Tag: 2026

PRESS RELEASE : Keep Britain Working continues drive to stop people falling out of the workforce [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 3 July 2026.

Nearly 200 workplaces have signed up to be “Vanguards” preventing people dropping out of work due to ill-health, in a new milestone for the programme.

Over 250 employers, 10 mayoral authorities and all 3 devolved administrations work with Sir Charlie Mayfield, reshaping how disability and ill-health are supported at work.
Latest Keep Britain Working report shows shared responsibility and better data, supported by personalised plans will be key to helping people remain in work.
A new Workplace Health Intelligence Unit will track sickness absence, return-to-work outcomes and disability participation making workplace health performance visible for the first time.

They are among more than 250 employers, providers and organisations which have worked closely with former John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working Review to help reshape how health and disability are supported such as through stay-in-work and return-to-work plans.

Working with businesses big and small, the programme is building a new system that puts earlier workplace support at its heart in order to tackle one of the most urgent workforce challenges facing the country, with 2.8 million people being currently out of work due to long-term sickness.

His report to Welfare Secretary Pat McFadden last year set out clear actions for employers to ensure people are getting the right support to successfully keep them in work and thriving. These are now being developed and tested in businesses, groups and mayoral authorities across the country. Since the beginning of the Keep Britain Working Review, there has been engagement with businesses and local government in every part of the UK.

Sir Charlie Mayfield, author of the Keep Britain Working Review & Co-Chair of the Keep Britain Working programme, said:

For too long, the system has been organised around supporting people after they get ill or face barriers. We need to shift the emphasis to earlier action, better integration, and a genuine, shared commitment to keeping people healthy and in work. What’s been striking is not just the quality of insight we’ve seen from vanguards, but the shared ambition and enthusiasm in regions and across such a wide range of employers.

It’s rare to find an opportunity that benefits employers, improves people’s life chances, and reduces government spending – all without large up-front investment. This is growth hiding in plain sight. Our work so far demonstrates this is all achievable and the benefits are significant.

Sir Charlie said employers must be ‘on the pitch’, engaging in employee health and well-being, measuring outcomes and developing ‘stay in work and return to work plans.’

The current vanguards demonstrate the benefits to work and health for employees, especially when providers make support more accessible and affordable.

Work is underway on a ‘standard’ for employers who offer a certain level of workplace health provision, at a level which is affordable.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

The response from employers has been remarkable. Across every region and every sector, businesses want to do better by their workforce; they just need the right framework and the right support.

Keep Britain Working is delivering both. A new national standard, better data, and real accountability. This is how we fix the broken system, keep people in work and grow our economy.

As a part of this, a new Workplace Health Intelligence Unit will be created, which will collect standardised data from employers and providers across the UK to increase dramatically the focus on prevention and to enable proactive steps to address emerging health issues

Currently, sickness absence is tracked inconsistently, and return-to-work outcomes are rarely measured. The Unit will enable benchmarking, drive improvement, and will give government a stronger evidence base.

Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray said:

For too long, too many people have been handed fit notes without any extra support. What they really need is help to stay in work or get back to work safely.

A piece of paper that so often closes doors is no substitute for a plan that opens them. That’s why we’re shifting the focus from signing people off to helping them stay in work or return as soon as they are ready.

Good work is good for health. By helping employers step in earlier and work more closely with the NHS, we can help more people live healthier, more independent lives, ease pressure on the NHS and support economic growth.

Business Secretary, Peter Kyle said:

For too many disabled people and those with health conditions, barriers at work mean they miss out on the chance to thrive in their careers — and that’s something we’re determined to change.

These organisations are showing what’s possible when employers genuinely invest in their people. Healthy, inclusive workplaces aren’t just good for business — they make a real difference to people’s lives.

Thirty Vanguard organisations took part in intensive employer-led “sprints” – working with each other on best practice regarding prevention, staying in work, returning to work, and data gathering which can be adopted more widely

Seventy further organisations and ten regional workshops including small and medium sized businesses tested those findings, ensuring a broad coverage and input from across the UK.

Following these sprints, the message from employers was consistent: we must focus on outcomes, not paperwork and process. The report sets out a clear emerging direction with the need to create:

Shared responsibility: where employers, employee, providers and government all have a role to play in delivering a new system which better supports people to remain in work successfully
Better data: as the engine for change, driving accountability, market quality and long-term system improvement.

This progress sits within a £3.5 billion employment support package. WorkWell, backed by £259 million will support up to 250,000 people to stay in or return to work. Connect to Work will reach 300,000 sick or disabled people with tailored support. Over 1,000 full-time Pathways to Work advisers are already in place across Britain.

The government is also committed to further steps to bring about effective and sustainable reform, and this will be guided by the Milburn and Timms reviews, which are due to conclude later this year.

Phillippa O’Connor, Chief People Officer at PwC, commented on the Keep Britain Working Review:

Keeping people in work has to be at the heart of tackling economic inactivity. We’ve built a system that’s focussed on responding once people have left work rather than preventing them from leaving in the first place.

That’s what this review is starting to change and it’s great to see the momentum of more employers taking action.

Our experience in the ‘stay in work’ sprint shows that earlier, targeted interventions – backed by better data and well-supported line managers – can stop short-term sickness becoming long-term absence. Crucially, the success of stay in work plans depend on shared responsibility between employers and employees working together.

The priority now is turning that insight into consistent practice across UK workplaces, by scaling what works and creating the right conditions for open conversations about health and wellbeing.”

Alistair Cochrane, CEO Royal Mail said:

We know how important work is for people’s wellbeing, and how challenging it can be when health issues start to affect someone’s ability to stay in work.

At Royal Mail, there is a collective sense of purpose in helping colleagues remain in work wherever possible, with the right support in place.

Being part of the Keep Britain Working programme allows us to play our part in developing better support, earlier interventions and more personalised approaches that help colleagues stay connected to work.

Diane Lightfoot, CEO, Business Disability Forum:

We were pleased to support Keep Britain Working’s disability inclusion sprint by facilitating stakeholder feedback workshops with some of the Vanguard employers. The workshops gave employers the opportunity to discuss the types of support they provide and the outcomes they would like to see for their employees around health and wellbeing in the workplace. It is good to see so many Business Disability Forum Members becoming Vanguard employers and engaging in this agenda.

Anne Hayes, Director of Standards Development, British Standards Institution, said:

It’s incredibly positive to see that nearly 200 workplaces have signed up to be “Vanguards” preventing people dropping out of work due to ill-health.

The role employers play in helping people stay in work should not be underestimated. Our recent report, The Value of Creating a Culture of Trust, found that the UK could be losing £9.9 billion in productivity each year because employees feel unable to speak openly about their health and wellbeing, and miss out on the support they need to continue to contribute.

Nearly half of staff who are not confident raising health concerns with their employer have left a role or taken extended leave as a result.

At BSI we are proud to be partnering with the Mayfield Review to enable employers to help organisations create healthier working lives throughout every stage of employment, and ultimately build workplace cultures rooted in trust.

Emma Taylor, Tesco Chief People Officer, said:

We’ve long recognised that Tesco has an important role to play in supporting health and wellbeing at work. We want colleagues to feel supported and able to thrive, which is why we continue to invest in services that help them access advice and support when they need it, including our Employee Assistance Programme and 24/7 Virtual GP service. By making it easier for colleagues to seek help and address concerns early, we can support better health outcomes and help colleagues stay well in work.

Prevention is more effective than cure, but creating a truly preventative system requires employers, healthcare providers and government to work together. That’s why we’re proud to be a Vanguard Employer for Keep Britain Working and welcome the progress being made towards helping more people stay healthy and thrive in work.

Additional Information:

Please see the second ‘Story so far’ report.
The latest list of organisations who have expressed an interest in working with us in the Vanguard:

	Organisations
3-1-5 Health Club	Health Partners Group	Royal Mail
A&M EDM	Health Shield	PreCure ApS
Acas	HealthHero	Psychiatry UK
The Association of Medical Insurers and Intermediaries (amii)	Holland & Barrett	Public Health Scotland
ARKIVE by Adam Reed	Home Office	Pure Unity Health Group
Ascenti Health Group	Hospitality Action	Pure Gym
Association of British Insurers	HR Support 4u Ltd	PwC UK
Aviva	Hussle	Rail Safety & Standards Board
AXA Health	Independent Healthcare Providers Network	Ramboll UK & Ireland
Barts Health NHS Trust	Ingeus	Renew Beauty
BP	Inspired Ergonomics	Retail Trust
British Airways	Insurance at Heart	Rethink Mental Illness
British Beer & Pub Association	J Sainsburys	Rio Tinto
BT Group	Jaguar Land Rover	Road Haulage Association
Bupa UK	John Lewis Partnership	Rolls-Royce
Burger King	Journey Enterprises	Seddon
Business in The Community	Kore Sandwell	Serco
ByteDance	Latus Group	Severn Trent Water
Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust	Legal & General Group	Sick in the City (SIC)
Canada Life	Lloyds Banking Group	Siemens
Canary Wharf Group	Loughborough University	Simplyhealth Group
Capita	LSN Diffusion	Sky UK
Career Returners	Marks and Spencer	Sonder
Cartrefi Cymru Co-operative	Maximus UK	Sopra Steria
Carolina House Trust	McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd	South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
CBI	Medicash	SpaMedica
Centrica	Mental Health UK	Spire Healthcare
Change Grow Live	Mental Health First Aid England	Square Health
Channel 4	Microlink PC	SSE Plc
Chrysalis Courses	Mind Matters Counselling LLP	Scottish Union of Supported Employment
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners	Mission Remission	Teladoc Health
COOK Food	Moneypenny	TELUS Health
Cora Health	Motionspot	Tesco
Cosy Direct	Nando’s	The Anti Burnout Club
Crown Estate	National Hair and Beauty Federation	The Busy Group
Currys	NCPS	The Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
Dene Healthcare	NHS Business Services Authority	The Clear Company
Department for Business & Trade	NHS Cheshire and Wirral Trust	The Gym Group
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board	The Human Centre
Department for Health & Social Care	Northern Trains Limited	The Ink Group
Department for Work and Pensions	Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust	The Migraine Trust
Disability Action (Northern Ireland)	North Yorkshire Hospice Care	Thrivall
East Midlands Railway (EMR)	Nuffield Health	Transport for London
EDF Energy	One Medical Group	Transport for Wales
Endometriosis UK	Onebright	Truro & Penwith College
Enginuity	Optima Health	Turning Point
Epilepsy Action	PA Consulting	UKHospitality
Evenbreak	PAM Wellness	University of Cambridge
EY UK	Parachute	Unum
Fedcap	Passion4Social	Vercida
Ford UK	Patchwork Hub	Vitality
Future Fit	Pathways CIC	Vitality 360
Genius Within	Peak Health Coaching Ltd	Vivam Health
Goodshape	People Partner 4U	Waltham Forest College
Google UK	Peppy Health	Wellebit
Grayling UK	PepsiCo UK	Wellhub
Haleon	Pharmacy2U	Wise Corp
HCA Healthcare	Standard Life plc	Working to Wellbeing
HCML	Places for People	WPA
Health 2 Employment	Places Leisure	Zellis Group
	Posturite	Zurich UK

The Regional Vanguards working with us are:

	Regions
Cornwall Council	Greater Manchester	West Midlands Combined Mayoral Authority
East Midlands	Liverpool City Region Combined Authority	West of England Combined Mayoral Authority
Greater London Authority	North East Combined Mayoral Authority	West Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority
	South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority	Worcestershire County Council

05/07/2026

PRESS RELEASE : NHS patients get faster access to medicines under new pilots [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 2 July 2026.

NHS patients could access cutting-edge medicines potentially months earlier under a series of pioneering pilot schemes.
- A series of pilot schemes will test ways to get innovative medicines to NHS patients faster, and support investment in the UK
- The pilots have been developed through a joint government and industry taskforce, delivering on the commitments set out in the UK-US pharmaceutical arrangement
- Nine additional medicines have already been approved for NHS patients in England and Wales since changes to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold were announced in April
NHS patients could access cutting-edge medicines potentially months earlier under a series of pioneering pilots designed to speed up and improve the fairness of how new treatments reach patients.

A joint taskforce of government, the pharmaceutical industry and NHS representatives developed the pilots in a 10-week ‘sprint’ process, with input from patient organisations. They will begin testing new approaches to medicines pricing, access and adoption as early as this September.

One of the pilots will look specifically at how innovative treatments that have already met safety, quality and clinical standards can be given to eligible NHS patients more quickly. This includes new therapies for rare conditions.

The announcement builds on changes made to NICE’s cost-effectiveness threshold in April 2026, which have already led to 9 additional medicines being approved for NHS patients in England and Wales.

These approvals span a range of serious and life-limiting conditions, including blood disorders, autoimmune diseases and several cancers – including brain tumours that could affect young children and advanced stomach cancers for people with limited treatment options.

Together, they could give thousands of patients faster access to potentially life-changing medicines, offering new hope to people who previously had few or no effective treatment options.

As the new mechanisms become established, NICE expects that up to 5 extra medicines could be approved each year, compared with the previous arrangements, building on its track record of approving more than 90% of all medicines it assesses.

Health and Social Care Secretary, James Murray, said:

When a new medicine is proven to work, patients shouldn’t have to wait.

These pilots are designed to give life-changing treatments to NHS patients faster and more fairly than ever before, while ensuring taxpayers continue to get value for money.

That’s good for patients, good for the NHS and good for Britain’s place as a world leader in life sciences.

Other pilots agreed by the taskforce include:
- a new approach to account for the productivity benefits of new medicines, such as recognising the value of enabling people who receive treatment to return to work
- a mechanism allowing industry to co-invest in screening, testing and the full care journey of patients, to better enable the NHS to offer innovative therapies at speed and scale as soon as they are recommended by NICE
- dedicated regional funding to improve patient access to priority medicines, supporting local systems to provide faster and wider uptake of transformative innovations
These initial pilots support the government’s commitment to double innovative medicines spending from 0.3% to 0.6% of GDP over the next decade – as set out in the UK-US pharmaceutical arrangement – to deliver faster, fairer and equitable NHS patient access to cutting-edge therapies.

Pharmaceuticals is a globally competitive industry that creates highly skilled research, manufacturing and commercial jobs across the UK. The government is committed to building on the country’s strengths in life sciences by backing innovations that deliver significant benefits for patients and wider society, supporting both the government’s growth mission and the ambitions of the 10 Year Health Plan for England and the Life Sciences Sector Plan.

Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

We are in an era of rapid advances in new preventative measures, treatments and even cures. We have a responsibility to get the most important of these into the hands of doctors and patients as quickly as possible. These pilots will help us do exactly that.

Improving outcomes for patients, giving doctors more tools to treat and beat disease, and delivering the innovations that drive our ambition to become the leading life sciences country in Europe – that’s how we’re working to deliver an NHS which is fit for the future.

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said:

The measures announced today are the product of intensive and focused effort between industry and government to ensure NHS patients get the medicines they need. While there is more work to be done, today’s news represents an important step on the path to achieving our shared goal of making the UK a world-leading environment for patient access and life sciences investment.

We have already seen industry respond positively to the government’s commitment earlier this year to increase investment in innovative medicines. I hope that these delivery measures continue to build investor confidence and enable us to make further progress together.

Dr Scott Purdon, Chair, Charity Medicines Access Coalition (CMAC), said:

Today’s announcement, committing to a series of pilots designed to speed up and improve access to proven and potentially life-changing medicines, is welcome news.

We are especially pleased to see a focus on faster, fairer access to treatments. For people living with life‑threatening or life‑limiting conditions every day matters – delays aren’t just frustrating, they can shorten lives and worsen quality of life.

The inclusion of patient expertise and representation in shaping the pilots is encouraging, showing a system that is starting to listen and act on what matters most: equitable outcomes for patients.

We look forward to working with DHSC and partners to ensure these pilots break down barriers to approval and uptake, and most importantly help people get the treatments they need, when they need them.

Nick Meade, Chief Executive, Genetic Alliance UK, said:

The vast majority of 7,000 rare conditions affecting people in the UK don’t have a cure or treatment. Many of the most serious rare conditions are progressive, and every day people’s conditions are progressing past the point where treatments can be given. Getting treatments into managed access programmes without waiting for a full NICE assessment could mean people get treated months earlier – this time saved has the real potential to save lives.

These pilots could level the playing field for rare condition treatments, overcoming some of the fundamental inequities they face in our current system due to their intrinsic low-evidence bases. We welcome this challenge being addressed and look forward to seeing how this works in practice.
04/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Fastest infrastructure building in a generation as planning rules overhauled [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 2 July 2026.

New reforms confirmed today to speed up the approval process for major infrastructure projects.
- Planning reforms could cut pre-application time by up to 12 months and save developers £1 billion on major infrastructure projects
- Green-lit projects already set to create 82,000 jobs and generate more clean energy annually to power homes and businesses
- Government on track to decide 150 major infrastructure projects this Parliament, nearly triple the last Parliament
Britain is set to build wind and solar farms, nuclear plants, reservoirs and new transport links at the fastest pace in a generation under major infrastructure planning reforms.

Delivered through the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Act, changes confirmed today (Friday 3 July), and coming into effect later this month, will scrap mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) – cutting up to 12 months from the planning process and potentially saving industry £1 billion this Parliament.

In their place, developers will receive earlier technical support and meaningful advice from the Planning Inspectorate before applications are submitted, with examinations streamlined to focus on the key issues that matter – getting projects through the system faster and with greater certainty. Over 80 prospective applicants have already benefited from early advice to help shape their proposed applications since the launch of the Inspectorate’s new pre-application service.

Since taking office, the government has made 41 decisions on major infrastructure projects – including Mona Offshore Wind Farm, Gate Burton Energy Park and the Lower Thames Crossing – double the previous Parliament’s tally at this stage.

These major infrastructure projects could create over 82,000 jobs and generate more clean energy annually to power millions of homes and businesses across the country. Thanks to new reforms, more projects will also enter the pipeline at a faster rate – putting the government on track to exceed its target of at least 150 major infrastructure decisions this Parliament.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:

This government is determined to make the UK a world leader in building infrastructure.

Our reforms will get work started quicker on wind farms, solar panels and transport links to connect our communities and grow our economy.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

Britain cannot afford to wait years for the clean energy infrastructure needed to strengthen our energy security and grow the economy.

Every turbine, every solar panel, every cable we connect helps protect families from volatile fossil fuel markets and paves the way for a new era of clean energy for our country.

Today’s reforms come as the Act’s wider reforms are already keeping major NSIP projects moving. New limits on totally without merit legal challenges were recently tested in the Stonestreet Green Solar case, where the court rapidly dismissed a meritless claim – saving a solar project that will power around 42,000 homes from months of unnecessary delay.

Much-needed infrastructure like data centres can now opt in to the NSIP regime that allows developers to rapidly deliver these projects, if granted, through strict, fixed timeframes rather than facing endless delays locally. Ministers have already directed three data centre proposals into the NSIP regime at Wapseys Wood in Buckinghamshire, Ampthill Road in Bedford, and New Barn Lane in Dartford.

As part of the wider package of reforms already underway, local authorities are also being supported to keep pace with the accelerating pipeline of infrastructure, as they can now set their own fees to recover costs for NSIP-related work and bid for up to £1 million through Round 3 of the Innovation and Capacity Fund.

The Planning Inspectorate is already putting these changes into practice, with East West Rail among the first NSIP projects to benefit from more structured pre-application support and an ambition to deliver a more targeted examination process cutting overall timescales. In addition, onshore wind projects seeking permission through the Town and Country Planning Act are also set to be freed from the mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for the first time since 2015.

The news comes as Examining Authorities made 20 recommendations to ministers on NSIPs last year, an 18% increase compared to the previous year, and these applications were processed more quickly than statutory maximum timescales. They have also recruited more inspectors, enabled by £2.2 million additional funding provided since 2024, building on £48 million committed last year to strengthen planning capacity across the public sector with around 1,400 new recruitments this Parliament.

Head of Infrastructure Decisions and Applications Service at the Planning Inspectorate, David Price said:

“The Infrastructure Service at the Planning Inspectorate has worked closely with MHCLG throughout the development of the Planning and Infrastructure Act and is ready to support its successful implementation. We are committed to working collaboratively with applicants, stakeholders and delivery partners to help realise the ambitions of the legislation and support a more targeted infrastructure consenting process.”

Further information

Changes set out in the government’s consultation response on NSIP reforms include:
- New guidance on the pre-application period to support the removal of statutory consultation.
- Redesigning services provided by the Planning Inspectorate to support developers during pre-application with earlier technical input and meaningful advice from inspectors.
- Encouraging the earlier submission of Local Impact Reports (LIRs), including draft LIRs, alongside relevant representations to inform the Examining Authority of Principal Issues and focus on key local impacts.
- Supporting efficient and streamlined examinations through greater focus on Initial Assessments of Principal Issues (IAPIs). This is when Examining Authorities identify the key issues for examination and use them to focus the structure and conduct of examinations on the key issues, while continuing to consider all relevant matters.
- A more streamlined process for other planning routes by removing mandatory pre-application consultation requirements that currently apply to certain onshore wind projects seeking permission through the Town and Country Planning Act. Legislation currently dictates that up to and including 100MW facilities are evaluated by local authorities rather than the centralised NSIP process.
We will set out further details of the new guidance shortly, including on the pre-application period to support the removal of the statutory consultation, which will come into effect on 24 July.

An implementation plan to streamline infrastructure planning was published earlier this year.

The application period for Round 3 of the Innovation and Capacity Fund has now closed and the government is assessing the applications. The fund offers additional financial support for local authorities to engage in the NSIP process.

The government is committed to fast-track decisions on at least 150 major economic infrastructure by the end of this Parliament. This is nearly triple the 59 Development Consent Order decisions taken in the previous Parliament, and exceeding the total of 138 NSIP decisions made since 2011.

A record 21 decisions were made on major infrastructure in the first year of this Parliament.

The significant pro-growth changes in the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Act will see up to £7.5 billion injected into the UK economy over the next decade.
04/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Almost 20,000 new homes unlocked after breakthrough by government Water Delivery Taskforce [July 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 July 2026.

18,771 new homes in East Anglia, Lincolnshire and the Home Counties closer to being built.

Families will benefit from more than 18,000 new homes following a landmark breakthrough between the government and Anglian Water – the latest victory in the government’s drive to tear down the blockers and get Britain building.

The government’s Water Delivery Taskforce stepped in as Anglian Water previously objected to several large-scale developments due to concerns over wastewater treatment capacity. The Taskforce brought together local planning authorities, regulators and Anglian Water to agree a path forward.

Through the new approach, Anglian Water is working with developers and planning authorities at an earlier stage in the process to enable large scale developments of over 500 homes, allowing infrastructure upgrades to be funded and delivered in a phased way over multiple investment cycles.

The taskforce has opened up conversations around a potential new water recycling centre for Grantham – plus the existing construction of a strategic pipeline and 20-million-litre storage reservoir to allow for thousands more homes in the years ahead.

This is key for the East of England, one of the driest regions in the country but with one of the fastest growing populations and highest potential for growth, and follows previous Taskforce success in North Sussex, where around 21,000 homes have already been unlocked through collaborative work to resolve a four-year pause on development.

These successes for the Water Delivery Taskforce show how strong collaboration and partnership between government, industry and local communities is accelerating the UK’s infrastructure revolution and delivering the housing the country needs.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

This is another success story for the government’s Water Delivery Taskforce, which has already unblocked over 55,000 homes with solutions driven by pragmatic thinking and long-term strategy.

We are unlocking growth and getting Britain building while protecting our precious water supplies. Under this government’s reforms, we are securing a brighter future with new homes and new jobs across the country.

Mark Thurston, Chief Executive Officer at Anglian Water said:

Given the concentration and scale of growth in the East of England, we are at the forefront of many major infrastructure projects, including two new reservoirs, our Strategic Interconnecting Pipeline, hundreds of miles of modern pipes, water recycling infrastructure and nature-based solutions, such as wetlands.

We are working with regulators to chart the path between environmental compliance and supporting growth, and through our work with Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce, Anglian Water is working with developers and local planning authorities at an earlier stage in the process to enable large scale developments of over 500 homes. This is an encouraging step forward in enabling us to deliver infrastructure upgrades over multiple investment cycles.

Earlier this year, the government also announced over 130,000 new homes will be built faster thanks to the New Homes Accelerator, established in 2024 to get spades in the ground more quickly by providing local areas with additional planning capacity and removing regulatory hurdles. The government is also driving forward action to secure long-term water resilience, clean up waterways and modernise the water sector through a once-in-a-generation programme of reform.

Having already reversed anti-supply measures in the National Planning Policy Framework, the government’s planning overhaul is beginning to bear fruit, with a 15% increase in new housing starts compared to last year. This is on top of the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Act and further proposed changes to the Framework – the biggest rewrite of planning rules in over a decade.

Notes to editors:

The developments closer to being built are:
- Spitalgate Heath, Grantham, Lincolnshire: 3,400 homes, 300,000 sq ft of employment space, and 86,000 sq ft for the local centre.
- Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community: 7,750 homes and 25 hectares of employment space.
- Beccles, East Suffolk: 721 dwellings, plus 5 hectares of employment land for a primary school, retirement community and community hub with retail space.
- Baldock, Hertfordshire: 3,200 homes and 16 hectares of employment.
- Dunton Hills, Essex. 3,700 homes.
04/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Attorney General launches free Rule of Law lesson plans for every school in England and Wales [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 2 July 2026.

Free, classroom-ready lesson plans on the rule of law are now available to every school in England and Wales, following a new partnership between the Attorney General’s Office, Oak National Academy and the Association for Citizenship Teachers.

The lesson plans which aim to teach young people about their rights and the legal system, have been developed with expert educators and shaped by feedback from teachers. Resources range from introductory lessons for five-year-olds exploring why rules exist, to more complex material examining contemporary threats to the rule of law.

Each lesson is accompanied by task worksheets, explainer videos and quizzes. The key stages one to four plans are free for teachers to download from the Oak National Academy’s website: www.thenational.academy.

Oak National Academy is used by around three-quarters of England schools and is backed by the Department for Education. The new resources are a practical exploration of what citizenship teaching could look like in light of wider curriculum review. The rule of law is identified as a Fundamental British Value by the Department for Education.

To mark the launch, the Attorney General, Richard Hermer KC and Advocate General for Scotland Catherine Smith KC visited Ark Blake Academy in Croydon on Thursday 2 July 2026, observing a Year 9 lesson using the new resources and taking questions from students.

The Attorney General, Richard Hermer KC, said:

Every child deserves to understand the laws and rights that protect them. Until now, too many schools have lacked the high-quality resources to teach that with confidence. These free lesson plans, developed with Oak National Academy and the Association of Citizenship Teachers, change that.

Visiting Ark Blake and seeing students engage so enthusiastically with discussions about the importance of the rule of law – a fundamental British value – is exactly why this work matters.

John Roberts, CEO of Oak National Academy said:

It’s been brilliant to work with the Attorney General’s Office to develop these resources, and give teachers the tools to bring important conversations about the rule of law into the classroom.

By helping pupils understand their rights, the protections the law provides, and the role they play in society, these lessons will support young people to become informed, active citizens.

04/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said of Oman [July 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 July 2026.

The Prime Minister met His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said of Oman in Downing Street this afternoon.

The Prime Minister reiterated his solidarity with Oman and all our partners in the region, as well as his gratitude for Oman’s mediation efforts which contributed to the deal between the US and Iran.

They discussed efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and provide shipping with the reassurance needed to transit through the Strait. The Prime Minister recognised that Oman’s support was vital, and they agreed to continue to work closely.

They agreed to stay in touch.

04/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Pubs to stay open for Sunday night’s England v Mexico World Cup match [July 2026]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 July 2026.

Pubs and bars will be able to stay open until 5am on Monday morning so England fans can come together to watch the World Cup last-16 match against Mexico.
- Pubs and bars across England and Wales will be able to stay open until 5am for Sunday night’s England v Mexico match
- Removes red tape for pubs and bars wanting to boost revenues and allow fans to come together to support the team
- Follows extensions already in place for all of England’s knock-out matches
Pubs and bars will be able to stay open until 5am on Monday morning so England fans can come together to watch the World Cup last-16 match against Mexico.

In a boost for pubs, bars and football fans across the country, alcohol licensing hours will be extended for Sunday night’s match which kicks off at 1am.

This change removes the need for individual premises in England and Wales to apply for extended hours, delivering a welcome boost to the hospitality sector.

The Home Secretary has the legislative power to extend licensing hours on occasions of “exceptional international, national or local significance”. This follows extensions already granted for England’s knock-out games that kicked off up until 22.00.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed is writing to council leaders informing them of these changes, and thanking them for playing their part in approving Temporary Event Notices throughout the tournament – ensuring supporters can properly roar on the Three Lions down the pub.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to.

“Pubs staying open till the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together.
“The whole country will be backing the team. Come on England!”

Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said:

“This is fantastic news and will be hugely welcomed by operators. The government has listened to the overwhelming public support for England and recognised the challenges facing pubs and licensed premises across the country.

“This pragmatic approach allows venues to focus on what matters most – bringing communities together to support the national team. Major sporting occasions like this deliver a significant boost to hospitality businesses while creating an atmosphere that unites the country.

“As England heads into one of the biggest games of the tournament, let’s get behind the team, support our local venues, and give the country something positive to celebrate. We hope this weekend marks not only a memorable occasion for England on the pitch, but also a much-needed boost for our hospitality sector and the communities it serves.”

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: 

“Pubs and fans will be over the moon about this decision, because we all know the best place to watch the match is down the local.

“This tournament is hugely important for our sector, so we’re delighted the government listened to our concerns and acted so quickly. Now we can carry on being the home of live sport and welcoming fans through the door.”

Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, said:

“England’s march towards World Cup glory is something millions of fans want to support.

“This very welcome announcement from the government allows those that want to enjoy the game in pubs and other hospitality venues to get together to cheer on our Three Lions.”
04/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : We stand in solidarity with Bahrain, Kuwait, and all our partners across the Gulf – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 July 2026.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Bahrain.

The United Kingdom strongly condemns Iran’s reckless attacks against Bahrain and Kuwait, and on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

First, these attacks are directly contrary to resolution 2817, put civilian lives in danger, and risk destabilising an already fragile region.

We stand in solidarity with Bahrain, Kuwait, and all our partners across the Gulf.

The United Kingdom remains committed to regional security and stability, and we will continue to provide practical support to strengthen the defence and security of our partners.

Second, the UK gives our strong backing to the International Maritime Organisation’s efforts to evacuate vessels and seafarers, which has seen a number of vessels able to safely exit the Strait, some after months of being stranded.

The IMO have had to pause their efforts as a direct result of these attacks, and we hope they will be able to resume their work as soon as possible.

We call for the right of transit passage to be fully restored in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

It is critical that the Strait is free from the threat of violence and any form of tolls or unlawful impediments, and that all parties comply with their obligations under international law.

The UK is committed to playing our part to achieve this, including through a strictly defensive and independent multinational military mission, led jointly with our French partners to provide reassurance to commercial shipping.

Finally, President, the UK welcomes and supports the implementation of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding and the ongoing negotiations.

We recognise this as a moment of opportunity to restore stability, not only for the region but also for the global economy.

It is essential that global security and economic interests are safeguarded under a final agreement.

04/07/2026
PRESS RELEASE : More farmers supported to grow their businesses and restore nature [July 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 July 2026.

New application process for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier opening environmental schemes to more farmers.

For the first time, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) will open to direct applications from farmers and land managers, helping more businesses secure funding to restore nature while producing food.

Speaking at Groundswell Festival 2026 today (2 July), Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds announced farmers and land managers will be able to apply for woodland agreements, agroforestry agreements and new single-focus agreements to restore species-rich grassland, with an initial cohort of up to 1,200 single-focus agreements available.

When CSHT launched last September, farmers and land managers could only apply if invited by Natural England or the Forestry Commission as part of a phased rollout. From later this summer, this restriction will be lifted, allowing farmers and land managers to begin the application process themselves by submitting an Expression of Interest, opening the scheme to more applicants and giving them greater control over how they apply, helping them deliver more for nature, heritage and their businesses.

The changes build on the government’s commitment to make environmental schemes more accessible and deliver the Farming Roadmap by giving farmers clearer routes into support while continuing to target funding where it can deliver the greatest environmental benefit.

It follows the reopening of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) this week, designed to be simpler, fairer, and more accessible than ever before. As expected on opening Window 1, demand was strong on the first day, with a high number of applications. The latest data shows that application volumes have begun to level off, and applications are being received at a steady pace.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

Every thriving meadow restored, every historic landscape protected and every woodland managed more sustainably starts with farmers and land managers who care deeply.

The Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier will be simpler and easier for more applicants to access, giving more farmers and land managers the opportunity to invest in their businesses while helping to create a richer, greener countryside for future generations.

The expanded offer announced today will, for the first time, open applications to farmers and land managers without the need for an invitation, with support for restoring and managing species-rich grassland, improving woodland management, establishing agroforestry, and conserving scheduled monuments.

This will help more farmers and land managers deliver environmental improvements while continuing food production, alongside continued support for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and HLS agreement holders whose agreements expire in 2026 or early 2027.

Later this year, we will begin trialling applications on common land ahead of implementing a wider rollout.

At least £50 million will be available for new CSHT agreements this year. Natural England will continue to prioritise farmers with agreements ending or those who have already completed the preparatory work needed to apply.

04/07/2026
Emma Reynolds – 2026 Speech at Groundswell Festival

The speech made by Emma Reynolds, the Environment Secretary, on 2 July 2026.

Good afternoon, Groundswell. I’m really excited to be here today.

I’ve heard so much about Groundswell so my expectations were quite high, but I have to say today has exceeded all my expectations. The passion, the energy, the innovation, the optimism, and the buzz about this place is infectious.

No wonder people call it the Glastonbury of farming.

I would like to thank the Cherry family for hosting such an amazing event and having the vision 10 years ago to set this up.

As Environment Secretary, I see nature-friendly farming not as an alternative to productive farming, but as its foundation. I believe that profitable, resilient farming comes from working with nature. That belief has been at the heart of what I’ve been doing ever since my appointment last year as Secretary of State.

We all know that healthy soils are central to nature-friendly farming. They store more water during droughts, they support diverse habitats, they support pollinators and they support pest control. They provide cleaner water, stronger ecosystems and more efficient use of inputs.

That is why I am so excited about this agenda. And earlier today I was chatting with Andy Cato.  We were talking about the government’s 25-year Farming Roadmap, which I published just last week. England’s first ever long-term farming roadmap. It provides a long-term plan through to 2050, and nature and regenerative farming runs right through it.

It brings together the different things that affect your farms and that I have been talking to people about this morning. The environment, land use, animal welfare and business resilience into one clear direction.

It sets out how improving nutrient management and input efficiency will help farmers to reduce resilience on artificial fertilisers, cut input costs and, crucially, boost resilience.

Ultimately, it shows that profitability and nature are not competing aims. They are inseparable. And we need innovation to help that strategic shift set out in the roadmap to a more nature-friendly farming system.

Last week, I announced £123 million pounds through the Farming Innovation Programme to back new technology and improve productivity.

That funding is already supporting some really exciting projects. This morning, I’ve met with Harper Adams University and UK Agritech Centre to discuss how technology can cut inputs, improve resilience, and work more closely with nature.

And I’ve seen the impact that government support has on farms across the country.

Earlier this year, I met Adrian and Charlotte Downing, who run Darville’s Hill Farm in Buckinghamshire. It’s a small mixed farm with native breed sheep, rare breed pigs, and an agroforestry approach that weaves trees and hedgerows into productive farmland. Over a cup of tea, and I am a big tea drinker, they talked me through their approach. The hedgerow management gives their livestock shelter and supports wildlife. Their grazing system improves soil health and environmental management.

They had benefited from SFI, a scheme which funds actions to directly improve soil health, the foundations of regenerative farming through actions like cover crops, herbal lays and building organic matter in the soil.

Window one of SFI26 opened on Tuesday and we have seen strong interest in it already.

And I’m delighted to say today that we are allowing farmers with land management agreements that are soon to expire to apply early for SFI26 so that you have the same confidence in the future as we do.

So, I’m really pleased to confirm that this new functionality will be available for window two, which opens in September.

But as I said, behind the numbers, there is a real story. Because when we get soil right, so much else follows. It means stronger crops, lower input costs, greater resilience. So in 10, 20 years’ time, the next generation can continue to run productive farm businesses, thriving landscapes, and a countryside richer in nature.

It’s why I’m delighted to announce today that we are making changes to the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, changes that will make the scheme simpler and more accessible.

The scheme already supports some of the most ambitious environmental work happening on farms today, bringing wetlands, peatlands and heathlands back to life, helping threatened species recover, restoring rivers and floodplains and caring for ancient and native woodlands.

Until now, the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier has been invitation only, very exclusive. That is changing. From later this summer, farmers and land managers will be able to submit an expression of interest and we are introducing simpler, single-focus agreements so applicants can focus on the environmental priorities that matter most on their land.

Backed by at least £50 million pounds for new agreements, this will help support targeted improvements where they can make the biggest difference. And we will set out more detail later this summer.

So, ladies and gentlemen, I want to take a step back now and look at how far we’ve come in just a year.

I’ve published a long-term roadmap for the future of farming. I’ve published a revised Environmental Innovation Programme. I’ve published the country’s first ever Land Use Framework. And we have reopened SFI with record levels of investment. And backed innovation that will help farm businesses become more productive, more profitable and more resilient.

Thank you all again for engaging with us to help make all of this possible, for your willingness to adapt as farmers have always adapted across the generations.

What I see at Groundswell gives me great inspiration and great optimism for the future. Your determination to leave the land in a better condition for the next generation is truly impressive.

Thank you very much.

04/07/2026