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  • NEWS STORY : Major Incident on Railway Line Near Huntingdon Under Investigation

    NEWS STORY : Major Incident on Railway Line Near Huntingdon Under Investigation

    STORY

    British Transport Police are investigating an incident on the railway line near Huntingdon last night which left several people injured and caused major disruption to services on the East Coast Main Line. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 22:00 following reports of a disturbance on board a northbound train. Services were suspended in both directions for several hours while police and paramedics attended. The line reopened in the early hours, though residual delays continued into the morning.

    Officials have confirmed that several individuals were taken to hospital with serious injuries, while others were treated at the scene. No fatalities have been reported. A number of witnesses have been interviewed and CCTV footage from the train and nearby stations is being reviewed as part of the inquiry.

    A police spokesperson said that while the investigation remains at an early stage, there is no wider threat to the public. Increased patrols will remain in place at nearby stations as a precaution.

    Rail operators have thanked passengers for their patience during the disruption and advised anyone who was affected by the incident to contact them for assistance or to report further information to the police.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Beaulieu Park station pulls in ahead of schedule thanks to £141 million government investment [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Beaulieu Park station pulls in ahead of schedule thanks to £141 million government investment [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 27 October 2025.

    New station will unlock thousands of new houses and create over 2,000 jobs in the East of England.

    • brand-new Beaulieu Park rail station opens to passengers ahead of schedule, backed by £141 million government investment and marks first new station on the Great Eastern Mainline in more than 100 years
    • landmark development will support 2,500 new jobs, connect hundreds of thousands of people across the East and deliver thousands of new homes, supporting government’s pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the next 5 years   
    • new station to be operated by newest publicly-owned operator Greater Anglia, one of the UK’s best performing operators, helping deliver a railway that is more accountable, efficient and reliable for passengers

    Hundreds of thousands of people across the east of England now have access to faster, more reliable services as Beaulieu Park Station opens to the public ahead of schedule (27 October 2025).

    It is the first new station on the Great Eastern Mainline in more than 100 years and is set to generate a £250 million economic boost for the region.

    Funded by £141 million from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, this milestone marks a significant step in its commitment to unify track and train under Great British Railways, ensuring that new infrastructure delivers maximum benefit for passengers and communities.

    It offers passengers up to 4 trains per hour during peak times and 2 trains per hour during off-peak periods, as well as direct rail access to London Liverpool Street in just 40 minutes and Colchester in 25 minutes, cutting car journeys and reducing pollution for local communities. It is also set to generate a £250 million economic boost for the region.

    The station will be operated by Greater Anglia, opening just 2 weeks after Greater Anglia became a publicly-owned operator, marking a major step towards a simpler, unified railway under Great British Railways.

    Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said:

    With over £140 million of government investment, the opening of Beaulieu Park station marks a major milestone for economic growth in the East of England, unlocking thousands of new houses, creating over 2000 jobs and driving prosperity across the region.

    Under the trusted services of publicly-owned Greater Anglia, we’re delivering on our Plan for Change by building a simpler, more modern rail network that supports communities and powers the UK’s economy.

    With half of all rail operators now publicly owned, the government is delivering a network that prioritises accountability, efficiency and reliability, putting passengers at its heart.

    Greater Anglia, consistently rated among the UK’s best-performing operators, will continue to thrive under public ownership – engaging with local communities, sharing best practice and driving improvements across the network.

    The new station is also a cornerstone of the Chelmsford Garden Community project, which will deliver 10,000 new homes alongside vital infrastructure such as shops, healthcare facilities and schools.

    Backed by government investment, the station supports its pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the next 5 years, helping to create thriving communities and better connectivity for generations to come.

    Martin Beable, Managing Director, Greater Anglia, said:

    Beaulieu Park station will benefit from a regular and reliable service, making rail travel simple and convenient for passengers. Services will be operated by our fleet of new, comfortable, air-conditioned class 720 trains, which also offer plug/USB points and free wifi and have helped us deliver annual punctuality of over 95% on the Great Eastern Main Line in Essex over the last 3 years.

    The new station will be staffed from the first train to the last train, 7 days a week. Staff will be on hand at all times to answer questions, help passengers buy tickets and support customers requiring assistance. Located right next to the Beaulieu housing development and the A12, we expect the new station to be a very attractive and popular option for travellers from that part of Essex.

    This opening was the latest in a wider range of transport improvements in the area, with thousands of motorists set to benefit from faster, smoother and safer journeys following an upgrade to a key junction of the M25.

    The government-funded scheme to improve Junction 28 between London and Essex saw the opening of a new section of road connecting the M25 to the A12 eastbound.

    It will help ease congestion in Brentwood, Chelmsford and the surrounding areas, as well as reducing the chances of collisions, improving connectivity and helping to boost economic growth.

    Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader at Essex County Council, said:

    Beaulieu Park station will both unlock economic development in the surrounding areas and transform travel in and around Chelmsford. As well as our own investment, at Essex County Council, we worked with partners to secure the additional funding needed to make the project a reality.

    In Essex, we are leading the way by making sure new developments are built in the right way, by providing the infrastructure that residents, visitors and businesses need. We are being bold and ambitious to future-proof the county and put investment where it’s most needed.

    It is fantastic to see Beaulieu Park station open and I thank everyone involved for their hard work in helping deliver it ahead of schedule.

  • Yvette Cooper – 2025 Statement on Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher

    Yvette Cooper – 2025 Statement on Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher

    The statement made by Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, on 27 October 2025.

    Further advances by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher, Sudan, are having a horrifying and devastating impact on civilians. With hundreds of thousands of people trapped in the city, many facing forced displacement and indiscriminate violence, the humanitarian consequences are catastrophic. Civilians must be able to leave safely and access lifesaving aid without obstruction.

    We are witnessing a deeply disturbing pattern of abuses in El Fasher — including systematic killings, torture, and sexual violence. Women and girls are facing particularly horrific violations such as sexual violence and rape as a weapon of war, and their suffering must not be ignored.

    Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces have publicly committed to protecting civilians and enabling humanitarian access in line with international humanitarian law. These commitments must now be translated into immediate and concrete action. Orders must be issued to forces on the ground to ensure the safety of civilians, humanitarian personnel, and operations. The RSF leadership will be held accountable for the actions of their forces.

    All parties must urgently cooperate with the UN and humanitarian agencies to enable safe, rapid, and unimpeded access, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2736. Attacks on civilians, aid workers, and civilian infrastructure — including hospitals — must stop now.

    UK aid is making a difference on the ground, including reaching the most vulnerable through organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Sudan Humanitarian Fund. In total we are contributing by providing over £120 million in aid to Sudan, including allocating an additional £5 million to the Sudan Cash Consortium, with around two-thirds of this support for the most vulnerable in North Darfur.

    Bringing an end to the war in Sudan will also support security at home and help tackle illegal migration to the UK. The UK will continue to work with international partners, including the Quad, to push for an immediate ceasefire and a path toward peace. The suffering must end.

  • NEWS STORY : Prince Andrew Stripped of Royal Titles and Home

    NEWS STORY : Prince Andrew Stripped of Royal Titles and Home

    STORY

    In a dramatic and unprecedented move, Prince Andrew has been stripped of his royal title and forced from his residence at Royal Lodge, Windsor, marking a major shift in the monarchy’s internal dynamics. The decision, announced by King Charles III, removes Andrew’s style as “Prince” and declares he will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His titles including Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh have also been withdrawn, and his name has been removed from the official Roll of the Peerage.

    Buckingham Palace revealed that Andrew must vacate the Royal Lodge, a home he has occupied as part of the leased estate, and is expected to relocate to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate. The timing and scale of the action reflect mounting pressure on the royal family to manage reputational risk amid Andrew’s long-standing controversies, including his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and serious allegations made by Virginia Giuffre. While Andrew continues to deny wrongdoing, the King’s move signals a clear boundary being drawn by the monarchy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Kent builder, Wayne Miller, hid bankruptcy from customer who paid for home improvements he did not complete [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Kent builder, Wayne Miller, hid bankruptcy from customer who paid for home improvements he did not complete [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 21 October 2025.

    • Wayne Miller hid his bankrupt status from a customer who he convinced to pay £30,000 for home renovations 
    • The home improvements, which included a new kitchen and two-storey extension, were never completed despite numerous promises by Miller 
    • Miller was handed a suspended sentence and ordered to pay compensation following investigations by the Insolvency Service 

    A bankrupt builder who persuaded a customer to pay him more than £30,000 for home improvements he never completed has been sentenced. 

    Wayne Miller deliberately concealed his status as a bankrupt from his victim and abandoned the building project in Canterbury when it was nowhere near finished. 

    Miller was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, when he appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday 15 October. 

    The 55-year-old, of Romney Road, Lydd, Kent, was also ordered to repay £18,000 in compensation to his victim and a further £1,000 in costs. 

    Miller also made a payment of £7,500 to the victim at an earlier date. 

    Chris Wood, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    Wayne Miller convinced a customer to pay him more than £30,000 for home renovations which he did not complete. 

    His actions in concealing his bankrupt status involved a significant amount of deception which caused a great deal of distress and inconvenience to his victim. 

    The public deserves protection from those who have been unable to pay their debts previously. That is why those declared bankrupt are required to inform would-be creditors of their status so they can make informed decisions on whether to hand money over to them or not. 

    The customer in this case was not afforded this opportunity and would never have engaged his services or handed over such substantial sums of money if he had known about Miller’s financial history.

    Work on the project which was supposed to include a new kitchen and two-storey extension was due to start in March 2018 and Miller told the customer it would take around eight weeks to complete. 

    Miller and the customer agreed that the total cost of £43,528 would be paid in five equal instalments of £8,705.60, with the first payment made in December 2017, prior to any work on the property starting. 

    Just weeks before work began on the project, Miller arranged for the customer to speak with a kitchen designer. Miller told the customer he could order the kitchen on his behalf as he had a trade account with the company. 

    The victim paid Miller a further £7,823 directly into his account. Miller never made any payments to the kitchen company for the purchase.  

    Work on the project ground to a halt by April 2018. Miller made a number of excuses and did not carry out any further building work on the property. 

    In total, the victim made payments of £36,190 to Miller. 

    Miller had been previously declared bankrupt in January 2016 following a petition from HM Revenue and Customs. His bankruptcy remains ongoing as he failed to make all the payments required of him under the terms of an income payment agreement with the Official Receiver. 

    Individuals subject to a bankruptcy order must disclose their status if they borrow or obtain credit of £500 or more. Those declared bankrupt who are self-employed or are going to start their own business as a sole trader must use the same name the bankruptcy order was made in.   

    Further information  

    • Wayne Miller is of Romney Road, Lydd, Kent. His date of birth is 6 October 1970 
  • PRESS RELEASE : Growth placed at the heart of regulators’ remit alongside new measures to boost scrutiny and transparency [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Growth placed at the heart of regulators’ remit alongside new measures to boost scrutiny and transparency [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 21 October 2025.

    Business Secretary sets out new stronger duty for regulators to ensure they better prioritise helping businesses go for growth.

    • Business Secretary sets out new stronger duty for regulators to ensure they better prioritise helping businesses go for growth 
    • New public dashboard will allow businesses to review how regulators are performing and give direct feedback to government, holding regulators to account  
    • Independent reviews to scrutinise key regulators and recommend improvements  

    A major shake-up of accountability and transparency for UK regulators will be set out today (Tuesday 21 October) to support businesses and remove obstacles to economic growth. 

    A key part of this will be a stronger growth duty, cementing growth as a guiding principle for regulators, encouraging proportionate, business friendly regulation. Today, the Government will set out how these changes will ensure investment and innovation can thrive without compromising essential protections at the Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham. 

    A new dashboard which will allow the public to scrutinise regulator’s performance will also be announced.   

    The new Gov.uk site will be updated every quarter to empower firms, improve scrutiny, and create more responsive enforcement of regulation. It will collate performance data across key regulators in one place, as well as enabling direct feedback on regulator performance and service delivery.  

    Business & Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:  

    “We will use every lever we have to grow the UK economy to boost business, create jobs, put money back in people’s pockets and pay for good public services. 

    “By stripping back unnecessary rules and pointless paperwork we will free business to grow while ensuring vital protections are enforced. Creating a stronger growth a duty for regulators is a key part of this while greater transparency will ensure that they can be held to account.  

    “Getting the balance of regulation right is key to achieving economic growth. This will help to back the UK’s businesses, creating jobs and growing the economy as part of our Plan for Change.”  

    Government has been working with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to put the competition watchdog on a more pro-growth footing, setting out a strategic steer on how the government expects the CMA to support and contribute to growth. Government has heard how changes such as this and their new “4Ps” approach are helping to increase business confidence to invest in the UK. 

    The reforms announced will help ensure that all key regulators have more clarity from government about how to align with its overriding mission to deliver economic growth, and stronger accountability to the government and the public.  

    In the coming weeks, the Business Secretary / Ministers will also meet with watchdog bosses, including the likes of Ofcom, Ofgem and the CMA, as part of a Regulator Council to develop a shared understanding of how regulators can support growth.  

    This week, the Treasury and Department for Business and Trade will be outlining further measures as part of its Regulatory Action Plan to reduce business burdens.

  • NEWS STORY : Lucy Powell Wins Labour Deputy Leadership Contest

    NEWS STORY : Lucy Powell Wins Labour Deputy Leadership Contest

    STORY

    Lucy Powell has won the Labour deputy leadership contest against Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary. The result was closer than some analysts had expected, with Powell receiving 87,407 votes and Phillipson securing 73,536 votes, on a relatively 16.6% turnout of Labour Party members.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments After Labour Loses Caerphilly

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments After Labour Loses Caerphilly

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 24 October 2025.

    We must press ahead with the renewal that working people need to see.

    Now, this week, we received another reminder of just how urgent that task is. A bad result in Wales, I accept that, but a reminder that people need to look out their window and see change and renewal in their community, opportunities for their children, public services rebuilt, the cost of living crisis tackled.

    Renewal is the only answer to decline, to grievance and to division and we have to keep going on that. It is the offer we must make to the people of Scotland, Wales and England next year.

    And that means we must come together. We must unite. We must keep our focus on what is, in my view, the defining battle for the soul of our nation.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2025 Comments After Lucy Powell Wins Deputy Leadership

    Bridget Phillipson – 2025 Comments After Lucy Powell Wins Deputy Leadership

    The comments made by Bridget Phillipson on 25 October 2025.

    I want to congratulate Lucy on her victory in this contest.

    It’s crucial that our party now comes together to take the fight to Reform in next year’s crucial Senedd, Holyrood and local elections.

    I am obviously disappointed at today’s result but I’m proud of the campaign I’ve run. I want to thank everyone who voted for me in this contest. I feel privileged to have had the chance of meeting members across the country, talking about their priorities and what they want to see: a united party, talking about the good things this Labour government is doing, not fixating on our mistakes.

    Regardless of today’s result, I will always be a strong voice for our members and trade unions at the cabinet table and I will still be that powerful campaigning presence at the top of government working to deliver a crucial second term of Labour government.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New blueprint for AI regulation could speed up planning approvals, slash NHS waiting times, and drive growth and public trust [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New blueprint for AI regulation could speed up planning approvals, slash NHS waiting times, and drive growth and public trust [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 21 October 2025.

    A new blueprint for AI regulation is being announced by the Technology Secretary today (Tuesday 21st October) to help drive innovation and growth.

    • AI Growth Labs will unlock new ways to accelerate innovation and cut bureaucracy in a safe environment
    • More new homes, better outcomes for patients, and world-leading innovations for professional services among potential wins for the public
    • This new approach to regulation will help drive forward growth and national renewal under the government’s Plan for Change

    More new homes, better outcomes for patients, and world-leading innovations are among the benefits people can expect to see from a new blueprint for AI regulation being announced today, as the government slashes bureaucracy and ramps up the safe adoption of AI to unlock its full potential.  

    At the Times Tech Summit today (21st October), the Technology Secretary will announce plans to look at how companies and innovators can test new AI products in real-world conditions, with some rules and regulations temporarily relaxed under strict supervision.

    Known as sandboxes, individual regulations are temporarily switched off or tweaked for a limited period of time in safe, controlled testing environments. They would initially be set up for key sectors of the economy like healthcare, professional services, transport, and the use of robotics in advanced manufacturing, to accelerate the responsible development and deployment of AI products.

    The announcement comes as the Chancellor also details progress made towards delivering on the government’s vision for a regulatory system that better supports growth and innovation. At today’s Regional Investment Summit, the Chancellor will announce a range of pro-growth reforms that will help deliver that vision set out March’s Regulation Action Plan, including a plan to save businesses across the country nearly £6 billion a year by 2029 by cracking down on pointless admin tasks.

    AI applications hold the potential to make the lives of citizens better, faster. The AI Growth Lab will pilot responsible AI which can otherwise be held back by certain regulation, and generate real-world evidence for the impact they can deliver. This will ramp up adoption of AI and deliver opportunities for people across the country, cutting bureaucracy that can choke innovation and supporting businesses to flourish to deliver tangible national renewal.

    For example, a testing ground focused on building AI tools could support health workers deliver better patient care on an accelerated timeline. This would also help reduce NHS waiting lists and time demands on frontline NHS staff, as well as ensure that public services are working around the lives of the British public.

    Currently, a typical housing development application racks up 4,000 pages of documentation and takes as long as 18 months from submission to approval. By reviewing regulations to explore how AI could support officials, those times could be slashed – speeding up decision making and putting the government’s plans to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of the current Parliament in the fast lane.

    Close working between businesses and regulators are already delivering transformations for the public. A sandbox led by the Information Commissioner’s Office has supported age verification company Yoti to fine tune their age estimation technology to help keep young people safe online, while another trial has helped FlyingBinary to develop online services which support mental health patients.

    Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

    To deliver national renewal, we need to overhaul the old approaches which have stifled enterprise and held back our innovators. 

    We want to remove the needless red tape that slows progress so we can drive growth and modernise the public services people rely on every day. 

    This isn’t about cutting corners – it’s about fast-tracking responsible innovations that will improve lives and deliver real benefits.

    In a further push to unlock benefits for the wider public through AI, a pot of £1 million is being set aside to support the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to pilot AI-assisted tools. These would support scientific expertise, speed up drug discovery and clinical trial assessments, and licensing to improve efficiency and consistency – while keeping all decisions firmly in human hands.   

    The continued safe and responsible development of AI would be central to the government’s plans for its proposed AI Growth Lab. It would not be a testing ground where regulations could be switched on or switched off at will, but would see strict, time limited restrictions being put in place to set out which specific regulatory hurdles could be avoided or modified under close supervision.  

    It will be overseen by tech and regulatory experts and backed up by a strict licensing scheme with strong safeguards, meaning any breaches of individual agreements, or the emergence of unacceptable risks would stop testing in its tracks and open users who have breached their terms up to potential fines. 

    While this would mark new ground in terms of AI, other regulatory testing grounds have already been put to effective use across the economy.  

    The Digital Securities Sandbox for example is helping finance firms and innovators by giving them the ability to test innovative tech solutions for some of the most urgent challenges in the financial sector. It is helping to deliver a more secure and efficient financial system by focusing on Distributed Ledger Technology, which creates a single bank of data on financial transactions to speed up efficiencies and help tackle fraud. 

    Internationally, countries are already using sandboxes to speed safe deployment. Jurisdictions such as the EU, USA, Japan, Estonia and Singapore have announced or implemented some form of regulatory sandbox for AI. The UK pioneered the global sandbox model with the launch of the FCA’s 2016 fintech sandbox – with transformative AI approaching, the UK must stay at the vanguard of international best practice in regulatory innovation – and the benefits this brings for UK innovation and jobs. 

    The government will now move ahead with a public call for views on its AI Growth Lab proposals. At the heart of that process will be considerations over whether the programme should be run in-house by the government, or overseen by regulators themselves. 

    The adoption of AI is the defining economic opportunity of the coming decade, but currently only 21% of UK firms are using the technology. The OECD currently estimates that AI could improve UK productivity by as much as 1.3 percentage points every year – worth the equivalent of £140 billion. The AI Growth Lab will provide a route to test and pilot responsible AI innovations hindered by regulation – driving AI adoption and economic growth.

    Further Information

    Exclusions from the sandbox would include consumer protection and safety provisions, fundamental rights, workers’ protections and intellectual property rights.

    Industry and stakeholder reaction

    David Wakeling, Head of AI, A&O Shearman, said:

    This call for evidence contemplates an agile approach to regulation, removing red-tape where it serves no purpose and breaking down silos between regulators.  These steps will be crucial for UK businesses, investors and capital providers to stay globally competitive in the AI race.

    Leo Ringer, Partner, Form Ventures, said:

    This is a strong signal of ambition to ensure the UK is a world leading place to start and scale an AI business. Existing regulatory frameworks weren’t created with AI in mind, and the sheer pace of tech progress means it’s no surprise that they risk slowing down innovation and adoption. 

    We have incredible talent and growing amounts of capital for AI startups in the UK – flexible, pro-innovation regulation is the third ingredient we need to really unlock investment and growth.

    Luther Lowe, Head of Public Policy, Y Combinator, said:

    The AI Growth Lab addresses a critical challenge: enabling AI startups to launch innovative products without waiting years for regulatory clarity.

    For Y Combinator companies, faster time to market matters—and if the Lab delivers on its promise while maintaining appropriate oversight, it sets a strong model for how governments can keep pace with AI innovation.

    Paul Murphy, General Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, said:

    As investors in many of the world’s leading AI labs, we know regulatory speed impacts where breakthrough companies scale. The UK can be a major player in this race with fast, fair, and globally competitive sandbox access.

    Vinous Ali, Deputy Executive Director at Start-Up Coalition:

    Startup Coalition has long campaigned for a cross-economy sandbox to help speed up startups’ route to market. The UK has historic strengths in sandboxing and this latest proposal takes it into the future helping bring regulators and businesses together to collaborate in a nimble and open way. 

    It is great to see government take a leaf out of the startup manual by adjusting their risk appetite to win the race.

    Vishal Marria, Founder and CEO, Quantexa, said:

    The UK has an incredible foundation in AI research and innovation, and to truly unlock its economic and societal potential, we need to accelerate how ideas are turned into reality to make tangible impact. An AI Growth Lab has the potential to provide the bridge between world-class research and real-world application, helping organizations of all sizes adopt AI responsibly, confidently, and at scale. 

    By combining trusted data, contextual understanding, and collaboration across industry, academia, and government as part of its broader set of strategic AI initiatives, the UK will continue to position itself as a world leader in turning AI from promise into performance.

    Antony Walker, Deputy CEO at TechUK, said:

    TechUK welcomes the launch of AI Growth Lab, which represents a strong, positive step towards a pro-growth regulatory approach that will help companies to safely develop, scale, and deploy AI in key sectors of the UK economy. 

    If we get this right, the AI Growth Lab can add real value by drawing on learnings from existing AI sandboxes and working closely with AI businesses to deliver tangible results and deliver real-world impact.

    Finn Stevenson, CEO at Flok Heathcare, said:

    The potential for AI to transform healthcare is enormously exciting, but good regulation is required to ensure that these novel technologies are safe and effective for patients. As we’ve shown with our Class IIa medical device clearance for AI physiotherapy, it is absolutely possible to certify products like this, but many more innovations could get to market faster if the rules were modernised for a software-driven world. 

    Regulators like the MHRA, and the notified bodies that assess AI products on their behalf, currently have the unenviable task of applying rules designed for physical products to advanced software systems that are radically different than anything that existed when the regulations were written. In revisiting those regulations, the AI Growth Lab is a valuable opportunity to make the UK a global destination for healthcare AI.

    Dr Hammad Jeilani, Medical Director and Co-Founder, Apian, said:

    Apian is helping the NHS focus on what matters most: humans caring for humans. 

    Our AI-powered autonomous robots increase productivity and cut costs – handling routine logistics so healthcare staff can dedicate more time to patient care. A cross-economy sandbox will let innovators like Apian safely test and scale these systems, making NHS logistics invisible, resilient and truly patient-centred.

    Rafie Faruq, Co-Founder & CEO at Genie, said:

    Genie has built the autonomous legal department for businesses by enabling them to create their personalised legal agents that can auto-draft, negotiate and review legal documents and deals. In one recent case, Cambridge Utd Football Club signed the first ever football player through Genie AI without a lawyer. But providing AI-generated legal advice, particularly for regulated legal areas like securities, employment, or housing – may constitute unauthorised practice of law.

    The AI Growth Lab would allow Genie to trial an autonomous legal agent in live commercial environments. We believe this sandbox could be transformative – both in reducing startup costs and helping UK businesses scale faster through AI-enabled contracting.

    Andrew Bennett, Centre for British Progress, said:

    Britain must move quickly to grow and secure our stake in the next industrial revolution. Yet too often, economic opportunities and British startups are held back by regulatory bottlenecks. 

    The AI Growth Lab can provide a safe, accelerated pathway for using AI to deliver better outcomes across the country.

    Karl Havard, Chief Commercial Officer, Nscale, said:

    Nscale is super supportive of the AI Growth Labs. The creation of safe sandbox environments will be a much needed catalyst to develop and test new products and services that will directly benefit the people of the UK. 

    It’s great to see the UK government leading the way on such an initiative, and Nscale is looking forward to playing a supporting role in making this a reality.

    Nigel Toon, Graphcore founder, said:

    Graphcore welcomes the launch of the AI Growth Lab as a means of encouraging innovators to push the boundaries of this transformative technology. 

    We hope that the UK’s forward-looking approach to AI will drive AI adoption and deliver the same sort of success stories that the financial technology regulatory sandbox did in the past.

    Michael Sellitto, Head of Global Affairs, Anthropic, said:

    We are really encouraged the UK government is looking in this direction, to create space for experimentation and promote innovation.

    Hugh Milward, Vice President External Affairs, Microsoft, said:

    Widespread AI diffusion across the economy is fundamental to delivering the UK’s economic growth ambition and we welcome the government’s continued progress on the AI Opportunities Plan towards this goal. 

    The AI Growth Lab is an interesting and creative initiative to provide the flexible regulatory approach that will support faster UK AI innovation and we look forward to hearing more.

    Matthew Wright, Head of U.K., Delian Alliance Industries, said:

    AI and autonomous systems will be integral to the future of defence and civil protection, but startups leveraging these technologies face considerable regulatory barriers today. 

    We therefore welcome the AI Growth Lab’s ambition to minimise these hurdles. In doing so, the Lab will help such startups to drive economic growth while enhancing national security.

    Dr. Tim Bazalgette, Chief AI Officer at Darktrace, said:

    Darktrace welcomes the government’s ambition for monitored AI sandboxes. 

    Allowing innovators to test transformative applications of AI in safe conditions and demonstrate that they have genuine real-world value will help to accelerate the deployment of effective AI solutions across critical areas of the British economy, supporting the public good and driving growth.

    Jon J. Paull, COO, Octopus Energy Group, said:

    At Octopus, we’ve shown how responsible AI can supercharge innovation, from forecasting renewable generation to transforming customer service.  

    Outdated rules can too often slow progress so we welcome government’s proposal for an AI Growth Lab, a safe, collaborative space where UK innovators and regulators can test responsibly, and evolve the frameworks that govern new technology.

    Aidan Gomez, Co-Founder and CEO, Cohere, said:

    Today’s announcement will accelerate the speed that AI can improve people’s lives, especially in critical, regulated areas like healthcare. 

    The UK government’s leadership on policies that enable quick, but responsible, development and deployment of transformative, cutting edge technology is why Cohere has consistently invested in the country since our founding.

    Nik Storonsky, CEO and Co-Founder, Revolut, said: 

     >Accelerating AI adoption is critical for the UK banking sector and the entire economy. This initiative will give innovators like Revolut the clarity and speed we need to build and deploy groundbreaking AI services, reinforcing the UK’s leadership and delivering real value to millions of customers.

    Dr Marc Warner, CEO and founder, Faculty AI said:

    The UK AI sector is growing 30 times faster than the rest of the economy and has world-leading companies – yet there are no guarantees the next DeepMind will found and grow here.

    If ministers want more domestic AI success stories, they must make conscious choices today about how they support our start ups and scale ups.

    Removing red tape to allow safe testing and iterating of AI products is a welcome step in backing the sector to build the faster, cheaper, more efficient public services we need.

    Max Jamilly, co-founder and CEO, Hoxton Farms, said:

    At Hoxton Farms, we’ve seen both sides of the innovation equation. Our AI-enabled control software for manufacturing biologic medicines is held back by outdated AI rules, yet our positive experience in the FSA’s Cell Cultivated Products Sandbox for Novel Foods shows that forward-thinking regulation can unlock markets and accelerate new technology.

    Sandboxes work: they enable fast, efficient collaboration between innovators and policymakers while minimising risk. Pragmatic and efficient rules for AI will help to turn UK start-ups into global leaders.