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PRESS RELEASE : UK Government offers over £1.5bn to the Northern Ireland Executive [September 2026]
The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 24 September 2026.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland offers £1.25bn over three years with a further £150m for transformation of public services and £100m for social housing.

The UK Government has announced the details of a significant package offered to the Northern Ireland Executive worth more than £1.5 billion.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Sir Chris Bryant confirmed the details following discussions with the parties in the Executive and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

He has urged the parties to accept the support and agree a budget to end the uncertainty that surrounds public services in Northern Ireland.

The package addresses all the issues raised in discussions, and includes:
- £1.25bn extra funding for the Executive over three years
- £150m for transformation of public services
- £100m for social housing
- £75m to address fraud and error in the benefit system
The Secretary of State said that the package represented a major contribution from the UK Government to assist the Executive to agree a budget, at a time of very intense pressure on the UK Exchequer.

“I cannot emphasise enough how tight the financial situation is and the pressure on the public finances.

“It represents more than £1.5bn extra funding at a time when nearly all other government departments are being required to make significant savings.

“It gives the Executive the chance to manage its immediate pressures, and move towards a more sustainable footing. Not just this, it supports them in delivering much-needed transformation of public services, and to invest in social housing.

“I am urging the Party Leaders and the Executive to get around the table and work out with us how we can put together a balanced budget as a matter of urgency based on these figures.

“I am keen to get a resolution to this as soon as possible as it has already gone on far too long. People in Northern Ireland are being left in limbo, and the consistent message I hear when I meet people from across society is that they want to see the stalemate over the budget ended.

“But that requires the Executive to recognise the financial landscape across the UK , and do its bit, to find efficiencies and to raise additional revenue.”
27/09/2026
NEWS STORY : Grave of Angus Soldier Missing Since 1918 Identified in Belgium

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The previously unidentified grave of Private George Pert, a soldier from Ferryden in Angus, has been formally rededicated in his name more than a century after his death. The service was organised by the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Harlebeke New British Cemetery in Belgium.

Private Pert grew up in the fishing village of Ferryden before joining the Seaforth Highlanders. He was killed on 20 October 1918 during fighting around Harlebeke as Allied forces advanced across the Western Front during the final weeks of the First World War. His body was not recovered at the time and he was officially recorded as missing.

Research submitted by a member of the public established that Private Pert had been buried east of Harlebeke before his remains were moved to the new cemetery after the war. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has replaced the previously unnamed headstone with one bearing his name and the inscription selected by his family, “Gone too soon, but not forgotten.” Serving soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland attended the rededication service.

27/09/2026
NEWS STORY : Five Men Arrested Following Major Incident Near RAF Fairford

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Five men have been arrested after three suspicious vehicles were reported travelling towards RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Police received the report at around 12.45am on Sunday and armed officers detained the men in the nearby Whelford area on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. They were subsequently further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under the Terrorism Act.

Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation, with all five men remaining in custody. A 400 metre cordon has been established around the vehicles while an Army explosive ordnance disposal team carries out examinations. Around 85 households were evacuated as a precaution, with a nearby leisure centre opened for residents unable to stay with relatives or friends. Police said they believed the incident was contained.

RAF Fairford is used by the United States Air Force and security has also been increased at other bases used by American forces in Britain. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the incident would be deeply concerning to local residents and urged the public not to speculate while investigators established the facts. The Government said the Prime Minister was being kept informed and thanked the emergency services for acting quickly to detain the suspects and protect the community.

27/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Press statement by co-hosts of the UNGA Foreign Ministers Dialogue on Climate Change and Ecosystem Degradation as National Security Risks [September 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 September 2026.

Press statement by the co-hosts UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, and Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs H.E. Dr Musalia Mudavadi of Kenya on the security risks of the intensifying climate and nature crisis.

We, the Foreign Secretary of the UK, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya co-hosted yesterday a meeting of Foreign Ministers to underscore the security risks of the intensifying climate and nature crisis.

Unprecedented wildfires, droughts, crop failures, and extreme heat are profoundly impacting the resilience of communities, economies and ecosystems around the world. Many of the communities threatened or affected by fragility or conflict, or facing severe humanitarian needs, are particularly vulnerable to cope with and adapt to the climate crisis.

Recent months have been characterised by extremes including record July sea surface temperatures, the warmest July on record for North America, Africa and Asia, and sustained heatwaves in Europe. This is already disrupting agricultural production and supply chains, with implications for food security and economic resilience. El Nino is expected to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities including those relating to health, food and water security. The horrific glacier collapse in Nepal causing deaths and many missing people is unfortunately an ominous harbinger of what lies in store if we leave the climate crisis unaddressed.

As we discussed today, the impacts of global ecosystem degradation are becoming more acute and systemic. We are deeply concerned that this is occurring across all regions, with a realistic possibility that some ecosystems will start to collapse from 2030. Cascading and compounding risks are likely to include geopolitical instability, economic insecurity, conflict and displacement and migration and increased resource competition.

As an international community, we have made important strides in tackling climate change and nature loss including through initiatives on climate, peace and security. However as recent events make clear, and with devastating impacts from El Nino to come, we need to go further to meet these challenges and ensure the international system is able to anticipate and respond to climate shocks. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the Paris Agreement and its strengthened implementation to address the concerning gap between current emissions trajectories and those required to keep 1.5C in reach, and to the swift, full and effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. And we commit to working together directly and at international and regional gatherings to strengthen action.

We:
1. Regard the climate and nature crisis as a national and global security threat. Tackling the causes and consequences is essential to safeguarding the security, stability and resilience of our societies for future generations;
2. Commit to analysis and horizon scanning on climate and nature-related risks within our respective national and regional security systems;
3. Will build on the success of existing initiatives, commit to further sharing of analysis, strengthening of cooperation and, where appropriate joint risk assessments, scenario and contingency planning on the security implications of accelerating climate change and nature loss;
4. Commit to working together to address urgent transboundary risks that require collective action including to anticipate and respond to climate shocks and mitigate the impact of El Nino, with a particular focus on the following:
- Accelerating action on fertilisers, food and water security to mitigate the impact of shocks on existing food and water crises;
- Expanding early warning systems, anticipatory action and pre-arranged finance to reduce the immediate impact of extreme climate and weather, and scaling adaptive capacity to build longer term resilience and climate security to multiple and overlapping climate impacts;
- Ensuring the multilateral development banks’ crisis response toolkits are fit for purpose in an era of increasingly frequent climate shocks, and promoting existing efforts by the banks to strengthen and standardise these tools;
- Promoting ongoing work by the IMF and World Bank to strengthen the consideration of climate-related vulnerabilities and resilience-building investments within debt sustainability assessments;
- Calling on UN agencies to embed climate security considerations and conflict-sensitive approaches, leveraging the expertise of the UN Climate Security Mechanism (CSM);
- Strengthening recognition of nature and forests as critical infrastructure for resilience, security and growth, and exploring opportunities to integrate the protection and restoration of critical ecosystems into economic planning, risk management, and decision-making;
- And promoting ongoing work by the UN under the Inter-Governmental Process on Beyond GDP to build pragmatic economic growth models that integrate climate and nature ecosystem resilience and inform evolution of the post-2030 SDGs.
We look forward to reconvening on these issues at forthcoming fora including COP31, the World Bank and IMF annual meetings, and through 2027.
27/09/2026
NEWS STORY : Investigation by London Centric Reveals Continuing Illegal Ice Cream Trade on Westminster Bridge

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An investigation by London Centric has detailed how unlicensed ice cream vans continue to trade openly on Westminster Bridge despite repeated enforcement action. Journalists tested the operation by parking their own heavily branded van between two existing traders and offering free ice cream to tourists. The publication said its team was filmed by men in expensive cars, followed by another ice cream van and warned that unidentified people were attempting to locate its vehicle.

The vans regularly occupy part of the bridge despite it being a Transport for London red route where stopping is restricted. London Centric previously reported that some traders displayed no prices or clear ownership details, while tourists could be charged substantially inflated amounts. The publication said many of the vans appeared to be connected to one family and argued that the money available from a busy tourist location could outweigh the financial penalties imposed through the courts.

Responsibility for enforcement is divided between Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police, Lambeth Council and Westminster City Council. Joint operations have produced prosecutions, fines and the seizure of trading equipment, but traders have repeatedly returned after being moved on or penalised. The Government said in March 2026 that vehicles operating within the Government Secure Zone were a matter for the police, which continued to monitor the situation and work with relevant partners.

27/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK and Philippines agree government infrastructure partnership [September 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 23 September 2026.

Today, the United Kingdom and the Philippines have finalised a government-to-government (G2G) Partnership to strengthen bilateral trade cooperation on infrastructure.

The Partnership, signed on 23 September by UK Trade Minister Lord Sarwar and Philippine Finance Secretary Federick Go, marks a major step in the two countries’ long-term economic cooperation. It will mean that priority Philippine government infrastructure projects can be considered for support from UK Export Finance, the UK’s export credit agency.

This innovative Partnership is designed to widen opportunities for the Philippines to draw on competitive UK-backed finance – UK Export Finance currently has up to £5 billion of capacity available for eligible projects in the Philippines – and utilise the best of British expertise, goods and services, driving growth for both countries.

The Partnership will help connect the Philippines with UK expertise in sectors including transport, clean energy, healthcare, water, digital infrastructure and advanced technology, supporting growth and innovation in both economies. It also puts the UK Government’s recently published Government-to-Government Strategy into action by creating a route for cooperation on project development, financing and delivery. As the Philippines invests in national infrastructure, UK businesses with world-leading capabilities are well placed to engage in priority projects.

This is the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy taking flight: expanding government-to-government commercial partnerships, deepening international cooperation and opening new opportunities for UK businesses in growth-driving sectors.

Minister of State for Trade, Anas Sarwar, said:

“Delivering on our recently published G2G Strategy, this partnership shows the UK building modern trade relationships that will deliver tangible economic benefits – jobs and growth – both at home and abroad.

“This G2G is a route for the Philippines to access UK expertise, goods, services and financing; and for British businesses to partner with the Philippines and participate in future projects.”

His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, Martin Kent, said:

“This partnership reflects the strength of the UK-Philippines relationship and our shared ambition to deliver high-quality, sustainable infrastructure.

“It will create new opportunities for the Philippines to access world-class UK infrastructure. I look forward seeing the innovation and growth this will deliver for both our countries.”

25/09/2026
NEWS STORY : Manchester Chosen to Host 2027 G20 Leaders’ Summit

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Manchester will host the 2027 G20 Leaders’ Summit, bringing heads of government from the world’s largest economies to the city. The meeting will take place at Manchester Central Convention Centre on 27 and 28 November 2027.

The summit will be held during the UK’s year long presidency of the G20, with additional meetings planned at locations across the country. The Government said its priorities would include strengthening global economic stability and encouraging international investment, while Manchester City Council expects the event to benefit the city’s hospitality and visitor economy.

The G20 includes 19 countries alongside the European Union and African Union, collectively representing approximately 85 per cent of global economic output, 75 per cent of international trade and two thirds of the world’s population. The UK last hosted a G20 summit in London in 2009, when leaders agreed measures intended to support the global economy following the financial crisis.

25/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Manchester to host world leaders at the 2027 G20 Summit [September 2026]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 23 September 2026.

The UK will host the twenty second G20 Leaders’ Summit in Manchester next year, convening the major global economic players to deliver on our shared goals and address the most acute global challenges we face.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit will take place on 27 and 28 November 2027. Over two days the UK will host heads of government from G20 members. We will use the summit to reinforce global economic stability – essential for working people in the UK.

As well as the Manchester Summit, locations across the UK are also set to host further events throughout the year – bringing the G20 to nations and regions across the UK. The Government is determined to ensure the Summit and the year-long Presidency will benefit people in every part of the UK.

The work of the G20 and our relationship with G20 partners has real impact in the UK. In recent years G20 members have brought thousands of investment projects into the UK, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs. The UK last hosted the G20 Summit in 2009 where world leaders pledged to make an additional $1.1 trillion available to help the world economy through the financial crisis and restore credit, growth and jobs.

The G20 brings together 19 of the world’s largest economies and the European Union and the African Union. Together, it makes up 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population and is the main international forum for coordinating the world’s largest economies.

The Leaders’ Summit will be held at the Manchester Central Convention Centre in Manchester city centre. As well as world leaders, it will host thousands of diplomats and delegates from international organisations.

First Secretary of State Louise Haigh said:

Hosting the G20 in Manchester next year will be an opportunity to showcase some of the best that British communities and industries the length and breadth of this country have to offer.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig said:

We’re proud to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Greater Manchester, and are ready to welcome people from across the world to our city region.

Greater Manchester has changed the world over centuries as the home of innovation and trailblazing ideas, and is being recognised as an emerging star of the global economy.

With the spotlight on us, we look forward to working with the Government to deliver a G20 Summit that will help boost growth and bring real benefits to people here and throughout the country.

Leader of Manchester City Council Garry Bridges said:

It’s a huge honour to be chosen as the host city for the G20 and reflects the city’s growing international stature.

We look forward to welcoming world leaders and thousands of delegates from across the globe and showcasing the best of what our city has to offer.

The opportunities flowing from this major event as the eyes of the world are on Manchester are immense, both in the short term for our hospitality sector and in the longer term for attracting investment, visitors and jobs.

25/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen [September 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 September 2026.

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, this afternoon at the UN General Assembly.

The two leaders discussed the importance of working towards a successful outcome for the next EU-UK summit later in the year.

They also reflected on the challenges the EU and UK face in responding to the threats from Russia in Ukraine and in relation to hybrid warfare and disinformation.

They emphasised the importance of working together to meet the common security threats faced by Europe, to reduce illegal migration and to respond to unfair competition and overcapacity in global markets.

Finally, the leaders also discussed the initiatives underway to address AI safety, including in relation to the UK’s Presidency of the G20 in 2027.

The Prime Minister said he looked forward to hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Manchester next year.

They agreed to stay in close touch.

25/09/2026
NEWS STORY : Bentley Investment Takes Weekly UK Automotive Total Above £1 Billion

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Bentley has completed a £350 million investment at its Crewe factory as it prepares to manufacture its first fully electric vehicle. The Government said the investment would support approximately 4,000 existing jobs at the site.

The announcement takes the value of automotive investments revealed within seven days to £1.02 billion. McLaren has announced investment of £500 million, while Nissan has committed £170 million.

Bentley has installed new manufacturing, design and logistics facilities at Crewe, alongside workforce training. The Government is providing £7.5 billion to support electric vehicle manufacturing, sales and charging infrastructure, while consulting businesses over the planned ending of sales of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030.

25/09/2026