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PRESS RELEASE : PM puts new offer on the table to businesses in first talks with industry groups [July 2026]

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

The Prime Minister has held his first calls with business representative organisations where he set out a new offer from government to Britain’s job creators.

The Prime Minister has today [Friday 24 July] held his first calls with business representative organisations where he set out a new offer from government to Britain’s job creators.

Speaking with organisations including the CBI, British Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Make UK, Small Business Britain, and Startup Coalition, Andy Burnham outlined a fresh partnership between government and business built around a shared ambition to drive investment, create jobs and grow the economy.

Together, these organisations represent hundreds of thousands of businesses across the country, from major employers and manufacturers to start-ups, high street firms and small businesses.

Acknowledging that many businesses have felt overlooked by successive governments, the Prime Minister said his government will be a circuit breaker by bringing down costs for business, creating a better environment for firms to grow and invest and delivering good growth in every postcode.

The new offer is centred on greater certainty, clearer long-term direction, faster decision-making and a stronger business voice in shaping policy. At a time of heightened global uncertainty, this government will provide the stable foundations businesses need to plan for the long term, invest with confidence and help deliver good growth in every postcode.

This week the Prime Minister promised to give breathing space to people and businesses. As one of the Prime Minister’s first promises delivered in his first week in office, he announced 20 per cent relief for pubs, clubs and music venues. This will bring down costs for town centre businesses, support the places people value in their communities and sends a strong signal of intent that this government is on the side of Britain’s businesses.

The Prime Minister also set out his ambition for a more agile state, with more decisions taken closer to communities, employers and investors. Over-centralised decision-making has too often slowed investment and held back regeneration, while devolving power to those closest to opportunities can cut unnecessary bureaucracy and ensure working people see the benefits in their local communities more quickly.

Alongside a stronger and more constructive partnership with business, the Government will take a much more active role where markets and regulators are not delivering for working people. Whether on energy, water or other essential services, the government wants to ensure every family gets a fair deal and to crack down on businesses who fail to deliver the standards that the public deserve.

The PM underlined his commitment to reduce the frictions that make doing business and hiring people more difficult. In return, he expects businesses to take seriously their responsibility to deliver good growth right across the country, and to take care of their employees and the communities in which they operate.

He also invited employers to work closely with the Government on some of the biggest challenges facing the country, including youth unemployment, tackling skills shortages and improving living standards. The PM acknowledged that too many young people are not leaving school ready for the workplace, making it harder for businesses to recruit the talent they need and exacerbating the youth unemployment crisis.

Tackling youth unemployment head on will be a key test for the new partnership between government and business. The PM will ask employers to work alongside Government to support more young people into work, while helping businesses develop the skilled workforce they need to grow.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

“For too long, businesses have been carrying the burden of rising costs while working people have paid the price.

“We’ve all seen the consequences on our high streets with boarded-up shops, struggling local businesses, and employers feeling like they haven’t been heard across Whitehall. Every business that closes its doors means fewer jobs and fewer opportunities for young people to get into work.

“Britain has enormous strengths and too often we talk ourselves down. We are a global powerhouse in science, technology, manufacturing and innovation. We just need to do a better job of turning that success into jobs, investment and opportunity that everyone can feel in every part of the country.

“That’s why I’m putting a new offer on the table. We’ll bring down costs, reform business rates and use the power of government to back British business. We’ll listen, we’ll act and we’ll give firms the backing they need to reindustrialise Britain. In return, I want businesses to invest in their people, back their communities and help us give every young person a fair chance to find a good job.”

The Government will continue to work with international partners to deepen trade relationships and strengthen our economic security. To kickstart that effort, the Prime Minister has been speaking directly with world leaders this week to discuss how we can strengthen trade ties and unlock new opportunities for British businesses here at home.

Despite a new round of global tariffs announced by the US today, our landmark Economic Prosperity Deal remains in place, which has led to an improvement to our trading terms with zero tariffs on both whisky and medical technology. This demonstrates the value of active engagement with international partners to protect British interests, support jobs and give businesses the certainty they need to invest and grow.

Ministers are also determined to deliver workers’ rights reforms in partnership with businesses, trade unions and workers, making sure the changes support higher living standards, stronger businesses and good growth in every postcode.

The Government will also use the power of public procurement to back British business by default to ensure public investment support jobs, apprenticeships, innovation and skills across the country.

28/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Commonwealth Games return to Glasgow with UK Government backing [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 24 July 2026.

Secretary of State Douglas Alexander joined His Majesty The King, Her Majesty The Queen and the Prime Minister at the 2026 Opening Ceremony.
- Around 3,000 athletes will take part in the 10-day competition.
- UK Government is underwriting the Games’ safety and security costs.
- Armed Forces personnel to raise the Commonwealth flag at the Opening Ceremony.
The summer of sport is coming to Scotland as the 2026 Commonwealth Games arrive in Glasgow.

Around 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories will be in Scotland’s largest city as the 2026 Commonwealth Games get underway today [Thursday, 23 July]. Recognised as one of the world’s greatest sporting celebrations, Glasgow will once again take centre stage as the Games returns to the city, 12 years after the acclaimed hosting of the 2014 competition.

The UK Government is proud to have played a central role in bringing the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow and securing the future of the competition.

In 2023, Victoria, Australia withdrew as hosts, meaning there was a risk that the Games might not go ahead. Glasgow stepped forward with a proposal for a streamlined, sustainable Games making use of the city’s existing world-class venues, building directly on the legacy of the Glasgow 2014 Games. The UK Government gave its backing providing operational support and committing funding to Games safety and security costs.

Now, following Scotland’s return to the world football stage at the 2026 World Cup, the global sporting spotlight turns to Glasgow. The event also cements Scotland as one of the top places to host world sporting events, building on the legacy of Glasgow’s celebrated 2014 Commonwealth Games, as well as having hosted the World Cycling Championships in 2023, the World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2024 and the Tour de France beginning in Edinburgh next year.

The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander and Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock will attend this evening’s [Thursday 23 July] opening ceremony on behalf of the UK Government.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said:

Glasgow is set for a fantastic Commonwealth Games, demonstrating yet again why it is one of the world’s great sporting cities. I am incredibly pleased that the UK Government was instrumental in helping to bring the Games back to Glasgow, including by underwriting the security costs.

I would like to thank the organisers, plus the thousands of volunteers, venue staff and local communities who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the Games to life. It is fantastic seeing athletes from across the Commonwealth come together in this incredible city and I wish all the competitors the best of luck.

It promises to be a spectacular ten days of sport.

Competitors and visitors will travel from across the Commonwealth for ten days of competition across a 10-sport programme, including six fully-integrated Para Sports. As well as household names, such as men’s mile World Record holder Josh Kerr, two-times Heptathlon World Champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Scottish swimming star Katie Shannhan coming to Glasgow, members of the Armed Forces will also be among those competing.

Four military athletes will compete alongside their Commonwealth counterparts in boxing, weightlifting, swimming and athletics, representing the very best of British and Commonwealth sporting talent in uniform.

A ceremonial team of 70 armed forces personnel drawn from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force will also participate in the opening and closing ceremonies, welcoming the athletes to the OVO Hydro in Glasgow. Armed Forces personnel will also raise the Commonwealth flag at the opening ceremony and the national flags of the gold, silver and bronze medallists at every medal ceremony as the winning nation’s national anthem plays.

Minister for Veterans and People Calvin Bailey said:

It wouldn’t be a national sporting event without our armed forces delivering ceremonial duties and competing for spots on the podium.

Sailors, soldiers and aviators have been competing at the highest levels of international sport for several years and are backed by the military to do so.

The chance to fulfil your sporting potential is just one of the many unique opportunities that come with military service, from experiencing travel and adventurous training, to gaining modern qualifications that remain in demand post-service.

Wishing good luck to all our personnel taking part.

Minister for Sport Stephanie Peacock said:

Glasgow is ready to welcome athletes and fans from all over the Commonwealth, just as it did in 2014.

I am immensely proud of the role the UK Government played in backing Glasgow’s bid and helping make the 2026 Games a reality. We are huge supporters of the Games and we know the value and benefits they can have for the local area.

The Games run until 2 August and are hosted across four venues within an eight-mile corridor in the city – Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, the Glasgow International Arena and the Scottish Event Campus – making them accessible and appealing to spectators throughout the competition.
28/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : AI to power change at the heart of government as Lord Vallance appointed chair of new PM AI Taskforce [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 24 July 2026.

For the first time, AI will be positioned at the very centre of government, thanks to the launch of the PM’s new AI Taskforce which will be chaired by Lord Vallance.
- New AI Taskforce to drive the Government’s overall strategy on AI and unlock the opportunities it holds for growth, prosperity and public sector transformation
- Lord Vallance to bring extensive scientific, technical and public sector experience in his role as Chair. AI Minister Kanishka Narayan will lead the Taskforce and attend Cabinet.
- Lord Vallance has also been appointed as Chair of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
For the first time, AI will be positioned at the very centre of government, thanks to the launch of the PM’s new AI Taskforce which will be chaired by Lord Vallance.

The remit of the Taskforce will be to transform public services and unlock growth and prosperity across the country, learning lessons from models such as the Vaccines Taskforce which showed that an empowered unit, with clear accountability to the Prime Minister, can drive extraordinary outcomes and deliver real benefits for people across the country.

Reporting to Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo and AI Minister Narayan, the Taskforce will deliver the Prime Minister’s AI agenda.

Lord Vallance, as Chair, will report directly to the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

AI is rapidly changing our world and we need to make sure it works for everyone. The opportunities are huge if we get it right and I want AI to power a new industrial revolution that drives good growth in every postcode.

Lord Vallance is a true public servant with decades of experience, expertise and a track record of delivery. I’m delighted he’ll be chairing the AI Taskforce, putting AI at the centre of all our work to change people’s lives for the better.

Lord Vallance said:

I’m delighted to be appointed Chair of the AI Taskforce and Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. This government is sending a signal that’s clearer than ever before about its commitment to realising the opportunities of AI and Science and Technology.

The potential to transform public services, drive growth and improve people’s lives is immense, and I intend to make sure we deliver on it.

Minister for Artificial Intelligence Kanishka Narayan said:

AI is likely the most significant technology in human history. That is why it is now at the UK Cabinet’s table, so we can reindustrialise with AI, secure our country, and support our public services.

I am delighted that Lord Vallance will work with me on the AI Taskforce, so we can draw on his unique mix of scientific expertise, experience in government and a relentless focus on delivery. We will focus on using AI to boost growth, strengthen public services and create opportunities in every part of our country.

The Taskforce will be based with First Secretary of State Louise Haigh in the Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (OPMC). The OPMC will include the AI Taskforce alongside No.10, No.10 North and core Cabinet Office functions. The Taskforce’s fundamental purpose will be the direction and implementation of the government’s strategy on AI.

The Taskforce will also lead on enabling transformation and AI adoption across the public sector. Responsibility for the existing AI Security Institute will move to the Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

Lord Vallance is one of the UK’s most distinguished figures at the intersection of science, government, academia and industry. Widely respected across all fields, he will continue to ensure strong relationships and collaboration between key sectors.

He will also serve as Chair of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor, an ambitious partnership with local government, business, and academia to drive innovation and remove the constraints that are holding back good growth. The role builds on his previous position as Ministerial Champion for the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.

Lord Vallance served as the UK’s Government Chief Scientific Adviser from 2018 to 2023, providing independent scientific advice on some of the most significant challenges of recent years. He is best known for his leadership of the Vaccines Taskforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering the UK’s vaccination programme. Most recently he was Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
28/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Five Board Members appointed to the UK Sport Board [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 24 July 2026.

Michelle Dite, Charlotte Samuelson, John Steele and Dame Sarah Storey have been appointed, and Rachel Baillache reappointed, to the UK Sport Board by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for terms of four years.

Michelle Dite, Charlotte Samuelson, John Steele and Dame Sarah Storey will be appointed from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2030.

Michelle Dite

Michelle Dite is a senior sports executive with more than 25 years of experience delivering some of the world’s most complex and high-profile sporting events. Her career spans Olympic and Paralympic sport, international federations, government partners and major rights holders, with a reputation for balancing operational excellence, commercial objectives and stakeholder needs.

Since 2020, Michelle has served as Operations Director at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), leading the operational planning and delivery of The Championships, Wimbledon. Working closely with the CEO, Board and Committee of Management, she plays a key role in shaping Wimbledon’s future while preserving its global prestige and traditions.

Michelle also brings significant governance experience, serving on the UK Sport Major Events Panel, the UEFA EURO 2028 Oversight Group, and the Grand Départ 2027 Board.

Previously, Michelle advised major international events including the Rugby League World Cup, MLB London Series, Invictus Games and The Boat Race.

Charlotte Samuelson

Charlotte Samuelson is Chief Operating Officer of PREM Rugby. She joined PREM Rugby from World Rugby, where she served as COO from 2022. Her rugby leadership experience includes board roles with the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 and Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, as well as helping deliver the record-breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. She served on the Board of Surrey County Cricket Club for eight years and is a disciplinary panel member for the MCC.

A qualified auditor with degrees in English & Philosophy, and Psychology, Charlotte brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience across sport, financial services and professional services, with previous roles at Close Brothers, Vanquis Bank, Barclays, Grant Thornton, EY and the BBC.

John Steele

John has been a professional athlete, European Cup winning coach, CEO, NED, and Chair in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. He has been CEO of UK Sport, the Rugby Football Union and the Youth Sport Trust. His experience spans leadership roles in 14 Olympic and Paralympic Games, both winter and summer. In his role as Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University, he gained insight into turning high

performance success into social impact and learning.

He chaired the Board of the UK Sports Institute (EIS) for eight years and currently chairs Commonwealth Games England. He is the founder and co-owner of the leadership consultancy Unforgiving Minute, with previous experience as a Chartered Surveyor and an Army officer. He has been a Visiting Professor in Sports Performance and Leadership at Loughborough University and was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021 for services to high performance sport.

Dame Sarah Storey

Dame Sarah Storey is the UK’s most successful Paralympian having competed across nine Games and two sports from 1992 to 2024. Her career in sport has been accompanied by a series of roles in sport and public life, including running her own professional cycling team, the head coach role of the North West Disability Swim Squad and now the Chair of Lancashire Cricket Club.

Since 2013, she has been a leading voice in active transport, beginning with her policy advocacy for British Cycling. She has served as an Active Travel Commissioner since 2019, first in South Yorkshire until 2022, and for the past four and a half years in Greater Manchester. As well as a role on the Board at the Department of Transport, Sarah is a regular sports broadcaster having worked at multiple events for TV outlets from World Championships to Commonwealth Games, before her first presenting role on screen at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

Rachel Baillache has been reappointed for a second term of four years, from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2030.

Rachel Baillache

Rachel is the Senior Independent Director at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) where she chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. She is also the LTA Board sponsor for Inclusion and Diversity. Rachel is also an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Men’s Professional Rugby Board andChair of the charity Access Sport.

Rachel was a partner at KPMG for over twenty years where she served as an audit partner and for eight years, until her retirement, she was also a member of KPMG International’s Global Executive.

Remuneration and Governance Code

UK Sport Board members are remunerated at a rate of £218 per day for up to 24 days per annum.

28/07/2026
Andy Burnham – 2026 Comments to Staff Following his Arrival at No 10 North

The comments made by Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, in Manchester on 24 July 2026.

Thank you, everybody. I cannot tell you what a proud moment this is. I think this might be the best day of my life.

I’m not joking. I know you think I am, but I’m not. Things are just completely coming full circle here, for me to be here with you all in the heart of Manchester this Friday morning at the end of a fairly big week is just everything to me.

Because it’s almost exactly 35 years since I left this city as a recently graduated young man, couldn’t find a job in the city. It was in a pretty bad place at that time, it’s fair to say. The ’80s turned into the ’90s. There wasn’t much.

And that really is an experience that I’ve never forgotten. My generation of people growing up here, and it’s true of places all over the country, to get on in life you had to leave where you were because things weren’t here.

And the country’s always been a little like that, hasn’t it? Opportunity has not been evenly spread around the country and not all places have felt that they’re part of the national story and that is what this government is going to work every single day to change, and that is what No 10 North is all about: putting power in every postcode so that people can turn things around for themselves and make changes just as this great city has done and the other English cities are doing through devolution. Turning things round because of that ability to be able to do more for themselves.

And it’s also about getting the whole country facing the same way and then pulling in the same direction. That I think is what No 10 North can achieve. It’s felt a little at times that local government’s just been a bit forgotten and places aren’t able to do what they want to do. But then at the sort of city level, or the regional level, sometimes it’s felt like an argument with people in the centre of government and people having a to and fro all of the time.

Imagine, just imagine if we were all working together as one team, pulling the same way and making the change happen for people and places. I think we can do that. In fact, I feel we’ve got to do that. If we want to take Britain from where it is right now, and I think we all have a feeling that it’s not fully where it should be right now.

If we want to get it back to where it should be, it’s got to be about that one team feeling. All of the places around the UK and all of our regions and all of our nations, because No 10 North is as much for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as it is for the regions of England.

If we get that feeling then I think so much is possible that doesn’t feel possible right now and we can really get the energy flowing right around the country. I’m really pleased, and he’s hiding but maybe he should come and join me if he doesn’t mind. I’m really pleased that our new Chancellor of the Exchequer is here today.

I know it sounds like woe is me, we’ve had such a hard week, but we were in a pub together yesterday, weren’t we? Rating pub snacks. It did look like hard work. But it’s brilliant that you’re here, John. Next to John is our first Secretary of State, Louise Haigh. And that, I hope, is sending a message to everybody here who has come into No 10 North in its early days that you’ve got the full support of the government from the very top: Prime Minister, Chancellor, First Secretary of State. That’s a very powerful message that we’re sending today, that the political commitment is there.

This isn’t about government working in its old way, it’s about the Treasury, No 10, close together, the heart of government, then driving the same mission from here right out into all parts of the country. And I’m delighted the Cabinet Secretary is here too today. Antonia, thank you for everything you have done to make today possible, because I also want to get the culture right, the relationship right between politicians and our brilliant civil servants and then everyone feeling that they’re all in the same game together and we’re all working together and we’re all working hard to support each other. That’s what this is all about.

I need to thank Caroline, former chief executive now of the Great Manchester Combined Authority, who’s done so much to make today possible. But what I already see as I look around and see sort of the faces from my old world, it does feel like the boundaries are breaking down a little and we’re sort of coming in together, and starting to kind of knit in together and then really get going and getting the growth going, the good growth going in every part of the country.

And I mean it when I say every postcode, everybody, that’s what we’ve got to do. Nowhere forgotten, everywhere feeling heard, everyone with a sense that their place can be more than it is today. High streets lifted around the country. Britain re-industrialised, getting those good jobs back into all of our regions. We’ve got such an opportunity, everybody, ahead of us.

I said I wanted to get Britain believing again. Today is a day where we hopefully can really build that sense, get Britain hoping again. I think we can do that together if we carry on working in this way. So it is such an amazing moment for me. It’s everything I believe in, everything I’ve spent my whole life working towards, a country that really does feel together, feel that all parts are involved and making their contribution. No 10 is North is going to take that up to the next level.

Make no mistake, I just want to finish on this point. There’ll be many voices out there. I can hear them all already, often London-based, but not exclusively. You know, they like to say, oh, this will just be another, the new Levelling Up or another sort of short-lived gimmick.

They’ll also say, what’s it going to cost? But I’m just going to say something now that I’m going to say in the meetings later. You know, what does it cost for everybody to troop down to London every time there’s a meeting when you need to make an argument about something? What does that cost?

So actually, isn’t it better that we have a North Pole that balances the South Pole of our country, where power will always be concentrated, but at least it creates that sense of a more balanced country. And the big things can be done from here.

But this is the place where Whitehall meets the rest of the country. I’ve called it the nerve centre for a rewired Britain. Or if you think about it in terms of the day-to-day kind of challenge around growth, it will be the situation room for growth where we all get around the table, mayors with all of the team of the Whitehall departments, so we get those decisions made more quickly, we break through the logjams, and we get things done.

So it is much more profound, I think, than people have worked out so far. It’s not just a new office. Through this place, power is going to flow, energy is going to flow, new ideas are going to come through, the region’s going to play back their ambitions here and the team is then going to say, right, we’re behind you, we’re going to make things work. That is a different way of running Britain. That is what I’m committed to do as Prime Minister and I’m so grateful to everybody for making this day happen at the end of my first week and now let’s get to work everybody. Thanks so much.

28/07/2026
NEWS STORY : Environment Agency begins criminal proceedings against Southern Water and former employees

STORY

The Environment Agency has begun criminal proceedings against Southern Water Services Limited and seven former employees following a long-running investigation. Four former employees, including former chief executive Matthew Wright, face a charge of conspiracy to defraud the Environment Agency and water regulator Ofwat.

It is alleged that between January 2012 and December 2017 the defendants implemented artificial “no-flow” events at wastewater treatment works operated by Southern Water. The Environment Agency claims this was intended to manipulate the Operator Self-Monitoring compliance regime, under which water companies take samples and report the results to the regulator. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment.

Southern Water will separately face charges relating to alleged breaches of environmental permits connected with the same conduct, while three additional former employees face charges linked to failures to comply with permits. The proceedings will continue at Medway Magistrates’ Court after the Administrative Court confirmed the Environment Agency’s power to bring the prosecution. All charges remain allegations and the proceedings are ongoing.

24/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s aerial attacks increase the risk of wider escalation – UK statement to the OSCE [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 July 2026.

UK Senior Military Adviser, Colonel Joby Rimmer, warns that Russia’s missile and drone attacks endanger civilians, violate neighbouring states’ airspace and increase the risk of miscalculation and escalation across Europe.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Overnight, on 18–19 July, the Russian Federation launched 41 missiles and 125 drones against Ukraine in one of the largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian air defences intercepted 18 missiles and 108 drones, but nevertheless strikes and falling debris affected residential buildings, a supermarket, a dormitory and other civilian infrastructure.

Across the country, these attacks killed at least 20 civilians. Those interceptions did save lives, but we should be clear: Ukraine should not need to deploy air-defence systems to protect apartment blocks, supermarkets, hospitals and schools. Russia’s reckless use of drones and missiles has repeatedly resulted in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.

And the legal framework is not ambiguous. Parties must always distinguish between civilians and combatants, and between civilian objects and military objectives. Attacks may be directed against only military objectives. Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited, as are attacks expected to cause incidental civilian harm excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.

But Russia’s aerial campaign also creates risks beyond Ukraine. On 29 May, during a Russian attack on Ukraine, a Russian drone entered Romanian airspace and struck a ten-storey apartment building in Galați. Two civilians were injured and approximately 70 residents evacuated. This is not a theoretical risk. A live weapons system crossed sovereign airspace and struck civilians in a NATO country.

Moldova has likewise experienced repeated Russian drone incursions. Furthermore, on 13 July, a Shahed-type drone crossed into Moldovan territory and exploded near the village of Copanca during Russian attacks on southern Ukraine. No casualties were reported, but the incident again demonstrated the consistent danger posed to neighbouring states. And NATO condemned Russia’s reckless behaviour in both cases.

This Forum exists to reduce misunderstanding, miscalculation and unintended escalation. Yet every Russian missile or drone launched near an international border could create an uncertain track. Every missile or drone launched near an international border could and has resulted in a possible airspace violation. Every Russian missile or drone launched near an international border could result in the scrambling of military aircraft, further escalating the risk of miscalculation.

Stronger European air and missile defence, surveillance and coordination are therefore necessary, defensive and proportionate responses to a threat solely created by Russia’s aggression, not acts of hostility.

Air defence, however, treats the symptoms rather than the cause. Russia must cease its reckless attacks, comply fully with distinction, proportionality and precautions, prevent further airspace violations and communicate promptly and honestly when incidents occur.

The greatest contribution Russia could make to European security would be to end its aggression, agree an immediate ceasefire and engage seriously towards a just and lasting peace.

24/07/2026
Wes Streeting – 2026 Keynote Speech at AGF Defence Summit

The speech made by Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Defence, at Farnborough on 22 July 2026.

Thank you for that introduction, and I’m sure you will all understand why perhaps the Prime Minister couldn’t be here this particular week.

I’ve no doubt we’ll be seeing him here in future years, though I hope you’ve just got a glimpse there from that video message what an opportunity we have with this Prime Minister and this Chancellor. They both understand defence. They understand the immediate pressures and priorities that defence is facing.

But they also understand the enormous contribution that Defence can make to the Prime Minister’s vision for this country in terms of jobs, growth in every postcode, and re-industrialisation.

I’m going to touch on much of that in my speech to you today. Of course, in most jobs on day two, you’ve been given your password logins, you found the bathrooms, you know your way around the building. You’re not normally delivering keynote speeches, or indeed taking questions from the media, as I’ll be doing shortly after.

But this is a job like no other, and it is an enormous privilege for me to serve as Secretary of State for Defence.

It’s been almost a decade since I first came to Farnborough. Things were quite different back then. Theresa May was Prime Minister. Nobody really knew what AI was, and I didn’t have a single grey hair.

Some things have not changed since then. That palpable sense of being at the cutting edge of innovation is just as strong today as it was then. To look back on the history of Farnborough is to trace some of the most profound advances in engineering. It reminds us that making aircraft is something Britain has done for a very long time, and still does exceptionally well today.

For more than a century, our nation has fused the ingenuity of industry with the courage of those who serve. It has powered our economy, redefined technology, and in our darkest hours, kept our nation secure and free. That partnership has been the foundation of British air power. In the conflicts of the past, no enemy we faced could even hope to challenge us in the sky.

That is a privilege we no longer enjoy. State-on-state competition has returned on a scale not seen for a generation. Technology has advanced at a rate unlike anything seen by any generation. In Ukraine, we see the consequences of neither side achieving air supremacy, north of 1 million casualties, on a front line that has barely shifted in years. In the Middle East, we see that even where air supremacy is achieved, it is still relatively easy and cheap for the other side to wreak havoc across an entire region with consequences felt across the globe.

The skies today are increasingly contested, complex and lethal. Air dominance is not a given, it is not a right. But our Defence Investment Plan will ensure that we earn it once again.

I know that the months leading up to the DIP weren’t easy for many of you in this room and beyond. I thank you on behalf of the Government for persevering. With a plan now published, I’m relying on all of you to make it a success.

The first duty of any government is to keep our country safe. That is a duty the Prime Minister and I treat with the utmost seriousness.

My job, as Secretary of State, is to maximise our deterrence, and ensure that should deterrence fail, we have the capability to fight and to win. That means investment.

President Trump has called on Europe to carry a greater share of the burden for our own defence, and he is right to do so. The UK has always been a leading light on defence spending, but the world is changing, and in these dangerous, uncertain times, it is clear that we have needed to go further.

That’s why we’ve committed £298 billion over the next four years, including an additional £15 billion on top of last year’s Spending Review settlement. At the recent NATO summit, all members reaffirmed our commitment to 3.5% by 35.

I’m acutely conscious of the impact these numbers have on your investment decisions, and I’m committed to providing you with clarity and confidence. For now, I’m pleased to say that in the 10 days after the publication of the DIP, we agreed more than £11.8 billion worth of contracts. Defence is up and flying again.

But investment is only one side of the coin. Because while we will always back our brave men and women who serve, ensuring they have the resources and the kit that they need, we also owe it to them and to the whole country to ensure that every penny is spent wisely. Modernisation without investment is impractical, but investment without modernisation is irresponsible.

When I was Health Secretary, we secured billions of pounds more in investment for our NHS. But we also embarked on a bold programme of reform and modernisation to ensure that we were maximising value for money and cutting waste. The results we achieved in a relatively short space of time – the biggest reduction in waiting times in 17 years, 5 million additional appointments in the first year alone – only happened because we’ve brought these two things together.

This is the mantra I will now follow as Defence Secretary. This is how we make ourselves fit to face the future, how we will continue to be a strong, dependable ally to our friends abroad, and how we will be an engine of growth and jobs here at home.

And today I want to speak about what that looks like. Typhoon remains an indispensable instrument of our national security. The more than £1 billion we’re investing to upgrade the fleet will ensure that remains the case into the 2040s. But long gone are the days of crewed platforms holding their own in the sky. That process of transformation is now well underway.

Last week, we announced our new Collaborative Combat Air programme, StormFighter. With the advent of CCA, and their integration with crewed platforms like the Typhoon, we will make the RAF Europe’s first sixth-generation air force. These uncrewed autonomous fighter jets will provide us with eyes and ears, carry missiles and confuse the enemy. Five at a time and 500 miles ahead of the Typhoon pilots controlling them, crucially, at a fifth of the price of that aircraft.

And I can announce today that our ambition is to get a demonstrator CCA flying in the air next year and have StormFighter operational by the end of the decade. This project will support 2,000 jobs when the full production line is up and running.

Globally, the CCA sector is projected to be valued at more than £125 billion to 2050. This is a sector in which I expect the UK to excel.

Just this morning, we saw a British company, BAE, launch their sovereign CCA programme. This signals the enormous opportunity on offer in advantage, jobs and exports. If we’re to meet that potential, then we need to do things differently. We’ve just upgraded our Typhoons with a new precision weapon system that can defeat drones at a fraction of the price of the missiles currently used. From start to finish, the process took just 42 days. This is a mark of where we need to be.

That means changing the way we do business and working with the Defence Industrial Joint Council I will direct my department to take a new approach to risk. Not every decision will come off, but that’s the price of moving at the pace of modern warfare, where delay and inaction pose the greater threat.

All this matters because what we’re building now, an integrated system of crewed and autonomous platforms, provides us with the bridge to our sixth-generation fighter system. The £8.6 billion pledged to GCAP in the Defence Investment Plan is a sure expression of our commitment, as you heard from the Prime Minister just a moment ago.

And in a display of our intent to increase international collaboration, yesterday, alongside our partners from Italy and Japan, I was pleased to welcome Canada as an observer to the programme.

GCAP means air dominance. Our nation needs it. This government is backing it. The wider Future Combat Air System will likewise enjoy our fullest support. Today we have over 4,500 people working across the UK building a fully integrated combat air system, GCAT, uncrewed platforms, advanced weapons, sensors and secure data networks. The FCAS programme is a fantastic source of good jobs and apprenticeships.

We also have some of our finest minds working on the frontier of the most advanced technologies. The potential, not just for our security, but as history shows, for our society and our economy too, is enormous. And today, I’m pleased to confirm we put pen to paper with BAE on a £708 million contract extension to advance their work on critical sovereign technologies.

So what does all of this mean? In one word, jobs. The air sector alone employs 70,000 people in the UK. The Prime Minister has spoken passionately about his ambition to re-industrialise Britain. Defence is, and will be, at the forefront of that mission. We will be unapologetic about backing Britain, British ingenuity, British workers, communities in every corner of this great country. Defence will not just be a recipient of the proceeds of economic growth. It will be a central contributor to building that growth, a driver of prosperity in parts of the country that are crying out for the backing they need to make their contribution to the challenge of our time.

It is not yet clear whether the 21st century will be defined by tyranny or freedom. But we need not let others define the answer to that question. Freedom is hard won and even harder preserved. We in Britain will not be bystanders in this contest. We know which side we are on. And we will give every part of our country the chance to play their part in ensuring that our values – freedom, democracy and peace – not only win out, but endure.

Let me end with what matters most: our people. Over recent months, we’ve seen the very best of our RAF. Our pilots protecting the skies above NATO’s Eastern Front and the Middle East. The A400 crew who flew 4,000 miles to save a single life on the most remote inhabited British Overseas Territory on Earth. And I have to say, as the Health Secretary at the time, that made me truly proud to be British and truly proud of what this country is capable of doing.

The RAF Regiment gunners who stood watch engaging hundreds of drones with relentless dedication in the Middle East. The heli crews who helped seize a Russian shadow fleet vessel, and the P-8 crews who tracked Russian spy subs with precision and determination. Every time, without exception, When members of our RAF are called to act, they have not merely met the moment, they have risen far beyond it.

We are now in the midst of one of the most profound changes in the history of air power. Never before have we been asked to travel so far in so little time. But we can. In times of our greatest peril, this country has shown itself capable of doing big things. We still can. We have stood tall on the world stage, steadfast in support of our allies. We still can. We have matched the courage of those who serve with the ingenuity of those who build. We still can. And together, we will do so again. Thank you very much. And together, we will do so.

24/07/2026
NEWS STORY : MOD awards £20 million contract to develop hypersonic capability
STORY

The National Armaments Director (NAD) Group has awarded a contract to develop a hypersonic target, strengthening UK and allied missile defence capabilities.
- The programme supports UK and allied missile defence, with a live flight demonstration planned for 2027 at the MOD Hebrides Range
- Bowline strengthens UK sovereign hypersonics expertise and supports international collaboration through AUKUS Pillar 2
The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £20 million contract to Lockheed Martin UK to deliver Project Bowline, a hypersonic target programme designed to support the development and testing of missile defence systems against advanced threats. The project is a key part of the UK’s contribution to allied air and missile defence, with a live flight demonstration planned for 2027 at the MOD Hebrides Range.

The contract awarded by NAD Group will support around 63 jobs in Bedfordshire and inject £2 million into the supply chain, with over a third going directly to UK SMEs. It also marks the MOD’s return to hypersonic target development after more than a decade, rebuilding the sovereign capability in advanced targets.

National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce said:

Delivering Project Bowline will help ensure the UK stays ahead of rapidly evolving hypersonic threats. By working with our AUKUS partners and investing in advanced missile technology in the UK, we strengthen our national arsenal, boost a key sector in our economy, and support our ability to deliver effective missile defence.

Under the contract, Lockheed Martin UK – at its advanced manufacturing facility – will design, manufacture, qualify and test a hypersonic target, a vehicle designed to represent high-speed threats capable of travelling at speeds reaching above Mach 5.

The programme will culminate in a first flight demonstration, enabling the future assessment and qualification of next‑generation missile defence systems, including sensors and interceptors. Bowline has been awarded through the MOD’s Science and Technology Oriented Research and Development in Missile Defence (STORM) contract managed by the UK Missile Defence Centre and supports innovation in defence capability.

Project Bowline builds on international collaboration under the AUKUS Pillar 2 Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement, where the UK, United States and Australia are working together to accelerate hypersonic and counter‑hypersonic technologies. The US and Australia will provide critical contributions including flight test and research expertise and technical peer review.

The programme is a prime example of the NAD Group’s core role in developing, delivering and sustaining the UK’s national arsenal.

Bowline will enhance sovereign expertise in hypersonic systems, including modelling, manufacturing and testing, while strengthening partnerships across industry, small and medium enterprises and academia. This reflects a continued focus on accelerating capability delivery, deepening international collaboration and supporting UK economic growth through defence investment.

Paul Livingston, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin UK, said:

For more than 85 years Lockheed Martin has partnered with the UK to help address complex defence and security challenges. The Project Bowline contract and programme highlight the strength of collaboration between government, UK industry, and international partners through the UK Missile Defence Centre, and will support sovereign innovation across the UK, capitalise on existing UK industry capability, and contribute to a more resilient and effective sovereign missile defence capability.
24/07/2026
NEWS STORY : Southport victims’ families criticise Rudakubana’s transfer to Broadmoor

STORY

The families of the three girls murdered in the Southport attack have accused Axel Rudakubana of attempting to manipulate the system after he was transferred from HMP Belmarsh to Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital. Their representatives said the development had caused further distress as the second anniversary of the attack approached and requested an urgent meeting with the relevant authorities.

Rudakubana was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years for murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe, and attempting to murder eight other children and two adults at a dance workshop in Southport. He was moved to Broadmoor after clinical assessments concluded that he could not be managed safely in a prison environment because of his mental health.

The Ministry of Justice said the transfer did not alter Rudakubana’s sentence and that he would remain securely detained. Prisoners transferred under the Mental Health Act receive treatment in a secure hospital and may be returned to prison if treatment is no longer required or their condition allows them to be managed safely in custody.

24/07/2026