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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : It is deeply regrettable that this resolution did not pass – UK Explanation of Vote at the UN Security Council [April 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : It is deeply regrettable that this resolution did not pass – UK Explanation of Vote at the UN Security Council [April 2026]

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

    UK Explanation of Vote delivered by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

    No country should be allowed to hold the world’s economy hostage.

    Yet that is exactly what Iran is doing, by denying the right of transit passage, a key navigational right under international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

    Today, Russia and China chose to shield their ally, Iran, rather than join international efforts to open the Strait and avert risks to the global economy.

    We reject the claims made by Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi last week that the efforts by the Council to open the Strait will ‘complicate the situation’. 

    It is Iran’s actions that have closed the Strait. 

    This has already had dire consequences, and the longer this stranglehold continues, the worse the situation will get. 

    In the last 24 hours, we have heard only nine vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz, an international shipping route that would normally see up to 150 vessels a day.

     The World Food Programme has estimated that this hostile act could push 45 million more people into extreme hunger by June.

    We supported Bahrain’s initiative, and it is deeply regrettable that this resolution did not pass.

    The United Kingdom is already supporting our allies in the Gulf to defend themselves, in accordance with the existing and inherent right to individual and collective self-defence.

    We all want to see the de-escalation of tensions in the Strait, and we welcome current diplomatic efforts underway and stress the importance of respect for international law, including the international law of the sea as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

    As my Foreign Secretary said last week, when the UK convened over 40 countries in support of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, we are determined to see every possible diplomatic, economic, and coordinated measure to get the straits reopened. 

    We will not cease in these efforts.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Britain’s innovators backed with around £100m of new investment [April 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Britain’s innovators backed with around £100m of new investment [April 2026]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 7 April 2026.

    Entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups are to receive a boost as a package to unlock private investment and double tax reliefs is brought into force.

    • £100 million of new investment a year unlocked as entrepreneurship tax relief package comes into force.
    • Package includes significant expansion of Enterprise Management Incentives scheme, Enterprise Investment Scheme, and Venture Capital Trusts.
    • Wider support measures include the British Business Bank’s Five-Year Strategic Plan and three years of UK Listings Relief.

    Entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups are to receive a boost as a package to unlock private investment and double tax reliefs is brought into force.

    The changes implemented today (6 April 2026) at the start of the new tax year include:

    • Significantly expanding the number of companies eligible for the Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) scheme, further supporting companies to attract and reward talent.
    • Doubling the amount a company can raise through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) to boost investment through additional tax relief through these schemes.

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced the package for entrepreneurs at Budget 2025, and together these changes are expected to support around £100 million of additional investment a year.

    The EMI is a world-leading tax advantaged share scheme which allows eligible companies to offer their employees options to acquire tax-advantaged shares. EIS and VCT provide a range of tax reliefs for investors to encourage investment in higher-risk, early-stage companies that face the biggest challenges in accessing growth capital.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    I am backing business with a more active state that’s making big commitments to industry. I have taken steps to unlock £100 million a year for new investment in the businesses founded by our wealth creators so they can access the finance critical to their success.

    The expansion to EMI will include quadrupling the gross assets test from £30 million to £120 million while both the employee limit, and company share option limit, will be doubled from 250 to 500, and £3 million to £6 million, respectively. This is expected to support around 1,800 of the highest growth scale-up companies in sectors including financial technology, life sciences, and AI over the next five years, allowing them to reward an estimated 70,000 employees.

    The EIS and VCT lifetime company investment limits will double to £24 million, and the annual company investment limits will increase to £10 million. The gross assets test will increase to £30 million before share issue, and £35 million after.

    The government is backing the UK’s most innovative companies. Knowledge intensive companies using EMI, EIS and VCTs benefit from higher asset and investment limits so they can continue to benefit from the schemes as they scale.

    Income Tax relief available for those investing in VCTs will be reduced from 30% to 20%, to better balance the amount of upfront tax relief compared to EIS, and incentivising funds to seek out higher returns to ensure they are targeting the highest growth companies.

    As part of the package, the government launched a Call for Evidence at Budget 2025 to gather evidence from founders, scaling companies and investors, on tax policy support for investment in high-growth UK companies. The consultation closed in February and the government will respond in due course.

    The government is also supporting scale-ups to list in the UK as the Chancellor announced at the Budget, in an international first, UK Listing Relief – a three-year exemption from Stamp Duty Reserve Tax for companies listing in the UK. This will boost the trading volumes and share prices of UK scale-ups that take the next step and list in the UK.

    Today’s package comes on top of the British Business Bank’s (BBB) new Five-Year Strategic Plan – a step‑change in how it will support small businesses, including scaling companies, using its increased permanent financial capacity of £25.6 billion.

    The BBB will invest at least £5 billion in growth-stage funds and scale-up companies, and the government has also asked the BBB to explore using its existing financial guarantee capacity to support IP-backed lending.

    Stakeholder responses:

    Carolyn Dawson, CEO at Founders Forum Group, said:

    The UK has always been a brilliant place to start a company and today’s reforms are a positive step towards making it just as compelling a place to scale. We’re particularly pleased to see the expansion of the EMI scheme: giving more employees a genuine stake in the companies they’re building is one of the most powerful ways to attract talent and reward the risk-takers who drive British innovation forward.

    But keeping Britain’s best companies at home requires an ongoing commitment from all of us to back British success stories. When British innovation thrives, it translates directly into better jobs, higher wages, and a more resilient economy for everyone.

    Eva Barboni, Executive Director of Enterprise Britain, said:

    Britain needs more companies to make the leap from start-up to scale-up to global champion. These measures speak directly to two of the three pillars we set out as urgent priorities in our most recent report: access to capital and the ability to attract and retain talent. 

    The changes to the EMI scheme are particularly important. Talent is the lifeblood of high-growth firms, and widening access to share ownership will help more British scale-ups attract and retain the people they need to compete globally. It will also help ensure that the benefits of those companies’ success are shared more widely.

    Dom Hallas, Executive Director, Startup Coalition: 

    Expanding EMI is a genuine win for the startup ecosystem – it gives high-growth companies far more room to compete for talent, which is ultimately what drives scaling success. The improvements to EIS will also help unlock more capital into early-stage businesses, particularly in knowledge-intensive sectors where the UK has real comparative advantage. We are optimistic that next year we will see further improvements to the tax landscape for founders, following the ongoing call for evidence.

    Irene Graham OBE, CEO at ScaleUp Institute, said:

    It is very good to see the commitments made in the Budget now being fully enacted. The changes now in effect for EIS / VCT / EMI make a tangible difference to businesses scaling across sectors and geographies as they progress their global growth ambitions. The long-term increased capacity of the British Business Bank and practical solutions that are now deployed such as the British Growth Partnership Fund, alongside Venture Link, are vital enablers, working with the private sector, to build and increase critical scaleup investment into our innovative scaling firms across the country. These packages, alongside the Government’s listing relief; further review of tax policy to support investment in high-growth UK companies and focus on how to evolve IP lending, are clear signals to encourage businesses to start, scale and stay in the UK.

    Hannah Seal, Partner at Index Ventures, said:

    The UK now has the most competitive stock option scheme of any large economy in the world. By doubling the headcount cap and quadrupling the asset threshold for EMI, the Government has created a world-leading scheme that surpasses its global peers. This is a game-changer for British entrepreneurship, allowing UK startups to compete with global giants for the best talent. We are grateful to the founders who joined us to advocate for this change and to the Government for taking decisive action to make the UK the best place for top talent.

    Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive, Entrepreneurs Forum, said:

    It’s encouraging to see real practical support which will help ambitious businesses to scale. Access to funding remains one of the biggest barriers to growth, and these measures should make it easier for entrepreneurs to unlock that next stage.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Surge in neighbourhood police in communities fighting crime [April 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Surge in neighbourhood police in communities fighting crime [April 2026]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 7 April 2026.

    Over 3,000 additional police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) have been put into neighbourhood roles in less than a year, as new figures reveal the government has hit this target 2 months ahead of schedule. 

    While murders and serious violent crimes are at their lowest level for more than a decade, communities have continued to be blighted by shop theft, mobile phone theft and drug offences.

    Figures released today show that 3,123 additional neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs have been hired or redeployed since April last year and are now focused on fighting local crimes in communities.

    Last year the government pledged to have 3,000 additional neighbourhood policing personnel by the end of March 2026, meeting the target in January.

    The increase in neighbourhood officers is already delivering results. The Home Office’s Winter of Action scheme across December and January saw almost 18,000 arrests across more than 600 towns and cities as police presence and patrols were ramped up.

    Of these, over 5,000 were for retail crime, over 1,000 for sexual offences, almost 1,000 for street crime, and over 10,000 – more than half – were for violent assault.

    Crime and Policing Minister, Sarah Jones, said:  

    Neighbourhood policing was hollowed out under the previous government. Communities were left to face an epidemic of everyday crime that all too often seemed to go unpunished.

    To make matters worse, too many officers have been stuck behind desks in support roles when we need them out on our streets.

    We’re delivering the biggest reforms to policing in over 200 years and, crucially, putting 13,000 more neighbourhood officers where they belong – on the beat and fighting crime in our communities. The government will halve knife crime within a decade, saving lives and protecting communities.

    Significant successes have been seen across some of the busiest individual forces in country, including these self-reported examples:

    • South Wales reporting a 37% reduction in home burglaries and a 14% reduction in anti-social behaviour
    • Greater Manchester Police making more than 1,300 arrests – more than 400 were for anti-social behaviour, 272 for retail crime, and 170 for serious violent crime
    • Merseyside Police making 1,045 arrests, with retail crime arrests up 26% on the previous 2 months before the campaign, while street crime arrests increased by 71%

    The early delivery of additional neighbourhood officers marks a major milestone in meeting the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which will ultimately see 13,000 additional neighbourhood personnel by the end of this parliament – an increase of more than 75%.

    The guarantee is putting officers back on the beat, tackling the issues that matter most to their local communities. Arrests already rose by 5% last year, as the renewed focus on neighbourhood policing delivers real results.

    All police forces have now also published bespoke antisocial behaviour action plans – another key commitment of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee – setting out how they intend to continue tackling antisocial behaviour (ASB) in their communities. The plans were published by each force’s designated antisocial behaviour lead, roles that were established last year as part of the guarantee.

    John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch Network, said:

    The government increasing the number of neighbourhood police officers is welcome and essential, and the quality of relationships built with communities will embed confidence. That is where the benefit of working with people and community organisations is realised.

    Neighbourhood Watch has been advocating for named, contactable local officers for many years. Local people know their areas best, and when police engage with communities meaningfully, it generates valuable intelligence and insight that simply cannot be gathered any other way.

    Harvinder Saimbhi, CEO of ASB Help, said:

    It’s positive to see 3,000 neighbourhood officers are now in place, with a mandate to deliver the ASB Action Plan and work with key local agencies on priorities most important to communities.

    For ASB victims to be able to have direct conversations about their concerns will provide crucial reassurance that their experiences are taken seriously, and that meaningful steps will be taken to address the issues affecting their daily lives.

    Dal Babu, former Chief Superintendent at the Metropolitan Police, said:  

    The government’s investment in an extra 3,000 neighbourhood officers is an excellent opportunity to focus on the crimes which cause huge harm in our communities.

    As someone who worked on reducing anti-social behaviour in my 30-year police career, I am extremely pleased to see the decades-long hollowing out of neighbourhood policing is being reversed.

    Association of Convenience Stores Chief Executive, Ed Woodall, said:  

    We strongly welcome the government’s commitment to increasing police presence in communities, which has led to a majority of retailers reporting better relationships with their local police forces.  

    We now need to capitalise on this momentum so that more repeat shop thieves are brought to justice and taken out of the cycle of reoffending. Local shops remain committed to working with the police to make this happen.

    Today, the government will launch its plan to halve knife crime within a decade. Titled ‘Protecting Lives, Building Hope’, it will save lives, transform the futures of young people and protect communities across the country. 

    To tackle knife crime, the government will support young people so they get the best start in life, stop those at risk from turning to knife crime and police our streets to catch and punish perpetrators.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Interest rate cap introduced to protect Plan 2 borrowers [April 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Interest rate cap introduced to protect Plan 2 borrowers [April 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 7 April 2026.

    Interest on Plan 2 and 3 student loans will be capped at 6%, instead of RPI+3%, to provide borrowers with certainty in an uncertain world.

    The government is capping the maximum interest rates on Plan 2 and 3 student loans at 6% from 1 September, for the 2026/27 academic year, delivering stability and protections for graduates from escalating student loan interest. 

    This measure will protect students and graduates in England and Wales from the potential of inflation pressures due to the situation in the Middle East. Graduates will not pay the price for a war which the UK has no direct involvement in. 

    This reform removes the risk of any temporary increase in inflation causing loan balances to compound at an unsustainable rate and is in line with actions taken in the past to secure stability in the student finance system. 

    Graduates with Plan 2 loans currently pay interest rates of between RPI and RPI plus 3%, depending on their earnings. Current students on Plan 2 and Plan 3 also attract an interest rate of RPI +3% while they are studying.

    Interest on Plan 2 and 3 student loans will be capped at 6% instead of RPI+3% to protect borrowers. This will ensure no Plan 2 or Plan 3 borrower faces an interest rate of above 6%, protecting them from any short-term increase in RPI due to global shocks, such as temporary spikes in oil prices, outside the government’s control. The government is clear this is not our war and the UK will not be dragged into conflict, but the impacts will affect the future of our country. 

    It follows changes this government has already made to the student finance system we inherited to improve it and make it fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers. This includes increasing the repayment threshold for Plan 2 loans to £28,470 in April 2025 – its first increase since 2021 – and we have increased it again on 6 April this year, to £29,385.

    The government is continuing work to make the student finance system fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers. 

    Minister for Skills, Jacqui Smith, said: 

    We know that the conflict in the Middle East is causing anxiety at home, and while the risk of global shocks is beyond our control, protecting people here is not. 

    Capping the maximum interest rate on Plan 2 and Plan 3 student loans will provide immediate protection for borrowers, supporting those who are most exposed within this already unfair system. 

    We’re acting now to defend against the consequences of far-away conflicts in an uncertain world. More broadly, we’re bringing back maintenance grants and continuing to look at the broken Plan 2 system we inherited, and the wider student finance system, to make it fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers.

    The Prime Minister has outlined plans to protect the UK public from the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East, including cutting energy bills, extending the cut to fuel duty, supporting those exposed to heating oil rises and taking back control of our energy security, by investing in clean British energy. 

    The government is making this change ahead of student loan interest rates being confirmed for the coming 2026/27 academic year. The interest that applies to student loans is fixed by academic year, from 1 September to 31 August the subsequent year, using the RPI value for the year to March prior (in this case, March 2026). 

    The student finance system also protects lower-earning graduates, with repayments determined by incomes and outstanding loans and interest being written off at the end of repayment terms. This write-off is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy.

    Since 2024, we have been committed to supporting the aspiration of anyone who can and wants to attend higher education. We have reintroduced targeted, means-tested maintenance grants from the 2028/29 academic year, providing students from low-income households with up to £1,000 extra support that will not need to be repaid to ensure those from the poorest families receive more support without increasing their debt. We have also set an ambitious target of two thirds of young people taking a gold standard apprenticeship, higher-level training or heading to university by the age of 25.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Millions of workers get new access to sick pay and parental leave [April 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Millions of workers get new access to sick pay and parental leave [April 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 7 April 2026.

    Landmark employment rights reforms kick into force.

    • Millions of employees to benefit from reforms to Statutory Sick Pay, ensuring they can take time off when sick without worrying about going without pay.   
    • New rights to paternity leave from the first day in a new job, helping families balance work and home life.  
    • Changes are part of the Employment Rights Act, which will benefit over 18 million workers across the UK and make work pay for everyone.  

    The world of work has today [6th April] been upgraded for the 21st century, as landmark employment rights reforms kick into force.  

    From today, employees will receive Statutory Sick Pay from their first day of sickness absence – rather than having to wait until the fourth day, regardless of how much they’re getting paid. This will benefit millions of people across the United Kingdom, who will get around 400 million a year extra in sick pay.   

    By ensuring people can rest and recover without fear of losing income, the reforms are expected to help reduce the duration of sickness absences, boost productivity, and limit the spread of illnesses.

    32,000 new fathers and partners have also gained the right to paternity leave from the first day in a new job – rather than having to wait six months to be eligible. New day one rights to unpaid parental leave have also begun, which will benefit 1.5 million working parents across the UK who will no longer have to wait a year before qualifying.   

    Business Secretary, Peter Kyle said: 

    “Day one rights mean exactly that: rights that are there for you from the moment you start a job, and from the moment you get sick.  

    “Whether you’re a low-paid employee who’s been forced to work while unwell, or a new parent who wants to be there for their family, these changes are for you. We’re delivering the most significant upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation” 

    From today, parents will also be granted a new right to time off following the death of a child’s mother or primary adopter, through new Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave – hard fought for by campaigners including Aaron Horsey and the charity Gingerbread.  

    The Fair Work Agency will also be launching on 7th April, bringing together three separate agencies to ensure employment rights can be enforced more effectively and efficiently.  

    Employment Rights Minister, Kate Dearden said: 

    “No one should have to drag themselves into work when they’re unwell because they can’t afford not to — and no new parent should miss out on time with their child because they haven’t been in their job long enough.  

    “These reforms put that right. This is what it means to make work pay for everyone.” 

    Minister for Employment, Dame Diana Johnson said: 

    “No one should ever have to choose between their health and earning a living.

    “For too long, sick employees have had to make the impossible decision between losing out on a day’s pay or returning to work while ill.

    “Today’s landmark changes will support employees to recover while providing businesses with the peace of mind that their workforce can return to work healthier and more productive.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Kenya – Matt Baugh [April 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Kenya – Matt Baugh [April 2026]

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

    Mr Matt Baugh OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya in succession to Mr Neil Wigan OBE, who has taken up another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Baugh will take up his appointment during April 2026. 

    Curriculum vitae  

    Full name:  John William Matthew Baugh   

    YearRole
    2026Pre-posting training (incl. Swahili language training) 
    2024 to 2025FCDO, Director, Migration & Conflict  
    2022 to 2024FCDO, Director, Euro-Atlantic Security   
    2020 to 2022Brussels, Ambassador to EU Political & Security Committee later Director, Political & Security, UKMis EU 
    2019Pre-posting training (incl. French language training) 
    2016 to 2019 DExEU, Director, Strategy & Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State  
    2013 to 2016 FCO, Deputy Director, Africa  
    2010 to 2013Mogadishu, Her Majesty’s Ambassador 
    2009UK Higher Command and Staff Course 
    2008 to 2009DFID, Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State  
    2006 to 2007DFID, Deputy Director, Iraq Department  
    2004 to 2006DFID-FCO-MOD, Head, Joint Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit 
    2002 to 2004 Khartoum, DFID Country Representative 
    2000 to 2002 DFID, Head of Global Emergencies  
    2001 to 2002DFID, Head of Afghanistan Crisis unit  
    1999 to 2001DFID, Head of Kosovo Crisis unit  
    1998Joined DFID Fast Stream  
    1997Joined MOD Fast Stream
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK opens door to Japan’s £1.4 billion organic market [April 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK opens door to Japan’s £1.4 billion organic market [April 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 April 2026.

    Strengthened UK-Japan trade arrangement slashes red tape for British organic exporters, cutting costs and bureaucracy.

    British organic food producers will see red tape slashed and the doors opened to one of Asia’s fastest-growing organic markets, Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle has announced.

    Coming into effect today (Wednesday 1 April), the UK and Japan have formally recognised the equivalency of each other’s organic livestock standards. This will create significant market access for British exporters to meet growing consumer demand for organic products in Japan, from organic bacon and sausages to cheese and butter.

    This means British businesses will need only a single UK organic certification to sell their organic livestock products in both countries, cutting costs and bureaucracy and breaking down a major trade barrier.   

    The government has identified removal of this trade barrier as one of its market access priorities, with the potential to boost British export sales and generate millions in additional trade each year according to industry estimates.

    Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:

    From Welsh organic cheese to world-class organic British beef, our farmers and producers set the gold standard for quality.  

    This arrangement tears down barriers and gives them access to Japanese consumers who are increasingly seeking out the very best organic products the world has to offer.

    Among those eyeing the opportunity is a Welsh organic dairy producer that has been growing its exports of organic cheese across Asian markets and is now looking to establish a foothold in Japan.

    Stuart McNally, Business Development and Sales Manager for Calon Wen, said:

    This is a very welcome breakthrough for Calon Wen, a farmer-owned organic dairy co-operative, and for the wider UK organic sector.

    This equivalency with Japan allows us to pursue opportunities previously out of reach. This includes organic business tenders worth substantial trade annually. It’s a positive step that supports our family farms and strengthens the reputation of Welsh organic dairy in premium export markets such as Japan.”  

    Japan is the second largest organic market in Asia, valued at an estimated £1.4 billion in 2023, and expanding rapidly, driven by Japanese government initiatives to promote organic consumption domestically.  

    The UK-Japan organics market already enjoys a thriving trade partnership, where British organic produce including tea, fruit and vegetable juices, cereals, sauces, and syrups are already winning over Japanese consumers, who in return export popular staples like organic soy sauce, noodles, and green tea enjoyed by British consumers.
       

    The UK’s organic sector continues its impressive growth trajectory, expanding 4.2% in 2025 to reach £3.9bn retail value – a trend sustained since 2012. The EU, Switzerland, US, and Republic of Korea stand among the other key export destinations for British organic products.

    This arrangement builds on many recent wins for the livestock sector such as the recent beef tariff rate quota, worth up to £70 million a year if fully utilised, and genetics market access in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

    Notes to editors

    • Japan is the second largest organic market in Asia after China, with an estimated value of approximately £1.4 billion in 2023.
    • The new arrangement expands the UK’s existing organic equivalency arrangement for mutual recognition of organic standards between the UK and Japan to cover organic livestock products for the first time and will come into effect on 1 April 2026.
    • This builds on an earlier agreement that was reached between the UK and Japan in September 2025, boosting new trade in organic alcoholic drinks.  
    • The scope of the products covered by the arrangement includes all types of UK organic certified meat and dairy products, including beef, lamb, pork and chicken, processed meat products such as bacon, sausages, hams and cured meats, dairy products such as butter, cheese, yoghurt, milk powders and processed eggs, and other processed food products containing animal ingredients, for example pet food.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Trade envoy visits Dhaka to strengthen two-way trade and economic ties ]April 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Trade envoy visits Dhaka to strengthen two-way trade and economic ties ]April 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 April 2026.

    The UK Trade Envoy to Bangladesh Rt. Hon. the Baroness Winterton of Doncaster, DBE is visiting Dhaka this week to reinforce and expand the longstanding and mutually beneficial UK–Bangladesh trade and economic partnership.

    Her third visit to Bangladesh comes at a pivotal time following the formation of Bangladesh’s new elected government in February. It underscores the UK’s commitment to deepening cooperation in trade, economic development, higher education, aviation and defence. 

    During her visit, Baroness Winterton will hold meetings with senior ministers and other government and military officials, to discuss shared priorities for mutually beneficial growth and reiterate the UK’s commitment as a reliable and long-term economic partner for Bangladesh. 

    The Trade Envoy will also meet with business leaders including representatives from UK companies operating in Bangladesh, to explore avenues for increasing bilateral trade and investment and strengthening commercial ties. 

    In addition, Baroness Winterton will visit Bangladeshi businesses that export to the UK using the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). DCTS is one of the world’s most generous trade preference schemes. It is designed to support developing countries such as Bangladesh by: 

    • Providing duty-free market access for a wide range of products 
    • Simplifying rules of origin to make it easier for exporters to qualify 
    • Encouraging diversification of exports beyond garments 
    • Boosting long‑term, sustainable economic development through job creation 

    Bangladesh is the biggest beneficiary of duty-free access in the DCTS, supplying high quality goods to British consumers at competitive prices and supporting jobs in Bangladesh. 

    Trade Envoy Baroness Winterton said: “The UK and Bangladesh share a strong, historic partnership, and our countries continue to benefit from expanding trade and investment ties. 

    “I look forward to engaging with government leaders, businesses, and entrepreneurs to identify new opportunities that support economic growth and prosperity for both nations.” 

    British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke said: 

    “Shared growth and prosperity are at the heart of the UK–Bangladesh relationship, and Baroness Winterton’s third visit in a year reflects just how seriously we take that commitment. This visit will further solidify our partnership as Bangladesh enters an exciting new chapter.” 

    The UK remains one of Bangladesh’s largest export markets and a leading development and investment partner. This visit reaffirms the UK’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s transition toward a more diversified, resilient, and high‑value economy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Thousands to be supported into work as government reforms welfare system [April 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Thousands to be supported into work as government reforms welfare system [April 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 6 April 2026.

    Hundreds of thousands of sick or disabled people will be offered voluntary help towards employment as part of a package of measures coming into force today (6 April) that will encourage work and save taxpayers around £1 billion.

    • Incentives that discourage work and trap people on benefits to be removed via legislation coming into force today.
    • Nearly £1 billion taxpayer money expected to be saved thanks to measures to narrow the gap between payments for people on health-related benefits and those actively seeking work.
    • Comes alongside employment support package of £3.5 billion, with 65,000 disabled people or those with health conditions already given tailored help.

    The system inherited from the previous Government encouraged more people to stay on benefits without support to move into work.

    Reforms coming into force today will change that, tackling perverse incentives by introducing a lower Universal Credit health element rate of £217.26 per month for new claimants, compared to the higher rate of £429.80.

    Those with the most severe, lifelong conditions, those nearing end of life, and all existing Universal Credit health claimants will continue to receive the higher rate.

    Anyone affected by the changes to Universal Credit will be entitled to voluntary employment support, with more than 65,000 people with limited capability for work and work-related activity taking up the offer since March 2025 – exceeding the target.

    And as the Government continues to bear down on the cost of living, the changes will also see almost four million households on the standard rate of Universal Credit receive a boost worth around £295 extra this year in cash terms, around £110 above inflation, for a single person aged 25 or over.

    Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said:

    The welfare system we inherited has for too long locked disabled people and people with long term conditions out of work.

    Laws coming into force today will change that, reducing projected expenditure on Universal Credit by almost £1 billion.

    Simultaneously boosting the standard allowance and investing £3.5 billion in employment support means we’re creating a welfare system that backs people to work and helps them build a better future.

    From 8 April, customers with limited capability for work or work-related activity will also see a new notification on their Universal Credit account giving information on the support available and allowing them to opt in to being contacted to find out more about the support.

    This will trigger a conversation with a Pathways to Work adviser, who can offer personalised appointments and refer individuals to programmes such as Connect to Work, WorkWell, or local Trailblazer schemes.

    The changes come alongside the £3.5 billion investment the Government is making to help disabled people and those with long-term health conditions move closer to the labour market, offering personalised support aimed at improving employment and living standards.

    This includes the Connect to Work programme, which will provide tailored help to 300,000 people over the next five years, and the groundbreaking WorkWell programme, set to support a further 250,000 people to stay in or return to work.

    With 2.7 million people on Universal Credit assessed as having limited capability for work- and work-related activity, the tailored employment support aims to open up opportunities and remove barriers to work, rather than leave people stuck on benefits.

    Additional information

    • Based in every Jobcentre across England, Wales and Scotland, the advisers offer one-to-one support to people with Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) status – those who receive benefits without any requirement to look for work
    • The Act delivers the first sustained, above inflation uplift to UC’s standard allowance. The four rates of standard allowance will rise above the rate of inflation in each of the years from 2026/27 to 2029/30. From April 2026, monthly rates increase to:
      • £338.58 – Single under 25
      • £424.90 – Single 25+
      • £528.34 – Couple under 25
      • £666.97 – Couple 25+
    • The previous system means that people receiving the Universal Credit health top-up were paid more than twice as much as a single person on the standard rate who is looking for work, without any support to move into employment.
  • PRESS RELEASE : First wave of national Young Futures Hubs open to turn the tide on youth services decline [April 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : First wave of national Young Futures Hubs open to turn the tide on youth services decline [April 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 6 April 2026.

    First eight ‘Young Futures Hubs’ opening in Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, County Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, and Tower Hamlets.

    • Part of the National Youth Strategy, a network of 50 Hubs will provide joined-up services across mental health and wellbeing, employment and crime prevention
    • Next week the Government will launch its plan to halve knife crime within a decade to save lives, transform the futures of young people and protect communities across the country

    Young people in eight locations across England are to benefit from the first ‘Young Futures Hubs’ opened by the Government. The hubs, targeted in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour and knife crime, will:

    • Transform the lives of young people, cut crime and protect communities 
    • Divert them away from knife crime and anti-social behaviour
    • Provide them with services and advice to combat social isolation, mental health and unemployment
    • Give access to safe, trusted adults

    Under the government’s National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, the first eight of 50 Young Futures Hubs have opened or will shortly open in Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Tower Hamlets.

    Hubs will build on existing services, and create safe, welcoming spaces bringing a range of local support services under one roof. Young people aged 10-18 (and up to 25 for those with SEND) will have access to trusted adults who will provide wellbeing support, careers guidance, and positive activities like sport, arts and volunteering. The government is committed to ensuring that success for young people is not determined by their background, and the hubs will also offer support for vulnerable children. These activities help divert young people away from knife crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as combat social isolation and mental health, and increase access to job opportunities for young people.

    Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

    The closure of over a thousand youth centres since 2010 didn’t just take away facilities, it took away community, connection and opportunity for a generation. We are determined to rebuild that.

    These hubs are about more than bricks and mortar, they’re a statement that this government believes in young people and is investing in their futures. What makes them different is that we’re joining things up – wellbeing support, crime prevention, work coaches, youth services, all in one place. 

    We’re making sure teenagers have somewhere to go, someone to talk to, and a real chance to thrive.

    This comes as the Government launches its plan to halve knife crime within a decade. Titled “Protecting Lives, Building Hope”, it will save lives, transform the futures of young people and protect communities across the country. The Government will support young people so they get the best start in life, stop those at risk from turning to knife crime and police our streets to catch and punish perpetrators. 

    In some areas, the Hubs will work with new multi-agency Young Futures Panels, to ensure children at risk of knife crime are provided with the support they need.  The panels bring together the police, children’s services, schools, and community organisations to identify vulnerable children early, spot risks that may otherwise go unnoticed, and ensure they are quickly referred into the right support before issues escalate. 

    Sarah Jones, Policing Minister, said: 

    Knife crime devastates lives. Behind every statistic is a child who didn’t make it home, a family whose world has been shattered, and a community left with fear. This Government will halve knife crime within a decade, saving lives and protecting communities. We will roll out Young Futures Hubs in crime hotspots across the country to divert young people from violence, cut crime and protect communities.

    The Prime Minister has spoken of how young people have become “collateral damage” over the past decade, prompting the launch of the National Youth Strategy – the first in 15 years. The ambitious 10-year plan to rebuild youth services is backed by over £500 million of investment, and was designed in collaboration with more than 14,000 young people across England.

    £70 million will be invested to establish 50 Young Futures Hubs and transform local youth services, rebuilding Local Authority capability after a decade of declining investment, with spending falling by 73% since 2010. As a result, many young people have been left without access to safe, supportive environments or a community to belong to, while reliance on online interaction has grown in the absence of face-to-face opportunities.

    Minister for Youth and Civil Society Stephanie Peacock said:

    When this Government developed the National Youth Strategy, we listened to over 14,000 young people from across the country. What came through clearly was that they wanted somewhere to go, something to do, and someone who cares. Young Futures Hubs are part our response to this and we are delighted to see the first eight up and running. Hubs are places where young people can belong, with trusted adults and positive activities all under one roof. Keeping young people safe and away from crime starts with making sure they have the right support around them, and that’s exactly what these hubs deliver.

    The Young Futures Hubs programme has been designed to respond directly to these challenges by creating welcoming, youth-led spaces where young people can enjoy real-life connections, with somewhere to go, something to do, and someone who cares for them.

    From the Barca Leeds in Bramley to the Full Circle Docklands in Bristol, each hub has been co-designed with young people themselves, ensuring the atmosphere and activities reflect their true needs and passions.

    The eight Young Futures Hubs have opened or will shortly open in the following locations:

    • Manchester: Young Futures Hub (YF Hub) network based across Moss Side Millenium Powerhouse (Moss Side), Manchester Youth Zone (Harpurhey), and Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre (Wythenshawe), with further outreach planned in six smaller neighbourhood hubs across the city. 
    • Birmingham: YF Hub to open in temporary location at Library of Birmingham before moving to permanent Cannon Street site from summer 2026. 
    • Brighton and Hove: Main YF Hub based at 67 Centre, with linked sites in central locations at Brighton Youth Centre, Tarner and Impact Initiatives, as well as in Hangleton and Knoll. Further offers in the east of the city are under development. 
    • County Durham: YF Hub based at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre.
    • Bristol: Main YF Hub based at Full Circle Docklands, with enhanced provision and a connected network across five venues in Ashley, Central and Lawrence Hill wards, connecting the Hub with additional outreach in the community and schools. 
    • Tower Hamlets: YF Hub based at Haileybury Youth Centre in the central St Dunstan’s ward.
    • Leeds: Main YF Hub based at Barca Leeds in Bramley, with additional ‘spokes’ sites at LS-TEN in south Leeds and Imagination Station in east Leeds. 
    • Nottingham: Main YF hub based at Beaumont Street Community Centre with plans to work with partners to provide services for all children and young people to access across the City.

    More information on specific provision at each site is available on request.