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  • 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.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Regional Investment Summit delivers almost £800m boost to West Midlands, creating hundreds of jobs [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Regional Investment Summit delivers almost £800m boost to West Midlands, creating hundreds of jobs [October 2025]

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

    Hundreds of jobs in the West Midlands are set to be created after almost £800m of investment was announced at today’s Regional Investment Summit.

    • £635 million of private investment for West Midlands announced at Regional Investment Summit, with huge boost to sectors including AI, pharma, dairy and real estate.
    • New £125m skills and housing package from Combined Authority, to train 12,000 construction workers and to deliver 1,000 social homes.
    • Birmingham Sports Quarter investment to deliver transformational 14,000 new jobs and £700 million boost to the region’s economy, updated data shows.

    Hundreds of jobs in the West Midlands are set to be created after almost £800m of investment was announced at today’s Regional Investment Summit, cementing the West Midlands as a powerhouse for investment and turbocharging growth into the region.

    The huge announcement follows the Regional Investment Summit held in Birmingham today where over 350 business leaders, investors and local mayors met to announce £10 billion of new investment for key growth sectors around the UK, delivering on the Plan for Change to create new jobs and opportunities for people in every region.

    Investments in the West Midlands include Hines and Woodbourne Group announcing a £400 million investment to support the £4 billion Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, a centrepiece of the West Midlands Investment Zone, driving innovation, regeneration, and economic growth in the region. Blackstone will invest £200m to ensure the NEC remains the UK’s leading live events business with world class venues across exhibitions, conventions and arenas.

    Building on the UK-India free trade agreement, Indian parent company of Freshway Dairy will also invest £25 million in building a new processing facility in West Bromwich, creating at least 200 new jobs and allowing them to process 25% more milk.

    In a boost to the Industrial Strategy, the Government is also announcing that Sterling Pharmaceuticals will receive a share of £30m of Life Sciences funding, which will help them build a 60,000 sq ft centre in Birmingham, creating 48 jobs and boosting UK production of medicines  for the NHS and sales overseas. To boost the digital sector, Atos is announcing £10m for AI centres, cementing the Midlands role as a key hub and creating 50 jobs.

    In further good news for the region, the West Midlands Combined Authority has confirmed a £75m skills package to train over 12,000 people in construction trades and technical roles over three years. Backed by WMCA and government funding, the initiative supports a regional construction boom driven by major housing, transport, retrofit, and regeneration projects.

    £40 million will also be made available by the WMCA to accelerate delivery of 1,000 new social rent homes across the region. The funding unlocks properties ready or under construction, building on 750 affordable homes already secured.

    Earlier success for the region this year includes Knighthead announcing plans to invest at least £3 billion in a new Sports Quarter in Birmingham, which will feature a new 62,000-capacity stadium, new sporting facilities as well as entertainment and residential spaces and create 14,000 jobs – up from initial projections of 10,000. New data shows the Quarter will transform the region’s economy, with a £700 million boost to growth. Birmingham Airpor t will invest £300 million over four years to upgrade baggage, immigration, retail, and airfield infrastructure, boosting growth.

    This latest vote of confidence follows Britain becoming the most attractive place to invest in the world according to a survey from Deloitte.

    Peter Kyle, Business and Trade Secretary said:

    The West Midlands is a thriving business hub, and these funding announcements are a major vote of confidence in our economy and demonstrate how our modern Industrial Strategy is helping to secure the investment we need to deliver growth in the West Midlands.

    This huge boost to the region shows our Plan for Change is working in encouraging more companies to invest here, creating new jobs and exciting opportunities for local communities in the West Midlands.

    Jason Stockwood, Minister for Investment said:

    The West Midlands is a powerhouse for foreign direct investment, and today’s announcements at the Summit cements the region’s position as a top destination to do business.

    Our modern Industrial Strategy is giving investors the confidence they need to plan not just for the next year, but for the next 10 years and beyond – helping to create economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.

    Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands said:

    The first-ever Regional Investment Summit in the West Midlands has been a huge success. It’s given us the platform to showcase our innovation, talent, and can-do approach – and it’s already paying off, with world-class businesses like Knighthead Capital, Freshways and Atos choosing to invest, drive growth and create jobs.

    The Government is backing us with new funding and new powers to go further and faster. I’m determined to make sure everyone shares in the opportunities this brings – building prosperity that reaches every community. The time to invest in the West Midlands is now.

    Today’s announcements at the Regional Investment Summit builds on recent landmark trade deals struck with the US and India and the launch of the modern Industrial Strategy in the summer, helping to hardwire stability for investors looking to invest in the UK.

    Securing investment is central to the government’s mission to deliver economic growth which will create jobs, improve living standards, and make communities and families across the country better off as part of our Plan for Change.  

    Bali Nijjar, Freshways Managing Director said: 

    Our £25m investment in West Bromwich will deliver 200 new jobs, from engineers to food safety technicians, and deliver one of the most efficient dairy processing plants in Europe, capable of processing 500 million litres of fresh British milk a year.

    The West Midlands is a key strategic location for Freshways, providing access to national transport networks and skilled job seekers. It’s also good news for our British dairy farmers and our customers as we’ll be able to process 25% more fresh milk from the new site, helping us keep up with growing demand. We’re working around the clock to get things ready and hope to have the site fully operational by the end of the year.

    Michael Herron, Head of Atos UK&I, said:

    Atos is delighted to invest in the Midlands, establishing new technology centres that will help drive digital innovation and create opportunities for local talent. Our commitment reflects the region’s growing reputation as a national hub for AI and digital transformation, and we look forward to supporting businesses and communities as they embrace the benefits of new technology.

    List of West Midlands investments announced in today’s Regional Investment Summit:

    • Hines, a global real estate firm, in partnership with Woodbourne Group, have announced a £400 million investment to support the £4 billion Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, a centrepiece of the West Midlands Investment Zone, driving innovation, regeneration, and economic growth in the region.
    • Blackstone owned National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham has announced a new public commitment to invest £200 million over the next decade. The investment will support a modernisation programme to ensure that it remains the UK’s leading live events business with world class venues across exhibitions, conventions and arenas.
    • Atos, a leading provider of AI-powered digital transformation, has announced a new £10 million investment in the Midlands, unveiling two flagship technology centres that will cement the region’s role at the heart of the UK’s AI-led digital future and creating 50 jobs.
    • Freshways is investing £25 million in a cutting-edge dairy hub in West Bromwich, creating at least 200 jobs. The facility will process 500 million litres of British milk annually, making it one of the UK’s most advanced and efficient dairy operations.
    • Sterling Pharmaceuticals will build a 60,000 sq ft centre in Birmingham, creating 48 jobs and boosting UK production of generic medicines for the NHS and export, following a share of £30m from the Government’s Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund.
    • The West Midlands Combined Authority has unveiled a £75 million skills package to train over 12,000 people in construction trades and technical roles over three years. Backed by WMCA and government funding, the initiative supports a regional construction boom driven by major housing, transport, retrofit, and regeneration projects.
    • The West Midlands Combined Authority has launched a £40 million Social Housing Accelerator Fund to deliver 1,000 new social rent homes across the West Midlands. The funding unlocks properties ready or under construction, building on 750 affordable homes already secured.

    Recent Investments in the region:

    • Knighthead will invest at least £3 billion in a new Sports Quarter in Birmingham which will feature a 62,000-capacity stadium with a retractable pitch, a dedicated women’s stadium, indoor arena, training grounds, and residential and entertainment spaces. The development is expected to create around 14,000 jobs, transforming the derelict site into a major sporting and cultural hub and generate £700m of growth for the region.
    • Birmingham Airport will invest £300 million over four years to upgrade baggage, immigration, retail, and airfield infrastructure. Millions will also be directed toward sustainable growth, including solar energy and efficient terminal systems. A new Masterplan process will forecast growth beyond 2040, building on strong passenger demand.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK removes Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham from terrorist organisation list [October 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK removes Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham from terrorist organisation list [October 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 21 October 2025.

    An order has been laid in Parliament to deproscribe Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), enabling closer engagement with the new Syrian government.

    The government’s decision to remove Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the list of proscribed terrorist organisations will mean closer engagement with the new Syrian government and support UK foreign and domestic priorities, from counter-terrorism to migration and chemical weapons destruction.  

    Deproscribing HTS is part of the UK’s response to the significant developments in Syria since forces led by President Ahmed Al Sharaa toppled the Assad regime last December. HTS was originally listed as an alias of proscribed organisation Al-Qa’ida in 2017.   

    The former Foreign Secretary’s visit to Syria in July renewed the diplomatic relationship between the UK and Syria. The UK will continue to press for genuine progress and hold the Syrian government accountable for its actions in fighting terrorism and restoring stability in Syria and the wider region. We will continue to judge the new Syrian government on their actions not on their words. 

    Daesh remains a significant threat in Syria. The deproscription of HTS will support this government’s engagement on the counter-Daesh mission in Syria, in turn reducing the threat to the UK. 

    Deproscription will also support closer working with Syria to eliminate the Assad regime’s chemical weapons programme. This government welcomes the Syrian President’s commitment to destroy these weapons once and for all.  

    This decision aligns with the announcement made by the United States earlier this year to remove HTS from its list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations.  

    This government will always put the safety and security of the British people first, which is why any deproscription decision is not taken lightly. The decision to remove HTS from the proscribed list has been made following detailed consultation with operational partners and other departments, and a robust assessment by the cross-government Proscription Review Group.  

    The government reserves the right to reassess proscription decisions in response to any emerging threats and will always take swift and decisive action in the interests of national security. 

    The deproscription of HTS will mean that the proscription offences set out in the Terrorism Act 2000, including the offences of membership and inviting support for proscribed organisations, will no longer apply to HTS. On completion of this deproscription, a total of 83 organisations will be proscribed by the UK.