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Tag: 2026

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Office summons Russian Ambassador [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Office summons Russian Ambassador [February 2026]

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

    The Russian Ambassador was summoned for a meeting to revoke the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.

    An FCDO spokesperson said:

    “We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified decision to expel a British diplomat last month and its baseless accusations against our staff.

    “Summoning the Russian Ambassador, a senior FCDO official made it clear that the UK will not stand for intimidation of British Embassy staff and so we are taking reciprocal action today, revoking the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.

    “It is deeply disappointing that Russia continually seeks to disrupt the work of the UK’s diplomatic missions and deter our support for Ukraine. Any further action taken by Russia will be considered an escalation and responded to accordingly.”

  • Ed Davey – 2026 Speech on the Prime Minister’s Visit to China and Japan

    Ed Davey – 2026 Speech on the Prime Minister’s Visit to China and Japan

    The speech made by Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, in the House of Commons on 2 February 2026.

    With your indulgence, Mr Speaker, I start by paying tribute to my friend Jim Wallace, one of the great Scottish Liberals. I offer our thoughts and prayers to his family and many friends. Jim devoted his life to public service, his Christian faith and the cause of liberalism. But his judgment was not always impeccable, for it was Jim who gave me my first job in politics. We will miss him.

    I thank the Prime Minister for advance sight of the statement. I listened to the Conservative leader, whose position now seems to be to oppose trade with the world’s biggest economies—so much for global Britain. With President Trump threatening tariffs again, just because of the Prime Minister’s trip, and with Vladimir Putin still murdering civilians in Ukraine, now more than ever the United Kingdom must forge much closer alliances with nations that share our values, our belief in free trade and our commitment to mutual defence. China shares none of those.

    The Prime Minister’s main focus should be on the closest possible ties with our European neighbours, our Commonwealth allies and our friends such as Japan and Korea. Once again, he has made the wrong choice. However, unlike the Conservative party, we think he was right to go and engage. But just like with President Trump, he approached President Xi from a position of weakness instead of a position of strength, promising him a super-embassy here in London in return for relatively meagre offers from China.

    The Prime Minister rightly raised the case of Jimmy Lai, whose children fear for his health after five years held in captivity, so will he tell us what Xi said to give him confidence that Mr Lai is now more likely to be released? Did he also challenge Xi on the bounties on the heads of innocent Hongkongers here in the United Kingdom, or the revelation that China hacked the phones of No. 10 officials for years? In other words, did he stand up for Britain this time?

    Yet again, the Prime Minister had to spend time on a foreign trip responding to revelations about the vile paedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship with Lord Mandelson. The Prime Minister has rightly said that Mandelson should resign from the other place, but since he has not, will he back a simple piece of legislation to strip him of his peerage? Surely this House could pass it tomorrow.

  • Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Speech on the Prime Minister’s Visit to China and Japan

    Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Speech on the Prime Minister’s Visit to China and Japan

    The speech made by Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, in the House of Commons on 2 February 2026.

    I thank the Prime Minister for advance sight of his statement, but it is utterly reprehensible that he began it by accusing the previous Government of isolationism—the same Conservative Government who—[Interruption.] The Business and Trade Secretary is laughing, but let me tell him this. That same Conservative Government led the world in our response to the invasion of Ukraine and signed the vital strategic alliance of AUKUS—[Interruption.] The Business Secretary asks how many free trade agreements we did. We signed Britain’s biggest post-Brexit trade deal—the CPTPP—bringing us closer to the 11 Indo-Pacific nations, including Japan. I know about that deal because I signed it myself.

    I welcome the Prime Minister’s efforts to collaborate more with our long-standing ally Japan, but let me turn to China. Of course Britain should engage with China. Even though the Chancellor was not allowed to go, even though it is an authoritarian state that seeks to undermine our interest, even though it spies on us—sometimes within the walls of this building—and even though it funds regimes around the world that are hostile to our country, China is a fact of life, a global power and an economic reality. Let me be clear: it is not the Prime Minister engaging with China that we take issue with. What we are criticising is his supine and short-termist approach.

    I am sure that the Prime Minister means well, but his negotiating tactic has always been to give everything away in the hope that people will be nice to him in return. Before the Prime Minister had even got on the plane, he had already shown that he would do anything to demonstrate his good relationship with China. China, however, uses every interaction to improve its own position. The Prime Minister looked like he enjoyed his trip—in fact, it looked like a dream come true for a man who was virtually a communist most of his life.

    Apart from the Labubu doll in his suitcase—which I hope he has checked for bugs—the Prime Minister has come back with next to nothing. We all want cheaper tariffs for Scotch whisky, but if the Prime Minister had bothered to speak to the whisky industry, as I did two weeks ago, he would know that what it really needs is cheaper energy and lower taxes. The Prime Minister also got us visa-free travel, but China already offers that to other countries. It is not big enough for a prime ministerial visit.

    The worst thing was the Prime Minister claiming a glorious triumph with the lifting of sanctions on four Conservative MPs, as if he had done us a favour. Let me tell him this: those MPs were sanctioned because they stood up to China. They stood up against human rights abuses, and they stood up against a country that is spying on our MPs in a way that the Prime Minister would not dare to do. Those Members do not want to go to China. The Chinese know that. They know that they are giving him something that costs absolutely nothing. Why can the British Prime Minister not see that?

    I say to you, Mr Speaker, and to the whole House that, like with the Chagos islands, the Prime Minister has been played. China is about to build an enormous spy hub in the centre of London—a ransom he had to pay before he could even get on the plane. I would never allow Britain to be held over a barrel like that. Yet again, the Prime Minister has negotiated our country into a weaker position in the world. His entire economic policy is to tax businesses more, regulate them harder and make energy so expensive that we deindustrialise, and then we can import Chinese wind turbines, solar panels and batteries for electric vehicles—all manufactured in a country that builds a coal-fired power station every other week. Did he speak to the Chinese about that?

    What did the Prime Minister’s trip achieve for Jimmy Lai? Nothing. Did China promise to stop fuelling Putin’s war machine in Ukraine? It does not sound like it. What did this trip achieve for the Uyghurs who are being enslaved? Absolutely nothing. Has China agreed to stop its relentless cyber-attacks? We all know the answer to that. The reality is that China showed its strength, and Britain was pushed around, literally. It is no wonder that President Xi praised the Labour party; the Conservatives stood up for Britain—we do not get pushed around.

    Britain is a great trading nation. Of course we should engage with other countries, even hostile ones—[Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order. Mr Kyle, you said to me when you were going to China how well you would behave and how you owe me a big thank you. You are not showing it today!

    Mrs Badenoch

    Mr Speaker, I am not worried about the Business Secretary; the entire business community thinks he is a joke and does not know what he is talking about.

    As I was saying, of course we should engage with other countries, even hostile ones, but we need to do so with our eyes open and from a position of strength. That requires a Prime Minister and a Government who put our national interest first.

  • Keir Starmer – 2026 Statement on Visit to China and Japan

    Keir Starmer – 2026 Statement on Visit to China and Japan

    The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in the House of Commons on 2 February 2026.

    With permission, I will update the House on my visit last week to China and Japan, where we delivered for the British people.

    With events overseas directly impacting on our security and the cost of living, I made it a founding principle of this Government that, after years of isolationism, Britain would face outwards once again. This was an 18-month strategy to rebuild our standing and we have delivered: strengthening our US relationship with our world-first trade deal; resetting our relationship with the EU; striking a groundbreaking free trade agreement with India; and now, thawing our ties with China to put this relationship on a more stable footing for the long term.

    China is the second biggest economy in the world. Including Hong Kong, it is our third biggest trading partner, supporting 370,000 British jobs. It is also an undeniable presence in global affairs. It would be impossible to safeguard our national interests without engaging with this geopolitical reality. Yet we inherited a policy from the previous Government not of engagement with China, but of hiding away and sticking their heads in the sand. While our allies developed a more sophisticated approach, they let the UK fall behind. We became an outlier. Of my three predecessors, none held a single meeting with President Xi. For eight years, no British Prime Minister visited China—eight years of missed opportunities. Meanwhile over that period, President Macron visited China three times, German leaders four times, the Canadian Prime Minister was there a few weeks ago, and Chancellor Merz and President Trump are both due to visit shortly.

    Tom Tugendhat (Tonbridge) (Con)

    They went on their feet, not on their knees. [Laughter.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order! Mr Tugendhat, you will withdraw that remark.

    Tom Tugendhat

    I am sorry, Mr Speaker. I withdraw it.

    Mr Speaker

    Thank you. Can we calm it down? I am sure you will want to catch my eye and I would like to hear what you have to say, so let us not ruin the opportunity.

    The Prime Minister

    In this context, refusing to engage would be a dereliction of duty, leaving British interests on the sidelines. Incredibly, some in this House still advocate that approach. But leaders do not hide. Instead, we engage and we do so on our own terms, because, like our allies, we understand that engagement makes us stronger.

    Protecting our national security is non-negotiable. We are clear-eyed about the threats coming from China in that regard, and we will never waver in our efforts to keep the British people safe. That is why we have given our security services the updated powers and tools they need to tackle foreign espionage activity wherever they find it, and to tackle malicious cyber-activity as well. The fact is that we can do two things at once: we can protect ourselves, while also finding ways to co-operate. It was in that spirit that we made this visit.

    I had extensive discussions, over many hours, with President Xi, Premier Li and other senior leaders. The discussions were positive and constructive. We covered the full range of issues, from strategic stability to trade and investment, opening a direct channel of communication to deliver in the national interest, enabling us to raise frank concerns about activities that impact our national security at the most senior levels of the Chinese system. We agreed to intensify dialogue on cyber issues and agreed a new partnership on climate and nature, providing much-needed global leadership on this vital issue.

    I raised a number of areas of difference that matter deeply to this country. I raised the case of Jimmy Lai and called for his release, making clear the strength of feeling in this House. Those discussions will continue. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is in touch with Mr Lai’s family to provide further briefing.

    I raised our human rights concerns in Xinjiang and Tibet. We discussed Taiwan, wider regional stability, Iran and the middle east. I called on China to end economic support for Russia’s war effort, including the companies providing dual-use technologies, and urged it to use its influence on Putin to push for the much-needed ceasefire in Ukraine.

    I also raised the fact that Members of this House have been sanctioned by the Chinese authorities. In response, the Chinese have now made it clear that all such restrictions on parliamentarians no longer apply. I want to be clear: this was not the result of a trade. Yes, Members will want to see more—I understand that—but that is precisely the point: ignoring China for eight years achieved nothing. This step is an early indication, not the sum total, of the kind of progress that this sort of engagement can achieve through leader-to-leader discussion of sensitive issues, in standing up for British interests.

    My visit was also about creating new opportunities for British businesses to deliver jobs and growth for the British people. We took with us a brilliant delegation of nearly 60 businesses and cultural powerhouses—the very best of British—as an embodiment of what this country has to offer. If anyone is in doubt as to why this matters, I urge them to spend a few minutes with any one of those businesses; they will describe the incredible potential there and the importance of getting out there and accessing the market.

    We made significant progress, paving the way to open the Chinese market for British exports, including in our world-leading services sector. We secured 30-day visa-free travel for all Brits, including business travellers. We secured China’s agreement to halve whisky tariffs from 10% to 5%, which is worth £250 million to the UK over the next five years—a significant win for our iconic whisky industry, particularly in Scotland. That lower tariff comes into force today. In total, we secured £2.3 billion in market access wins, including for financial services, £2.2 billion in export deals for British companies and hundreds of millions of pounds-worth of new investments.

    In addition, we agreed to work together in some key areas of law enforcement. Last year, around 60% of all small boat engines used by smuggling gangs came from China, so we struck a border security pact to enable joint law enforcement action to disrupt that supply at source. We also agreed to scale up removals of those with no right to be in the UK and to work together to crack down on the supply of synthetic opioids.

    We will continue to develop our work across all these areas, because this is the start of the process, not the end of it. My visit was not just about coming back with these agreements, but about the wider question of setting this relationship on a better path—one that allows us to deal with issues and seize opportunities in a way that the previous Government failed to do.

    Finally, I will say a word about my meetings in Tokyo. Japan remains one of our closest allies; together, we are the leading economies in the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership, and we are partners in the G7, the G20 and the coalition of the willing. Japan is the UK’s largest inward investor outside the United States and Europe.

    I had an extremely productive meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, where we set out our shared priorities to build an even deeper partnership in the years to come. Those include working together for peace and security, supporting Ukraine as we work for a just and lasting peace, and deepening our co-operation in cutting-edge defence production, including through the global combat air programme. We discussed how we can boost growth and economic resilience by developing our co-operation: first, in tech and innovation, where we are both leaders; secondly, in energy, where Japan is a major investor in the UK; and, thirdly, in trade, where we are working together to maintain the openness and stability that our businesses depend on. That includes expanding the CPTPP and deepening its co-operation with the EU. We will take all of that forward when I welcome the Prime Minister to Chequers later this year.

    This is Britain back at the top table at last. We are facing outward, replacing incoherence and isolationism with pragmatic engagement, and naive posturing with the national interest. In dangerous times, we are using our full strength and reach on the world stage to deliver growth and security for the British people. I commend this statement to the House.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary sets out new cooperation on illegal migration from Horn of Africa on visit to Ethiopia [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary sets out new cooperation on illegal migration from Horn of Africa on visit to Ethiopia [February 2026]

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

    Foreign Secretary sets out how she is strengthening FCDO action to tackle illegal migration on her first visit to Africa in the role.

    • Foreign Secretary says UK must increase international partnerships with source and transit countries to tackle the drivers of migration and accelerate returns
    • follows changing patterns in small boat arrivals, with an increasing proportion of total arrivals across the Channel and across the Mediterranean coming from the Horn of Africa 
    • new co-operation includes job creation partnerships backed by UK investment to tackle the economic drivers of illegal migration as well as stronger partnerships to tackle criminal smuggler gangs in the Horn of Africa, and speeding up returns
    • modern partnerships are at the heart of the UK’s new Africa Approach, unlocking growth, investment, and opportunities on both sides  

    The UK is deepening its partnerships across Africa to tackle the factors that drive people into the hands of smuggling gangs – following the Horn of Africa becoming a key source region for illegal migration towards the UK, with around 30% of small boat arrivals over the past 2 years being nationals from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan.   

    On her first visit to the continent as Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper will set out how she is strengthening FCDO action to tackle illegal migration – increasing prevention, law enforcement and returns along key routes. 

    She will meet telecoms firm Safaricom, backed by a British consortium including including and British International Investment (BII). They are one of the UK-supported companies who are increasing opportunities for Ethiopians to find work at home, support themselves and contribute to their economy, rather than making the long and dangerous journey to seek a new life overseas.  

    On her visit, the Foreign Secretary will put job creation at the heart of this effort – cutting off push factors driving people to migrate. She will sign a Joint Development Agreement to take forward 2 energy transmission projects totalling over $400 million developed by Gridworks – a British International Investment company that delivers UK investment across Africa. 

    This will cement the UK’s position as one of Ethiopia’s most trusted economic partnerships, positioning the UK as a key partner on COP32 which will take place in Ethiopia in 2027, the same year that the UK chairs the G20. She will also sign a MoU with the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance on the Ethiopia Investment Advisory Facility II (EIAF2), the UK’s flagship economic partnership with Ethiopia.  

    The Foreign Secretary will also set out the work that the UK is doing to strengthen cooperation with the Ethiopian authorities to tackle the brokers and criminal gangs organising illegal migration from the Horn of Africa into Europe and the UK, and to speed up the return of Ethiopian nationals with no right to stay in the UK.  

    This partnership includes Border Security Command funding and support for Ethiopian law-enforcement agencies to help them carry out more effective investigations and improve information-sharing on criminal networks and their activities.     

    As part of the visit the Foreign Secretary will also be discussing greater cooperation with the African Union along with African foreign ministers on conflict prevention and resolution across the region to prevent people being forced to leave their homes by war and persecution. 

    The Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said:    

    We are forging new partnerships with countries across Africa and delivering long term solutions. We are working together to tackle the economic drivers of illegal migration and the criminal gangs who operate globally, profiting from trading in people.  

    That includes new partnerships to improve trade and create thousands of good jobs in Ethiopia so people can find a better life back home instead of making perilous journeys

    And it means new law enforcement cooperation between the Ethiopian authorities and the UK National Crime Agency to disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks who exploit vulnerable people and put their lives at risk. This follows a rising trend of organised people smuggling from the Horn of Africa towards the UK.  

    Criminal smuggler gangs operate across borders around the world – so we are working together with countries right along the transit routes. This cooperation in Africa follows new partnerships with countries like Iraq, the Balkan states and Europe.

    The Foreign office is making international partnerships to tackle illegal migration a major priority because the partnerships we build abroad are crucial to making us stronger back at home.

    In meetings with the Ethiopian Government, the Foreign Secretary discussed the important role which Ethiopia can play in resolving regional security challenges peacefully and diplomatically. 

    With conflict in the Horn of Africa displacing millions of people, and acting as a further driver of illegal migration, the Foreign Secretary has emphasised throughout her visit that achieving regional stability and sustainable growth in the region is crucial to reduce migratory pressures from Africa into Europe.

    The Government’s recently published Africa Approach sets out a vision for modern partnerships between the UK and a continent of growth, ambition, and opportunity. From trade and investment to security and stability, these partnerships are intended to build shared prosperity, back African leadership and create the conditions for business and growth on both sides.

    Additional information

    In Ethiopia, the Foreign Secretary will also announce:    

    • £5 million of humanitarian funding to tackle violence against women and girls, particularly in conflict-affected areas. This will reach approximately 110,000 people
    • £4 million funding for UNICEF for life saving assistance to 68,000 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition  
    • £8 million funding towards ICRC’s annual appeal, ensuring access to clean water for 62,500 displaced people, increasing food production for 40,000 people, and supporting 4 medical centres, 5 hospitals, and 1 centre for violence against women and girls (VAWG) services
  • PRESS RELEASE : New powers for Defence personnel to defeat drones following doubling of incidents near bases [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New powers for Defence personnel to defeat drones following doubling of incidents near bases [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 2 February 2026.

    The security of key military sites will be strengthened as Defence personnel will be given stronger powers to defeat drones near bases as part of new measures being introduced in the Armed Forces Bill.

    • More than 250 drone incidents near UK military sites in 2025, double the number in 2024.
    • Defence personnel will be given new powers through the Armed Forces Bill to defeat drones threatening Defence sites.
    • New legislation will also allow personnel to take action against land and maritime drones posing a threat.

    The security of key military sites will be strengthened as Defence personnel will be given stronger powers to defeat drones near bases as part of new measures being introduced in the Armed Forces Bill.

    It comes as newly confirmed figures demonstrate the growing threat rogue drones are posing to Ministry of Defence sites throughout the UK. In 2025, there were 266 reported Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle incidents near Defence sites, a rise from the 126 incidents reported in 2024.

    The legislation will give authorised personnel the power to take out drones deemed to be posing a threat to any Defence site without the need for assistance from police.

    The Armed Forces Bill will also allow personnel to destroy land drones or those that can be operated on or under water, in addition to aerial drones.

    Current legislation that enables interference with drones for the purpose of preventing crime can only be used by the police and certain other agencies. The new measures allow defence personnel to protect their own sites and operations.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    The doubling of rogue drones near military sites in the UK in the last year underlines the increasing and changing nature of the threats we face.

    Through the Armed Forces Bill, we’re giving our military greater powers to take out and shoot down threatening drones near bases. And stepping up investment in counter-drone technology to keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

    The new powers will add to the significant measures introduced by this government to increase the security of military sites, reversing years of under-investment and ensuring bases meet the highest security standards. 

    The Government has quadrupled its spending on Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems since taking office, allocating over £200 million this year alone, reflecting the priority of autonomy and counter-drone technology as a key deliverable throughout the Strategic Defence Review.

    Recent months have seen the introduction of restricted airspace at 40 defence sites, the deployment of new drones to guard military bases, investment in advanced CCTV and integrated threat monitoring systems to strengthen base security, and £20 million in digital transformation to modernise security systems.

    Advanced technology like automated track-and-detect systems are now operational at multiple key sites, delivering 24/7 surveillance and enabling rapid response to threats.

    The Armed Forces Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 15 January 2026 and had its second reading on 26 January.

  • Yvette Cooper – 2026 Statement on the Fifth Anniversary of the Military Coup in Myanmar

    Yvette Cooper – 2026 Statement on the Fifth Anniversary of the Military Coup in Myanmar

    STORY

    Five years on from the military’s coup, the people of Myanmar face a deepening crisis.

    By overthrowing Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government, the will of the people was overturned and their political freedom taken away.

    Amidst this crisis, the UK remains committed to supporting a stable future for the people of Myanmar.

    In the past year we have supported over 1.4 million people with humanitarian assistance and provided 1.3 million people with essential health services. We will continue to stand by those most affected.

    Yet conditions on the ground remain dire.

    Half of Myanmar’s children are now out of school, while women and girls face persistent violence.

    Crimes that affect us in the UK, like drug production and cyber scams, have flourished.

    The recent military-run elections were neither free nor fair.

    For the aspirations of the Myanmar people to be met, there is much that still needs to be done.

    We continue to urge all parties to protect civilians.

    We call on the military regime to end its airstrikes; to allow unhindered humanitarian access; to release all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and to engage in genuine dialogue towards a democratic and peaceful transition.

    Today and always, we stand in unwavering solidarity with the people of Myanmar.

  • NEWS STORY : Pet owners to gain from major vet sector overhaul

    NEWS STORY : Pet owners to gain from major vet sector overhaul

    STORY

    Millions of households across the country are set to benefit from the most significant modernisation of the veterinary sector in over sixty years. The Government has announced a sweeping set of reforms designed to lower costs, increase transparency and give pet owners greater confidence in the care their animals receive.

    These proposals come as a direct response to a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation which revealed that vet fees have been rising at nearly twice the rate of inflation. The watchdog estimated that these market inefficiencies could be costing British pet owners as much as £1 billion over a five-year period. With sixty per cent of practices now owned by large corporate chains rather than independent vets, the Government is moving to ensure that the commercial side of the industry does not compromise fair pricing or consumer choice.

    The new measures aim to remove what is increasingly an opaque nature of veterinary billing and ownership through several key changes. Practices will be required to publish clear price lists for common treatments, allowing owners to compare costs and find the best value before committing to care. Additionally, vet businesses must disclose who owns them, making it clear whether a local surgery is independent or part of a larger corporate network. For the first time, every veterinary practice will require an official operating licence, similar to the regulations governing GP surgeries and care homes.

    Beyond consumer protection, the reforms seek to update the Veterinary Surgeons Act, which has remained largely unchanged since 1966. Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman noted that while pets are cherished members of the family, the regulatory framework must keep pace with modern commercial realities. The plans include better legal recognition for veterinary nurses and a modernised disciplinary process that focuses on current competence, ensuring a more resilient workforce. The government has launched an eight-week public consultation on these proposals, which is set to run until 25 March 2026.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Pet owners to benefit from biggest vet sector reforms in 60 years [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Pet owners to benefit from biggest vet sector reforms in 60 years [January 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 January 2026.

    Clearer pricing will help pet owners compare costs and shop around, saving families money.

    Millions of pet owners and vet professionals across the country will benefit from major reforms to the veterinary sector – the first overhaul in sixty years.

    The reforms help households understand what they are paying for, avoid unexpected costs and choose the best value care for their pets.

    They come after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found problems in the veterinary market could be costing households up to £1 billion over five years. The CMA found that vet fees have risen at nearly twice the rate of inflation – which is why this government is taking action.

    The proposals will make the system clearer, fairer and more transparent for owners – while supporting veterinary professionals alike.

    Benefits for pet owners:

    • Clearer prices easing the ability to look around: Vet practices will be required to publish price lists for common treatments, and be transparent about options and changes allowing pet owners to choose the best treatment for their animals. Knowing key prices beforehand helps owners to choose the best value.
    • More competition to lower costs over time: Vet businesses must disclose who owns them so pet owners know if their local practice is part of a larger chain or independent. This knowledge and price transparency helps owners to decide which practice to use which increases competition and bring down costs over time.
    • Greater confidence in care: Every vet practice will need an official operating licence – similar to GP surgeries and care homes.
    • Fairer treatment complaints process: Stronger rules on how veterinary businesses must operate with an easier and more effective route for customers to raise concerns along with more support offered to allow vets and vet nurses to carry out their roles successfully; benefitting animal health and welfare.
    • Better access to quality care: New measures will bring veterinary nurses and certain allied veterinary professionals into regulation, freeing up veterinary surgeons to focus on more specialist care, improving access and reducing delays.

    Benefits for veterinary professionals:

    • Legal recognition for veterinary nurses to strengthen professional identity, helping improve job satisfaction and boosting retention rates. 
    • Regulatory oversight of veterinary businesses, not just individual vets, so the responsibility for upholding standards is shared and clearer.
    • Modernised processes for registration and “fitness to practice”, focusing on current competence rather than past mistakes. 
    • A modern governance model for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), whose current structure has remained largely unchanged since 1966 and now lags behind other healthcare regulators. Proposals will reduce potential conflicts of interest and strengthen public and professional trust.

    Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman said:

    “Pets are part of the family, and owners deserve clear information, fair treatment and confidence in the care their animals receive.

    “We’re focused on making vet services work better for families by improving transparency, increasing choice and helping people make informed decisions, while continuing to support the professionals who care for our animals.”

    UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said:

    “Updating these rules will help build a modern veterinary service that is easier for the public to understand and navigate, while strengthening animal health outcomes and supporting a skilled, resilient workforce.

    “Reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act is a crucial step towards building a stronger, more resilient profession. This consultation gives pet owners and professionals the chance to help shape a system that works better for everyone.”

    British Veterinary Association President Dr. Rob Williams MRCVS said: 

    “Veterinary teams play a vital role in society, from caring for the nation’s animals and supporting our farmers and food production, through to assisting international trade, disease control and public health. If we’re to continue delivering this work effectively, we need reformed veterinary legislation, and those changes will impact how we go about all aspects of our work; it’s therefore imperative that colleagues engage with Defra’s proposals, ensure their voices are heard and grasp this opportunity to shape a veterinary sector that’s fit for the 21st century.” 

    Martin Coleman, Chair of the CMA Inquiry Group said:

    “We welcome the government’s consultation to update this vital regulation and protect pet owners. Our vets investigation is ongoing, but we have already set out our strong concern that the current rules are not fit for purpose and need reforming to keep pace with commercial practice and further build pet owner trust in veterinary businesses.”

    Why change is needed:

    60% of vet practices are owned by non-vets, with many operating under unclear ownership structures. The reforms propose a new licencing system requiring businesses to meet clear standards – with enforcement action, including potential loss of licence, where they fail to do so.

    A modern disciplinary process will accompany the reforms, with a wider range of sanctions to ensure customer concerns are properly addressed and support veterinary professionals to safely carry out their roles. This will work to improve care whilst reducing punitive outcomes and will benefit both owners and professionals alike.

    Veterinary professionals are essential to the UK’s high animal health and welfare standards. These reforms strengthen professional recognition, modernise outdated regulation and help safeguard the profession’s ability to continue to protect the UK from the threats to disease and food security. 

    This announcement follows the publication of the Animal Welfare Strategy, and is part of this Government’s ambitious reforms to animal welfare – improving the lives of millions of animals across the UK. 

    The consultation will run for 8 weeks.

    Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: 

    “For years, Which? has been exposing unclear pricing and poor practice in the vet industry so it’s good to see the government taking steps to modernise the sector and ensure it treats pet owners fairly. 

    “The current regulation is decades out of date and oversight of veterinary businesses, not just individual vets, is urgently needed. The government needs to ensure that its new licensing system has the right sanctions in place for businesses which break the rules. 

    “The government must ensure these changes are introduced as soon as possible to restore consumer confidence in the sector. As part of these reforms, it should also legislate to establish a mandatory Ombudsman scheme with the power to make binding judgements about customer complaints and take action against any vets or vet practices falling short.”

    Additional information:

    President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Professor Tim Parkin BVSc FRCVS said:

    “We’re delighted to see the launch of this consultation and are very grateful to Defra’s veterinary policy team, and all stakeholders, for the hard work and close collaboration over the last year to get us to this point. This really is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for all of us to help shape the future of the veterinary professions and animal healthcare industry, and to introduce a modern regulatory framework that’s fit for purpose in the 21st century. At nearly 60 years old, the Veterinary Surgeons Act is in urgent need of reform – it’s time for change.” 

    BVNA President Sarah Holliday commented: 

    “At BVNA we are delighted that this consultation is now underway, representing an important step towards a potential reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act. BVNA has welcomed the opportunity to represent the veterinary nursing profession throughout the entirety of the sprint process, which has demonstrated meaningful and effective collaboration between each of our respective organisations. We thank the team at Defra for their sustained efforts in arriving at this stage, and we look forward to continuing to work together towards legislation which truly reflects the veterinary landscape of today and the future.”

    Charlotte Beckett, interim Chief Veterinary Officer at the RSPCA, added:

    “This is really positive news for the veterinary profession, pet owners and animal welfare.

    “We know costs are a real concern for pet owners – and our Animal Kindness Index found more than half (52%) are worried about how to afford vet bills. That’s why clearer pricing is such an important step forward – bringing greater transparency to the sector, and helping current and future pet owners understand the potential financial implications of responsible pet ownership.

    “These reforms can equip pet owners with knowledge and confidence to deal with health and welfare concerns their pets may have promptly – protecting animals and ensuring many welfare issues do not escalate.

    “But we know these have been tough times for the veterinary profession too – so moves to modernise governance, legally recognise hardworking veterinary nurses, and provide better oversight are critical to a sector that does such vital work in communities across the country.

    “We now look forward to working with the UK Government, and the veterinary profession, to help inform and contribute towards these vital reforms, and keep building a better world for every kind.”

    Paul Manktelow, Veterinary Director at Blue Cross, said:

    “We were delighted to welcome Baroness Hayman to our Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria, London. We spoke with her about the work our veterinary team do, treating pets whose owners are amongst the most vulnerable in society and struggle with the cost of private vet fees.

    “We highlighted the pressures on the sector and welcomed Defra’s review of the outdated Veterinary Service Act and recognition of the vital role veterinary nurses play.”

    Karen Reed, Veterinary and Welfare Director at Dogs Trust, said:

    “Dogs Trust welcomes the decision to consult on reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act, which the professions have been long calling for.  We work closely with the veterinary professions and rely on their support so we particularly welcome the announcement to review the regulations governing RVNs and other allied professions.

    “We recognise that clear information, transparent pricing and high professional standards are essential to protecting animal welfare. Pets are family members, and owners need confidence that they can make informed decisions about their care. Improving owner satisfaction while supporting veterinary professionals would be a positive step towards a system that works better for both animals and the people who care for them.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : We welcome the continued commitment of this Council to the Hodeidah and Stockholm Agreements – UK Explanation of Vote at the UN Security Council [January 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : We welcome the continued commitment of this Council to the Hodeidah and Stockholm Agreements – UK Explanation of Vote at the UN Security Council [January 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2026.

    Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on UNMHA.

    We welcome the Council’s extension of UNMHA’s mandate for a final two-month period until 31 March 2026.

    We look forward to the UN’s orderly and sustainable transition of UNMHA’s responsibilities and residual functions to the Office of the Special Envoy and we welcome the continued commitment of this Council to the Hodeidah and Stockholm Agreements.

    I want to thank those UNMHA officials who have worked tirelessly as since 2019, especially in the face of continued Houthi restrictions which inhibited the Mission’s ability to fulfil its mandate.

    The safety of UN personnel across Yemen remains of the upmost importance.

    Once again, the UK condemns arbitrary detentions by the Houthis, and we reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained.

    The UK remains steadfast in our support for the Special Envoy in fostering an intra-Yemeni peace process under UN auspices.