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NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 6 May 1925

6 MAY 1925

The British Empire Exhibition Guarantee Bill, which increases the Government guarantee to £1,100,000, passed second reading in the House of Lords after discussion, in which Lord Buckmaster expressed doubt as to the advisability of guaranteeing so large a sum.

The financial resolution for the purposes of the Gold Standard Bill was agreed to in the House of Commons, and the Bill itself passed Committee stage and third reading. Discussion of the Rent Restriction Continuance Bill took place on Report and third reading, and the measure was advanced those stages.

Mr Baldwin, speaking at the Newspaper Society dinner in London, said there was never a time when the production of opinion was more energetic and its free flow more unimpeded, its effectiveness more certain than to-day.

Close by the country churchyard of Gray’s Elegy at Stoke Poges, Viscount Grey of Fallodon accepted for public ownership a large meadow which is the “lea” of the poem, and contains a stone monument to Gray’s memory. In accepting the gift, Viscount Grey said that the Elegy was a perfect work of literary art.

A meeting of members of Convocation at Oxford passed a resolution adopting Lord Milner for the Chancellorship of the University, and pledging support to his candidature. Lord Milner’s health continued to be good.

May 27, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 5 May 1925

5 MAY 1925

The Socialist Opposition moved the rejection of the Gold Standard Bill in the House of Commons, on the ground that the Chancellor’s “undue precipitancy” might aggravate trade depression and unemployment. Mr Churchill’s reply to the debate was reassuring. There never had been any such step taken, he said, with more careful and laborious preparation. Every precaution which forethought could suggest had been taken. The only thing that would entail a serious and immediate rise in the Bank rate would be the rejection of the Bill, which would destroy our credit in America. The Opposition amendment was rejected, and the Bill passed second reading.

The British Empire Exhibition Guarantee Bill and the Advocates’ Fund (Widows’ Pensions) Order Confirmation Bill were read a first time in the House of Lords.

The Prime Minister, speaking at the Pilgrims’ dinner in London in honour of the United States Ambassador, said he was convinced that events were moving rapidly, both here and in America, towards a better, completer, and more rational understanding of each other’s aims and ideals, and each other’s standards.

The Liberals are to take the field against the Budget proposals. Mr Lloyd George and Sir John Simon will address a public meeting this week.

Sir Samuel Chapman, M.P., speaking at the annual meeting of the Wemyss Unionist Club, Edinburgh, criticised the proposed tax on silk and imported silk.

The Conference on the control of the international trade in arms, munitions, and implements of war was opened at Geneva.

Revolutionary methods have been condemned by the Bengal Provincial Council.

May 27, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 4 May 1925

4 MAY 1925

The South African Parliamentary banquet to the Prince of Wales at Capetown was the occasion of memorable scenes. His Royal Highness, who received an ovation from representatives of all parties, spoke in Afrikaans and in English, and made a notable reference to the evolution of the Dominions within the British Commonwealth of Nations. Generals Hertzog and Botha welcomed him most cordially, and the Dutch members took him aside after dinner, talked freely with him, and sang his health in Afrikaans songs.

Prince Henry paid his first visit to Glasgow, and fulfilled a number of engagements. His Royal Highness unveiled a memorial tablet at the city’s newest hospital, and afterwards received the freedom of the city, and was made a Guild Brother of the Trades House. The Prince concluded his public programme by inspecting the Glasgow Battalion of the Boys’ Brigade, when considerably over 10,000 boys were present.

The Duke of York, Mr Baldwin, and Lord Birkenhead were among the speakers at the Royal Academy banquet in Burlington House.

Mr Neville Chamberlain told a gathering of the Junior Imperial League that he had already planned out the lines on which a solution can be found in regard to the slum problem.

Mr Walter Runciman, addressing the annual Conference of the National League of Young Liberals, commended Mr Churchill for not raiding the Sinking Fund, for returning to the gold standard, and easing the burden on the small income-tax payer. But he condemned it from the industrial and commercial points of view. It contained too many highly-coloured schemes meant to make it historic.

Mr J. H. Thomas at Derby admitted that there were good points in the Budget, but, applying the tests of whether it administered taxation fairly and impartially, and whether economy had been effected in expenditure on national affairs, he predicted that it would be an absolute failure.

Mr A. J. Coos, general secretary of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, charged the coalowners with misleading the public on the whole situation.

May 27, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 3 May 1925

3 MAY 1925

It was reported that 200,000 might have been claiming “dole money” fraudulently.

The Princess Royal, the eldest of King George’s sisters, was reported to be suffering from a sudden and severe illness.

May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New Director and Deputy Head of the Attorney General’s Office appointed [May 2025]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 27 May 2025.

Douglas Wilson KC (Hon) OBE, Director General of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), is pleased to announce that Michael Padfield has been appointed Director and Deputy Head of the AGO following an open and fair recruitment process across the Civil Service.

Michael started his career as a commercial lawyer in the City of London before joining the litigation team in the Treasury Solicitor’s Department in 2014.

Since then, he has worked as a lawyer in a number of roles within the Government Legal Department, including in the Home Office and His Majesty’s Treasury, before first joining the AGO in 2020 then becoming Head of the Domestic Law Team in 2021.

Michael was appointed General Counsel in the Prime Minister’s Office in No10 in the autumn of 2023, a role which is staffed from AGO. Michael has been a member of the Executive Board at AGO since 2021.

Commenting on the appointment, Douglas Wilson KC (Hon) OBE said:

I’m absolutely delighted to announce Michael as Director at the AGO and my deputy. Michael is a great lawyer and a strong leader who brings considerable experience of working on the hardest legal problems in government. He is a trusted adviser to the Law Officers and to other Ministers, and has a wide network in No10 and across Whitehall.

I look forward to working together with Michael to support the Law Officers and lead the AGO in making law and politics work together at the heart of the UK constitution.

May 27, 2025
NEWS STORY : Education Secretary Champions AI Innovation through Open Innovation Team

STORY

In a keynote address at the Education World Forum 2025, Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson spotlighted the Department for Education’s Open Innovation Team (OIT) and unveiled fresh investments to trial cutting-edge educational technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, across England’s schools. Phillipson told delegates that harnessing robust evidence must underpin every step of EdTech adoption. “Working with the Open Innovation Team, we’ll be engaging the sector to understand what works. We’ll look at how tools, including AI, can improve things like staff workload, pupil outcomes and inclusivity. Evidence must be at the heart of all we do, on EdTech and right across education” she said.

The Secretary of State announced a new funding package, to be administered by the OIT, which will support schools, colleges and technology partners in piloting AI-driven platforms for lesson planning, marking automation and personalised learning. Early trials are set to focus on easing teacher administrative burdens and tailoring support for pupils with additional needs. Since its launch, the OIT has built collaborative partnerships with universities, start-ups and multi-academy trusts to evaluate a range of digital innovations. This latest commitment aims to scale successful pilots into mainstream practice, ensuring that promising tools proven to boost attainment and engagement can be deployed more widely.

May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK announces new action to detect hostile state activity using AI, on visit to the Arctic [May 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 May 2025.

The UK is stepping up its efforts to safeguard national security by leveraging AI to detect hostile state activity in the Arctic.
- UK working with allies to tackle growing threats in the Arctic, and drive forward an ambitious new UK-Norway defence agreement
- New scheme to improve monitoring capability in High North to detect hostile activity, enshrining the UK’s security – the foundation of the Plan for Change
- UK sanctions have halted Putin’s plans to station a floating repair dock in the Arctic to service the precious icebreakers fleet.
The UK is stepping up its efforts to safeguard national security by leveraging AI to detect hostile state activity in the Arctic, the Foreign Secretary will announce during a visit to the Arctic today (27 May 2025).

As the UK’s two nearest Arctic neighbours and close NATO allies, what happens around Norway and Iceland affects Britain, especially our national security, the foundation of this government’s Plan for Change.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy will see first-hand how British and Norwegian ships jointly patrol the high seas of the Arctic to detect, deter and manage increasingly sophisticated subsea threats to energy, critical national infrastructure, and security posed by Russia’s Northern Fleet.

This comes after the Prime Minister visited Norway earlier this month for a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force, where he discussed further support for Ukraine with allies from the Baltic and Scandinavian states.

While in Iceland, the Foreign Secretary will announce a new UK-Iceland scheme to use cutting edge AI technology to monitor hostile activity in the region.

As global temperatures rise and ice caps continue to melt, previously inaccessible shipping routes are opening up. This is leading to the Arctic becoming an increasingly contested area, with countries looking to exploit new reserves of gas, oil and natural minerals, fuelling security concerns.

Areas close to the Arctic are also being used by Russia’s nuclear-powered icebreakers which are crucial to Putin’s High North ambitions, clearing paths for tankers helping fund his illegal war in Ukraine. This threatens maritime security and the environment, as Putin has resorted to using dodgy and decaying vessels which frequently break down increasing the risk of oil spills.

UK sanctions have helped halt Putin’s plans to station a floating repair dock in the Arctic to service the precious icebreakers fleet.

A tug boat – the Vengery – had been due to tow the platform, but its journey to the High North has now been halted after being sanctioned last week.

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:

The Arctic is becoming an increasingly important frontier for geopolitical competition and trade, and a key flank for European and UK security.

We cannot bolster the UK’s defence and deliver the Plan for Change without greater security in the Arctic. This is a region where Russia’s shadowfleet operates, threatening critical infrastructure like undersea cables to the UK and Europe, and helping fund Russia’s aggressive activity.

It’s more important than ever that we work with our allies in the High North, like Norway and Iceland, to enhance our ability to patrol and protect these waters. That’s why we have today announced new UK funding to work more closely with Iceland, using AI to bolster our ability to monitor and detect hostile state activity in the Arctic.

Norway has hosted British troops’ Arctic training for more than fifty years. Our long history of defence collaboration is being taken further through a strategic agreement to strengthen both nations’ security.

David Lammy will be the first Foreign Secretary to travel to one of the Arctic’s northernmost inhabited points when he visits the Archipelago of Svalbard witnessing how UK scientists are collaborating with Norway and partners to tackle climate change which is driving new geo-political challenges and opening new frontiers for state competition.

Today, this work is being taken further, with new opportunities for early-career researchers on polar research vessels and at Ny Ålesund, where British scientists have been based for over 30 years. £400,000 of UK funding will support work to understand the impact of climate change and how it affects the UK – ensuring we have resilience against its effects. This follows 21 joint research projects made between the UK and Iceland during the past 18 months to strengthen our understanding of the arctic’s future.

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will highlight the UK’s role in securing NATO’s northern flank and protecting the region’s critical undersea infrastructure such as cables and pipelines which are crucial for stable energy supplies and telecommunications in the UK.

Earlier this year the Prime Minister announced the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War as a result of the changing global picture, now reaching 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, and with an ambition to reach 3% in the next Parliament subject to economic and fiscal conditions.

Maritime security and the Arctic also feature in the UK’s ambitious new Security and Defence Partnership with the EU agreed last week, committing to work together to make Europe safer.

In Iceland, the Foreign Secretary will visit Keflavik Air Base, where RAF jets have supported NATO air policing missions, ensuring the safety and security of Arctic airspace. He will learn how Icelandic scientists are working with their British counterparts to address climate change in vulnerable countries around the world.
May 27, 2025
NEWS STORY : Jamil Talukder’s Sentence Increased to Eight Years after Abusing Disabled Child

STORY

The Court of Appeal has boosted the prison term of former carer Jamil Talukder to eight years, more than doubling his original sentence, after he was found to have sexually abused a severely disabled child in his care. The increase follows a referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme by Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP. Talukder, 23, of Sheffield, arrived in the UK from Bangladesh in October 2022 to study marketing and began working as a paid carer in October 2023. Evidence presented to the court included covert recordings made by the child’s mother, which showed Talukder committing multiple offences against the vulnerable youngster. Victim statements revealed that the primary victim now distrusts all male carers as a result of Talukder’s actions.

During the appeal hearing, it also emerged that Talukder had abused a second child and had the indecency recorded on his own phone. On 27 February 2025, Sheffield Crown Court had sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment for six counts of sexual abuse. The Court of Appeal, agreeing that the initial term was unduly lenient, imposed an eight-year custodial sentence on 22 May 2025. Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said the revised sentence “reflects the gravity of Talukder’s betrayal of trust and the lasting harm caused to his victims.” She extended her sympathies to the children and their families, emphasising the government’s commitment to ensure that protectors of the vulnerable face appropriate punishment when they offend.

May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Carer, Jamil Talukder, who sexually abused disabled child has sentence increased [May 2025]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 27 May 2025.

A carer who sexually abused a disabled child in his care has had his sentence more than doubled increased following an intervention by Solicitor General.

Jamil Talukder, 23, from Sheffield, has had his sentence increased by five years after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that Talukder arrived in the UK from Bangladesh in October 2022 to study for a marketing degree.

He was employed as a carer and began caring for a severely disabled child in October 2023. However, covert recording by the child’s mum, who became suspicious, revealed that Talukder sexually abused the child on several occasions.

Victim personal statements reveal that the child distrusts male carers since his assault by Talukder.

The court also heard that Talukder sexually abused another child and was caught out when it was discovered that he had recorded the abuse on his phone.

Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Jamil Talukder preyed on a vulnerable child he was meant to be taking care of, as well as another young child.

He abused the trust that was placed in him for his own sexual gratification, and I welcome the Court’s increase to his sentence. I would like to extend my sympathies to his victims and their families.

On 27 February 2025, Jamil Talukder was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at Sheffield Crown Court for six sexual abuse offences.

On 22 May 2025, his sentence was revised to eight years after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Next generation of builders and carers set to rebuild Britain [May 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 27 May 2025.

Government announces radical skills reforms giving young people opportunity to develop skills in priority areas for the country.

Young people are set to benefit from 120,000 new training opportunities as part of a radical skills revolution, giving them the chance to develop skills where they are most needed across the workforce to rebuild Britain.

More skilled brickies, carpenters and healthcare support workers will soon be trained up as we continue our drive to get Britain working, with landmark reforms announced today that refocus the skills landscape towards young, domestic talent.

The measures, backed by a record-breaking £3 billion apprenticeship budget, will open up opportunities for young people to succeed in careers the country vitally needs to prosper. More routes into skilled work means more people building affordable homes, more care for NHS patients and more digital experts to push our economy forward. This includes an additional 30,000 apprenticeship starts across this Parliament.

This unprecedented investment is a critical step in delivering the government’s Plan for Change mission to create a decade of national renewal. We are backing our young people and investing in skills as an engine of economic growth – putting more money in people’s back pockets and breaking down barriers to opportunity.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

A skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward, and today we’re backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and achieve and thrive.

When we invest in skills for young people, we invest in a shared, stronger economic future – creating opportunities as part of our Plan for Change.

But everyone has a role to play in a thriving economy, and we’re taking our responsibility seriously providing more routes into employment, it’s now the responsibility of young people to take them.

To support this, we are:
- Implementing a 32% increase in the Immigration Skills Charge, which will deliver up to 45,000 additional training places to upskill the domestic workforce and reduce reliance on migration in priority sectors, as announced in the recent Immigration White Paper.
- Refocusing funding away from Level 7 (masters-level) apprenticeships from January 2026, while maintaining support for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices. This will enable levy funding to be rebalanced towards training at lower levels, where it can have the greatest impact.
- Launched 13 new Level 2 construction courses for adults in non-devolved areas under the Free Courses for Jobs scheme.
In addition to the £3 billion apprenticeship budget, we’re backing the new generation of workers through:
- £14 million of adult skills funding for construction to be devolved to local mayors for next academic year, expected to support up to 5,000 additional adult learners.
- £136 million for Skills Bootcamps across a range of priority sectors in 2025-26, providing training to over 40,000 learners.
- £100 million over four years to expand Construction Skills Bootcamps.
- Ten Technical Excellence Colleges specialising in construction skills, opening in September 2025.
As part of the government’s Plan for Change, the reforms are a vital step in delivering our youth guarantee and addressing skills shortages to drive growth while creating better opportunities for young people and adults across England.

Today’s announcement comes following a dramatic fall in the number of apprenticeship starts over the last decade, and as recent ONS statistics show as many as one in eight 16-24 year olds are not in employment, education or training.

The government is also confirming Board appointments to the new national body for skills, Skills England, which will work with employers and local leaders to shape training policy and delivery.

Gary Riches, Vice Principal of External Relations at Hartlepool College, said:

Foundation Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for young people to take their first step into the world of work while continuing to learn. They offer a real sense of direction, helping students build confidence, gain practical skills, and explore career options early. At Hartlepool College, we’re proud to support this initiative and work with local, regional, and national employers to give every learner the best possible start in their working life.

Mike Blakeley, Executive Director of Partnerships & Apprenticeships at Exeter College, said:

Employers and young people’s demand for Apprenticeships is stronger than ever, both here in Exeter and across the wider region. The introduction of the Foundation Apprenticeship marks a vital step forward, offering targeted skills training and a clear pathway into employment for those under the age of 21, aspiring to become apprentices at our college.

Employers in our network are already showing significant enthusiasm for Foundation Apprenticeships, recognising their value as an effective recruitment tool for the next generation of talent. By launching the programme across four key sectors, we’re addressing critical skills gaps and helping to alleviate ongoing recruitment challenges, nowhere more urgently than in the construction sector here in the South West.

As one of the UK’s largest providers of construction training, we’re proud to work alongside a significant number of passionate employers who are investing in the workforce of the future. With the addition of Foundation Apprenticeships to our offering, these employers are now even better positioned to welcome young people into their organisations. We’re encouraged by the number of businesses already formally pledging their support for this great initiative and look forward to seeing its impact grow.

Milton Walcott, Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality Manager at Complete Fixing Solutions Ltd, said:

I am excited to see the government’s focus on expanding apprenticeships and skills training for young people. The introduction of Foundation Apprenticeships is a great step forward in helping young people build the skills they need for the future.

The emphasis on getting more 16-18-year-olds into work-based learning is particularly important, and we’re looking forward to supporting these efforts to help build a strong, skilled workforce that drives economic growth.

Rob Dodds, Controller at Unipres (UK) Ltd, said:

What a fantastic opportunity for young people to start their careers with a Foundation apprenticeship, these reforms will remove some of the barriers that young people face when looking for an apprenticeship.

We are looking forward to the chance to run these apprenticeships after their launch in August.

Stephen Wilde, Managing Director at Southbourne Rubber Ltd, said:

This is a bold and vital step forward in building real opportunities for young people and adults to build skills that matter in industries that shape our future. We’re proud to support this commitment to growing the UK’s talent pipeline.

Sarah Yong, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Youth Futures Foundation, said:

International evidence shows apprenticeships are a highly impactful way to support young people to prepare for and access jobs, yet participation among under-25s, especially the most marginalised, has declined in recent years.

With stubbornly high youth unemployment and inactivity, rebalancing the apprenticeship system can encourage investment in youth apprenticeships and is a first step in enabling more young people to access good work.

Dani Payne, Senior Researcher at the Social Market Foundation, said:

For too long young people – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – have been unable to access high-quality vocational pathways. The number of young people not in education, employment, or training is not just a statistic; it represents lost potential and missed opportunities.

Ensuring that there is appropriate funding for young people wishing to pursue apprenticeships is a crucial step in ensuring that all young people, regardless of their background, can access suitable, hands-on training that aligns with industry needs. It’s an investment in their future and in the economic resilience of our nation.
May 27, 2025