Tag: 2026

PRESS RELEASE : Two Trustees reappointed to the Theatres Trust board [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 10 August 2026.

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has reappointed Annie Hampson and Katie Town as Trustees of the Theatres Trust Board for six months from 13 September 2026.

Annie Hampson OBE

Annie was formerly the Chief Planning Officer at the City of London and has had a variety of senior Local Government roles over a period of 40 years. She was awarded an OBE in 2018 for services to Planning in London. She is currently the Chair of the Diocese of London Advisory Committee which covers 460 Churches and in addition advises on a number of development and strategic Committees and architectural selection panels. She is also a Judge for the International Property Awards.

Katie Town

Katie Town is Chief Executive of Theatre Royal Wakefield, a Grade II listed Frank Matcham theatre in West Yorkshire. Since joining the organisation in 2015, she has led a period of significant creative and organisational transformation, including the delivery of a major capital development and new theatre extension. Katie previously worked as General Manager of the National Theatre’s Learning Department. Originally a barrister, she pursued a career in the arts, with roles at Royal Opera House and then in a range of arts organisations, including Candoco Dance Company.

Alongside her executive leadership role, Katie is Chair of Arts Catalyst, a contemporary arts organisation supporting artists and communities through socially engaged practice. She is also a Co-Founder of the Local Theatre Touring Alliance, a national network advocating for the future of local theatre and touring across the UK.

Remuneration and Governance Code

The Trustees of the Theatres Trust are not remunerated.

These appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election.

Annie Hampson and Katie Town have declared no such political activity.

Notes to Editors

DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website.

10/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK appoints Alex Milward as new HMTC for North America and HM Consul General New York [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Business on 10 August 2026.

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is pleased to announce that Alex Milward has been appointed His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for North America and His Majesty’s Consul General to New York. He will take up the position in August 2026.

Alex takes up the role at an important moment for the UK’s relationship with North America.

The UK and United States recently concluded an Economic Prosperity Deal, strengthening a trading relationship worth $437 billion (£332 billion). The UK is a leading investor in over 22 states nationwide, including New York, Texas and Florida.

The UK’s accession to CPTPP is also creating new opportunities with Canada, building on a bilateral trading relationship worth C$62 billion (£34 billion) and supporting deeper collaboration in areas including AI, semiconductors, digital trade and advanced technologies.

Alex brings more than 30 years of experience across the private and public sectors, spanning digital, energy, defence, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing and professional services and more recently, as head of the UK’s Carbon Capture programme at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

He will be supported by Deputy Trade Commissioner Alan Gogbashian and Deputy Consul General Mel Lawrence.

Alex Milward said:

I am honoured to be appointed His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America and Consul General to New York. The United States and Canada are among the UK’s closest economic and cultural partners, and there is tremendous momentum in our relationships. From advancing the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal and major investment commitments, to deepening cooperation with Canada through CPTPP and our new Growth and Innovation Partnership, we are creating opportunities for businesses and investors across all three countries.

I look forward to building on these strong foundations, supporting UK companies to grow internationally and attracting investment that delivers jobs, innovation and prosperity across the UK.

Alex replaces Oliver Christian MVO, who has served as HM Trade Commissioner for North America since April 2025.

Oliver Christian MVO said:

It has been a privilege to serve as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America at a defining period for the UK’s relationship with the United States and Canada. In just the past year, we have strengthened our economic ties across the continent, supported the conclusion of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal, advanced record levels of trade and investment, and helped deliver landmark moments in the bilateral relationship, including President Trump’s State Visit to the United Kingdom and Their Majesties’ recent visit to the United States.

These achievements reflect the strength of our partnerships and the outstanding work of teams and dedicated public servants across government and our network in North America.

Role of the HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for North America

The HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for North America cooperates closely with the wider diplomatic network and other colleagues to coordinate the government effort overseas to promote UK trade and prosperity.

The Trade Commissioner has full responsibility for all Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade work in the United States of America and Canada, including:

· Growing the overall trade and investment relationship

· Improving market access for British companies, including small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)

· Developing trade policy

· Connecting emerging UK sectors, from foundational research through to scaling-up innovative firms, with North American markets and investment opportunities

The HMTC also works closely with the wider diplomatic network and UK based colleagues to coordinate HMG activity on our wider prosperity agenda.

10/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister starts roll out of ‘everyday fixes’ on the cost of living – ending rip-off discounts and subscription traps [August 2026]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 August 2026.

The Prime Minister has announced that he will be rolling out a series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help people with the cost of living, kicking off with two measures today.
- Prime Minister wastes no time to end subscription traps, with new “easy to exit” rules brought forward to help consumers cancel easily and prevent them losing more money
- He is also taking action to tackle misleading discounts and rip off prices that fleece customers
- This is just the start of a series of ‘everyday fixes’ that will be announced to ease the cost of living and give families room to breathe
The Prime Minister has announced that he will be rolling out a series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help people with the cost of living, kicking off with two measures today.

Pretend prices and deceptive deals will be a thing of the past under the Prime Minister’s plans to ban retailers from making misleading claims to customers about discounts. Shoppers have increasingly complained about outlets artificially inflating prices to give a false sense of value, such as increasing them only to then immediately advertise ‘discounts’ to make savings look larger than they really are.

This includes discounted prices being the same as they were before the discount, intended to trick consumers into thinking they are getting good value whilst saving them nothing and creating an uneven playing field for honest competitors.

The Prime Minister also wants to see an end to subscription traps, where people find it hard to cancel their subscriptions and contracts are automatically renewed at a higher cost. New rules will now come into force in January 2027, in time for when customers often start new subscriptions for the year ahead.

Saving an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription, the changes will mean businesses will need to provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders and a much easier exit to contracts. A new 14-day cooling-off period will also let consumers cancel after a trial or long-term contract renews.

With households still watching every pound, it’s right to act to restore fairness. There are around 155 million active subscriptions in the UK, with consumers spending an estimated £1.6 billion a year on ones they don’t actually want, a direct hit to family budgets.

For the many businesses who already give customers plenty of notice before subscriptions renew and make contacts easy to leave, very little is changing. They will benefit from clearer rules and a more level playing field, without being undercut by competitors who have more complicated processes that rip off consumers.

Certain charitable memberships for cultural and heritage organisations will be excluded from the new subscription rules given the unique role they have in preserving and opening up access to the nation’s history, landscapes, and cultural collections.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps. Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life. I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives. I’m determined to pull every single lever we can to provide people with some room to breathe on the cost of living.

We’re putting an end to phoney bargains. If something is advertised as half price, it should actually be half price. We’re also making it as easy to leave a subscription as it is to join.

These are just two of the everyday fixes we’re going to be rolling out – today is just the start. We want to put more money in people’s pockets and give people hope that politics really can work for them and their everyday lives.

The Prime Minister is determined to use every chance he gets to restore fairness and take pressure off people. This is the start of a series of practical, everyday fixes that will put more money in people’s pockets, give them greater peace of mind, and make life a little easier.

This follows his week-one action to cap bus fares and make energy bills more affordable for millions of households.

A consultation will launch this autumn to assess whether tactics such as fake “was” prices, invented discounts and misleading recommended retail prices (RRPs) should be added to the list of practices banned under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA).

Under current laws, it can be difficult for enforcers to take on these cases. Adding these tactics to this list would mean they will automatically be considered unfair, making it easier to crack down while making rules simpler for businesses to follow.

Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

There’s nothing worse than realising you’ve been fleeced by a dodgy deal, or seen money leaving your account because of a subscription you didn’t want to renew or couldn’t easily cancel.

This Government is on the side of families working hard to make ends meet, while making sure the rules are clear for businesses and easy to follow.

Sue Davies MBE, Head of Consumer Rights Policy at Which?, said:

Which? has repeatedly exposed businesses, including trusted household brands, ripping off customers with dodgy deals that aren’t what they seem – but regulators have often found it too difficult to take action. It’s great news that the government intends to tighten up the law and explicitly ban misleading pricing practices, while putting an end to subscription traps.

The government must implement these rules swiftly to give consumers much-needed protection against sneaky pricing tactics and hold businesses to account with tough enforcement, including fines, if they fall short.

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

For too long consumers have been tricked into paying for products or services they don’t use – or didn’t even want to begin with – costing millions of pounds each year. So we really welcome the government’s move to speed up action on subscription traps and look at banning other tactics firms use to catch consumers out.

At Citizens Advice, we’ve sounded the alarm on this for years, because we know subscription traps and sneaky online practices that hit consumers’ pockets hard are a widespread problem. We previously found that over 13 million people (26% of UK adults) accidentally took out a subscription in a year.

People shouldn’t have to waste their time and effort avoiding dubious online tactics and fixing unwanted purchases and sign-ups. Today’s announcement is an important move, but it can’t be the end of the story. We look forward to seeing the detail in the consultation on deceptive online pricing and how it will ensure consumers are protected and treated fairly.

Helen Undy OBE, CEO of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said:

It can be hard for anyone to spot a misleading discount, but this is particularly difficult for people with mental health problems who can struggle with concentration, impulsivity and decision-making, which can make it harder to resist pressure selling tactics and compare prices to get a fair deal.

This group is already at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis – people with mental health problems are three times as likely to currently be behind on some or all household bills – so it’s good news that the government is taking action to help tight budgets go further, and it’s important that it happens quickly.

It’s also encouraging to see that the subscription trap protections will be brought forward. We know that the symptoms of mental health problems such as increased impulsivity and memory problems, can contribute to someone signing up without realising and forgetting about a subscription. We’ve long argued that it should be as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up – and as ever the proof will be in how companies put this into practice.

Today’s announcement is good news – however, subscription traps and misleading discounts are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unfair practices that make it harder to get a fair deal when you’re struggling with your mental health. We look forward to working with the government to see what further action can be taken in future.
10/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK armed forces step up monitoring of increased Russian activity in UK waters [August 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 8 August 2026.

Royal Navy warships and helicopters spent 21 days on operations monitoring Russian activity in UK waters and the North Atlantic throughout July.
- Maritime operations to monitor Russian activity up 25% across the first seven months of the year.
- Royal Navy have deployed four warships and naval helicopters to protect UK waters during 21 days of intense operations.
Royal Navy warships and helicopters spent 21 days on operations monitoring Russian activity in UK waters and the North Atlantic throughout July – a 25% increase in the last year, new figures released today show.

HMS Somerset, HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey, and HMS Severn were all dispatched, alongside Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron and Merlin submarine hunting aircraft, to report on the movements of warships and submarines throughout July.

Russian frigate RFN Neustrashimy has repeatedly transited the UK’s area of responsibility to escort shadow fleet tankers within recognised traffic lanes, using up valuable operational capacity to constantly guard cargo.

Overall, Royal Navy activations to monitor Russian activity is up 25% across the first seven months of the year compared to 2025. It comes after the UK interdicted a sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker, Smyrtos, in the English Channel in June.

The UK is a leader in tackling the shadow fleet, having already sanctioned more than 500 vessels, and Russia’s oil and gas revenues falling by 24% year-on-year in 2025.

By disrupting the shadow fleet, the UK and international partners are directly bearing down on the resources sustaining Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and reducing its capacity to threaten security across Europe and beyond.

Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne was on duty when Neustrashimy carried out gunnery firings outside of UK and French territorial waters on July 20.

HMS Tyne moved to five nautical miles as the Russian warship fired her armaments, continuing to gather intelligence during the incident, observing the fall of shots fired from her weaponry, including around 20 different shots from main 100mm armament and 30mm battery.

Lieutenant Commander Sam Fields, Commanding Officer of HMS Tyne said:

Through sustained presence and close cooperation with allies, HMS Tyne was ideally suited to this task, providing reassurance and monitoring while enabling other Fleet units to continue their operational commitments.

For Type 23 frigate, HMS Somerset, her tasking was part of her four-month deployment monitoring surface and sub-surface activity in the North Atlantic, contributing to the UK’s standing operation to protect Britain’s nuclear deterrent and monitoring potential submarine activity.

The Plymouth-based warship – deployed with a powerful array of underwater sensors and with its embarked Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron – returned home yesterday (Friday, 7 August) having sailed more than 24,000 nautical miles across the North Atlantic.

HMS Somerset’s Commanding Officer, Commander Matt Millyard said:

This deployment demonstrates exactly what the Royal Navy exists to do, protect the UK and our allies from wherever our interests are threatened.

I am immensely proud of every single member of the ship’s company for what we have achieved over the past four months. Whether it’s tracking submarines, working alongside NATO allies and the Carrier Strike Group, or maintaining the ship at exceptionally high readiness for so long, their professionalism and spirit has been outstanding.

It is fantastic to bring the ship home after a highly successful deployment and reunite with our families.

Meanwhile, HMS Severn was twice activated in July to monitor Russian warships, shadowing RFN Admiral Grigorovich as the frigate sailed eastwards from the island of Ushant on the French coast to Dover.

Following that, the patrol ship was dispatched on a three-day mission (July 23-26) to intercept and shadow Neustrashimy, taking over monitoring duties in the North Sea from HMS Mersey.

Severn kept watch as Neustrashimy escorted shadow fleet tanker MV Vulkan from the Baltic, through the Dover Strait and towards Ushant.

Severn and Mersey then handed over again as Neustrashimy made a westward voyage towards Dover once she had completed escorting the Vulkan.

Lieutenant Commander Dom Jacobs, Executive Officer in Temporary Command of HMS Severn, said:

I’m really proud of my ship’s company’s ability to adapt quickly to changes of tasking from Fleet Ready Escort to our training output as the Fleet Navigation Training Ship.

This shows the versatility of my crew and the other OPVs to deliver a range of tasks demonstrating our continued relevance and operational value.
10/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : “Scotland is powering Britain’s future defence” says Defence Secretary on first visit to Rosyth Shipyard and forces housing [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 7 August 2026.

Defence Secretary on his first visit to Scotland tours Babcock’s Rosyth facility and Service Family Accommodation in Edinburgh.

On his first visit to Scotland as Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting has today underlined the nation’s vital role in the UK’s defence.

During the visit, Mr Streeting saw first-hand how UK defence investment is supporting national security, skilled jobs and service families, with nearly 12,000 jobs in Scotland supported by defence.

While in Rosyth, the Defence Secretary toured Babcock’s facility, where the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates are being built, meeting workers and apprentices supporting one of the UK’s major shipbuilding programmes.

The Type 31 programme sustains 2,500 skilled jobs across Scotland and the UK supply chain, including 400 apprenticeships established through partnerships with local colleges in Fife and across Scotland, supporting regional economic growth.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP said:

From the skilled workers and apprentices building the next generation of Royal Navy warships at Rosyth, to the service families who support our Armed Forces every day, Scotland sits at the heart of our national security.

It is inspiring to see proud heritage combining with modern technology to make our country fit for the future. That also presents huge opportunities for jobs and reindustrialisation.

Alongside this, we are committed to delivering better homes for the personnel and families who serve our country.

The Defence Secretary also met Service Personnel and families in Edinburgh, visiting homes that have benefitted from refurbishment works, including a roofing project at Redford Gardens and homes undergoing full upgrades at Adams Well Estate.

The Government is undertaking a generational renewal of Armed Forces housing, backed by £9 billion over the next decade. This will see 40,000 military homes, 9 in 10 of the total estate, upgraded, modernised or rebuilt.

A new Defence Housing Service has also been established to put forces families first, meeting new, modern property standards and accelerating housing delivery on surplus defence land.

Scotland is at the heart of defending Britain, with nearly 10,000 Armed Forces personnel stationed there and key strategic bases playing an increasingly vital role in protecting the North Atlantic from Russian aggression. Typhoon fighter jets scramble from RAF Lossiemouth in response to potential threats, while HMNB Clyde is home to the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.

The visit underlines the Government’s commitment to making Defence an engine for growth, while renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve by improving the lived experience of Armed Forces personnel and their families.

As part of the Defence Investment Plan, the Government has confirmed £26 billion to modernise critical naval base infrastructure, including £15.1 billion to regenerate HMNB Clyde with world-class facilities to increase maintenance delivery, modern waterfront infrastructure, training facilities and new accommodation.

Harry Holt, CEO of Babcock International Group, said:

A capable and adaptable Royal Navy fleet is essential to the security of the UK, NATO and our allies around the world, and we were delighted to welcome the Defence Secretary here to Rosyth to see first-hand the excellent progress being made on the Type 31 frigate programme.

The defence industry makes a vital contribution to Scotland’s economy, sustaining thousands of skilled jobs and apprenticeships. Our workforce and operations at Rosyth are a clear demonstration of this, delivering sovereign capability, supporting economic growth, and contributing to UK reindustrialisation.

We look forward to working with the Defence Secretary and the Ministry of Defence as they implement the Defence Investment Plan, further strengthening our sovereign and export capabilities and the defence of our nation.

10/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : More passengers across Yorkshire to benefit from digital pay-as-you-go [August 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 7 August 2026.

Expanded ticketing trials are open to all passengers on Northern Railway’s 2 northern routes and include the Leicester to Nottingham, via Derby route.
- digital ticketing trials extended across Yorkshire for a simpler, smarter way to travel ahead of the creation of Great British Railways
- follows successful trials, with over 30,000 journeys from Leeds to Harrogate and Doncaster to Sheffield using digital pay-as-you-go already undertaken
- passengers use an app with GPS that calculates the best fare so they can travel flexibly, knowing they’ll get the best value ticket
Thousands more rail passengers across Yorkshire will be able to use simpler, flexible ticketing as digital pay-as-you-go technology is extended to all travellers on Northern’s 2 trial routes.

Digital ticketing allows passengers to download an app that uses GPS to track their journeys to calculate the best fare without physically checking in and out or buying a ticket in advance.

The technology also helps to minimise fare evasion as it makes sure passengers pay the right fare for their journey and protects passengers who might innocently buy the wrong tickets as digital pay-as-you-go selects for them.

After launching in 2025, the trials were opened to an initial 2,000 passengers across 2 routes in the North: Leeds to Harrogate and Doncaster to Sheffield.

Over 30,000 journeys have benefited, with passengers leaving positive reviews, praising how easy the technology is to use. The expanded trials include a third route in the East Midlands, from Leicester to Nottingham via Derby.

The trials come as part of wider fare and ticketing reforms ahead of Great British Railways (GBR), including the rollout of pay-as-you-go and plans to develop a GBR website, an app that will act as a one-stop shop for passengers to buy tickets, check train times and claim Delay Repay to cut through the confusing options at 14 different operators currently available to passengers.

Now, the cap on the number of people able to take part has been lifted in response to the trials’ popularity and success in the region, meaning an unlimited number of passengers can benefit from contactless ticketing on these routes.

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said:

Buying a train ticket across much of Yorkshire is far too complicated, with the whole system long overdue an upgrade to bring it into the 21st century. The digital pay-as-you-go trials have been a huge success and by extending them, we’re making that convenience, accessibility and flexible for even more passengers.

This is rail reform in action. We’re delivering straightforward, stress-free train travel across the North, supporting passengers, a key step in our mission to boost growth, jobs and homes as we work to set up Great British Railways.

It comes as part of the government’s mission to put power into the hands of local communities, working with authorities who are best placed to design ticketing solutions that work for their communities.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all national model, we’re giving them the tools and data to build integrated ticketing that fits their needs.

This includes the rollout of contactless ticketing with bankcards at over 100 stations in the south-east, connecting trains with London’s airports, bus, Tube and tram networks and making 55 million journeys in the region simpler every year.

Alex Hornby, Northern’s Commercial and Customer Director, said:

The future of ticketing is happening right here in the North, which is making train travel simpler, frictionless and more convenient for our customers.

We’re delighted the trial has been extended until September 2027 as thousands of people will be able to use this innovative technology on 2 of our routes.

It has already been used to make more than 30,000 journeys on Northern services and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback so far.

Customers are still welcome to sign up now to try out this digital pay-as-you-go app and receive £15 worth of free credit to their account.

The government’s £156 million investment in new ticketing schemes means that by 2027, pay-as-you-go will be available at over 100 more stations across Greater Manchester, the Midlands and the south-east. A new GBR website and app is also in development, which will serve as a one-stop shop, with passengers able to buy tickets, check train times and access support in one simple-to-use app.

Silviya Barrett, Director of Policy and Research at Campaign for Better Transport, said:

Making public transport easier to use is one of the most effective ways to attract more people on board. Expanding digital pay-as-you-go is a welcome step towards a simpler, more seamless railway, making it easier for passengers to get the best fare without navigating a complex ticketing system. We hope these successful trials pave the way for fully integrated ticketing across the public transport network.
10/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Two new Members appointed to The National Lottery Community Fund Board [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 7 August 2026.

The Secretary of State has appointed Sunder Katwala and Michelle Mitchell OBE as Board Members of The National Lottery Community Fund, for a four-year term commencing on 5 August 2026 to 4 August 2030.

Sunder Katwala

Sunder Katwala is the Director of British Future, an independent, non-partisan thinktank and charity. The organisation engages with questions of identity, immigration and integration, seeking to build confidence and common ground in a changing Britain. Since May 2026, Sunder has been a Commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and is a member of the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion.

He has built a varied career in publishing, journalism, and think tanks, including leading the Fabian Society from 2003 to 2011, working as an Observer journalist, directing research at the Foreign Policy Centre, and a Commissioning Editor at Macmillan.

Sunder is a published author, regular contributor to national print, broadcast and online media, including as a columnist for the British Asian newspaper Eastern Eye.

Michelle Mitchell OBE

Michelle Mitchell is Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, where she leads the organisation’s work to accelerate progress in preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer through world-class research and innovation.

Over a career spanning some of the UK’s leading charities, Michelle has led major organisational transformation programmes, strengthening impact, sustainability and public benefit at scale. She brings extensive experience of strategic leadership, governance, stakeholder engagement and stewardship of resources in organisations dedicated to improving lives and supporting communities.

Michelle was awarded an OBE in 2015 for services to the charity sector and is an Honorary Fellow of Homerton College, University of Cambridge.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Members of The National Lottery Community Fund are remunerated at £7,848 per annum.

10/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Investigation launched into international aid charity over alleged links with Hamas [August 2026]
The press release issued by the Charity Commission on 7 August 2026.

The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Al-Khair Foundation and has restricted certain transactions.

The charity was set up to advance religion, promote education, support social welfare, build religious harmony and offer relief to victims of disasters. It operates in the UK and internationally.

Last month the Commission received a complaint alleging the charity and its partners had connections to Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation. It also alleged the charity had funded the organisation. The regulator immediately started examining the serious concerns raised and gathered more information to inform its assessment. The Commission has now escalated its engagement to a statutory inquiry.

The Commission is aware that Mohammad Yousef Hasna, an individual employed by an organisation that the Al-Khair Foundation works with to deliver aid in Gaza, has been arrested in the UK and charged by US authorities for conspiring to provide material support to Hamas. The regulator will be considering all relevant information as part of its investigation, which will include verifying his connection to the charity, and wider allegations made about the charity.

The charity recorded an income of over £74 million pounds in financial year ending 31 July 2025. Due to the concerns of possible serious risk to charitable funds, the Commission has issued a legal order restricting certain financial transactions by the charity without the Commission’s prior consent.

Scope of the inquiry

The inquiry will examine the extent to which the trustees are complying or have complied with their legal duties in respect of the administration, governance and management of the charity. The investigation will seek to establish:
- the nature and extent of the charity’s links to Mr Hasna
- whether trustees have carried out appropriate checks and due diligence on international partners
- whether trustees are effectively monitoring the end use of funds internationally and have appropriate policies and procedures in place to protect funds from risk of misuse
- whether any failings or weaknesses identified in the administration of the Charity are a result of misconduct and/or mismanagement by the trustees
The scope of the inquiry can be extended if additional regulatory issues emerge.

As charity regulator, the Commission cannot investigate criminal matters. In line with the regulator’s policy, if evidence of criminal activity is found, this will be referred to the police which has the power to investigate.

It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing the issues examined, any action taken, and the inquiry’s outcomes.
10/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Venture capital access expanded for early-stage companies in UK [August 2026]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 7 August 2026.

Intention to invest £100 million through British Business Bank’s Investor Pathways Capital Initiative to boost growth in every postcode.
- As many as 10 new venture capital funds to be launched across the UK expanding access to venture capital beyond London
- Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited Sheffield and Leeds to meet businesses, lenders and investors supporting regional growth
Investors in early-stage companies across the UK can access a multi-million-pound investment boost as the Chancellor backs growth in every postcode through the next £100m phase of the British Business Bank’s Investor Pathways Capital Initiative.

Supporting talented, first-time venture capital investment fund managers from a wide range of backgrounds, the initiative, which will invest £400m in total, helps businesses scale up as the fund managers provide the catalytic early capital that innovative, early-stage businesses need to scale up drive local growth and create more good British jobs.

Business large and small have felt the squeeze as the cost of business has risen. The Chancellor is backing investment outside of London into businesses to help tackle this, bolstering efforts to make Britain better off.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey MP said:

One of my priorities as Chancellor is wealth creation. That means building an economy that helps people live well. I know there is a cost of business and it will not go unnoticed.

This must involve stepping up our support for the businesses who invest in people, and this £100m boost will help provide the fuel to drive new life into local economies up and down the country.

In June, the British Business Bank committed up to £90m to 10 new microfunds as part of the first Investor Pathways Capital cohort. Applications for the next cohort, which is part of this £100m deployment, will open in Autumn 2026.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby said:

We want growth in every postcode and businesses are integral to that as the absolute backbone of our economy.

Unlocking investment and capital for British businesses, backing firms with practical support and ensuring businesses wherever they are can get the finance they need to grow, innovate and create jobs.

Separately, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury yesterday met with businesses, lenders and investors from across Yorkshire in Sheffield and Leeds. They discussed how government will support the British Business Bank and industry to work together to ensure the most ambitious of British firms can access the finance they need to invest, create jobs and drive growth in every postcode.

The visits came as the Government continues to deliver on commitments made at Mansion House to strengthen the UK’s business finance ecosystem. This approach is centred on ensuring growth reaches every part of the country – ensuring firms have the finance and support they need a at every stage of their growth journey – from start-up through to scale-up.

Recent reforms to the Growth Guarantee Scheme will increase lending capacity by a further £2 billion per year by 2028/29, helping an additional 12,000 smaller businesses access finance each year while extending loan terms and broadening eligibility. These changes are designed to ensure more businesses can secure the funding they need to invest, expand and create jobs.

The British Business Bank is playing a central role in helping deliver this ambition, supporting businesses throughout their growth journey through debt finance, venture capital and targeted investment programmes. Recent activity has included investments supporting innovative technology businesses, new venture capital funds and underserved communities across the UK’s Nations and regions.
10/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : 18th anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Georgia – Joint Statement [Augugst 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 August 2026.

The UK has joined France, Germany and Italy in condemning Russia’s ongoing activities in the occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Spokespersons for the governments of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy said:

August 7th is a date when we remember the grave consequences of Russian imperialism. On this day in 2008 the Russian Federation took military action against Georgia, further damaging Georgia’s territorial integrity by occupying the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

18 years after the Russian aggression, we reaffirm our full support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. We welcome Republic of Naoero’s decision to withdraw its recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We urge states that have established diplomatic relations with these entities to follow this example.

We reiterate our condemnation of Russia’s ongoing military presence in the occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in violation of international law as well as Russia’s obligations under the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008. Russia’s ongoing militarization of Georgia’s occupied territories poses a serious threat to the security of Georgia and to regional and European stability.

In October 2025, the European Court of Human Rights found the Russian Federation guilty of a number of violations committed in the occupied breakaway regions, including excessive use of force, ill-treatment, unlawful detention and unlawful restrictions on day-to-day movement across the administrative boundary line between Georgian-controlled territory and Russian occupied territory. We urge Russia to implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights relating to this situation and to fully fulfil the commitments it made on August 12 and September 8, 2008.

We are concerned about the latest developments in South Ossetia. The “Agreement on Deepening Alliance and Cooperation” signed on 9 May 2026 between Moscow and the de facto authorities of South Ossetia further violates Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in clear breach of international law. This document, as well as the appointment of a Russian citizen to head the region raise concerns on a possible full-fledged annexation of the region, which would not go unanswered.

We reaffirm our support for the “Geneva International Discussions” (GID) platform, co-chaired by the European Union, the OSCE, and the United Nations. This is the only framework that will enable the parties to work towards conflict resolution. We commend the work of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and we will continue to support the role of the mission.

10/08/2026