Blog

NEWS STORY : Government Announces Major Uplift in Legal Aid Funding

STORY

The Government has announced a significant funding increase for legal aid, setting out plans for an investment worth up to £92 million a year to support criminal legal aid solicitors and improve access to justice for victims. Ministers said the move is intended to strengthen a system that has faced sustained pressure in recent years and to help speed up the progression of cases.

The announcement confirms that criminal legal aid solicitors will receive a 24% rise in fees compared with the levels recommended in the earlier independent review. Officials argue that this uplift will help stabilise the profession, ensure people can access representation and reduce delays that have contributed to backlogs in the courts.

Alongside support for criminal work the Government is also increasing fees for housing and immigration legal aid for the first time since the mid nineteen nineties with an additional £18 million a year earmarked to assist providers. A further £2 million is being directed to licensed housing and immigration work.

December 2, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Multi-million-pound investment in legal aid to boost access to justice for victims [December 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 December 2025.

Criminal legal aid solicitors will receive up to £92 million more a year to help address the ongoing challenges in the criminal justice system.
- Government confirms up to £92 million investment in criminal legal aid after years of neglect
- New funding for housing and immigration fees to help rebuild the justice system
- Part of government’s Plan for Change to transform the justice system and deliver swifter justice for victims
Victims will get swifter access to justice as the Government confirms up to an additional £92m per year boost for criminal legal aid solicitors, Courts Minister Sarah Sackman announced today (Monday 1 December).

The investment will tackle years of neglect and build a stronger and more sustainable legal aid sector that works for those who serve within it – and those victims and defendants who depend on it.

This investment lays the groundwork for longer-term reform to the justice system to get cases moving through the courts and ensure swifter justice for victims – with further updates expected later this week.

Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC MP, said:

Our legal aid system has been left neglected. This multimillion-pound investment is crucial to keeping the wheels of justice turning – it supports the professionals keeping the system running, the victims waiting for answers, and all those who need access justice.

We know that justice delayed is justice denied. That is why we’re investing in the criminal justice system. Getting the legal aid sector back on a sustainable footing is vital to restoring the public’s confidence in our justice system

Once fully implemented, criminal legal aid solicitors will have received a 24% overall uplift in funding since the 2021 Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR).

Criminal solicitors have been waiting years for a pay rise and now they will finally feel the fee increases which will support their vital work to keep the wheels of our criminal justice system turning.

Alongside this, the Government is also uplifting housing and immigration legal aid fees by 18 million a year – the first major civil legal aid fee increase since 1996.

An additional two million for licensed housing and immigration work will be delivered separately and as soon as possible. An injection of £20 million will support some of the most vulnerable people in society, including those at risk of losing their home and victims of modern slavery. The investment will also help to reduce the asylum backlog and end the use of asylum hotels.

The majority of these crime and civil changes will come into effect on 22 December 2025 – ensuring hardworking practitioners are properly paid for the vital work they do.

Legal aid plays a crucial role in our justice system, supporting some of the most complex cases that go through our courts. Our Plan for Change is making the justice system fair, accessible and fit for purpose.

This funding supports our wider reform of the criminal justice system. The government will soon publish its response to Part 1 of Sir Brian Leveson’s independent review, which recommends bold and ambitious reforms to clear the escalating court backlog and deliver swifter justice for victims.
December 2, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Keynote Speech on a Britain Built for All (Brexit Worsened Britain Speech)

The speech made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, at Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre in London on 1 December 2025.

Thank you to all of you for joining us at Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre.

And you may have seen downstairs there is a nursery.

I’ve been down there with the young children this morning seeing them and the staff.

And seeing how the staff guide them, from, in this nursery, nine months to four years.

And it is a real reminder that learning begins at such an early age.

And what a difference it makes.

And that giving our children the best start in life…

Unlocking their full potential…

Is so important for our country’s future.

And that is the purpose of this Government – in a nutshell.

We have a plan for a Britain that is built for all…

And we’re going to unlock the potential of every single person and community in this country.

Because whether it’s our public services that don’t work…

The cost-of-living crisis holding us back…

Or whole regions of our country – ignored as sources of growth…

In the end, it is all about potential.

And that’s why the budget was a moment of personal pride for me.

I do not want to see a country where children grow up in poverty…

I don’t think anyone in this country wants that.

It is a fundamental British belief…

That every child should go as far as their talent will takes them…

And poverty is a barrier to that.

Just think about it.

Think about the skipped meals.

The cold bedrooms.

The school uniform that is too small or worn through.

And think about a seven-year-old in that situation…

A young girl or boy…

Who still has to go to school and face the world’s gaze.

Are they ready to learn to the best of their ability?

Are we giving them a fair and equal opportunity to succeed?

I think its abhorrent…

It’s not just abhorrent – it’s also counter-productive.

On Wednesday last week after the budget, the Chancellor and I went to a hospital.

And we were speaking to the staff who had gathered there…

And we told them that we are lifting the 2-child limit

And they cheered.

And they did so and they said to us…

That matters, because you would not believe how many children come through our doors, of our hospital…

Because of poverty. Poverty in Britain today.

So this is a public services issue – it can help lift the pressure on the NHS.

It’s an economic issue – a sound investment in our long-term potential.

And it is a fairness issue.

Take some of the parents I met this morning…

Now some of the parents I met downstairs, some of the parents I met in Rugby were on the road last Thursday…

They told me…

As so many parents do

That they’re working harder and harder…

But their wages struggle to meet their costs…

And I know what that feels like.

I remember my family sitting around the kitchen table…

Worrying about the bills…

How are we going to pay them all?

And we as a family couldn’t pay them all.

And that’s why in our case our phone was cut off.

And that is still the reality of Britain for far too many people…

And so yes, I am proud…

I am proud we scrapped the two-child limit…

I am proud we’re lifting over a half a million children out of poverty…

Proud we raised the national minimum wage – again…

Making life better for working families…

Unlocking their potential…

And giving our children a fair chance to get on.

And that is the story of the budget.

There were necessary choices – of course there were.

Fair choices – I would argue.

Tax rises do make life harder for people – I understand that…

It’s obvious.

And I’m not going to pretend that there aren’t alternatives…

Politics is always about making choices.

We could have cut public services.

We could have ignored child poverty.

We could have rolled the dice with extra borrowing.

But I firmly believe that those options have been tested to destruction.

I mean – we all know the risks of reckless borrowing…

And you can see the cost in any bill, mortgage, car loan…

Anything affected by interest rates.

But also – look at the OBR’s analysis of productivity…

And it’s crystal clear to me…

That austerity scarred the long-term productive capability of this country.

So – why would we repeat it?

That is what we inherited.

Public finances and public services in total crisis…

Growth – weak for years.

But if you had said to me, seventeen months ago, on that first day of government…

That by now – we would have cut NHS waiting times…

Cut immigration…

Cut child poverty by a record amount.

If you had said to me that Britain would now be cutting borrowing faster than any other G7 country…

Without cutting public investment…

That our fiscal headroom is up significantly…

Economic growth is beating the forecasts…

With wages up, more – since the election…

Than in a decade of the previous Government.

If you had said – because of all that…

We can tackle the cost-of-living for working people…

Freezing rail fares…

Freezing prescription charges…

Freezing fuel duty…

Slashing childcare costs…

Driving down mortgages…

Taking £150 pounds off your energy bills – £300 for poorer households…

Then I would say – yes that is a record to be proud of.

And I am proud.

I am proud the public finances and our public services are moving in the right direction.

Because we confronted reality…

We took control of our future…

And Britain is now back on track.

And look – I’m also confident…

We have now walked through the narrowest part of the tunnel.

Because while I know it’s still hard for lots of people…

While I know the cost-of-living crisis has not gone away…

In the year ahead, you will see the benefits of our approach…

Not just in the national statistics…

But in your communities.

You will see a country building its future – with new homes and infrastructure…

Two thousand free breakfast clubs…

Hundreds of school-based nurseries – open by September.

You will see 3000 neighbourhood police officers on your streets – by March…

A new era of security for 11 million renters – starting in May.

Hundreds of thousands of parents taking advantage of our free childcare expansion…

Almost 120 community diagnostic centres – open 7 days a week by April.

You will see NHS Waiting times coming down further…

Wages still rising faster than prices…

Immigration still falling…

And bit by bit – you will see a country…

That no longer feels the burden of decline…

Or the sense that things can never get better…

A Britain with its confidence and its future – back.

Now, take our energy policy – £150 off your energy bill…

£300 if you are really struggling.

Now, think about what that means to a family worrying about whether to put the heating on, on a cold day.

Or worried that if they switch it on for too long…

They might have to cancel a day out with their kids.

It’s not just money – it’s security.

It’s having the freedom to make choices that help your family.

Or think about our childcare investment.

Thirty hours free – for every child between 9 months and four years old…

A massive difference to the cost-of-living…

Thousands of pounds back in the pockets of working parents…

Real help getting parents and carers back to work, especially for women…

And that is good for growth.

But it’s also good for our children’s potential.

Now, I visit primary schools all the time…

And – when I’m not being told off for doing the 6/7…

Teachers repeatedly say to me…

This is across the country…

That some kids arrive at reception reading books, ready to learn…

While others are still in nappies.

I am sick of hearing those stories – right across the country…

Think about that

Inequality at aged just four…

Baked in for life.

And it’s likely to last a whole life.

That is why everything we are doing for children – it is a game changer for our potential…

We are giving every child the best start in life…

Every single child equal at the starting line of their education…

And that is what government is for.

And look – when it comes to economic growth and living standards…

We’re confident we can beat the forecasts.

We’ve already beaten them this year.

We are in control of our future.

We’ve already struck trade deals that are attracting billions of pounds of investment…

We’re removing barriers to business – right across the economy…

In planning…

Industrial policy…

Pensions reform…

Artificial intelligence…

Capital investment…

And right at the heart of the budget…

We have a package of measures that give the green light for the world’s best entrepreneurs…

To start, scale and list their companies in Britain.
But we have to be clear, at this stage of our plan…

The most important things we can do for growth…

The most important things we can do for business…

Is first – to drive inflation down…

So that interest rates come down – further still…

And the cost of business investment comes down with it.

And second – to retain the market confidence that allows for real economic stability…

So that businesses can plan with certainty.

That is what the country most needs right now…

It is what the Budget secured…

And that is why our choices were fair…

They were necessary…

And they were fundamentally good for growth.

But I will level with you…

As the Budget showed…

The path to a Britain that is truly built for all…

Requires many more decisions that are not cost-free and they are not easy.

We can all see the challenge.

Low productivity.

The result of an economy scarred by austerity…

By Brexit…

And by consistently failing to unlock the nation’s potential.

So we need a productivity revolution.

And as our plan runs to the end of the Parliament…

I now want to set out some of the next steps in our economic renewal…

So that our progress can be fairly judged.

First – regulation.

Now exactly a week ago…

John Fingleton reported on our nuclear industry.

He found that pointless gold-plating…

Unnecessary red-tape…

Well-intentioned, but fundamentally misguided, environmental regulations.

And – and I quote – it’s quite a stark quote – he said “a mindset that favours process over outcome”…

Has all made Britain the most expensive place to build nuclear power.

Now I agree with him.

In fact – I would go further.

Because the truth is we see this story repeated again and again…

Right across our economy.

For years – Britain did not have a proper industrial strategy.

For years – it cut public investment…

For years it did not have a planning framework or frankly – a Government…

That would quickly approve…

New railways…

New tramlines…

Data centres…

Laboratories…

Power stations…

Wind farms…

Even whole towns.

So guided by a simple truth…

That rooting out excessive costs in every corner of our economy…

Is an essential step to cutting the cost of living…

And creating more dynamic markets for business…

We will also clear the path for British business

And therefore – in addition to accepting the Fingleton recommendations…

I am asking the Business Secretary to apply these lessons across the entire industrial strategy.

Second – welfare.

For too long our welfare system has trapped people in poverty…

And poverty is always a barrier to potential.

That is why we scrapped the two-child limit.

But we also have to confront the reality…

And our welfare state is trapping people, not just in poverty…

But out of work.

Young people in particular.

And that is a poverty of ambition.

And so while we will invest in apprenticeships…

And make sure young people without a job…

Have a guaranteed offer of training or work.

We must also reform the welfare state itself – that is what renewal demands.

Now – this is not about propping up a broken status quo…

Nor is it because we want to look somehow politically ‘tough’…

So we have asked Alan Milburn to report on the whole issue of young people, inactivity and work.

Because we need to remove all the barriers which hold back the potential of our young people.

Because – if you are ignored early in your career…

If you’re not given the support you need to overcome your mental health issues…

Or if you are simply written off because you’re neurodivergent or disabled…

Then it can trap you in a cycle of worklessness and dependency for decades.

That costs the country money…

Is bad for our productivity.

And most importantly of all – it is a massive waste of potential…

Third and finally – trade

Vital for productivity.

Essential for growth.

Crucial to the cost of living.

And let me be crystal clear…

There is no credible economic vision for Britain…

That does not position us as an open, trading economy.

So we must all now confront the reality…

That the Brexit deal we have…

Significantly hurt our economy.

And so for economic renewal…

We have to keep reducing frictions…

We have to keep moving towards a closer relationship with the EU…

And we will have to be grown-up about that…

To accept that this will require trade-offs.

That applies to our trading relations across the world.

And as you have seen already with this Government…

There are deals to be done…

If you are committed to building relationships.

That is what we have done with the US…

It’s what we’ve done with India…

And it’s what we’ve done with the EU…

And we will keep going…

We will continue to reject drift…

To confront reality…

And take control of our future…

That is what the Budget achieved last week…

And we will build on it…

A long-term plan for the economic renewal of this country…

A Britian that is free from decline…

Confident about its future…

And with the potential of every single person – unlocked…

Truly – built for all.

Thank you very much.

December 2, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Statement to the 30th Session of the Conference of States Parties of the OPCW [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 December 2025.

Statement to the 30th Session of the Conference of States Parties of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Mr Chair, Director General, Distinguished Delegates,

I would like to begin by thanking the Director-General and the Technical Secretariat for their work to prepare for this Conference. I would also like to thank the Director General for his comprehensive overview of the work he has led this year to strengthen this organisation.

Many thanks also to our outgoing Chair, Ambassador Almir Šahović for effectively steering this Conference this past year. My congratulations to Ambassador Agustín Vásquez Gómez of El Salvador on your appointment as Chair of this Conference – you have the UK’s full support.

Mr Chair,

The Chemical Weapons Convention remains a fundamental pillar of international security. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has overseen the complete destruction of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles. Countries are better prepared to detect and respond to the use of chemical weapons. Yet, while the safety and security of so many of us sat here today has increased due to the OPCW’s tireless work, the threat posed by chemical weapons remains. We must continue our work to rid the world of chemical weapons and hold to account those who continue to use them.

Mr Chair,

In pursuit of this goal, the UK is fully committed to supporting Syria and the Technical Secretariat to finally eradicate Assad’s legacy chemical weapons programme. The UK has committed £2.8m to the OPCW Syria Voluntary Trust Fund since December 2024. I am pleased to announce that, in the coming months, the UK will be committing a further multi-million pound funding effort for Syrian led destruction operations.

At the time of the Assad Regime’s collapse last December, there remained concerns that large quantities of potentially undeclared or unverified chemical weapons agents and munitions remained in Syria. The current status, quantities, and locations of such agents and materials remain unknown.

But, as we meet today, Syria and the Technical Secretariat are working together to account for Assad’s chemical weapons, and to pave the way for their final, complete and verified destruction – thereby protecting the Syrian people and contributing to regional security. We welcome the re-establishment of a Syrian National Authority and the appointment of a new Permanent Representative.

States Parties must now capitalise on the recently agreed Qatari-Syrian Executive Council Decision on Expedited On-Site Destruction and the progress made to date, to help Syria accelerate its operations in-country. This includes ongoing efforts to identify, locate and secure Assad’s chemical weapons, in parallel to addressing discrepancies in the former regime’s declaration. The OPCW Office for Special Missions will also continue its work to attribute numerous chemical weapon attacks that took place in Syria since 2013. The task ahead is considerable. We encourage all States Parties to support the Secretariat and Syria to close this file through financial and in-kind contributions. The UK is fully committed to supporting Syria and the Secretariat in this endeavour.

Mr Chair,

This Conference will elect three members of the Eastern Europe Group on to the Executive Council. The Russian Federation has once again submitted its candidacy to represent the Eastern European Group on the Executive Council. The overwhelming majority of the Eastern European Group do not support this candidacy. Their opposition is rooted in a simple but fundamental truth: Russia is a State Party that repeatedly violates the Chemical Weapons Convention and consistently undermines the credibility of this Organisation.

We cannot permit a State that breaches the Convention to make decisions on how it is implemented. The Executive Council must be a body of integrity – one that upholds the Convention’s principles and strengthens the OPCW. We urge all Member States to respect the wishes of the Eastern European Group and, in doing so, defend the credibility of this organisation.

Ukraine has reported over 11,000 Russian uses of toxic chemicals since Russia launched its war of aggression in 2022. Dutch and German security services have concluded that Russia is escalating its use of chemical weapons. The Secretariat has now independently confirmed the presence of CS gas in samples from multiple incidents in Ukraine and these incidents must now be attributed. We will continue to support Ukraine to protect its people against these attacks, and hold Russia to account for it’s actions.

We are pleased to have worked once again with Canada on the joint procurement of respirators for Ukraine, with the first batch of these having already been delivered to the Ukrainian front-line. This is in addition to the £950,000 that the UK has contributed to the OPCW Assistance to Ukraine fund.

Russia’s disregard for its obligations under the Convention is well established. Russia used the highly toxic nerve agent, a Novichok on British soil in 2018, leading to the death of Dawn Sturgess. It used a Novichok again to poison Alexei Navalny in 2020. These are appalling examples of flagrant breaches of the convention.

And they have set a damaging example. We remain deeply concerned by reports of chemical weapon use in Sudan. Sudan has committed to investigate reports of use of chemical weapons by the Sudanese Armed Forces thoroughly. We expect the outcomes of these investigations soon.

Mr Chair,

The UK remains committed to supporting international cooperation and assistance as a central pillar of the OPCW’s work. The UK has supported capacity building in East Africa and the Caribbean and I am pleased to highlight that the UK and Ghanian national authorities are now working closely together. This builds on the success of historical UK national authority mentoring initiatives including, most recently, with Zambia. And on the subject of building success – the UK looks forward to being involved and supporting CHEMEX Africa 2 in 2026, which will build on the lessons learned from the first such exercise in 2023.

The UK was delighted to join last year’s CSP side-event with Czechia, Switzerland, and the OPCW, which highlighted our work on assistance and protection, and the ongoing value of member states working together on this vital issue. We strongly encourage the continuation of this, both with the OPCW and with partners such as the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction, led positively and proactively by Canada this year.

Industry verification is a cornerstone of the Convention, ensuring compliance and building the foundation for trust among States Parties. The UK therefore welcomes the return to 241 Article VI inspections in 2027 agreed in the budget and calls for adequate resources to be devoted to the verification regime on an ongoing basis.

We commend the Director-General’s leadership on emerging technologies, and we look forward to the outcome of the Scientific Advisory Board’s review. We also applaud the OPCW’s work to increase geographical representation, enhance engagement with civil society and promote gender equality – especially as we mark the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

Mr Chair,

This occasion is tinged with sadness. For the last time at this Conference, the UK thanks his Excellency, Director General Arias, for leading the Secretariat through a period of significant challenge and change. We recognise his deft diplomacy and applaud his commitment to the Convention. He leaves the Secretariat stronger and better prepared for the future. In the Chem Tech Centre, he leaves tangible proof of his legacy.

We congratulate Ambassador Dallafior Matter on securing the Executive Council’s recommendation for appointment as the next Director General of this organisation. You can count on the UK’s full support.

Thank you.

December 2, 2025
NEWS STORY : Head of Office for Budget Responsibility Resigns after Budget Leak

STORY

Richard Hughes, the chair of the UK’s fiscal watchdog, has resigned following a significant failure that saw the contents of the Government’s annual Budget published nearly an hour ahead of schedule. Hughes, who had led the Office for Budget Responsibility since 2020, stepped down after an internal inquiry concluded the leak amounted to the most serious breakdown in the organisation’s 15-year history.

According to the inquiry, the early release was caused by a misconfigured website link that made confidential Budget documents publicly accessible before the Chancellor delivered the statement in Parliament. The materials, which included market-sensitive forecasts, had been expected to remain under strict embargo until the official announcement. The error raised concerns about the robustness of the OBR’s internal systems and its ability to safeguard information.

Hughes said in his resignation letter that he accepted full responsibility and believed his departure was necessary to help restore confidence in the watchdog’s independence and professionalism.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said in a statement:

“I want to thank Richard Hughes for his public service and for leading the Office for Budget Responsibility over the past five years and for his many years of public service. This government is committed to protecting the independence of the OBR and the integrity of our fiscal framework and institutions.”

December 1, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : British and Indian Army conclude eighth exercise, Ajeya Warrior [December 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 December 2025.

The UK and India concluded the eighth edition of the biennial army exercise, Ajeya Warrior on 30 November.

The A (AMBOOR) Company 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles of the British Army and the Indian Army’s 21st Sikh Regiment were undertaking complex training at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan since the start of the exercise on 17 November.

Continuing the trend of increasing complexity and interoperability, the exercise this time focused on conducting peace enforcing operations in a counter-terrorism environment as mandated under the chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter. This involved executing simulated operations in a multi-domain urban and semi-urban environment.

During the exercise, the two armies shared standard operating procedures and tactics across Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED), small Uncrewed Aircraft System (sUAS) operations, company-level skills and drills, urban training, and support weapon employment.

This collaboration culminated in a battle group-level final training exercise, where the two forces operated under an integrated command, gaining invaluable experience and exchanging best practices.

Beyond the tactical domain, both contingents engaged in fitness and recreational activities, further strengthening camaraderie, alongside team sports and informal cultural exchanges that reinforced mutual respect and understanding.

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India said:

Defence and security forms a crucial pillar of UK-India Vision 2035. Exercise Ajeya Warrior is a demonstration of UK’s deepening defence ties with India as we deliver this shared vision over the next decade. Beyond military co-operation, it underscores our shared commitment to peace, stability and a rules-based international order.

Commodore Chris Saunders MBE Royal Navy, Defence Adviser, British High Commission said:

Exercise Ajeya Warrior has seen soldiers of the British and Indian Army operating alongside each other in a demanding urban and semi-urban counter terrorism focussed exercise. 

The exercise has enhanced shared understanding and interoperability, with both A Company 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles and 21st Sikh Regiment demonstrating the rapid transformation being undertaken by both forces in a rapidly evolving operating environment. Ex Ajeya Warrior follows closely on the back of our Navies training together during the recent visit by the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and demonstrates the ever-closer relationship and readiness of both our militaries to face shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. We now greatly look forward to welcoming the Indian Army to the UK for Ex Ajeya Warrior IX in 2027.

December 1, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : A greener and more prosperous future with new Environmental Improvement Plan  [December 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 December 2025.

New plan sets course for cleaner rivers and air, as well as more nature and wildlife in England.
- Targeted and measured delivery plans to set out progress towards environmental targets while supporting economic growth
- £500 million to supercharge landscape-scale nature recovery across England
People across England will benefit from cleaner air and water under a strengthened plan to restore the natural environment, backed by hundreds of millions of pounds to revive iconic landscapes.

The revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), published today (Monday 1 December), sets out an ambitious five-year roadmap to tackle the nature and climate crisis, improve public health, and support sustainable growth.

Communities will see improved air quality thanks to action on fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) – a harmful pollutant linked to asthma, lung disease, and heart conditions. Under a new interim target, population exposure to PM2.5 will be cut by 30% by 2030, compared to 2018 levels – supporting better quality of life and reducing pressure on the NHS.

Nature will be boosted with a quarter of a million hectares of wildlife-rich habitats created or restored by 2030 – an area larger than Greater London. This is 110,000 hectares of habitat more than had been previously committed, supporting our aims for a healthier environment, which is essential to growth.  

A new target to halve the presence of damaging invasive species compared to 25 years ago will protect native wildlife and farmers’ livelihoods. This will help prevent new invasive species from becoming established and manage existing invaders like the American Signal Crayfish and Japanese Knotweed. 

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:  

Our environment faces real challenges, with pollution in our waterways, air quality that’s too low in many areas, and treasured species in decline. 

This plan marks a step change in restoring nature. Our ambitious targets are backed by real action to cut harmful air pollutants, revive habitats and protect the environment for generations to come.

The plan is being supported with new headline commitments and funding announced today. This includes:
- £500 million for Landscape Recovery projects, bringing together farmers and land managers to restore nature at scale, creating wildlife-rich environments, reducing flood risk and improving water quality while unlocking economic opportunities through green jobs and nature-based solutions that support rural prosperity
- £85 million to improve and restore peatlands, reducing flooding in communities, improving water quality and supporting public health through cleaner air and enhanced access to green spaces for physical and mental wellbeing. This comes alongside £3 million to improve access to nature in Public Forest Estates through facilities including accessible bike trails and all-terrain mobility equipment.
- First-ever plan to reduce risks from ‘forever chemicals’ (PFAS) to health and the environment, with a review of sewage sludge spreading rules to ensure sustainable practices
- New Trees Action Plan and measures to reduce damaging methane emissions, particularly from agriculture, alongside exploring new domestic combustion measures to drive climate progress
- Environment Act target delivery plans published for the first time, providing clear progress tracking and fixing the lack of rigour in the previous plan
The publication follows wider government action on nature and biodiversity, including the reintroduction of beavers to the wild, a commitment to end bee-killing pesticides, and the launch of two National Forests.

Government will now work with individuals, communities, farmers, businesses and local authorities to deliver the plan, driving economic growth through green jobs and innovation while ensuring future generations benefit from a greener and more prosperous country.

Landscape Recovery is one of the government nature-friendly farming schemes, alongside Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), which also deliver positive outcomes for nature and sustainable food production. Over half of farmland is already in one of these schemes, with an improved SFI offer opening next year.
December 1, 2025
NEWS STORY : UK MP Tulip Siddiq Sentenced to Two Years in Absentia by Bangladeshi Court

STORY

A court in Dhaka has sentenced the British-Bangladeshi MP Tulip Siddiq to two years in prison after finding her guilty of corruption in connection with a government land allocation scheme. The verdict, handed down in absentia, alleges that she leveraged her influence over her aunt, the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to facilitate the unlawful transfer of a plot of land to her mother and siblings. Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Highgate in the UK Parliament and resigned from her ministerial role earlier this year amid scrutiny over her family connections, announced her intention to challenge the ruling and she firmly denied the allegations.Under the terms of the ruling, Siddiq was also fined 100,000 taka (roughly £620). Failure to pay would result in an additional six-month prison term. Her mother, Sheikh Rehana, received a seven-year sentence and her aunt a five-year term for their roles in the same case, which involves the disputed allocation of a government plot in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone. Fourteen other individuals were also convicted, mostly receiving longer sentences.

In response, Siddiq condemned the trial as a “flawed and farcical” proceeding and described the verdict as politically motivated, arguing that she was denied access to proper defence and that the trial lacked transparency. The UK’s governing party and several international legal commentators echoed concerns about the fairness of the process. Because the UK and Bangladesh have no extradition treaty, it remains unlikely Siddiq will serve the sentence unless she chooses to return.

December 1, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Budget brings biggest ever boost for better roads [December 2025]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 1 December 2025.

Millions of drivers will enjoy smoother, safer road journeys as the Chancellor ensures every region in England feels the benefit of the government’s record £7.3 billion local roads boost.
- Councils will fix potholes and prevent new ones, thanks to a doubling of roads cash by the end of the Parliament at Budget.
- A much bigger slice of this cash, over £500 million each year will now only be unlocked by councils that publish pothole data on their website to ensure local authorities are kept accountable.
Millions of drivers will enjoy smoother, safer road journeys as the Chancellor ensures every region in England feels the benefit of the government’s record £7.3 billion local roads boost. Councils from Blackpool to Milton Keynes will benefit from the record roads funding, enough to fill millions of potholes each year, after the Chancellor doubled annual roads cash at the Budget.

This follows Wednesday’s Budget which took the fair and necessary choices to strengthen the economy and chose investment over austerity, because growth is our number one mission to create good jobs, raise living standards and improve public services. Despite a decade of damage and historic underinvestment under the previous government, the Chancellor was clear she was determined to defy the forecasts and break Britain out of its cycle of decline through stability, investment and reform.

Rachel Reeves is also turning up the pressure on local authorities by more than tripling the share of local roads funding that is tied to transparency – from 8% to over 30% of the budget, worth more than £500 million. Councils can only unlock the funding if they publish clear pothole and maintenance data and follow best practice.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

We promised to fix an extra million potholes a year by the end of this Parliament – we’re doing exactly that.

We are doubling the funding promised by the previous government, making sure well maintained roads keep businesses moving, communities connected and growth reaching every part of the country.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said:

We’re delivering the biggest-ever investment in road maintenance to fix Britain’s broken roads.

We’re putting our money where our mouth is, giving councils the long-term investment they need to plan properly and get things right first time, saving you money on costly repairs and making a visible difference in our communities.

This isn’t patchwork politics, we are starting the hard work of fixing Britain’s roads for good.

Each local authority will be able to use its share of the £7.3 billion to identify the roads most in need of repair and deliver immediate improvements for communities and residents.

Councils will still get their core funding, but a much bigger slice of extra cash will now depend on publishing this information. Those that do so will be able to unlock their full share; those that don’t will miss out.

Regional allocations for the next four years are as follows:
- North West: £800 million
- Yorkshire and the Humber: £500 million
- East Midlands: £700 million
- West Midlands: £800 million
- East of England: £1.2 billion
- South East: £1.5 billion
- South West: £1.5 billion
- London: £300 million
- North East: £30 million
This is on top of record investment of almost £1.6 billion for local road maintenance this year, a £500 million increase compared to 2024/25.

The Budget delivered a package of transport measures including the first national freeze on regulated rail fares in 30 years, £891 million for the Lower Thames Crossing, a project delayed since 2009, and an extension of the landmark electric car grant to help drivers make the switch.

This comes as the Chancellor delivered the Budget on Wednesday that eases the cost of living, reduces our national debt, and brings down NHS waiting lists. Millions of families will see £150 off their energy bills, prescriptions frozen at £9.90, and our actions will lift around 550,000 children out of poverty.

Edmund King, AA president, said:

Potholes are the number one transport concern for drivers and continue to blight too many roads, so this funding should help smooth out the road ahead.

Providing councils with long-term funding, coupled with the requirement to publish repair data and strategies, is a pragmatic solution. That will enable residents to see how their council is progressing and hold them to account.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said:

This investment is an extremely welcome move. We’ve long called for councils to be given certainty of funding over an extended period so they can properly plan maintenance of their road networks as we believe this will lead to a better, safer driving experience for motorists.

We also welcome the government linking additional funding to councils who commit to carrying out preventative maintenance, as this stops potholes forming in the first place and extends the life of roads. It’s also far cheaper than continuously patching pothole-ridden roads only to have to pay far more to resurface them.

Further information

Figures:
- All figures are rounded to the nearest hundred million, except the North East which is rounded to the nearest ten million.
- References to a doubling in funding are comparing £1.067 billion funding allocated by the previous Government for FY2024/25, to £2.134 billion funding allocated by this Government for FY2029/30. Full allocations will be published on GOV.UK on 29 November.
- Totals include money allocated from the Highways Maintenance Block to Mayoral Strategic Authorities who also receive devolved City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) funding in 2026/27.
From 2027/28 onwards, eligible Mayoral Strategic Authority areas (many of which are in the North and Midlands) will receive larger Transport for City Regions (TCR) settlements, replacing their CRSTS funding. These devolved funding settlements can be spent on local roads maintenance by Mayors in these regions. As these areas do not receive Highways Maintenance Block funding from 2027/28, areas with a greater proportion of MSAs appear to receive less funding in the figures above, as these figures do not account for new TCR funding. These areas will not miss out, they will simply receive devolved transport settlements rather than a share of HMB from 2027/28.
December 1, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of a Canon of Windsor [December 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 December 2025.

The King has approved that The Reverend Martin Lonsdale Evans be appointed to a Canonry of Saint George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Background

Martin was educated at the University of Manchester, obtaining an B.A. in Theology and Religious Studies, and trained for Ministry at Ripon College, Cuddesdon. Ordained as a Priest in 1996, he served his title as Curate in Morpeth in the Diocese of Newcastle.

From 1998 he served as Royal Navy Chaplain including posts in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Bahrain, and in 2019 he served additionally as Deputy Chaplain of the Fleet with responsibility for the pastoral and professional oversight of 59 chaplains across the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. In 2022, he took up his current role as Rector of The Parish of St. Saviour, Jersey, in the Diocese of Salisbury.

December 1, 2025