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NEWS STORY : Women’s Aid Warns New Restriction Zones Could Give Victims False Sense of Security

STORY

Women’s Aid has warned that new restriction zones for offenders could give victims a false sense of security unless they are backed by effective monitoring and properly resourced probation and police services. The charity said it supported measures which restrict the freedoms of offenders but cautioned that the zones should never be used as an alternative to an appropriate prison sentence.

The new powers allow offenders to be required to remain within specified geographical areas, with restriction zones available as part of community and suspended sentences and as licence conditions following release from prison. The Government has said the approach is intended to place restrictions on offenders rather than victims, with electronic monitoring used to identify breaches. Under wider sentencing reforms, restriction zones can be imposed alongside measures including bans from pubs, public events and driving.

Ellie Daniel, Head of Policy and Survivor Services at Women’s Aid, said effective use of the zones would require robust risk assessments involving victims and specialist support services. She warned that probation services were already stretched and that police responses to breaches would not necessarily be immediate, meaning monitoring could record a breach without preventing it. Women’s Aid said inadequate safeguards could have potentially fatal consequences and called for wider changes to the criminal justice system if the Government is to meet its commitment to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

24/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Co-chair’s statement of the Coalition of the Willing [August 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 24 August 2026.

The leaders of the Coalition of the Willing convened today in Kyiv and by video conference to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the restoration of the Independence of Ukraine.

The leaders of the Coalition of the Willing convened today in Kyiv and by video conference to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the restoration of the Independence of Ukraine. They were united in their continued support of Ukraine’s fight to defend its sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz chaired the meeting alongside President Zelenskyy.

The leaders condemned Russia’s systematic and escalating strikes against Ukraine’s cities, critical infrastructure and civilians, causing the highest number of civilian casualties since the beginning of the full scale invasion in 2022, and damaging a children’s hospital in Kyiv the previous week. They also condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s cultural heritage sites, which form an integral part of Ukraine’s national identity, including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Leaders reiterated Ukraine’s clear and inherent right to defend itself against the Russian war of aggression, in full compliance with international law and Article 51 of the UN Charter, and confirmed that they would not be deterred from their support for Ukraine by irresponsible Russian threats. They expressed their determination to increase military support to Ukraine, strengthen its air defence as a matter of urgent priority, enhance cooperation with its defence industry, and share relevant technologies, including through the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition. They also committed to ratchet up sanctions on Russia’s military industrial complex and those supporting it.

Leaders also agreed on the urgency of providing immediate assistance for Ukraine’s energy sector ahead of the upcoming winter, including through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and provision of specialist equipment. They emphasised the need to continue to support Ukraine’s economic resilience in the face of Russia’s intensified attempts to renew their maritime blockade on Ukraine’s ports.

The leaders agreed to continue efforts to constrain Russia’s war chest through the use of sanctions, wider economic measures, and clamping down on sanctions circumvention and Russia’s Shadow Fleet. This joint action to date has deprived Russia’s war chest of at least $495 billion since February 2022. The leaders welcomed the US Senate’s efforts to apply further economic pressure on Russia, and committed to working closely with the US over the coming months on coordinated action to drain Russia’s means to continue its illegal war.

The leaders commended President Zelenskyy’s continued readiness to enter into meaningful peace talks, in order to bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, and reiterated their call for Russia to agree to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire starting from the line of contact.

The Coalition would continue to prepare the Multinational-Force Ukraine to deploy once a credible cessation of hostilities was in place, as part of a wider set of robust politically and legally binding security guarantees to ensure Ukraine’s future security and prosperity once a ceasefire enters into force.

Concluding, the leaders once again reaffirmed their commitment to support Ukraine’s independence, as part of Europe’s wider peace and security. They offered President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine their steadfast solidarity today on the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Independence, and every day, for as long as it takes.

24/08/2026
NEWS STORY : UK Reaffirms Support for Ukraine on 35th Independence Day

STORY

The UK has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine and its right to defend itself against Russia as the country marks the 35th anniversary of its independence. Speaking at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Arron Newble, the UK’s Counsellor for Politico-Military Affairs, said Ukrainians were continuing to defend the sovereignty they chose when the country declared independence on 24 August 1991.

Newble said Russia’s invasion had sought not only to seize Ukrainian territory but also to undermine the country’s identity, sovereignty and culture. He referred to an OSCE Moscow Mechanism report which documented the indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children, as well as attacks on cultural and religious sites and pressure on communities living under Russian occupation. The UK representative said Russia had failed to achieve the political submission or rapid military victory it had sought.

The statement also condemned recent Russian missile and drone attacks, including strikes on 19 and 20 August which the UK said killed at least 17 civilians, followed by a drone attack on a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih which it said killed another 16 people and injured more than 130. Newble said the UK would continue supporting Ukraine’s legitimate self-defence and efforts to secure what he described as a just and lasting peace, arguing that Ukrainian resistance was also defending wider European principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of countries to determine their own future.

24/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainian Independence Day 2026 – UK Statement to the OSCE [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 August 2026.

Arron Newble, Counsellor for Politico-Military Affairs, marks Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day by praising the courage of Ukrainians defending their sovereignty, identity and culture against Russia’s illegal war, and reaffirms the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s legitimate self-defence and a just and lasting peace.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Today, Ukraine marks 35 years of independence. On 24 August 1991, the Ukrainian people chose sovereignty. They chose to take their place as a free and independent nation among equals. That choice was overwhelming. It was recognised by the international community, including the Russian Federation.

Thirty-five years later, Ukraine is defending that same choice against Russia’s illegal war of aggression. President Putin launched this war because he refused to accept Ukraine as a sovereign state, a distinct nation, and a free people. He claimed Ukraine was not real. He expected Ukrainians to yield. Instead, they have shown the strength of their independence and reminded the world that the will of peoples to defend their freedom and security will always be stronger than the will of those who want to take it away.

The central aim of Russia’s war has failed. Ukraine’s nationhood is not defined by the Kremlin. It is lived every day by Ukrainians: in their language, their culture, their service to their country, and their determination to decide their own future.

This war has never been only about territory. It is about identity, sovereignty and culture. Russia has sought not only to seize Ukrainian land, but to suppress Ukrainian life. We have seen Russian attacks on places of cultural and religious importance, pressure on communities under occupation, and attempts to rewrite what Ukrainian children are taught about their own country.

The latest Moscow Mechanism report underlines this pattern. It sets out how Russia has subjected Ukrainian children to indoctrination and militarisation, including through education and youth programmes. This is part of Russia’s wider attempt to weaken Ukraine by targeting its future.

Russia has not achieved the political submission it sought. It has not achieved the military victory it expected. So it continues to turn to terror and destruction. Its missiles and drones strike homes, energy infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and sites of religious and cultural significance.

On the night of 19-20 August Russia launched another mass missile attack on Ukraine, killing at least 17 civilians. The following day, Russian drones struck a busy shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, killing a further 16 civilians and injuring more than 130. These attacks will not break Ukraine’s resolve. Instead, they expose the brutality of Russia’s campaign.

Ukraine’s fight is for its own survival. But it is also a fight for the principles that underpin Euro-Atlantic security: sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right of peoples to choose their own future. Ukraine’s independence, and Ukraine’s resistance, remind us that these principles endure only when they are defended.

That is why the United Kingdom stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine – including here at the OSCE. Our support for Ukraine’s legitimate self-defence is support for the principles on which security in Europe depends. We will not be deterred by threats from the Russian Federation. Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of the UK to stand against Russian aggression, both in Ukraine and whenever directed against the UK and our Allies.

On Ukraine’s Independence Day, we congratulate the Ukrainian people. They freely chose their independence 35 years ago. They are defending it with courage today. The United Kingdom will continue to support Ukraine in its legitimate self-defence, and in the pursuit of a just and lasting peace, for as long as it takes.

Thank you.

24/08/2026
NEWS STORY : £7.1 Billion Investment Planned for Devonport Naval Base as Defence Secretary Visits Plymouth

STORY

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has visited HMNB Devonport in Plymouth as the Government prepares to invest £7.1 billion in upgrading the naval base and dockyard. Devonport, described by the Ministry of Defence as the largest naval base in Western Europe, is the only UK facility responsible for the deep maintenance and defuelling of the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet. During the visit, Streeting met Royal Navy personnel and industry workers and viewed facilities being constructed to support future submarine operations.

Plymouth is also due to become home to the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates, while around £500 million has been committed through the Defence Investment Plan to modernise the UK Commando Forces. This will include new high speed boats, drones and autonomous technology. The Devonport programme forms part of Royal Oak, a £26 billion ten year programme to modernise naval infrastructure which the Government says is the largest of its kind since the end of the Cold War.

A further £50 million is being invested in defence projects in Plymouth and the South West through the Plymouth Growth Deal, with the Government saying the funding will support hundreds of jobs and help defence companies develop new technology. Streeting said Devonport was critical to national security and would remain central to British naval power as the Type 26 fleet arrives. Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard, the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said continued investment in submarines and surface ships would also support jobs and skills in the city.

24/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary champions innovation on visit to largest Navy base in Western Europe [August 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 August 2026.

Defence Secretary visits Devonport Naval Base to see some of the latest equipment used by the Royal Marines and UK Commando Force.
- Defence Secretary Wes Streeting’s visits HMNB Devonport to see Navy innovation in action.
- Devonport is the largest naval base in Western Europe and pivotal to UK and NATO security.
- £7 billion investment in HMNB Devonport part of the largest naval infrastructure programme since the end of the Cold War.
Billions of pounds of investment is supporting skilled jobs and driving modernisation of the UK’s maritime forces, as the Defence Secretary saw firsthand during his visit to HMNB Devonport.

Accompanied by Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport and Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, the visit highlighted the unique and vital capabilities based at Western Europe’s largest naval base.

Plymouth is home to Royal Marines and UK Commando Forces and will become home to the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates, cementing its position at the centre of the UK’s naval power for decades to come.

Devonport is the only facility in the UK responsible for the deep maintenance and defueling of the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet. Its maintenance work underpins the UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent by keeping the submarine fleet available and operational, while its defueling capability supports the decommissioning of older submarines at the end of their service life.

During the visit, the Defence Secretary met Royal Navy personnel and industry partners who deliver the engineering, maintenance and support that keeps the Royal Navy’s fleet operational and saw the facilities under construction that will support submarines in the years ahead.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP, said:

The work done here at Devonport is critical to keeping our country safe. From our Commando Forces ready to deploy at a moment’s notice, to our Navy personnel and industry who maintain our submarines – Plymouth is a city where defence runs in the blood.

As we bring the Type 26 fleet to Devonport in the coming years, we’re investing in this base and our forces, ensuring it will remain at the heart of our naval power for generations to come, and continuing to push the frontier of defence innovation.

Around £500 million was committed as part of the Defence Investment Plan to continue the transformation of the UK Commando Forces, including equipping personnel with new high-speed boats and the latest drone and autonomous technology.

Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP, and Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard said:

Devonport is the beating heart of Plymouth, and it was fantastic to welcome the Secretary of State here today to see for himself what our Commando Forces, submariners, and dockyard workers do for our national security.

This is a base with a proud history and an even brighter future. The Type 26 fleet and the continued investment in our submarine capability means Devonport will remain vital to the defence of this country, and vital to jobs and skills here in Plymouth.

As one of the Royal Navy’s three main naval bases, Devonport is set to be a major beneficiary of Royal Oak, a £26 billion ten-year programme to modernise UK naval infrastructure, confirmed as part of the Government’s Defence Investment Plan and the largest such programme since the end of the Cold War.

Royal Oak includes £7.1 billion to deliver major upgrades and new infrastructure across the Naval Base and Dockyard. The investment will bolster Devonport as a warfighting-ready facility, directly improving Royal Navy readiness, availability and lethality, while supporting thousands of skilled jobs in the Southwest of England.

£50 million defence investment is being put into Plymouth and the South West, making it easier for defence businesses to innovate, creating skilled jobs in the region and boosting UK national security through the Plymouth Growth Deal.

It will help create hundreds of new jobs and increase investment in the region. The investment reinforces Plymouth as a leader in maritime autonomy, developing the technology that helps keep the UK safe at sea. Plymouth was named the UK’s National Centre for Marine Autonomy, recognising the city’s growing role in developing autonomous maritime technology alongside the Royal Navy and industry partners, including work supporting the Navy’s Hybrid Navy programme.
24/08/2026
NEWS STORY : Crisis warns Reform social housing plan would increase division without fixing housing shortage

STORY

Homelessness charity Crisis has criticised Reform UK proposals to remove foreign nationals from social housing and give greater priority to British born workers under the age of 35. Reform has also proposed prioritising married couples with children. Crisis said the changes would not address the underlying shortage of social housing and risked excluding people already facing housing insecurity.

Francesca Albanese, Director of Policy and Social Change at Crisis, said access to social housing for non UK nationals was already heavily restricted and that the overwhelming majority of social tenants were UK citizens. She argued that record waiting lists were primarily the result of too few social homes being built. Crisis cited research suggesting that around 90,000 new social homes a year would be needed to end homelessness in England.

The charity also criticised proposals that could exclude people from social housing because they were not in work. Crisis said this could affect older people, disabled people and carers, noting that nearly half of households moving into social housing include someone with a long term illness or disability. Albanese said increasing the supply of social housing, rather than restricting eligibility further, was the necessary response to the housing crisis.

24/08/2026
NEWS STORY : UK productivity recovering faster than official figures suggest, Resolution Foundation says

STORY

UK productivity has been growing at an average annual rate of 1.1% over the past two years, according to new analysis from the Resolution Foundation which argues that official figures are understating the improvement. The think tank said its alternative measure showed productivity growth since the third quarter of 2024 had exceeded the average recorded in the late 2010s, while official Office for National Statistics data indicated a 0.2% fall over the same period.

The Foundation said it developed an alternative measure because of continuing problems with the ONS Labour Force Survey following the pandemic, instead using HMRC payroll data and tax returns from self employment. Its analysis found that 12 of 19 sectors had experienced stronger productivity growth over the past two years, including information and communications, retail, science, transport and health. It said the improvement had largely come from higher productivity within individual sectors rather than workers moving out of lower productivity industries such as retail and hospitality.

The report also cautioned against attributing the improvement primarily to artificial intelligence. Although the proportion of businesses reporting some use of AI has doubled from 23% in late 2023 to 46% in June 2026, only around one in 20 businesses said they were using it extensively. Resolution Foundation principal economist Simon Pittaway said the recent improvement was welcome but would need to be sustained if it was to produce significantly stronger economic growth and higher living standards

24/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Mayors given powers to green light developments [August 2026]

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

Mayors across England are to be given ‘call in’ powers to take the most important planning decisions in their areas.

Under proposals to be published next week, a mayor will now be able to take over key planning applications which impact on local growth, and direct a council to take it forward or refuse it.

The move has been backed by ten mayors from different parties and will bring mayors across the country in line with powers the Mayor of London already has.

The national thresholds are being set outside of London for the first time: schemes with more than 150 homes, more than 15,000 square metres of commercial space, or any building over 30 metres or taller, roughly ten storeys will be in scope.

Mayors will also be able to grant up front permission for development, so that building can begin without a developer having to apply.

Councils will continue to decide the majority of applications, and many are already getting homes built at scale. Over the last three years, Salford has delivered 7,584 homes against a requirement of 4,249. Leeds has delivered 11,690 homes against a requirement of 10,151, and Knowsley has delivered 1,888 – well over double the requirement of 772 homes.

Every decision must follow the planning rules, the local plan, and national policy. Applicants keep the right of appeal, and ministers retain a backstop power to intervene themselves.

Mayors will also have a bigger say over how national housing funding is spent in their areas. Homes England will still lead on the biggest projects, but its funding and expertise will be focused on the priorities agreed by local mayors.

A £1.3bn portion of the national fund for land and infrastructure has already been allocated to the seven most established mayoral areas, with an additional £234 million of brownfield funding to seven MSAs, and £1.5 billion committed for devolution through the Housing Accelerator Fund.

Mayors outside London will also be able to charge a levy on development to fund major infrastructure, using the same tool that helped deliver the Elizabeth line, which has boosted rail capacity, supported housing growth and regeneration, and become the UK’s busiest railway service.

24/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Leaders’ Statement on the E1 West Bank Settlement Plan [August 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 22 August 2026.

Joint Statement from the Leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Greece, Cyprus and Finland on the E1 West Bank Settlement Plan.

The Israeli Government’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable. The international community has long opposed this settlement expansion, and has voiced their grave concerns privately and publicly. The E1 settlement will undermine the prospect of the two-state solution by driving a wedge through the West Bank and harming the territorial contiguity of the Palestinian Territories.

International law is clear that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal. This is the position of the international community reaffirmed by the United Nations Security Council.

At a time of grave instability in the West Bank with unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians, and serious restrictions on the Palestinian economy, this decision is even more concerning.

We urge the Government of Israel to retract these plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Not only will they take us further from peace, but they further undermine Israel’s international standing.

Businesses should not consider bidding for construction tenders. They should be aware of legal and reputational consequences including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law.

We reiterate our commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. We will continue to act in its interest.

24/08/2026