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  • PRESS RELEASE : LinkedIn and government join forces to help jobseekers build their careers [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : LinkedIn and government join forces to help jobseekers build their careers [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 15 June 2026.

    Thousands of jobseekers could be supported into a new career as the government joins forces with LinkedIn to bolster careers advice.

    • Landmark partnership between LinkedIn and the Government reflects that the ‘job for life’ has given way to career mobility.
    • Anonymised data from LinkedIn’s pool of 40 million UK accounts will help the DWP have the best possible data within the Jobs and Careers Service. 
    • This comes as government brings forward the biggest employment reforms in a generation with a particular focus on helping young people into work.   

    Thousands of jobseekers could be supported into a new career as the government joins forces with LinkedIn to bolster careers advice. 

    It will see timely anonymised data on jobs, skills, hiring and workforce movement shared with Skills England from LinkedIn’s network of 40 million UK accounts, giving the government a new way of viewing the labour market. 

    In the future this could be used by the new Jobs and Careers Service to provide jobseekers with more tailored advice on industry specific skills and career routes, helping them to reach their goals. 

    As the recent Skills England Annual Report found, a further 1.8 million extra jobs will be needed in priority sectors by 2035. The DWP will work with LinkedIn to map how people move between jobs, with the aim of helping people to widen their career options and businesses to look beyond traditional recruitment pools. 

    The landmark partnership with LinkedIn recognises the days of a job for life are increasingly rare. As Funding Circle has found, the average worker will go through seven jobs in their lifetime, with younger people more likely to change roles. This shows that having the right data on career paths and the skills necessary to follow them is more crucial than ever. 

    The DWP and Skills England are excited to explore how this data can be used and will explore a number of possibilities as our work with LinkedIn progresses.  

    An improved understanding of where there is a skills mismatch between local job adverts and the skills of the local population is our first priority for this work in order to inform new skills options and drive economic growth.  

    Young people in particular will benefit from this partnership as the government will gain a more detailed insight of the local workforce and how it is evolving.  

    Last week the Secretary of State Pat McFadden met with LinkedIn’s Blake Lawit, to mark this exciting new partnership. The partnership comes as the government takes forward the biggest employment reforms in a generation, including the creation of the new Jobs and Careers Service and a major drive backed by £2.5 billion investment to give every young person the chance to earn or learn. 

    Pat McFadden Secretary of State said: 

    We know young people today are far less likely than previous generations to stay in the same career for life, which is why we must give them the tools to build a fulfilling, lasting career path.  

    This partnership with LinkedIn will give us a clearer understanding of the jobs market – what employers need, where opportunities are, and how people are building their careers, in order to boost economic growth.  

    Together with our £2.5 billion youth employment support package, we are making sure that every young person across the country has the chance to earn or learn.

    Phil Smith, Chair of Skills England, said:  

    I’m really excited about this partnership. LinkedIn has become such a hub for businesses that are recruiting and people on the look-out for jobs.  

    The resulting insights from their anonymised data will be incredibly valuable to Skills England and the new Jobs and Careers Service – particularly when it comes to identifying local skills gaps and helping young people to fill them.  

    We’re looking forward to joining forces to make a major difference.

    Blake Lawit, Chief Global Affairs & Legal Officer of LinkedIn: 

    Today’s careers are increasingly shaped by skills, adaptability, and continuous learning.  

    Professionals entering the workforce now are on pace to hold twice as many jobs over their careers compared to 15 years ago. As people navigate more career transitions, access to timely labour market insights is more important than ever.  

    We’re proud to be supporting the UK Government’s efforts to better understand workforce trends, close talent gaps, and help more people find their next opportunity faster.

    Additional Information

    No individual-level member data will be shared with DWP. 

    LinkedIn has a database of 40 million accounts which includes students, retirees and working people recognise the UK as their professional home. 

    To protect the privacy of LinkedIn’s members, data will be collected within LinkedIn’s existing systems, with anonymised findings shared with Skills England. insight into how many people are employed, how they’re working. 

    Skills England will lead on this partnership on behalf of DWP, with officials already working to begin the initial phase of the project.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Eritrea [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Eritrea [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 June 2026.

    UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Eritrea. Delivered at the 62nd Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    The UK thanks the Special Rapporteur for his update and for his work throughout his tenure. We are disappointed that the Eritrean Government continues to refuse to engage with this mandate.     

    We welcome the release of some of those held in arbitrary detention for political or religious reasons. However, many more remain detained in inhumane conditions, and we encourage the Eritrean Government to extend these releases.   

    The system of indefinite national service has a suffocating impact on the lives of Eritreans, especially young people, and has contributed to mass emigration including to the UK. It requires urgent reform.  

    We support the report’s recommendations, including the call for the implementation of Eritrea’s Constitution.  

    Special Rapporteur,  as you reflect on the past 6 years of your tenure, where do you see the most realistic opportunities for progress as you hopefully hand the baton to a successor?

  • Rachel Reeves – 2026 Comments on Rolls-Royce SMR Winning a Contract

    Rachel Reeves – 2026 Comments on Rolls-Royce SMR Winning a Contract

    The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 15 June 2026.

    We have the right economic plan, and after this government backed Rolls Royce to make the UK’s first SMRs at Wylfa, this deal showcases British businesses’ ability to compete and win in the global market for clean energy technologies.

    New high-value jobs, a strengthened industrial base and export opportunities worth billions of pounds will help drive long-term growth and position the UK at the forefront of the industries powering the future.

  • Peter Kyle – 2026 Comments on Rolls-Royce SMR Winning a Contract

    Peter Kyle – 2026 Comments on Rolls-Royce SMR Winning a Contract

    The comments made by Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, on 15 June 2026.

    I’m unashamedly backing British business on the world stage and that’s why I went to Stockholm earlier this year to champion this partnership, and it’s great to see Government’s effort paying off. 

    This is a major vote of confidence in Rolls-Royce SMR and the UK’s world‑leading civil nuclear sector — showing that, thanks to our Modern Industrial Strategy, Britain is the partner of choice for the next generation of clean energy. 

    At a time of global instability, this deal strengthens Europe’s energy security while creating jobs, driving investment and growing our supply chains at home and with partners like Sweden — backing British industry to deliver clean, reliable power for decades to come.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government backing helps UK’s Rolls-Royce SMR win multibillion-pound Sweden nuclear export contract [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government backing helps UK’s Rolls-Royce SMR win multibillion-pound Sweden nuclear export contract [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 15 June 2026.

    Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by the Swedish development company Videberg Kraft to build small modular reactors (SMRs) in Sweden, marking a major multibillion-pound export win for the UK and a breakthrough moment for British nuclear.

    • Rolls-Royce SMR wins race for multibillion-pound deal to partner with Videberg Kraft for Sweden’s nuclear programme.
    • Major vote of confidence in UK innovation and government’s Modern Industrial Strategy secured by government export campaign.
    • Deal to support thousands of skilled jobs, strengthen supply chains and deepen UK–Sweden partnership.

    Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by the Swedish development company Videberg Kraft to build small modular reactors (SMRs) in Sweden, marking a major multibillion-pound export win for the UK and a breakthrough moment for British nuclear. 

    The multibillion-pound deal was supported by a UK Government export campaign, including a visit by Business Secretary Peter Kyle to Sweden earlier this year.

    The deal will boost jobs, back UK industry and strengthen the UK’s domestic nuclear programme, while supporting Sweden’s plans to deliver clean, reliable and secure power. 

    The decision marks a clear endorsement of the technology’s credibility, following the decision by Great British Energy – Nuclear in June 2025 to select Rolls-Royce SMR as its preferred technology partner for the government’s own SMR programme. 

    It is also a strong signal of international confidence in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, almost a year on from its launch in 2025. 

    It opens up significant opportunities for UK and European supply chains, supporting thousands of skilled jobs and long-term economic growth across both countries. 

    The partnership also represents a step-change for Europe’s energy security, delivering reliable clean power and reducing dependence on volatile fossil fuels. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    This deal is a major win for Britain’s economy — showcasing UK engineering on the world stage and securing high‑value jobs, investment and export growth for years to come.  

    It proves that British technology and innovation is helping to drive Europe’s clean‑energy transition, strengthen energy security and open new markets for our world‑class nuclear sector.

    Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: 

    I’m unashamedly backing British business on the world stage and that’s why I went to Stockholm earlier this year to champion this partnership, and it’s great to see Government’s effort paying off. 

    This is a major vote of confidence in Rolls-Royce SMR and the UK’s world‑leading civil nuclear sector — showing that, thanks to our Modern Industrial Strategy, Britain is the partner of choice for the next generation of clean energy. 

    At a time of global instability, this deal strengthens Europe’s energy security while creating jobs, driving investment and growing our supply chains at home and with partners like Sweden — backing British industry to deliver clean, reliable power for decades to come.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    This is further proof that clean energy is the industrial opportunity of this century for Britain – and that this Government’s commitment to this agenda is winning jobs and investment for Britain.  

    It’s time to make and build things in Britain again – that is why we’ve embarked on the biggest nuclear power programme in a generation, as we drive for energy sovereignty and abundance.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    We have the right economic plan, and after this government backed Rolls Royce to make the UK’s first SMRs at Wylfa, this deal showcases British businesses’ ability to compete and win in the global market for clean energy technologies.

    New high-value jobs, a strengthened industrial base and export opportunities worth billions of pounds will help drive long-term growth and position the UK at the forefront of the industries powering the future.

    This decision reflects strong alignment between the UK and Sweden on clean energy, energy security and long-term economic growth — and lays the foundations for deeper cooperation on nuclear deployment across Europe.  The Government will now work closely with Swedish partners alongside Great British Energy – Nuclear to explore how the respective SMR programmes can benefit from collaboration.  

    The global SMR market is expected to reach nearly £500 billion by 2050, with the UK well-placed to lead the race to build and export next-generation nuclear technology. 

    The UK’s first SMR project will be built at Wylfa in North Wales and is estimated to support around 3,000 jobs at peak construction and thousands more across the UK supply chain. 

    Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce plc, said: 

    Rolls-Royce SMR has now been successful in every competitively tendered SMR selection process in Europe and it is now very well placed to become a market leader globally. Success in Sweden shows the real momentum that Rolls-Royce SMR is generating as it builds upon its crucial first-mover advantage in a market that is growing and attracting significant international interest. 

    Selection by Videberg Kraft reinforces the status of Rolls-Royce SMR as the only company with multiple contractual commitments to deliver SMR units in Europe. It is an endorsement of our technology and technical capability to deliver a scalable, repeatable nuclear solution. 

    This selection is also further evidence that the strategic choices we have made in the transformation of Rolls-Royce are delivering. We are unlocking significant future growth opportunities through our unique nuclear capabilities and are well positioned to benefit from the ongoing nuclear renaissance.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors 

    • Rolls-Royce SMR is the UK’s leading small modular reactor technology, designed to deliver reliable low-carbon electricity and support domestic and export growth. 
    • The deal supports skilled jobs and supply chain opportunities across the UK and Europe. 
    • The UK is positioning itself as a global leader in next-generation nuclear technology.
  • NEWS STORY : Vickrum Digwa Sentence Referred to Court of Appeal

    NEWS STORY : Vickrum Digwa Sentence Referred to Court of Appeal

    STORY

    The Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves, has referred the sentence of Vickrum Digwa to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Digwa was convicted of the murder of Henry Nowak and the Court of Appeal will now consider whether the sentence imposed should be increased.

    The Attorney General’s Office said the referral followed a review by the Solicitor General, who has the power to ask the Court of Appeal to reconsider certain Crown Court sentences in England and Wales. The scheme allows sentences to be reviewed where they may be unduly lenient, including in cases involving murder, manslaughter and rape.

    Reeves said the case had “horrified” her and said difficult questions needed to be answered about the way police handled Henry Nowak’s murder. She said her role was to review Digwa’s sentence and that, after careful consideration, she had decided to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

  • Ellie Reeves – 2026 Comments on Sentencing of Vickrum Digwa

    Ellie Reeves – 2026 Comments on Sentencing of Vickrum Digwa

    The comments made by Ellie Reeves, the Solicitor General, on 15 June 2026.

    This case horrified me, and I know that feeling is shared by the British public. It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry’s Nowak’s murder, while my role is to review Digwa’s sentence for his crimes.

    After careful consideration, I have taken the decision to refer this case to the Court of Appeal.

    No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry’s family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss. But I hope this referral goes some way towards bringing them the justice they deserve.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Solicitor General refers Vickrum Digwa to Court of Appeal [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Solicitor General refers Vickrum Digwa to Court of Appeal [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 15 June 2026.

    The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC has referred the sentence of Vickrum Digwa, convicted of the murder of Henry Nowak, to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    The Court of Appeal will now decide whether the sentence imposed was unduly lenient, and whether to increase the existing sentence.

    The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP says:

    This case horrified me, and I know that feeling is shared by the British public. It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry’s Nowak’s murder, while my role is to review Digwa’s sentence for his crimes.

    After careful consideration, I have taken the decision to refer this case to the Court of Appeal.

    No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry’s family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss. But I hope this referral goes some way towards bringing them the justice they deserve.

    Notes for Editors

    • Anyone can ask for a Crown Court sentence to be reviewed if they think it’s too low.
    • The Law Officers can review sentences given by the Crown Court in England and Wales if they’re asked to. The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to carefully consider the case and make a decision
    • By law only certain types of case can be reviewed, such as murder, manslaughter and rape
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to build UK’s first permanent mobile museum to bring art to communities everywhere [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to build UK’s first permanent mobile museum to bring art to communities everywhere [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 15 June 2026.

    £1.6 million investment from DCMS and Art Explora will create the UK’s first permanent mobile museum.

    • Renowned British architecture studio Ab Rogers Design appointed to design new mobile museum after international competition
    • Artworks from the Government Art Collection will tour the South West and North West of England this summer
    • This is the government’s latest step towards ensuring everyone can access arts and culture in the places they call home 

    The UK’s first permanent mobile museum will hit the road next year, bringing world class art to the doors of people all across the country. 

    A total of £1.6 million, formed of £800,000 from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and £800,000 matched by arts access charity Art Explora, will be used to build a state-of-the-art vehicle and tour three national collections per year, including the Government Art Collection (GAC). Designed by renowned British architect Ab Rogers, this colourful new vehicle will be the first dedicated mobile museum in the country and is part of the Culture Secretary’s plan to ensure arts are available everywhere for everyone. 

    From 2027, Art Explora will tour the new mobile museum with three 12-week exhibitions each year. GAC artworks will feature in one exhibition annually, with national and regional partners including Tate, the National Portrait Gallery, Leeds Art Gallery, Birmingham Museums Trust and National Museums Liverpool among other national museums delivering the remaining programme to ensure the widest possible reach across the UK. 

    The Government Art Collection was established in 1899 and is a national collection of historic, modern and contemporary British art that is displayed in government buildings in the UK and around the world. The works are seen by hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, promoting British art and contributing to cultural diplomacy. Through an extensive public engagement programme, the GAC brings artworks into the heart of communities and works with UK and international partners to support creative exchange and skill development for young people. 

    Ahead of this, a three month pilot tour will take place in the South West and North West with an existing mobile museum. This will bring a curated selection of works from the collection to communities across England this summer, including many who have never had the chance to experience a national gallery up close. 

    The exhibition brings together a selection of artworks from the Government Art Collection that explores the sea’s influence on people, places and communities. Through themes of exploration, migration and climate change, the works reflect the many ways the sea has shaped the UK and the wider world.

    Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

    I am determined that great art isn’t just for the few but for everyone, no matter where they live. The Government Art Collection belongs to the whole country, and this tour is an exciting step towards making that a reality. 

    By taking the collection directly into communities, to parks, schools, libraries and public squares, we’re breaking down the barriers that have kept people from experiencing the art that belongs to everyone. This is what ‘Arts Everywhere’ really means in practice, and I’m proud that we’re making it happen.

    The establishment of a permanent mobile museum for the UK builds on the success of two previous Art Explora mobile museum tours, in collaboration with Tate, in 2023 and 2024 across the Midlands and the North.

    The mobile museum is currently being built in Telford by Torton Bodies Limited, a leading UK firm, with a striking design by renowned British architect Ab Rogers.

    Jemima Montagu, Director, Art Explora, said:

    There remains a growing gap between those who have access to museums, galleries and arts venues, and those who are left behind. Art Explora is trying to bridge this divide by taking art into the heart of communities and sharing our rich national collections more widely. The new UK Mobile Museum is a stunning piece of design and engineering which will itself be a source of wonder and inspiration wherever it goes. A tardis for the 21st century!

    Frédéric Jousset, Founder and Chair of Trustees, Art Explora, said:

    Art Explora was founded on the belief that art should be accessible to everyone. We now have a growing Mobile Museum fleet in France, which – over 15 years – has proven the value of bringing art from our national collections directly to communities. UK government support for a dedicated UK truck is an important milestone, as we extend access to great art collections further across Europe.

    Ab Rogers, Founder and Director, Ab Rogers Design, said:

    It is not every day you get the opportunity to design a mobile museum. We wanted to capture the feeling of the circus arriving in town, creating an explosive burst of energy and anticipation that contains and nurtures extraordinary, curated collections. More mobile, more vibrant and more alive than any other museum, it’s a project that’s very close to my heart.

    The mobile museum is one of the core programmes of Art Explora UK, an arts charity founded in 2021 with a mission to tackle the social, economic and geographic barriers that prevent many people from participating in the arts. The mobile museum addresses these barriers head-on, setting up within walking distance of local schools and community centres in areas identified as having high deprivation and low cultural engagement. Over 36–40 weeks of touring annually, it will visit 40 – 45 locations, reaching 25,000 visitors and serving 130–150 schools each year.

    This builds on the Culture Secretary’s commitment of up to £1.5 billion to the cultural sector over this parliament, with the Arts Everywhere Fund aiming to save more than 1,000 cherished arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to the arts on their doorstep.

    Notes to editors

    • Art Explora’s mission is to expand access to the arts in the UK through innovative touring, digital and creative programmes. They work with artists, communities and cultural organisations to remove barriers to participation and make the arts accessible to all.  They champion the power of art to connect people, inspire ideas and enrich lives.
    • Ab Rogers is a designer specialising in small spaces and experiential design, known for his use of colour, narrative, and high functionality. Rogers’ work focuses on diverse conceptual approaches to interiors, including the use of dynamic materials, sensation, and movement. 
    • The Government Art Collection’s exhibition ’Shaped by the Sea’will go on tour on the Art Explora Mobile Museum for 13 weeks, from 15 June to 13 September 2026. 
    • The mobile museum tour will start in St Budeaux, Plymouth. It will bring historic, modern and contemporary works by British artists from the GAC to communities across the South West and the North West of England. Artists included in the exhibition: Roger Ackling, Simon Bayliss, Samuel and Nathaniel Buck,Chila Kumari Singh Burman, Mohini Chandra, EVEWRIGHT, Anya Gallaccio, Lubaina Himid, Tess Jaray, Thomas Luny, Will Maclean, Zethu Maseko, Paul Nash, William Pye, Bridget Riley, Ro Robertson, Zineb Sedira, Emma Stibbon and J. M. W. Turner. 
    • MuMo (‘Mobile Museum’) was founded by Ingrid Brochard, designed by matali crasset with the support of the Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso.
  • Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Comments on Banning Social Media for Children

    Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Comments on Banning Social Media for Children

    The comments made by Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, on 15 June 2026.

    It is fantastic news that the Government has finally woken up to the dangers of social media for young people. This is an important step in helping parents protect childhood for children.

    Huge credit goes to Laura Trott and my Shadow Cabinet for relentlessly fighting for this. Conservatives welcome this latest Labour U-turn, and will continue to work for the best implementation of the policy.