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PRESS RELEASE : UK and Ecuador join forces to tackle cocaine trade at source [January 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 January 2026.

UK Latin America Minister visits Ecuador to deepen security ties and work to disrupt cocaine trade at source.
- UK Latin America Minister visits Ecuador to deepen security ties and work to disrupt cocaine trade at source
- Joint action aims to protect communities in both countries
- Minister also to spotlight UK innovation and investment with Welsh-owned Hydro Industries and climate leadership in the Galapagos
The UK and Ecuador are working side by side to stop cocaine flooding the streets of Europe, Minister for Latin America Chris Elmore confirmed today as he begins his first visit to the country.

The majority of the UK’s cocaine transits through ports in Ecuador, and Minister Elmore is in the country to see first-hand the joint work to stop the illegal trade at source – meeting frontline police officers, who have received training and equipment from the UK; and observing canine training for drug interception.

Ecuador saw its deadliest year on record in 2025 due to organised crime, and the UK and Ecuador’s joint work aims to tackle the damaging drug trade to help keep both countries’ streets safe.

As a “platform country” for cocaine produced elsewhere in Latin America, up to 80% of the drugs arriving in Europe come via Ecuador. This threatens both countries’ security, with Ecuadorian communities affected by associated gang violence.

Ecuador is one of the UK’s closest partners in Latin America, and the visit underscores the shared commitment of both nations to protect communities by stopping drugs at source.

Joint action is essential to dismantle criminal networks and prevent illicit flows, and drugs seizures are already increasing thanks in part to the joint work the UK and Ecuador are undertaking.

Latin America Minister Chris Elmore said:

Every year, hundreds of thousands of kilos of cocaine are smuggled from South America into Europe. In the UK alone, more than 28 tonnes of cocaine were seized by the police and Border Force in 2023/24.

It’s a vast criminal industry, but amazingly, the majority of cocaine that ends up on the streets of Europe comes through Ecuadorean ports.

That criminal industry does huge damage to communities in the UK, but it’s also causing devastation here in Ecuador, with 10,000 gang-related deaths recorded last year. That’s why it’s in the interests of both the UK and Ecuador to tackle this trade together, and put the criminal gangs behind it out of business.

There is huge potential in our relationship with Ecuador – it’s a vital partner for Britain on security and climate change, and the trade and investment opportunities here for British businesses are rising fast – but for Ecuador to succeed, we need the drug gangs to fail, and that’s why our cooperation on organised crime is so important.

During the visit, Minister Elmore will meet with senior Ecuadorean leaders, including Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld and other authorities to deepen cooperation on security and crime prevention, as well as visiting the specialist Police Canine Unit in Quito, where UK support is helping Ecuador intercept narcotics and disrupt trafficking networks.

Beyond security, the visit will also celebrate UK–Ecuador collaboration across sustainable growth and climate resilience. Minister Elmore will visit Welsh company Hydro Industries’ new water treatment plant in Quito – whose business is expected to reach £100m in the next few years– an example of UK innovation and investment in Ecuador’s future.

The Minister will also engage with environmental initiatives in the Galapagos Islands, including the Global Plastics Action Partnership (GPAP).

The visit comes amidst US action in nearby Venezuela, where the UK supports a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government. Ecuador is one of the UK’s closest partners in Latin America, and this visit underscores its ongoing commitment to our allies, and to peace and democracy in the region.
January 13, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : £600,000 available to support Windrush compensation claimants [January 2026]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 12 January 2026.

Victims of the Home Office Windrush scandal will continue to receive dedicated advocacy support.

£600,000 has been made available under the second year of the 3-year £1.5million Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund (WCASF) which launched last April.

Many victims have reported that revisiting traumatic experiences makes navigating the claim process extremely difficult.

This vital support will continue and follows the success of the fund’s first year.

Advocates understand claimants’ cultural background and will support them to articulate their stories.

They will also help claimants gather supporting evidence, signpost to additional services, and create a trusted environment.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp MP said:

We know too many Windrush victims find navigating the compensation claim process alone complex and traumatic.

That’s why we set up a fund to provide dedicated support so victims can receive the justice they deserve.

After a successful first year, I am delighted to announce we are providing another £600,000 so this support can continue to be delivered by community organisations.

The scandal saw people who had built their lives in Britain wrongly treated as illegal immigrants. Many lost jobs, were denied healthcare, faced deportation threats, and suffered severe financial hardship and deteriorating mental health.

The fund delivers on the government’s manifesto commitment to work more closely with affected communities and forms part of the wider Plan for Change.

Virtual information sessions for organisations interested in applying will be held on 15 and 23 January 2026. Please register via email to WCSAdvocacySupportFund@homeoffice.gov.uk

Applications must be submitted via the Find and Apply Grant portal by 5pm on 6 February 2026.

January 13, 2026
NEWS STORY : Government proposes new Birmingham–Manchester rail link in bid to revive north–south connectivity

STORY

Government ministers are expected to commit to a new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester, reviving plans for a direct Midlands-to-North West connection after the northern leg of HS2 was scrapped under the previous Conservative government.

The proposal, due to be set out as part of a wider package on Northern Powerhouse Rail, is not expected to begin until other major upgrades across the North of England are delivered. Figures familiar with the plans have indicated the Birmingham–Manchester route would follow later phases, meaning construction could still be over a decade away.

The move is politically significant because it marks the clearest attempt yet by the current government to replace the cancelled HS2 section north of Birmingham, which was dropped in 2023 amid rising costs and uncertainty over delivery. At the time, ministers argued the money would be redirected into smaller rail and road schemes, a claim that has remained contested by city leaders and transport campaigners.

January 13, 2026
Historic Royal Palaces – 2024 Comments on the Chinese Embassy

The comments made by Historic Royal Palaces, signed by Adrian Phillips, on 20 August 2024.

historicroyalpalaces Download

January 13, 2026
Metropolitan Police – 2024 Letter of Opposition to Chinese Embassy

The letter written from the Metropolitan Police, signed by Jon Savell, on 14 November 2024.

PA_24_01229_A1-MET_POLICE_SPECIAL_OPERATIONS-2176021 Download

January 13, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : DWP Secretary of State appoints Skills Adviser [January 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 12 January 2026.

An expert adviser has been appointed to support the government’s mission to unlock opportunities and drive economic growth through adult skills policy.

An expert adviser has been appointed to support the government’s mission to unlock opportunities and drive economic growth through adult skills policy.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has appointed Praful Nargund as a skills policy adviser. He will help the government maximise the impact of adult skills policy in England following its transfer to the Department for Work and Pensions.

The part-time unpaid appointment starts in January 2026 and will last for 6 months, with the option to extend.

Praful is the founder and director of the Good Growth Foundation, a think tank focused on inclusive economic policies. Previously, he sat on Labour’s Council of Skills Advisors, which worked to better prepare individuals for the workforce.

Established processes for the declaration and management of interests have been followed.

Additional information

Terms of Reference: Praful Nargund
1. Role: Praful Nargund is appointed as the DWP Secretary of State’s Skills Adviser.
2. Duration: The appointment will begin on 12 January 2025 and will conclude on 10 July 2025, with the possibility of extension.
3. Role specification: The postholder will work with civil servants and Special Advisers on the policy underpinning DWP’s Skills agenda, with a particular focus on growth. This will include supporting the Secretary of State to make best use of the transfer of adult skills policy for England into DWP in relation to unlocking opportunities that support the Government’s goal to increase opportunity and drive economic growth. Working with academics, economists and other expert stakeholders on how to maximise growth, economic investment and returns. They will also consider how to ensure the skills agenda supports our labour market objectives of creating opportunities for participation, progression, and productivity. The postholder will also work with Ministers, Special Advisers and officials to strengthen stakeholder relationships and with other government departments with an interest in adult skills.
4. Resources: The postholder is unpaid and will work in the department a minimum of 2 days a week. They will work closely with civil servants across the relevant parts of the department.
5. Governance and ways of working: The postholder will work closely with officials on a confidential basis, having access to relevant official and Ministerial papers. The postholder will update the Secretary of State as required.
6. Conflicts of interest: A full declaration of interest process has been conducted in the usual way for direct ministerial appointments. appointments and mitigations have been agreed to minimise any potential, actual or perceived conflicts. The postholder will comply with the measures and mitigations set out by DWP’s Permanent Secretary, with support from the Propriety and Ethics Team if required.
Job Description

The postholder will seek to:
- Ensure DWP Secretary of State has access to high quality advice on growth, which to inform and embed the new policy area of adult skills and to use this to inform and complement the wider context of DWP’s work on the labour market.
- Enhance DWP’s skills engagement with academics, economists and other expert stakeholders.
- Drive and support innovative thinking in terms of how adult skills can help the government to increase opportunity and drive economic growth.
January 13, 2026
NEWS STORY : Scandal-hit Zahawi ‘sought Tory peerage’ before quitting for Reform, sources allege

STORY

Scandal-hit former Conservative chancellor Nadhim Zahawi is facing fresh alleged claims that he sought a peerage from the Conservative Party in the weeks before defecting to Reform UK, only to switch sides after failing to secure a seat in the House of Lords.

The allegations, attributed to Conservative sources in several reports, claim Zahawi made repeated approaches to senior party figures about being elevated to the Lords. Those accounts suggest his request was rebuffed, with Tory insiders citing the controversy that engulfed him during his time as party chair.

Sources close to Zahawi have pushed back on the narrative, disputing that he was “turned down” and suggesting the contact ran the other way, with Conservative figures still interested in his advice and involvement. Zahawi has not publicly confirmed any application for a peerage, and the precise nature of any conversations remains unclear.

Zahawi announced his move to Reform UK this week alongside Nigel Farage, presenting the defection as a political decision driven by the direction of the country and what he described as a need for change. His switch is being seized on by opponents as evidence of turbulence on the right, with both Conservatives and Labour framing the move as opportunistic.

January 13, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : New plans to improve welfare for laying hens and lambs [January 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 January 2026.

New proposals to end the use of cages for laying hens and minimise pain during lamb castration and tail docking.

Laying hens and lambs will benefit from better animal welfare standards under detailed plans set out by the Government today (January 12th).

Under the proposals all colony cage systems across the laying hen sector would be phased out by 2032 including for smaller producers. Proposals for tighter restrictions on sheep mutilation practices such as castration and tail docking, which cause pain to lambs and are often carried out without pain relief, are also being consulted on.

Enriched ‘colony’ cage eggs supply just over 20% of the UK shell egg production. These cages heavily restrict the movement of British laying hens with up to 80 birds are in each cage, with each bird having space that is no bigger than an A4 sheet of paper.

With the UK’s leading retailers, from Sainsbury’s to Aldi, already committed to not selling eggs produced from cage systems and widespread public support – the move announced today is in line with widespread best practice and public opinion.

To improve welfare for lambs, farmers will be expected to take steps to minimise pain when castration and tail docking has to be carried out. This could include through greater use of pain relief and consideration of alternative methods which farmers would get improved access to. This reflects the latest scientific evidence and follows expert advice from the independent Animal Welfare Committee.

Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:

We are committed to improving the lives of farm animals and to supporting farmers to produce food sustainably, profitably and to the high standards consumers expect.

British consumers want high animal welfare standards and these measures reflect those values, creating healthier livestock and high welfare food production.

Anthony Field, Head of Compassion in World Farming UK said:

We warmly welcome the UK Government’s leadership in honouring a key commitment in its Animal Welfare Strategy by swiftly launching a consultation on phasing out the use of cages for laying hens. This marks an important and long-awaited step towards ending the cage age.

We are optimistic that this will be the first of many meaningful and lasting changes. Phasing out cages for the millions of hens kept behind bars every year cannot come soon enough, and we hope the outcome of this consultation will be an ambitious timeline for phasing out these cruel systems.

We also welcome the launch of a consultation to improve the welfare of lambs. Lambs are routinely subjected to painful, unnecessary mutilations. Castration and tail docking are usually carried out without anaesthetic or pain relief, causing great suffering, so this is an extremely encouraging move.

We look forward to seeing positive changes for millions of other farmed animals in the coming years and to working with Government to achieve this.

The proposals announced today are a significant first step toward advancing the ambitious animal welfare reforms set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, ensuring farm animals have greater freedom to express their natural behaviours and dignity.

The Animal Welfare Strategy builds on this Government’s strong track record of delivering reforms for animals, having already introduced world leading zoo standards, and supporting passage of the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 and the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025.

We are committed to working with farmers on any changes as part of our commitment to ensuring a productive and sustainable farming sector.

The proposals will be subject to 8-week consultations, so any impacts on farmers and trade can be fully considered and managed. Both consultations will open today, and farmers, industry and animal welfare organisations are encouraged to share their views.

January 13, 2026
NEWS STORY : Bona Vacantia list reinstated after fraud review

STORY

The Government Legal Department has reinstated the Bona Vacantia unclaimed estates list after a review found no evidence that the list itself had been used as a source of fraud. The list, which can help people identify estates they may be entitled to claim, had been taken down in July 2025 amid allegations of fraud within the wider probate system.

Officials said the review concluded the publication of the list was not driving fraudulent activity, but the Bona Vacantia Division will now publish less information as a precaution. Going forward, entries will display only the deceased person’s name, date of death, the area where they died and the division’s case reference number.

The department said requests for additional information will be handled in line with relevant statutory requirements, signalling a tighter approach to disclosure while keeping the list usable for legitimate family tracing and entitlement checks.

January 13, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Unclaimed Estates list reinstated following review [January 2026]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 11 January 2026.

The Bona Vacantia unclaimed estates list has been reinstated following a review of its publication.

Publication of the list was suspended in July 2025 following allegations of fraud within the probate system.

The review found no evidence the Bona Vacantia unclaimed estates list has been the source of fraud.

However, the Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) has concluded it is prudent to restrict the data provided to protect the list’s integrity, whilst still providing sufficient information for people to identify a family member.

Information published may assist people to identify estates to which they could have an entitlement. To safeguard this list going forward, it will only display the deceased’s name, date of death, area where they died and BVD case reference number.

Any requests for more information will be considered in accordance with all relevant statutory requirements.

The Bona Vacantia Division will continue to keep the list’s publication under review and if there are any further allegations of fraud or misuse, access may be restricted or removed without notice.

January 13, 2026