Tag: 2026

PRESS RELEASE : Targeted financial support for aspiring social workers [February 2026]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 6 February 2026.

Social work students to receive targeted financial support, under plans set out in a consultation launched by the government today.
- Government to offer better financial support for social work students to set up a career in sector
- Changes aim to improve access and break down barriers into social work careers to provide vital care for children and families, older people and people with learning disabilities and mental health
- This follows the launch of the Fair Pay Agreement – backed by £500 million – and improved skills and qualifications for care workers, as the government reforms adult social care
Social work students will receive more targeted financial support where there is the greatest need, including those from low-income backgrounds, under plans set out in a consultation announced by the government today.

It will seek feedback from universities, social work students, social workers, local authorities and NHS trusts to maximise the effectiveness of the existing Social Work Bursary (SWB) and the Education Support Grant (ESB).

Together, these provide £50 million annually to support social work students and have provided support since 2003. However, uptake of the Social Work Bursary has declined in recent years, with around 1,500 unclaimed bursaries in 2024-25 out of the 4,000 available.

These proposed changes will bring down barriers and aim to improve access to a vital career.

Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said:

I hugely value the thousands of social workers across the country who care for the vulnerable people in our society.

This consultation will make sure that support is targeted to the social work students that need it most. Ultimately, this will bolster our workforce with aspiring and hardworking, compassionate social workers.

We are on the road to transforming adult social care careers by launching the Fair Pay Agreement for care workers, the first ever universal career structure and improved training and qualifications. This is a further step as we build a National Care Service and work with the sector to deliver the workforce it needs.

Chief Social Worker for Adults Sarah McClinton and Chief Social Worker for Children and Families Isabelle Trowler said:

This consultation is vital to understand views from across the profession, including current and future students, higher education institutes and employers on how the Social Work Bursary and Education Support Grant can best support high-quality students into social work education and ultimately help them have long and rewarding careers in social work.

The consultation runs for eight weeks and closes on 7 April 2026. Responses can be submitted online: Proposed changes to the Social Work Bursary and the Education Support Grant – GOV.UK

Currently, the Social Work Bursary provides support to undergraduates who receive around £4,900 and postgraduates who receive around £11,300 and the Education Support Grant contributes to the costs of practice placements, where students gain hands-on experience. Bursaries or grants do not need to be paid back, unlike student loans.

Through the 10 Year Health Plan the government is shifting more care out of hospital and into the community and social workers will play a vital role in this shift, as part of Neighbourhood Health Services.
February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Sexual predator, Scott Chapman, has sentence extended after Solicitor General intervenes [February 2026]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 6 February 2026.

A man who raped and sexually abused a teenage girl had his sentence extended after the Solicitor General intervened.

Scott Chapman, of Hereford, had his sentence increased by nearly two and half years after the Solicitor General referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The court heard that Scott Chapman befriended a 14-year-old girl he met online.

Scott Chapman, who was 20-years-old at the time, was aware of the girl’s age before sexually abusing the victim on several occasions.

In one incident in April 2021, Scott Chapman raped the victim despite protests to stop and when confronted by the teenager, denied the assault had taken place.

The victim said in a personal statement, that the experience has had a significant impact on her life,  causing lasting psychological and physical harm.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said:

Scott Chapman is a dangerous sexual predator. He sexually abused a young girl on several occasions causing untold mental and physical harm.

I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to the victim for the trauma she has endured. I welcome the court’s decision to increase Scott Chapman’s s sentence, preventing this dangerous offender from harming anyone else.

On 18 September 2025 at Worcester Crown Court, Scott Chapman was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to rape, sexual activity with a child, and sexual communication with a child.

On 5 February 2026 at the Court of Appeal, Scott Chapman’s sentence was extended to six years and eight months.

February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Three century old sculpture at risk of leaving the UK [February 2026]
The press release issued by the Department of Culture and Media on 6 February 2026.

A temporary export bar has been placed on Michael Rysbrack’s sculpture of two ‘putti’ supporting an architrave.
- Valued at £750,000, the sculpture is recognised to be of outstanding artistic quality
- Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the sculpture for the nation
An export bar has been placed on Michael Rysbrack’s sculpture of two ‘putti’ supporting a column to allow time for a UK buyer to be found.

The sculpture was crafted to be one of a pair of chimney pieces, possibly for the grand Bedford House in London. Standing over a metre tall, the sculpture is cut from marble. It has been praised for its excellent quality and condition despite being nearly three hundred years old.

Owning similar sculptures was very popular amongst the British aristocracy during the eighteenth century. Rysbrack’s sculpture is inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art, with ownership of the sculpture symbolising interest and knowledge of the Classical World.

The depiction of the ‘putti’ – childlike figures – is recognised to be of extraordinary artistic quality. At the time of the sculpture’s creation, new research and understanding of childhood development was changing attitudes to children in London society. Rysbrack himself became a governor of London’s Foundling Hospital, which cared for orphaned children.

Michael Rysbrack was born and trained in Antwerp, but is best known for his career in England. He was inspired by Classical art for many of the sculptures he created, including those he crafted for Westminster Abbey.

Culture Minister Baroness Twycross said:

The incredible detail on this marble sculpture of two childlike figures demonstrates a remarkable mastery of the craft. The quality of the putti is a clear testament to why Michael Rysbrack’s sculptures were so highly sought after in the eighteenth century.

Today, we continue to appreciate world class art such as this. I hope that this export bar can help secure this sculpture for the public to enjoy.

Committee Member, Stuart Lochead said:

Likely designed for Bedford House, London, this set of putti originally formed part of a monumental fireplace. Despite its scale, the carving is notably delicate: the flesh and hair of the two figures are rendered with remarkable tenderness. The use of infant imagery marks a pivotal moment in Rysbrack’s career. Having recently been elected Governor of the Foundling Hospital in London, alongside William Hogarth, the sculptor’s work reflects on the changing attitudes toward childhood in early eighteenth-century Britain. Displayed in one of London’s most important houses, this refined marble group would represent a significant loss if exported.

This is the fourth temporary export bar issued since the start of the year by this Government. It follows attempts to protect an 18th century bust of John Gordon of Invergordon, a £9 million Baroque painting by Claude Lorrain, and an 18th century terracotta dog sculpture by groundbreaking female sculptor, Anne Damer.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the sculpture met the second and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding aesthetic importance and its outstanding significance to the study of the work of Rysbrack; sculpture in the 18th century in architectural and social history; and the representation of children in portraiture.

The decision on the export licence application for the sculpture will be deferred for a period ending on 5 May 2026 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the sculpture at the recommended price of £750,000 (plus VAT of £150,000 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for four months.

Notes to editors
1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the sculpture should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.
2. Details of the ITEM are as follows: Michael Rysbrack, Antwerp, 1694 – London, 1770. Two putti supporting an architrave, c.1735-7. Marble, 131.3 cm high 131 cm wide
3. Provenance: Probably 4th Duke of Bedford, by descent to 5th Duke of Bedford; sold Christie’s, London, the Bedford House sale, 5 May 1800, lot 71, to 11th Duke of Norfolk; by descent to 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th Dukes of Norfolk; offered for sale by the 15th Duke of Norfolk (Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 1847-1917) at the Arundel Castle sale, Sparks & Son, 14 and 15 April 1891, either lot 289 or lot 299 (‘two figures of boys, in bold relief, supporting richly carved cornice, statuary marble, 4ft 3in high; 3ft wide’ and ‘The companion ditto’); sold Christie’s, London, 1 December 1911, lot 85 (‘TWO PORTIONS OF A CHIMNEY-PIECE, of white marble, each sculpted in high relief with two children supporting a frieze—51 in high, 44 in. wide—Italian, 17th Century’), to Harding for £162-15s [=155 guineas]. Private collection UK before 1960; from whom purchased by the current owner in 1979.
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Three countries to take back illegal migrants after visa threat [February 2026]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 6 February 2026.

Illegal migrants and criminals from 3 African countries will be deported following a threat by the Home Secretary to shut down their visas to Britain.

A month after the Home Secretary threatened visa penalties, Namibia and Angola agreed to cooperate on returns. The Home Secretary has now secured cooperation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) just weeks after she stripped VIPs and decision makers of preferential visa treatment, as well as revoking fast-track visa processing services for all nationals.

Within 3 months, cooperation has been secured, and flights are already off the ground, showcasing the effectiveness of threatening visa penalties. These results show successful delivery of reforms set out by the Home Secretary in November, marking a major step forward in restoring order and control to the immigration system. 

While Angola, Namibia and DRC are now cooperating on returns, other countries are still frustrating the returns process and not taking back their nationals who have no right to remain in the UK.

The Home Secretary has been clear that those who refuse to work with the UK on returns cannot expect a normal visa relationship, with further threats expected where countries are not cooperating.

The new approach follows the Prime Minister urging departments to pull every lever possible to restore order and control to the immigration system, and adopting a more transactional approach with countries depending on their cooperation on returns.

Removals of illegal migrants with no right to be in the UK are at an all-time high, with 58,500 people removed or deported since this government came into power, and now over 3,000 nationals from these 3 countries could be eligible due to the cooperation received.

The move forms part of sweeping reforms being delivered by the Home Secretary to rip away the incentives that draw illegal migrants to Britain and ramp up removals of those with no right to be in the country.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood MP said:

My message is clear, if foreign governments refuse to accept the return of their citizens, then they will face consequences.

Illegal migrants and dangerous criminals will now be removed and deported back to Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

I will do what it takes to restore order and control to our borders.

February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Arrest made & vehicle seized in waste investigation in Merseyside [February 2026]

The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 6 February 2026.

Multi-agency operation into suspected illegal waste dumping in Liverpool results in arrest and vehicle seizure.

An arrest has been made and heavy goods vehicle seized during an investigation into suspected illegal waste dumping in Merseyside.

On Monday 2 February, following allegations of illegal dumping, the Environment Agency joined forces with the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) and Merseyside Police in the operation at an alleged illegal waste site in Liverpool.

Jennifer Brittlebank, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

We’ve taken immediate action following suspected illegal waste activity in Liverpool.

We share the public’s disgust with illegal dumping and the significant harm it causes to the environment and communities.

Waste crime will not be tolerated and we continue to work tirelessly with our partners to take action against those suspected of being involved.

Phil Davies, Joint Unit for Waste Crime manager, added:

This arrest is another fantastic example of the combined and co-ordinated law enforcement capabilities being used in the fight against waste crime.

We continue to work hard to protect communities and the environment, and we would encourage people to report incidents of waste crime and information about those who are responsible.

Merseyside Police Neighbourhood Inspector Michelle Ingram said:

It is pleasing to see this investigation progress with an arrest. Merseyside Police will continue to support our Environment Agency and local authority partners to tackle the harm caused by waste crime.

Expanding the Joint Unit for Waste Crime
The JUWC is hosted by the Environment Agency and involves 12 partner agencies. It has led or attended 361 multi-agency days of action, which resulted in 186 associated arrests by other agencies by September 2025.

The JUWC recently expanded, doubling in size increasing its resource and skillset to shut down serious and organised waste criminals. With experienced Environment Agency enforcement and investigation officers and ex-police officers bringing a wealth of crime-fighting knowledge and tactics.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information should report it to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK provides vital humanitarian support as Ukraine suffers through brutal winter [February 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2026.

The UK government has been supporting more than 1 million Ukrainians affected by the energy crisis this winter.
- As Ukraine suffers its worst winter in a decade, UK-funded deliveries of generators, hygiene kits and other vital components are providing urgently-needed assistance in response to the dire humanitarian situation
- With the latest trilateral peace talks set to begin in the UAE, the UK has partnered with UNICEF and Ukrainian energy and water suppliers to restore the supply of water and heating to those that need it most in display of our unwavering support for Ukraine
As temperatures drop below -20C across Ukraine, the UK government has been supporting more than 1 million vulnerable civilians affected by the energy crisis this winter.

The UK’s latest delivery of generators comes ahead of peace talks in the UAE as Russia continues to step up its barbaric attacks, brutally launching 70 missiles at vital Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Monday night – the largest missile attack in more than a year.

The UK Government is working closely with UNICEF and Ukrainian energy and water suppliers, to help provide generators, pipes, cables, and other items to restore the crucial supply of water and heating to Ukrainian homes, schools and villages affected by the Russian attacks.

Amid freezing temperatures with strikes hitting residential buildings, many people including the elderly population have been stuck in cold, dark homes without running water or the ability to cook a hot meal. Schools and hospitals have also been affected, with severe disruption to medical services and some schools unable to provide in-person learning for students, denying children the basic right to a safe, warm classroom and the opportunity to see teachers and friends.

This week, 28 UK-funded generators have been urgently dispatched to water and heating companies across Ukraine, where they will provide hundreds of thousands of residents with emergency utility supplies. This is in addition to the 21 generators that were dispatched from December 2025.

Last month, 730,000 Ukrainians in Zaporizhzhia City and Oblast plunged into darkness without water, electricity or heating also had their water supply restored within just 90 minutes by switching to reserve power, thanks to UK-funded high-capacity diesel generators.

A further 10 generators are expected to arrive over the next week to ensure the continuity of water supply and district heating in priority locations across Ukraine.

Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty said:

Russia’s savage tactics will not work - their relentless efforts to deny innocent Ukrainians basic necessities like heating, electricity and water in the brutal cold of winter will not break their resolve.

Despite the efforts for peace by Ukraine – Putin is continuing to hit innocent women, men and children – even in the middle of a brutal winter.

The UK is proud to stand with Ukraine and continue this lifesaving work with UNICEF.

The UK has provided over £1 billion in humanitarian and energy support since the start of the full-scale invasion, which is helping to keep the lights on and Ukrainian homes warm when vulnerable civilians need it most.

Rapid on-the-ground assistance has been provided to hundreds of thousands of people across the country, including:
- UK support to local authorities in Mykolaiv Oblast has funded the installation of independent heating systems for two schools, Mykolaiv Lyceum Vidrodzhennia and Oleksandrivskyi Lyceum. Solid fuel boilers now allow in-person education to continue for 780 students, meaning the schools can focus on providing vital learning and care for children.
- In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, UK support is helping to install a new water unit to make heating services more resilient for around 42,000 residents, while elsewhere in Kherson City we have helped deliver valves and pipes to repair heating and power after a Russian attack in December left 40% of the city without heating. A nearby boiler house serving 8,000 people has been completely rehabilitated, with stabilised heating expected to be restored for a further 30,000 people this month.
- Distribution of hygiene kits in Kharkiv City following Russian attacks in January alongside the delivery of pre-insulated pipes and cables to Kharkiv’s municipal heating company to restore heating services for the population.
- Thermal insulation materials for the district heating networks rehabilitation for 89,000 village residents in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, improving efficiency and lowering fuel costs.
- UNICEF water trucks that have delivered 75m³ of water to several large reservoirs within Odesa city, 25m³ of water to Kherson.
In total, the UK is one of Ukraine’s leading bilateral donors and has committed over £577 million in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine and the region since the start of the full-scale invasion.

This is alongside over £470 million of in-kind, grant and loan financing committed to the repair, protection and recovery of Ukraine’s energy sector and its long-term reconstruction and clean transition. This includes £153 million in contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund for grid level repairs, protection and additional power generation.

In addition to the humanitarian response, the UK has committed to delivering £3 billion of military aid to Ukraine every year until the end of the decade, for as long as it takes. Together with our ERA loan, we will provide Ukraine with £4.5bn in military aid this year – more than ever before.

Despite the efforts of the UK and likeminded international partners in responding to Russia’s callous attacks, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine remains dire. It is more important than ever than Putin ceases to stall and delay, and engages meaningfully in discussions in Abu Dhabi to bring about a just and lasting peace and end the relentless suffering for the people of Ukraine.
February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Cost of TV licence fee set for 2026/27 [February 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 6 February 2026.

The annual cost of a TV licence will rise to £180 from 1 April 2026, as required by the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement, in line with inflation.
- TV licence fee to rise in line with inflation to provide the BBC with stable financial footing to deliver for audiences and support the wider creative industries
- The government continues the Charter Review Green Paper public consultation on options for BBC future funding
- Support for households in severe financial difficulty is available and free licences for over-75s on Pension Credit
The increase follows the methodology of calculating the licence fee in line with the consumer price index (CPI) until the end of the BBC Charter Period.

This means the cost of an annual colour TV licence will rise by £5.50, or the equivalent of an extra 46p a month.

The increase in the cost of the TV licence will help keep the BBC on a stable financial footing, enabling it to continue to deliver on its Mission and Public Purposes. The BBC is the UK’s number one media brand, with 94% of UK adults using the BBC each month last year and it remains the UK’s most widely used and trusted news outlet.

The government recognises the financial pressures on households and is committed to ensuring the BBC’s funding model is sustainable, fair and affordable. The government has committed to the licence fee for the remainder of this Charter Period. To support the public with the cost of the TV licence, we will also continue to support the Simple Payment Plan to spread payments through smaller instalments. Free licences remain available for over-75s on Pension Credit, with reduced fees for care home residents and blind individuals.

This comes alongside the ongoing Charter Review, which will ensure the BBC is sustainably funded to provide value for licence fee payers, commands the public’s trust with impartial editorial standards and drives growth, opportunity and good jobs across the country.

The BBC has recently announced a series of initiatives with the aim of bringing trusted public service content to more young people and families where they are. This includes a new content partnership with YouTube, with a CBeebies Parenting YouTube channel launching later this year, as well as six themed channels featuring content from CBBC shows. The BBC is also partnering with the British Library to provide storytelling for pre-schoolers and their parents at library events across the UK.

S4C, which receives all its public funding from the licence fee, will also see its revenue increase proportionately, receiving approximately £100 million in 2026/27 to support the growth of the Welsh creative industries.
February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister appoints expert Cost of Living Champion [February 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 February 2026.

The Prime Minister has directly appointed Lord Richard Walker as the Government’s Cost of Living Champion today.

Lord Richard Walker will work across Government while enhancing partnerships with businesses, regulators, and a broad range of organisations to consider how the whole of Government can go further to deliver on its priority of easing the cost of living for families.

Lord Richard Walker said:

“I’ve taken on this role for one reason: to get real results for families on the cost of living. Not to talk about it, but to help government focus on the things that genuinely make a difference.

“I’ll be bringing real-world business experience and a sense of urgency to this work, looking at the everyday areas that eat into household budgets and where consumers get a rough deal. Regulators are trying, but we need to be bolder in standing up for consumers and turning intent into action.”

Lord Walker brings a wealth of experience as a British entrepreneur and business leader. He has been a social advocate creating the Iceland Food Club: a unique interest-free microcredit scheme that has lifted tens of thousands out of food poverty. He is Chair of the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation, which has donated over £38m to good causes.

The appointment builds on practical support already designed and delivered to ensure household budgets go further.

These include £150 off energy bills, with a further £150 off the poorest households, removing the two-child benefit cap, the roll out of free breakfast clubs, and further measures on childcare funding.

He will work closely with the No10 Policy Unit to provide ideas, advice and challenge on cost-of-living interventions, leveraging expertise and industry networks.

This role will sit alongside existing Government policy development, adding further expertise to ensure that no stone is left unturned when it comes to ensuring a fair deal for consumers.

Lord Walker will report directly to the to the Prime Minister. This is an unpaid voluntary role.

February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : The meaningful participation of women in UN policing is an operational necessity – UK statement at the UN Security Council [February 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 February 2026.

Statement by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on UN Peacekeeping Operations: Police Commissioners.

The United Kingdom pays tribute to the UN Police who bravely serve in peacekeeping missions around the world.

UN policing is fundamental to effective peacekeeping in many contexts. To sustain impact, it must continue to adapt.

To that end, technology, including new digital tools, should be used to enhance the effectiveness of UN policing, supported by strong digital competency within missions.

New technologies can make missions more effective by enhancing operational awareness and deepening community engagement, but only if peacekeepers have the right skills and training to use them.

Second, it is vital that, like all peacekeepers, UN police uphold and reinforce the highest human rights, conduct, and accountability standards.

These principles form the basis of trust with local populations and are critical for mission effectiveness.

Any form of misconduct, including sexual exploitation and abuse, is unacceptable.

This requires timely and transparent accountability processes, with consistent national follow-up and publicly accessible reporting on disciplinary results.

Third, we must be clear that the meaningful participation of women in UN policing is an operational necessity, not an optional extra.

As we have heard clearly today, women police strengthen community engagement, broaden access, and improve reporting of conflict-related sexual violence.

For our part, the United Kingdom remains committed to tackling barriers to women’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping, including through our long-standing support for the Elsie Initiative Fund, to which we have pledged a further $685,000 in 2025.

Together, these efforts will help ensure UN policing remains capable, trusted, and effective.

February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Trump of the United States [February 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 February 2026.

The Prime Minister spoke with the President of the United States, Donald Trump today.

On Ukraine, the leaders discussed the ongoing peace negotiations. The Prime Minister expressed his deep concern about Putin’s continued barbaric attacks on innocent civilians, particularly in freezing temperatures.

They also agreed on the importance of the deal to secure the joint UK–US base on Diego Garcia, which remains vital to shared security interests. The UK and US will continue to work closely on the implementation of the deal, they agreed.

February 9, 2026