Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Transformative new childcare support will save Defence families up to £6000 a year [March 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Transformative new childcare support will save Defence families up to £6000 a year [March 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 20 March 2026.

    A new Defence scheme to transform support for forces families with young children will be rolled out across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from September 2026, the Defence Secretary has announced today.

    This major boost for UK Armed Forces families will save forces families living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland up to £6,000 per year for each child and will help with the cost of living as they serve to protect the nation. 

    It will be delivered through the Ministry of Defence’s existing Early Years childcare reimbursement scheme and will ensure that eligible working UK Armed Forces families receive the same Government funded childcare support as forces families in England.

    This government promised to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, and this support is another major step to deliver on that pledge. Childcare is cited as one of several factors affecting Armed Forces retention and morale and this government is on a mission to fix the recruitment crisis. The announcement was made by Defence Secretary John Healey MP on a visit to meet families at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh. 

    The early years childcare offer currently differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to that available to UK Armed Forces families in England and overseas. Today the government is taking action to change that by providing a reimbursement of childcare costs for eligible working UK Armed Forces families with children aged 9 months until they reach 3 years old in Scotland and Wales, and from 9 months to 4 years in Northern Ireland. 

    The scheme recognises the commitment and uniqueness of service life and the dedication of service families who can be assigned anywhere in the UK or overseas. This government is delivering on the commitment to support service families wherever they live and work. 

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    Our Armed Forces families 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.

    This transformative offer will ensure more military families get the childcare support they need, no matter where they are posted.

    We are making good on our promise to Armed Forces families – supporting them as they support our dedicated military personnel defending the UK and our allies. Our message to the Armed Forces community is clear: this government is on your side.

    This is part of the wider support that MOD has delivered to service families since July 2024, including a new housing strategy which will make homes fit for heroes, the biggest pay rise in 20 years and putting the Armed Forces Covenant into law through the Armed Forces Bill introduced this year.

    Through the new scheme, MOD will reimburse the difference in early years childcare costs for eligible working families. Aimed at working families, where both parents are employed and meet the income thresholds required to access an active Tax-Free Childcare account, the scheme could save forces families thousands.

    Hundreds of families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to be eligible for the scheme, which follows feedback from forces families on the cost of childcare.

    The scheme will be rolled out from September 2026, giving eligible families time to prepare and explore suitable childcare options.

    MOD is committed to supporting forces families no matter where they live. Defence will continue to work closely with the devolved governments, and further details will be set out for eligible families in the coming months.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Lights out for the ‘Landy’: British Army to retire iconic Land Rover fleet [March 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Lights out for the ‘Landy’: British Army to retire iconic Land Rover fleet [March 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 20 March 2026.

    British soldiers will use a new fleet of thousands of modern vehicles, following the start of the retirement of the iconic Land Rover fleet.  

    The retirement, which begins today, marks the end of an era for the vehicle that has been a cornerstone of military operations for more than 70 years.  

    As the Army looks to the future, plans are now underway to identify the next generation of light mobility vehicles, with the first new vehicles are expected to be in the hands of soldiers by 2030.   

    Simple, dependable and a workhorse of the British military, the Land Rover has been used for a range of duties, including patrol, command liaison and transportation of equipment and personnel. 

    A special commemorative event was held today, Thursday 19 March, at Bovington, home to the Armoured Fighting Vehicle School, to honour the Land Rover’s legacy and outline the Army’s vision for its successor. The event brought together Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, military personnel, and industry, who showcased modern vehicles that could replace the Land Rover.  

    Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said: 

    The Land Rover and British Army share an incredible history and the image of a Landy in Army livery is truly iconic.  

    As we look ahead to the future of light mobility vehicles, it is fitting to pay tribute to this extraordinary fleet that has served our Armed Forces so faithfully. 

    I’m firing the starting gun on the replacement vehicle competition, seeking to put a modern vehicle in the hands of our personnel.

    Land Rovers have been a trusted workhorse for the British Armed Forces since their widespread adoption in the 1950s. In 2025, more than 5,000 Land Rovers remained in service across the UK military, a testament to their durability and versatility. 

    The retirement of the Land Rover marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the British Army’s mobility capabilities. While the Land Rover’s legacy will endure, the Army is now focused on ensuring its personnel are equipped with a modern, technologically advanced fleet to support future operations. 

    The Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme aims to identify an enduring successor to the Land Rover, ensuring the Army’s continued operational effectiveness, and the programme will formally launch in due course. LMV will offer opportunities to British-based businesses through vehicle support and maintenance, helping make defence an engine for growth.

    Over the decades, several bespoke Land Rover models were developed exclusively for military use, including: 

    • Series IIA Ambulance – Designed to carry four stretchers and a medic. 
    • Series IIA Pink Panther – Designed for use in the desert by the SAS, it was used for special operation missions and long-distance reconnaissance. 
    • Amphibious SIIA 109” – A prototype of a vehicle that could be used for sea landings. 
    • V8 Centaur Multi-Role Half-Track – Created with a track taken from the Scorpion light tank, it represented an attempt to merge road vehicle with a tank.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Tailgating shown the red card as new law comes into force [March 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Tailgating shown the red card as new law comes into force [March 2026]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 20 March 2026.

    Entering a football match without a ticket will become a criminal offence this weekend, with offenders facing a banning order alongside up to £1,000 fine.

    Football fans who try to enter grounds without a ticket will face lengthy banning orders and hefty fines under strict new laws that come into force this weekend. 

    The government and authorities have teamed up as part of the clampdown on ‘tailgating’ – where supporters force their way through stadium turnstiles by staying closely behind legitimate ticket holders. 

    Bespoke new laws will be in place from Sunday ahead of the Carabao Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley. The national stadium was the scene of serious disorder at the Euro 2020 Final as thousands of ticketless hooligans smashed their way in using this tactic. 

    The new act makes it illegal to enter a football match without a ticket, stopping tailgating and forced entry to keep fans and matchday staff safe. It will also be illegal to knowingly attempt to gain entry using forged tickets, passes and accreditation documents, or by posing as a member of stadium or playing staff.

    Until now, there were no specific legal penalties for entering a football match without a ticket – a gap this act firmly closes. 

    Offenders will be arrested and face a football banning order of up to 5 years – preventing repeat offenders for jeopardising public safety – and a fine of up to £1,000.

    Tailgating and forced entry puts fans at risks, particularly at sold out or high-profile fixtures. They can cause overcrowding and injury, divert police resource away from other critical areas, and increase tension between legitimate ticket holders and ticketless fans.  

    Crime and Policing Minister, Sarah Jones, said:  

    Football fans should be able to enjoy the game without feeling unsafe or threatened. We’re giving the police the tools they need to ensure the chaos we saw at Wembley 5 years ago never happens again.  

    Anyone who endangers others by forcing their way into stadiums faces serious consequences.

    In response to the Euro 2020 final, the Football Association (FA) commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to undertake an independent review into the disorder at Euro 2020.  

    The review recommended strengthening the legal framework to deter football-related disorder, including tailgating and forced entry.  

    A government-sponsored Private Member’s Bill was introduced by Linsey Farnsworth, Labour MP for Amber Valley.  

    With England and Wales set to co-host Euro 2028, the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act will tackle these risks now so that fans can enjoy world-class football safely. 

    Baroness Casey of Blackstock said:

    Forcing your way into a football match without a ticket isn’t harmless. It jeopardises the safety of legitimate fans and staff. 

    Making tailgating a criminal offence makes it clear that this behaviour is dangerous, won’t be tolerated and those who do it will face consequences.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rapist who threatened woman has sentence increased [March 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rapist who threatened woman has sentence increased [March 2026]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 19 March 2026.

    A rapist who broke into a woman’s home and tried to get her to drop case against him has his sentence increased after the Solicitor General intervened

    Ionut Tanae of Nelson, Lancashire, had his sentence increased by three years and seven months after the Solicitor General referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. 

    The court heard that 33-year-old Tanae raped his victim on two separate occasions.  

    He then broke into the victim’s home and tried to persuade her to drop the case against him.  

    After being charged and remanded in custody, Tanae wrote to the victim and for a second time tried to convince her to drop the case.  

    In the victim’s impact statement, she described suffering with depression and anxiety as well as feelings of immense shame.  

    The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP said: 

    Ionut Tanae’s crimes were devastating. He raped his victim on more than one occasion and then intimidated her to drop the case. Even in custody, Tane continued his campaign of intimidation. 

    No one should have to endure what the victim went through, and the original sentence did not reflect the true gravity of his offending. I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase Ionut Tanae’s sentence, and I commend the bravery of the victim throughout this horrendous ordeal. 

    On 26 November 2025, Tanae was sentenced to eight years and six months at Preston Crown Court after being convicted of two counts of rape, two counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of burglary. 

    On 19 March 2026 at the Court of Appeal, Tanae’s sentence was increased to 12 years and one month.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister call with His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait [March 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister call with His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait [March 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 March 2026.

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

    The Prime Minister began by condemning Iran’s unacceptable and reckless strikes on Kuwait’s oil refineries yesterday, as well as the wider attacks on the Gulf. He shared his condolences for those who have lost their lives in Kuwait and reiterated the need for de-escalation.

    The leaders agreed on the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and to continue working together, including on defensive capabilities in the region.

    They agreed to keep in touch.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria [March 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria [March 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 March 2026.

    The Prime Minister welcomed the Nigerian President, Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Downing Street today. 

    The leaders began by acknowledging the longstanding ties shared by both countries, including our Commonwealth values and deep connections across communities, families and businesses.

    Both leaders committed to deepening their long-term partnership on trade, infrastructure and sustainable growth. The Prime Minister welcomed Nigerian companies expanding into the UK, showcasing Nigeria’s role as a key source of innovation and investment.

    The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of the deal agreed today to support the redevelopment of two of Nigeria’s major trading ports, with British Steel supplying 120,000 tonnes of steel billets to construction companies Hitech Nigeria and ITB Nigeria and supporting jobs at home in the UK.

    The leaders shared their concern at the horrific situation in Sudan, and the Prime Minister updated on the latest UK action to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians on the ground.

    On defence and security, they committed to work more closely together to enhance the UK and Nigeria’s response to transnational crime and terrorism. On migration, the leaders agreed to improve procedures on returns.

    They looked forward to speaking again soon.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New fertiliser regulations to back British farmers and cut pollution [March 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New fertiliser regulations to back British farmers and cut pollution [March 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 March 2026.

    New plans aim to support British farmers by improving supply resilience to global market shocks and supporting innovation in the fertiliser sector.

    British farmers could benefit from access to new and innovative fertilising products which have the potential to reduce air, land and water pollution under new government proposals launched today (Thursday 19 March).

    The consultation and call for evidence set out plans to help support innovation in the fertiliser sector, diversify supply, and strengthen the UK’s resilience to global market shocks.

    Current fertiliser regulations are widely seen as outdated and could do more to support fertiliser supply resilience and protect the environment, as well as being more agile to enable new products to enter the market. Despite its complexity, the framework has remained largely unchanged for more than 20 years and applies mainly to inorganic mineral fertilisers, limiting its overall scope.

    Expanding access to a wider range of fertiliser products and introducing a more flexible legislative framework would help strengthen future fertiliser supply. 

    The proposals form part of the government’s plan to work hand-in-hand with farmers and industry to put more homegrown food on people’s plates, grow the economy, and protect the countryside.

    The government is actively monitoring developments in the Middle East and the impacts on the food and farming sector, including rising fertiliser prices. It has taken action to support greater price transparency, raising industry concerns with the Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) and asking the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to report back on fertiliser and red diesel supply and use across agricultural sectors.

    The CMA has confirmed it will work with government to identify and monitor sectors likely to be affected by price rises and disruption – including fertilisers – so we can respond swiftly to any evidence of harmful practices across the economy.

    The government continues to work with industry and farmers to understand any potential pressures and options to mitigate any immediate risks.

    Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:

    Farmers work tirelessly to feed the nation, and they deserve a system that keep pace with modern agriculture, supports farm businesses, encourages innovation and cuts pollution.

    These proposals would help support innovation in the fertiliser sector, reduce reliance on imports, and support more sustainable farming.

    Jo Gilbertson, Agricultural Industries Confederation Sector Head for Fertilisers, said: 

    This consultation represents an important opportunity to put in place a fertiliser regulatory framework that is fit for the future. 

    Aligning with a European‑style fertilising products model, while tailoring it to UK conditions and co‑designing it with industry, should help deliver a system that protects standards, supports innovation, and works in practice for businesses and farmers alike.

    The proposed reforms will also embed environmental standards and ensure labelling and marketing rules give end-users confidence that the products they buy are safe and effective.

    The new framework is intended to support a more circular economy by increasing the use of recycled nutrients made by alternative technologies, cut pollution to land and water, and create opportunities for innovation and growth in the UK fertiliser sector.

    Implementation of the new framework will need to be an iterative process and the call for evidence seeks views and evidence on newer and novel products and materials to inform future policy development, underlining the government’s commitment to working in partnership with the sector.  

    The consultation will run for eight weeks, closing on Wednesday 13 May with responses invited from farmers, manufacturers, environmental groups and the wider industry via GOV.UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New UK–Nigeria partnership to speed up removals [March 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New UK–Nigeria partnership to speed up removals [March 2026]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 19 March 2026.

    The UK makes it quicker to return Nigerians with no legal right to remain.

    Visa overstayers, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be removed from British soil far more easily under a new agreement struck this week during the state visit of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu.

    UK letters, an alternative identification document issued to individuals without a valid passport and used to support the return of people with no right to remain in the UK, will be recognised by the Nigerian government for the first time.

    The agreement, reached between the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, removes one of the major administrative hurdles to returning people, meaning the UK will no longer have to wait for emergency travel documents to be issued by Nigeria.

    The new deal adds to the sweeping reforms the Home Secretary has made to the UK immigration system to secure the UK’s borders and remove incentives attracting illegal migrants to Britain.

    Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris said: 

    Anyone who abuses our systems, breaks our laws or tries to cheat their way into Britain will be stopped and removed.

    Today’s agreement is another step in our mission to restore order to the border by ensuring those who have no right to be here are swiftly removed.

    Nigeria is a key partner in our work to tackle illegal migration, as the UK’s largest African visa market and home to thousands of Nigerians who have built their lives here. We owe everyone across the system fairness.

    Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said:  

    For us, as a country, we keep saying that we are totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations.

    It is good that we are starting this with the UK. This relationship with the UK means a lot to Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown great commitment to this.

    So it is one relationship that we aim to be able to sustain for generations yet to come. And for us to sustain that relationship, we must remember: ‘He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.’ So we need to be as open and as fair as possible.

    Hopefully, this strengthened partnership will be a template for other bilateral understandings.

    The agreement marks a shared commitment to safe, fair and well‑managed migration. Annual returns to Nigeria have nearly doubled to 1,150. Returns and deportations of illegal migrants and foreign criminals from the UK have reached nearly 60,000 since the 2024 election.

    A further agreement to launch joint operations and share information has been reached to crack down on criminal gangs abusing visa routes, making sure all arrivals are genuine and ready to contribute.

    Following a series of high‑profile cases involving fake job sponsorships, sham marriages and forged financial or employment records, a new standardised document‑checking system will verify the authenticity of applications. Nigeria will also review its laws to tackle immigration crime, ensuring the toughest possible sentences are handed down to offenders.

    The UK has strengthened its commitment to protecting Nigerian women and children at risk of exploitation, while improving business‑visa schemes to help UK and Nigerian companies pursue investment opportunities aimed at driving economic growth.

    A new partnership targeting online scammers involved in romance fraud, investment scams and cryptocurrency schemes will also deliver stronger protections for the UK public. The new “fusion cell” model will bring together public‑sector bodies, banks, tech firms and communications companies to rapidly share intelligence on criminal tactics so swift action can be taken.

    The UK’s National Economic Crime Centre already uses this fusion‑cell model with strong results, including more than 400 arrests and £7.5 million seized under Operation Henhouse in February 2025.

    Today’s partnership will build on work already disrupting high‑harm fraud networks, preventing millions in losses and protecting vulnerable people across the UK. Earlier this year, National Crime Agency officers and the Nigerian Police Force worked with Meta to uncover hundreds of cryptocurrency‑linked social media accounts used to target UK residents, leading to the arrest of 7 suspects in Agbor, Nigeria.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister call with the Amir of Qatar [March 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister call with the Amir of Qatar [March 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 March 2026.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister began by condemning the Iranian strikes on Qatari energy facilities overnight. He said that such reckless attacks on critical infrastructure risk pushing the region further into crisis and worsening the severe economic impacts being felt globally, including in the UK.

    Discussing the ongoing defensive support the UK is providing to our partners in the region, the Prime Minister was clear that the UK would continue to stand with Qatar and all our allies in the Gulf.

    The leaders agreed that the immediate priority must be de-escalation and that they would stay in close touch in the coming days and weeks.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Combatting Anti Muslim Hatred – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Combatting Anti Muslim Hatred – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 March 2026.

    Deputy Ambassador James Ford reaffirms the UK’s commitment to tackling anti Muslim hatred and promoting tolerance and non-discrimination and the enjoyment of human rights for all.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    The United Kingdom reiterates its firm commitment to tolerance, non‑discrimination, and the full enjoyment of human rights for all. These principles are at the heart of the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security. When they are undermined, our societies become less cohesive, less resilient, and less safe.

    We thank Türkiye for raising this important issue today. Anti‑Muslim hatred is a serious and persistent problem across the OSCE area. No one should face intimidation, discrimination or violence because they are Muslim or perceived to be Muslim.

    According to the UK’s most recent official statistics, 45% of police-recorded religious hate crimes targeted Muslims – a level that has been high for many years. This month, the UK Government adopted a new non‑statutory definition of Anti‑Muslim Hostility. This definition was informed by the work of an independent expert working group and a broad evidence‑gathering process.

    The definition has a clear purpose within the UK: to improve understanding of unacceptable hostility targeting Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim, and to provide a practical framework for action. The definition helps public authorities, employers and services recognise when behaviour crosses the line into targeted hostility, unlawful discrimination or prejudicial stereotyping intended to encourage hatred.

    Domestically, this sits alongside wider work to tackle all forms of religiously motivated hate crime and to strengthen social cohesion. The UK continues to support security measures for places of worship, to fund monitoring and victim‑support services, and to promote dialogue between communities. We recognise that antisemitism, anti‑Muslim hatred and other forms of hatred often rise together and must be addressed together.

    Internationally, the UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all, and to implementing our OSCE human dimension commitments. We will continue to support ODIHR and the OSCE’s Personal Representatives on tolerance and non‑discrimination, and to share good practice, including on the  implementation of non‑statutory definitions at a national level such as the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and, now, our definition of Anti‑Muslim Hostility.

    Across the OSCE region, we must resist efforts to instrumentalise religion for political ends, and we must confront disinformation and narratives that inflame tensions between communities. The United Kingdom will continue to work with participating States, OSCE institutions and civil society to ensure that every individual can live free from fear, and that diversity is recognised as a source of strength, not division.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.