Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister – No matter the global uncertainty, I’m on the side of the British people [April 2026]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 April 2026.
- New measures come into force today to support workers, pensioners, and families with the cost of living
- Two‑child benefit cap scrapped from today – lifting nearly half a million children out of poverty
- Comes as the Prime Minister renews his commitment to defend Britain’s interests abroad and stand up for people at home
The Prime Minister has vowed to “always be on the side” of the British people as changes today help workers, pensioners, and families with the cost of living.

At a time of international uncertainty, the Government is focused on what matters most to people at home: easing the cost of living now, and making sure the country is better prepared for future shocks.

A raft of changes coming into effect today will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, provide millions of pensioners with extra help to manage rising costs, and deliver the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.

Keir Starmer understands that families are worried about bills, the weekly shop, and what global instability could mean for their household finances. Today’s measures provide certainty now — while laying the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy.

As a result of decisions made by this government, policies coming into effect today include:
- Scrapping the two child benefit cap which will lift 450,000 children out of poverty
- The biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation through the Employment Rights Act – delivering day one paternity and parental leave as well as major reforms to Statutory Sick Pay, ensuring workers can take time off when sick without worrying about going without pay.
- Increasing the basic and new State Pensions by 4.8% for more than 12 million people – an increase worth up to £575 a year for someone on the new State Pension.
- Uprating benefits such as PIP and Housing Benefit, and increasing most working-age benefits by 3.8%, helping millions of low-income families and sick and disabled people.
- This comes alongside action the Government is taking to incentivise work and tackle ill-health, as well as boosting the standard rate of Universal Credit by 6.2% – the first ever permanent, above-inflation increase – worth around £265 more a year for a single person, or £465 more a year for a couple.
These measures follow last week’s increase in the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage for millions of workers, alongside an average £117 a year cut to energy bills for households across the country – locked in until the end of June.

Taken together, this action leaves the UK better placed to weather current economic challenges, while working with global partners to secure de‑escalation and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to relieve pressure on prices globally.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said:

No matter the global uncertainty, my government will always be on the side of the British people in bearing down on the cost of living.

I will never lose sight of how restless people are for change, and I am proud that today we are lifting nearly half a million children out of poverty, boosting support for pensioners, and delivering the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.

“I know families across the country are concerned about the conflict in Iran and what it means for the cost of living. We are working closely with international partners to push for a de-escalation in the Middle East and the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. This is the most effective way to ease the pressure on the cost of living. > >I am clear that our response to the current global situation will define us for a generation, which is why we are taking the right long-term decisions now to ensure we emerge from this as a stronger, more secure nation.

All these policies take effect alongside the Prime Minister’s five‑point plan to deal with the immediate impact of the conflict in the Middle East on the cost of living.

This includes cutting energy bills by an average of £117 per household; extending the cut in fuel duty until September while closely monitoring prices at the pumps; providing £53 million to support households most exposed to heating oil price rises; strengthening Britain’s energy security by investing in clean, home‑grown energy; and continuing to push for de‑escalation in the Middle East.

During the past week, the Prime Minister has hosted a roundtable with leaders from the energy, insurance and shipping sectors to hear directly about the challenges they are facing, chaired a COBR meeting of Cabinet ministers to coordinate the UK’s response, and asked the Foreign Secretary to bring together more than 40 countries to drive forward a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and protect freedom of navigation.
April 6, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Record year for gang busts and knife seizures [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 5 April 2026.

New figures show a record year for County Lines enforcement, with more gang leaders charged and knives seized than ever before, backed by £34m in new funding.

More drug lines have been closed, gang leaders arrested and dangerous weapons seized than ever before due to County Lines operations.

New data released today shows that 2,740 County Lines have been closed, 1,657 gang leaders charged and 961 knives were seized in 2025. Since the election, these operations have resulted in 3,785 line closures, 2,175 gang leaders charged and 1,229 knives taken off the streets.

County Lines are a method of drug dealing by gangs, running drugs from metropolitan cities to smaller towns – leaving a trail of exploited children and violence across the country.

The Government funds police operations under the County Lines Programme to dismantle criminal gangs that use violence and exploit children to transport drugs and knives.

The funding supports police operations which include intelligence gathering on gangs, targeted house raids and drug seizures across the transport network, putting gang leaders behind bars and ensuring the phones lines used for drug deals cannot be brought back into use.

County Lines Programme has led to a 25% reduction in hospital admissions for stabbings in key areas, preventing more than 800 stabbings a year.

The figures come as next Tuesday, 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.

Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said:

“We are shutting down more criminal lines, busting more gang leaders and seizing more dangerous knives off our streets than ever before.

“I will not rest in the relentless pursuit of these horrific criminals that leave a trail of violence and exploitation in their wake.

“The Government will halve knife crime within a decade, saving lives and protecting communities.”

Building on these results, the Government will invest more than £34 million in the County Lines Programme this year, ensuring the national fight continues against the violent gangs who exploit children and fuel serious violence.

The new funding includes more than £28 million for policing, as confirmed through the Police Funding Settlement, ensuring forces have the resources they need to disrupt organised drug networks, close down active lines and safeguard those at risk of exploitation.

Naomi Hulston, Chief Executive Officer, Catch22 said:

“Catch22 is proud to deliver the national County Lines Support Service, working alongside Government and police to safeguard thousands of child victims through trauma-informed support and achieve the incredible impact of the County Lines Programme.

“No child should become a victim of violence, County Lines, or exploitation. Across our services we have seen a worrying trend of younger victims and an increasing impact on girls and young women, so collaborative approaches are even more vital.

“As a member of the Government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, Catch22 is committed to working together to draw a line under violence and exploitation for good.”

These new Programme results follow the most successful County Lines Intensification Week from 2-8 March, involving forces across England, Wales and Scotland taking targeted action against County Lines gangs. In the space of a week, police closed 355 lines, resulting in 2,180 arrests and 1,348 people safeguarded.

Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell, Head of the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), said:

“As the results from our latest intensification week demonstrate, tackling County Lines remains a top priority for policing.

“Since the Home Office-funded County Lines Programme was established, we are now closing more lines, charging more violent offenders, and protecting more children and adults at risk of exploitation and other harms than ever before.

“As County Lines gangs’ methods evolve, our policing approach – led by the NCLCC – does too. We remain committed to pursuing high-harm County Lines and those controlled by violent drug dealers, so that we can prevent harm, protect children and vulnerable adults, and disrupt criminal activity.”

Tackling County Lines is central to the mission to halve knife crime. By relentlessly disrupting the drug networks that fuel serious violence and exploit young people, the County Lines Programme is helping to drive lasting reductions in harm. It has led to a 25% fall in hospital admissions for stabbings across key County Lines exporter areas, preventing more than 800 stabbings each year.

The ongoing funding will help the police across the UK to continue to work together effectively to tackle County Lines drug supply, violence and exploitation. It will also support work with local partners to protect young people who are at risk, deal with the causes of knife crime and help keep communities safe.

This includes doing more to stop children being exploited by criminals. The Government is bringing in a new child criminal exploitation offence through the Crime and Policing Bill to prosecute adults criminally exploiting children. It will also introduce new court orders to stop this exploitation before it happens or stop it from happening again.

These changes will help target the gangs who groom and pressure young people into violence and criminal activity.

The Bill also creates new offences to tackle practices used by County Lines gangs, including taking over someone’s home to deal drugs (known as cuckooing) and forcing people to conceal drugs inside their bodies (internal concealment).

Together, these measures will give the police stronger powers to break up organised crime gangs, go after those who exploit others, and better protect children and vulnerable people.

Kathy Betteridge, Director of Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery for The Salvation Army, said:

“We welcome the Government’s action to tackle County Lines and the violence and devastation of lives that goes with it. We recognise the vital focus on prevention, the continued investment, and the clear results it is bringing.

“Through our work supporting survivors and in the heart of communities across the country, we see first-hand the devastating impact of County Lines exploitation, where young and vulnerable people are groomed, coerced and drawn into violence by criminal gangs.

“For future investment to succeed, it must continue to prioritise early intervention, trusted relationships and long-term support to protect people from harm and help them build safer futures.”

April 6, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Independent champion for Armed Forces appointed as new team stands up [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 5 April 2026.

The UK’s first ever Armed Forces Commissioner has been appointed by the Defence Secretary John Healey MP.

The UK’s first ever Armed Forces Commissioner – Former Air Commodore Polly Miller-Perkins CBE – has been appointed by the Defence Secretary John Healey MP.

The appointment delivers on the government’s key manifesto commitment to give serving personnel and their families an independent voice to improve service life.

The Armed Forces Commissioner is a new statutory office that is an independent champion and direct point of contact for personnel and their families. Polly has unprecedented powers to investigate welfare issues and raise concerns that impact service life, including equipment, housing, and unacceptable behaviours. The office was up and running and Polly was in post on Monday 30 March 2026.

Appointing an Armed Forces Commissioner was a lead defence manifesto commitment by this Government to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

Our Armed Forces are at the heart of our nation’s security. With demands on defence rising, from the conflict in the Middle East to growing Russian aggression, we are asking more of our military, and it is right that we continue to step up our support for them and their families.

I am proud that we legislated in our first year of government to create this new Commissioner role, with powers to challenge Ministers and military leaders and to report directly to Parliament.

Polly brings deep experience of service life and exceptional leadership as this country’s first ever Armed Forces Commissioner, she will be the independent champion and direct point of contact that our Armed Forces and their families deserve. Our message to the Armed Forces community is clear: this government is on your side.

Armed Forces Commissioner, Polly Miller-Perkins CBE, said:

As the first Armed Forces Commissioner, I am deeply honoured to take on a role dedicated to championing the lived experience of our Service personnel and their families. Throughout my career in Defence, education and public service, I have been fortunate to lead teams in some of the most challenging and rewarding environments across the UK and overseas. Those experiences have shaped my belief that people are at the heart of everything we do — and that when we truly listen to them, we strengthen and improve the systems that support them.

Ultimately, my purpose as Commissioner is simple: to ensure the lived experience of those who serve is understood, valued and continuously improved. I will work tirelessly with Serving communities across all Services to understand personal experiences and ensure concerns reach the people who can deliver real and lasting change.

Commissioner Miller-Perkins will be able to visit UK Defence sites unannounced, commission reports, and will report directly to Parliament to hold the Government to account. Personnel and their families will be able to contact the Commissioner about issues affecting them, with the Commissioner empowered to investigate these concerns, seek relevant information from the Ministry of Defence, and make recommendations for improvement.

She will be able to investigate individual welfare concerns, undertake thematic reviews into systemic issues affecting service life, and report findings directly to Parliament – strengthening transparency and public understanding of welfare matters across Defence.

Former RAF Air Commodore Polly Perkins served for over 30 years in the Royal Air Force, specialising in logistics and holding senior leadership roles including Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, British Forces Cyprus. She deployed on operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan and worked with NATO partners to improve multinational logistics. She holds an MA in Defence Studies from King’s College London and was awarded a CBE for her service.

The decision to appoint a commissioner was inspired and modelled on the Commissioner for the Armed Forces in Germany. They have been received positively by German personnel.

The Interim Commissioner will carry out all the functions of the Commissioner and a permanent appointment is due to be made in the coming months through an open competition.

The Armed Forces Commissioner role came into law under the Armed Forces Commissioner Act on 3 September 2025. They will take responsibility for the existing Service Complaints Ombudsman and will ensure there is no break in that service.

April 6, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Record number of new and replacement ambulances delivered [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 4 April 2026.

Boost for paramedics as over 1,100 new or replacement ambulances rolled out nationwide.

1,141 new or replacement ambulances delivered across England between April 2025 and March 2026 – the highest annual total on record
Majority of vehicles replacing older fleet, improving reliability and keeping more ambulances on the road
Modern ambulances equipped with modern technology, improving protection for patients and staff while supporting paramedics to deliver urgent care more effectively
A record number of new and replacement ambulances have been delivered to NHS Trusts across England over the past year, boosting frontline capacity and helping paramedics respond to patients faster.

New data shows that a total of 1,141 new or replacement Double Crewed Ambulances (DCAs) were delivered to NHS ambulance Trusts between April 2025 and March 2026.

Funded through a combination of national investment and local funding, this marks the highest number of replacement ambulances delivered in a single year since records began.

The majority of the 1,141 vehicles replace older ambulances, ensuring patients and staff benefit from a modern, reliable fleet. The remainder of the new vehicles will provide additional fleet capacity, further supporting services under pressure.

Health Minister, Zubir Ahmed said:

By modernising the NHS fleet, our hardworking paramedics are equipped with all the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, while ensuring patients receive the highest possible standard of care.

Replacing older vehicles with state-of-the-art ambulances means we are not only improving reliability and reducing downtime, but crucially helping more crews stay on the road and respond to emergencies.

These vehicles are equipped with the technology to better protect staff and support faster, more effective treatment. This is a vital step in ensuring the NHS can continue to deliver world-class care for patients when they need it most.

Dr Fenella Wrigley, National Medical Adviser, Ambulance, NHSE said:

New and replacement ambulances are crucial in providing care for patients, whether taking care to the patient home or conveying a patient to an emergency department.

Reliable, modern, well-equipped ambulances allow emergency teams can stay out on the road and do what they do best, responding to patients quickly and ensuring they get the care they need.

The new Double Crewed Ambulances are equipped with the modern technology and enhanced safety features, helping protect patients and staff while enabling paramedics to deliver high-quality pre-hospital care.

Modern ambulances are more reliable and less likely to require repairs, reducing the amount of time vehicles spend off the road. This means more ambulances are available to respond to 999 calls, helping cut waiting times and improve patient outcomes.

The rollout forms part of wider action to improve urgent and emergency care services, including improving flow through hospitals, improving delays to discharge through better join up with social care, putting more power in the hands of local leaders and improving strategic leadership.

Anna Parry, Managing Director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) said:

Delivering more than 1,100 new and replacement ambulances in a single year is a great achievement by NHS ambulance services in collaboration with DHSC and NHSE, and a genuine boost for patients and our people. Replacing older vehicles with modern, better‑equipped ambulances means greater reliability, fewer breakdowns and more time on the road where they are needed most.

For our crews, these vehicles make a tangible difference. The enhanced safety features and improved working environment support paramedics and other clinicians to deliver high‑quality care under intense pressure, and they help our people feel safer and better supported on shift.

This level of investment is essential as ambulance services continue to face sustained demand. A modern, resilient fleet is fundamental to improving response times and ensuring patients receive timely, safe care wherever they are when it is needed. We welcome this record year of delivery and look forward to continued progress in strengthening ambulance services across the country.

This winter, the NHS has seen a significant improvement in performance despite record demand, with Category 2 response times, including for strokes and heart attacks quicker than they have been for half a decade.

Waiting times are also at their lowest in A&E for almost half a decade, thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, better planning and modernisation.

April 6, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Over 12 million pensioners to receive £575 State Pension boost [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 4 April 2026.

Over 12 million pensioners will see their State Pension rise by up to £575 from Monday (6 April), as both the basic and new State Pensions increase by 4.8% under the Triple Lock guarantee.
- Millions of pensioners to receive up to an additional £575 in their State Pension this year.
- The Government’s Triple Lock commitment means pensioners’ incomes will rise by up to £2,100 over this parliament.
- This year’s uprating of State Pensions and working-age benefits will help millions of people across the UK in the face of cost-of-living pressures.
The Government has already delivered above-inflation increases worth up to £395 in real terms over this Parliament. By its end, pensioners’ annual incomes are expected to rise by up to £2,100 – boosting financial security for millions.

Pension Credit will also rise by 4.8% and be worth an average of £4,300 a year, unlocking further support including help with housing costs, council tax and free television licenses. Between 2026 and 2027, the government will provide a £6 billion boost to spending on State Pensions and pensioner benefits.

The increases come into effect as the government takes wider action to ease pressure on household finances, including raising the National Living Wage, cutting an average of £150 from household energy bills, lifting the two child limit and freezing rail fares and prescription charges.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

I know global shocks, and the effects they have on our living costs, will be increasing anxiety for many households.

This government will always protect our pensioners, and that’s why we are raising the full rate of new State Pension by up to £575 this coming year.

Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said:

After a lifetime of work and contribution, people deserve a decent retirement. Raising the State Pensions faster than prices, ensuring it is a pension they can rely on, is how we make that a reality for millions.

In addition to the range of action being taken by government to support families, most working-age benefits, and other benefits for people below State Pension age, will also increase by 3.8% helping millions of households.

This comes alongside action the Government is taking to incentivise work and tackle ill-health, including boosting the standard rate of Universal Credit by 6.2% – the first ever permanent, above-inflation increase – and 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.

Additional information
- The majority of the new rates will apply from Monday 6 April 2025. Please see here for a full list of rising benefits: Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK
- The full rate of the new State Pension will increase by 4.8% in line with the increase in average earnings from £230.25 to £241.30 a week. The full basic State Pension will increase from £176.45 to £184.90 a week.
- The Standard Minimum Guarantee in Pension Credit will increase by 4.8% in line with the increase in average earnings. From April, it will be £238.00 a week for a single pensioner and £363.25 a week for a couple.
- Details of when the State Pension is paid can be found on GOV.UK: The new State Pension – GOV.UK
- Most working-age benefits and other benefits for people below State Pension age will also increase by 3.8%; including Statutory Payments such as Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay and the personal allowances of Income Support, Housing Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance.
- Universal Credit will be up-rated by September CPI plus an additional 2.3%.
- The increased expenditure as a result of uprating in 2026/27 is estimated to be £11 billion. This includes £6 billion more to be spent on State Pensions and pensioner benefits, £3 billion on working-age benefits, and £2 billion on disability and carers benefits.
April 6, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with the Crown Prince of Kuwait [April 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 3 April 2026.

The Prime Minister spoke to His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah this morning.

The Prime Minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery. He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf. They discussed the deployment of the UK’s Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait, which will protect Kuwaiti and British personnel and interests in the region, while avoiding escalation into wider conflict.

Regarding ongoing disruption to global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Prime Minister and Crown Prince welcomed the meeting convened by the Foreign Secretary yesterday on a viable plan to reopen the Strait.

They agreed to continue to work together on this and stay in close contact over the coming weeks.

April 6, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Largest ever Government investment in threatened species recovery [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 April 2026.

A total £90 million funding for species recovery across England.

Hundreds of England’s most threatened native wildlife are to be protected from extinction, thanks to the largest ever government funding for threatened species announced today.

The government will invest £60 million over the next three years – more than double the previous round of funding – into the Species Recovery Programme, marking the largest ever government investment in directly supporting threatened species. A further £30 million will be dedicated to fund species recovery on the national forest estate.

It comes as Defra unveils a new campaign, “Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife”, which will encompass the government’s existing and future work to protect and recover native species through projects including the flagship Species Recovery Programme.

The programme, run by Natural England, funds conservation projects including habitat restoration, captive breeding and species reintroductions, helping to tackle habitat loss, safeguard our fragile ecosystems such as ancient woodland and chalk streams, and restore nature-rich landscapes.

Successful projects set to receive funding for 2026-2029 will be confirmed by Natural England in May but early indications suggest the funding will support action across a wide range of species from birds to beetles, moths to mammals and spiders, snails and seahorses.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

This Government is bringing threatened wildlife back from the brink with the largest ever investment in species recovery.

This long-term commitment is a decisive step towards reversing the decline of nature and protecting it for generations to come.

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said:

If there is one positive thing about species decline, it is the fact that it is usually reversible. For decades Natural England’s species recovery work has revealed how even the rarest of the rare can be brought back from the brink. The red kite, lady’s slipper orchid, pool frog, beaver and large blue butterfly are among the examples that demonstrate the many opportunities at hand.

Through the proven winning mix of good science and effective partnerships we know that many species can be restored to favourable status. This new government funding is most welcome, and will enable us to support even more of the many initiatives underway across England to halt and reverse the decline of our wonderful wildlife.

Over the past three decades the programme has helped protect over 1,000 species and prevented the national extinction of at least 35 species. More than 600 species benefited from conservation efforts by the programme between 2022-2024, including water vole, hazel dormouse and oystercatcher. Among the key successes were the first red-billed chough to hatch in the wild in Kent for over 200 years, the successful reintroduction of black grouse to the North Yorkshire Moors, and the return of the large marsh grasshopper to the Norfolk Broads after an 85-year absence.

England is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. Since 1970, wildlife populations have fallen by a third with one in six species at risk of extinction. The funding uplift will help support the government’s mission to reverse this decline and meet our legal targets set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan, which commit to halting the decline in species abundance by 2030 and reducing species extinction risk by 2042 against 2022 levels.

The government has already announced the largest nature friendly farming budget in history, with £11.8 billion to be spent across this Parliament, the creation of three new National Forests, and approved the first wild beaver releases since they were hunted to extinction around 400 years ago.

Additional information:
- The majority of applications for Species Recovery Programme funding are still undergoing assurance. These projects will be considered at the Programme Board in May, after which funding decisions and announcements for that group will be made later in the month.
- Examples of successful projects delivered with funding from the Species Recovery Programme:
Hawkshead bee in Hastings

The species highlight of the project was the discovery of Andrena fulvago (Hawksbeard Bee) by ecologist Andy Phillips. This rare species had not been recorded in Hastings for over 100 years. The wildflower areas created by Groundwork South will help support this rare bee species, along with many others.

Chough in Kent

The successful reintroduction of Chough in Kent for the first time in over 200 years following an extensive captive breeding programme and supervised release and monitoring. The success of this project, carried out by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and Paradise Park was demonstrated by first wild hatched chick in 2024, birds nested again in 2025.

Black grouse on the North York Moors

The successful translocation and reintroduction of breeding black grouse on the North Yorks Moors saw new nests hatched and 15 birds fitted with radio transmitters to monitor movements and health. This project will also release further individuals this year as part of the grant extension.

Adders in Berkshire

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust installed two adder tunnels beneath the Old Thornford road in Berkshire which bisected Greenham and Crookham commons. The tunnel was completed in March 2024 and additional habitat enhancements were made to help direct adders towards the tunnel entrances instead of the road. In May 2025 trail cameras installed at the tunnel entrance caught evidence of an adder using one of the tunnels.

Horseshoe bats in Sussex

Vincent Wildlife Trust has worked on three disused buildings to make them ideal for bat breeding. Their project Horseshoes Heading East focussed on connecting up suitable breeding and hibernation places for greater horseshoe bat across Sussex. Greater horseshoe bats at one of the sites have successfully bred, with mums and pups in the incubator and a new attic space.

Waders in Essex

The RSPB and Essex Wildlife Trust worked together across wet grassland, grazing marsh, reedbeds and saline lagoons in the Blackwater and Colne Estuary to install predator fences and water control features to make the site even better for breeding waders. The works have already proved successful with a lapwing nest spotted this spring and 6 other lapwing were seen displaying, as well as a pair of redshank.

Lady’s slipper orchid in Yorkshire

Natural England has worked with Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Plantlife for thirty years collecting thousands of seeds, conducting germination trials and growing on seedlings to try and bring back our most impressive and rarest orchid, the lady’s slipper. Now, with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust also part of the partnership, the first known example of this rare and beautiful plant naturally propagating in the wild has been recorded.

Avocet in Worcester

Upgraded islands within the lakes at the reserve at Upton Warren, which had eroded over time, have received positive responses from the visiting birds, with 57 Avocet recorded on the 28th March ’25. This is a fantastic outcome given the short timeframe over which this project has been delivered by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.

Water voles in Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire

Four Species Recovery Programme projects have created habitats for water voles in Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire including creating new bankside habitat, wetlands and ponds, and planting hedges to provide cover and food plants.  Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, aided by contractors and volunteers, installed twenty water vole ‘motels’ along the banks of the canal in Coventry to provide safe resting and feeding places. In addition, more than 420 water voles were captive reared and released to help increase population numbers and distribution.

Atlantic salmon and pearl mussels in Cumbria

West Cumbria Rivers Trust, working with the Freshwater Biological Association delivered river habitat improvements including removing barriers to the passage of Atlantic salmon. This also benefitted pearl mussels, as their larvae spend around 9 months of their lifecycle on the gills of either salmon or trout, before dropping off into gravels to continue their growth. 2475 juvenile freshwater pearl mussels were released under licence into streams in Cumbria to bolster the populations.
April 6, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : The UK will continue to champion coordination between the League of Arab States and the United Nations – UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 April 2026.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States.

The United Kingdom welcomes this discussion on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States. It is a moment of acute regional tension.

The League of Arab States remains a vital partner in advancing dialogue, de-escalation, and regional stability, and we commend its continued efforts to promote peaceful solutions.

Iran’s actions have driven dangerous escalation across the Gulf, with direct consequences for regional stability and global security, and increasing humanitarian costs across the region.

Iran’s attempts to obstruct the Strait of Hormuz are imposing growing economic costs, not only on the Gulf but on countries across the globe.

It is right that the international community does all it can to support a return to stability as our partners in the region continue to defend their sovereignty and their economies.

The UK is doing so through defensive operations to protect our partners and rallying 37 countries in a collective call to condemn Iran’s actions and to work together to reopen the Strait.

Today, the UK convened over forty international partners to begin work on a viable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

We welcome the Council’s efforts, including through resolution 2817, to forge a united response to uphold regional and maritime security and to call on Iran to immediately cease its egregious actions.

President, while attention is focused on ending the regional escalation, it is also important that we do not lose sight of the wider humanitarian and political and security challenges across the region, including in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Sudan.

The work of the League of Arab States is essential to providing longer-term solutions which can pave the way for lasting regional stability.

The United Kingdom will continue to champion coordination between the League and the United Nations, which can make a significant contribution to tackling regional, security, and development challenges.

April 6, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Chair’s statement on the meeting on the Strait of Hormuz [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 April 2026.

Statement on the Foreign Secretary-led talks with international partners on the Strait of Hormuz.

Today the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Yvette Cooper, convened a meeting of over 40 countries from every continent of the world, as well as key international organisations including the International Maritime Organisation and the European Union.

This meeting showed clearly the determination of the international community to secure freedom of navigation and re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz is a direct threat to global prosperity.

The Strait is one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors. It is used to transport vital supplies and products such as fertilisers urgently needed to support farming in Africa. It is a primary route for global energy exports, delivering oil, refined petroleum and liquified natural gas to countries across the globe. These supplies help to power homes, facilitate air travel, and support international trade and food chains. Disruption to shipping through the Strait therefore has immediate and far-reaching consequences for global supplies, prices and economic stability, with severe humanitarian effects for communities the world over.

Iran is trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. They must not prevail. To that effect, partners today called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait and respect for the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and the law of the sea. We discussed a number of areas of possible collective, coordinated, action:
1. Increase international diplomatic pressure, including through the UN, to send clear and co-ordinated messages to Iran to permit unimpeded transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz and to comprehensively reject the imposition of tolls on vessels which seek to pass through.
2. Explore co-ordinated economic and political measures, such as sanctions, to bear down on Iran if the Strait remains closed.
3. Work together with the International Maritime Organisation to secure the release of thousands of ships and sailors trapped in the Strait and get shipping moving again.
4. Joint arrangements to support greater market and operational confidence. This includes working with shipping operators and industry bodies to ensure coherent and timely information sharing.
We agreed to take forward further discussions among experts and officials in participating countries to secure freedom of navigation. It is imperative that international law is respected and that Iran fully re-opens the Strait of Hormuz.
April 6, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : NHS patients and British businesses to benefit from historic changes to medicines access following pharmaceutical partnership with USA [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 2 April 2026.

New partnership accelerates NHS patients’ access to new medicines and will see UK benefit from greater life sciences industry investment.
- NHS patients will get improved access to life-changing treatments as a result of medicines pricing changes — 2 new cancer medicines already recommended under the updated approach
- The UK is the first country in the world to secure commitment to 0% tariffs on pharmaceutical exports to the US
- In a boost to economic growth, the UK will benefit from greater life sciences industry investment and highly skilled manufacturing jobs will be safeguarded
Thousands of NHS patients will get improved access to life-changing treatments, after the government today agreed the full text of its landmark US-UK pharmaceutical partnership.

UK pharmaceutical exports to the US — worth at least £5 billion a year — will enter the United States completely tariff free, for at least 3 years. This makes the UK the first country in the world to secure 0% tariffs on pharmaceutical exports to the US.

The partnership also accelerates NHS patients’ access to new medicines. Under the partnership, pharmaceutical companies have stronger incentives to launch innovative treatments in the UK, meaning patients can benefit from new cancer therapies, rare disease treatments, and other breakthrough medicines sooner — without waiting years after they become available elsewhere.

The partnership is a win for British patients, British businesses and the British economy. First announced in December, the partnership protects a UK pharmaceutical industry that added £28.5 billion to the UK economy in 2025, employs over 50,000 people in highly skilled, well-paid jobs, and exported almost £21 billion in pharmaceutical products worldwide last year.

UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

Thanks to this partnership, patients right across the NHS will benefit from access to life changing new medicines that they previously would have been denied.

Not only this, but as the first country in the world to benefit from a zero percent tariff on pharmaceuticals to the US, Britain’s life sciences sector will be further boosted.

By encouraging greater investment, this partnership will enable new medicines to be developed in the UK, helping more people to live healthier, longer lives, while creating high-skilled jobs across the UK.

On 31 March 2026, changes were made to the way that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evaluates medicines, this means that some treatments that deliver significant health improvements but might previously have been turned down on cost grounds alone, will now be approved.

These changes respond directly to longstanding calls from patient groups, recognising that the cost-effectiveness threshold NICE uses has not been updated in over 2 decades. The updated threshold will therefore ensure that NICE is able to continue its world leading approach to assessing drugs and treatments, reflecting the huge changes in the economic, commercial and healthcare environment that we operate in.

The update to the NICE cost effectiveness threshold has already made a direct difference for NHS patients. Two medicines have already been recommended by NICE under the new threshold, giving patients immediate accessing to life-changing medicines — including a brain cancer drug for patients as young as 12 and a last-resort treatment for patients with a rare form of stomach cancer who had already exhausted other options. NHS patients in England will be able to access these through the health service, thanks to the new thresholds.

Dr Karen Noble, Director of Research, Policy and Innovation at Brain Tumour Research, said:

The announcement that NHS patients will gain improved access to life-changing treatments as a result of the medicines pricing change is a welcome step forward for the brain tumour community. We are already seeing the impact of this shift, with vorasidenib – the first new treatment for adult brain tumours in the UK for 2 decades – now available to eligible patients on the NHS. We are hopeful that this will unlock further innovative treatments and ensure more promising drugs clear the threshold for approval, opening up new opportunities and better outcomes for brain tumour patients.

Crucially, improved access alone is not enough, and we must ensure that these new medicines are coming across the pipeline. Increased investment in research remains critical to accelerating the discovery and development of treatments for brain tumours, and we will continue to campaign for this on behalf of our community.

Cathy Hampshire, Vice-Chair of GIST Cancer UK who has lived with GIST cancer for 5 years, said:

Regorafenib has a limited window of effectiveness. At every scan and every consultation, I brace myself for the moment I’m told the drug has stopped working, that the tumours are growing again, and that there is no further treatment options left.

Today’s UK-US pharmaceutical partnership and NICE’s decision to approve the treatment changes that picture entirely. I was literally dancing around the room when I heard. When you’re on the third of the 3 available treatments and been told there are no more options, you feel like the system has given up on you. After a two-year battle, the UK government through this partnership and NICE has recognised the importance of making Ripretinib available. For people like me across England and Wales, this opens up a new treatment pathway — and with it, renewed hope. I feel as though a huge weight has lifted from my shoulders. For the first time in a long while, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The UK has now also secured preferential terms for medical technology exports, with no additional new tariffs on medtech for at least 3 years — unlocking further investment in British manufacturing and strengthening the UK’s position as a world leader in health innovation.

The medtech sector employs over 195,000 people across the UK, and these preferential terms provide businesses with the certainty they need to invest, grow, and create jobs here.

The UK and US have also agreed to work together towards mutual recognition of medical device approvals — cutting red tape and supporting future innovative health technologies to reach patients on both sides of the Atlantic.

In addition, the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) headline payment percentage — the rebate pharmaceutical companies pay on branded medicines sold to the NHS — will be capped at a maximum of 15% until the end of the current scheme, which expires on 31 December 2028, providing the stability and predictability that life sciences companies need to invest and grow in the UK.

Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation and Safety Minister, said:

For too long, NHS patients have watched as some treatments available in other countries remained out of reach here. We’re changing that.

From April, thousands of people across the UK will be able to access treatments on the NHS that were previously out of reach. This is the first time in over twenty years that we have raised the bar for what the NICE can approve, and it means life-changing medicines can reach the patients who need them most.

This government made a commitment to make the NHS fit for the future — and we are delivering on it by building an NHS that works better for patients, along with building an economy that delivers skilled jobs and growth across the country.

To drive further progress, the government and the UK life sciences industry have launched a new Joint Taskforce to accelerate innovation in the UK’s commercial environment for medicines. It will report back to ministers and industry leaders with initial findings, with pilot schemes expected to launch as early as September 2026.

The Taskforce will work with the pharmaceutical sector, NHS England, NICE, and patient and charity groups, to help the UK become the third most important life sciences economy by 2035—as outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan.

The government has committed to doubling spending on innovative medicines as a proportion of GDP — from 0.3% to 0.6% over the next 10 years. This means NHS patients get wider and faster access to the treatments they need, including for cancer and other life-limiting conditions.

It also sends a clear signal to global investors that the UK is a serious, long-term partner for the life sciences industry — supporting economic growth and high-skilled jobs across the country.

Chris Boerner, Bristol Myers Squibb Board Chair and CEO, said:

Bristol Myers Squibb welcomes this arrangement as a step toward properly recognising the value of innovative medicines so patients in the UK can access them sooner. We will work with the UK and US governments to support this goal and recognise the Prime Minister’s focus on building a better medicines ecosystem. We are proud of our UK sites and their role in delivering for patients and anticipate investing more than $500 million in the UK over the next 5 years.

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the ABPI, said:

This landmark partnership is an important step forward for patients, the NHS and the UK’s life sciences sector. It reinforces the UK’s position as a global centre for innovation, helping to attract investment and accelerate access to cutting-edge medicines.

The government has listened to industry concerns and is taking positive action to improve access and create a more stable, competitive environment. While further detail and technical work is underway, this is strong progress, and we look forward to working closely with the government to ensure these commitments deliver for patients, the NHS and the UK economy.

As part of the UK’s ambition to be the leading Life Sciences Economy in Europe by 2030 and to maximise the economic benefits of these changes, we will be working closely with industry to help land investment into the UK.

The partnership will support greater investment in UK life sciences. It has already started generating results, such as £500 million investment in UK R&D and manufacturing in Surrey from the global biopharmaceutical company UCB which was announced in January, turbocharging economic growth.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:

This government’s trade strategy is delivering for our world-leading pharma sector, accelerating health innovation while protecting high-skilled jobs here in the UK.

Partnerships like this demonstrate the tangible benefits of our strong UK-US economic relationship, and we will continue to prioritise getting the best for British business through the Economic Prosperity Deal.

Today’s finalised text builds on the General Terms of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal signed in May and takes forward commitments made when the principles of this partnership were first announced in December.

The partnership forms part of the government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan, backed by over £2 billion of investment, and its Modern Industrial Strategy

Further quotes:

Shay Emerton was diagnosed with a grade 2 glioma, a type of brain tumour, at the age of 24. Shay has been able to access the drug Vorasidenib, which has had a significant impact on quality of life. However, this access had previously been under threat. The new partnership will now help ensure that patients like Shay can benefit from these life‑changing treatments. Shay said:

I consider myself extremely lucky to have accessed Vorasidenib on the managed access scheme. It really has changed my life significantly and this decision from NICE is a game changer in neurooncology. It was an honour to be the patient advocate on the NICE appraisal as I was able to represent the low grade glioma community who could benefit from this drug. It has now given not only me but hopefully many patients around the UK hope for the future and at last another option compared to the standard treatment of care. I hope this is just the start of the much needed improvement in care options for low grade glioma patients.

Dave Ricks, Chair & CEO of Eli Lilly and Company, said: 

This UK / US arrangement on pharmaceuticals is an encouraging move; the positive trend in the UK warrants our attention and Lilly will revisit our investment plans there as the environment improves.

A spokesperson from GSK, said:

We are pleased that the partnership between the UK and US on pharmaceuticals has been finalised. It provides certainty on zero-tariffs for medicines and offers real improvements to the UK operating environment and rewards for innovation.

This is an important foundation for the UK’s global competitiveness in life sciences and for future investment in the country. As a longstanding and significant investor in the UK, GSK is particularly encouraged by the commitments contained in the partnership.

Work now needs to happen at pace on the detailed actions to deliver these improvements and GSK is committed to supporting this.

Dr Scott Purdon, Chair of the Charity Medicines Access Coalition (CMAC) and Head of Patient Advocacy at Myeloma UK, said:

Investment in the UK life sciences sector and improved access to medicines is welcome news. The approval of 2 new cancer treatments, enabled by changes to the NICE thresholds, offers real hope to people waiting for new options. For many patients and their families, these decisions can mean more time and a better quality of life.

We hope this marks the beginning of many more approvals. Continued investment in research and innovation is essential to delivering the breakthrough treatments patients urgently need. Today’s announcement is a welcome step, but just one piece of a much bigger picture.

What matters now is seeing a genuine and long‑term commitment from the pharmaceutical industry to invest in UK research and development. That means expanding clinical trial opportunities for people across the UK and reinforcing the UK’s reputation as a global leader in science and timely access to medicines.

We look forward to working closely with DHSC so that people can meaningfully access these innovative treatments. Ultimately, every decision should bring us closer to what matters most: faster, fairer access to life‑changing treatments for the people who need them.

Nicola Perrin, Chief Executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said:

For our member charities, the worst possible scenario is having a discovery stuck in the lab, or a treatment available in other countries but not through the NHS. We therefore welcome today’s announcement and the progress that has been made since last December. This reinforces the government’s commitment to making the UK one of the best places in the world to develop new treatments. It will also help to ensure that patients can access new medicines as quickly as possible.

Dr Ian Walker, Executive Director of Policy at Cancer Research UK, said:

Research into kinder, more effective and more targeted treatments relies on the UK maintaining its world-leading position in the life sciences sector. These changes to the way that NICE evaluates new medicines will lead to greater investment in the industry, critically enabling more life-saving discoveries for people with cancer and ensuring that patients receive the treatment they deserve.

Changes to the pricing of medicines should help to improve patients’ access to proven, innovative drugs, and it’s important that this is delivered as a broader package of investment across the NHS.

Abbvie Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Jeff Stewart said:

We appreciate the US-UK pharmaceuticals arrangement as a first step in recognising the impact of innovative medicines on patient outcomes. We believe rapid implementation of the partnership is now needed to deliver meaningful results for patients and the sector.

Nico Reynders, General Manager, UCB UK & Ireland, said:

We welcome the government’s commitment to bringing innovative treatments to UK patients and this arrangement supports industry/government collaboration to ensure UK citizens have access to the best treatments across all disease areas. 

UCB remains a committed, strategic partner in the UK healthcare system through investment in research, development and manufacturing of innovative medicines which we aim to bring to UK patients simultaneously with patients worldwide.

Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said:

Getting effective treatments to patients faster is what matters most, and the approval of new medicines as a direct result of these changes shows that this arrangement can make a real difference to people and families.  

The commitment to increase spending on innovative medicines, backed by interim targets, is a welcome step towards a system that properly values the contribution of medical science. Planned changes to how NICE measures the impact of treatments on patients’ quality of life will also bring its methods into line with latest evidence – something researchers and clinicians have long called for. 

A strong life sciences sector benefits patients first and foremost by supporting faster and fairer access to new treatments, more clinical trials, and continued medical research. It can also bring wider benefits to the economy through investment and skilled jobs. But for patients to feel the full benefit, this must go hand in hand with broader investment in the NHS and the health and care services they rely on every day.
April 6, 2026