Tag: 2026

PRESS RELEASE : The UK supports EU-UN coordination in maintaining international peace and security – UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 April 2026.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Cooperation between the UN and the European Union.

The UK shares the EU’s commitment to effective multilateralism.

With deepening global instability, close cooperation between the UN and regional organisations remains essential.

The UK supports EU-UN coordination in maintaining international peace and security, as set out in the EU-UN Strategic Partnership.

We also welcome the strengthening of our own cooperation with the EU since the 2025 UK-EU Summit, and the signing of the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership.

We continue to build on this in pursuit of European and international security.

I will now make three points.

First, the EU makes a vital contribution to stability in our shared neighbourhood.

Like the UK, the EU has consistently championed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which Russia continues to violate through its illegal war.

Russia must end its aggression, and any peace must be just, lasting, and consistent with the UN Charter.

In the Western Balkans, the EU plays a vital role through the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and contributing to stability and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina through EUFOR ALTHEA.

Second, EU-UN cooperation contributes to peace and security well beyond Europe. We welcome the EU’s commitment to the protection of civilians, the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and climate-related security.

In the Middle East, the UK and the EU welcome the current ceasefire as an important step back from escalation and an opportunity to create space for diplomacy.

The EU and its Member States have been a consistent voice of support for freedom of navigation and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In Sudan, the EU is a valued partner for UN efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and bring an end to the conflict.

The Berlin Conference on 15 April, co-hosted by the UK, EU, Germany and others, will be an opportunity to reinforce international focus and drive practical action.

We also welcome the EU’s diplomatic and humanitarian engagement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and work on governance, resilience, and peacebuilding in Africa and beyond.

Third, President, we welcome the commitment shown by the EU and its Member States to the UN as an institution, including through the UN 80 reform process.

We share the goal of a reformed UN that is effective and representative.

A UN that advances international peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.

We are proud to count the EU as a key partner in this cause.

April 14, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : £50 million boost to defence innovation in South Yorkshire with new Defence Growth Deal [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 April 2026.

New £50 million South Yorkshire Defence Growth Deal expanding cutting-edge defence research to help defence companies and boost skills in a region that already supports 3,200 defence jobs.
- New Defence Growth Deal to boost skills, research and development and supply chains across South Yorkshire.
- Investment will support hundreds of well-paid jobs and make defence an engine for growth.
- Yorkshire and the Humber benefits from almost £1 billion a year in defence spending, supporting 3, 200 jobs. 
South Yorkshire will benefit from a £50 million investment to create highly-skilled jobs and strengthen UK national security.

A new Defence Growth Deal, which Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP discussed with industry today at the University of Sheffield, will help defence companies and boost skills by expanding cutting-edge defence research in South Yorkshire.

The targeted funding is part of the South Yorkshire Defence Growth Deal and will catalyse growth across the region by boosting innovative R&D capacity and reinforcing the supply chains defence companies need to equip our Armed Forces.

The region is already a defence industry hotbed, with 3,200 jobs in Yorkshire and the Humber directly supported by almost £1 billion of defence spending each year, driving defence as an engine for growth.

Major facilities such as the MOD-owned Sheffield Forgemasters and BAE Systems’ advanced artillery factory complement defence SMEs, contributing to growth in the region and producing vital kit which keeps Britain safe now and in the future, such as howitzer gun barrels and steel for the Dreadnought-class next generation of submarines.

Luke Pollard MP met with Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, which conducts crucial research to develop hi-tech innovative defence equipment of the future.

Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said:

This £50 million investment will mean South Yorkshire’s superb defence companies can develop innovative new technology, helping strengthen our Armed Forces and keep Britain safe in this new era of threat.

With government, industry and academia – such as the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre – working hand in hand we are making sure this support is really targeted where it will have the biggest impact.

Through this Defence Growth Deal our government is backing British, and backing South Yorkshire. We’re harnessing the proud industrial base in this area to make defence an engine for growth, delivering new jobs and skills for local people.

Today’s discussion included establishing a South Yorkshire Defence Board, deepening collaboration between the government, South Yorkshire’s mayoral authority, industry and academia, working hand-in-hand on making the Growth Deal as effective as possible while attracting long-term public and private investment.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said:

In an ever more dangerous world, South Yorkshire has a significant role to play in the defence and security of the United Kingdom and our allies.

The £50 million Defence Growth Deal we have been awarded by the government doesn’t simply recognise the expertise and assets we have here today, it will help us to build the technologies and innovations of the future.

That Deal will mean we can continue making things, creating secure, well‑paid jobs, giving people across South Yorkshire the opportunity to stay near and go far. All while helping to keep the UK and our allies safe, secure and protected.

This £50 million boost directly responds to the Strategic Defence Review’s commitment to supporting the UK’s defence industry’s innovation, and will help make defence an engine for growth by powering investment and jobs across South Yorkshire.

The UK is delivering the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027.
April 14, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 61 – UK Statement on Human Rights Defenders [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 April 2026.

UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Human Rights Defenders. Not delivered due to time constraints.

Thank you Mr Vice President,

The United Kingdom welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s report on the challenges human rights defenders face. We also wish to commend her tireless efforts throughout her term to promote the work of human rights defenders.

The UK recognises the essential role human rights defenders play in promoting and protecting human rights. The report demonstrates their bravery and resilience as they carry out this work.

However those defending human rights face increasing attacks, including killings and disappearances. These reprisals are taking place in a context of shrinking civic space and democratic backsliding globally. The UK unequivocally condemns such actions.

The UK therefore welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation to strengthen protection mechanisms. The UK is proud to be funding the new Lighthouse Fund, which is providing protection support to human rights defenders and civil society organisations.

Madam Special Rapporteur, how can the United Nations system best strengthen accountability and protection mechanisms for human rights defenders?

Thank you.

April 14, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : £30 million funding boost to help the next generation of games developers take their ideas to the next level [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 April 2026.

£28.5 million UK Games Fund to support video games studios with great ideas create the next Grand Theft Auto or Tomb Raider.
- London Games Festival kicks off with £1.5 million of new government funding to help it attract investment in British talent
- Measures form part of government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan, part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, to turbocharge economic growth
Video game developers with great ideas for the next generation of smash hit games are being urged to apply for a share of a new £28.5 million pot of funding.

The move represents a doubling in funding for the sector as the government puts the Creative Industries Sector Plan into action. These targeted investments are expected to pay dividends to the taxpayer by driving economic growth and creating jobs. Applications for funding will open from 14 April.

The UK is already an international powerhouse in gaming, having created global hits like Grand Theft Auto, Fable, PowerWash Simulator and No Man’s Sky. Across the UK, there are more than 2,000 gaming companies, employing tens of thousands of people recognised globally for their talent and creativity.

Through the Games Growth Package, the government will support newly-formed and expanding developers to turn blueprints for games into reality, enabling them to sell their product both in the UK and around the world.

The package is launching as leading games companies from around the world gather at the London Games Festival. Today the government can also announce that £1.5 million of new funding has been awarded to the festival over the next three years, to help ensure the UK remains at the centre of the sector globally.

The funding will help strengthen investor partnerships, doubling the value to £30 million per year of private investment deals at the festival.

Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray said:

Video games are not only great fun, they are big business – and for too long their value to the British economy has been overlooked.

That is why the government has thrown its full support behind the sector with £30 million of new funding. This will turbocharge the careers of some of our most talented game developers, creating more jobs and economic growth right across the country as their ideas come to fruition.

The video game market is bigger than ever before, with £8.8 billion being spent by gamers per year, meaning there are excellent expansion prospects for our world-class sector. This new funding will empower developers to take advantage of these opportunities, creating jobs and driving economic growth.

The sector has strong footholds in areas outside London including Dundee, Leamington Spa and Guildford, and this additional funding will help ensure it thrives in all regions of the UK.

The Games Growth Package was a key commitment in the Industrial Strategy’s Creative Industries Sector Plan, a £380 million growth blueprint to ensure the UK’s creative sectors remain the best in the world.

Grants from the UK Games Fund will be split into three categories:
- An Entry Track, with grants of up to £20,000 available to newly formed companies with limited track records but strong potential for growth.
- An Emergent Track, with grants of up to £100,000 for prototyping new games.
- An Expansion Track, with grants of up to £250,000 – the largest ever provided by the Fund – available to take games forward to completion and enable studios to scale up.
This is on top of significantly increased support for the sector from the British Business Bank and the UKRI research body and generous games tax relief. Additionally, £20 million of funding has been provided by the government to Tay Cities Region to back local talent in advancing creative technologies like computer games and virtual reality to drive new products and grow the economy.

It also builds on work such as Ukie’s Made in the UK games campaign, which showcases the best homemade games like RuneScape and Tomb Raider, and the business that built them.

The government has also commissioned the Chartered Trading Standard Institute to develop new guidance to help gamers better understand their consumer rights when purchasing their favourite games. The guidance clarifies business obligations and consumer rights under the law when selling and purchasing digital content, including video games. A CTSI-led consultation will launch in the coming months to inform this guidance.

As part of the government’s wider plans to grow the gaming sector, it will engage with the newly-established UK Esports Advisory Panel, a Ukie-led forum between government and the esports sector which will ensure the UK remains a world leader in this industry.

This is the latest step in the delivery of the Creative Industries Sector Plan, following recent events to promote funding for innovation and access to finance.

Paul Durrant OBE, UK Games Talent and Finance CIC Founder and Director, said:

We welcome this strong reinforcement of government support for the UK video games development sector. The three track funding approach will ensure that support is provided across the broadest level of the UK sector.

Nick Poole OBE, Chief Executive of Ukie, said:

We welcome the Government’s Games Growth Package as a strong vote of confidence in the UK games industry.

We have been pleased to work with the DCMS team to help shape this package of support, ensuring it reflects the needs of studios across the country. Targeted support across the development pipeline will help studios start, scale and stay globally competitive.

As we look ahead to a defining year for games made in the UK, we will continue working closely with government to support growth, drive innovation, and create high-quality jobs across the country.

Dr Richard Wilson OBE, TIGA CEO, said:

Access to finance is a persistent challenge for many game developers. TIGA has previously called for more prototype and content funding to enable studios to access the investment they need to make great games. Today’s announcement of an increase in grant funding for newly formed companies, prototype funding and expansion funding is great news for studios, the games industry and the wider UK economy.

Michael French MBE, Head of Games London & Festival Director, London Games Festival, said:

Over the last ten years, LGF and Games London has supported talent across the UK and helped establish London as one of the world’s largest hubs for games makers – but this commitment from national government into the London Games Festival has fast-tracked our deeper ambitions.

The efforts are already paying off: This week sees the largest showing yet for our festival, which will help to further promote London and the UK as a video games centre of excellence to global investors and decision makers. This can only keep growing over the next three years and we are excited to help raise the international profile of the UK’s games market, reach bigger audiences nationally and around the world, and facilitate investment into games businesses up and down the country.

Nick Button-Brown, Chair, UK Video Games Council:

This is an amazing statement of intent by the government and a sign of their long-term support for gaming in the UK.
April 14, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Free travel and new routes – Government’s bus revolution hits another gear [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 13 April 2026.

£3 million funding boost will help 6 mayoral authorities set up bus franchising to improve travel for passengers across England.
- government is continuing to invest in better bus services, with a new £3 million boost to help areas transition to a franchised bus model, ensuring buses work better for the people who rely on them every day
- local authorities are already using record government funding to introduce schemes such as discounted and free fares, as well as new services to previously unserved rural areas
- alongside the government’s biggest reform to buses in a generation, the support will help local leaders shape services around their communities and deliver a modern, passenger‑focused network
Millions of bus passengers across England are benefitting from cheaper fares, new routes and better services as local authorities are putting government funding to work in their communities.

With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to play a part in people’s everyday lives, local authorities are stepping up to make buses work better for everyone, reducing the burden on households.

Support comes as the government commits a further £3 million to better buses, supporting 6 mayoral authorities to set up bus franchising, building on the success of the Bee Network in Greater Manchester.

The 6 authorities benefitting from today’s (13 April 2026) £3 million funding package are:
- Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- North East Combined Authority
- West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
- West Midlands Combined Authority
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
From £1 fares for those 21 and under in the north-east, to brand new bus routes connecting rural Norfolk villages for the very first time, councils across the country are choosing to invest in the journeys that matter most to people’s daily lives.

Liverpool City Region, which is on course to franchise its services by the end of 2027, has maintained its £2 bus fare cap and introduced new express services to Liverpool City Centre, while in the West of England, the £1 fare cap for children has been extended until Spring 2029, helping families with the cost of living.

Meanwhile, in Norfolk, a new bus service has been introduced between Great Yarmouth and Caister into Norwich, serving several rural villages previously without a bus route into the city. This transformative new route is connecting isolated communities with jobs and education, showing the government’s commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity.

Many authorities are choosing to make travel completely free, and in Barnsley, all those aged under 18 are receiving free travel for the next 2 years, meaning young people don’t have to pay a penny as part of the school or college commute.

These schemes are all backed by the government, with more than £3 billion invested through the Local Authority Bus Grant between 2026 and 2029 – money that local leaders can spend on the things passengers actually need.

The result is a network that is becoming more affordable, frequent and connected, particularly for those in rural and less affluent areas who have for too long been left with no viable alternative.

Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood, said:

It is an incredibly exciting time for buses at the moment with record government funding supporting new services, including to rural communities and discounted ticket offers, alongside our £3 fare cap.

Meanwhile, today marks a major milestone on our journey towards better buses. Our £3 million funding boost will help mayors take a step closer to franchising, allowing local leaders to take control of their buses to deliver for the thousands of people who rely on bus travel in their regions.

Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:

Buses are the backbone of our public transport system. Local areas are investing in bus services like never before, with mayoral combined authorities leading the way in making their bus networks affordable, accessible and integrated.

This £3 million funding boost, together with the new Bus Service Act, will unlock the future of bus reform and see local passengers and communities benefit from better bus services.

Lydia Horbury, CEO of passenger champions Bus Users UK, said:

Buses are a lifeline for millions and putting passengers at the heart of the network is the only way to ensure these services truly thrive. This investment is a positive step toward creating a more integrated and affordable transport system that works for the people who use it every day.

Whether it is a young person in Barnsley accessing education for free or a resident in a rural Norfolk village finally being connected to their local community, seeing local leaders use this funding to break down barriers is incredibly welcome.
April 14, 2026
Wes Streeting – 2026 Comments on Health Service Workers who Worked During Strike of Doctors

The comments made by Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 13 April 2026.

I want to personally thank all the NHS staff who once again worked round the clock during the BMA’s latest round of strikes to keep the show on the road.

One of the things I am proud of is during previous rounds of resident doctors strikes we’ve maintained 95% of planned care, improvements in A&E and emergency response times. However, I wish we were not putting so much on the shoulders of other NHS staff or spending £300 million on this strike.

That money would have been better spent implementing this offer to improve resident doctors’ pay and career opportunities.

Resident doctors had a 28.9% pay rise in the first weeks of this government. There’s a deal on the table for an average 4.9% pay rise for this year which increases to 7.1% for some of the lowest paid doctors.

We have also prioritised UK graduates for training places and that’s reduced competition for those places from 4 to 1 to less than 2 to 1.

My door is open – as it always has been. I am asking the resident doctors committee to meet me so we can resolve this dispute and put an end to these needless cycles of disruption.

April 14, 2026
Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Speech on the Middle East

The speech made by Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, in the House of Commons on 13 April 2026.

I thank the Prime Minister for advance sight of his statement, and I would like to pay tribute to our brave servicemen and women serving in the middle east right now.

The Prime Minister is right that Britain did not start this war, but whether we like it or not, we are impacted by it, and this is likely to get worse. The cost of borrowing has jumped, and petrol prices are climbing. Inflation is rising, and living standards are falling. It is time to take decisive action in our national interest. Britain must focus on what is in our power to protect British citizens today. First, we must rapidly solve the energy crisis that this war has caused in our country. Secondly, we must make sure that Britain is ready to defend herself in this new age.

A nuclear-armed Iran is an existential threat to the UK. We should be in no doubt whose side we are on in this war: our allies in the middle east and the United States. I welcome the Prime Minister meeting some of those allies, and I welcome his support for diplomatic efforts and military planning to restore freedom of navigation in the region, but we will need to go further than just talking. He says that Britain stands ready to play our part, but we can all see that we were not ready for this situation.

Here is what we need to do now. First, we must take rapid action to increase our energy security and keep bills down, not just until July but longer than that—permanently. Britain is particularly vulnerable to energy price shocks because we are killing domestic oil and gas production in the North sea. Labour’s policy of more expensive energy and de-industrialisation at this time of crisis is dangerous and irresponsible. It is also harming the defence industry. We must start drilling our own oil and gas in the North sea, grant licences for drilling in the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields, and restore British production before it is too late. The Prime Minister says that this will not impact international prices, but this is about more than international prices. This is about the domestic supply, especially of gas, all of which is used in this country. Supply matters.

Furthermore, the Government must cancel the proposed rise in fuel duty. Hiking taxes on motorists for the first time in 15 years, while prices are surging, is a disgraceful decision. If Britain is to be a stronger country, it needs a stronger economy—not one that is being hammered by the highest energy prices in the developed world. Will the Prime Minister grant those oil and gas licences and scrap the rise in fuel duty? I know that he will say that it is the Energy Secretary’s job to do that, but the Energy Secretary is not the Prime Minister. He is, so he can instruct the Energy Secretary to grant those licences.

Secondly, to be ready, Britain must be able to defend herself, and that means we must be ready for these situations before they happen. France and Greece—[Interruption.] I do not know why Labour Members are laughing. I am surprised, because last time I checked, France and Greece sent ships to protect our bases in Cyprus while our destroyer was stuck in Portsmouth. It was a national embarrassment—on Labour’s shoulders—and it should never happen again.

We need no further evidence that we are living in a more dangerous world than a decade ago. I am sure Labour MPs will try to think of a way to make this my fault. [Interruption.] Yes, I know, it is preposterous, the historical illiteracy on the Labour Benches, but let me remind them that Governments of all colours—including those guys on the Liberal Democrat Benches—spent the peace dividend from 1989, when the Berlin wall fell, until the Ukraine war. When that war came, the Conservative Government responded rapidly and unequivocally. We did not have anything stuck in Portsmouth when Ukraine was invaded. We trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and equipped them with our missiles.

We increased defence spending every year after the Ukraine war started, but the world has since become even more dangerous. Every serious person, especially in the military, agrees that Britain must now find a way to spend 3% of GDP on defence by the end of this Parliament. After the election, many of the plans for spending were paused for Labour’s strategic defence review. Nine months after its publication, there is still no defence investment plan that explains how we will fund this. The defence readiness Bill is also nowhere to be seen. The question is not whether we need to increase defence spending, but what tough choices we must make to do so. That is what is missing from the Government’s plan. They have a plan for welfare spending until 2031, but no plans for defence spending.

I say to the Prime Minister: let us put party interests aside—[Interruption.] I am glad that Labour MPs are laughing. I want the public to hear Labour MPs laughing when we say, “Let’s put party interests aside,” so please, keep laughing—go on. I say to the Prime Minister: let us find the money to rearm, let us identify the spending cuts, and if we reach agreement on a joint plan, we can all support those measures in Parliament. Conservatives have already found savings to fund more than £20 billion extra in defence spending. I am willing to work with him to go further.

I am sure the Prime Minister, in his response, will be tempted to misrepresent my position and pretend that I demanded he join in the initial strikes. [Interruption.] Yes—Labour MPs cannot resist the temptation, but he and I both know that is not true, so let us get serious. It is time for us to act decisively in our national interest. Let us show our allies what we bring to the table. Let us show our enemies that we are able and ready to defend ourselves. That requires a defence investment plan, so when exactly will that plan be published, and what action is the Prime Minister taking to find the money to pay for it?

The Prime Minister

I notice that the right hon. Lady’s opening sentence has changed. She used to say, “We didn’t start the war, but like it or not, we’re in it, and we should be in it.” That was her position. Now she says—well, they cannot make their mind up. They supported the war without thinking through the consequences, and now they are pretending they did not support the war and were against it all along. She challenged my position, and she did the mother of all U-turns on the most important decision the Leader of the Opposition ever has to take.

I thank the right hon. Lady for her support for the planning that we are doing with other countries. It is important. It has a number of components: the political and diplomatic component; the logistics of getting the vessels through, on which we are working with the sector; and, of course, the military component. We have been working on that for two or three weeks, and now, with President Macron, we are bringing together the summit later this week.

Yes, we all want to get energy bills down, and oil and gas will be part of the mix for many years, but it is because we are on the international market that our bills have gone up. That is the problem. The strait of Hormuz is a choke point for oil and gas getting to the international market. That has pushed the price up, and that is being reflected in every household. That is why the only way to take control of our energy bills is to go faster on energy independence.

The Leader of the Opposition used to make that argument. In 2022 she said that

“it’s investment in nuclear and renewables that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels”

and keep costs down. She changes her mind on everything. That was her argument; now, just like she pretends she was not in favour of getting involved in the war, she pretends she was not in favour of keeping costs down.

The Leader of the Opposition says that we must be ready. That is coming from a party that hollowed out our armed services. On the Conservatives’ watch, frigates and destroyers were reduced by 25%. Minehunting ships were reduced by 50% on their watch. Yet she lectures us about being ready, having hollowed out our armed forces and hollowed out our capabilities. We are investing £300 million more in shipbuilding, and we have 13 ships on order. That is the difference between the two parties. I hope that she, and they, will forgive me, but after 14 years of their breaking everything under their watch, I am going to resist the offer of joint planning from the party that crashed the economy, hollowed out our armed forces and trashed our public services. Thanks, but no thanks.

April 14, 2026
Keir Starmer – 2026 Statement on the Middle East

The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in the House of Commons on 13 April 2026.

With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to update the House on my visit to the Gulf, the evolving situation in the middle east and the implications for Britain’s security.

Before I do that, I want to put on the record in this House my total determination to make the changes across the entire state that are so clearly necessary to honour the victims, the injured and the families of Southport. Today’s report is harrowing. It is difficult to read and I cannot begin to imagine the pain upon pain that it will cause the families it affects. Our thoughts are with them today. The Home Secretary will respond to the report in full after this statement.

Last week I visited the Gulf and was able to thank in person some of the brave men and women who, from day one of the US-Iran conflict, have resolutely defended the interests of this country, its people and its partners. I thank them again, in this House, for their courage and their service. I am sure the whole House will join me in those thanks.

While in the Gulf, I met leaders and senior military representatives across the region, including the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the President of the United Arab Emirates, the King and Crown Prince of Bahrain, and the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar. In recent days, I have also spoken to the Sultan of Oman and the Emir of Kuwait. Across all those conversations, I agreed to deepen our engagement on both defence and economic resilience, because they all made it abundantly clear that the solidarity and strength of our partnership with them has been a comfort in these challenging times. We should not forget that the nature of Iran’s response—the indiscriminate attack upon countries that never sought this conflict and the huge damage done across the Gulf to civilian infrastructure, with civilian casualties—is abhorrent. It has clearly shocked the region and all of us.

We must bear that in mind now as we lift our sights to the future, because while the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran is undeniably welcome, it is also highly fragile. The region remains on edge and a lot of work is required to reopen the strait of Hormuz and de-escalate the situation, leading to a sustainable ceasefire. In pursuit of that goal, we call for Lebanon to be included, urgently, in the ceasefire. Diplomacy is the right path and I welcome the talks taking place this week. Hezbollah must disarm, but I am equally clear that Israel’s strikes are wrong. They are having devastating humanitarian consequences and pushing Lebanon into a crisis. The bombing should stop now.

We also put on record our thanks to Pakistan and other partners for playing such an important role in diplomatic efforts. We hope the process will continue without further escalation. That applies to the running sore that is the strait of Hormuz, shamefully exploited by Iran. All the leaders I met were crystal clear that freedom of navigation is vital and must be restored—no conditions, no tolls and no tolerance of Iran holding the world’s economy to ransom. The impact of Iran’s behaviour in the strait is causing untold economic damage that is visible on every petrol forecourt in this country.

My guide from the start of this conflict has always been our national interest. That is why we stayed out of the war and why we continue to stay out of the war. It is why we are working now to restore freedom of navigation in the middle east—because that is squarely in our national interest. Clearly, that is not a straightforward task, and it will take time. I have met UK businesses in energy, shipping, insurance and finance, and they are clear that vessels will not be put through the strait until they are confident that it is safe to do so. That is why we are working around the clock on a credible plan to reopen the strait.

I can confirm today that together with President Macron, I will convene a summit of leaders this week to drive forward the international effort we have built in recent weeks, bringing together dozens of countries to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait of Hormuz. The summit will be focused on two things: first, diplomatic efforts to bring pressure to bear for a negotiated end to the conflict and for the strait to be opened; secondly, military planning to provide assurance to shipping as soon as a stable environment can be established. Let me be very clear: this is about safeguarding shipping and supporting freedom of navigation once the conflict ends. Our shared aim is a co-ordinated, independent, multinational plan. This is the moment for clear and calm leadership and, notwithstanding the difficulties, Britain stands ready to play our part.

Let me return to the impact of the conflict on our economy. We all know that the consequences will be significant and that they will last longer than the conflict itself. We continue to monitor the effects. I remind the House that energy bills went down on 1 April and that whatever happens in the middle east, those bills will stay down until July. We are investing more than £50 million to support heating oil customers, and fuel duty is frozen until September—all because of the decisions this Government took at the Budget.

However, there is a wider point. We cannot stand here in this House and pretend that a global shock threatening to hit the living standards of British people is somehow a novel experience; Britain has been buffeted by crises for decades now. From the 2008 financial crash, through austerity, Brexit, covid, the war that still rages in Ukraine and the disastrous premiership of Liz Truss, the response each time has been to try to return to the status quo—a status quo that manifestly failed working people, who saw their living standards flatline and their public services decimated.

This time, Britain’s response must and will be different to reflect the changing world we live in. That starts with our economic security: during this conflict alone, we have capped energy bills, raised the living wage, strengthened workers’ rights and ended the two-child limit, which will lift nearly half a million children out of poverty. Looking forward, it also means a closer economic relationship with our European allies, because Brexit did deep damage to the economy, and the opportunities we now have to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living are simply too big to ignore.

It continues with our energy security. I say once again that oil and gas will be part of our energy mix for decades to come. However, we do not set the global price for oil and gas. Households across the country are fed up with international events beyond their control pushing up their energy bills. I stand with them on that. We will go further and faster on our mission to make Britain energy-independent, because that is the only way we will get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and take control of our energy bills.

Finally, we must strengthen our defence security. That means boosting our armed forces, as we have, with the biggest sustained investment since the cold war. It means doubling down on the most successful military alliance the world has ever seen, of which this party in government was a founding member: the NATO alliance. It also means strengthening the European element of that alliance, taking control of our continent’s defence more robustly, and deepening our partnerships, as we have done with our deals to build Norwegian frigates on the Clyde and Turkish Typhoons in Lancashire. Not only is that creating thousands of secure jobs and opportunities for our defence industry right across the country, but it is enhancing the way that our armed forces can collaborate with our allies.

As the middle east conflict shows once more, the world in which we live has utterly changed. It is more volatile and insecure than at any period in my lifetime. We must rise to meet it calmly, but with strength. That is exactly what we are doing at home and abroad. We are strengthening our security, taking control of our future and building a Britain that is fair for all. I commend this statement to the House.

April 14, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Unpaid carers impacted by unclear guidance to have debts cancelled [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 13 April 2026.

Tens of thousands of unpaid carers affected by confusing guidance on their earnings are set to have their debts reduced, cancelled, or refunded, in a major reassessment of cases launched by the government.
- Over 200,000 Carer’s Allowance cases affected by confusing guidance will be reviewed, with debts potentially reduced, cancelled or refunded for around 25,000 unpaid carers.
- Unclear government guidance on fluctuating earnings, in place from 2015 to 2025, left busy carers facing unexpected debts without realising they had broken the rules.
- Carers do not need to take any action now as this government steps in to put right the failures in the system it inherited.
Tens of thousands of unpaid carers affected by confusing guidance on their earnings are set to have their debts reduced, cancelled, or refunded, in a major reassessment of cases launched by the government.

The move follows ministers’ acceptance of 38 of the 40 recommendations made by the independent Sayce Review into Carer’s Allowance overpayments in November 2025.

From April 2015 to September 2025, guidance on how to average irregularly fluctuating earnings was unclear and did not accurately reflect the law.

Carers juggling paid work alongside at least 35 hours of unpaid caring built up debts without realising they had exceeded the weekly earnings limit. That was a failure of the system, and this government is taking action to put it right.

The DWP will now review over 200,000 cases. Around 25,000 carers could see their debts reduced, cancelled entirely, or receive refunds where money has already been repaid. In most cases, DWP holds all the information it needs. Carers do not need to contact DWP — the department will get in touch if it needs anything further.

The exercise comes after the government took action to improve lives for carers, including increasing the weekly Carer’s Allowance earnings limit by a record amount in April 2025, and increasing again to £204 net per week for 2026/27. That means some unpaid carers can now earn around £10,000 a year and still receive the benefit.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

We inherited a system that left unpaid carers building up debt through no fault of their own, something we’re determined to put right.

That’s why we accepted the vast majority of the Sayce Review’s recommendations and are now getting to work implementing them, kicking off the reassessment exercise to review cases impacted by unclear guidance.

Carers are vital to our communities, and we are committed to taking action to rebuild their trust.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

We are pleased to see the government taking decisive action to start putting right the failings of the past and provide carers with the redress they deserve. The reassessment process marks an important step in tackling these systemic failures.

Carers UK has been campaigning on the issue of Carer’s Allowance overpayments for more than seven years, and during that time we have heard from hundreds of carers who have experienced severe financial strain and emotional distress as a result.

As we mark the 50th anniversary of Carer’s Allowance this week, it is encouraging to hear that the government is also exploring further options for reform. This is sorely needed to ensure that it properly supports and recognises the contribution of unpaid carers, while protecting them from financial hardship.

Kirsty McHugh, Chief Executive Officer of Carers Trust, said:

Carers Trust warmly welcome the Government’s willingness to get on with the reassessment exercise and undo historic mistakes. This will have a huge impact on thousands of unpaid carers who were penalised for no fault of their own. It has been reassuring to see the Government accept the vast majority of the recommendations of the Sayce Review, whilst the £75 million allocated by last year’s Budget is further evidence the Government is serious about righting these wrongs.

We thank Liz Sayce for her work, alongside the carers and local carer services who shared their stories to make the Review as effective as possible. We’ll now be helping our network of 130 local carers services support carers as the reassessment exercise gets underway.

Around half of those changes have already been made, with further reforms under way to modernise the benefit and prevent problems like this from arising again.

As well as increasing the weekly Carer’s Allowance earnings limit as part of wider efforts to bear down on the cost of living, the government is also exploring whether earnings calculations can be automated and whether the current cliff-edge earnings rule can be replaced with a tapered system, to reduce the risk of overpayments in future.

The government has also updated its guidance on fluctuating earnings to ensure that averaging is properly considered and has worked with carers and carers’ organisations to make sure its communications are clear and accessible.

2026 marks 50 years since Carer’s Allowance was introduced. The next few years will see some of the most significant reform to the benefit in its history, reflecting the government’s commitment to building fair public services that people can rely on, as part of its Plan for Change.

Additional information
- The reassessment exercise covers cases from April 2015 to September 2025 in which earnings-related Carer’s Allowance overpayments arose due to guidance that did not accurately reflect the statutory position on averaging irregularly fluctuating earnings.
- Advice and support for anyone whose Carer’s Allowance case is or might be involved in the reassessment exercise will be available – at no cost – from the Department or from trusted partner organisations such as Carers UK and Carers Trust.
- The government response to the Sayce Review was published in November 2025.
- Further information for affected carers is available: Contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit.
- This reassessment exercise is specifically limited to cases where overpayments arose due to the guidance that did not accurately reflect the statutory position on averaging irregularly fluctuating earnings between April 2015 and September 2025. Carers whose overpayments arose for other reasons are not in scope for this exercise.
April 14, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Government to unlock philanthropic investment into England’s most disadvantaged communities [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 12 April 2026.

Government today launches plan to make it easier for the wealthiest in society to give back to communities that need help most.
- This new plan will include new opportunities for philanthropists to partner with government in targeting their giving
- Plan will connect philanthropists with existing local initiatives, helping spread donations across the country
Billions of pounds will become more accessible to England’s most disadvantaged communities as the government sets out a new plan to deal with some of the most pressing and challenging societal issues across this country.

Despite £14 billion being donated to charity across the UK in 2025, the benefits have not been shared equally. London currently receives more than a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.

The government’s new plan, Our Place to Give, aims to change that. By connecting philanthropic donors with local organisations outside of London, the plan aims to ensure that investment reaches the communities and people that need it most.

Backed by £1 million of government funding, the place-based plan will offer opportunities for match-funding, better involve philanthropists in funding programmes, and ensure their voices are brought in and heard as programmes are devised and implemented.

Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth Minister Stephanie Peacock said:

Today’s announcement will help philanthropists across the country support local causes they are passionate about.

By better connecting generous individuals with local organisations at the heart of their communities, we can unlock a new wave of giving that reaches every corner of the country.

Steve Rigby, Chair of The Rigby Foundation and CEO, Rigby Group said:

The strong backing this report has received across the sector reflects the insight and experience brought together in its development. The UK has some outstanding philanthropists, and Our Place to Give provides a roadmap for unlocking even greater investment into communities across the country.

Through my family’s charitable work in the West Midlands and my participation in the Philanthropy Reference Group, I’ve seen first-hand how connecting generous donors with local people and projects can drive meaningful, lasting change.

By 2050, up to £7 trillion is expected to be passed down to the next generation. The government’s new plan sets out a plan to unlock new pathways for generous donations to reach communities most in need.

The plan will strengthen links between donors and places, build better partnerships and unlock further investment. Key actions include:
- £1 million of funding over three years to help organisations across England share expertise, attract investment and create sustainable economic growth
- A network of regional philanthropic ambassadors will be appointed to broker stronger links between philanthropists, communities and government
- Collaboration between government and the financial services sector to better provide philanthropic advice
The government will promote a more open culture of giving, celebrating the profound impact of local philanthropy and encouraging the next generation of philanthropists to invest back into the communities that shaped them. To support this, a new toolkit is being launched for MPs alongside the roadmap, equipping local representatives to champion philanthropy, convene local giving opportunities and foster a positive environment for generosity in the places they know best.

This builds on the government’s wider ambitions for community renewal. The £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme is already empowering local people to direct funding towards what matters most in their areas. By aligning philanthropic investment with these place-based priorities, the government aims to ensure that the generosity of high-net-worth individuals complements and amplifies existing public investment, driving lasting change in the communities that need it most.

Our Place to Give: a plan for growing place-based philanthropy is available at gov.uk.
April 14, 2026