Tag: 2026

Chris Bryant – 2026 Speech at Chatham House Global Trade Conference

The speech made by Chris Bryant, the Trade Minister, in London on 19 March 2026.

It’s a delight to be here. I want to start by slightly taking issue with the title of this session – because I’m awkward like that – which is ‘Britain walking the trade tightrope’. I suppose the implication is that we’re engaged in a balancing act between the US and the EU, or that our trade policy is a high-wire act, a dangerous risk in today’s climate, or that we’re navigating a narrow strait between an American and a Chinese ship, and that if we sail too close to either, we risk ruin. I don’t accept this characterization of the challenge ahead.

I don’t think we have to choose between the competing demands of different trading partners. The EU is our biggest trading partner. The US is our biggest single country for exports and imports. And I defy anyone in the room to spend an hour today without any Chinese product. Trade isn’t a push me pull you, that’s a reference to a film from my childhood, and your childhood as well, clearly. We need strong trading relations with all our partners, and I’m delighted to see our exports reach 926 billion pounds last year.

But I do want to go with the tightrope metaphor for a moment, because I’m told the key to tightrope walking is to maintain a low centre of gravity and focus your gaze on the end of the rope rather than your feet. We’ll be trying this later. When it comes to trade, I think that means two things. Firstly, a low centre of gravity means sticking to our values. In our case, that means a commitment, an absolute commitment, to the principle of free and fair trade. We have always prospered best as a nation that is open to two-way trade. It is no accident that at the very heart of the House of Lords lies the wool sack, a symbol of Britain’s early wealth that came from the wool trade – our key Middle Ages export. And over the centuries, we have sought out new markets, bringing in spices, silk and porcelain, tobacco and potatoes, mangoes and mangetout.

And perhaps more than most, our modern economy is based on give and take, endlessly exporting and importing. A British car, for instance, is likely to include components from many countries, just like a French-built Renault will include British electronics and braking systems, or a European Airbus plane would include British wings and engines, making it 30% British. So we, more than most, need to be proud beacons of free trade. If there are sirens beguiling us to perdition on the rocks, they are the arch protectionists who would make us retreat into narrow nationalism.

But I would add that it also has to be fair trade. Modern slavery, dumping, environmental degradation, deliberate anti-competitive subsidies – these all challenge free trade. And it is only right that countries like the UK take measures to protect key national industrial sectors, like steel, when they are threatened by global overcapacity. Hence the measures announced alongside our steel strategy this morning. That’s not a sign – I want to make this very clear – that’s not a sign of a shift in our philosophy away from free trade. It’s a reassertion of the principle of free and fair trade. Steel is a critical sector for the UK, especially at a time when defence expenditure needs to rise. We needed to take action to preserve and enhance our domestic sector after years of deliberate global overcapacity, unfair subsidy, and other protectionist measures have whittled it down from 27.8 million tonnes in 1970 to just 4 million tonnes in 2024. These measures are a reflection of our overall trade strategy: promote what we can, protect what we must.

They don’t undermine free trade. In fact, all the work we do to tackle unfair measures around the world, for instance through the Trade Remedies Authority, are specifically designed to bolster free trade, because whatever our political hue, the UK will always fight for free trade. Of course, free and fair trade isn’t just about trade remedies. It also provides opportunities for other nations, particularly developing countries, to grow their own economies. It’s a simple fact that as lower and middle income economies increased their share in exports, poverty in those nations went down. That’s good for the world and good for the United Kingdom, and good for a socialist like me.

So it’s time we waived the banner of free and fair trade more enthusiastically. I know people look at me with suspicion when I say that. Free trade, really, still, even today? I understand that suspicion. After all, it feels, when you look at the global trading landscape, that free trade is in retreat. We’ve seen nations disregard the rules, distort markets, and use trade to pressurize their neighbours. WTO members have regularly failed to be open and transparent about their state subsidies. And between 2015 and 2023, the number of protectionist measures around the world had more than quadrupled. Populists everywhere proclaim the importance of protectionism. But that doesn’t mean free trade is the wrong approach. It just means it’s even more important that we fight for it. Because for a long time, we have taken free trade for granted. When the WTO was set up over 30 years ago, well, set up earlier when reinforced for the GATT treaties, we assumed the war for free trade was won, that the debate was settled, And that in the future, barriers would wither and collapse in the face of an obviously superior philosophy of free trade.

And so, we stopped making the argument. But unfortunately, it is often the case that one generation believes something, the next generation assumes it, and the third generation forgets it. In the absence of a good case for free trade, 30 years later, rather than trade barriers coming down, we’ve seen more of them go up. And we must challenge that trend, because free trade is what’s best for all of us. But it only works if everyone signs up to it. And that means there must be rules, principles and boundaries that everyone agrees to work within, and a strong sanction regime to make sure those boundaries are strong. That’s why we need a strong World Trade Organisation. Without it, the multilateral trading system that we have all enjoyed will fail.

True, in the 31 years since the WTO was formed, the world has changed and the WTO needs to adapt and reform so it can continue to safeguard free and fair trade. That’s why our top priority at MC14 next week is to lay out a vision for a WTO that is more relevant, more flexible and more accessible. We need a WTO that works. A WTO that works now. And a WTO that works for everyone. And we’re going to MC14 to lay the groundwork to make that happen and deliver change by MC15. Global trade has suffered some quakes in recent years. Between COVID, the blocking of the Suez Canal, Ukraine, attacks in the Red Sea, and of course the current situation in the Straits of Hormuz, we’ve seen crisis overlapping crisis, all of which has shaken the rules-based order. That’s the only time I’m using that phrase in the speech. But if the WTO were to collapse or even fade into irrelevance, that would bring the whole thing crashing down. So yes, despite the rise in global protectionism, despite economic coercion, and despite a more complicated world, we remain committed to a strong WTO and to free and fair trade.

As I said earlier, that’s all part of sticking to our values, or to pursue the tightrope metaphor, keeping our centre of gravity low. Which takes me to my second point, keeping our eyes on the end of the rope, rather than staring at our feet every step of the way. The truth is, we tend to approach too many trade issues one at a time, line by line, step by step. That especially applies to our relationship with the European Union. But our trading posture in the world isn’t a question of one policy after another. It’s a much bigger existential question. Do we subscribe to a you in your small corner and me in mine approach, as the old schoolboy hymn went? Do we think of our economy as hermetically sealed? Or do we commit ourselves to a wholehearted passion for free and fair trade?

The evidence of history suggests that when General Franco tried autarky in Spain, it nearly bankrupted the country. And it’s the total of mutual trade that matters, not the balance of trade with individual countries. Imports, of course, keep costs down. Let me end with another distinction, drawing on the tightrope metaphor. The French for tightrope walker is funambulist. The real danger for the UK, I believe, as trade minister, is not funambulism, it’s somnambulism. We can be laboriously slow. By the time we decide to look at a new FTA and draw up a mandate, a whole 12 months will have passed.

And that’s before we start negotiations which go on for years. We can be too pernickety too. Of course we have to approach all our trading relationships with our eyes wide open, but we need to act with a sense of urgency, determination and drive. That doesn’t mean we have to throw all the cards up in the air and hope they land well. We need to work within the structures and the strictures that aim to provide a global level playing field. But we can’t be hanging about on the tightrope.

March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Combatting Anti Muslim Hatred – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 March 2026.

Deputy Ambassador James Ford reaffirms the UK’s commitment to tackling anti Muslim hatred and promoting tolerance and non-discrimination and the enjoyment of human rights for all.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

The United Kingdom reiterates its firm commitment to tolerance, non‑discrimination, and the full enjoyment of human rights for all. These principles are at the heart of the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security. When they are undermined, our societies become less cohesive, less resilient, and less safe.

We thank Türkiye for raising this important issue today. Anti‑Muslim hatred is a serious and persistent problem across the OSCE area. No one should face intimidation, discrimination or violence because they are Muslim or perceived to be Muslim.

According to the UK’s most recent official statistics, 45% of police-recorded religious hate crimes targeted Muslims – a level that has been high for many years. This month, the UK Government adopted a new non‑statutory definition of Anti‑Muslim Hostility. This definition was informed by the work of an independent expert working group and a broad evidence‑gathering process.

The definition has a clear purpose within the UK: to improve understanding of unacceptable hostility targeting Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim, and to provide a practical framework for action. The definition helps public authorities, employers and services recognise when behaviour crosses the line into targeted hostility, unlawful discrimination or prejudicial stereotyping intended to encourage hatred.

Domestically, this sits alongside wider work to tackle all forms of religiously motivated hate crime and to strengthen social cohesion. The UK continues to support security measures for places of worship, to fund monitoring and victim‑support services, and to promote dialogue between communities. We recognise that antisemitism, anti‑Muslim hatred and other forms of hatred often rise together and must be addressed together.

Internationally, the UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all, and to implementing our OSCE human dimension commitments. We will continue to support ODIHR and the OSCE’s Personal Representatives on tolerance and non‑discrimination, and to share good practice, including on the implementation of non‑statutory definitions at a national level such as the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and, now, our definition of Anti‑Muslim Hostility.

Across the OSCE region, we must resist efforts to instrumentalise religion for political ends, and we must confront disinformation and narratives that inflame tensions between communities. The United Kingdom will continue to work with participating States, OSCE institutions and civil society to ensure that every individual can live free from fear, and that diversity is recognised as a source of strength, not division.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Ecuador and the United Kingdom hold Bilateral Political Consultations [March 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 March 2026.

Ecuador and UK hold political consultations in London, reaffirming strong ties and advancing cooperation on security, trade, environment and education.

Delegations from Ecuador and the United Kingdom held their first Bilateral Political Consultation in London on 19 March 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador, Ambassador Alejandro Dávalos, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America and the Caribbean), Chris Elmore MP.

Noting the strong and historic partnership between the UK and Ecuador, the Consultation reaffirmed the excellent state of bilateral relations and the shared commitment of both countries to maintaining regular political and technical dialogue.

A range of bilateral issues were discussed, with particular emphasis on security, trade & investment, and environment & climate cooperation. During the meeting, both authorities reflected on the growing people-people links being built between the UK and Ecuador, including through education, business and tourism.

The Consultation included exchanges on our strong trade relationship. The parties celebrated the developments made in recent years, supported by the Double Taxation Agreement and Andean Trade Agreement. Vice Minister Dávalos also highlighted the strategic importance of the banana trade for Ecuador’s economic growth, its development and labour, and on sustainability and environmental protection.

On security matters, both parties agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation against transnational organised crime, particularly through enhanced collaboration on maritime security, drug trafficking, information exchange and efforts to combat illicit financial flows. Minister Elmore stressed the UK’s commitment to enhancing regional and international security.

The parties exchanged views on other areas of mutual interest, including migration, environmental cooperation, and the strengthening of educational opportunities through the UK’s Chevening Programme and the scientific research grants offered by Ecuador in the Galapagos.

The UK and Ecuador remain committed to strengthening bilateral ties across security, trade, development, environment and climate. At the conclusion of the meeting both parties agreed to continue advancing the issues discussed, and to reconvene in Ecuador in 2027.

March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with NATO Secretary General Rutte and President Macron of France [March 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 March 2026.

The Prime Minister spoke to the NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, this morning.

The leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the egregious Iranian strikes on Qatari energy facilities.

Attacks on critical infrastructure risked pushing the region further into crisis, the leaders agreed.

Turning to the Strait of Hormuz, the leaders reiterated the importance of securing the key maritime route and supporting freedom of navigation for shipping.

It was vital partners worked together on a viable plan, the Prime Minister added.

The leaders agreed to speak again soon.

March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Report by the Director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) – UK response [March 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 March 2026.

The UK welcomes ODIHR Director Telalian to the Permanent Council and reiterates its strong support for ODIHR’s work on democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Many colleagues wish to speak on this item; I promise to be brief.

Director Telalian, welcome back to the Permanent Council. Thank you Maria for your report and for your Office’s work providing professional and expert support to OSCE participating States, national human rights institutions and civil society.

We particularly welcome ODIHR’s reporting on the human consequences of Russia’s full‑scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine. The findings set out in ODIHR’s Eighth Interim Report of December 2025 again document the devastating impact of Russia’s aggression on civilians, and Russia’s continued violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

We thank you for continued work on human rights challenges in the wider region and to support civil society under pressure. We warmly welcome your vital election observation activities and ODIHR’s recent contributions to strengthening election observation in the digital age.

The UK continues to believe that a comprehensive concept of security as you outlined at the beginning of this meeting lies at the heart of the OSCE and the future peace and security of our region. ODIHR’s work across the human dimension remains indispensable. Rest assured of continued UK support in the months to come.

Thank you.

March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Record-breaking order for British Steel as UK and Nigeria sign landmark £746 million ports deal [March 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 March 2026.

UK Export Finance announces support for UK exporters to supply high-value projects in Nigeria.
- Major vote of confidence in UK manufacturing as UK Export Finance guarantees £746 million ($902m) to fund the redevelopment of two of Nigeria’s major trading ports
- A record-breaking £70 million ($95m) contract for British Steel is the result of at least £236 million of the overall deal being invested into British companies
- A Memorandum of Understanding will also be signed today between the UK and Nigeria to explore and develop future trade and investment opportunities
Thousands of skilled UK jobs will be supported and hundreds of millions invested into the economy as a historic financing deal is signed today [Thursday 19 March] between the UK and Nigeria.

The £746 million sum will be used to support the refurbishment of two of Nigeria’s major national maritime infrastructure facilities located in Lagos, the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the TinCan Island Port Complex. It will be delivered through UKEF’s Buyer Credit Facility coordinated and arranged by Citibank, N.A London Branch (“Citi”).

The agreement between UK Export Finance, the UK government’s export credit agency (UKEF), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Federal Ministry of Finance, will deliver significant benefits for British businesses, with at least £236 million of supplier contracts directed to British companies.

British Steel will supply 120,000 tonnes of steel billets to construction companies Hitech Nigeria and ITB Nigeria for the ports deal, amounting to a £70 million contract that represents British Steel’s largest export order backed by UKEF. It follows from the Government’s newly announced Steel Strategy which seeks to revitalise the steel sector.

It comes as the Prime Minister welcomes The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Downing Street today, with the leaders discussing shared priorities to strengthen the UK–Nigeria Strategic Partnership.

Peter Kyle, Business and Trade Secretary said:

Hot on the heels of our landmark Steel Strategy, this is a major win for British Steel made possible by UK Export Finance which is testament to the quality of UK-made steel and the booming UK-Nigeria relationship.

Through our new Strategy we’re backing British steelmakers for long-term success at home and abroad, and this contract will reinforce British Steel’s world-class expertise while supporting jobs and growth in Scunthorpe.

Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigerian Minister of Marine and Blue Economy said:

The modernisation and upgrading of Nigeria’s ports represents a major step forward for the country and aligns closely with the Federal Government’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of the marine and blue economy. Through strategic partnerships such as this with the United Kingdom, we are laying the foundation for a new era of efficiency, transparency and competitiveness in Nigeria’s port system. Modern infrastructure, supported by digitalised and automated processes, will transform the way our ports operate and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.

Nigeria’s port operations will be transformative. Turnaround times for vessels and cargo dwell times within the ports are projected to fall sharply as automated processes replace paperwork-heavy procedures and as expanded capacity removes longstanding bottlenecks. The modernised infrastructure will enable faster clearance of imports and exports, reduce demurrage and logistics costs for businesses, significantly improve the predictability and transparency of cargo movement and generate more revenue for national development.

Alongside the NPA deal announcement, the UK and Nigeria will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework for potential future collaboration. The MOU sets out Nigeria’s priority project pipeline, seeking UKEF finance and support, with the UK set to benefit directly through substantial supply chain participation. The signing signals a clear commitment from both governments to deepen their long-term partnership on trade, infrastructure and sustainable growth.

Hitech Nigeria and ITB Nigeria have been at the forefront of some of Nigeria’s most transformative infrastructure projects and advanced engineering.

The Steel Strategy highlights one of many initiatives that the Government is already doing including those on energy prices, skills, procurement and financing support of projects such as the Scrap Metal Taskforce and the new Trade Defence Measures.

Allan Bell, British Steel CEO said:

This is a record-breaking contract for British Steel and a major boost to our 4,000 employees and many more people in our supply chains.

After government intervention last April, everyone at British Steel has worked hard to stabilise the company. This deal represents us moving from stabilisation to building long-term sustainability for the business.

As one of the largest ever orders for billet in the history of this company, it marks a tremendous vote of confidence in British Steel and UK manufacturing. And as the biggest order we have ever secured with UK Export Finance, it demonstrates how we are working with the UK Government to meet the global demand for our products.

We thank the government for its support and look forward to working with Hitech Construction Africa Ltd on this transformative project.

Richard Hodder, Global Head of Export & Agency Financing at Citi said:

Citi has been present in Nigeria for over 40 years and is delighted to support NPA and the Federal Government of Nigeria in the financing of this critical infrastructure project which will deliver significant economic benefits to the Nigerian economy over the coming years. As the Coordinator of the transaction, we are pleased to have worked in close partnership with the team at UKEF to deliver one of the largest Export Credit Agency supported Buyer Credit Facilities ever seen in West Africa.

Today’s milestones represent UKEF’s growing presence in the region. Since 2018, UKEF support for West and Central Africa has grown by over £3 billion, reflecting the region’s appetite for diversified trade partnerships and the UK’s commitment to being a trusted partner for long-term investment.

Tim Reid, CEO at UK Export Finance said:

This deal represents a milestone for UK-Nigeria trade relations and demonstrates the full capacity of UK Export Finance to unlock transformational opportunities for British businesses, while supporting sustainable economic growth in key markets.

With over £200 million feeding back to British companies, including one of the largest steel billet contracts in British Steel’s history and our new Memorandum of Understanding, UKEF is laying the foundations for a deeper, long-term relationship with Nigeria, that will open doors for British exporters across the entire region.

Together, these announcements signal to international markets that Nigeria is open for trade and investment, demonstrating credible government-to-government delivery and building wider investor confidence around Nigeria’s trade infrastructure and growth agenda.
March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Government announces plans to tag thousands of extra offenders [March 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 19 March 2026.

Thousands more criminals will be tagged alongside changes to supervision that will focus probation time on the offenders who pose the greatest risk.
- Live surveillance part of £100m tagging expansion for domestic abusers & thieves
- Tougher supervision and increased monitoring for the most dangerous offenders
- Additional 1,300 probation officers to be recruited to help cut crime
Dangerous criminals will be live tracked using real-time surveillance and receive more intense supervision as part of a greater focus on the most high-risk offenders.

The biggest expansion of tagging in British history will mean thousands of extra domestic abusers, thieves and burglars across the country will face tough GPS and alcohol monitoring in a major £100 million crackdown on crime.

Frontline probation staff will also be given access to cutting-edge technology allowing instant access to the location of certain tagged offenders, which will help to identify escalating risk and allow for earlier interventions.

In a boost for victims, a £5 million pilot will introduce proximity monitoring technology that creates an alert when offenders convicted of crimes such as domestic abuse and stalking approach their victim – a key commitment from the Government’s landmark strategy to end violence against women and girls.

These changes are backed by an investment in probation of up to £700 million by 2028/29, which includes the recruitment of at least 1,300 extra probation officers in the next year, and will help ensure tougher monitoring of violent offenders to better keep the public safe.

To further increase public protection and cut crime, a reinforced probation workforce will focus more of their time on prolific offenders and ramp up the face-to-face monitoring of those who pose the biggest risk to the public – such as terrorists, murderers and prolific sex offenders.

Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, said:

This is the biggest expansion of tagging in British history and means the most dangerous offenders will now be watched more closely than ever before.

By combining new technology with a stronger probation workforce, we’re making sure those who pose the biggest risk are under constant scrutiny to better protect victims and the public.

This Government has been clear that the crisis it inherited in the Probation Service has placed too great a burden on hardworking staff, with new statistics showing that, between 2023 and 2025, 31% of target probation appointments did not take place due to unmanageable workloads.

This has meant officers have been unable to pay enough attention to those offenders who pose the greatest risk.

Under the new approach, supervision will be better targeted so officers can focus their time on the most dangerous offenders, while those assessed as lower-risk will require fewer routine appointments.

These reforms will enable overworked probation staff to focus on the parts of their job that has the greatest impact on public protection and will unburden them from tasks that are less impactful when it comes to protecting the public.

A further £8 million is also being invested in new technology to reduce time-consuming admin tasks and save up to 250,000 days of valuable time every year, allowing frontline staff to spend more time monitoring offenders and keeping our streets safe.

Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones said:

I welcome the Government’s plans for further investment in the Probation Service, and attempts to focus time and resources where they matter most.

I have been clear that urgent action is needed to support a service that is currently facing significant challenge, with too few staff, who have too little experience, managing too many cases.

We are entering a crucial period as the implementation of the Sentencing Act reforms begins. There must be a sharp focus on ensuring the Probation Service can recruit, train, and retain sufficient staff, and give them the tools and support they need – both to keep the public and victims safe, and to turn offenders’ lives around.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Change to make streets safer, tens of thousands more criminals will be tagged over the next three years as part of a major technology expansion.

The Government is also introducing, for the first time, a presumption that all prison leavers will be tagged on release as part of intensive supervision with the Probation Service keeping a closer eye on offenders’ behaviour.

Meanwhile, a pilot that tags domestic abusers who pose a threat to a former partner, family member or their children after leaving prison will be rolled out nationally.

A report found overwhelming support for the scheme from probation staff, with 83% stating it gave victims peace of mind and more than three-quarters saying it would better protect them.

A separate pilot, in which convicted burglars and thieves are forced to wear a GPS tag so their movements can be tracked against unsolved crimes will also be rolled out across the country.

Evidence is increasingly proving the effectiveness of tags in cutting crime. Published research shows GPS and curfew tags can reduce reoffending by around 20%, and alcohol monitoring orders have compliance rates above 97%.

Notes to editors:
- The Domestic Abuse Perpetrators on Licence (DAPOL) pilot has tracked hundreds of prison leavers who pose a threat to a former partner or their children, with the tags serving as a constant physical reminder to offenders that we are watching their every move. It is currently live in eight probation regions and will be rolled out to all twelve across England and Wales by September 2026.
- The Acquisitive Crime scheme sees burglars and thieves forced to wear a GPS tag after their release from prison. Their location data is then mapped against unsolved crimes, serving as a strong deterrent to reoffending. The pilot is currently live in 19 police force areas and will be gradually rolled out to all 43 before the end of this Parliament.
- The Government is investing £5 million to pilot proximity monitoring within this Parliament, as committed to in the Government’s 10-year Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. This new technology – used to different extents internationally in Spain, the Netherlands, and Australia – enables probation to know if the offender comes within a preset distance of a victim. This represents a further powerful tool for managing risk in high-harm domestic abuse cases.
- The new Electronic Monitoring Data Insights tool will provide probation staff with quick access to electronic monitoring and behavioural information. Timely sharing of behaviour patterns – such as licence condition violations – will help staff make better decisions and support rehabilitation through earlier interventions, while easing their workload by replacing inefficient data collection processes. A small pilot will start in June 2026, and we aim to fully rollout by Autumn 2026
- The Government will further strengthen the Probation Service by recruiting an additional 1,300 trainee probation officers across 2026/27 — on top of the 2,300 already pledged to be brought in since 2024 — in a major drive to crackdown on crime.
- This will be supported by an increase in probation funding by up £700 million by 2028/29, which includes £100 million for the expansion of tagging, of which £5 million will fund the pilot of proximity monitoring.
March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Two-child limit scrapped as historic Bill to lift 450,000 children out of poverty becomes law [March 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 19 March 2026.

Historic legislation to end the two-child limit has become law, putting 450,000 children on a pathway out of poverty in the final year of this Parliament.
- Two child-limit – which pushed 100 children a day into hardship – to be scrapped as child poverty bill becomes law.
- 450,000 children to be lifted out of poverty in the final year of this Parliament – the largest reduction in child poverty since records began.
- Comes as part of Government’s wider plan to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.
Historic legislation to end the two-child limit has become law, putting 450,000 children on a pathway out of poverty in the final year of this Parliament.

Since its introduction in 2017, the two-child limit has been the biggest single driver of child poverty and today, 2.6 million children in the UK don’t have enough food at home, over 172,000 have no permanent home, and babies born in the poorest areas are twice as likely to die before their first birthday.

The policy’s removal is the single most cost-effective measure available to the Government to drive down poverty rates. Up to 1.5 million children across Great Britain could be helped by the change, representing the most significant action to tackle child poverty since comparable records began.

This will predominantly help working families — around sixty per cent of households affected by the two-child limit have a parent in work, and nearly half were not on Universal Credit when any of their children were born.

Removing the two-child limit sits at the heart of the Child Poverty Strategy which brings together action across government to increase family incomes, cut the cost of essentials and strengthen local services. Alongside measures such as expanding free school meals, extending childcare support, and supporting parents in work, the strategy is set to lift 550,000 children out of poverty in the final year of this parliament.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden, said:

Today is an historic day, marking a turning point for 450,000 children across Britain.

Scrapping the two-child limit is about more than family finances today, it’s about the Britain we’re building for tomorrow.

Children growing up in poverty are far more likely to leave school without qualifications and end up not in work or education as young adults, and we’re determined to break that cycle once and for all and give every child the best start in life.

Children in the poorest areas are four times more likely to have mental health problems, twice as likely to suffer from obesity and tooth decay, and disadvantaged pupils are twice as likely to be persistently absent from school — with hunger and unsuitable housing making it harder to come to school ready to learn.

These early disadvantages have lasting consequences: children growing up in poverty are more likely to leave school without good GCSEs, less likely to find work, and go on to earn around 50% less by the age of 40 than their better-off peers, making early action both a moral imperative and sound economic policy.

Minister for Employment Dame Diana Johnson, said:

For too long, the two-child limit has held children back through no fault of their own.

With the law now changed, hundreds of thousands of children will grow up with greater security and opportunity.

We’re determined to break the link between a child’s background and their life chances and today brings us a step closer to that goal.

The change removes the existing restriction in Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit that limited support to a family’s first two children. It takes effect from 6 April 2026, with families already claiming Universal Credit seeing the update applied automatically with no action needed.

This comes as the government continues to take wider action to help families by driving down the cost of living with measures including increasing the National Living Wage, cutting an average £150 from household energy bills and freezing rail and prescription charges.
March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK steel industry backed by major new trade measure and strategy [March 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 March 2026.

UK steel producers and thousands of steel workers to benefit from a new landmark Steel Strategy and robust trade measure.
- Landmark new Steel Strategy sets ambition for up to 50% of steel used in the UK to be made in the UK, boosting production from 30%.
- UK will introduce new trade measure to support national security by preserving vital steel production for critical national infrastructure and defence.
- Steel import quotas will be reduced with higher tariffs of 50% outside of quotas, ensuring the UK steel sector’s future in the face of global overcapacity.
UK steel producers and thousands of steel workers from Glasgow to Port Talbot will benefit from a new landmark Steel Strategy as Government takes bold action to protect domestic steelmaking and build more resilience in the supply chain for critical national infrastructure and defence.

On a visit to Tata Steel Port Talbot to meet steelworkers and launch the Strategy, the Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle announced the Government’s ambition to boost domestic production so that it can meet up to 50% of our domestic demand for steel, and secure the industry’s role in supporting vital UK sectors like infrastructure, defence and clean energy.

Building on the direct financial support the government has made so far, the National Wealth Fund will be the government’s main mechanism for providing up to £2.5 billion of financing for investment in the steel sector this Parliament. The Steel Strategy forms a vital part of the Government’s activist and strategic approach to British industry, taking decisive action to give businesses the certainty and support they need in uncertain times and bolstering the UK’s resilience.

Today, the UK also announces that from 1 July 2026, overall quota levels for steel imports will be significantly reduced by 60% compared to current arrangements, and steel coming into the UK above these levels will be subject to a 50% tariff.

The robust new measure is a vital step to protect UK steel production in the face of global steel overcapacity. It will apply to imported steel products where they can be made in the UK.

Without action, the UK’s steelmaking capability faces real jeopardy, leaving us reliant on overseas suppliers for materials essential to our energy security, defence and transport infrastructure.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:

“Making steel in the UK is vital for national security, critical infrastructure and the wider economy. Steel-making is a cornerstone of our modern industrial policy that deliberately focuses support for key industries, technologies, and strategically important sectors.

“With this strategy we are closing the decades-long chapter of destructive de-industrialisation and committing instead to strengthening and sustaining Britain as a steel-making nation.”

The new Steel Strategy also commits to:
- Confirm electric arc furnaces (EAF) as the future of British steelmaking, continuing the shift from blast furnaces to cleaner, EAF-based production using recycled scrap to support net zero.
- Enable offshore wind developers to include steel manufacturers in the next round of Clean Industry Bonus applications (launching this year) to maximise UK steel use in renewables.
- Launch a cross-government working group to ensure a sustainable supply of scrap metal for UK steelmakers.
- Task the Steel Council with action on workforce needs and practical research and innovation to boost productivity and competitiveness.
Alongside the new trade measure being announced today, the Government will also be raising the UK’s maximum Most Favoured Nation (MFN) steel tariffs at the WTO to 50% to protect domestic industry in the long run from the impacts of global overcapacity.

This approach reflects feedback from government’s recent Call for Evidence, aligns with the UK’s Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy, and follows months of engagement with UK steel producers and downstream industries.

In tandem, the Government will explore the possibility of introducing requirements to identify where steel imports are melted and poured, in order to better understand our supply chains and ensure the UK steel industry is better protected from global overcapacity.

The new measure is not about stopping steel trade: steel imports are necessary for industry and will continue. Quota allocations have been carefully designed through engagement with industry to help maintain security of supply and minimise impacts on the wider economy.

Following engagement with downstream sectors, there will be a quarterly roll-over of quotas within the year and a review of the measure after twelve months.

The UK remains committed to working with international partners, including the European Union, with whom our supply chains are so connected, to tackle global steel challenges. The UK will also continue to work through the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity and take forward efforts to advance WTO reform.

Further good news for the UK’s steel sector will be unveiled later today during the Nigerian State Visit, with a substantial new deal backed by UK Export Finance worth £70 million, for British Steel to supply the refurbishment of two of Nigeria’s trading ports.

Notes to editors
- The Government is engaging directly with affected stakeholders and trading partners.
- We are exploring a transitional arrangement under which the new tariff would not apply to goods under contract agreed before 14 March and imported between 1 July and 30 September 2026. We are finalising the details to ensure it gives genuine support from unexpected costs, while still protecting the UK market from excessive imports.
- Read the new Steel Strategy.
- The Steel Strategy builds on major support the Government has already put in place for the steel industry since taking office, including slashing electricity costs for producers via the Supercharger, reforming procurement rules to ensure more UK-made steel is considered for public projects and speeding up grid access for new investment projects.
- Since the Government’s intervention at Scunthorpe last year British Steel has made other important progress, including hiring new apprentices and signing significant contracts, such as supplying a Turkish rail project worth tens of millions.
- Other active government support for Britain’s steel sector and communities since taking office has included £500 million to support the construction of a new electric arc furnace (EAF) at Port Talbot, alongside over £100 million of transition funding for local businesses and to retrain ex-workers.
- The Government has also backed the Official Receiver with the funding to run a sales process for Speciality Steel UK’s sites, protecting jobs in Rotherham and Stocksbridge in the interim.
- The up to £2.5 billion of funding for the steel sector this Parliament is in addition to £500 million already earmarked for Tata Steel’s £1.25 billion transformation at Port Talbot, securing 5,000 jobs.
- In 2024, nearly 40,000 people worked across the UK steel industry, with steelmakers paying on average 32% above local average wages
- 40,000 employed in the UK steel industry sources: ONS JOBS03: Employee jobs by industry Q3 2025, ONS JOBS04: Self-employment jobs by industry Q3 2025 and ONS: Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) 2024
- 32% above local average wages source: Employee earnings in the UK – Office for National Statistics
Stakeholder quotes:

Jon Bolton, Co-Chair of the UK Steel Council, said:

“This Steel Strategy, alongside the recently published Industrial Strategy, demonstrates the government’s determination to support Foundational Industries and sets out a case for investment in the UK”s steel sector.

“Steel along with all industrial sectors is facing many external challenges emphasising the need to secure a competitive UK supply chain. A significant demand for steel in the UK supported by a positive policy landscape, a globally recognised academic knowledge base and a skilled workforce will enable the sector to arrest its many years of decline.”

Gareth Stace, Director General, UK Steel, said:

“Steel underpins our national security, our energy transition, and the delivery of critical infrastructure. Yet for too long, the UK has lacked a coherent, long‑term plan to support the sector. Today’s strategy acknowledges the essential role steel plays in every part of the economy and sets out the direction needed to attract investment, boost innovation, and strengthen our industrial foundations.

“This is a crucial moment: with global markets distorted by overcapacity and subsidy, a clear and ambitious domestic strategy is exactly what is required to ensure steelmaking not only survives in the UK but thrives.”

Community Union General Secretary, Roy Rickhuss CBE, says:

“Since taking office in 2024, the Government has taken many decisive steps to support the steel industry and those who work within it. This Steel Strategy represents the culmination of these efforts.

“The trade measure outlined in this Strategy represent a bold and significant step forward, strengthening our domestic industry and helping to ensure that local economies continue to benefit from a secure, resilient steel sector and the employment it provides.”

Sir Andrew Cook CBE, Chairman, William Cook Holdings Ltd, said:

“The Government’s measures are a recognition of the need to defend the industry from the distortions in global markets. I welcome them, and trust that we can look forward to further trade defence initiatives extending to other areas of the steel industry that are badly damaged by subsidised imports.”

Nick Haycock, Managing Director at Marcegaglia UK, said:

“Unlike some of the steel producers, we have not had any defence for our core products until now. Our markets have been badly impacted by unfair competition and this reduction in quotas offers us an opportunity to grow our domestic market share and domesticate our supply chains. Marcegaglia UK has made major investments in recent years, and these measures will lead to further job creation in our local area.”

Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB National Secretary, said:

“GMB had been calling for a steel strategy for a long time – so it’s good we now have some kind of plan.

“This administration has done more for UK steel than any Government for many, many years.

“But, as ever, the devil will be in the detail and key questions around ownership of Scunthorpe and the future technology mix will be key to our members and their livelihoods.”
March 23, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : New redress scheme announced for Horizon scandal family members [March 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 March 2026.

New redress scheme announced for relatives of postmasters affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal.
- Scheme designed with family members’ input to ensure delivery of redress as swiftly as possible, including in cases with limited or lost evidence.
- Family group Lost Chances, who have long campaigned for justice, updated in person by the Post Office Minister on the scheme today
- Personal, face-to-face apologies from organisations to begin as part of restorative justice programme for postmasters and their families
The Government has today announced details of a new redress scheme for close family members of postmasters most severely affected by the Horizon scandal, which is expected to open in summer 2026.

This will extend support beyond the almost £1.5 billion of payments already made to postmasters themselves, directly recognising that the scandal’s devastating consequences were experienced not just by those running post offices, but also by those closest to them.

In many cases, family members suffered serious harm to their mental health and wellbeing as a direct result of their loved ones’ experiences.

The scheme has been designed to be as accessible and straightforward as possible — minimising bureaucratic barriers so that families receive redress without delay. It also fulfils a key commitment made by the Government following the publication of Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry final report.

Post Office Minister, Blair McDougall will meet representatives from campaign group Lost Chances today to discuss the scheme. They have been involved in the design of the scheme alongside other postmasters and interested groups.

Minister for Postal Affairs, Blair McDougall, said:

“The Horizon scandal caused immeasurable harm — not just to the postmasters wrongly accused of crimes, but to their families who stood beside and suffered alongside them.

“Today’s scheme recognises that harm and will make sure those families receive the support they deserve, as quickly and simply as possible.

“We have listened carefully to those affected and designed this scheme to reach as many people as we can without putting unnecessary barriers in their way.”

Recognising that many family members will face real difficulty in obtaining formal evidence of harm suffered years ago, the Government has developed two routes to redress.

Family members who can provide contemporaneous evidence of personal injury, or who have an ongoing medical condition arising from Horizon, can apply for a full assessed personal injury claim.

For those who cannot provide this level of evidence, a new events-based route has been created. Where a postmaster relative experienced one of the most serious consequences of the scandal — such as criminal prosecution or bankruptcy — the Government will offer fixed rate recognition payments without requiring further evidence of personal harm.

This approach ensures that family members are not left without any recourse simply because records decades ago are no longer available.

Alongside the new scheme, the Government today gives its support for a postmaster-led restorative justice programme which it is funding jointly with the Post Office and Fujitsu. The Restorative Justice Council (RJC) is today publishing a report setting out how the project will be delivered.

This will include the opportunity for postmasters and their families to join facilitated meetings with staff from Post Office, Fujitsu and the Department for Business and Trade to receive personal, face-to-face apologies from organisations involved in the scandal – to add to the public apologies already given.

The Department for Business and Trade, the Post Office and Fujitsu have agreed to jointly fund and support the programme over a five-year period.

The programme was developed in close collaboration with postmasters themselves and follows a pilot phase whose findings were published by the RJC in October 2025.

Lord Arbuthnot, of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, said:

“I welcome the Government’s proposals to provide redress to the family members of Horizon postmasters, many of whom suffered immeasurable harm because of this dreadful saga.

“The Horizon Compensation Advisory Board has helped to shape the scheme’s design and will continue to monitor closely the development of the scheme and to provide its experience and expertise where helpful.

“Whilst the wrongs of the Horizon scandal cannot be undone, this scheme will help to give family members the recognition that they deserve.”

ENDS

Notes to editors
- The scheme for families of Horizon Scandal postmasters follows the Government’s acceptance of recommendation 18 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry Volume 1 report, and recommendations from the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board. The restorative justice programme detailed also follows the Government’s acceptance of recommendation 19 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry Volume 1 report.
- The Government has today written to the Lost Chances group setting out the details of the scheme. A copy of the letter has been published online : Horizon Family Members Redress Scheme: letters from the Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation – GOV.UK
March 23, 2026