The comments made by Jeremy Corbyn on 15 August 2026.
In the final months of his life, Jason Arday was subject to a relentless onslaught of attacks and abuse.
Jason was a human being with friends and family – but he was turned into a pawn for vicious culture wars by a cruel media industry motivated by racism and clicks.
The lessons are never learned. When will the British media face accountability for its behaviour?
Jason was much loved by those around him. May he rest in peace.
The comments made by James Cleverly on 14 August 2026.
The death of Jason Arday is tragic, and makes me so angry.
Even the most casual observer could see he was a vulnerable fantasist.
A number of people at a number of academic institutions have serious questions to answer. They put him into positions he was clearly not qualified for so they could have a black wunderkind to show off, they pushed him into the spotlight for their own benefit.
His exposure was inevitable, a case of when, not if.
His whole world fell apart.
![PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to New Zealand [August 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/newfco-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 August 2026.
Ms Louise Cantillon has been appointed British High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor of the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands in succession to Ms Iona Thomas OBE, who has transferred to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Cantillon will take up her appointment during August 2026.
Full name: Louise Marie Cantillon
| 2021 to 2026 | Sydney, British Consul General and Deputy Trade Commissioner Asia Pacific (Australia and New Zealand) |
| 2020 to 2021 | Shanghai, Minister Counsellor Creative Consumer and Education, British Consulate |
| 2018 to 2020 | Shanghai, Head of Infrastructure and Creative Industries, British Consulate |
| 2011 to 2018 | British Council, Head of PMO and Senior Asset Manager Asia |
| 2008 to 2011 | Gleeds UK, Construction Project Manager |
| 2004 to 2011 | Polartech Ltd, Chief Representative Shanghai, Suzhou and Beijing |
| 2002 to 2004 | Manchester Chamber of Commerce, China Trade Manager |
| 1998 to 2002 | Beijing, Commercial Officer, British Embassy |
![PRESS RELEASE : 150 rural 4G masts now live so holidaymakers can switch off without being cut off [August 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/cultureukpol-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 14 August 2026.
More than 150 rural 4G mast upgrades are now live, boosting mobile coverage across remote UK areas and helping walkers, visitors and communities stay connected.
Walkers, hikers and holidaymakers can stay connected when it counts in Britain’s countryside, as more than 150 4G mast upgrades go live through the UK government’s Shared Rural Network programme.
For many people, the point of heading outdoors is to escape their screens. But 4G means people can enjoy the countryside with the peace of mind that support, services and loved ones are still within reach if they need them – from checking the weather before a mountain walk to finding a route, sharing a location or calling for help in an emergency.
The UK government is working with mobile network operators through the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme to bring reliable 4G mobile internet to rural areas where commercial rollout is harder and more expensive.
The upgrades – all delivered through existing infrastructure to protect scenic spots – mean additional 4G is now available across more than 5,684 square kilometres combined across the UK and includes three of the UK’s most iconic hiking landscapes: the Lake District, Snowdonia and Exmoor.
From the Scottish Islands and Highlands to Northumberland, Cumbria, Dyfed-Powys and North Wales, the rollout is supporting everything from running payments and bookings for local firms to keeping in touch with customers, accessing online public services and working more flexibly from home or on the move.
Some of Britain’s most iconic national parks are among the biggest winners from the Shared Rural Network. Compared to other parks, the Yorkshire Dales and Eryri (Snowdonia) have seen the biggest boosts in mobile coverage rising by around seven percentage points in each, according to new government figures, helping visitors stay connected across some of Britain’s most remote and hard-to-reach landscapes.
Minister of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Ian Murray, said:
You should be able to switch off in the countryside without being cut off from the help and services you need.
These 150 masts are helping change that – giving walkers, visitors and rural communities better access to signal when they are checking a route, contacting family, running a business or calling for help.”
Millions of people visit Britain’s national parks each year to walk, cycle, camp, climb and enjoy nature. Better rural 4G means visitors can put their phones away, while still being able to access support or message home if they need to.
New analysis shows 42 Shared Rural Network sites have now been activated across the UK’s national parks:
The SRN programme has achieved its objective of extending 4G coverage to 95% of the UK landmass, a year ahead of schedule.
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 August 2026.
Statement by Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.
In recent weeks, we have seen a serious escalation in violence in Yemen and the wider region, as a result of reckless Houthi actions.
This includes drone and missile strikes against Saudi Arabia, attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, and violations of Yemeni airspace by Iranian aircraft.
Iran must cease its long-standing support for the Houthis, which threatens Yemen’s stability.
We express our condolences to those who have been killed or injured as a result of these actions, including Yemeni, Pakistani, and Indonesian nationals.
Last week, this Council delivered a clear message of condemnation for Houthi actions and a call for de-escalation.
We urge the Houthis to focus on efforts to achieve peace and alleviate the suffering of Yemenis, rather than seeking to embroil Yemen in a wider regional conflict.
The United Kingdom reiterates its unwavering commitment to the sovereignty and security of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and broader regional stability.
Secondly, the recent escalation is compounding an already dire humanitarian situation.
More than 22 million people require humanitarian assistance.
Over 18 million face food insecurity.
And more than 2.2 million children under five are acutely malnourished.
As a country heavily dependent on food and fuel imports, Yemen remains particularly vulnerable to further shocks.
With humanitarian funding under strain and the Food and Agriculture Organisation warning of drought risks and greater food insecurity, a return to large-scale conflict would turn an already dire situation into a catastrophe.
The United Kingdom will continue to work with partners to support the humanitarian response, building upon the more than $180 million of UK funding last year for life-saving humanitarian assistance.
We also remain deeply concerned by the Houthis’ continued detention of 73 UN staff and many more NGO and civil society personnel, many who have been held for over two years.
The Houthis must immediately and unconditionally release all those detained and allow humanitarian actors to operate safely and without obstruction.
Third, the United Kingdom welcomes the appointment of Dr Afrah Al-Zouba as Yemen’s first female Foreign Minister.
We look forward to working with her and the wider Government of Yemen to support their efforts to deliver much-needed reforms and to strengthen security and stability, including through the new Yemen National Development Strategy.
President, the choices made now will determine whether Yemen moves closer to peace or slips back towards deeper conflict and humanitarian crisis.
The United Kingdom remains steadfast in its support to the role of the UN Special Envoy and an intra-Yemeni peace process under UN auspices, to help build the peaceful future that Yemenis deserve.
The comments made by Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, on 13 August 2026.
I want to congratulate everyone receiving their results today. I know there will have been a mix of excitement, nerves and relief this morning, but you should all be proud of the hard work that got you here.
It’s brilliant to see more students succeeding in T Levels, more taking maths and STEM subjects, and more young people progressing to the next stage of their education or training.
The talent is there in every town and city in this country. Our task is to match that talent with opportunity, whether that’s through university, an apprenticeship or a technical pathway that leads to a great career. That’s how we’ll build a stronger Britain, restore hope and ensure every young person can look to the future with confidence.
![PRESS RELEASE : Number of T Level pupils hits record high as maths A Levels rise [August 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/education-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 13 August 2026.
T Level results grow substantially as more students achieve more A and A* grades in A Level maths.
Students across England are receiving their A Level, T Level and vocational results today.
This is a time to celebrate the results and the full breadth of ambition as they next embark on their next steps – from brilliant academic institutions to degree apprenticeships, higher technical qualifications and careers in sectors the country needs the most.
In a landmark moment for technical education, over 65% more T Level students received results this year – with almost 20,000 students (up from almost 12,000 in 2025) completing them with a pass rate of over 90%.
A Level results at grades C and above showed stable improvement this year, standing at 78.1% (up 0.4 ppts on 2025), as well as the level of A or A* grades which stood at 28.3% (up 0.2 ppts on 2025).
This was a strong year for maths, as the highest ever number of students received A Level maths results today (up 3.7% on 2025) and more A and A* grades were awarded in this subject (up 0.6 ppts). This year also saw more students taking up A Level subjects in science, technology, engineering and maths (up 3.7% on 2025).
More students applying for their next steps were accepted onto a higher education course this year (up 2% on 2025) and 194,800 English 18-year-olds were accepted into their first choice of university (up 1% on 2025).
Students’ overall attainment continues to improve compared to results seen before the pandemic, with A Level C+ grades up 2.7 ppts on 2019.
More young people also took up training in construction this year through vocational technical qualifications, which rose by nearly 20% on 2025 – a strong sign that the pipeline of skilled workers is growing to help build the homes this country needs.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
I want to congratulate everyone receiving their results today. I know there will have been a mix of excitement, nerves and relief this morning, but you should all be proud of the hard work that got you here.
It’s brilliant to see more students succeeding in T Levels, more taking maths and STEM subjects, and more young people progressing to the next stage of their education or training.
The talent is there in every town and city in this country. Our task is to match that talent with opportunity, whether that’s through university, an apprenticeship or a technical pathway that leads to a great career. That’s how we’ll build a stronger Britain, restore hope and ensure every young person can look to the future with confidence.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said:
Congratulations to everyone getting their results today. You should be really proud of what you’ve achieved and I wish you every success for the future. A big thank you to the teachers and families who have backed you every step of the way.
The rise in students receiving T-Level results this year is very encouraging, as well as so many students progressing in to higher education. There is no single route to achieving your ambitions.
That’s why we are opening doors with more high-quality opportunities for young people to fulfil their potential – whether that’s through academic study, technical education or hands-on training for skilled work. Whatever path you choose, today is the start of an exciting future.
Patrick Milnes, Head of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said:
Today’s exam results are a moment to celebrate the hard work of hundreds of thousands of young people.
We wish every student the very best of luck as they consider their future plans. Whatever their next step, businesses will value their ideas, determination and potential.
Academic routes are only one part of the system. Government plans to strengthen technical and vocational education to deliver the skills firms need are welcome. We look forward to working in partnership to help ensure the system delivers for students, businesses and the economy.
Careers advice, essential employability skills and real-world learning should be embedded throughout the curriculum from an early age. This will help more young people make informed choices and support future business growth.
Jo Simovic, Senior Program Manager and Emerging Talent Programs Lead said:
Amazon is proud to support T Levels. Our students make a real difference to the business and their results show just how much they have achieved. What sets T Levels apart is simple: at the end of the placement, students understand our culture, and are fully prepared for the world of work.
We are delighted that 30 students have gone on to secure apprenticeships across the business, from Mechatronics to Cyber Security. Huge congratulations to every one of them – and to all T Level students collecting their results today. With the regional attainment gap remaining too stubbornly high, we are making sure opportunity is spread as evenly as talent across the country though our RISE teams (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence), which will put a laser focus on those areas and schools where performance is weakest.
The education system this government inherited entrenches disadvantage – so we are doing whatever it takes to ensure every child has access to opportunity, regardless of their background. This includes expanding government funded childcare, extending free school meals, rolling our breakfast clubs and ending the two-child cap to help lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.
With more than a million young people aged 16 to 24 currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) – and further growth expected by 2031 without urgent action – the government is determined to ensure the system works for every young person and not just those collecting results today.
The government has set out the most ambitious programme of youth employment reform in a generation, backed by £2.5 billion through the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy, supporting almost a million young people to earn or learn. An extra £800 million is also being invested in 16 to 19 education in 2026-27, creating thousands more places on high-quality pathways.
Plans announced by the Prime Minister are also underway to enable students aged 14 and over to combine academic subjects with technical education linked to local employers – placing vocational and academic routes on an equal footing for the first time.
This comes on top of the government’s reforms to vocational and technical education, including the introduction of V Levels and expanding T Levels, which will break down barriers to education by helping to end the snobbery around hands-on learning.
These major reforms are widening choices for young people to have successful, skilled careers, on top of today’s results opening doors to exciting routes for students across England.
![PRESS RELEASE : Patients to benefit from faster access to medicines as UK moves away from animal testing in science [August 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/businesstrade-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 12 August 2026.
New projects to move UK science away from animal testing.
New projects to move UK science away from animal testing – vital to the safety and sustainability of our environment – will unlock new tests for products that can help products reach market more quickly and save lives.
A dedicated national research hub and nine new high-tech projects will develop better ways to test medicines on human biology rather than animals. It means treatments for conditions like cancer and inflammatory bowel disease could be developed faster and more precisely – helping patients across the UK, while moving science away from traditional animal testing.
The latest figures show there were 2.54 million animal testing procedures in Great Britain in 2025, down 3.8% on 2024. With a further update due to be released later this year, the UK is now moving to capitalise on that momentum.
Announced by Science Minister Chris McDonald today (Wednesday 12th August), a new Pre-clinical Translational Models Hub, based in Cambridge and backed by £20 million in Government funding, will lead work to build and share models of human tissue – grown from NHS patients – to test new treatments.
The new hub will accelerate the development of testing on ‘organoids’: tiny, simplified versions of a human gut, tumour or brain, using cells donated by patients. Because they retain crucial features of a patient’s own biology, they will help researchers learn how a real person may respond to a drug – providing additional insights that can complement information currently obtained from animals.
Scientists in universities and drug companies will then be able to use these cutting-edge techniques in their own labs to work out which medicines are worth pursuing – slashing the time it takes to get potentially life-changing treatments to market.
Today marks another significant step forward in the UK’s move away from animal testing in science and research.
This is all about backing our world-leading researchers and innovators to improve lives, giving them the tools they need to deliver more effective treatments for horrendous diseases like cancer, while also preventing the need for animal testing wherever possible.
It’s also a boost for our life sciences sector – with British firms using samples donated by real people and harnessing AI to predict how a medicine behaves – fuelling opportunities for new investment and new jobs, and ensuring Britain is better off.
Alongside the funding for the new Hub, Innovate UK is investing up to £2 million on nine cutting-edge projects aimed at identifying new methods of animal-free scientific testing. From beating heart cells in a dish to lab-grown human ear models and AI that predicts how medicines move through the body, many of the projects target the safety studies that still rely on dogs and monkeys.
At CN Bio, the team is building tiny working versions of human organs that are small enough to fit on a microscope slide. These complex models allow researchers to better understand how a new drug moves through and interacts with the body – providing a new approach to pre-clinical research that previously relied solely on animal testing.
Meanwhile, Vivosphere UK is building on their work growing tumour and liver models to develop human heart tissue in the lab, meaning they can spot dangerous side effects from treatments early.
Promising early-stage projects like these are foundational to the UK’s life sciences sector, which generates around £147 billion in turnover and employs some 360,000 people. They have the potential to drive long-term transformative, life innovations for patients, and lead to growth and skilled jobs in every corner of the country.
ENDS
Over the past decade, we’ve seen the enormous potential of patient-derived organoids and other New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to transform the way we develop new medicines.
Because these miniature human tissues retain many of the unique biological characteristics of the individual patient, they allow us to understand disease more accurately and test potential treatments before they ever reach the clinic. This has the potential to bring more effective, personalised treatments to patients while reducing the time and cost of developing new medicines and our reliance on animal models.”
Through the combined expertise of Innovate UK and MRC, UKRI is accelerating the development and adoption of next generation human biology-based approaches that can improve drug discovery and development, helping bring more effective treatments to patients faster while reducing reliance on animal models.”
Building on the UK’s world-class strengths in research and innovation, these investments are advancing scientific excellence, creating opportunity for global leadership, supporting innovative businesses, and strengthening collaboration across academia, industry and the NHS to deliver health and economic impact.”
We are delighted to be partnering with Innovate UK to deliver key commitments within the UK Alternatives Strategy, supporting the next generation of cardiovascular and pharmacokinetic assays and approaches. By accelerating the development, commercialisation and uptake of innovative human biology-based technologies, these projects will strengthen safety assessment in medicines development and replace the use of animals.
![PRESS RELEASE : UK and Australia boost radar technology and industry cooperation as Defence Minister visits Indo-Pacific partners [August 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mod-150x150.png)
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 12 August 2026.
The UK and Australia are boosting cooperation on radar technology, as Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP kicks off a visit to Indo-Pacific partners this week.
The statement of intent involving QinetiQ and CEA Technologies, signed today in Canberra, will see both UK and Australian governments and industry work together on advanced radar systems, known as Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology.
The work builds on the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) agreement reached in June and will strengthen supply chains and open export opportunities for both nations’ defence industries. This advanced technology is supplied to the Australian Armed Forces and allows the UK Armed Forces to keep pace with the evolving operational environment.
At CEA Technologies, Minister Pollard and Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy welcomed the agreement and met with staff advancing radar technology.
This radar agreement shows what our partnership with Australia delivers in practice: industry stepping up, technology for our Armed Forces, and trust between our nations deepening.
Working in lockstep with Australia we can drive jobs and growth while reinforcing our collective security.
QinetiQ’s unique expertise positions us as a strategic and trusted partner to the UK MOD and its allies. Current conflicts remind us of the importance of air defences which are increasingly under pressure and QinetiQ is proud to play a key role in bringing this vital technology to the UK.
The signing forms part of a week-long visit by Minister Pollard to Australia and New Zealand, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to two of its closest defence partners in the Indo-Pacific.
In Canberra, the Minister also met the Minister for Resources, Madeleine King, to strengthen UK-Australia cooperation on critical minerals, and the interim National Armaments Director, Nadine Williams, to advance shared defence capability and industrial collaboration.
In Western Australia, Minister Pollard will visit Henderson Shipyard, where investment linked to AUKUS – the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States – is already supporting skills development and industrial uplift. AUKUS is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs in Western Australia, with a further 10,000 in South Australia.
Recent supply-chain initiatives are also generating work for 39 Australian companies, while Australian personnel are embedded across UK defence and industry organisations, supporting the delivery of the AUKUS partnership.
AUKUS is also delivering for the UK, with more than 3,000 new jobs already created across key UK nuclear sites since July 2024. SSN-AUKUS submarine construction, expected to create more than 7,000 new jobs across the UK supply chain, helping to drive growth in every postcode in the UK.
The Minister will travel to New Zealand later this week, where he will visit Devonport Naval Base in Auckland and meet defence industry leaders to discuss opportunities for closer cooperation on maritime capability. A prospective UK-New Zealand maritime partnership, including Babcock’s Type 31 Frigate offer, could deliver up to 1,000 jobs and NZ£300 million of investment into the New Zealand economy, as well as opportunities for UK industry.
The visit will also include further engagements with Australian and New Zealand government ministers and stops at defence industry sites, including Rocket Lab and SYOS Aerospace.
![PRESS RELEASE : PM vows to save “hollowed out high streets” with crackdown on vape and betting shops [August 2026]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/downingstreet-150x150.png)
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 11 August 2026.
High streets that have been hollowed out by the unchecked spread of vape stores, betting shops, and rogue businesses that do little to serve local communities are set to face a crackdown under new powers announced by the Prime Minister today.
High streets that have been hollowed out by the unchecked spread of vape stores, betting shops, and rogue businesses that do little to serve local communities are set to face a crackdown under new powers announced by the Prime Minister today [Tuesday 11 August].
The measures will put communities back in control of their high streets by giving local people a real say over what businesses can open in their town centres and how local high streets should look, as well as tougher powers for the police and local authorities to crack down on rogue operators.
As part of the PM’s plans to save Britain’s high streets, the Government intends to revoke the Gambling Act’s outdated “Aim to Permit” rule, which currently restricts the ability of councils to refuse new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine shops even where there are strong local concerns.
The change would give communities and councils a stronger say over whether new betting shops are right for their area, helping stop them spreading unchecked across struggling high streets.
The government will also require planning permission for vape shops to finally give local people and councils a say over whether they open and to stop them opening near schools. The definition of a vape shop will also be tightened to stop businesses getting around the new rules by claiming to be a general convenience store or retailer.
Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs), which are adult-only venues offering up to 24-hour access to gambling machines such as slot and fruit machines, will also require planning permission under proposals due to come into effect at the start of next year.
The changes come as vape shops and adult gaming centres have spread rapidly across many town centres. Unlike most businesses that communities raise concerns about, they can currently open without planning permission under the same rules that apply to coffee shops and clothing retailers.
Analysis by the Centre for Social Justice has found that Britain has lost nearly 1,800 pubs and bars, while the number of vape and tobacco shops increased to almost 2,200 since 2016. Similar concerns have been raised about the clustering of gambling premises in local communities, particularly in more deprived areas. In the London Borough of Brent alone, there are more than 80 gambling venues, including in Harlesden where there are 10 betting shops within a 10-minute walk.
The maximum length of Closure Orders will also double from six to 12 months, giving police and local authorities more time to investigate premises linked to organised crime, pursue prosecutions, and prevent rogue businesses – from illegal vape shops, and dodgy barber shops – reopening before investigations are complete.
High streets sit at the heart of communities across the country, but too many have been hollowed out by years of decline. The loss of shops, services and community spaces has left many people feeling like the places they grew up in are changing beyond recognition and the decline of our high streets has mirrored a wider sense of decline across Britain.
The Government is taking practical action to give local people a real say over the future of their high streets, including shaping how the new measures will work in practice.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline. The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for.
“That’s not on. I said we would improve Britain’s high streets, and that’s exactly what we are starting to do. We’re putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street. Local councils will be given the powers they need to rein in unwanted shops and bring town centres back to life.
“High streets are the beating heart of local communities, but for too long Westminster has stood by while they have been in decline. This government is committed to restoring our high streets and bringing back hope across Britain.”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said:
“People know when their high street isn’t working for them. Whether it’s the vape shop or betting shops that’s opened with no say from locals, the shopfront that’s seen better days, or the sense that nobody’s in control.
“These problems have built up over years, but this government won’t leave councils and communities powerless to crackdown on everyday eyesores that blight our high streets.
“That’s why we’re giving local leaders the power to say no to what doesn’t belong on their high street, and the tools to fix it themselves.”
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward said:
“Our local shops and high streets hold a mirror up to our economy. If that mirror shows us nothing but vape shops, gambling shops, and crime, it destroys pride in place. People, councils, and local businesses should be able to work together to shape their high streets, but as things are, they lack the levers to ensure that everyone plays fair.”
“This announcement gives places the chance to take back control, ensuring that no one type of business can monopolise the high street and that flagrant criminality can be dealt with. Local powers given to locally accountable councils, together with investment led by regional Mayors will help diverse high streets to flourish.”
Joshua Nicholson, Head of Housing and Communities at the Centre for Social Justice said:
“Britain’s high streets have been hijacked by a growing number of dodgy vape shops, mini marts, and barbers, many of which are linked to organised crime.
“The Government is right to give councils new powers to say no to these dodgy shops. High street renewal is vital to restoring security within our communities.”
The Government will also work with councils to improve the appearance of high streets and help restore pride in local town centres. In too many places, poor-quality shopfronts, garish neon signs, and oversized logos have prompted complaints from local people and contributed to high streets feeling less welcoming, at a time when the rise of online shopping has already put increasing pressure on town centres.
To help turn this around, the Government will set clearer expectations for the design and appearance of high street shopfronts. Working with the Planning Advisory Service, it will identify the best examples of attractive, thriving town centres from across the country and provide councils with practical guidance on improving the look and feel of local high streets.
Over the next six months, councils will be supported to improve local high streets, drawing on successful examples such as Cross Street in Oswestry and Keynsham High Street. Building on this, the government will set out further action to tackle the long-term decline that has hollowed out town centres and make high streets places people want to visit, shop, and spend time in again.
The measures build on wider action to tackle rogue businesses linked to organised crime, including a £30 million crackdown on money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal working, backed by raids, shop closures and cash seizures.
It also builds on action the Prime Minister has taken in his first weeks in office to back local communities and town centres, including a 20% cut to business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues across England from next year – changes which are fully funded including through reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to their communities, like vape shops. The government will also return to the commitment to reform the wider business rates system, including Small Business Rates Relief, at the Budget.
It forms part of the Government’s wider drive to restore pride in local places, shift power out of Westminster and back into communities, and bring more people back to town centres.