The comments made by Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, on 22 June 2026.
The country is not being governed and Labour say there won’t be a Prime Minister till September.
Keir Starmer is off on a farewell tour and Andy Burnham wants a summer holiday. Neither is thinking about our national security.
We need to cut welfare and fund our military.
![PRESS RELEASE : New deal for young people to end ‘degree by default’ culture and boost youth apprenticeships [June 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/education.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 22 June 2026.
Government promises to deliver a “new deal for young people” with real opportunities to work and renewed social contract where hard work pays off.
Ministers will unveil plans to crack down on poor‑quality university courses and shift investment further towards youth apprenticeships, as part of a ‘new deal for young people’.
The deal delivers a renewed social contract with better opportunities to give young people real choices and real chances to get on, whether through university or high‑quality apprenticeships that lead to decent pay and long‑term careers.
It comes as too many young people feel university is the only route to success and are working hard for degrees that don’t deliver the future they were promised, as they miss out on better opportunities while amassing thousands in debt.
While university was once a clear route to social mobility, particularly for working class people, the reality for today’s generation of young people has significantly changed.
Many students hugely benefit from a degree, and the UK’s university sector is rightly world leading. But the outdated belief that university is the only path to success has led to a ‘degree by default’ mindset – resulting in too many young people working tirelessly for degrees that don’t unlock the best opportunities to make the most of their talent and hard work.
Meanwhile poor-quality courses have been profiting from students’ earnest aspirations to achieve a degree and unlock life-changing opportunities.
Ministers will argue that the needs of this generation of young people have been ignored by successive governments, while the world of work evolved around them and left them behind without the skills they need to succeed.
As Alan Milburn’s report outlined, around 1 in 7 young people who are currently not in employment, education or training have a university degree – underlining the need to reform the higher education system so it delivers better outcomes for young people.
This government is delivering a decisive break from that past and stepping in to fix a system that has held too many young people back. At the heart of the government’s new deal for working people is further action to tackle poor-quality degrees, helping young people find and access the prestigious alternatives to build strong foundations for their working lives.
A major shift in skills funding towards apprenticeships for young people will help ensure students don’t drift into university courses that aren’t right for them. This will help reverse the long‑term decline in starts and refocusing the system on giving young people their first step on the career ladder.
It is part of a wider drive to tackle youth unemployment and will drive forward the government’s ambition for two-thirds of young people to participate in higher-level learning – whether academic, technical or through apprenticeships.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:
Young people making choices about their future deserve to know that the investment they are making will lead to real opportunities and stable careers. For some that will mean going to university, and we are making this more accessible regardless of background, but for others it will mean technical or vocational routes.
By raising standards and cracking down on abuse of student loans we’ll ensure our world-leading universities deliver real value for students and the taxpayer.
For these who choose to pursue a degree, the government is clear that courses must offer strong outcomes and real value for students, and university should remain a route to opportunity but only where it delivers.
Abuse of the system will not be tolerated, particularly where courses — often delivered through franchising — do not provide good value for students or the taxpayer.
As part of this, the government is drawing up options for legislation to limit the growth of some courses with consistently poor returns for students at some providers, making clear that the system must prioritise student outcomes over volume.
The government is working with the Office for Students (OfS), UCAS and sector partners to make it easier for students to access the information on course outcomes and wage returns. The government will also support people from low-income households to study courses in priority areas through reintroducing targeted maintenance grants from 28/29.
New rules will also mean franchised providers with 300 or more franchised students must register with the Office for Students or face losing access to student loan funding, ensuring proper oversight and accountability.
This action comes after decades where many students have been sold courses with poor outcomes, while some institutions have continued to expand provision that does not lead to better jobs or higher pay, and leaving graduates and taxpayers to pick up the tab.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:
The decline in youth apprenticeship starts under the last government has kicked the ladder away from too many young people.
We are reversing that, and expanding opportunities for young people, by tilting funding towards the apprenticeships which will enable them to access high-quality training and those first jobs on the career ladder.
From the autumn we will also be offering small and medium-sized businesses £2000 for every young apprentice they take on who is under 25 and paying the full training cost – directing money towards where the opportunities are needed most.
Alongside action to reform higher education, the government will shift further apprenticeships funding into opportunities for young people, reversing the decline in starts and prioritising support for those at the start of their working lives.
The government is making a record £3.3bn investment in apprenticeships this year with an ambition to see 50,000 more apprenticeship starts for young people by 2029. This would reverse nearly half of the 40% decline in 16–24 apprenticeship starts over the past decade which has left young people locked out of the first rung on the career ladder.
The government has already tilted funding towards apprenticeships for young people by de-funding some of the courses used largely by older employees well established in their careers to free up more funding for young people, and short courses in key growth areas.
New foundation apprenticeships, exclusively for young people, are expanding into sectors like hospitality and retail, opening up more entry‑level routes into work, and helping young people move from education into lasting employment.
As part of this push, the government has directed Skills England to review funding rates for the apprenticeship standards used mostly by young people, to better prioritise how this funding is used. It will report in the autumn on whether the rates need to be changed to further shift provision towards young people and rebuild the apprenticeship ladder for the next generation.
This also builds on wider action through the government’s Youth Guarantee which will ensure every young person has the opportunity to earn and learn. This includes financial incentives for businesses to hire young people who have been out of work, providing guaranteed subsidised jobs and reforming the Growth and Skills Levy — helping deliver up to 500,000 opportunities.
From ending a one size fits all education system and reforming SEND provision in schools, to tackling the harmful impact of social media, the government is stepping in at every stage of a young person’s life to make sure they are supported to learn, grow and to succeed. That means getting the foundations right early on, backing young people through education and training, and opening up real routes into work so no one is left behind.
Taken together, this will ensure more young people can get a decent job, earn a good wage, and build a secure future — no matter where they come from.
![PRESS RELEASE : UK launches new AI partnership to boost climate security [June 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/newfco.png)
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 June 2026.
FCDO announces new strategic partnership with the Met Office to drive AI weather forecasting.
The UK is deploying its expertise in advanced weather and climate forecasting to support countries most exposed to extreme weather.
The partnership will help meteorological services in different countries to better predict, withstand and recover from extreme weather events – reducing damage, protecting livelihoods, strengthening economic resilience and enabling communities to rebuild more quickly.
This represents a significant boost to the UK’s climate and economic security, recognising that shocks to climate systems can have direct consequences for global markets, supply chains and growth.
This work will take on even greater importance and urgency with an El Niño of potentially record-breaking strength predicted to bring extreme weather to regions across South-East Asia and Africa in the coming months.
Initial work will focus on improving forecasting in the Philippines, which is at particular risk to weather events, due to its densely populated coast and its location at the heart of the Western Pacific typhoon belt.
FCDO is supporting the partnership through access to its diplomatic network, providing in-country support from UK embassies such as Manila, and wider efforts to connect British technology and expertise with partner countries.
Climate security is affecting all our lives. When countries are devastated by extreme weather, the effects can be felt all over the world, whether it is through the impact on global trade, the disruption of supply chains, or the increase in food and energy prices.
Our new partnership with the Met Office will help countries across the Global South to protect against extreme weather events, and manage the effects of climate change – using British expertise and technology to create a more stable world.
This strategic partnership will enable us to amplify the impact we already have through combining our priorities, values and strengths – positioning the UK as global leaders in this space and enabling more people to be protected from extreme weather.
The Met Office is playing a significant role in driving forward AI forecasting around the world. Powerful machine learning means forecasting can be delivered significantly faster, with more accuracy and at much lower cost than existing models.
The partnership builds on the FCDO and Met Office’s record of improving climate resilience for millions around the world through the Weather and Climate Information Services (WISER) programme.
The UK is also backing the technology needed to respond when climate shocks hit. An extension of the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) programme will expand clean energy solutions such as portable electricity systems and zero-emissions generators across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Indo-Pacific. This will help communities keep their power on during crises, while also providing growth opportunities for innovative UK companies.
Today’s announcements reflect the UK’s modern approach to development, which moves beyond traditional aid to unlock growth, jobs and trade.
With London a global green finance leader, the UK is well placed to mobilise private capital and reform systems, while acting as an investor and partner rather than a donor. One new research programme will focus on how countries can build long term resilience, including by mobilising finance for climate adaptation.
FCDO is today announcing:
![PRESS RELEASE : New tools to map where environmental pressures impact communities [June 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/environmentagency.png)
The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 22 June 2026.
Two new analytical tools launched to identify where environmental, socio-economic and health pressures affect communities across England.
From today (Monday 22 June), a wide range of users, including local authorities, government, NGOs and others, will be able to see at a street-level where environmental and climate pressures are hitting socio-economically deprived communities hardest. Environmental and climate change impacts are disproportionately felt by those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, with these communities facing greater barriers to action, particularly in areas vulnerable to extreme heat and flooding.
Launched at the start of London Climate Week, two new analytical tools will provide organisations across England with robust evidence to pinpoint where environmental pressures overlap with socio-economic and health challenges.
The Index of Multiple Environmental Deprivation (IMED) maps cumulative environmental pressures, including climate risks, air quality, flood risk, noise and access to green space, across England at street-level resolution and other local geographies including Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs)
The Environmental Equity Index (EEI) builds on this by incorporating socio-economic and health indicators to reveal where these pressures intersect and accumulate. Used together, the tools help identify areas experiencing the greatest combined burdens, supporting more targeted and joined-up responses.
The tools provide a consistent, transparent evidence base designed for use by a wide range of organisations who can then target resources, strengthen planning decisions and take more joined-up approaches to environmental, socio-economic and health challenges.
For example, measures such as urban greening, housing retrofit, heat resilient design standards and targeted public health responses need to be prioritised in the most deprived areas.
Protecting communities from environmental pressures is central to our work at the Environment Agency, but we know that some communities face greater pressures than others.
That’s why we have developed these tools which provide for the first time a clear picture of environmental pressures across England – so that we can direct our resources where they’re needed most by the communities we serve
Natural England’s expertise in green infrastructure, spatial data and nature-based solutions shaped how these tools were designed and what they measure.
Decision-makers now have something they haven’t had before: a consistent, high-resolution evidence base covering the whole of England that can tell us, at a glance, where environmental disadvantage is greatest so that we can take action.
We’ve known for a long time that some communities are disproportionately affected by environmental harm and exposed on multiple fronts. So today’s launch, which sees these compounding threats tracked officially for the first time, is a significant step towards improving access to information and justice on the environment.
With these tools, communities and councils can gain a clear understanding of the main environmental risks locally, as well as which areas need to be prioritised for action. We know just how valuable resources like these are for delivering change at the local level thanks to our work with hundreds of local action groups up and down the country. This is a shining example of what collaboration between government, campaign groups and academia can unlock.
By bringing together rich spatial data into a single, evidence-driven index, IMED reveals the true cumulative burden of environmental deprivation – informing citizens and empowering decision-makers to target interventions where they are needed most.
This index gives local authorities a clearer, place-based understanding of how environmental pressures -from air quality to heat stress – combine across neighbourhoods, supporting targeted action and better outcomes for communities most in need.
IMED and EEI support the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan and Local Nature Recovery Strategies. The Government has committed £15 million to research programmes aimed at mapping climate vulnerability and improving local adaptive capacities across society, in addition to £5.3 billion on flood management schemes and millions for tree planting and peat land restoration.
Both tools are available now via Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Mapping Tool, with free guidance, FAQs and support materials on GOV.UK.
The comments made by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, on 22 June 2026.
It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years.
European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you.
Thank you, dear Keir.
The statement made by Andy Burnham on 22 June 2026.
Keir has given huge service to our country and I want to thank him for his leadership and dedication during such a challenging period.
His decision marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way. I will put myself forward as part of this process.
The country expects stability, seriousness and a continued focus on the issues that matter most and that is what it will get. As we move forward, our priority must be to work together to get the country back to where we all want it to be.
People want to see progress on economic growth, cost of living, public services, housing and opportunities for the next generation. Political change should never distract from the responsibility to improve people’s lives.
The Labour movement has always been at its strongest when it looks forward with confidence and purpose.
This is what we will do from here and we will make sure this transition is a positive process of renewal for our party and our country.
The statement made by Wes Streeting on 22 June 2026.
Keir Starmer led us to a general election victory that no one thought possible. He kept us out of the war in Iran and has delivered real progress as prime minister at home. He has made the right decision to stand down as the leader of the Labour Party that he saved.
After a devastating set of election results in May, the Makerfield by-election has proven that Labour can still win if we have the courage to change. It was a victory for unity and hope over division and hatred.
It was also Andy Burnham’s victory. Andy has shown what Labour can be when we are inclusive, united, and in touch with the lives of the people this Party was founded to represent.
I left the government because we were losing the fight to nationalists in every corner of the country. I have spent the weeks since speaking to our former councillors, activists and voters in place we lost – to listen and learn from them.
I’ve also been setting out ideas to change our country: a plan for Britain to grow again and grow together, with a progressive capitalism focused on wealth creation as much as wealth distribution; to lead the world in the fourth industrial revolution and protect people from its risks; to modernise our public services; to give Britain energy security; to build stronger alliances with democracies around the world and a new special relationship with Europe; and to change the culture of our party so that it is more inclusive and open to ideas.
Having spoken at length with Andy in recent days, I’m convinced that there is a place for those ideas under his leadership; that he is committed to building an inclusive party that draws on the best of our political traditions; and that he can win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism.
We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and our country needs. That is the choice that I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too.
We were elected to change our country, to show that politics can be a force for good, and to spread opportunity for everyone. With Andy, we still can.
![PRESS RELEASE : UK accelerates long-range strike capability for Ukraine [June 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mod.png)
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 22 June 2026.
Three UK-designed long-range strike systems have been flight tested just months after competition launch, as British defence industry deliver battlefield capability at record speed.
A major UK project to develop low-cost advanced long-range strike weapons for Ukrainian has reached a significant milestone, with three British-designed systems successfully flight tested just months after the competition was launched.
Project Brakestop, launched by the Ministry of Defence’s Taskforce Kindred in November 2024, challenged UK industry to develop a low-cost, ground-launched strike weapon capable of hitting targets more than 500km away while carrying a powerful 225kg warhead.
The programme was designed to harness the speed, innovation and expertise of British industry to deliver a new capability at a pace rarely seen in defence. Follow on contracts worth around £15 million each have now been awarded to three companies.
Ambitious requirements were set for competitors for the new system, including:
27 bids from industry were received when the competition opened, and MOD experts carried out detailed technical assessments and held competitive “Dragon’s Den” style pitches in February 2025. Six British companies were awarded contracts worth around £5 million each to design and build prototype weapons for testing in just seven months.
The UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, and we will continue to provide the support it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression.
Project Brakestop shows what happens when we combine that commitment with the talent and ingenuity of British industry. In less than a year, UK companies have taken an ambitious concept from the drawing board to flight testing, delivering a new generation of capability at remarkable speed.
This is a clear demonstration that Britain has the industrial strength, innovation and determination to meet the challenges of modern warfare and support our allies.
By December 2025, only three suppliers remained, who progressed to flight testing:
Each of their systems were tested at the MOD Hebrides Range, a specialist trials site managed by QinetiQ through the Long-Term Partnering Agreement.
The announcement comes following a week of UK commitments to Ukraine where the Prime Minister announced at G7, a further £210 million of UK Export Finance support to power Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, and 70 new sanctions targeting Russia’s decrepit shadow fleet, military procurement supply chains and illicit finance networks.
Whilst on Thursday, The Defence Secretary announced that the UK will provide 150,000 Ukrainian-produced drones and over 350 air defence missiles and radars funded from Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loan.
Project Brakestop demonstrates the ability of UK industry to rapidly develop and test complex long-range strike systems.
The 225kg warhead that the systems must be capable of carrying has already been successfully developed and tested by another UK company, proving the destructive power of the system.
The next phase of Project Brakestop is now underway, with Phase 2 contracts worth around £15 million awarded to multiple suppliers to further develop and produce 15 improved effectors each, alongside launchers and support vehicles.
Further testing will take place in the UK in the coming months, followed by additional trials overseas, including in Ukraine.
![PRESS RELEASE : The Secretary of State announces the reappointment of the Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland [June 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/northernirelandoffice.png)
The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 22 June 2026.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Hilary Benn MP, has announced the reappointment of David Johnstone as the Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioners Office was established in September 2020 to provide a voice for veterans living in Northern Ireland to ensure fairness and safe access to services.
David Johnstone was appointed as NI Veterans Commissioner in January 2025. He formerly served as an Officer in the Royal Irish Regiment (Reserves) from 1988 to 2014, including operational deployment in Iraq. He currently holds the position of Chief Vision Officer at PropFundrs, a Property Developer Consultancy Firm and formerly Chief Executive Officer of an online property platform, a role that required him to be a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Approved Person. David also currently has a senior executive role in local football.
This appointment is not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
All appointments are made on merit and with regards to the statutory requirements. Political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories to be made public. Mr Johnstone has not declared any political activity.
![PRESS RELEASE : UK to secure critical minerals boosting economic resilience and cutting reliance on imports [June 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/businesstrade.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 22 June 2026.
Households and businesses are set to benefit from stronger, more secure supply chains as the UK invests £50 million in critical minerals projects.
Households and businesses are set to benefit from stronger, more secure supply chains as the UK invests £50 million in critical minerals essential for everyday products – from smartphones and fridges to electric vehicles.
The funding will boost domestic production, support high-value jobs and reduce the UK’s reliance on overseas imports, helping to protect the economy from global shocks and supply disruptions.
With global supply chains increasingly concentrated and vulnerable to disruption, the UK has for too long relied heavily on a small number of international suppliers. This investment marks decisive action to strengthen economic resilience, secure vital materials and support long-term growth as part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy.
The Critical Minerals Strategy will back British companies to accelerate the extraction, processing and recycling of critical minerals, while investing in cutting-edge manufacturing capability and attracting private investment into the UK.
Today (22 June), Industry Minister Chris McDonald will visit Teesside’s Wilton Centre to officially launch the Government’s programme to industry and tour Seloxium and DEScycle – two cutting-edge firms advancing critical minerals processing and metal recycling.
Industry Minister Chris McDonald said:
Critical minerals are vital for our national security, and this targeted funding will support companies in ramping up domestic production, helping to create new jobs and opportunities in local communities, whilst building more resilient supply chains.
Through our Critical Minerals Strategy, we’re leveraging Britain’s mineral wealth, attracting new investment and forming dynamic relationships with partners across the world to boost our economic security.
Founder of the Critical Minerals Association Jeff Townsend said:
The UK Government has taken important steps to strengthen the critical minerals sector. As attention turns from policy development to delivery, it is encouraging to see the £50 million grant programme being used to accelerate strategically important UK projects as they reach maturity.
As the home to Seloxium and DEScycle, the Wilton Centre sits in the heart of the North-East of England Process Industry Cluster. Building on its strong industrial heritage, the North East offers expertise in the recycling, processing and recovery of critical minerals alongside growing lithium development.
CCO and Co-Founder of DEScycle and Co-Chair of the Circular Economy Working Group at the UK Critical Minerals Association, Fred White said:
We are nearing construction completion of our world-first demonstration facility, with key equipment installed ahead of commissioning. Our disruptive technology is reshaping how the UK views e-waste, transforming its treatment into a sovereign form of urban mining and Teesside’s world-leading industrial heritage, skilled workforce makes it the ideal location for our facility, deploying infrastructure directly supporting the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy.
The funding programme will be delivered through three distinct pillars:
Together, these measures will help grow the UK’s domestic capability across the critical minerals value chain, and builds on over £200 million of funding already provided including through the National Wealth Fund, DRIVE35 and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
A secure supply of critical minerals is vital for the UK’s economic growth and security, Industrial Strategy, and clean energy transition – and the Critical Mineral’s Strategy paves the way to creating resilient supply chains that will help protect British industry during a time of global instability.