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PRESS RELEASE : New law to restrict protests outside public office holders’ homes [November 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 4 November 2025.

A new law will restrict protests outside the homes of public office holders, in response to growing harassment and intimidation of those in British politics.

Public officer holders, including MPs, peers and local councillors, will be better protected from harassment and intimidation under a new law to restrict protests outside their homes.

Under changes set out in the Crime and Policing Bill, the police will be given strengthened powers to stop this form of intimidation and abuse, and help clamp down on toxic behaviour in UK politics. This includes a new criminal offence of protesting outside the home of someone in public office where their intention is to influence them in their role or an aspect of their private life, with perpetrators facing up to 6 months’ imprisonment.

This announcement follows a concerning rise in harassment of those in public office, with the Electoral Commission reporting that over half of the candidates who stood in last year’s general election experienced some form of abuse or intimidation.

A second survey – conducted by the Speaker of the House – found that almost all MPs (96%) had experienced at least one instance of harassment or intimidation which had a corrosive effect on their ability to do their jobs.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said:

The level of abuse faced by those taking part in British politics is truly shocking – it’s a threat to our democracy. People should be able to participate in our politics without fearing for their own or their family’s safety.

When good people choose not to put themselves forward, communities lose out and the country is poorer for it.

As Chair of the Defending Democracy Taskforce, I am leading work across government to drive out harassment and intimidation and strengthen our protections. This measure is a serious but necessary and proportionate step. Targeting public office holders at their homes crosses a line – it’s intimidation, not protest, and we’re putting a stop to it.

Will Fletcher, Interim CEO of the Jo Cox Foundation said:

We welcome measures to improve the safety and security of those in public office. Protesting outside someone’s home clearly poses serious safety concerns and can cause distress for the individual and their family.

Protest and robust debate are important to our democracy, and there are many ways that people can make their voices heard without crossing the line into intimidation at someone’s home.

Through the Jo Cox Civility Commission, we work with a range of partners to address abuse towards politicians, their staff and families, and promote more respectful politics in order to strengthen our democracy.

Samantha Dixon, Minister for Democracy, said:

Intimidation and abuse of any kind is unacceptable, and I’m determined to protect those in public office so we can encourage more people to get involved in democracy.

Alongside our new stronger sentences for those who intimidate campaigners, we are going further to defend democracy and restore trust in politics.

The new protection is a major step in tackling the unacceptable harassment and intimidation faced by many public office holders and their families, and is an immediate recommendation made by the government’s Defending Democracy Taskforce as part of its wide-ranging review into this issue.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce brings together a wide range of partners including government departments, the police, parliamentary authorities, and the Electoral Commission to look at how harassment and intimidation can be tackled head on.

The government is determined to ensure that no one is deterred from representing their community or country because of fear, and today’s announcement builds on strengthened protections for elected representatives already set out in the Strategy for Modern Elections.

This includes giving the courts greater powers to impose tougher sentences on those who threatened elected officials, and removes the final loophole which requires candidates who are seeking election to publish their home address when they don’t have an office address to use.

Together, these measures will ensure greater privacy and safety for those standing for public office.

These measures follow this year’s local elections in which dedicated police officers were in place in all forces across the country for the first time, offering security briefings to support local election candidates under Operation Ford. These force elected-official advisers (FEOAs) remain in place for locally elected representatives, such as councillors, metropolitan mayors, and police and crime commissioners. Meanwhile, under Operation Bridger, a dedicated police contact continues to be provided to MPs when they are outside of the Parliamentary estate.

November 7, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK speech at the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty – High Level Debate [November 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 November 2025.

Chris Elmore MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America, Caribbean) delivered the UK’s speech at the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty High-Level Debate on Mobilising Finance in Doha, Qatar.

Thank you to the Alliance for convening this crucial meeting, and to Brazil for their continued leadership.

Our collective efforts to act against hunger and poverty matter more than ever in a turbulent world.

Let us be honest.

Keeping pace with the scale of the challenge requires a new approach.

That is why the UK is acting and changing how we work.

We’re moving from donor to long-term investor, partnering with countries to unlock agri-food growth, build resilient food systems, and mobilise private capital.

We’re shifting from delivering services to helping countries build systems that last, drawing on UK expertise to support locally led solutions.

And that’s why we are a steadfast supporter of the Alliance and a proud vice chair.

Because it offers a new model for international cooperation – demand-led, country-owned, and focused on delivery.

And at the heart of that model is a razor-sharp focus on delivering better value for money through better coordination, so that every penny is helping those in need.

These fast-track partnerships are already showing what is possible and they are exactly the kind of locally-driven, inclusive and impact-focused partnerships we need more of.

I’m pleased to share that the UK is helping deliver just that.

In Ethiopia, we’re providing technical assistance to boost livestock productivity and rural incomes.

In Zambia, we signed a Poverty Reduction Pledge last year.

And today I’m delighted to announce the launch of a new six-year Zambia Poverty Reduction Programme, worth up to almost 40 million pounds.

This will strengthen social protection systems that build climate resilience and help families find pathways out of poverty.

And that’s not all.

We are delivering on our commitments and leveraging more private funds for agri-business.

Today, I am pleased to announce a new UK match-fund – through the Common Fund for Commodities – to support small, sustainable agribusinesses across sub-Saharan Africa.

This is part of an exciting portfolio of UK agrifood innovative finance.

These are not isolated projects, but part of a broader shift towards smarter, more strategic partnerships and investments.

Now, while the UK remains a major ODA provider, we know that public finance alone will not be enough.

So the UK is supporting reform of the global financial system and better integration of funding streams.

We co-sponsored the Sevilla Platform for Action on financing for Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2 and are providing senior expertise to design pooled mechanisms, so we all get more for our money, in the right places.

Let me end by once again applauding Brazil for their leadership in driving global action on hunger and poverty.

It is now up to all of us to build a system that works for the poorest and keeps hunger and poverty at the heart of our global agenda.

November 7, 2025
Stephanie Peacock – 2025 Speech at the G20 Culture Ministerial Meeting

The speech made by Stephanie Peacock, the Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth, on 29 October 2025.

It is an honour to represent the United Kingdom here today, and it has been a privilege to experience the diversity and dynamism of South African culture first hand over the past few days, since I arrived here on Sunday.

It was a pleasure to accompany you, Honourable Minister McKenzie, to the powerful performance of ‘This Is Who I Am’ in Johannesburg earlier this week – an extraordinary example of international cultural collaboration in action, supported by the British High Commission.

The UK is committed to effective and ambitious multilateralism, and we are grateful to you for convening us to discuss pressing matters affecting the cultural and creative sectors, as well as the great opportunities.

I would like to thank the South African Presidency, on behalf of the United Kingdom, for your leadership, ambition, and wonderful hospitality throughout this year’s G20 Culture Track.

The musical and artistic performances we have all enjoyed here highlight culture’s power to unite and connect communities.

In the UK, we, too, see how the huge diversity of cultural heritage contributes to our national story. Which is why we are pleased to have ratified the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage last year and warmly welcome our hosts, South Africa, who joined this year.

The British Library’s Endangered Archives Programme alone has undertaken 130 projects across Africa and we commend South Africa for shining a light on the role of museums and cultural institutions as custodians of heritage in this declaration.

Honourable Minister, you have rightly placed a strong emphasis in the declaration from this meeting on the creative economy.

In the UK we also recognise the importance of these sectors and we have launched a dedicated plan to tackle barriers to growth and maximise opportunities across the creative industries.

Improving cultural access is another key priority for the UK Government. We strongly believe that arts and culture should reach everyone, everywhere.

This includes supporting our creative and cultural professionals to operate and tour internationally.

We recognise that the arts and cultural sectors, and creative industries can be critical drivers of innovation, not simply consumers of it.

The use of digital technologies in these areas offers extraordinary opportunities to expand access, participation and inclusion.

But we must acknowledge that digital transition and Artificial Intelligence are reshaping how culture is created, shared and valued.

This is why the UK is committed to international partnership to shape a digital ecosystem for culture that is inclusive, resilient and sustainable – whether through the G20, UNESCO, bilateral agreements, or the work of the British Council.

The UK is working to safeguard cultural heritage at risk, while advancing innovative, culture-based solutions to the climate crisis at home and around the world through our international programmes.

Our International Cultural Heritage Protection programme operates globally, in cooperation with the British Council.

One recent project – delivered in partnership with organisations across Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Jordan – has protected six historically important sites impacted by climate change and enabled them to be safeguarded for future generations.

As G20 members, we individually and collectively recognise our responsibility to use our influence and voices to champion culture’s role in driving climate action.

The Declaration we will shortly adopt is testament to the immense value we place on culture, cultural heritage and creativity and its important role in driving sustainable development.

I would like to thank all members of the working group for all their exceptionally hard work on the text.

The Declaration sends a powerful message to the world about the role culture can play in transforming all our lives – for the better. The UK is proud to endorse it.

Thank you.

November 7, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Kyiv region bridge reopens following UK-funded reconstruction [November 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 November 2025.

A bridge in the Kyiv region that was destroyed following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 reopened following a UK-backed reconstruction.
- Bridge near Vyshhorod, north of Kyiv, reopens to traffic following its destruction during the invasion in 2022
- UK Export Finance (UKEF) provides £26.3m loan guarantee for the Ukrainian Government, directly involving British companies in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
- Underlines UK’s commitment to rebuilding Ukraine under the 100-Year Partnership.
A vital bridge in the Kyiv region that was destroyed following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 reopened today following a UK-backed reconstruction project.

Vyshhorod Bridge is of particular importance to civilians and businesses in the region. It provides a vital transport link for thousands of residents living in a remote area into Ukraine’s capital, and allows Heavy Goods Vehicles to more easily travel towards Kyiv.

The UK allocated a £26.3 million loan guarantee via UKEF, enabling the Ukrainian government to secure financing for the project privately from Citibank. The initiative also enabled UK manufacturers to contribute essential materials and expertise. British companies are supplying steel components, critical materials and design services to the project’s main contractors.

Charlotte Surun, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy, said:

The reconstruction of the Vyshhorod Bridge is proof of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership in action. Steel made in the UK is rebuilding vital Ukrainian infrastructure, making a real impact on the lives of people here.

Now local residents can cross the river and travel into Kyiv more easily and businesses have a more efficient route for transporting goods around the region.

The UK has supported Ukraine since day one of the invasion and we will continue backing projects that help Ukraine rebuild and recover.

The bridge was destroyed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in February 2022 to disrupt the advance of Russian troops towards Kyiv – a fate shared by many bridges and roads around Kyiv at that time. Until now, local residents had to use a temporary crossing which could not handle heavy traffic across the river.

Following the Russian army’s withdrawal, Vyshhorod Bridge became one of the six bridges in the Kyiv region being reconstructed under a pilot project supported by the British government.

Scottish company Cairnhill played a key role in the construction of Vyshhorod Bridge, supplying approximately 400 tonnes of steel for core structures from its facility in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire.

Vyshhorod Bridge is the fourth bridge completed under the project, while the reconstruction of two more is still underway.
November 7, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Huntingdon Train Attack Compensation

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 3 November 2025.

We offer our sympathy to all those who have been affected by this horrific attack.

Victims injured in this attack can apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) for compensation.

Compensation is payable to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012.

You do not need a paid representative, such as a solicitor or claims management company, to apply for compensation. Free independent advice may be available from the Victim and Witness Information website or other charitable organisations.

If you have been directly affected by this attack you can find out more about the Scheme and apply online.

November 7, 2025
NEWS STORY : Baroness Mone-linked firm owes £39m in unpaid taxes while Government fights to recoup £122m from failed PPE deal

NEWS STORY

PPE Medpro, a company tied to former Conservative peer Michelle Mone, now faces a £39 million tax bill revealed in administration documents, on top of vast debts owed after a judge ruled the company breached a government contract to supply sterile surgical gowns during the pandemic. The company had already been ordered to repay £122 million, with interest lifting the total claim to £148 million, and now finds itself with total liabilities of around £188 million.

The disgraced Baroness Mone and Barrowman denied involvement for years, only to admit later to benefiting from the profits, including transfers into an offshore trust. Now, amid ongoing investigation, taxpayers are left scrambling for recovery while the individuals at the centre face little tangible threat of personal liability due to corporate protections and limited assets.

Mone, who has admitted telling lies to the media, said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter):

“Most days, I wake up and struggle to find the strength to face yet another round of government-led (“spin doctor”) lies being printed by elements of the UK press.”

Despite cross-party condemnation of Mone’s behaviour, including from the Conservative Party leader, she has refused to quit the Lords.

November 7, 2025
NEWS STORY : Government Reclaims £74 Million from Asylum Hotel Companies

STORY

The Government has reclaimed £74 million from companies running hotels for asylum seekers after finding that they had made excessive profits from public contracts. The move follows months of scrutiny over the costs of housing asylum seekers in temporary accommodation, with reports suggesting that some firms had charged the Home Office substantially above market rates. Ministers said the money would be returned to taxpayers and that stronger measures were being introduced to ensure fair pricing in future contracts.

The UK currently spends more than £8 million a day on hotel accommodation for asylum seekers, a figure that has drawn sharp criticism amid record backlogs in processing claims. Officials said the reclaimed funds mark the start of wider efforts to tighten financial oversight across the asylum estate, with a focus on reducing reliance on hotels and shifting people into cheaper, longer-term housing. The Home Office added that it was committed to ensuring “value for money” and would continue to challenge suppliers found to be profiting excessively from the system.

November 7, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Government reappoints 3 Trustees to the National Heritage Memorial Fund [November 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 3 November 2025.

The Prime Minister has reappointed Carol Pyrah, Julian Glover and Taryn Nixon as Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund for terms of 4 years.

Carol Pyrah, Chair of the North Committee

Carol is an experienced heritage professional with a background in both charities and the public sector.

Since December 2024, she has been Chief Operating Officer at Ripon Cathedral. Prior to this, she was Chief Executive of Urban Green Newcastle, an independent charity set up to manage the city’s 33 parks and 60 allotment sites, and Executive Director of Historic Coventry Trust, finding innovative ways to sustain historic places and to inspire, involve and connect people with the city’s history.

An archaeologist by training, Carol had a senior career at English Heritage and Historic England, where she was Assistant Director of Planning and a member of the Executive team. She has a track record in place-based regeneration projects and is passionate about the role of local places to foster civic pride and community cohesion.

Carol has been a Commissioner of the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England and a Trustee for the Churches Conservation Trust.

She has lived in the Yorkshire Dales for over 25 years.

Julian Glover, Chair of the Midlands and East Committee

Julian is an author and journalist with extensive experience of working with the Government.

He led the Landscapes Review for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) – which created better ways of running England’s protected areas – and has been a special advisor for both Number 10 and the Department of Transport. He also advises a range of organisations, especially on transport and sustainability.

Julian has been Associate Editor of the London Evening Standard and a columnist and reporter for the Guardian. He is the author of Man of Iron: Thomas Telford and the Building of Britain, a biography of one of the UK’s most prolific engineers.

He lives in Derbyshire, where he is a board member for the Buxton International Festival.

Taryn Nixon, Chair of the London and South Committee

Taryn Nixon OBE MCIfA FSA is an archaeologist and independent heritage management adviser.

She has a background of leadership in the historic environment sector. From 1997 to 2016, she was the Chief Executive of Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA). She is a former Chair of her professional body, the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and has served on a number of boards and committees including for Historic England, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, the Society of Antiquaries, and the founding Board of National Trails UK. A champion of values-based archaeology, she has published on the contribution archaeology and heritage make to economic growth, regeneration and social cohesion, as well as construction industry guidance on managing archaeology within planning and development. She was awarded an OBE for services to archaeology and heritage in the King’s Birthday Honours in 2025.

Taryn was first appointed as a Trustee of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and National Lottery Heritage Fund in May 2022, and chairs the Committee for England, London and South. She lives with her family on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon.

Remuneration and Governance Code

These Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund are remunerated at £20,749 per annum. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

November 7, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Government announces preferred candidate for the Charity Commission for England and Wales Chair [November 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 3 November 2025.

Dame Julia Unwin is the Government’s preferred candidate for the Charity Commission for England and Wales Chair, the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced today.

Dame Julia Unwin

Dame Julia Unwin has had a long career largely in the voluntary sector, and has also served on the Boards of a number of regulatory and government bodies, including five years as a Charity Commissioner in the late 1990s. She was a member of the Board of the Housing Corporation for 9 years. She served as Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation from 2007-2016. She has had experience as a consultant, adviser, mentor and speaker in the voluntary and broader public sector.

Dame Julia chaired the Civil Society Futures Inquiry which reported in 2018, and was awarded a DBE in 2019 for her services to civil society. As well as chairing the Board of Governors of York St John University, she is also the Inaugural Chair of Smart Data Foundry, a subsidiary of Edinburgh University engaged with using private sector data for public good.

Dame Julia will now appear before MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for pre-appointment scrutiny on 25 November.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

“Dame Julia brings a wide range of experience and expertise to the role having worked across both civil society and regulation. It makes her an outstanding candidate to be the chair of the Charity Commission.

“This will be a vital, public role to ensure that the Charity Commission’s independent regulation delivers high levels of public trust and confidence in charities.”

Under the terms of the Charities Act 2011, the appointment of the Charity Commission for England and Wales Chair is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Ministers were assisted in their decision making by an Advisory Assessment Panel which included a departmental official and a Senior Independent Panel Member approved by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Mark Simms has been extended as interim Chair of the Charity Commission from 24 October 2025 to 24 January 2026 allowing for the ongoing process to complete.

Notes to editors
- The Chair of the Charity Commission is remunerated at £62,500 per annum for a time commitment of two and half days per week.
- This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
- Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Dame Julia Unwin has not declared any significant political activity.
November 7, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Universal Periodic Review 50 – UK Statement on Belarus [November 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 November 2025.

Statement by the UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, at Belarus’ Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by the continued erosion of human rights in Belarus. Since the 2020 presidential elections, we have observed widespread repression of civil society, independent media, and political opposition. The use of arbitrary detention, politically motivated prosecutions, and restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must end.

We recommend:
1. Establish an official moratorium on executions, in line with international human rights standards and the global trend toward abolition.
2. Release all political prisoners and halt the use of arbitrary detention and politically motivated charges.
3. Revise restrictive laws such as the 1997 Mass Events Act and the Law on Associations, which impose burdensome requirements for public gatherings and civil society registration, to align with international human rights standards.
The UK calls on Belarus to engage constructively with civil society and international partners to restore and uphold fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, assembly, and association.

Thank you.
November 7, 2025