vaccines delivered this autumn – hundreds of thousands more compared to this time last year – and over 60,000 more NHS staff also getting their jab.
The government is also investing in better digital services to help families track their child’s health and vaccinations. Through the new NHS App, parents will be able to monitor their children’s health using My Children – a 21st century digital alternative to the Red Book.
The pilot builds on the government’s commitment to Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes, which provide vital support for families during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life, including health visiting services and parenting support.
From 2 January 2026, children will receive the new MMRV vaccine, protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox in one vaccine. This replaces the current MMR vaccine, and offers protection against chickenpox for the first time while making vaccination simpler for families.
The government’s ‘Stay Strong. Get Vaccinated’ campaign also runs throughout the year to promote confidence in vaccination.
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 1 January 2026.
Businesses to receive boost to investment as a new first-year allowance takes effect today (Thursday 1 January), as the government continues its drive to make Britain the best place to do business.
First announced by the Chancellor at Budget 2025, the government is continuing to offer greater upfront tax reliefs for businesses with a new 40% permanent first-year allowance for main-rate plant and machinery.
This new relief follows calls from businesses to expand full expensing to more assets and businesses, and will mean businesses can deduct much of the cost of their investment in the year they make that investment, cutting their tax bill.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:
Saving tax for businesses that are investing is key to building the confidence needed to boost growth. We are building on the UK’s capital allowance regime – one of the most generous in the world – alongside capping Corporation Tax and enabling more scale ups to attract investment to help create a tax system that supports growth.
This will be available for assets bought for leasing and for unincorporated businesses, which do not benefit from full expensing, while preserving the current incentives to invest.
Full expensing allows companies to claim 100% capital allowances on qualifying main rate plant and machinery investments, such as warehouses or construction equipment, which means a company can deduct the entire cost of its investment from its taxable profits in year one, so that for every pound invested its taxes are cut by up to 25p.
The UK has one of the most generous and competitive capital allowances regimes in the world and is top of the rankings of OECD countries for plant and machinery capital allowances.
In line with the commitments made in the 2024 Corporate Tax Roadmap, the government has maintained the parts of the UK Corporate Tax offer that are most important for attracting new investment. This includes capping Corporation Tax at 25% for the rest of this Parliament, the lowest in the G7, and the generous full expensing offer.
![PRESS RELEASE : More than 600 government files released under 20-year rule [December 2025]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/nationalarchives-150x148.png)
The press release issued by the National Archives on 30 December 2025.
More than 600 documents have been released by the Cabinet Office today under the 20-year rule. Most are correspondence and work on government policies during Sir Tony Blair’s Labour administration 2004-2005.
They include a file about Kim Philby’s archive and another relating to the successful Olympics 2012 bid.
There is material relating to the tsunami in the Indian Ocean and birthday messages to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.
Of the files, The National Archives has digitised more than 80 which are available to view on the link below. The rest of the documents are available to order and read at The National Archives in Kew, south-west London.
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 31 December 2025.
More than 500 new ambulances will be deployed in England to cut response times for patients in every region.
Patients and staff across the country are benefiting from a new fleet of over 500 ambulances, as the government strengthens frontline emergency services this winter amid a flu epidemic.
The vehicles – which will replace old ambulances across England – represent one of the biggest upgrades to the NHS fleet in recent years and have been rolled out to every region of England, helping emergency services respond faster and more reliably through winter.
The new double crew ambulances are equipped with modern safety technology, improving protection for patients and staff while supporting paramedics to deliver urgent care more effectively.
The rollout is already making a difference. The new ambulances have reduced breakdown rates and time spent out of service, meaning more vehicles have remained on the road and available to respond to emergencies.
The government investment has also supported skilled jobs, with ambulances converted by businesses across the country – including Goole and Bradford in Yorkshire, Sandbach in Cheshire, Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, and London – helping attract investment and drive economic growth.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting said:
In an emergency, every minute matters. When someone dials 999, they should get help fast – not be left waiting because of creaking kit or preventable delays.
These new ambulances are already helping to cut response times and keep more vehicles on the road, just as the NHS is facing a tidal wave of flu and the ongoing disruption of strikes.
I want to thank NHS staff for their extraordinary dedication this winter. They are going above and beyond for patients, often in incredibly tough conditions, and this government is backing them with the modern equipment they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.
Modernising our ambulance fleet means better care for patients and stronger emergency services – while backing British jobs and driving economic growth.
NHS national director for urgent and emergency care, Sarah Jane Marsh said:
Modern, well-equipped and reliable ambulances are a vital part of emergency care and allow staff to respond quickly and safely when patients need them most.
This new fleet of ambulances are a crucial link between providing patient care whether at home, in transit or at an emergency department and are a real boost at a time when staff are working incredibly hard and emergency care is under considerable pressure.
Through the Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, the government is going further to boost resilience by investing in 40 new same-day emergency care and urgent treatment centres and 15 mental health crisis assessment centres.
The government has committed a further £412 million over the next four years to continue renewing the ambulance fleet and modernising emergency services.
The announcement comes as the NHS manages significant winter pressures, including an early flu peak and the effects of recent industrial action.
Despite this, ambulance response times have improved compared to last year, hundreds of thousands more vaccines have been delivered, and more care has been delivered in the community to help keep patients away from overcrowded A&E departments.
Rory Deighton, Acute and Community Director, NHS Confederation, said:
Health leaders will welcome these new ambulances to the country’s fleet which will help the NHS to continue to provide better, faster and more appropriate emergency care, an area which is facing high demand and rising public concern over performance.
NHS leaders and their teams are working incredibly hard to keep patients safe, but rising flu levels, increased staff sickness and industrial action is having an impact, so making sure the NHS does not continue to fall into crisis each winter is essential for improving public confidence in the health service.
Strong collaboration between all health partners in the system and with local government, including improvements to emergency care through the Urgent and Emergency Care Plan will be key to sustained progress over the next year.
Jason Killens KAM, Chair of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives and Chief Executive of London Ambulance Service said:
These new vehicles are a key part of the ongoing modernisation of ambulance fleets across the country, ensuring we can meet the needs of patients not only during what is already a very challenging winter, but for many years to come.
The new ambulances include a range of design improvements that enhance patient care and staff safety. They are lighter, more fuel‑efficient and produce fewer emissions, while supporting paramedics to deliver urgent care more effectively. Their improved reliability also means fewer breakdowns and less time out of service, keeping more vehicles on the road and ready to respond to patients.
![PRESS RELEASE : Government pledges to reverse decline in foster carer numbers [December 2025]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/education-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 30 December 2025.
New action in early 2026 to address urgent need for more foster carers and support retention of existing carers.
Vulnerable children in the care system in England will be provided with more stable and loving homes, thanks to government plans to radically accelerate foster carer recruitment.
The government has committed to tackling the growing shortage of foster carers across England, confirming that a comprehensive package of reforms will be introduced in the new year to increase the number of foster places available and support the retention of existing carers.
The latest figures published by Ofsted highlight the scale of the challenge inherited by this government. At the end of March 2025, there were 33,435 fostering households – a 10% decline since 2021.
Foster carer recruitment is a key area of government reform, with the package of measures addressing the urgent need for more places for children in the social care system.
A lack of foster homes pushes children into residential care, where they have worse expected outcomes in education, health and long-term prospects, and where they can become more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, as highlighted in the Casey Audit.
Over the Christmas period, foster carers are sharing their experiences of welcoming children into their homes. Their stories demonstrate the lasting impact of stable, supportive care, which the government is further strengthening through the landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister, said:
Fostering changes lives – not just for children who need safety, stability and love, but for the families who open their homes to them.
We know the number of foster carers has been falling, and that is why this government will be taking decisive action to give stable and loving homes to children that need them.
The festive season highlights the urgent need to get more children in care into loving, supportive homes where they can thrive – I’d urge anyone who has considered fostering to look into signing up.
The fostering reforms to be introduced early in the new year will be backed by new funding for children’s social care announced at the Spending Review and will focus on:
These reforms will expand the pool of potential foster carers, enabling more children to find places in foster homes. They will also ensure existing foster carers receive better support to help them continue delivering for children.
Further details will be set out in the new year, with a consultation expected to launch in early 2026.
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said:
Children in care deserve the same things as every other child: loving relationships, a safe home and support throughout their life that sets them up to meet their ambitions – and these are the things they tell me they want.
Too often they are denied these things because of a shortage of safe, caring homes. No child should be considered too complex for foster care, but instead of living with a foster carer who can provide high-quality care and therapeutic support, many of our most vulnerable children are placed in unregistered accommodation with no scrutiny over standards, or left to fend for themselves in semi-independent housing, miles from the homes and people they know.
I look forward to working closely with Minister MacAlister to set ambitious targets for increasing the number of foster carers in this country, so that every child feels the benefit of a homely, family environment.
This festive season, the government is urging people who are able to foster to consider doing so.
Foster carers are sharing their experiences of welcoming children into their homes, demonstrating that fostering can be rewarding and that carers do not need to fit a traditional mould to provide excellent care.
Around Christmas, routines change and feelings of loneliness and uncertainty can be heightened for children in care. This highlights the ongoing need for stable, supportive placements with carers who can access support including a weekly fostering allowance, training and advice networks.
Amy Burns, founder of Messy Fostering, was fostered at 14 and spent summers with her teacher Jo, who stepped in to support. Her experience illustrates how fostering can succeed outside conventional family structures.
Amy Burns said:
The simple truth is that fostering saved my life… That’s it. At 14, I had already been let down by so many adults.
I suddenly found myself surrounded by adults who not only taught me how to advocate for myself, but were there to catch me when things weren’t going quite right.
Fostering isn’t simple or easy but I was finally safe and I slowly learned how to breathe again.
The government will continue to work closely with local authorities, fostering agencies and carers to ensure that the 2026 reforms deliver a sustainable, high-quality fostering system that meets the needs of children now and in the future.
![PRESS RELEASE : Fourth edition of the annual dialogue between the Department for Business and Trade and the Direction générale des Entreprises [December 2025]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/businesstrade-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 30 December 2025.
On 11 December 2025, the UK hosted the fourth edition of the annual dialogue between the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the French Direction générale des Entreprises (DGE).
Initiated in 2023, this bilateral dialogue brings together public sector leaders and policy experts to identify opportunities to deepen mutually beneficial collaboration. The fourth edition was led by Amanda Brooks CBE, Director General at DBT, and Thomas Courbe, Director General at DGE, alongside representatives from the British Embassy in Paris and the French Embassy in London.
This year a key theme was the Industrial Strategy Partnership, agreed between the UK and France in July 2025. This Partnership strengthens collaboration in the Industrial Strategy high-growth sectors such as clean energy, critical minerals, and digital technologies including AI. The dialogue saw both parties commit to intensify collaboration and the sharing of practices in SME AI adoption and in economic security.