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Matthew Pennycook – 2026 Speech at the Housing Community Summit

The speech made by Matthew Pennycook, the Housing and Planning Minister, in Liverpool on 9 September 2026.

Thank you for that introduction Kirsty and good morning everyone.

It is a privilege to take part in this year’s Housing Community Summit, and I extend my sincere thanks to the National Housing Federation and the Chartered Institute of Housing for inviting me to do so.

It is also a real pleasure to be back in Liverpool – a city region with a hugely ambitious regeneration pipeline and a strong commitment to maximising social and affordable housing delivery. I commend and thank Steve Rotherham and Liam Robinson for their continued leadership in this area.

Our housing market is resilient, and I have no doubt that it will not take long to recover, but as this audience knows only too well, these are tough times for housebuilding in England.

Margins continue to be squeezed by a combination of factors including a sharp reduction in interest cover and a significant increase in building materials costs – not least owing to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The resulting viability challenges are affecting every part of the country, with pressures particularly acute in some housing markets.

As councils and housing associations seek to take forward ambitious development programmes, they are having to cope not only with challenges in relation to site viability but also those arising from the pressing need to improve the safety and quality of the homes they already manage.

The government is asking a lot from the sector, and we appreciate fully the difficult balancing act involved in seeking to build new social and affordable housing at scale while also improving the decency of existing stock.

That is why, throughout the 26 months that this government has been in office, we’ve striven to work in close partnership with you, listening carefully to what you have told us you need to deliver your social purpose, and doing as much as we possibly can to accommodate your asks.

I intend to argue today that we have made significant progress since coming to office just over two years ago, but that much more can and will be done in the years ahead to ensure councils and housing associations, alone and, I hope, in deepening partnership, can flourish and play their full part in the decade of social and affordable housing renewal that this government remains determined to deliver.

It is a natural human habit to bank what you have, take it for granted and ask for more, but I want to begin by reminding you all just how far we have come over the past two years and two months.

It is almost three years to the day that I gave a keynote speech at the NHF’s National Housing Summit in Birmingham as the then Shadow Housing and Planning Minister.

I remember well the general air of polite scepticism that greeted my speech and the series of bold commitments it contained:

To enhance compulsory purchase powers.

To provide long-term rent policy certainty.

To overhaul the Right to Buy Scheme to better protect existing social housing stock.

To deliver a marked increase in affordable housing supply.

And to prioritise social rented homes.

As you all know, we have not only fulfilled those promises, we have gone much, much further.

When it comes to grant funding, we’ve made the biggest investment in social and affordable housing in living memory – a £39 billion pound 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme with a target to deliver at least 60% of homes as Social Rent; a target that I’m delighted to say we are on course to exceed in the first wave of allocations announced a fortnight ago.

When it comes to rebuilding the sector’s capacity to borrow and invest in new and existing homes, we’ve not only secured a 10-year social housing rent settlement at CPI+1% but also Social Rent convergence; equal access to government remediation funding schemes for social landlords; and £2.5 billion of low-interest loans over this Spending Review period.

When it comes to reinvigorating council housebuilding, we’ve not only returned Right to Buy maximum cash discounts to pre-2012 levels and allowed councils to keep 100% of Right to Buy receipts, but through our Social Housing Bill we are taking forward a comprehensive and radical package of reforms to Right to Buy that will give councils the confidence they need to increase the delivery of new council homes.

And when it comes to providing regulatory clarity and certainty, whether through our updated Decent Homes Standard, our new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards or the implementation of Awaab’s Law, we have sought to ensure that standards are proportionate as well as ambitious with implementation timelines that will allow social landlords to boost housing supply at the same time as driving up the quality of the homes they manage.

Taken together, these measures have laid the foundations for that decade of social and affordable housing renewal we are so determined to deliver.

I’ve dwelt on them at some length because as we look to the future, it is important to acknowledge that the outlook for the sector has been utterly transformed over the past 26 months as a result of the decisions taken by this [political content removed] government.

Yet, notwithstanding what has been achieved, I know that councils and housing associations across the country want and need more support and more funding to deliver the high-quality homes and services that residents and communities need.

I also recognise that we issued a “call to arms” to everyone with a role in social and affordable housing to step up and demonstrate they could deliver at scale and at pace, and that precisely because the positive response has been so overwhelming we have not been able to give everyone what they asked for.

This is particularly true when it comes to our Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

As you know, a fortnight ago, we confirmed that Homes England is allocating just over £9.5 billion pounds to 33 Strategic Partners to deliver over 70,000 social and affordable homes outside London, with the Greater London Authority set to offer allocations of at least £6 billion in the capital.

Sadly, the sum total of bids received by Homes England and the GLA dwarfed the amount of funding we had available to allocate in this initial wave.

But with £39 billion of funding available over the lifetime of the Programme there is over £16 billion of funding outside London and around £5 billion in London still yet to allocate.

This includes funding in each year of this Spending Review period up to 2030 and significant sums in the second half of the Programme.

In allocating this funding, we have made clear we intend to prioritise social rented homes and in particular council homes.

But I want to stress again that funding will also be available for other providers.

With that in mind, I reiterate our call to partners to come forward with strong bids in respect of specific sites, and Homes England stands ready to work intensively with you to exhaust all options.

I want to say a little more about council housebuilding given the emphasis our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has rightly placed on it.

Direct council delivery of Social Rent homes does have a range of benefits, including democratic accountability, the ability to tailor provision to meet local housing need, and the creation of public assets that generate rental income which is reinvested in local housing to support and sustain communities.

It is also simply a fact that the last time we built social housing on the scale that is now required, councils were the driving force, delivering tens of thousands of social homes each year until building rates fell off dramatically from the early 1980s onwards as a result of the constraints and restrictions created by the introduction of the Right to Buy scheme.

It is for these reasons that we are determined to enable councils to once again build at scale and we know that hundreds of them share our ambition to secure the future of council housing.

The steps we have taken since arriving in office to reinvigorate council housebuilding, including providing tens of millions of pounds to increase skills and capacity within councils, have already borne fruit.

In 2024/25, councils delivered the highest number of social homes since the current reporting period began in the early 1990s.

I am also delighted that for the first time ever, three councils outside London have been awarded Strategic Partnership status with Homes England, namely Cambridge City Council, Eastleigh Borough Council and Newcastle City Council.

But we need to go much further.

The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and I are determined to deliver the biggest council housebuilding programme since the post-war boom ended in the early 1980s.

To that end, we are actively exploring further ways we might support councils to expand their stock of social homes, including low-cost borrowing options, and we’ve made clear that councils will be able to access more of the funding available through our Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

Now, I can well imagine that having registered the renewed emphasis that the government is placing on council housebuilding, many housing associations and other providers may be questioning what it means for them.

Let me reassure anyone who is in any doubt that private registered providers will continue to play a key role in the delivery of social and affordable homes.

We value immensely all that you do to help meet housing need and we are relying on you to continue to progress ambitious development plans, not only delivering grant funded homes but also maximising homes built through Section 106 – drawing on the recently published National S106 Affordable Housing Engagement Guidance developed jointly by the NHF, CIH, HBF, and the LGA.

And for any housing association or other provider that is concerned about their future in a world in which councils are once again building at scale, let me state plainly that the revival of council housebuilding that this government is working to deliver should complement not threaten the contribution you make.

Indeed, we want to encourage greater partnership working between councils and housing associations whether that be through forming Joint Ventures, aligning development plans, delivering new council homes through partnership models, or working more closely on allocations.

Our ambition is to harness the potential of everyone across the sector, and we want to hear your ideas about what effective partnership working looks like and what more government and Mayoral Strategic Authorities can do to support it.

I believe passionately that good housing is the foundation of a flourishing life.

Decent, safe, secure and affordable homes provide a platform for families to live, grow, and build better lives.

They make for stronger, healthier and happier communities.

Everyone, everyone, deserves to have one.

Yet, as we all know, far too many families in need are still languishing on social housing waiting lists, struggling in the private rented sector or in expensive temporary accommodation as a result, and driving up rents and the housing benefit bill in the process.

That is why this [political content removed] government committed in its manifesto to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation; to prioritising the building of new social rented homes; and to supporting councils and housing associations to build their capacity and make a greater contribution to affordable housing supply.

Over the past two years, we have strained every sinew to faithfully honour those commitments.

The steps we have taken today have made a real difference, with affordable starts up by 26% last year, and the highest number of social rent starts since 20101.

But there is more to be done in the coming months and years to finish the job we have started.

Whether council, housing association or other provider, we cannot do it without you.

I very much look forward to continuing to work with you all as we deliver that decade of social and affordable housing renewal and in so doing ensure that all our people enjoy a decent, safe, secure, and affordable home in which to live.

Thank you for listening.

13/09/2026
Chris Elmore – 2026 Statement on the Nepal-China Flash Flooding

The statement made by Chris Elmore, the Foreign Office Minister, in the House of Commons on 11 September 2026.

I am sure the whole House will join me in expressing our deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods following the devastating floods on the Nepal-China border.

I am writing to update the House on the impact of the floods and on the support the United Kingdom is providing in response.

The flooding has caused significant loss of life and extensive humanitarian need. As of 8 September, Nepalese authorities report 1,357 fatalities, 5,326 people missing, 6,827 injured and 13,583 rescued. As of 6 September, Chinese media report 43 dead and 519 missing. Damaged infrastructure and disrupted communications continue to hamper the delivery of assistance and the assessment of the disaster’s full impact. Immediate priorities include emergency shelter, food, safe water and sanitation, healthcare, essential relief items and protection services.

The UK stands with the people of Nepal and China through this tragedy. I pay tribute to the emergency responders, Government authorities, humanitarian organisations and community volunteers working tirelessly in extremely difficult circumstances.

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the Prime Minister announced a £5 million package for lifesaving humanitarian assistance for Nepal. This support is being delivered through the Red Cross, Start Fund Nepal and UN agencies, providing clean water, sanitation, shelter, medical care and co-ordinated emergency support. A central part of the UK’s approach is to work through organisations that can reach affected communities quickly and effectively. UK contributions to pooled funds and multilateral development banks, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies disaster relief emergency fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, are also helping to mobilise large-scale financial support. A multidisciplinary UK humanitarian team has also been deployed to assess evolving needs and help ensure assistance is delivered effectively. The United Kingdom’s response is being delivered in support of, and in co-ordination with, the Government of Nepal’s relief and recovery efforts.

This support builds on the UK’s long-standing contribution to strengthening Nepal’s resilience to climate-related disasters, with more than £100 million provided over the last 15 years. UK-supported institutions, including Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and humanitarian logistics systems, are playing a central role in the current response. British science, research and technical expertise have also helped Nepal prepare for and manage natural disasters over many years, including through Met Office support on forecasting and work by Durham, Northumbria and Edinburgh Universities on early warning, contingency planning and glacier change.

The UK has not received a request for assistance from the Chinese authorities but stands ready to offer support to those affected.

I visited Nepal last week to demonstrate the UK’s solidarity and hear directly from those co-ordinating the response and recovery effort, including the Nepalese Government, the UN and other agencies.

The United Kingdom’s response has involved close co-ordination across Government, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Met Office and other departments.

Our consular teams continue to work intensively to support British nationals and their families. UK police family liaison officers are supporting affected families. We recognise that families understandably want clear and rapid answers. We have written to affected families and spoken to diaspora representatives, and we will continue to work with the Nepalese and Chinese authorities to pursue every credible avenue, while avoiding unverified information or false expectations. Travel advice for British nationals is being updated regularly to reflect the evolving situation.

We have reinforced the British embassies in Beijing and Kathmandu with additional staff and deployed two disaster victim identification experts to Kathmandu. They are engaging with the Nepalese authorities and assessing what further support may be appropriate.

As recovery efforts continue, the United Kingdom will remain a steadfast partner to Nepal. We will continue to help meet urgent humanitarian needs, support vulnerable people and contribute to longer-term recovery and reconstruction.

The thoughts of the Government remain with all those affected by this tragedy.

12/09/2026
Angela Eagle – 2026 Speech on Back British Farming Day

The speech made by Angela Eagle, the Environment Secretary, on 9 September 2026.

Thank you everybody. It’s a great pleasure to be here this morning.

I’d like to thank the NFU for convening today’s Back British Farming Day reception, which is an opportunity to celebrate the tireless work of our farmers and growers in producing high-quality food, nurturing our natural world and sustaining the beating heart of Britain’s rural communities.

I think today is an opportunity to wear a wheat sheaf in recognition of all you do for our country.

I’m pleased to be back at Defra. My leadership will be shaped by my experience as Farming Minister, which taught me so much, but also as Security Minister. It was a slightly shorter tenure there, but it also taught me a very great deal about what we need to be thinking about as we move into the future. It taught me as well that farming is as integral to our national security as energy or defence.

And I would make one observation – that supply of food has often been taken for granted over the years. Because we’ve been so good at it, it has kind of faded into the background and everyone assumes it will always continue the way it always has.

But I think that there are challenges that we have to face, not least after the kind of summer and growing season that we’ve had this year, that we perhaps haven’t had to think about in a strategic way for many, many years – and I would probably say since the last World War.

And so, I think we must have different ways of thinking about how we do things as we move into the future.

I know that the past year has been incredibly difficult for many farmers. You’ve had rising input costs, water supplies drained by back-to-back heat waves and climate-driven outbreaks of disease, and most notably bluetongue, which we’re having to deal with at the moment.

I think when a third of farmers report that they make no profit, we’ve got to think about how to change that. If we’re relying on farmers to put food on our tables, farming has to put money in the pockets of those who farm. That is not rocket science conclusion to come to.

So that’s why we’re taking action to help the sector respond to immediate pressures and build a more profitable, productive, and sustainable future.

And we do that on the cusp of another great agricultural revolution, I believe, with the technology that has increasingly become available, which we have to not only be at the forefront of operationalising, but making certain that our farmers can use it and benefit from it.

In his first month of office, the Prime Minister visited a farm to announce a £65 million support package, including improved access to water and £15 million for on-farm reservoirs.

I also know this is an incredibly difficult time for animal keepers dealing with the bluetongue outbreak. APHA has published a new heat map of suspected and confirmed cases, which I hope you’ll all have seen so you can better understand the risk in your area. And from Friday 11th September, a revised reporting process will make it quicker and easier to confirm disease.

Please speak to your vet about vaccination. It significantly reduces the severity of the disease, and you can apply for a free annual vet visit under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

But immediate support isn’t enough. For too long farmers have been left to get on with it with nobody thinking about the overall structure. That’s why I worked closely with the sector on the first ever strategic plan for agriculture, setting out how farming needs to evolve – combining nature-led solutions and farming together that will make us more resilient as we look to the future.

On Back British Farming Day, I’d like to reiterate my full-throated support for Farming Roadmap. I’m backing it, the PM’s backing it and we are backing you to put it into effect.

The Roadmap doesn’t see nature and farming pulling in opposite directions. Healthy soil holds water in a drought, and it drains it in a deluge. Hedgerows shelter livestock in a heat wave, as do trees.

Our Land Use Framework says that 15% of land use needs to change and that we can change it and produce the same levels of food. We want to help that transition come about.

Our Sustainable Farming Incentive encourages nature-based practices which we need to see adopted. And I’m pleased to say that Window 1 was a success with 7,000 applications – 87% for businesses without an ELM agreement.

We expect Window 2 to open on the 22nd of September with an increased budget of £230 million. And we’re introducing a new feature for Window 2 allowing farmers with agreements expiring by the end of February 2027 to apply for SFI26 before their current agreement ends.

Alongside this we’ve allocated £225 million, up 50% from last year, to support our capital grants offer. That funding is delivering practical improvements to the environment like creating 2,500 km of new hedgerows and improvements to profitability.

Our Farming Improvement Partnership Board is bringing industry leaders into the same room to set system-wide plans for growth, starting with our growth plan for horticulture, which I am extremely committed to making a success of. With poultry and other sectors to follow.

British farmers shouldn’t have to shoulder the risks of changing climate.

I believe we’re at a turning point, especially after the summer we have just had, which, let’s face it, is the third difficult summer in the last five years, and it’s probably going to be repeated in its difficulties perhaps next year, with the El Niño that we’ve got forming in the ocean on the other side of the world.

So, we’re at a turning point where the Farming Roadmap, the Farming and Food Partnership Board, the Land Use Framework, all need to come together to set a direction to make farming profitable and ensure that we can support a good and secure food supply.

On Back British Farming Day, therefore, I want to reiterate this government’s commitment to creating the conditions you need to adapt and to succeed, because when farmers thrive, the nation thrives.

Thank you very much.

12/09/2026
NEWS STORY : English whisky granted protected geographical status

STORY

English whisky has been awarded protected Geographical Indication status, legally recognising it as a distinct category of spirit. The designation restricts use of the name to products meeting an agreed specification and is intended to protect legitimate producers from imitation. The Government announced the decision on 11 September.

More than 70 distilleries are now producing whisky in England, compared with 46 in 2023, while English whisky is exported to more than 30 countries. Industry estimates suggest that maturing stocks held in English casks are worth approximately £1 billion. Producers wishing to use the protected name must be verified through HMRC’s Spirit Drink Verification Scheme.

The application was submitted by the English Whisky Guild following several years of development and consultation. Previous proposals generated disagreement with the Scotch Whisky Association over production rules and the use of descriptions such as single malt. The final designation does not suggest that English and Scotch whisky are made to identical specifications, but gives each category separate legal protection.

12/09/2026
NEWS STORY : UK Government maintains position on a possible Irish unity referendum

STORY

The UK Government has said its position on Irish unity remains unchanged after US President Donald Trump expressed support for a united Ireland during a visit to Dublin. A Downing Street spokesperson reaffirmed that the Government does not currently believe there is sufficient evidence of public support in Northern Ireland to justify holding a border poll.

Under the Belfast Agreement and the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Secretary of State must call a referendum if it appears likely that a majority of voters in Northern Ireland would support joining a united Ireland. The decision about whether that legal threshold has been reached rests with the UK Government rather than the Irish or US Governments.

Trump said he would “love” to see a united Ireland and believed it would eventually happen, but his comments do not alter the constitutional process. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has previously said a referendum should not be held unless clear evidence emerges that public opinion has shifted. Assessments of that support remain contested and individual opinion polls do not automatically trigger a vote.

12/09/2026
NEWS STORY : Reform UK receives second £36 million donation within two days

STORY

Reform UK is set to receive a second £36 million donation from a cryptocurrency investor, taking the party’s newly announced funding to £72 million within 48 hours. Christopher Harborne said he would match the record contribution announced by BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo on Friday.

Harborne has previously provided substantial financial support to Reform and said he had intended to donate approximately £1 million for each month remaining before the next general election. He said Delo’s announcement had prompted him to make the entire £36 million contribution immediately. Reform leader Nigel Farage described the funding as providing the party with the resources needed to prepare for Government.

The contributions will be subject to checks and reporting requirements under electoral law. They have also renewed political calls for a limit on the amount that an individual may donate, although the Government has not announced that it will introduce such a cap. The donations should not be described as formally verified by the Electoral Commission until they appear in its published records.

12/09/2026
Andy Burnham – 2026 Joint Statement on Israel and Palestine

The statement made by Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, on 8 September 2026.

A two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is critical for peace, stability and security in the Middle East and beyond. It is a fundamental national interest for the UK, France and Canada to protect and secure this outcome.

Systematic settlement expansion in the West Bank, including the Government of Israel’s latest decision to progress the E1 settlement, as well as the dramatic increase in settler violence, pose a direct and urgent threat to that vision for peace.

One year ago, we recognised the State of Palestine. The time has come to take further action to uphold our commitment to protect the two-state solution, our interests and to stand up for our values, before it is too late.

Settlements are illegal under international law. The UK, France and Canada will therefore take steps to ban the importation of goods from settlements and enforce targeted measures against settlements and those who facilitate them or profit from them.

In taking this coordinated action we reiterate our desire for a close and productive partnership with Israel, our enduring support for the Israeli people and our unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. We support a safe and secure Israel, living alongside a safe and secure Palestine.

Today marks a further turning point in our approach to protecting the two-state solution. We will co-chair a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly later this month to advance our efforts and pursue peace.

10/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Tom Riordan Appointed as New Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government [September 2026]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 8 September 2026.

Tom will move from his current role as Northern Growth Envoy.

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has appointed Tom Riordan as the new Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Tom is currently the Northern Growth Envoy. He has previously been Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the Department of Health and Social Care, and before that was Chief Executive of Leeds City Council.

Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, said:

Few people have done more than Tom Riordan to champion devolution, good growth and strong local leadership – which makes him the perfect appointment at a critical time.

I’m delighted he’s joining MHCLG and look forward to working with him as we get on with building the homes we need, improving local places and giving communities more control over their future.

I’d also like to thank Dame Sarah Healey for her leadership of the department and Will Garton for his support as Interim Permanent Secretary in recent months.

Cabinet Secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, said:

I am delighted to announce Tom’s appointment as Permanent Secretary for MHCLG. Tom’s wealth of experience in central and local government, combined with his time as the Northern Growth Envoy and CEO of Leeds City Council, makes him ideally suited to lead MHCLG’s crucial policy agenda delivering devolution and growth in every postcode.

I would also like to thank Will Garton for his leadership of the department in the interim period.

Tom Riordan said:

It’s a privilege to be taking up such an important job to help ensure the whole country benefits from more affordable and safe homes, well run public services and strong regional growth. This feels like the right job at the right time as the Government devolves power, given how much I’ve valued working in local and regional government, and applying that learning to improving national policy.

The appointment follows an internal recruitment exercise chaired by the independent First Civil Service Commissioner.

Tom will start as MHCLG Permanent Secretary on 21 September.

10/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Cat Little Appointed as New Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade [September 2026]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 13 September 2026.

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has appointed Cat Little as the new Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST).

Cat is currently the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office and the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer. She has previously been Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury and held senior roles in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defence.

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Jonathan Reynolds said:

The work we’re doing in BIST is vital to driving the growth people across our country need, and Cat has the experience to help us deliver.

I also want to thank Amanda Brooks for the leadership she has shown over recent months. I have greatly valued her counsel, professionalism and service to the Department.

Cabinet Secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, said:

I am delighted to announce Cat’s appointment as Permanent Secretary for BIST. Cat’s impressive track record at OPMC, HM Treasury and the MoD, combined with her commercial experience, makes her ideally suited to lead BIST’s crucial policy agenda delivering good growth.

I would also like to thank Amanda Brooks for her leadership of the department in the interim period.

Cat Little CB said:

Over the last few years, we have achieved a huge amount at the Cabinet Office – and I will be sad to say goodbye to the brilliant team here.

I’m excited to join BIST at such a crucial time for the department. I look forward to working with the Secretary of State, Ministers and the excellent team at BIST to drive growth and create jobs across all parts of the country.

The appointment follows an internal recruitment exercise chaired by the independent First Civil Service Commissioner.

A recruitment process is being launched to find Cat Little’s successor. She will continue in her current role until a successor is in place.

10/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE : André Loranger appointed as new United Kingdom National Statistician [September 2026]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 8 September 2026.

His Majesty the King, on the advice of the Prime Minister, has appointed André Loranger as the new National Statistician.

André will replace Emma Rourke who stepped down from the role in December 2025, having stepped in following the departure of Sir Ian Diamond in May 2025.

André is currently the Chief Statistician of Canada, a role he has held for over two years. André has extensive experience in public sector statistics, with a career spanning nearly three decades in the Canadian Government, starting in 1997 as an economist.

As National Statistician, Andre will lead the wider UK statistical system, providing advice to the government on statistical matters.

The appointment comes after an extensive recruitment process, overseen by the independent First Civil Service Commissioner and UK Statistics Authority.

The Cabinet Secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, said:

I am delighted to welcome André Loranger as our new National Statistician. André brings a wealth of experience to lead the statistics system and support the ONS to provide the trusted statistics that are essential for good policy and decision making in government.

I look forward to working closely with André as we ensure the UK’s statistics continue to support the outcomes that matter most to the public.

Interim Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, Penny Young said:

André Loranger is a world-renowned expert and a passionate advocate of trustworthy, independent official statistics – statistics that help people, businesses and governments make better-informed decisions every day. I am delighted that he has been appointed as the UK’s next National Statistician.

Commenting on his appointment, André Loranger said:

I am honoured to have the opportunity to serve as National Statistician of the United Kingdom. Throughout my career, I have championed the importance of trusted, independent official statistics and the vital role they play in informing decision-making and serving the public. I look forward to working with my new colleagues in the UK statistical system as we build on that important work together.

In his role as National Statistician, André will be the principal adviser on statistics to the UK Statistics Authority Board, the Government and ministers. He will also serve as Head of the Government Statistical Service, the network of all professional statisticians working across the UK government. His appointment provides fresh leadership to drive forward priorities across the UK statistical system.

10/09/2026