Tag: 2026

  • PRESS RELEASE : Homebuying shake-up to slash delays, cut costs and stop sales falling through [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Homebuying shake-up to slash delays, cut costs and stop sales falling through [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 18 June 2026.

    New rules introduced to simplify homebuying and selling making the process easier and simpler.

    • Families and first-time buyers set to save time, money, and stress under major changes to the homebuying process – supporting the next generation and those locked out by a slow and unfair system
    • New sales packs to ensure buyers have the information they need upfront, earlier binding agreements, and digital tools will halve the number of sales that fall through saving millions
    • Reforms will cut buying times by around four weeks, save first-time buyers an average of £650, and get the housing market moving more quickly

    Buying and selling a home is set to become faster, cheaper, and less stressful under major reforms unveiled today (Friday 19 June) to cut delays, reduce and digitalise paperwork, and stop sales collapsing.   

    At a time when families are feeling the squeeze, new changes will cut homebuying times by around four weeks, save first-time buyers an average of £650, and stop the nasty surprises that cost time, money, and heartbreak. This will ensure the chance to own a home isn’t determined by who can afford to take the biggest risk. 

    Sellers and estate agents will have to provide key information upfront in ‘sales packs’ at the point of listing. This will set out a home’s condition, leasehold costs, and chain status so buyers can make informed decisions, and property professionals can get to work sooner – while creating a fairer, more transparent process for everyone involved. 

    Changes will also see new earlier binding agreements to stop parties walking away months into negotiations without a legitimate reason. This will help to give young people confidence in the system and better plan for their next steps, not put them on hold. 

    In addition, a new Code of Practice will raise standards for estate agents, alongside proposals for mandatory qualifications for the sector which could ensure agents are properly equipped to support efficient transactions and rebuild trust in the sector.   

    With the average home purchase taking around 120 days, one in three sales falling through costing sellers around £400 million per year, and failed transactions costing the economy up to £1.5 billion every year – these reforms will fix a broken system.  

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    Getting the keys to a home you can call your own is one of the biggest events in anyone’s life. But right now, the system that should provide support instead turns it into a battle, leaving people in limbo and putting that opportunity out of reach. 

    We’re turning the page. Our reforms will bring this outdated process into the modern age, saving people time and money, and giving them the certainty they deserve. 

    This is about building a stronger, fairer Britain, one that works for the next generation and makes the dream of home ownership a reality for many more hard-working people. 

    Housing Secretary, Steve Reed said:    

    Buying or selling a home should be one of life’s great moments and not a drawn-out nightmare of delays, hidden costs, and failed deals.  

    These changes will make the system faster, fairer, and more secure – giving families and first-time buyers the certainty they need all while saving them time and money.  

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: 

    Delays, hidden costs, and deals collapsing at the last minute are not only bad for homebuyers, it’s bad for the economy too. 

    Our reforms will cut those delays, cut costs and make the process quicker and more reliable – getting more people on the housing ladder while keeping more money in their pockets.  

    We have the right economic plan – getting the housing market moving, building thousands more good-quality homes in every region, and transforming rights for renters.

    At the heart of the reforms is a major shift to digital – replacing the outdated paper-based systems with faster, more reliable tools.   

    Digital property logbooks and sales packs will allow trusted information to be shared securely between professionals and accessed by buyers and sellers in real-time, cutting out the back-and-forth that cause so many delays.   

    The government will also back digital identity checks, electronic signatures and AI-assisted conveyancing to strip out duplication, reduce fraud risk and accelerate transactions from start to finish. Together, these changes will create a modern, end-to-end system where people can track and progress their move more easily.   

    Phil Spencer, Property Expert & Move iQ Founder said: 

    For as long as I’ve worked in property, one of the biggest frustrations I’ve heard from buyers and sellers is that the process simply doesn’t work as well as it should. It can be slow, stressful and uncertain, with too many transactions falling through after months of time, effort and expense. 

    I welcome these proposals – they address many of the issues consumers have been grappling with for years, from a lack of upfront information to unnecessary delays and last-minute surprises. Giving people a clearer picture from the outset and creating greater certainty throughout the transaction process can only be a positive step. 

    These have the potential to make moving home a far better experience for everyone involved. Having spent decades at the heart of the housing market, I’ve seen first-hand the emotional and financial toll that a failed transaction can take. Anything that helps buyers and sellers move with greater confidence and fewer obstacles is to be applauded. 

    I look forward to seeing these changes brought forward and the difference they could make to the way we buy and sell homes.

    Paul Whitehead, CEO, Zoopla said: 

    Zoopla sits at the heart of the UK property market and over 6 million homeowners are tracking the value of their most important asset and planning their next move. They deserve better than a home-buying process that takes months, falls through too often, and leaves everyone poorer for it. 

    These proposed reforms change that. Upfront sales packs, digital logbooks and binding contracts aren’t just technical reforms – they are the foundations of a market people can trust. Zoopla will continue to be an active partner to the Government and industry in building a faster more transparent system that makes moving simple. 

    Johan Svanstrom, CEO, Rightmove said:  

    This is an encouraging step towards a faster and more efficient property market, addressing some of the biggest frustrations that home-movers and industry participants face. By making more information available upfront, there is a clear opportunity to reduce fall-throughs and increase transparency. Our UK-wide data shows that it takes a lengthy 170 days on average to complete a transaction and that over one in five transactions initially falls through. Last year, fall-throughs alone meant that approximately £900 million in potential stamp duty receipts and estate agency commission in England was lost, and consumers lose both precious time, certainty and money when needing to repeat transaction processes. The implementation and phasing of these initiatives will be key to ensure consistency and adoption. It needs to be helpful to the vital role estate agents play in the marketplace, and to avoid any unintended consequences. 

    Increased mobility, transparency and certainty is key to overall economic growth. We strongly believe that further digitisation and improvements to the home-moving process can help to speed it up and reduce friction. It will require cross-industry collaboration and innovation to achieve the aims set out today.

    Countries like the Netherlands, Norway, and Finland have already shown that reforms like these deliver real benefits for buyers, sellers and the industry alike.   

    The Netherlands uses a live tracking system for buyers and sellers to check their transaction status helping to achieve a final completion time of 20 days on average, whilst Norway’s efforts to streamline and digitalise the system has estimated savings of up to £1.4bn over 10 years.  

    This package will inject fresh momentum into the housing market and help people keep more money in their pockets by cutting the hidden costs and delays in buying a home to ease cost of living pressures and support a fairer housing market that works for ordinary families. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : We urge Israel to immediately remove unjustifiable restrictions on humanitarian access – UK statement at the UN Security Council [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : We urge Israel to immediately remove unjustifiable restrictions on humanitarian access – UK statement at the UN Security Council [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 June 2026.

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

    President, last November this Council adopted resolution 2803, endorsing President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza conflict.  

    This provided a historic opportunity to achieve lasting peace.  

    And as USG Fletcher’s briefing set out, there has been some progress since then on the humanitarian front, and in the return of all hostages.

    But Mr Fletcher and Ms Khalidi also provided us with a stark reminder that the promise of this plan has not yet been realised, and urgent action is needed by both sides to fulfil their commitments and get implementation back on track.  

    So I will highlight three priorities.  

    First, as we heard today, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire.  

    Ongoing violations of the ceasefire are reported to have killed over 1000 Palestinians since October.  

    Repeated displacement, unsanitary conditions, and inadequate access to medical care have left children and families exposed to disease; too malnourished to fight infection. 

    And yet Israel continues to apply ‘dual use’ restrictions to block essential items, while also limiting aid delivery to a single crossing, creating congestion and further delay.  

    Resolution 2803 is clear. There must be full resumption of humanitarian aid immediately, including rehabilitation of civilian infrastructure. 

    The January 2025 ceasefire showed what can be delivered when there is political will. 

    That level of delivery must now be restored, in line with the Comprehensive Plan. 

    We urge Israel to fulfil its commitments under international law and immediately remove unjustifiable restrictions on humanitarian access. 

    It is also vital that the UN, including UNRWA, and international NGOs are able to operate safely and at scale to deliver their essential work, in line with international humanitarian law. 

    Second, we need renewed momentum on security arrangements and a political transition in Gaza. 

    Hamas must fulfil its commitments under the Comprehensive Plan to decommission its weapons and dismantle military and terrorist infrastructure.  

    The UK supports a phased and verified decommissioning process, alongside deployment of an International Stabilisation Force, training of a Palestinian police force, and a sequenced IDF withdrawal. 

    But let me be clear. Israel’s obligation to facilitate humanitarian access is not conditional on Hamas’ disarmament. 

    Humanitarian assistance must never be used as a political lever; this is one of the basic tenets of international humanitarian law. 

    Third, stability in the West Bank is essential to any lasting peace. 

    Yet violence against civilians is increasing at unprecedented levels. 

    We are horrified by footage of Israeli forces killing a seven‑month‑old baby in Hebron on 5 June. 

    Israel must take action to ensure the perpetrators face accountability.

    Such acts of violence, alongside continued displacement, and the withholding of Palestinian Authority revenues of over $5 billion undermine the Comprehensive Plan. 

    This must stop.   

    President, now is the time to move decisively towards peace. 

    Last week, alongside Australia and Canada, we announced a new International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine to reinvigorate these efforts. 

    The United Kingdom remains committed to working with partners to lay the foundations for a different future, based on peaceful coexistence between two sovereign and secure states.

  • David Lammy – 2026 Speech to the World Gold Council

    David Lammy – 2026 Speech to the World Gold Council

    The speech made by David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 18 June 2026.

    London has stood at the heart of the world’s gold trade for centuries and remains one of its most important bullion centres. Holding around 20 percent of global financial gold.  

    But today’s subject matter actually carries more of a personal significance for me. 

    My grandfather was a gold miner in Guyana. It’s what Guyanese people called a “pork-knocker”. Named for the pickled pork they would eat after a long day’s mining. 

    And like prospectors before him, he travelled in search of gold, opportunity and a better life. 

    His story speaks to both the hope and hazard of gold. 

    The hope of work, of course of discovery – I have to say there weren’t many discoveries! – and prosperity, but also the hazard of a precious resource that, if exploited can scar landscapes, endanger lives and enrich the wrong people. 

    And while illicit gold rarely captures headlines in the way other crimes of course do its consequences are real in the lives of our citizens and they are far-reaching. 

    So we are here in common purpose: to ensure that gold is sourced, is traded and used responsibly. To ensure sustainability, higher standards and integrity. But above all, to ensure that it is trust that defines the global gold market, and not any sense of criminality. 

    That matters enormously here in the United Kingdom. As home to one of the world’s leading bullion markets London has both an interest and a responsibility in maintaining the very highest of standards. 

    The LBMA, the World Gold Council, civil society and others here in this room have shown genuine leadership in strengthening responsible sourcing, in improving due diligence and building confidence in global markets. And the London Good Delivery system remains a globally recognised benchmark for trust, and quality. 

    So I think we are making real progress. But of course there is more to do. 

    This is not simply a British challenge. Nor even an industry challenge. It is a global challenge, worth at least £90 billion every year. 

    And a challenge of that scale demands a response of equal ambition. 

    For criminals, the golden glimmer of opportunity is the means of moving and concealing illicit wealth. 

    Easily transportable, gold can fit a fortune into the palm of unscrupulous hands. 

    Unlike cash, it does not need a bank account, a password or an internet connection. It is harder to trace, once it flows into formal supply chains and so uniquely attractive to criminals the world over. 

    The consequences are felt everywhere, in different ways. First, in conflict. In Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and the war in Sudan, both bankrolled by dirty gold. 

    Second, at the sharpest end, in the poorest nations children exposed to dangerous working conditions, rivers poisoned by mercury, citizens deprived of schools, hospitals and public services as resources that should be creating opportunity. 

    Instead line the pockets of kleptocrats and their cronies. 

    And third, in organised crime, I say in my capacity as Secretary of State for Justice. It is so easy to think of these harms as distant problems, confined to remote mines, far away. They are not. 

    The same criminal networks that profit from illicit gold are the gangs involved in drug trafficking, people smuggling, cybercrime and fraud. 

    What begins thousands of miles away has direct consequences on the streets of British towns and cities and other towns and cities around the world. And that is the human cost of illicit gold. 

    So tackling it is not just a matter of market integrity. It is a matter of public safety and it is a critical front in the wider fight against illicit finance. 

    Gold is also being abused as a means of conducting criminal transactions and we are seeing an increasing relationship between gold and crypto to further hide illegal activity.  

    Ancient and modern forms of finance being pressed into service to fund illegal wars, circumvent sanctions or launder proceeds of crime.  

    And as gold prices soar even higher, a 140 per cent rise since January 2023 and the world around us is ever-more turbulent the rewards for criminal gangs become even greater and so does their determination to exploit this trade. 

    And that is why our response must be even stronger. 

    The good news is that we are not starting from scratch here. 

    As I mentioned earlier – we are seeing progress, much of it represented here in this room. And the UK Government is committed to building on that progress. 

    Last year, my ministerial colleague at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Stephen Doughty announced a new, dedicated Public-Private Partnership on illicit gold flows with a domestic UK focus through the Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce. 

    Chaired by the Foreign Office and the industry, it brings together government, law enforcement, civil society, the UK gold industry and the financial sector to share intelligence, identify threats and close the gaps that criminals seek to exploit. 

    Its early success has reinforced the fact that criminal networks do not operate in silos. 

    So neither can we. 

    Just as criminals collaborate across borders, jurisdictions and markets, those who seek to stop them must collaborate even more effectively. 

    Together, we must ensure there is no safe haven for illegally produced gold. No route to market for gold smuggled across borders and no opportunity for criminal networks to profit from exploitation and corruption.  

    Having seen first-hand, when I was Foreign Secretary, the effort refineries put into diligence and scrutiny I am convinced that lasting progress depends on partnership across the entire supply chain. 

    That is why I’m pleased my colleagues at the FCDO are pursuing a new international public-private partnership on illicit gold flows.  

    This will bring together governments, industry and civil society to tackle illicit gold across the global supply chain and together, we can strengthen responsible sourcing, improve information sharing, support the implementation of OECD guidance, and FATF  standards and disrupt the criminal networks that profit from illicit gold trade. 

    No business can solve it alone. No government can solve this alone. And no country can solve it alone. 

    So our response must be international, must be coordinated, and must be sustained – principles at the heart of the UK’s Illicit Finance Summit which my friend the Foreign Secretary will host this December.  

    The purpose is clear: to expose the scale of illicit finance, to strengthen transparency, enforcement and international standards and to build the partnerships needed to turn shared commitments into collective action. 

    But while we strengthen our response to illicit gold flows, we must also address the harms they cause at source. From mercury-polluted rivers and deforestation, to the exploitation of communities and Indigenous Peoples who depend on these environments. 

    That is why, alongside today’s focus on international supply chains, and the Illicit Finance Summit’s focus on illicit flows London Climate Action Week will highlight how the UK is working internationally to address the environmental, social and climate damage wrought by the global trade in dirty gold. 

    The challenge is clearly complex, but the direction is clear. We must make it harder for criminals to hide wealth. Harder for corrupt actors to exploit global markets and harder for organised crime to profit from human suffering. 

    Because, ultimately, that is what the fight against illicit gold is about. 

    It is about whether valuable resources benefit communities, or criminal networks. Whether wealth serves citizens, or corrupt elites and whether organised crime continues to grow stronger.  

    Or whether, together, we cut off the golden oxygen supply that sustains it. 

    Gold should be a source of prosperity, not exploitation. A source of opportunity, not criminality and ensuring that that remains true is a responsibility that belongs to all of us.

  • PRESS RELEASE : It is vital that UNSMIL remains at the centre of efforts to support political reconciliation in Libya – UK statement at the UN Security Council [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : It is vital that UNSMIL remains at the centre of efforts to support political reconciliation in Libya – UK statement at the UN Security Council [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 June 2026.

    Statement by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

    I will focus on three points raised by the SRSG, covering the UN-facilitated political process, irregular migration, and military reunification.

    First, the United Kingdom welcomes the conclusion of the Structured Dialogue and the publication of its recommendations. 

    We commend the dialogue’s participants who worked to find consensus on difficult issues, demonstrating the Libyan people’s desire for political progress. 

    We urge all actors to seriously engage with the SRSG’s roadmap towards elections. 

    Recent UN-facilitated smaller-format discussions show that progress is possible where there is political will.

    As international efforts supporting political reconciliation continue, it is vital that UNSMIL remains at the centre, facilitating an inclusive and durable political solution.

    Second, recent protests directed towards UNHCR and UNSMIL reflect frustration among Libyan communities about irregular migration. 

    We are concerned by mis and disinformation fuelling inflammatory rhetoric about the UN’s work in Libya. 

    The safety and security of UN staff and their ability to implement their mandates remains vital.

    We condemn the criminal gangs profiting from organised immigration crime and driving insecurity in Libya and beyond. 

    Their networks should be dismantled, informal detention centres closed, and protections for migrants and refugees strengthened.

    And third, we welcome the successful conclusion of Exercise Flintlock last month, which saw eastern and western armed forces unite for joint exercises in Sirte. 

    Such cooperation is an important confidence-building step. 

    We encourage further efforts to build on this progress in support of the reunification of Libya’s military and security institutions.

    President, the responsibility now lies with Libyan actors to seize this moment to agree a sustainable political settlement. 

    The Libyan people deserve institutions that can deliver security, stability, and opportunity. 

    We urge all parties to prioritise the national interest and to engage seriously in the UN-facilitated political process.

  • Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Comments on Edinburgh Attack

    Kemi Badenoch – 2026 Comments on Edinburgh Attack

    The comments made by Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, on 21 June 2026.

    People should be free to worship, work and walk our streets without fear. The attack in Edinburgh is disturbing. Violence in our streets is bad enough but reports indicate some of the victims were targeted because they were Muslim. This is abhorrent.

    I am glad police acted swiftly. The victims and their families deserve justice, and the public must have confidence that the law applies equally to everyone.

  • John Redwood – 2026 Comments on Seatbelts in Trains

    John Redwood – 2026 Comments on Seatbelts in Trains

    The comments made by John Redwood, the former Conservative for Wokingham, on 21 June 2026.

    After a dreadful train crash in my constituency when I was an MP I called for luggage restraints and for seat belts. How many more people have to be injured by flying luggage before trains have basic safety protections inside carriages?

  • Rishi Sunak – 2026 Comments on Andy Burnham

    Rishi Sunak – 2026 Comments on Andy Burnham

    The comments made by Rishi Sunak, the former Prime Minister, on 21 June 2026.

    Burnham must recognise that if he reaches No 10, he’ll never have more power than on his first day in the job. It is vital he has a clear and achievable plan for what he wants to do in those opening hours.

    Those around Burnham will want to get him there by forcing Starmer out through ministerial resignations and the like. Burnham shouldn’t want to become PM by default, though.

    I remember on the morning after Boris Johnson dropped out in October 2022, I kept suggesting to my team that we should want a contest, that it would be good for us.

    They assumed that I was just emotionally preparing for another candidate getting the necessary nominations and having to go through a leadership election. But I actually meant it. Without one, your mandate is weak, and you end up being bound by commitments that aren’t your priorities.

  • Heidi Alexander – 2026 Statement on Bedford Rail Crash

    Heidi Alexander – 2026 Statement on Bedford Rail Crash

    The statement made by Heidi Alexander, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 19 June 2026.

    I’m deeply concerned to hear reports of the collision involving 2 East Midlands Railway passenger trains.

    I’m grateful to emergency services who are on the scene, attending to those affected.

    We’re working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to support passengers.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Changes made to The Crown Estate Board [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Changes made to The Crown Estate Board [June 2026]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 18 June 2026.

    Dan Labbad has been reappointed as Chief Executive and Second Commissioner of The Crown Estate. Anne Kavanagh and Clare Shine have also been reappointed as Board Members of The Crown Estate Board.

    On the recommendation of the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Dan Labbad has been reappointed as Chief Executive and Second Commissioner of The Crown Estate, to serve a third four-year term from 1 January 2028. Anne Kavanagh and Clare Shine have also been reappointed as Board Members of The Crown Estate Board for second terms of four years.

    Dan has served as CEO of The Crown Estate since 2019. Prior to The Crown Estate, Dan held a number of senior positions at the global property and infrastructure group Lendlease, including Group Chief Operating Officer and the dual roles of Chief Executive Officer, International Operations and Chief Executive Officer, Europe. Dan has actively championed sustainability and technology throughout his professional life, having previously served as a director of the Green Building Council of Australia and as Chairman of the UK Green Building Council.

    In addition to her existing responsibilities on the Board, Anne will take on additional responsibilities as Commissioner with special responsibility for England, to ensure the Board’s decisions reflect the conditions, priorities and opportunities in England.

    This follows the passage of the Crown Estate Act 2025, which provides for the appointment of Commissioners who, either solely or alongside their wider Board responsibilities, can support the Board’s understanding of English, Welsh and Northern Irish interests. This helps to ensure The Crown Estate’s strategic objectives are aligned with the conditions in each nation. Linked to this, the Crown Estate Act 2025 also increased the maximum number of Commissioners from eight to twelve in line with modern corporate governance standards.

    On 19 May 2026, Michael Plaut OBE was announced as being appointed to The Crown Estate Board to serve a four-year term from 1 July 2026 as Commissioner with special responsibility for Wales. A further announcement on a Commissioner with special responsibility for Northern Ireland will be made in due course.

    This non-executive appointment process was carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. All appointments have been approved by His Majesty The King, following recommendation by the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

    All appointments are made on merit, and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in line with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity to be made public. Dan, Anne, and Clare confirmed that they have not engage in any political activity in the last five years.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Freedom of Expression [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Freedom of Expression [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 June 2026.

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Freedom of Expression. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

    Thank you, Mr Vice President,

    We thank the Special Rapporteur for her important work and today’s report. We commend her dedication throughout her mandate during which she has been a principled and authoritative voice for the protection of freedom of expression worldwide. We express our deep appreciation for her leadership, independence, and consistent defence of journalists, human rights defenders, and open civic space.

    We remain committed to the right to freedom of opinion and expression, online and offline including through our role as co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition. This right is foundational to democratic societies, accountability and the protection of all other human rights.

    Digital platforms and large technology companies play an increasingly significant role in shaping public debate. Their decisions have profound implications for access to information, media pluralism, and the safety of users.  We therefore support efforts to promote greater transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights in the design and governance of digital platforms.

    We will continue to engage on this important matter, working with partners to ensure that digital technologies strengthen, rather than restrict, freedom of expression.

    Special Rapporteur, what practical steps can states take to ensure technology companies respect freedom of expression while avoiding over-regulation or unintended restrictions on legitimate speech?

    Thank you