Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with President Ruto of Kenya [July 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 July 2025.

The Prime Minister welcomed the President of Kenya, William Ruto, to Downing Street today.

The leaders began by celebrating the new UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership, which will see both countries work together to drive economic growth and strengthen regional security.

Turning to migration, the Prime Minister and President welcomed a new UK-Kenya security agreement to disrupt organised immigration crime and human trafficking in Kenya to prevent onward migration to Europe.

On trade and investment, the leaders discussed the Nairobi Railway City project, which has been inspired by London’s Kings Cross and will enable opportunities for UK businesses, driving growth and delivering on our Plan for Change.

The Prime Minister and President agreed on the need for peace and stability in the region.

July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Technology and Energy Secretaries chair second AI Energy Council meeting [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 1 July 2025.

The Technology and Energy Secretaries have chaired the second round of discussions, with a focus on compute and the energy demands of AI.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle and Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband led the second meeting of the AI Energy Council in London this week (Monday 30 June).

Joined by regulators and representatives of the energy and tech sectors, the latest round of talks centred on the energy demands which will be needed to power the UK’s compute ambitions, and the future energy needs of the sector as a whole.

The government has set the ambition of ramping up the UK’s public compute capacity – the building block of AI development – 20 fold in the next 5 years, with talks focused on how the country’s energy grid can meet that goal.

Presentations from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the National Energy System Operator (NESO) on energy demands for AI kicked off the session, with the Energy Secretary reflecting on the work being undertaken by the council’s dedicated working group on forecasting energy demand.

With the energy demands of data centres – key drivers of AI development and growth – expected to double in the coming years, attendees also reiterated the importance of ensuring they can be connected to the power grid as swiftly as possible.

This was further highlighted by the Technology Secretary’s reflections on the importance of growth and increasing the UK’s sovereign AI capabilities as central pillars of the AI Energy Council’s work, noting its role as a vital forum for answering key questions and unlocking opportunity.

At the conclusion of the meeting, those in attendance reflected on the shared mission across the energy and tech sectors and the urgency of the council’s work in the coming years as the government powers both its AI and clean energy superpower ambitions. This also included an agreement to work together to forecast future trends support the government’s broader work on grid connections.

The council will next meet in Autumn.

July 9, 2025
Peter Kyle – 2025 Speech at CityWeek 2025

The speech made by Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, on 1 July 2025.

Last week, I represented the British government on a trip to Singapore.

I was there to celebrate 60 years of partnership between our 2 countries.

And drum up investment into British technology.

It was my first time in Singapore.

And it struck me that it’s a place that has mastered the art of reinvention.

From traditional fishing village to global financial centre.

Small trading post to one of the most competitive economies in the world.

An economy that, like ours, knows that the key to staying competitive is being squarely focussed on the future.

It’s a similar idea that brings us together today.

Because this is a sector that’s also defined by an ability to reinvent itself.

Where centuries-old banks have had to rip up the playbook.

To compete with nimble, digital-first firms.

And where new technologies have made the way you work unrecognisable from how it once was.

One of my first proper jobs was in a finance team.

It was 1989, and I worked in the purchase ledger at The Body Shop – a hero of the British high street at the time.

I matched goods that came in with invoices.

And inputted all of that into an arcane mainframe computer.

I’m sure quite a few of you will remember those days.

And the change after change you’ve seen your institutions through since.

Because before PIN codes, there was paper.

Before blockchain, there were books of accounts that landed with a thud on the desk.

Before cashless, there was ‘Cashier number 3 please’.

These are changes that financial services firms have not just weathered, but pioneered.

To keep this sector as the engine of economic growth it truly is.

And to keep creating products that improve the lives of working people.

Over the past few years, another change has rippled through the sector:

AI has reshaped what’s possible.

And there’s not a sector of our economy it will leave untouched.

There’s a simple difference between this change and those that came before:

Sheer speed.

In past waves of transformation, industry and the state alike could afford to dip a toe in.

To spend a few years seeing how the water feels.

This time, we need to jump.

Since joining government, I’ve been clear that the UK will not be swept along as others lead the AI revolution.

We’ll shape that revolution here.

6 months ago, we launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

Setting out how the UK will seize the massive potential for economic growth that AI offers us.

Growth that’s at the heart of our Plan for Change.

Since that launch, we’ve opened up applications for areas in the UK to become AI Growth Zones – hotspots of AI infrastructure and investment.

And had over 200 responses.

The full weight of government is behind the plan.

With the Chancellor announcing £2 billion to deliver it, as part of the Spending Review.

And a Modern Industrial Strategy that doubles down on our commitment to AI…

…as one of the 6 frontier technologies our digital and tech sector plan focusses on.

Crucial to that plan is adoption.

Because talking about the power of AI to grow the economy is all well and good.

But unless companies use it, that growth only exists in theory.

Not in practice.

Financial services is at the front of the pack here.

Around 3 quarters of firms surveyed by the Bank of England the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) already use AI.

That’s the 3rd highest rate of adoption across the economy.

That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.

The UK led the world in open banking.

We led the world in near-instant digital payments.

And our reputation in fintech is second-to-none.

The most valuable private tech company in Europe is Revolut, a British fintech.

Our fintech crown is one I’m infinitely proud of.

If we’re to hold on to it, you need a government that continues to back you.

That doesn’t just call for you to keep exploring new technologies.

But actively enables you to do it.

When I talk to firms about adoption, they tell me about 2 barriers more than any other.

A lack of skills.

And finding their way through a web of complex regulation.

On skills, we’re partnering with 11 major tech companies to train 7.5 million workers in the UK with essential AI skills by the end of this decade.

So that a lack of expertise will never put a ceiling on what you can do.

Regulation shouldn’t be that ceiling, either.

In her Mansion House speech last year, the Chancellor set out a vision:

For a regulatory environment that cares about managing the burden we put on businesses.

Since then, she’s launched a radical action plan on regulation to kickstart growth.

My part in that is making sure we ease the burden on businesses when it comes to adopting emerging tech.

About 9 months ago, I launched the Regulatory Innovation Office.

A dedicated unit to curb red tape.

And get game-changing tech into the public’s hands quickly and safely.

It’s already delivered results.

Apian, a British start-up founded by NHS doctors, is now freed up to use drones to take blood samples from Guy’s Hospital in London Bridge, over to a lab in St. Thomas’ for testing.

Before the NHS had the okay to work with them, those samples were carted over in vans.

The journey took around half an hour.

More if they were snarled up in traffic.

After support from Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), each delivery now takes just 2 minutes.

Beds are freed up faster.

NHS waiting lists go down.

And a crucial difference is made for patients where every second counts.

Thanks to RIO’s close work with regulators, companies have made advances like these in fields like space or engineering biology, too.

But I want more sectors to benefit from the breath of fresh air it offers.

Instead of being stifled by a blanket of bureaucracy.

So, today, I can announce that RIO is joining forces with digital regulators.

To consolidate a labyrinth of regulation, and make it easier for innovators to bring AI products to market quickly and easily.

This marks a significant boost for fintechs.

Right now, your efforts to use emerging tech can get mired in a lack of clarity.

Because there’s no single port of call on what you can do with AI.

You’re left going from regulator to regulator, picking your way through different sets of rules.

For start-ups and scale-ups without big legal teams, that’s nigh-on impossible to navigate.

And for bigger banks and firms, it’s days of productivity sunk.

Now, RIO is teaming up to the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF).

To bring all of that guidance together into a one-stop shop.

A digital library that lets you quickly search for answers.

These are changes that firms of all shapes and sizes can take advantage of.

Up-and-coming fintechs to household-name banks will go from idea to impact faster:

Using AI to spot credit card fraud hours before humans can alone.

To get instant answers to your customers.

To analyse stocks, so people can get more out of their investments.

We’re clearing the path for you to harness AI to stay ahead of the game.

And to make people’s lives fundamentally better.

Because I know this is a sector that will keep reinventing itself.

Just as I know that AI will continue to bring profound, positive change to the UK.

With the right backing on adoption…

Access to skills…

And clarity on regulation…

We’ll make sure that this isn’t just a change that fintechs and banks are part of.

But a change that you lead.

July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Preferred candidate for the role of Standing Advocate [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 July 2025.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has confirmed that Cindy Butts is the preferred candidate for appointment to the role of Standing Advocate.

The Independent Public Advocate, established by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, will be a new statutory office with a permanent Standing Advocate to support victims of major incidents.

The Standing Advocate will ensure victims of major incidents understand their rights and can access vital emotional and practical support from the outset. The IPA can also advise the government on the type of review that should take place following a major incident. This will help relay victims’ views directly into the heart of government when deciding whether answers need to be sought, lessons need to be learned, and authorities held to account.

Cindy Butts has been selected as the preferred candidate for the role of Standing Advocate following a rigorous recruitment process conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The role, which is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, is subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the Justice Select Committee. Pre-appointment scrutiny is an important part of the appointment process for some of the most significant public appointments made by Ministers. It is designed to provide an added level of scrutiny to the appointment process.

Pre-appointment hearings are held in public and allow a Select Committee to take evidence before a candidate is appointed. Ministers consider the Committee’s views before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment.

Cindy Butts biography

Cindy Butts is a highly accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience dedicated to enhancing access to justice and tackling inequality. She has held senior roles in complex and sensitive organisations within the criminal justice, policing, and government sectors.

Cindy chaired the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), appointed by the ECB, publishing the landmark “Holding up A Mirror to Cricket” report in June 2023.

She has a comprehensive track record of supporting victims and working with vulnerable people, focussing on putting their needs first.

Having dedicated her career to public service, Ms Butts brings decades of experience handling high-profile and sensitive issues. This includes as Commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission when they investigated the police response to the Hillsborough disaster. Ms Butts also oversaw the significant transformation of the Metropolitan Police Service in the aftermath of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, an inquiry prompted by the tragic murder of Stephen Lawrence and a true turning point for justice and equality for victims of crime.

Currently, she carries out consultancy work in the UK and internationally. Cindy also serves as a Lay Member of the House of Lords Conduct Committee (August 2019-current), where she reviews conduct rules and adjudicates appeals. She is also a Senior Independent Panel Member for public appointment assessment panels in various government departments (April 2004 – Current), providing independent oversight on Non-Executive Director recruitment.

July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Independent Public Advocate candidate selected [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 July 2025.

Victims of major incidents will be better supported following Cindy Butts’ selection as preferred candidate for the Independent Public Advocate (IPA).
- Cindy Butts named as Government’s preferred candidate for Independent Public Advocate
- Role will ensure victims of major incidents better supported and heard
- Delivering justice for victims vital to Government’s Plan for Change
Ms Butts has a comprehensive track record of supporting victims and working with vulnerable people – specialising in putting their needs first.

Having dedicated her career to public service, Ms Butts brings decades of experience handling high-profile and sensitive issues.

This includes as Commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission whilst they investigated the police response to the Hillsborough disaster. Remarkably, she also oversaw the significant transformation of the Metropolitan Police Service in the aftermath of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry – this was prompted by the tragic murder of Stephen Lawrence and a true turning point for justice and equality for victims of crime.

In her role as IPA, Ms Butts will ensure victims of major incidents understand their rights and can access vital emotional and practical support from the get-go.

Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, said:

The Independent Public Advocate will transform our response to major disasters, ensuring victims’ voices are heard above all else.

Cindy’s experience overseeing system reform following some of the most prolific cases of injustice in modern memory more than qualifies her for this role. I have every faith that she will provide victims the support they deserve.

The IPA will also be able to advise the Government on the type of review that should take place following a major incident. This will help relay victims’ views directly into the heart of Government when deciding whether answers need to be sought, lessons need to be learned, and authorities held to account.

Cindy Butts said:

I am deeply honoured to be named the Government’s preferred candidate for the Independent Public Advocate role.

Throughout my career, I have been steadfastly committed to championing fairness and ensuring that the voices of those who have experienced profound loss or injustice are heard, respected, and placed at the heart of our efforts for truth and accountability.

I look forward to working diligently to uphold the vital principles of care and support, ensuring that individuals and families receive the dedicated support and advocacy they deserve during their most challenging times. This role is a profound responsibility, and I am ready to begin the work of making a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Nabil Choucair, Grenfell Tower Trust, said:

As someone who lost loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire, I welcome the appointment of the new Independent Public Advocate.

For families like mine, the pain of loss has been compounded by years of being dismissed, ignored, and silenced. We know all too well what it means to have our truths buried and our calls for justice delayed. Cindy’s appointment offers a glimmer of hope—but hope alone is not enough.

We are watching closely to see whether this government will match words with action, and give her the independence, resources, and authority needed to make a real difference. Anything less would be another betrayal.

Yvette Williams MBE, Justice 4 Grenfell Campaign, said:

It is powerful and necessary to see someone with a proven track record and deep commitment to justice taking on this vital role. But this appointment must be more than symbolic.

With Cindy’s experience and integrity, she has the potential to amplify the voices of those who have suffered, hold failing systems to account, and confront institutional indifference head-on.

To achieve this, she must be allowed to act with genuine independence—free from interference or political pressure—so she can earn and retain the trust of victims, survivors, bereaved families, and communities during the most painful moments of their lives.

Further information
- The IPA was established by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024
- The candidate will be appointed for a five-year term.
- The role is subject to pre-appointment hearing by the Justice Select Committee. Ministers consider the Committee’s views before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment.
- Alongside the IPA, the Government can appoint additional advocates with relevant experience to each individual incident to support the IPA’s efforts.
- In this role, the IPA will also have the power to produce reports on a major incident for which they have been appointed without a direct request from the Lord Chancellor, providing an independent and invaluable assessment of lessons learned and recommendations to the Government and other public authorities.
- The IPA will support victims throughout the aftermath of the incident, this may include helping victims to navigate the investigations which may follow such as statutory inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005 and inquests under the Coroner Justice Act 2009.
- The IPA will not act as a legal representative to victims.
- The definition of a major incident for the IPA is an event that occurs in England or Wales and is declared in writing by the Secretary of State to have caused the death of or serious harm to a significant number of individuals. This would cover major incidents similar to the Grenfell Tower fire, the Hillsborough disaster, and the Manchester Arena bombing.
July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 59 – UK Statement for Fiji’s UPR Outcomes Session [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 July 2025.

UK Statement for Fiji’s Universal Periodic Review Outcomes Session. Delivered at the 59th session of the HRC in Geneva.

Thank You Mr Vice President,

We commend Fiji’s engagement with the UPR process.

We welcome Fiji’s establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to promote healing, truth telling and national unity. The UK is pleased to have provided legal and communications assistance to support these efforts.

The UK recognises the emphasis Fiji places on freedom of expression and assembly. We encourage Fiji to go further, to ensure a safe civic space for all Fijians to challenge and protest, strengthening democratic accountability.

We welcome Fiji’s openness to engage with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers and hope they will be able to visit soon.

We also welcome Fiji’s commitment to countering gender-based and domestic violence. Fiji’s Action Plan and the police’s enhanced policies in this regard are reassuring. We encourage Fiji to continue monitoring this issue and to ensure the process delivers from investigation through to sentencing.

We note the measures in place to counter human-trafficking, and encourage Fiji to build on these, in particular to ensure an effective enforcement mechanism.

We look forward to Fiji’s continued progress through subsequent reviews.

Thank you.

July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Regulatory Innovation Office to help streamline regulation, helping UK’s world-leading fintech sector [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 1 July 2025.

Regulatory Innovation Office to partner with Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum to cut red tape, and support fintech innovation, fuelling government plan for Plan for Change.
- Technology Secretary Peter Kyle announces plans for the Regulatory Innovation Office to work with the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum to cut red tape, and support fintech innovation, fuelling our Plan for Change
- RIO push includes backing for new tech to help innovators use AI to better navigate complex digital regulations, from fintech to consumer services
- UK’s world-leading fintech sector supported through a new one-stop shop to access all the guidance they need in one place
Fintech and other digital firms will be better supported to navigate complex regulation through new tools backed by the Regulatory Innovation Office, the Technology Secretary announced today (Tuesday 1 July).

Speaking at the AI and Digital Innovation Day at CityWeek, the Secretary of State hailed the UK’s world-leading financial services sector – last year the UK fintech sector specifically attracted $3.6 billion of investment. He set out plans to make it easier for fintech firms to bring cutting-edge products to market – from improved fraud detection to better tools for managing money – a key part of our Plan for Change to unlock innovation-led growth across the country.

Innovators across the landscape – including those in fintech, from start-ups to scale-ups – often face the challenge of understanding the labyrinth of regulations in their sector. This can be especially tough for smaller companies, who often don’t have teams of compliance experts, and will help them scale faster – supporting the SMEs that are the backbone of the UK economy.

The government’s Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) is partnering with the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF) to support the development of new smarter tools to make navigating the system faster, clearer and more accessible. This will include evaluating a unified digital library providing a ‘one stop’ access to digital policy and regulations for innovators, helping to free up businesses to focus on growth and innovation.

Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said:

The UK is a genuine world leader in both financial services and technology, and in the intersection between the two – fintech – but for far too many companies, the complex regulatory environment can be challenging to navigate.

Our Regulatory Innovation Office will work to remove those hurdles, to help innovators unlock new products that could drive economic growth – delivering on our Plan for Change.

Fintech firms are on the front line of solving big challenges – from fighting financial fraud and improving access to banking, to helping people save, borrow and invest more easily. The use of technologies like AI presents enormous opportunities for the sector, as shown at the Financial Conduct Authority’s AI Sprint earlier this year, which looked at how new technologies are set to overhaul the delivery of financial advice, compliance for firms, customer service and more.

But fragmented rules and regulatory complexity slow down innovation, delay safer financial products reaching the public, and deter investment. Supporting innovators to bring trusted products to market faster will help tackle real-world challenges more quickly – and give consumers access to safer, smarter services, which is at the core of The Chancellor’s Regulation Action Plan.

This cooperation with DRCF builds on the broader work of the Regulatory Innovation Office, which already supports 4 priority technologies: engineering biology, space, AI and digital in healthcare, and drones and autonomous technologies. From using quantum techniques to tackle online fraud, to improving emergency response with drone technology, the government is helping unlock the potential of cutting-edge science for real-world benefit.

In his speech, the Science Secretary also marked 6 months since the launch of the AI Opportunities Action Plan – highlighting how it has already delivered new cross-government partnerships, helped fund responsible AI trials, and supported regulators to better engage with innovators. He set out how AI will continue to transform key UK industries – from finance and transport to healthcare and defence.

Kate Jones, CEO, Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum, said:

The Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum is committed to breaking down barriers for innovators by making digital regulation simpler to find, understand and navigate. Our member regulators – Ofcom, the Competition and Markets Authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office, and the Financial Conduct Authority – are working together in support of their common vision: that regulation should enable responsible innovation.

This new user-friendly tool will help businesses and investors to find and understand digital regulation more easily and quickly. We’re pleased to be working with the Regulatory Innovation Office on this, supporting the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan.
July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Three groups to be proscribed [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 1 July 2025.

Palestine Action, Maniacs Murder Cult and Russian Imperial Movement set to be banned following advice from cross-government experts.

Three dangerous, terrorist groups will be banned under plans announced by the Home Secretary today.

A draft proscription order has been laid in Parliament which will proscribe Palestine Action (PA), as well as two further groups: the Maniacs Murder Cult (MMC) and the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM).

This will make it a criminal offence to be a member of one of these groups or to invite or recklessly express support for them.

Parliament will now consider and debate the draft Order and if passed, the Order will make it an offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison to belong to or support the groups.

Proscription is ideologically neutral. By deciding to proscribe these three organisations, the government is demonstrating its zero tolerance approach to terrorism, regardless of its form or underlying ideology. National security is the government’s first priority and it will not shy away from this responsibility.

As previously put to Parliament by the Home Secretary on 23rd June, her intention to proscribe Palestine Action after following its orchestration and enaction of aggressive and intimidatory attacks against businesses, institutions and the public, which has crossed the thresholds established in the Terrorism Act 2000.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

National security is the first duty of any government, we will always take the action needed to protect our democracy and national security against different threats.

Maniacs Murder Cult, Palestine Action and the Russian Imperial Movement have each passed the threshold for proscription based on clear national security evidence and assessments.

The right to protest and the right to free speech are the cornerstone of our democracy and there are countless campaign groups that freely exercise those rights. Violence and serious criminal damage has no place in legitimate protests.

These include attacks at Thales in Glasgow in 2022; and last year at Instro Precision in Kent and Elbit Systems UK in Bristol. The attack on the Thales defence factory in Glasgow, caused over £1 million worth of damage to parts essential for submarines. Staff fled for safety as pyrotechnics and smoke bombs were thrown in evacuation areas.

Such acts do not represent legitimate acts of protest and the level of seriousness of Palestine Action’s activity has met the test for proscription under the Terrorism Act 2000.

MMC is a white supremacist, neo-Nazi organisation that is transnational and predominantly online. It aims to encourage individuals to engage in acts of violence against those it perceives as “anti-social”, to further its causes.

MMC leaders and members have claimed a number of violent attacks globally. MMC supplies instructional material which provides information that can be used by an aspiring attacker to increase their capability or motivation to conduct a terrorist attack posing a threat to the UK.

Proscription will help deter individuals from engaging with MMC’s violent and misanthropic content. Further supporting social media platforms to remove MMC content and the Police in their efforts to respond to individuals found in possession of such material.

RIM is a white supremacist, ethno-nationalist organisation which seeks to create a new Russian Imperial State. Via its paramilitary unit, the Russian Imperial Legion, RIM has fought alongside Russian forces in Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, directly advancing its own ideological causes.

RIM manages a paramilitary training programme called Partizan, which increases the capability of attendees to conduct terrorist attacks. In 2016, two Swedish nationals attended Partizan before committing a series of bombings in Gothemburg, Sweden.

Proscribing RIM will continue the steadfast support of Ukraine in its resistance to Russian aggression and demonstrate the UK’s commitment to countering future threats from Extreme Right-Wing Terrorists.

Should Parliament vote to proscribe, the right to peaceful protest will remain protected. As will the ability to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and to oppose actions of the Israeli government. The government has carefully considered the nature and scale of Palestine Action’s activities to ensure legitimate protest is not affected.

The proscription orders will be debated in Parliament during this week. If approved, the orders will come into over the weekend.

This will mean that a total of 84 organisations are proscribed by the UK.

July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : London building contractor banned as company director and ordered to repay Covid loan funds with interest [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 1 July 2025.

Director disqualification and compensation order for Bounce Back loan abuse.
- Building contractor Tahir Haq overstated his company Integral Maintenance Team Ltd’s turnover by almost £200,000 to obtain a £50,000 Bounce Back loan when it was only entitled to just over £3,000
- He then failed to provide evidence that all of the funds were used for the economic benefit of his business
- The High Court banned Haq as a company director for 11 years and ordered him to repay all the money he was not entitled to, plus interest and costs
A West London building contractor who overstated his company’s turnover by almost £200,000 to secure a maximum-value Covid Bounce Back loan has been banned as a director and ordered to repay the money he was not entitled to.

Tahir Haq obtained a £50,000 Bounce Back loan for building completion and freight transport company Integral Maintenance Team Ltd, in late 2020.

However, his company was only entitled to little more than £3,000 under the scheme.

The 46-year-old, of Norman Avenue, Southall, provided no evidence that some of the funds he received were used for the economic benefit of his business, including cash withdrawals and money which was paid to a housing scheme in Pakistan. Haq supplied no documents which demonstrated that the housing scheme was connected to his company.

Haq was disqualified as a company director for 11 years at a hearing of the High Court in London on Tuesday 10 June.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £46,778, as well as interest on the loan totalling £4,078, and additional costs of £8,107.

His ban started on Tuesday 1 July.

Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

Tahir Haq overstated his company’s turnover by almost £200,000 to secure the maximum Bounce Back loan available.

Our investigation revealed he used some of this money for personal purposes, including payments to a housing scheme in Pakistan.

The 11-year disqualification and requirement to repay all the money he was never entitled to demonstrates our commitment to holding directors financially accountable when they misuse Covid support schemes.

Haq was the sole director of Integral Maintenance Team Ltd, which was set up in July 2018.

The company’s trading was described on Companies House as ‘other building completion and finishing’ and ‘freight transport by road’.

Haq secured the £50,000 Bounce Back loan for Integral Maintenance Team Ltd in December 2020, claiming the company’s turnover was £212,800.

However, receipts into the company bank account for 2019 were only £12,888, meaning he obtained £46,778 more than he should have.

Haq also failed to explain how at least £34,777 of the Bounce Back loan funds were used to benefit his company. The remaining funds were found to have been used for his business.

Liquidators were appointed for Integral Maintenance Team Ltd in November 2021.

The disqualification order prevents Haq from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

Further information
- Tahir Haq is of Norman Avenue, Southall, London. His date of birth is 10 July 1978
July 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK launches Foreign Influence Registration Scheme [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 1 July 2025.

New measures to protect UK from covert foreign influence came into effect on 1 July, strengthening national security, part of the Plan for Change.

National security will be bolstered as the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme launches today, one of the foundations of the government’s Plan for Change.

This landmark measure introduces an unprecedented enhanced tier, protecting our economy and society from covert activities by Iran and Russia. It also introduces a new layer of accountability around political influencing activity shedding light on attempts by overseas powers to shape UK democratic processes.

As part of the toolkit in the National Security Act 2023, FIRS will provide an unprecedented insight into covert attempts by overseas powers to influence UK democratic processes, help protect our institutions from covert interference and enhance the UK’s ability to understand and respond to threats against its democratic integrity and national security.

FIRS is a two-tier scheme: the political tier requires registration of any arrangements to carry out political influence activities in the UK on behalf of a foreign power, including political communications or lobbying senior decision-makers, such as MPs and election candidates.

A more stringent enhanced tier applies to foreign powers considered to pose a risk to the UK’s safety or interests – the whole of the Russian and Iranian states have been placed under this tier, after being approved by Parliament. This was in response to the serious threats they pose to our interests, and reflects the need to ensure transparency over covert influence activity directed by these states.

Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, said:

We welcome legitimate engagement with all countries, but we will not tolerate covert attempts to manipulate our political system or society.

The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme gives us the tools to confront growing threats to our national security, one of the foundations of our Plan for Change, without compromising the openness that defines our democracy.

Designating Russia and Iran under the enhanced tier is a vital step in protecting the safety and interests of the UK. This is about creating accountability and visibility so that covert influence operations have nowhere to hide, and ensuring we have the tools to detect and disrupt them.

These specifications will require the registration of any activities carried out in the UK at the direction of any part of the Russian or Iranian states. This explicitly includes their intelligence services – such as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), the Federal Security Service and the GRU – as well as both countries’ armed forces.

Registering under FIRS does not mean that an arrangement is illegitimate, or the activities are undesirable. In addition, it does not mean that the registrant needs to cease, or seek approval for, their activities. However, those who seek to act covertly for foreign powers will now face a choice – register under the scheme or risk prosecution.

Registrations under the political tier must be submitted within 28 days of the arrangement being made. For the enhanced tier, registrations must be submitted within 10 days of the arrangement being made and ahead of any activity being undertaken. Failure to register when required is a criminal offence.

To ensure the scheme is proportionate, FIRS includes exemptions, including for recognised news publishers, legal professionals acting during legal proceedings or providing legal advice, diplomats and their families, and arrangements involving the UK government.

National Security is at the centre of the UK’s domestic and international policy and is the foundation of the government’s Plan for Change. FIRS is a key part of our national security toolkit, and delivers on our ambition to make our country a harder operating environment for hostile actors.

It puts the UK at the forefront of international efforts to deter and disrupt covert foreign influence, and its world-leading tiers will address wider threats to our safety – strengthening our ability to identify and respond to activity that threatens our democratic integrity.

July 9, 2025