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PRESS RELEASE : UK continues to demand accountability for Russian violations of NATO airspace – Russia is undermining regional security: UK statement to the OSCE [September 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 September 2025.

Ambassador Holland says that recent Russian airspace violations are part of a wider pattern of behaviour that seeks to test NATO’s resolve and distract from Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine. The UK demands an honest response from Russia. In the OSCE, credibility matters.

Thank you, Madame Chair. Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war of aggression war in Ukraine continues. I want to be clear to begin with that the international community should not allow Russia’s provocations elsewhere to distract from the urgent need to end this war.

That said, the United Kingdom remains gravely concerned by the dangerous violations of NATO airspace by Russian military aircraft, including the most recent incursions into the sovereign airspace of Estonia. These actions should not be considered in isolation. They are part of a wider pattern of increasingly irresponsible Russian behaviour that seeks to test NATO’s resolve and distract from Russia’s ongoing illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

Russia continues to engage in reckless manoeuvres that risk escalation and undermine regional security. Let us be clear: NATO is a defensive alliance. Its purpose is to protect, not provoke. That is why the UK has contributed to EASTERN SENTRY to bolster NATO’s security along our entire Eastern Flank. Russia should be in no doubt that NATO and Allies will employ all necessary military and non-military tools, in accordance with international law, to defend ourselves and deter all threats in a manner, timing and domain of our choosing.

The FSC is mandated to foster military-to-military dialogue, build confidence and reduce risk of escalation between States. If Russia truly wishes to engage in meaningful dialogue, then full and honest participation in these organisations is the obvious mechanism. The UK will continue to ask constructive questions, but we expect honest and direct answers. If direct answers and participation in good faith are not forthcoming, then it will be clear that Russia continues to hide behind misinformation and false narratives. Madame Chair, in this forum, credibility matters.

At last week’s Opening Session of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), the United Kingdom asked Russia whether they would directly confirm responsibility for the other airspace violations observed in Poland on 9th September. Russia did not respond directly. So, in this spirit we ask again about this violation. If the Russian delegation requires more time to secure an accurate response from Moscow, then we encourage them to do so. We will ask again next week. Our questions are (again):

Firstly, if the incursions are unintentional, what steps is Russia taking to prevent recurrence?

And secondly, if they are in fact deliberate, what is Russia’s intent?

Additionally, will Russia commit to preventing future incursions including assuring NATO members that such violations will cease?

The United Kingdom stands firmly with Ukraine and with our NATO Allies. We will not be deterred by Russia’s irresponsible acts. We will continue to fully support Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours, in the exercise of its inherent right to self-defence. And we will continue to demand accountability for violations of international law, whether in the skies over Europe or on the ground in Ukraine. Thank you, Madame Chair.

October 1, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Record fraud crackdown saves half a billion for public services [September 2025]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 24 September 2025.

Government stops over £480 million ending up in the pockets of fraudsters over twelve months since April 2024 – more money than ever before.
- Government stops over £480 million ending up in the pockets of fraudsters over twelve months since April 2024 – more money than ever before.
- New technology and artificial intelligence turns the tide in the fight against public sector fraud, with new tech to prevent repeat of Covid loan fraud.
- Over a third of the money saved relates to fraud committed by companies and people during the pandemic.
- Crackdown means more funding for schools, hospitals and vital public services to deliver the Plan for Change.
Fraudsters have been stopped from stealing a record £480 million from the taxpayer in the government’s biggest ever fraud crackdown, meaning more money can be used to recruit nurses, teachers and police officers as part of the Plan for Change.

Over a third of the money saved (£186 million) comes from identifying and recovering fraud committed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Government efforts to date have blocked hundreds of thousands of companies with outstanding or potentially fraudulent Bounce Back Loans from dissolving before they would have to pay anything back. We have also clawed back millions of pounds from companies that took out Covid loans they were not entitled to, or took out multiple loans when only entitled to one.

This builds on successful convictions in recent months to crack down on opportunists who exploited the Bounce Back Loan Scheme for their own gain, including a woman who invented a company and then sent the loan money to Poland.

Alongside Covid fraud, the record savings reached in the year to April 2025 include clamping down on people unlawfully claiming single persons council tax discount and removing people from social housing waitlists who wanted to illegally sublet their discounted homes at the taxpayers’ expense.

Announcing the record figures at an anti-fraud Five Eyes summit in London, Cabinet Office Minister Josh Simons said:

Working people expect their taxes to go towards schools, hospitals, roads and the services they and their families use. That money going into the hands of fraudsters is a betrayal of their hard work and the system of paying your fair share. It has to stop.

That’s why this government has delivered the toughest ever crackdown on fraud, protecting almost half a billion pounds in under 12 months.

We’re using cutting-edge AI and data tools to stay one step ahead of fraudsters, making sure public funds are protected and used to deliver public services for those who need them most – not line the pockets of scammers and swindlers.

The savings have been driven by comparing different information the government holds to stop people falsely claiming benefits and discounts that they’re clearly not eligible for.

The high-tech push brought around £110m back to the exchequer more than the year before, and comes as the government pushes to save £45 billion by using tech to make the public sector more productive, saving money for the NHS and police forces to deliver the Plan for Change.

The Minister will also unveil a new AI fraud prevention tool that has been built by the government and will be used across all departments after successful tests.

The AI system scans new policies and procedures for weaknesses before they can be exploited, helping make new policies fraud-proof when they are drafting them. The tool could be essential in stopping fraudsters from taking advantage of government efforts to help people in need amid future emergencies.

It has been designed to prevent the scale of criminality seen through the Covid pandemic, where millions were lost to people falsely taking advantage of furlough, Covid Grants and Bounce Back Loans.

Results from early tests show it could save thousands of hours and help prevent millions in potential losses, slashing the time to identify fraud risks by 80% while preserving human oversight.

The UK will also licence the technology internationally, with Five Eyes partners at the summit considering adoption as part of strengthening global efforts to stop fraud and demonstrating Britain’s role at the forefront of innovation.

The summit will bring together key allies and showcase the government’s unprecedented use of artificial intelligence, data-matching and specialist investigators to target fraud across more than a thousand different schemes.

At the summit, Cabinet Office Minister Josh Simons will describe how the record crackdown has been achieved:
- Over £68 million of wrongful pension payments were prevented across major public sector pension schemes, including the Local Government Pension Scheme, NHS Pension Scheme, Civil Service Pensions and Armed Forces pension schemes. These savings were achieved by identifying cases where pension payments continued after the individual had died, often with relatives continuing to claim benefits they were not entitled to.
- More than 2,600 people were removed from housing waiting lists they weren’t entitled to be on, including individuals who were subletting or had multiple tenancies unlawfully.
- Over 37,000 fraudulent single-person council tax discount claims were stopped, saving £36 million for local councils and taxpayers. These false claims, often made by individuals misrepresenting their household size to secure a 25% discount, were uncovered using advanced data-matching.
Today’s announcement follows extensive progress on fraud in the last 12 months, including the appointment of a Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner, introduced the Public Authorities Fraud, Error and Recovery Bill, and boosted AI-driven detection, saving hundreds of millions and strengthening public sector fraud prevention – driven by the Public Sector Fraud Authority.

The majority of the £480 million saved is taxpayer money, with a portion from private sector partners, such as insurance and utilities companies, helping lower consumer costs and support UK business growth.
October 1, 2025
NEWS STORY : PPE Medpro Ruled to Repay £122m

STORY

In a judgement delivered in London’s High Court, PPE Medpro has been ordered to repay £122 million to the UK government after it was found to have supplied surgical gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic that failed to meet required sterility and safety standards. Mrs Justice Sara Cockerill ruled that the gowns breached the contract with the Department of Health and Social Care, declaring that the company had not followed validated sterilisation processes or kept sufficient documentation to prove compliance. The decision represents a heavy blow to a company embroiled in controversy and deceit.

The company is linked to the disgraced and discredited Baroness Michelle Mone who admitted to being a liar in an attempt to hide her financial benefit from the business. Despite public anger about her behaviour, she has refused to stand down from the House of Lords.

Barrowman, the partner of Mone, launched an attack on the judicial process following the judgement. A spokesperson for Barrowman said that the medical equipment was of the required standard and that the decision was “an establishment win”. The company has been ordered to repay the Government £122 million by 15 October 2025.

October 1, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 28 September 1925

28 SEPTEMBER 1925

Returning from Geneva, Mr Amery, in an interview, expressed Britain’s readiness to abide by the League of Nations’ decision in the Mosul boundary dispute. He further stated that if Iraq retains its present frontiers there is every reason to hope that in a short time the British taxpayer will be free from any cost attributable to administration or defence of the State.

Mr Austen Chamberlain received from the German Ambassador the reply of the German Government to the invitation of the Powers to send representatives to the Security Pact Conference, which is expected to take place in Switzerland on October 5. The text of the German Note will be published to-morrow.

At the closing sitting of the League Assembly, Senator Dandurand declared that the deliberations had shown that the spirit of the protocol drawn up last year still lived, and constituted at the present time an ideal line of conduct. The work done in the last few weeks showed that the sixth Assembly had not disappointed the hopes which the world had set upon it.

It is expected that M. Caillaux will make a new offer to the American Debt Commission.

September 30, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 27 September 1925

27 SEPTEMBER 1925

Following an incident where Flying Officer Cuddon-Davies had died, the Air Ministry decided to equip all aircraft with parachutes.

Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, visited Balmoral Castle to visit the King.

The Food Council confirmed an inquiry into the high prices of milk and meat, adding that they were addressing the short measure scandal with legislation expected.

September 30, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 26 September 1925

26 SEPTEMBER 1925

The Food Council, in a report on bread prices, records its unanimous finding that the charge of 10d. for the quartern loaf is unjustified.

The Mining Association correct Mr Cook, the miners’ secretary, regarding his statement on the Prime Minister’s decision. They state that no profits are guaranteed to the owners; and that the guarantee to the miners was that their wages shall not be reduced below the minimum that would have been payable had the agreement of 1924 remained in operation.

Mr. A. J. Cook, the miners’ secretary, in an interview, replies to Mr Ramsay MacDonald. He says Mr MacDonald’s action in attacking the decisions of the Trade Union Congress is an insult to the British Trade Union movement, from which the Labour Party receives its financial support and help. Without the Trade Union movement, the Labour Party would die.

At the meeting of the League Assembly, Viscount Cecil warmly supported various resolutions relating to the principles of arbitration and disarmament.

M. Caillaux’s proposal of a basis for the settlement of the French debt has surprised the American Debt Commission, but do not regard it as either final or definite.

No reply has yet been received from Germany accepting an invitation to the Conference on the Security Pact. The Federal Premiers have, however, unanimously approved the Cabinet’s decision to attend.

A general attack on the Rif front by the French is reported to be imminent. The Spaniards have been hampered by ill-luck and bad weather, and despite their recent success have much hard fighting in front of them. A campaign lasting far into the winter is contemplated.

Colonel Jackson M.P., speaking at Swansea on the proposed closing of dockyards, said the Prime Minister had decided to bring the question before the Cabinet before any definite steps were taken.

The Colonial Secretary has telegraphed to the Governor of Hong-Kong that he is pressing for a settlement of the negotiations with Chinese bankers and business men upon whose assistance the Hong-Kong Government depends for the disposal of loans. Of the £3,000,000 at its disposal the Government has still to raise £1,000,000.

September 30, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 25 September 1925

25 SEPTEMBER 1925

A deadlock has arisen in the coal trade. The miners’ deputation, after hearing Mr Baldwin’s reply to their representations as to the interpretation of the truce, expressed themselves as dissatisfied, and have called a delegate conference. They have also resolved not to aid the Royal Commission in its work or take any part in its proceedings.

A body has been set up in London for the maintenance of supplies and vital services in the event of a general strike. Steps are being taken to create corresponding organisations in all the principal centres of the kingdom.

The Council of the League of Nations decided to send a Commission of Inquiry to Mosul.

Preliminary conversations took place at Washington between M. Caillaux and Mr Mellon with reference to the French debt, and to-day the Franco-American Debt Commission gets to business.

Developing their offensive in Morocco, the Spanish forces have carried the Alhucemas Heights with losses which are described as small compared with the magnitude of the victory.

At a general meeting of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, held at Aberdeen, the President, Mr Stanley Machin, referred to the possibility of a serious stoppage of traffic, and said it was the duty of the Government to prepare for such an event. If an appeal were made for volunteers, and the assistance of all organisations capable of rendering help he felt sure they would have a great response from the whole community.

September 30, 2025
NEWS STORY : Streeting Rules Out Levying VAT on Private Healthcare

STORY

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has firmly rejected speculation that the government is considering introducing VAT on private healthcare services, declaring that “it’s not happening” when questioned at the Labour Party conference. His confirmation came amidst mounting rumours that the government might look for new revenue streams ahead of the upcoming budget. Streeting is making a speech at conference today with an expected emphasis of the contribution made by foreign NHS staff.

September 30, 2025
NEWS STORY : Starmer Welcomes US Peace Plan and Urges Hamas to Seize Chance for Ceasefire

STORY

Keir Starmer has expressed public support for the new US-led peace initiative for Gaza, calling the proposal “profoundly welcome” and urging all parties, especially Hamas, to “agree to the plan and end the misery.” In an official statement from 10 Downing Street, Starmer announced that the UK will back efforts to end hostilities, free hostages, and facilitate urgent humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza.

Starmer’s remarks were timed soon after the US unveiled a 20-point plan reportedly focused on disarming Hamas, forming a transitional governing structure for Gaza, and orchestrating a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces. He said that achieving a sustainable peace will require “collective effort” from the international community, not just diplomatic pledges.

Reactions across the world have been mixed. While leaders in Europe and parts of the Middle East have cautiously endorsed the proposal, many in Gaza and among the Palestinian leadership remain sceptical, pointing to previous peace efforts that foundered on demands for disarmament. There is a fear that the plan may unfairly penalise Palestinians and sideline Hamas entirely without a realistic path forward. practice is wide.

September 30, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New £10 million fund to support UK businesses to deliver next generation of semiconductors [September 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 24 September 2025.

UK semiconductor innovation boosted as Tech Minister announces £10 million fund.
- Tech Minister announces £10 million fund to boost UK semiconductor innovation from lab to market
- Investment supports British companies developing computer chip technologies central to our national security and powering everyday products like phones and cars
- Funding helps UK’s strongest companies to compete in a global market worth hundreds of billions, supporting growth through the government’s Plan for Change
People across the country will benefit from smarter, more secure technology in their everyday lives thanks to a £10 million investment in British semiconductors announced by Tech Minister Kanishka Narayan today (Wednesday 24 September).

The investment is expected to support up to 40 British businesses in accelerating development of the tiny computer chips that are central to powering everything from smartphones and cars to medical devices and renewable energy systems.

With the UK semiconductor sector on track to grow by 75% by 2030, funding will be targeted at boosting areas where the UK is strongest, to turbocharge investment from around the world and compete in a global market worth hundreds of billions of pounds.

Companies to benefit from the Innovate UK fund include Paragraf Limited, which develops highly energy-efficient semiconductor devices using graphene technology. These advanced devices could help mobile phone batteries last longer and reduce energy consumption in cars, aircraft, and defence systems.

The technology underpins critical national infrastructure, from secure communications and defence systems to satellites and cyber security, making UK semiconductor innovation vital for national resilience.

Tech Minister, Kanishka Narayan said:

There is immense potential in the UK semiconductors sector. By investing in its growth, we will build on our country’s strengths, setting ourselves apart in a highly competitive market to unlock new skilled jobs at home and boost our economy.

We’re backing Britain’s businesses with the support they need to thrive, helping turn world-class research into major advancements such as more efficient mobile phones and TVs – making life easier for people right across the UK.

Meanwhile, Silicon Microgravity Limited will create matchbox-sized navigation devices that can work without relying on satellite signals. These devices will be used in wearable technology such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, as well as industrial robots, providing the UK with critical capabilities in navigation technology that strengthens our independence from international systems.

The fund will provide these companies with access to specialist, ultra-clean semiconductor manufacturing facilities, technical expertise, and business mentoring to help translate their innovations into commercial products.

These projects build on established UK strengths in cutting-edge semiconductor research and navigation technologies.

Across the UK, firms such as Pragmatic in Durham and Cambridge, Vishay and KLA in Newport, and Paragraf in Cambridgeshire are driving innovation in cutting edge technologies from flexible electronics and graphene-based devices to power semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. The UK’s largest tech company, Arm, is a global leader in chip design, demonstrating how UK expertise can drive the next generation of semiconductor breakthroughs.

Minister Narayan will announce the funding at the Microelectronics UK Conference, where international industry leaders and government representatives will gather to advance collaboration and innovation in this strategically important sector for our economies.

This investment will strengthen Britain’s capabilities in advanced manufacturing and clean energy technologies, while building the domestic semiconductor expertise essential for economic growth and national resilience in an increasingly digital world. It will directly support the government’s Industrial Strategy and Plan for Change mission to fuel economic growth.

The announcement reinforces the UK’s commitment to building sovereign capabilities in semiconductors, reducing vulnerability to supply chain disruptions whilst creating high-skilled jobs and export opportunities in a sector that will be fundamental to Britain’s future economic success.

Iain Mauchline, Head of Semiconductors, Innovate UK, said:

This funding being delivered by Innovate UK (through the Technology Missions Fund and DSIT) is for diverse projects, all developing cutting-edge semiconductor innovations that are fundamental for the UK and our frontier technology areas.

We’re pleased to provide support for these innovative companies who are using semiconductors as the key enabling technology to make a difference across a vast range of industries.
September 30, 2025