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NEWS STORY : Broxtowe Borough Council fails social housing safety inspection [January 2026]

STORY

Broxtowe Borough Council has been issued a failing grade by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) after an inspection uncovered more than 3,000 overdue fire safety actions. The Nottinghamshire-based local authority was handed a “C3” grading on 14 January 2026, a rating which indicates significant weaknesses and a need for substantial improvement in delivering consumer standards for its tenants.

The regulator’s findings highlighted several critical areas of concern, most notably the backlog of fire remedial works. Beyond immediate safety risks, the inspection found that the council lacked accurate and up-to-date information regarding the condition of its homes and potential hazards within them. Furthermore, the RSH noted a lack of understanding of the diverse needs of tenants and suggested that the council’s engagement with its residents requires significant strengthening.

Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, emphasised the importance of data in maintaining safe living conditions. She noted that without accurate information, it is impossible for landlords to demonstrate that homes are safe, warm and decent. This latest grading comes as part of a wider programme of inspections introduced under the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, which grants the regulator stronger powers to hold social landlords to account.

In response to the report, Broxtowe Borough Council has engaged constructively with the regulator and expressed a commitment to resolving the identified issues. Councillor Vanessa Smith, Portfolio Holder for Housing, stated that the council had already established a Housing Improvement Board prior to the inspection to address legislative changes. She welcomed the feedback and assured residents that the council’s focus remains on delivering safe, high-quality homes and learning from the regulator’s findings.

January 15, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : First ever UK Town of Culture competition to restore pride in communities [January 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 14 January 2026.

Towns across the country can now apply to become the first UK Town of Culture.
- Applications will be open until 31 March 2026 for Expressions of Interest
- Competition delivers on the government’s Plan for Change, driving local economic growth and opportunity
The government has taken its latest step in renewing the country by launching the first ever UK Town of Culture competition.

With 11 weeks to apply, the competition is open to small, medium and large towns, with the winner delivering a vibrant cultural programme. Showcasing towns’ local visions and voices – through new arts venues, performances, workshops and more – this competition brings local investment, creates a lasting sense of pride in towns, and opens doors to the arts for everyone.

Towns can submit their Expressions of Interest now. Sir Phil Redmond will lead an expert panel, judging towns on the way they’ll tell their unique story, how they’ll bring everyone in a community together, and how towns will deliver on their vision. The strongest bids will progress to a shortlist, with each shortlisted town receiving £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition.

Three finalists – one small, one medium, one large town – will be chosen. The winner will be crowned UK Town of Culture 2028 and receive a £3 million prize. The two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of their bid, from refreshed community infrastructure to electric music festivals.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest for UK Town of Culture 2028 is 31 March 2026, with the shortlist of towns expected to be announced this Spring.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

There is so much for us to be proud of in the towns we’re from – from the rich, local history to unique festivals and celebrations. They have shaped our national story for decades. Now it’s time they take centre stage and showcase the unique stories they have to tell.

We have seen the transformative power of culture through the UK City of Culture competition. I want to make sure that towns have the same opportunity to make a real difference to their local community and show the world exactly why their town is so special.

This competition, announced by the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy in October 2025, provides a platform for communities across the country to tell their own unique story and shines a spotlight on the vital role towns play in our national life.

From Torquay to Thurso and Brecon to Ballycastle, Britain is interlinked by a rich network of towns, each with their own history and identity.

This is part of the Prime Minister’s ambition to restore pride in every part of Britain as he serves the whole of the country.

British towns are brimming with community spirit – we’re providing the opportunity to bring it to life. Increasing pride in local areas also encourages them to get out and about to museums, galleries and live performances, which also means more money spent supporting local businesses and jobs.

UK Town of Culture Chair, Sir Phil Redmond said:

I am delighted to have been asked to Chair the new Town of Culture competition, as in the past it has been hard to adequately demonstrate the depth, breadth and diversity of the UK’s cultural landscape through the UK City of Culture’s urban lens.

The two competitions will complement each other while providing more opportunities for more places to both demonstrate and celebrate that creativity is not confined to the great urban concert halls, theatres or galleries. It is in everything we do together. In every town, village, neighbourhood, street or road.

UK Town of Culture asks what makes your town special? What makes its people proud to be there? And why should that be celebrated?

This follows the government in November 2025 launching its Pride in Place Programme, providing up to £10 billion to support 244 towns across the country whose communities have been let down by decline and systematic under-investment. Under this scheme, communities will be able to spend the funding on what matters most to them – from improvements to pavements and high streets to investing in culture and green spaces.

Building on proven success

The UK Town of Culture competition builds on the success of UK City of Culture, which has delivered transformative benefits for its four winners. Bradford, last year’s title holder, is projected to benefit from £389 million in growth across the district, with city centre footfall up 25% during its year in the spotlight. Early estimates show audiences for its City of Culture programme exceeded 3 million, with 80% of local residents surveyed saying it improved their wellbeing and made them feel proud of where they live.

The UK City of Culture competition has proven that culture and investment work hand in hand, delivering community renewal that revitalises everything from high streets to job opportunities.

The search for UK City of Culture 2029 is already underway for Expressions of Interest from cities, larger towns, regions and groups of places. The winning place for UK City of Culture 2029 will be awarded £10 million.
January 15, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Record breaking auction for offshore wind secured to take back control of Britain’s energy [January 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 14 January 2026.

A record 8.4GW of offshore wind secured in Europe’s biggest ever offshore wind auction.
- Record 8.4GW of offshore wind secured in Europe’s biggest ever offshore wind auction – enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes
- as Britain races to cut bills and meet growing energy demand, price for offshore wind agreed at 40% lower than the cost of building and operating a new gas power plant
- puts the country firmly on track to deliver the mission for clean power by 2030, taking back control of its energy, and lowering bills for good
- successful results unlock £22 billion in private investment and supports 7,000 good, skilled jobs in every corner of the country – from the Scottish Highlands to the Celtic Sea
Britain has taken a monumental step towards ending the country’s reliance on volatile fossil fuels and lowering bills for good, by delivering a record-breaking offshore wind result in its latest renewables auction.

The results deliver the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British and European history – confounding the global challenges facing the industry – a major vote of confidence in the UK’s new era of energy sovereignty and abundance.

The government inherited the fiasco of the previous government’s failed Auction Round 5, in which not a single offshore wind project was secured. The last auction round, AR6, got the industry back on its feet. Now this auction round, known as Contracts for Difference AR7, has secured a record capacity of 8.4GW of offshore wind which will generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of 12 million homes. The ground-breaking result puts Britain firmly on track to achieve its clean power mission by 2030.

These results show offshore wind is cheaper to build and operate than new gas. In new figures published today using the LCOE industry metric, the cost of building and operating a new gas fired power station is £147 per megawatt hour. By contrast, the results for fixed offshore wind in today’s auction were £90.91 per megawatt hour on average – or £65.25 in the commonly used benchmark of 2012 prices – 40% cheaper than the cost of building and operating new gas.

This auction will unlock around £22 billion in private investment, supporting around 7,000 jobs, bringing growth and good jobs to all regions of the country – and particularly to the country’s industrial heartlands. Clean power is also essential to tackle the climate crisis, the greatest long-term threat the country faces.

Projects have won in every part of the United Kingdom – including fixed offshore wind in:
- Dogger Bank South off the coast of Yorkshire and Norfolk Vanguard off East Anglia – two of the largest offshore wind farms in the world, supporting thousands of jobs
- Berwick Bank in the North Sea – the first new Scottish project since 2022 and the largest planned offshore wind project in the world
- and Awel Y Môr – the first Welsh project to win a contract in more than a decade
These results also represent major progress in our efforts to lead the world in the emerging technologies of the future, floating offshore wind. Winning projects include Erebus, in the Celtic Sea, and Pentland in Scotland, backed by pioneering investment from Great British Energy and the National Wealth Fund.

The auction round has secured major infrastructure projects which will be drivers for growth and prosperity in local communities for decades to come. As Britain races to meet rising electricity demand, expected to more than double by 2050, and cut energy bills, these results and new analysis published today shows that offshore wind, alongside solar and onshore wind, remain cheaper to build and operate than gas generation.

In an increasingly unstable world, by accelerating investment in homegrown clean power, the government is also reducing the UK’s exposure to volatile global fossil fuel markets, which have contributed to half of all recessions since the 1970s and in 2025 alone, saw prices spike over 15% within a week due to global price shocks after global instability in the Middle East.

This announcement to build more clean, homegrown power follows measures in the budget to cut people’s energy bills, with the government removing an average £150 of costs off energy bills from April this year.

Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband said:

With these results, Britain is taking back control of our energy sovereignty. This is a historic win for those who want Britain to stand on our own two feet, controlling our own energy rather than depending on markets controlled by petrostates and dictators.

It is a monumental step towards clean power by 2030 and the price secured in this auction is 40% lower than the alternative cost of building and operating a new gas plant.

Clean, homegrown, power is the right choice for this country to bring down bills for good and this auction will create thousands of jobs throughout Britain.

Head of Mission Control, Chris Stark said:

This is a stonking result for delivering on our mission for clean power by 2030. Amid global headwinds and pressures facing the offshore wind sector in recent years, we’ve secured a record amount of capacity at a competitive price for the consumer.

We need more offshore wind to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the years ahead, this result powers us towards a future of clean, secure, energy abundance and less reliance on foreign imports.

Neil McDermott, CEO at the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC), said:

The results from this allocation round are a prime example of the Contracts for Difference mechanism’s greatest strengths, providing certainty for investors and supporting British jobs across the country.

At LCCC, we’re proud of our role in managing these contracts, adding to our existing operational portfolio of more than 10 GW with an additional 25 GW in the pipeline, and providing stewardship of these projects for the next two decades.

Martin Pibworth, Chief Executive of SSE plc, said:

We are delighted Berwick Bank B has been successful in AR7 and has secured a CfD for 1.4GW of essential new low-carbon power for the UK at a competitive price for consumers. This milestone enables us to advance the project towards a final investment decision and reinforces our commitment at SSE to delivering sustainable growth and long-term value for society, for consumers and for our shareholders.

Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE AG, said:

We are delighted to have been successful in securing long-term offtake contracts for 5 projects in AR7. In addition, we are excited to join forces with KKR as our strategic partner in the Norfolk Vanguard East and Norfolk Vanguard West offshore wind projects. With the Dogger Bank South projects and our renowned partner Masdar, we are experiencing firsthand the value of strong partnerships and at Awel y Môr, we are proud to collaborate with Stadtwerke München and Siemens. With the successful outcome of AR7, and the agreed partnership with KKR, RWE has reached key milestones in executing its UK offshore wind development pipeline.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer at Masdar, said:

Securing Contracts for Difference for the DBS offshore wind farms reinforces Masdar’s long-term commitment to the United Kingdom and our growing role in the delivery of large-scale offshore wind capacity. These projects would contribute meaningfully to the resilience and decarbonisation of the UK energy system, while providing skilled jobs, supporting regional supply chains and offering sustained economic benefit. We look forward to working closely with the government, our partners and local stakeholders as the projects move into the next phase of development.

Rachel Solomon Williams, Executive Director at the Aldersgate Group, said:

The positive outcome of the AR7 auction, securing 8.4GW of clean energy, marks a welcome step forward in the UK’s energy transition. It sends a clear signal of business confidence in the UK as a destination for investment and provides a wider assurance to investors and developers at a critical moment for scaling up low-carbon power, strengthening energy security, and supporting economic growth.

Dhara Vyas, CEO of Energy UK, said:

Today’s auction results will deliver critical national infrastructure that will strengthen our energy security and deliver lower bills, as well as provide jobs, investment, and economic growth right across Great Britain.

It’s more important than ever that we invest in securing our future energy needs to meet the growing demand for power over the coming decades and provide the cheap, plentiful electricity essential to our economic growth. Offshore wind is crucial as part of our growing fleet of wind farms across the country, which reduced wholesale electricity costs by a third last year.

Ana Musat, Executive Director of Policy at RenewableUK, said:

This is a great result for Britain’s energy security and for hard-pressed billpayers, because these new offshore wind farms will generate the power we need at a lower cost than new gas or nuclear plants, and at a stable and predictable price.

The UK has made the right decision to roll out renewables at speed and at scale, giving our country greater energy security and protecting consumers against volatile global gas prices which caused the last energy crisis. Homegrown power is the best defence against geopolitical volatility, and this auction is a significant step forward towards energy independence.

Jennifer Beckwith, Senior Manager for Energy Transition at the CBI, said:

Against the backdrop of increasingly volatile global energy markets, securing the UK’s energy supply is a key national priority. These results mark a significant step on the journey towards achieving a more secure, resilient and cleaner energy mix for the years and decades ahead.

Accelerating low carbon power generation is core to the UK’s energy transition – a transformation that’s already delivering major economic benefits in terms of investment, jobs and growth across the country. Critical investments in Scotland and Wales demonstrate the strength of UK capability, with Berwick Bank set to become the largest planned offshore wind project in the world.

Gus Jaspert CMG, Managing Director for Marine at The Crown Estate, said:

Today’s AR7 results are another vote of confidence in the UK as the best market in the world for offshore wind. Securing over 8GW is a huge step forward in the UK’s global clean energy leadership, reducing our reliance on volatile fossil fuels and powering up a generation of affordable and homegrown clean energy.

Notes to editors

Research published today shows overall that renewables remain the cheapest form of electricity generation to build and operate – and the more renewables we build, the more often they will set the wholesale market price instead of gas.

Independent research confirms that renewables can drive down electricity prices, already having reduced wholesale electricity prices by up to a quarter – or around £25/MWh – in 2024 Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit analysis: Growth in British renewables cutting energy prices.

Strike prices for fixed bottom offshore wind is £91.20/MWh for England and Wales and £89.49/MWh for Scotland, coming out at a blended average of £90.91/MWh. The strike price for floating offshore wind is £216.46/MWh.

In the 2025 Iran-Israel conflict, wholesale gas prices spiked over 15% across a week. (ICIS – independent commodity intelligence services).

The original budget for fixed bottom offshore wind was £900 million and has been increased to £1.790 million. This follows careful consideration of the bids submitted by projects, with the budget increased to secure additional capacity that represents good value for households.

The homes powered estimate reflects the equivalent number of homes that could be powered based on an estimate of the annual generation from the capacity procured in AR7. It is not possible to continuously power a home through intermittent renewables – this capacity will work alongside the rest of the electricity system to power homes and businesses. The estimate is calculated using published subnational electricity consumption data  and technology specific load factor assumptions published in the CfD Allocation Round 7 contract allocation framework. The actual generation will vary based on site specific factors.

Investment figures are based on generation costs data published today for fixed bottom offshore wind only.

Jobs figure based on industry figures from Clean Industry Bonus applications.
January 15, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Appointments to the Social Security Advisory Committee [January 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 14 January 2026.

The Social Security Advisory Committee welcomes 2 new members.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has appointed the following new members to the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC):

Richard Machin
Owen McCloskey

Both have been appointed to serve a five-year term, starting on 1 January 2026.

Confirming the appointments, DWP Minister of Lords, Baroness Sherlock OBE, said:

Richard and Owen bring a wealth of expertise and fresh perspectives that will strengthen the Committee’s ability to provide insightful and balanced advice. Their experience will be invaluable as we continue to shape policies that make a real difference to people’s lives.

Dr Stephen Brien, Chair of SSAC, added:

I am delighted to welcome Richard and Owen to the Committee. Their impressive skills and diverse viewpoints will enrich our discussions and help us tackle the complex issues that affect so many in society. I look forward to working closely with them as we continue our important work.

About the Committee

Established in 1980, the Social Security Advisory Committee is an independent statutory body. It provides advice to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on proposals for the amendment of secondary legislation and on general social security matters.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates all appointments made to SSAC by the Secretary of State. All such appointments are made in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

SSAC members receive a daily fee of £256.80, for a time commitment of 2 to 3 days a month.

About the appointees

Richard Machin

Richard is an experienced social policy academic and Associate Professor at Nottingham Trent University, with a background in welfare rights, social security, and policy research. He has extensive expertise in social welfare law, poverty, and the impact of social security reforms. His recent research has focused on the effects of COVID-19 on low-income households, leading to his appointment as an expert witness at the COVID-19 Inquiry.

Richard has worked in local government, the voluntary and advice sectors. He is a Trustee for the Church Action on Poverty and actively contributes to national policy debates on social security and poverty combining academic insight with practical experience in welfare rights and money advice.

Richard has been appointed from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030.

Owen McCloskey

Owen is a practicing solicitor who specialises in social security and is currently serving as the Head of Social Security at Law Centre NI. In this role Owen supervises a team that provides advice and representation in complex matters that help provide a wider understanding of the law. With extensive experience, including test case litigation, Owen has a background in the development of accessible training materials and supervising volunteer representatives in Social Security appeals.

His academic qualifications include a law degree and a Master’s degree in criminology, and he has contributed to various forums and publications aimed at improving social security and benefits decision-making.

Owen is a Justice First Fellow who is committed to using legal education to promote access to justice. He provides teaching at both universities in Northern Ireland supporting the clinical legal experience of law students. Owen is also an independent member of the Social Security Standards Committee in Northern Ireland.

Owen has been appointed from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030.

January 15, 2026
NEWS STORY : Home Secretary to regain power to sack failing chief constables under new law

STORY

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to restore ministers’ statutory powers to force the retirement, resignation or suspension of chief constables on performance grounds, saying the public expect action when police leadership “damagingly” fails.

Under the proposals, Home Secretaries would once again be able to dismiss chief constables who are judged to have failed their communities. The power was removed in 2011 through the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act, leaving police and crime commissioners as the only figures with the formal ability to dismiss a chief constable.

The Home Office said the change follows findings by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary of significant leadership failings in West Midlands Police after the force recommended banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a match against Aston Villa.

Mahmood said the government would “soon reintroduce” the Home Secretary’s power to dismiss chief constables, framing it as part of a wider effort to make senior police leaders more accountable to Parliament and the public. The Home Office said sweeping police reforms will be set out later this month.

January 15, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary to introduce power to sack chief constables [January 2026]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 14 January 2026.

The Home Secretary will have the power to sack failing chief constables, under plans announced by Shabana Mahmood today.

The new laws will hand Home Secretaries’ statutory powers to force the retirement, resignation or suspension of chief constables on performance grounds.

The previous administration removed the power in 2011 through the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

Currently, it is only police and crime commissioners who hold the power to dismiss a chief constable.

This comes after His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary found significant failings amongst the leadership of the West Midlands police after they recommended banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a match against Aston Villa.

In the statement, the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:

When a chief constable is responsible for a damaging failure of leadership, the public rightly expect the Home Secretary to act. And I intend to restore their ability to do so.

This government will soon reintroduce the Home Secretary’s power to dismiss chief constables.

In her statement, Mahmood has pledged to make police leaders accountable to Parliament and the public ahead of sweeping police reforms to be announced later this month.

January 15, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : ‘We must strengthen Arctic defences to deter Putin’ Foreign Secretary says during Arctic visit [January 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 January 2026.

Travelling to Finland and Norway, the Foreign Secretary will call on NATO to step up its work in the Arctic to protect Euro-Atlantic interests in the region.
- Foreign Secretary says “Arctic security is critical to protecting Britain and NATO” as she pledges support for allies on visit to High North
- Yvette Cooper to call for NATO to step up its work in the Arctic as she visits Finland and Norway
- UK at forefront of Arctic Security as climate change turns region into a hotspot for geopolitical competition and a critical flank for security
The Foreign Secretary is touring the Arctic Circle to see UK efforts to bolster regional security and to highlight the importance of stronger challenge against hostile states who seek to meddle in the High North. Travelling to Finland and Norway, she will call on NATO to step up its work in the Arctic to protect Euro-Atlantic interests in the region.

The High North is home to key shipping routes and vital critical national infrastructure such as undersea cables, is key to the UK’s security, prosperity and environment.

In Finland, the Foreign Secretary will meet Border Guards defending NATO’s eastern flank with Russia. In Norway, she will visit Royal Marines taking part in a live training demonstration at Camp Viking. The military base acts as the year-round operations hub for the UK Commando Force, providing essential cold weather training for up to 1500 personnel.

The UK and Norway share a determination to ensure Russia does not succeed in its illegal war of aggression. Sanctions against the Shadow Fleet by the UK and partners have anchored an estimated 200 ships. Norway recently selected the UK to supply them with Type 26 frigates designed for anti-submarine warfare in the deal worth £10 billion.

This Government is set to significantly increase defence spending to 2.6% from April 2027, with an ambition of 3% in the next parliament. This is a generational increase in defence and security spending, underlining the UK’s commitment to national security and honouring the UK’s commitment to be a leader in NATO.

The UK has also long been a leader in the Joint Expeditionary Force with 10 like-minded nations committed to security in the High North. The JEF recently conducted its largest military activity to date – Tarassis – which saw thousands of troops, including over 1,700 British personnel, dozens of ships, vehicles and aircraft deployed from the Baltics to Iceland.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Britain is stepping up on Arctic security. With our allies we are working to strengthen Arctic defences and deter any attempts from the likes of Vladimir Putin to threaten our interests and our infrastructure. As climate change opens the Arctic, the region will become an ever more critical frontier for NATO.

The UK has a long and committed bond with our Allies in the Arctic Circle.  Our world class Royal Marine Commandos have been training alongside Nordic partners for over half a century. This government is reinforcing our diplomatic and security commitment to the region.

We see it as our responsibility and our duty to tackle these challenges head on, making us all safer in the process. Arctic security is a critical transatlantic partnership issue for the security of Britain and NATO. Coming together as an alliance allows us to unify and tackle this emerging threat.

Russia’s actions pose the greatest threat to Arctic security, through efforts to militarise the region, continued threat to undersea infrastructure and using its reckless and illegal Shadow Fleet which pose a systemic threat to maritime security globally.

As warming seas unlock the Northern Sea Route, other state actors are seeking to grow their sphere of influence further afield. Climate change developments are shaping the High North, creating new shipping routes and exposing resources, turning the region into a hotspot for geopolitical competition and a critical flank for European and UK security.

The visit comes as the Government has boosted its defences with Nordic partners.

Last month, the UK and Norway signed a defence agreement that will see British and Norwegian navies operating side-by-side in the North Atlantic to protect critical infrastructure from Russian submarines.

And last week, the UK provided support to the United States to interdict the vessel Bella 1, accused of Shadow Fleet activities. UK armed forces provided pre-planned operational support, including basing, to U.S. military assets interdicting the Bella 1 between the UK and Iceland.
January 15, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Disunity in Southern Yemen is in no one’s interests and only undermines efforts towards lasting peace and prosperity for the Yemeni people – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 January 2026.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

First, I would like to start by reaffirming this Council’s strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen, as well as to the Presidential Leadership Council and the Government of Yemen, as outlined in our statement of 23 December.

Disunity in Southern Yemen is in no one’s interests and only undermines efforts towards lasting peace and prosperity for the Yemeni people.

Given recent events, our priority must now be stabilisation. After eleven years of conflict and insecurity, we must renew efforts towards dialogue and a comprehensive political settlement to give the Yemeni people the future they deserve.

In this regard, we welcome the Southern Dialogue Conference announced by the Yemen Government and hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Second, we reiterate this Council’s call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained by the Houthis. The UK strongly condemns the recent death sentences issued by the Houthi authorities and continued detention of aid workers. These actions flagrantly violate fundamental rights and due process.

Finally, we must not lose sight of the fact that Yemen remains one of the most acute humanitarian crises in the world. The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan projects 21 million people will be in need of assistance, an increase of 1.5 million since last year.

Levels of food insecurity remain worryingly high, with pockets of famine in parts of the country and growing rates of malnutrition amongst children.

With less funding available, the UN is rightly focussed on a global humanitarian reset to pursue greater localisation and prioritisation of humanitarian responses. If we act now, together with the UN, INGOs and Yemeni NGOs, we can reach the most vulnerable and limit already severe levels of suffering.

President, we have heard from Special Envoy Grundberg that, despite the many challenges, there remains hope for Yemen. The UK is steadfast in its support to the role of the Special Envoy and an intra-Yemeni peace process under UN auspices, to help build that more hopeful future.

January 15, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Business Secretary wants UK to go ‘toe to toe’ with America on growth [January 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 14 January 2026.

In a speech to top business leaders the Business Secretary will lay out how the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy will double down on the UK’s world-leading strengths in 2026 and not only scale up businesses, but keep them anchored in the UK.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle will set out his ambition for the UK to go toe to toe on economic growth with the US economy to boost living standards today [Wednesday 14 January].

In a speech to top business leaders including from Alphabet, Meta and Ford at Bloomberg’s London headquarters, he will lay out how the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy will double down on the UK’s world-leading strengths in 2026 and not only scale up businesses, but keep them anchored in the UK.

He is expected to say:

We stood on a manifesto commitment to be the fastest growing economy in the G7. And we absolutely meant it.

Now, in the first three quarters of last year, the UK achieved the second highest growth of that group. That is cause for optimism.

But contrast it to the United States. The US achieved 4.3% annualised growth over the last quarter.

I want to fight tooth and nail with you to get that extra growth. To compete with America. 

I say this because I know what it would mean for families. The impact it would have on people’s wages. On their disposable income. On their living standards.

He is expected to welcome the strong progress the Government has made so far in delivering its Modern Industrial Strategy, with a new quarterly update confirming £79bn of investment commitments and 50,000 well-paid jobs secured in just the last quarter.

He will also confirm the names of three new business leaders to join the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council: Amelia Gould (General Manager, Maritime at Helsing), Keith Anderson (CEO, Scottish Power) and Dana Strong (CEO, Sky).

He is expected to say that whilst the Government has made important choices for the long term such as on rail, roads and runways, it must be just as bold at driving growth in the short term:

That means injecting real urgency into delivering our Modern Industrial Strategy.

Taking risks. Placing the big bets on the industries that we know can win. And win big.

Kyle will also set out the Government’s approach to regulation, such as accepting the findings of the Fingleton Review on nuclear and moving away from “pointless gold plating” of state projects.

To help bring the UK into line with the US’s levels of growth, he will argue that British businesses need help in scaling up to encourage them to stay in Britain. This will include large new investments from the British Business Bank and more firepower for UK Export Finance.

He is expected to say:

Very soon, I will be setting out how we’ll go even further to reduce that regulatory burden and ensure our most promising start-ups don’t need to leave our shores to reach their full potential.

Over the coming days and weeks, we will be doing more – a lot more – to move the dial. To go for growth at every opportunity.

He will highlight the Government’s work to reduce burdens for business since his appointment, including a £230 million reduction in admin costs and energy price support such as the Supercharger and British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, slashing businesses’ energy costs.

The reception comes ahead of the Business Secretary’s attendance at Davos next week where he will engage with business leaders and set out why the UK is truly the best place in the world to invest, with a culture of entrepreneurship, world-class education and certainty for business.

Other attendees at the reception will include the Director Generals of the CBI and BCC, Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy, and executives from Heathrow, Blackrock, McKinsey, BP and AstraZeneca.

Industrial Strategy Council Appointments:
- Keith Anderson has been CEO of ScottishPower since 2018. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive, Keith was CEO of ScottishPower Renewables and led Iberdrola’s international offshore business. Before joining ScottishPower, Keith worked with some major financial institutions including The Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Life, as well as working as a management consultant with E&Y. Keith has an Honorary Degree from Strathclyde University and is an Honorary Fellow of the Energy Institute.
- Amelia Gould CEng FIET is the General Manager, Maritime for Helsing and leads the Group’s work in the maritime domain. Amelia has over 20 years of strategic and operational delivery experience in the global defence sector. She began her career as a Royal Navy Engineering Officer where she served for 11 years before moving into enterprise architecture and then joining BAE Systems, where she held senior technical and leadership roles. She became Managing Director of Helsing UK in 2023, helping build Europe’s leading defence tech company, and is now General Manager Maritime. A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IET, she is committed to inspiring future talent through her STEM ambassador work and as Chair of Trustees for FirstUK. She was also a Non-Exec director at Maritime UK Solent for 5 years, promoting maritime innovation across the region.
- Dana Strong is Group Chief Executive of Sky, one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies and part of Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology group. Dana has managed both cable and satellite businesses around the world and is recognised for her track record for accelerating growth. Before joining Sky, Dana led transformation and growth for many of the world’s largest media and telecommunication companies serving as President of Consumer Services for Comcast Cable, the largest broadband and PayTV operator in the United States; President and Chief Operating Officer of Virgin Media; and Chief Transformation Officer of Liberty Global.
January 14, 2026
NEWS STORY : Multi-billion-pound Northern Powerhouse Rail plan promises faster links across Yorkshire and better journeys to the North East

STORY

A multi-billion-pound package of Northern Powerhouse Rail proposals has been launched with the government promising quicker commutes across Yorkshire, upgraded routes and a renewed push to improve rail connections to the North East, including progressing work on the business case for reopening the Leamside Line.

Ministers said the first phase would prioritise upgrades and electrification on the Leeds–Sheffield, Leeds–York and Leeds–Bradford corridors, with delivery expected in the 2030s. The plans also include further development work at Leeds, Sheffield and York stations, while the government said it would press ahead with work on a new Bradford station intended to put the city “at the heart of the northern network”.

The Department for Transport said £1.1 billion has been allocated to accelerate planning and development, and confirmed a £45 billion cap for the wider programme, describing it as a bid to avoid the cost overruns associated with major projects such as HS2. It also highlighted more than £11 million of local transport funding for South Yorkshire to develop a proposed Rotherham Gateway station.

For the North East, ministers said NPR services would run onwards to Newcastle via Darlington and Durham, alongside work to advance the Leamside Line business case. The press release pointed to a recent £4 billion investment in the East Coast Main Line and said a new timetable has added 60,000 extra seats a week.

January 14, 2026