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PRESS RELEASE : UK opens door to Japan’s £1.4 billion organic market [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 April 2026.

Strengthened UK-Japan trade arrangement slashes red tape for British organic exporters, cutting costs and bureaucracy.

British organic food producers will see red tape slashed and the doors opened to one of Asia’s fastest-growing organic markets, Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle has announced.

Coming into effect today (Wednesday 1 April), the UK and Japan have formally recognised the equivalency of each other’s organic livestock standards. This will create significant market access for British exporters to meet growing consumer demand for organic products in Japan, from organic bacon and sausages to cheese and butter.

This means British businesses will need only a single UK organic certification to sell their organic livestock products in both countries, cutting costs and bureaucracy and breaking down a major trade barrier.

The government has identified removal of this trade barrier as one of its market access priorities, with the potential to boost British export sales and generate millions in additional trade each year according to industry estimates.

Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:

From Welsh organic cheese to world-class organic British beef, our farmers and producers set the gold standard for quality.

This arrangement tears down barriers and gives them access to Japanese consumers who are increasingly seeking out the very best organic products the world has to offer.

Among those eyeing the opportunity is a Welsh organic dairy producer that has been growing its exports of organic cheese across Asian markets and is now looking to establish a foothold in Japan.

Stuart McNally, Business Development and Sales Manager for Calon Wen, said:

This is a very welcome breakthrough for Calon Wen, a farmer-owned organic dairy co-operative, and for the wider UK organic sector.

This equivalency with Japan allows us to pursue opportunities previously out of reach. This includes organic business tenders worth substantial trade annually. It’s a positive step that supports our family farms and strengthens the reputation of Welsh organic dairy in premium export markets such as Japan.”

Japan is the second largest organic market in Asia, valued at an estimated £1.4 billion in 2023, and expanding rapidly, driven by Japanese government initiatives to promote organic consumption domestically.

The UK-Japan organics market already enjoys a thriving trade partnership, where British organic produce including tea, fruit and vegetable juices, cereals, sauces, and syrups are already winning over Japanese consumers, who in return export popular staples like organic soy sauce, noodles, and green tea enjoyed by British consumers.

The UK’s organic sector continues its impressive growth trajectory, expanding 4.2% in 2025 to reach £3.9bn retail value – a trend sustained since 2012. The EU, Switzerland, US, and Republic of Korea stand among the other key export destinations for British organic products.

This arrangement builds on many recent wins for the livestock sector such as the recent beef tariff rate quota, worth up to £70 million a year if fully utilised, and genetics market access in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Notes to editors
- Japan is the second largest organic market in Asia after China, with an estimated value of approximately £1.4 billion in 2023.
- The new arrangement expands the UK’s existing organic equivalency arrangement for mutual recognition of organic standards between the UK and Japan to cover organic livestock products for the first time and will come into effect on 1 April 2026.
- This builds on an earlier agreement that was reached between the UK and Japan in September 2025, boosting new trade in organic alcoholic drinks.
- The scope of the products covered by the arrangement includes all types of UK organic certified meat and dairy products, including beef, lamb, pork and chicken, processed meat products such as bacon, sausages, hams and cured meats, dairy products such as butter, cheese, yoghurt, milk powders and processed eggs, and other processed food products containing animal ingredients, for example pet food.
07/04/2026
Grant Shapps – 2026 Comments on Wireless Festival

The comments made by Grant Shapps, the former Home Secretary, on 6 April 2026.

Antisemitism has no place in Britain – full stop.

Businesses and organisers have a responsibility to act, not look the other way.

The public rightly expect higher standards.

06/04/2026
Karl Turner – 2026 Comments on Wireless Festival

The comments made by Karl Turner, the Labour MP for East Hull, on 6 April 2026.

Send a message out loud and clear. We DO NOT want antisemites coming to our country to perform here or otherwise.

06/04/2026
Sajid Javid – 2026 Comments on Wireless Festival

The comments made by Sajid Javid, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 6 April 2026.

Wireless Festival’s booking of Kanye West is disgraceful.

Yes, he has spoken about mental health challenges. That should be met with sympathy. But declaring yourself a Nazi and promoting a song called Heil Hitler should have consequences – and those consequences don’t include being given a stage to spread your hate to thousands of young Londoners.

Let us also be honest about what is happening here. This is not a brave artistic decision. It is a commercial one. The organisers know his notoriety will bring headlines, attention and ticket sales.

That is what makes it so ugly. Young people are growing up in a culture where hatred is too often dressed up as edge, rebellion or entertainment. Put someone with this record on one of Britain’s biggest stages and you send a poisonous message: no matter how vile your conduct, there is still money to be made for you in the attention economy.

So well done Pepsi and Diageo for pulling out. Others should now think very carefully about their values and whether they want to be part of this.

The organisers have a small window to still do the right thing and disinvite him. If they don’t, just like I did with hate preachers, I’m certain the Home Secretary will want to use her powers and block Kanye West from the UK.

06/04/2026
NEWS STORY : Wireless Organisers Mute as Sponsors Flee and Political Fury Ignites

STORY

The organisers of the Wireless Festival have remained silent this weekend following cross-party condemnation of the event. Further sponsors have withdrawn their support and concerns have been growing about the safety of the event and those who will be attending.

What was intended to be a triumphant London comeback for Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has instead devolved into a commercial and moral radioactive zone. Following the announcement that the rapper, infamous for his recent “Heil Hitler” lyrics and previous antisemitic tirades, would headline all three nights at Finsbury Park, the major event sponsors Paypal, Pepsi and Diageo have withdrawn.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has led the criticism of the organisers, branding the booking “deeply concerning”, while the Mayor of London has slammed the decision as a betrayal of the city’s inclusive values. Ministers are reportedly reviewing Ye’s permission to enter the UK, suggesting the festival could be left without a headliner even if it manages to survive the financial fallout.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council have both issued scathing rebukes, noting that inviting a performer who has openly celebrated Nazism is not “artistic bravery” but “deeply irresponsible” commercialism. There is now urgent pressure on the organisers to explain how the event can be made safe and secure for those attending and those who live nearby.

06/04/2026
Chris Philp – 2026 Comments on Wireless Festival

The comments made by Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, on 6 April 2026.

Kanye West is guilty of appalling antisemitic and pro Nazi comments

Below I have written to the Home Secretary asking her to use her powers to ban West from travelling to the UK to appear at the Wireless concert

She used this power recently to ban an anti-immigration campaigner

She says she wants to fight antisemitism. Now will now find out how serious she really is.

06/04/2026
Campaign Against Anti-Semitism – 2026 Comments on Wireless Festival

The comments made by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism on 6 April 2026.

The Prime Minister is right to be deeply concerned that @WirelessFest
wants to headline someone whose anti-Jewish bigotry has gone as far as recording a track titled ‘Heil Hitler’ less than a year ago.

But the Prime Minister is not a bystander.

The Government can ban anyone from entering the UK who is not a citizen and whose presence would ‘not be conducive to the public good’.

Surely this is a clear case.

Pepsi has done the right thing by dropping its sponsorship of the festival, but if management are adamant that they want to headline Kanye West, it is only the Government that can stop them.

06/04/2026
Piers Morgan – 2026 Comments on Kanye

The comments made by Piers Morgan on 6 April 2026.

Shouldn’t even be a debate.

Kanye’s Hitler-loving, Nazi-slathering, Jew-hating bullsh*t should be disqualifying for appearances at any music festival.

06/04/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK Trade envoy visits Dhaka to strengthen two-way trade and economic ties ]April 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 April 2026.

The UK Trade Envoy to Bangladesh Rt. Hon. the Baroness Winterton of Doncaster, DBE is visiting Dhaka this week to reinforce and expand the longstanding and mutually beneficial UK–Bangladesh trade and economic partnership.

Her third visit to Bangladesh comes at a pivotal time following the formation of Bangladesh’s new elected government in February. It underscores the UK’s commitment to deepening cooperation in trade, economic development, higher education, aviation and defence.

During her visit, Baroness Winterton will hold meetings with senior ministers and other government and military officials, to discuss shared priorities for mutually beneficial growth and reiterate the UK’s commitment as a reliable and long-term economic partner for Bangladesh.

The Trade Envoy will also meet with business leaders including representatives from UK companies operating in Bangladesh, to explore avenues for increasing bilateral trade and investment and strengthening commercial ties.

In addition, Baroness Winterton will visit Bangladeshi businesses that export to the UK using the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). DCTS is one of the world’s most generous trade preference schemes. It is designed to support developing countries such as Bangladesh by:
- Providing duty-free market access for a wide range of products
- Simplifying rules of origin to make it easier for exporters to qualify
- Encouraging diversification of exports beyond garments
- Boosting long‑term, sustainable economic development through job creation
Bangladesh is the biggest beneficiary of duty-free access in the DCTS, supplying high quality goods to British consumers at competitive prices and supporting jobs in Bangladesh.

Trade Envoy Baroness Winterton said: “The UK and Bangladesh share a strong, historic partnership, and our countries continue to benefit from expanding trade and investment ties.

“I look forward to engaging with government leaders, businesses, and entrepreneurs to identify new opportunities that support economic growth and prosperity for both nations.”

British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke said:

“Shared growth and prosperity are at the heart of the UK–Bangladesh relationship, and Baroness Winterton’s third visit in a year reflects just how seriously we take that commitment. This visit will further solidify our partnership as Bangladesh enters an exciting new chapter.”

The UK remains one of Bangladesh’s largest export markets and a leading development and investment partner. This visit reaffirms the UK’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s transition toward a more diversified, resilient, and high‑value economy.
06/04/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Thousands to be supported into work as government reforms welfare system [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 6 April 2026.

Hundreds of thousands of sick or disabled people will be offered voluntary help towards employment as part of a package of measures coming into force today (6 April) that will encourage work and save taxpayers around £1 billion.
- Incentives that discourage work and trap people on benefits to be removed via legislation coming into force today.
- Nearly £1 billion taxpayer money expected to be saved thanks to measures to narrow the gap between payments for people on health-related benefits and those actively seeking work.
- Comes alongside employment support package of £3.5 billion, with 65,000 disabled people or those with health conditions already given tailored help.
The system inherited from the previous Government encouraged more people to stay on benefits without support to move into work.

Reforms coming into force today will change that, tackling perverse incentives by introducing a lower Universal Credit health element rate of £217.26 per month for new claimants, compared to the higher rate of £429.80.

Those with the most severe, lifelong conditions, those nearing end of life, and all existing Universal Credit health claimants will continue to receive the higher rate.

Anyone affected by the changes to Universal Credit will be entitled to voluntary employment support, with more than 65,000 people with limited capability for work and work-related activity taking up the offer since March 2025 – exceeding the target.

And as the Government continues to bear down on the cost of living, the changes will also see almost four million households on the standard rate of Universal Credit receive a boost worth around £295 extra this year in cash terms, around £110 above inflation, for a single person aged 25 or over.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said:

The welfare system we inherited has for too long locked disabled people and people with long term conditions out of work.

Laws coming into force today will change that, reducing projected expenditure on Universal Credit by almost £1 billion.

Simultaneously boosting the standard allowance and investing £3.5 billion in employment support means we’re creating a welfare system that backs people to work and helps them build a better future.

From 8 April, customers with limited capability for work or work-related activity will also see a new notification on their Universal Credit account giving information on the support available and allowing them to opt in to being contacted to find out more about the support.

This will trigger a conversation with a Pathways to Work adviser, who can offer personalised appointments and refer individuals to programmes such as Connect to Work, WorkWell, or local Trailblazer schemes.

The changes come alongside the £3.5 billion investment the Government is making to help disabled people and those with long-term health conditions move closer to the labour market, offering personalised support aimed at improving employment and living standards.

This includes the Connect to Work programme, which will provide tailored help to 300,000 people over the next five years, and the groundbreaking WorkWell programme, set to support a further 250,000 people to stay in or return to work.

With 2.7 million people on Universal Credit assessed as having limited capability for work- and work-related activity, the tailored employment support aims to open up opportunities and remove barriers to work, rather than leave people stuck on benefits.

Additional information
- Based in every Jobcentre across England, Wales and Scotland, the advisers offer one-to-one support to people with Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) status – those who receive benefits without any requirement to look for work
- The Act delivers the first sustained, above inflation uplift to UC’s standard allowance. The four rates of standard allowance will rise above the rate of inflation in each of the years from 2026/27 to 2029/30. From April 2026, monthly rates increase to:
  - £338.58 – Single under 25
  - £424.90 – Single 25+
  - £528.34 – Couple under 25
  - £666.97 – Couple 25+
- The previous system means that people receiving the Universal Credit health top-up were paid more than twice as much as a single person on the standard rate who is looking for work, without any support to move into employment.
06/04/2026