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Andy Burnham – 2026 Comments to Staff Following his Arrival at No 10 North

The comments made by Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, in Manchester on 24 July 2026.

Thank you, everybody. I cannot tell you what a proud moment this is. I think this might be the best day of my life.

I’m not joking. I know you think I am, but I’m not. Things are just completely coming full circle here, for me to be here with you all in the heart of Manchester this Friday morning at the end of a fairly big week is just everything to me.

Because it’s almost exactly 35 years since I left this city as a recently graduated young man, couldn’t find a job in the city. It was in a pretty bad place at that time, it’s fair to say. The ’80s turned into the ’90s. There wasn’t much.

And that really is an experience that I’ve never forgotten. My generation of people growing up here, and it’s true of places all over the country, to get on in life you had to leave where you were because things weren’t here.

And the country’s always been a little like that, hasn’t it? Opportunity has not been evenly spread around the country and not all places have felt that they’re part of the national story and that is what this government is going to work every single day to change, and that is what No 10 North is all about: putting power in every postcode so that people can turn things around for themselves and make changes just as this great city has done and the other English cities are doing through devolution. Turning things round because of that ability to be able to do more for themselves.

And it’s also about getting the whole country facing the same way and then pulling in the same direction. That I think is what No 10 North can achieve. It’s felt a little at times that local government’s just been a bit forgotten and places aren’t able to do what they want to do. But then at the sort of city level, or the regional level, sometimes it’s felt like an argument with people in the centre of government and people having a to and fro all of the time.

Imagine, just imagine if we were all working together as one team, pulling the same way and making the change happen for people and places. I think we can do that. In fact, I feel we’ve got to do that. If we want to take Britain from where it is right now, and I think we all have a feeling that it’s not fully where it should be right now.

If we want to get it back to where it should be, it’s got to be about that one team feeling. All of the places around the UK and all of our regions and all of our nations, because No 10 North is as much for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as it is for the regions of England.

If we get that feeling then I think so much is possible that doesn’t feel possible right now and we can really get the energy flowing right around the country. I’m really pleased, and he’s hiding but maybe he should come and join me if he doesn’t mind. I’m really pleased that our new Chancellor of the Exchequer is here today.

I know it sounds like woe is me, we’ve had such a hard week, but we were in a pub together yesterday, weren’t we? Rating pub snacks. It did look like hard work. But it’s brilliant that you’re here, John. Next to John is our first Secretary of State, Louise Haigh. And that, I hope, is sending a message to everybody here who has come into No 10 North in its early days that you’ve got the full support of the government from the very top: Prime Minister, Chancellor, First Secretary of State. That’s a very powerful message that we’re sending today, that the political commitment is there.

This isn’t about government working in its old way, it’s about the Treasury, No 10, close together, the heart of government, then driving the same mission from here right out into all parts of the country. And I’m delighted the Cabinet Secretary is here too today. Antonia, thank you for everything you have done to make today possible, because I also want to get the culture right, the relationship right between politicians and our brilliant civil servants and then everyone feeling that they’re all in the same game together and we’re all working together and we’re all working hard to support each other. That’s what this is all about.

I need to thank Caroline, former chief executive now of the Great Manchester Combined Authority, who’s done so much to make today possible. But what I already see as I look around and see sort of the faces from my old world, it does feel like the boundaries are breaking down a little and we’re sort of coming in together, and starting to kind of knit in together and then really get going and getting the growth going, the good growth going in every part of the country.

And I mean it when I say every postcode, everybody, that’s what we’ve got to do. Nowhere forgotten, everywhere feeling heard, everyone with a sense that their place can be more than it is today. High streets lifted around the country. Britain re-industrialised, getting those good jobs back into all of our regions. We’ve got such an opportunity, everybody, ahead of us.

I said I wanted to get Britain believing again. Today is a day where we hopefully can really build that sense, get Britain hoping again. I think we can do that together if we carry on working in this way. So it is such an amazing moment for me. It’s everything I believe in, everything I’ve spent my whole life working towards, a country that really does feel together, feel that all parts are involved and making their contribution. No 10 is North is going to take that up to the next level.

Make no mistake, I just want to finish on this point. There’ll be many voices out there. I can hear them all already, often London-based, but not exclusively. You know, they like to say, oh, this will just be another, the new Levelling Up or another sort of short-lived gimmick.

They’ll also say, what’s it going to cost? But I’m just going to say something now that I’m going to say in the meetings later. You know, what does it cost for everybody to troop down to London every time there’s a meeting when you need to make an argument about something? What does that cost?

So actually, isn’t it better that we have a North Pole that balances the South Pole of our country, where power will always be concentrated, but at least it creates that sense of a more balanced country. And the big things can be done from here.

But this is the place where Whitehall meets the rest of the country. I’ve called it the nerve centre for a rewired Britain. Or if you think about it in terms of the day-to-day kind of challenge around growth, it will be the situation room for growth where we all get around the table, mayors with all of the team of the Whitehall departments, so we get those decisions made more quickly, we break through the logjams, and we get things done.

So it is much more profound, I think, than people have worked out so far. It’s not just a new office. Through this place, power is going to flow, energy is going to flow, new ideas are going to come through, the region’s going to play back their ambitions here and the team is then going to say, right, we’re behind you, we’re going to make things work. That is a different way of running Britain. That is what I’m committed to do as Prime Minister and I’m so grateful to everybody for making this day happen at the end of my first week and now let’s get to work everybody. Thanks so much.

28/07/2026
NEWS STORY : Environment Agency begins criminal proceedings against Southern Water and former employees

STORY

The Environment Agency has begun criminal proceedings against Southern Water Services Limited and seven former employees following a long-running investigation. Four former employees, including former chief executive Matthew Wright, face a charge of conspiracy to defraud the Environment Agency and water regulator Ofwat.

It is alleged that between January 2012 and December 2017 the defendants implemented artificial “no-flow” events at wastewater treatment works operated by Southern Water. The Environment Agency claims this was intended to manipulate the Operator Self-Monitoring compliance regime, under which water companies take samples and report the results to the regulator. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment.

Southern Water will separately face charges relating to alleged breaches of environmental permits connected with the same conduct, while three additional former employees face charges linked to failures to comply with permits. The proceedings will continue at Medway Magistrates’ Court after the Administrative Court confirmed the Environment Agency’s power to bring the prosecution. All charges remain allegations and the proceedings are ongoing.

24/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s aerial attacks increase the risk of wider escalation – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 July 2026.

UK Senior Military Adviser, Colonel Joby Rimmer, warns that Russia’s missile and drone attacks endanger civilians, violate neighbouring states’ airspace and increase the risk of miscalculation and escalation across Europe.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Overnight, on 18–19 July, the Russian Federation launched 41 missiles and 125 drones against Ukraine in one of the largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian air defences intercepted 18 missiles and 108 drones, but nevertheless strikes and falling debris affected residential buildings, a supermarket, a dormitory and other civilian infrastructure.

Across the country, these attacks killed at least 20 civilians. Those interceptions did save lives, but we should be clear: Ukraine should not need to deploy air-defence systems to protect apartment blocks, supermarkets, hospitals and schools. Russia’s reckless use of drones and missiles has repeatedly resulted in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.

And the legal framework is not ambiguous. Parties must always distinguish between civilians and combatants, and between civilian objects and military objectives. Attacks may be directed against only military objectives. Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited, as are attacks expected to cause incidental civilian harm excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.

But Russia’s aerial campaign also creates risks beyond Ukraine. On 29 May, during a Russian attack on Ukraine, a Russian drone entered Romanian airspace and struck a ten-storey apartment building in Galați. Two civilians were injured and approximately 70 residents evacuated. This is not a theoretical risk. A live weapons system crossed sovereign airspace and struck civilians in a NATO country.

Moldova has likewise experienced repeated Russian drone incursions. Furthermore, on 13 July, a Shahed-type drone crossed into Moldovan territory and exploded near the village of Copanca during Russian attacks on southern Ukraine. No casualties were reported, but the incident again demonstrated the consistent danger posed to neighbouring states. And NATO condemned Russia’s reckless behaviour in both cases.

This Forum exists to reduce misunderstanding, miscalculation and unintended escalation. Yet every Russian missile or drone launched near an international border could create an uncertain track. Every missile or drone launched near an international border could and has resulted in a possible airspace violation. Every Russian missile or drone launched near an international border could result in the scrambling of military aircraft, further escalating the risk of miscalculation.

Stronger European air and missile defence, surveillance and coordination are therefore necessary, defensive and proportionate responses to a threat solely created by Russia’s aggression, not acts of hostility.

Air defence, however, treats the symptoms rather than the cause. Russia must cease its reckless attacks, comply fully with distinction, proportionality and precautions, prevent further airspace violations and communicate promptly and honestly when incidents occur.

The greatest contribution Russia could make to European security would be to end its aggression, agree an immediate ceasefire and engage seriously towards a just and lasting peace.

24/07/2026
Wes Streeting – 2026 Keynote Speech at AGF Defence Summit

The speech made by Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Defence, at Farnborough on 22 July 2026.

Thank you for that introduction, and I’m sure you will all understand why perhaps the Prime Minister couldn’t be here this particular week.

I’ve no doubt we’ll be seeing him here in future years, though I hope you’ve just got a glimpse there from that video message what an opportunity we have with this Prime Minister and this Chancellor. They both understand defence. They understand the immediate pressures and priorities that defence is facing.

But they also understand the enormous contribution that Defence can make to the Prime Minister’s vision for this country in terms of jobs, growth in every postcode, and re-industrialisation.

I’m going to touch on much of that in my speech to you today. Of course, in most jobs on day two, you’ve been given your password logins, you found the bathrooms, you know your way around the building. You’re not normally delivering keynote speeches, or indeed taking questions from the media, as I’ll be doing shortly after.

But this is a job like no other, and it is an enormous privilege for me to serve as Secretary of State for Defence.

It’s been almost a decade since I first came to Farnborough. Things were quite different back then. Theresa May was Prime Minister. Nobody really knew what AI was, and I didn’t have a single grey hair.

Some things have not changed since then. That palpable sense of being at the cutting edge of innovation is just as strong today as it was then. To look back on the history of Farnborough is to trace some of the most profound advances in engineering. It reminds us that making aircraft is something Britain has done for a very long time, and still does exceptionally well today.

For more than a century, our nation has fused the ingenuity of industry with the courage of those who serve. It has powered our economy, redefined technology, and in our darkest hours, kept our nation secure and free. That partnership has been the foundation of British air power. In the conflicts of the past, no enemy we faced could even hope to challenge us in the sky.

That is a privilege we no longer enjoy. State-on-state competition has returned on a scale not seen for a generation. Technology has advanced at a rate unlike anything seen by any generation. In Ukraine, we see the consequences of neither side achieving air supremacy, north of 1 million casualties, on a front line that has barely shifted in years. In the Middle East, we see that even where air supremacy is achieved, it is still relatively easy and cheap for the other side to wreak havoc across an entire region with consequences felt across the globe.

The skies today are increasingly contested, complex and lethal. Air dominance is not a given, it is not a right. But our Defence Investment Plan will ensure that we earn it once again.

I know that the months leading up to the DIP weren’t easy for many of you in this room and beyond. I thank you on behalf of the Government for persevering. With a plan now published, I’m relying on all of you to make it a success.

The first duty of any government is to keep our country safe. That is a duty the Prime Minister and I treat with the utmost seriousness.

My job, as Secretary of State, is to maximise our deterrence, and ensure that should deterrence fail, we have the capability to fight and to win. That means investment.

President Trump has called on Europe to carry a greater share of the burden for our own defence, and he is right to do so. The UK has always been a leading light on defence spending, but the world is changing, and in these dangerous, uncertain times, it is clear that we have needed to go further.

That’s why we’ve committed £298 billion over the next four years, including an additional £15 billion on top of last year’s Spending Review settlement. At the recent NATO summit, all members reaffirmed our commitment to 3.5% by 35.

I’m acutely conscious of the impact these numbers have on your investment decisions, and I’m committed to providing you with clarity and confidence. For now, I’m pleased to say that in the 10 days after the publication of the DIP, we agreed more than £11.8 billion worth of contracts. Defence is up and flying again.

But investment is only one side of the coin. Because while we will always back our brave men and women who serve, ensuring they have the resources and the kit that they need, we also owe it to them and to the whole country to ensure that every penny is spent wisely. Modernisation without investment is impractical, but investment without modernisation is irresponsible.

When I was Health Secretary, we secured billions of pounds more in investment for our NHS. But we also embarked on a bold programme of reform and modernisation to ensure that we were maximising value for money and cutting waste. The results we achieved in a relatively short space of time – the biggest reduction in waiting times in 17 years, 5 million additional appointments in the first year alone – only happened because we’ve brought these two things together.

This is the mantra I will now follow as Defence Secretary. This is how we make ourselves fit to face the future, how we will continue to be a strong, dependable ally to our friends abroad, and how we will be an engine of growth and jobs here at home.

And today I want to speak about what that looks like. Typhoon remains an indispensable instrument of our national security. The more than £1 billion we’re investing to upgrade the fleet will ensure that remains the case into the 2040s. But long gone are the days of crewed platforms holding their own in the sky. That process of transformation is now well underway.

Last week, we announced our new Collaborative Combat Air programme, StormFighter. With the advent of CCA, and their integration with crewed platforms like the Typhoon, we will make the RAF Europe’s first sixth-generation air force. These uncrewed autonomous fighter jets will provide us with eyes and ears, carry missiles and confuse the enemy. Five at a time and 500 miles ahead of the Typhoon pilots controlling them, crucially, at a fifth of the price of that aircraft.

And I can announce today that our ambition is to get a demonstrator CCA flying in the air next year and have StormFighter operational by the end of the decade. This project will support 2,000 jobs when the full production line is up and running.

Globally, the CCA sector is projected to be valued at more than £125 billion to 2050. This is a sector in which I expect the UK to excel.

Just this morning, we saw a British company, BAE, launch their sovereign CCA programme. This signals the enormous opportunity on offer in advantage, jobs and exports. If we’re to meet that potential, then we need to do things differently. We’ve just upgraded our Typhoons with a new precision weapon system that can defeat drones at a fraction of the price of the missiles currently used. From start to finish, the process took just 42 days. This is a mark of where we need to be.

That means changing the way we do business and working with the Defence Industrial Joint Council I will direct my department to take a new approach to risk. Not every decision will come off, but that’s the price of moving at the pace of modern warfare, where delay and inaction pose the greater threat.

All this matters because what we’re building now, an integrated system of crewed and autonomous platforms, provides us with the bridge to our sixth-generation fighter system. The £8.6 billion pledged to GCAP in the Defence Investment Plan is a sure expression of our commitment, as you heard from the Prime Minister just a moment ago.

And in a display of our intent to increase international collaboration, yesterday, alongside our partners from Italy and Japan, I was pleased to welcome Canada as an observer to the programme.

GCAP means air dominance. Our nation needs it. This government is backing it. The wider Future Combat Air System will likewise enjoy our fullest support. Today we have over 4,500 people working across the UK building a fully integrated combat air system, GCAT, uncrewed platforms, advanced weapons, sensors and secure data networks. The FCAS programme is a fantastic source of good jobs and apprenticeships.

We also have some of our finest minds working on the frontier of the most advanced technologies. The potential, not just for our security, but as history shows, for our society and our economy too, is enormous. And today, I’m pleased to confirm we put pen to paper with BAE on a £708 million contract extension to advance their work on critical sovereign technologies.

So what does all of this mean? In one word, jobs. The air sector alone employs 70,000 people in the UK. The Prime Minister has spoken passionately about his ambition to re-industrialise Britain. Defence is, and will be, at the forefront of that mission. We will be unapologetic about backing Britain, British ingenuity, British workers, communities in every corner of this great country. Defence will not just be a recipient of the proceeds of economic growth. It will be a central contributor to building that growth, a driver of prosperity in parts of the country that are crying out for the backing they need to make their contribution to the challenge of our time.

It is not yet clear whether the 21st century will be defined by tyranny or freedom. But we need not let others define the answer to that question. Freedom is hard won and even harder preserved. We in Britain will not be bystanders in this contest. We know which side we are on. And we will give every part of our country the chance to play their part in ensuring that our values – freedom, democracy and peace – not only win out, but endure.

Let me end with what matters most: our people. Over recent months, we’ve seen the very best of our RAF. Our pilots protecting the skies above NATO’s Eastern Front and the Middle East. The A400 crew who flew 4,000 miles to save a single life on the most remote inhabited British Overseas Territory on Earth. And I have to say, as the Health Secretary at the time, that made me truly proud to be British and truly proud of what this country is capable of doing.

The RAF Regiment gunners who stood watch engaging hundreds of drones with relentless dedication in the Middle East. The heli crews who helped seize a Russian shadow fleet vessel, and the P-8 crews who tracked Russian spy subs with precision and determination. Every time, without exception, When members of our RAF are called to act, they have not merely met the moment, they have risen far beyond it.

We are now in the midst of one of the most profound changes in the history of air power. Never before have we been asked to travel so far in so little time. But we can. In times of our greatest peril, this country has shown itself capable of doing big things. We still can. We have stood tall on the world stage, steadfast in support of our allies. We still can. We have matched the courage of those who serve with the ingenuity of those who build. We still can. And together, we will do so again. Thank you very much. And together, we will do so.

24/07/2026
NEWS STORY : MOD awards £20 million contract to develop hypersonic capability
STORY

The National Armaments Director (NAD) Group has awarded a contract to develop a hypersonic target, strengthening UK and allied missile defence capabilities.
- The programme supports UK and allied missile defence, with a live flight demonstration planned for 2027 at the MOD Hebrides Range
- Bowline strengthens UK sovereign hypersonics expertise and supports international collaboration through AUKUS Pillar 2
The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £20 million contract to Lockheed Martin UK to deliver Project Bowline, a hypersonic target programme designed to support the development and testing of missile defence systems against advanced threats. The project is a key part of the UK’s contribution to allied air and missile defence, with a live flight demonstration planned for 2027 at the MOD Hebrides Range.

The contract awarded by NAD Group will support around 63 jobs in Bedfordshire and inject £2 million into the supply chain, with over a third going directly to UK SMEs. It also marks the MOD’s return to hypersonic target development after more than a decade, rebuilding the sovereign capability in advanced targets.

National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said:

Delivering Project Bowline will help ensure the UK stays ahead of rapidly evolving hypersonic threats. By working with our AUKUS partners and investing in advanced missile technology in the UK, we strengthen our national arsenal, boost a key sector in our economy, and support our ability to deliver effective missile defence.

Under the contract, Lockheed Martin UK – at its advanced manufacturing facility – will design, manufacture, qualify and test a hypersonic target, a vehicle designed to represent high-speed threats capable of travelling at speeds reaching above Mach 5.

The programme will culminate in a first flight demonstration, enabling the future assessment and qualification of next‑generation missile defence systems, including sensors and interceptors. Bowline has been awarded through the MOD’s Science and Technology Oriented Research and Development in Missile Defence (STORM) contract managed by the UK Missile Defence Centre and supports innovation in defence capability.

Project Bowline builds on international collaboration under the AUKUS Pillar 2 Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement, where the UK, United States and Australia are working together to accelerate hypersonic and counter‑hypersonic technologies. The US and Australia will provide critical contributions including flight test and research expertise and technical peer review.

The programme is a prime example of the NAD Group’s core role in developing, delivering and sustaining the UK’s national arsenal.

Bowline will enhance sovereign expertise in hypersonic systems, including modelling, manufacturing and testing, while strengthening partnerships across industry, small and medium enterprises and academia. This reflects a continued focus on accelerating capability delivery, deepening international collaboration and supporting UK economic growth through defence investment.

Paul Livingston, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin UK, said:

For more than 85 years Lockheed Martin has partnered with the UK to help address complex defence and security challenges. The Project Bowline contract and programme highlight the strength of collaboration between government, UK industry, and international partners through the UK Missile Defence Centre, and will support sovereign innovation across the UK, capitalise on existing UK industry capability, and contribute to a more resilient and effective sovereign missile defence capability.
24/07/2026
NEWS STORY : Southport victims’ families criticise Rudakubana’s transfer to Broadmoor

STORY

The families of the three girls murdered in the Southport attack have accused Axel Rudakubana of attempting to manipulate the system after he was transferred from HMP Belmarsh to Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital. Their representatives said the development had caused further distress as the second anniversary of the attack approached and requested an urgent meeting with the relevant authorities.

Rudakubana was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years for murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe, and attempting to murder eight other children and two adults at a dance workshop in Southport. He was moved to Broadmoor after clinical assessments concluded that he could not be managed safely in a prison environment because of his mental health.

The Ministry of Justice said the transfer did not alter Rudakubana’s sentence and that he would remain securely detained. Prisoners transferred under the Mental Health Act receive treatment in a secure hospital and may be returned to prison if treatment is no longer required or their condition allows them to be managed safely in custody.

24/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Business Secretary: “I’m backing investment and innovation to power good growth in every corner of the UK” [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 22 July 2026.
- New Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds sets out government’s ambition to harness innovation and drive good growth in every part of the UK.
- Reynolds at Farnborough International Airshow to set out stall to go further and faster for growth by commercialising science and innovation to deliver for every postcode.
- Announcement comes as government unveils £600m package to back British aerospace innovation, including research & development support and new supply chain fund.
The new Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will today (22 July) set out the Government’s ambition to harness the potential of science and innovation to power good growth in every corner of the country.

In just the third day of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new government, the Secretary of State is visiting the Farnborough International Airshow to set out government’s stall on bringing British business, innovation and science together to deliver for every postcode.

It comes as the new Government unveils a £600 million package of support for the UK aerospace industry at the Airshow, including over £500 million for cutting-edge aerospace research and technology projects to pioneer greener air travel, and a new £100 million Aerospace Supply Chain Fund to help ambitious suppliers scale up and meet the demand in a fast-growing and important industry.

The new support forms part of the Prime Minister’s pledge to reindustrialise Britian and will help businesses in every part of the country develop cutting-edge new aerospace technologies, supporting innovation, attracting investment and securing high-skilled jobs in high-tech roles, 90 percent of which are outside London and the South East.

Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

This government is laser-focused on bringing good growth to every corner of the country, and we’re wasting no time getting on with the job.

Aerospace is one of Britain’s great industrial success stories. Partnerships like this show the power of bringing business and innovation together to harness our strong manufacturing base and cutting-edge research to support skilled jobs right across the UK.

Alongside today’s investment in pioneering research and development, the Government and British Business Bank have announced plans for a new £100 million Aerospace Supply Chain Fund, working with industry partners including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, Safran and the trade body ADS.

The proposed fund will help ambitious UK aerospace suppliers access the growth capital they need to expand, invest in productivity and workforce capability, and compete for new opportunities in a growing global market. By strengthening British manufacturing capability, it will support businesses to scale and create high-quality jobs across the country.

The aerospace research and technology projects announced today will pioneer a wide range of technologies, from advanced aircraft wings and future engine systems to hydrogen-powered flight, digital engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Examples include Airbus-led projects developing next-generation wing technologies and manufacturing processes, Rolls-Royce projects building on its world-leading UltraFan engine programme – working in partnership with government to prepare for Rolls-Royce to seize the opportunity of the narrowbody market – and companies including ZeroAvia and Safran advancing hydrogen and electric propulsion and more efficient aircraft systems.

Together, the projects will help strengthen the UK’s position as a global aerospace leader, support the transition to greener aviation and turn world-class British innovation into investment, jobs and long-term economic growth.

Gary Elliott, CEO, Aerospace Technology Institute said:

The UK aerospace sector’s world-class innovation and manufacturing capability is being showcased at Farnborough this week. Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to keeping the UK at the forefront of aerospace technology, driving jobs, growth and competitiveness as we work to double the sector’s market value by 2035.

These projects add to a balanced portfolio of investments that cement UK leadership in designing the future of flight.

The Government has also signed a partnership with Embraer to deepen cooperation on aerospace innovation, research and development, and supply chain opportunities.

The Memorandum of Understanding will help identify new opportunities for UK businesses within Embraer’s global supply chain, strengthen links between the UK and one of the world’s leading aerospace companies, and create new opportunities for British firms to grow and compete internationally.

The Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) is also publishing its latest strategy update at Farnborough, setting out a shared government and industry plan for the UK aerospace sector through to 2030.

The report reinforces a joint ambition to double the UK’s share of the global aerospace market by 2035 and position the sector for up to fourfold growth by 2050, while supporting the transition to net zero aviation through investment in innovation, skills and a stronger supply chain.
24/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : £708 million to accelerate UK next-generation air combat technology [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 22 July 2026.

Thousands of British workers will accelerate development of advanced technologies for use by the Royal Air Force, following a £708 million investment announced today.
- Contract awarded to continue development of advanced air combat technology for UK Armed Forces.
- More than 4,500 workers across the UK will develop cutting-edge defence technologies, including artificial intelligence and advanced software.
- A nationwide supply chain of around 600 British-based companies will benefit from the contract extension, which was announced as part of the Farnborough International Airshow.
The contract extends the existing programme with BAE Systems, accelerating development of the advanced technologies needed for the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS). That technology includes pioneering dual-use capabilities, from first-in-the-UK digital engineering to artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing capabilities, such as augmented reality, additive manufacturing, and robotics.

The previous phase of investment delivered significant progress across the UK’s future combat air capability, including the expansion of digital engineering capabilities, development of critical physical infrastructure, and maturation of advanced technologies required for future combat air systems.

In part, today’s contract will provide vital UK national infrastructure and technology as a critical contribution to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), as well as supporting the UK’s wider future combat air system.

The work will be led by BAE Systems, alongside Team Tempest partners Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce, with approximately 90% of the jobs based outside of London and the south-east. Around 600 companies and academic institutions across the UK form the programme’s supply chain, supporting thousands of skilled jobs and making defence an engine for growth.

Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting MP said:

This is a clear vote of confidence in British industry, and the thousands of highly skilled workers who are helping to keep our country safe.

This investment in advanced combat air technology for the UK Armed Forces will strengthen our defence and deterrence and shows our clear commitment to backing British workers with our defence investment, creating jobs and supporting communities across the UK.

Simon Barnes, BAE Systems Group Managing Director said:

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme represents the UK’s ambition to shape the future of combat air and secure a leading role in the technologies, skills and capabilities that will define air power for decades to come. This additional investment will enable us, as Team Tempest partners, to continue pushing the boundaries of digital engineering, advanced systems and next-generation combat air technologies, helping sustain the UK’s position at the forefront of combat air innovation.

The announcement follows the recently published Defence Investment Plan which confirmed that the UK would invest £8.6 billion into GCAP over the next four years.

Since 2018, the UK Government has invested more than £5 billion across the FCAS programme.
24/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with Prime Minister Tusk of Poland [July 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 21 July 2026.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk this evening.  

The two leaders began by acknowledging the important partnership between the UK and Poland, particularly on security and defence, and the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s steadfast commitment to the Northolt Treaty to strengthen cooperation in both areas.

Turning to Ukraine, the Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Tusk for Poland’s leadership and support, adding that his Government stood four-square behind Ukraine and securing a just and lasting peace.

Setting out his ambition to build a closer relationship with the EU, the Prime Minister said he wanted his government to continue the momentum to build a strengthened relationship for the benefit of people and businesses on both sides.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

24/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : FCDO Statement on Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 July 2026.

An FCDO statement on recent Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia, including plans to impose a maritime blockade.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

The UK strongly condemns recent Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia, including plans to impose a maritime blockade. These provocations risk further regional instability, endanger freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, and undermine efforts to secure peace in Yemen.

We stand firmly with Saudi Arabia, and other partners within the region, in the face of these threats and call on the Houthis to immediately cease their escalatory actions.

24/07/2026