Tag: 2026

  • PRESS RELEASE : Bradford housebuilder, Ishfaq Hussain, cheated creditors by secretly transferring company land to his partner [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Bradford housebuilder, Ishfaq Hussain, cheated creditors by secretly transferring company land to his partner [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 2 June 2026.

    • Ishfaq Hussain secretly moved £250,000 of development land out of a failing company leaving creditors with nothing
    • Hussain told investigators the land had gone to a stranger when it had gone to the mother of his eight children
    • He signed documents under a false name, denied it was him, and was caught on CCTV

    A Bradford housebuilder who transferred development land worth £250,000 out of his failing construction company to a firm controlled by his partner has been sentenced.

    Ishfaq Hussain signed over the two pieces of land from Reeson Homes Ltd, a company where he was sole director, to Paddington Homes Ltd, as creditors closed in and the company faced insolvency.

    Paddington Homes Ltd was incorporated on the same day Hussain instructed solicitors to transfer the land, with his partner appointed as its sole director.

    No money changed hands despite transfer documents falsely recording a payment of £250,250.

    The 54-year-old then claimed the land had been sold to an unconnected third party and that payment had been made.

    Hussain, of Sunbridge Road, Bradford, pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial earlier this year to an offence of fraudulently transferring company property under the Insolvency Act 1986.

    He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, when he appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Monday 1 June.

    Hussain was also disqualified as a company director for four years and ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

    Mark Stephens, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Ishfaq Hussain deliberately moved his company’s most valuable asset into the hands of a connected company at the very moment his creditors were closing in. This was not a mistake or a misunderstanding but a calculated attempt to ensure that people owed money would never be paid.

    Hussain repeatedly lied to investigators, denied any personal connection to his partner’s company, and even used false names to cover his tracks.

    Directors who think they can defraud their creditors and then lie their way out of it should be in no doubt that we have the tools and the determination to hold them to account.

    Reeson Homes Ltd was set up in Bradford by Hussain in November 2014.

    In 2015 and 2016, the company purchased two adjoining pieces of land on the south side of Wilsden Road, Allerton, Bradford, known as Sandy Lane, with the intention of developing them for housing.

    Hussain engaged a number of contractors to carry out development work, running up significant debts that Reeson Homes Ltd did not pay.

    By early 2017, the company had no income and its debts to creditors exceeded £183,000. The Sandy Lane land was its only significant asset.

    Hussain instructed solicitors to transfer the Sandy Lane land out of Reeson Homes Ltd on the same day that Paddington Homes Ltd was incorporated in February 2017.

    Paddington Homes Ltd was run by Hussain’s partner who he later repeatedly told investigators was merely a business acquaintance he owed money to.

    The two pieces of land were transferred to Paddington Homes Ltd by deed the following month, with paperwork recording a sale price of £250,000. No money was ever paid.

    A winding-up petition was issued against Reeson Homes Ltd by a company owed more than £40,000 for work carried out on the Sandy Lane site. Reeson Homes Ltd was wound-up by the court in June of that year.

    In the months that followed, Hussain made repeated false statements about the transfer to insolvency practitioners, creditors and official investigators.

    At a creditors’ meeting, he described the land as having been sold to an “unconnected party”.

    He told the Official Receiver – a court-appointed official who investigates how and why companies fail – he had no personal connection to Paddington Homes Ltd.

    Hussain also signed a personal guarantee for work carried out on the Sandy Lane site under the false name “Adam Khan”, using a contact number registered to him.

    When CCTV footage from the day the guarantee was signed was later obtained, it showed Hussain as the person who had signed it. He nevertheless denied having signed any personal guarantee and claimed “Adam” was a childhood nickname.

    The land was subsequently recovered through civil proceedings brought by the liquidator at Bradford County Court in 2019.

    Further information

    • Ishfaq Hussain is of Sunbridge Road, Bradford. His date of birth is 14 January 1972
  • Kay Mason Billig – 2026 Comments on Norfolk County Council Lowering Ukraine Flag

    Kay Mason Billig – 2026 Comments on Norfolk County Council Lowering Ukraine Flag

    The comments made by Kay Mason Billig on 2 June 2026.

    Why would we not support our friends in Ukraine?

    We have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lviv region for economic exchange between their area and us here in Norfolk. Everyone benefits.

    We welcomed refugees from the illegal and unjust war perpetrated by Russia. Some have stayed until the conflict is over, others have gone home. We offered a safe place for innocent people.

    We stand with Ukraine. It costs us NOTHING to fly their flag in solidarity.

    BUT…. Reform at County Hall don’t agree. They have torn down the flag.

    Shame on them.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Escalation in Lebanon and across the Blue Line risks undermining critical negotiations to achieve peace across the region – UK statement at the UN Security Council [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Escalation in Lebanon and across the Blue Line risks undermining critical negotiations to achieve peace across the region – UK statement at the UN Security Council [May 2026]

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

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

    The United Kingdom joined in calling this meeting to condemn the severe escalation of Israeli military action in Lebanon over recent days.

    This reckless and disproportionate escalation of Israeli military action has exacerbated an already devastating environment for Lebanese civilians and placed the Government of Lebanon under further strain. Civilians have been killed and over 1 million displaced, civilian homes and infrastructure destroyed, and the space for diplomacy eroded.

    Further escalation on this scale is simply not proportionate and cannot set the conditions for lasting peace.

    We reiterate that Hizballah, at the instigation of Iran, have dragged Lebanon into a war that its government and people do not want. We strongly condemn Lebanese Hizballah’s ongoing attacks against Israel. We also condemn recent comments by

    Hizballah’s leadership that seek to destabilise the democratically elected Government of Lebanon within their own country. Hizballah does not speak or act for the people of Lebanon.

    We are clear Hizballah must end attacks on Israel and disarm.  

    UNICEF reported last week that 15 children were killed and 62 injured in Lebanon last week as a result of the conflict – that’s 11 children killed or injured every 24 hours. Healthcare workers are also facing death and injury as they carry out their duties.

      The escalation must end. We call upon all parties to uphold their obligations under international law. 

    Israel’s legitimate concerns about the security of their northern communities will not be solved by military escalation. The talks convened by the US between the Governments of Israel and Lebanon are the only viable path towards a lasting political settlement and the disarmament of Hizballah.

    We warmly welcomed these talks – and yet progress is being undermined by both Hizballah and Israel. All parties must implement a genuine and lasting cessation of hostilities to allow space for real diplomatic progress.  

    We support the efforts of the Lebanese government to extend its authority throughout the country in line with UNSCR 1701, including through the strengthening of Lebanese state institutions and security forces, and the disarmament of Hizballah. We call for swift implementation. Escalation in Lebanon and across the Blue Line risks further destabilising Lebanon and undermining critical negotiations to achieve peace across the region.  

    The UK will continue to support diplomatic efforts that deliver lasting peace and security for both Lebanon and Israel.

  • Peter Mandelson – 2024 Letter to David Lammy

    Peter Mandelson – 2024 Letter to David Lammy

    The letter sent by Peter Mandelson to David Lammy on 18 November 2024.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Trade Secretary in New Delhi to progress next stage of trading relationship [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Trade Secretary in New Delhi to progress next stage of trading relationship [June 2026]

    The press released issued by the Foreign Office on 1 June 2026.

    Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle will meet India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi to advance trading relationship already worth £48 billion.

    • Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle will meet India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi to advance trading relationship already worth £48 billion
    • With the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz causing global economic shocks, the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) can unlock a timely boost for both economies
    • FTA will slash 99% of UK tariffs and 90% of Indian tariffs, benefiting businesses in both countries from day one

    Businesses and consumers across Britain and India are set to receive a timely boost in the face of global economic shocks, as the UK ramps up work this week to bring the UK-India Free Trade Agreement into force as soon as possible.

    Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle will arrive in New Delhi tomorrow (2 June) to meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss bringing the FTA into force as quickly as possible, a priority for both governments.

    And as global conflicts including the continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are causing economic shocks across the world’s biggest economies, Peter Kyle sees advancing the UK’s vital economic partnership with India as a key priority, with significant mutual benefits.

    The Trade Secretary’s visit during this time of rapid global change signals the UK’s determination to unlock the next phase of our modern economic partnership with India, so it can deliver growth for people in both countries. Bilateral trade is already worth £48 billion a year and the FTA will liberalise 99% of UK tariffs and 90% of Indian tariffs, supporting cheaper, quicker, and easier exports and trade between our markets.

    The Trade Secretary will also meet with Indian and British industry leaders aiming to support businesses to prepare for the deal coming into force.

    The UK-India FTA is the biggest and most economically significant bilateral trade deal the UK has agreed since leaving the European Union. It covers 30 chapters – including standalone chapters on gender, innovation, environment, and labour – making it one of the most comprehensive trade deals that India has ever signed.

    The visit follows the Prime Minister’s trade mission to India late last year, where he and the Trade Secretary were joined in Mumbai by 125 of the UK’s most prominent CEOs, entrepreneurs and business leaders, unlocking significant opportunities for British business across numerous industries following the signature of the FTA.

    Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:

    From whisky to automotives, this landmark deal will unlock massive opportunities for businesses and consumers in the UK and India.

    I’m here in New Delhi to progress implementing this win-win agreement, which is worth billions to our economies.

    I look forward to working with Piyush Goyal to make sure everybody can start to feel the benefits as soon as possible.

    The UK Government is committed to delivering the certainty and stability that businesses need to grow in tough times. The trade deals we have struck with partners around the world support businesses to export and grow, boost jobs and increase wages. In May, the UK became the first G7 country to agree a trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council. This marked the fifth agreement following major deals with India, the US, the EU and South Korea. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : Boost for Britain’s air defence stockpiles in the Middle East with hundreds more UK-made missiles [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Boost for Britain’s air defence stockpiles in the Middle East with hundreds more UK-made missiles [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 1 June 2026.

    New contracts worth £36 million to supply hundreds of Lightweight Multirole Missiles for UK Armed Forces.

    The Ministry of Defence has signed new contracts with Thales in the UK to supply hundreds more Lightweight Multirole Missiles to the Armed Forces – boosting UK stockpiles and strengthening the protection of British personnel in the Middle East and beyond.

    Deliveries will begin in the coming months and continue throughout 2026, ensuring the Armed Forces remain equipped to counter aerial threats.

    The contracts support around 700 highly skilled jobs at Thales in Belfast, where the missiles are designed and manufactured. This Government is backing UK defence industry – supporting jobs while boosting national security and resilience.

    The latest contract, placed by the National Armaments Director Group in May, follows an additional order for the battle-proven Lightweight Multirole Missiles in April.

    Lightweight Multirole Missiles have already proven highly effective on operations. They have played a key role in defeating drone attacks in the Middle East, with more than 100 drones shot down using the missiles, including by RAF Regiment gunners using the Rapid Sentry air defence kit.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:

    Our UK defence industry is the backbone of our Armed Forces. This is our new partnership with industry in action.

    We’re getting UK-built kit into the hands of our forces faster as we support good skilled jobs and drive growth across the UK. These interceptor missiles are battle-proven – successfully used in action by our RAF sharp shooters over recent months.  

    With these LMMs, our dedicated Armed Forces will continue to keep the UK and our partners more secure in the Middle East and beyond.

    The missiles are also deployed on Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters, helping defend British people, bases, and allies from UK bases in Cyprus.

    This investment forms part of wider work by the Ministry of Defence and National Armaments Director Group to increase resilience in munitions supply chains and ensure the UK can sustain operations alongside allies.

    This year, the UK has stepped up its defensive presence across the Middle East, with more than 1,000 personnel deployed across the region, including fast jet squadrons and specialist counter-drone teams protecting British people, bases, and allies.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Domestic abusers to be evicted under new landmark housing law [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Domestic abusers to be evicted under new landmark housing law [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 1 June 2026.

    The government’s landmark Social Housing Bill is returning to Parliament for its Second Reading today.

    • Landlords get new powers to evict domestic abuse perpetrators from social homes
    • Decades of new-build social housing sell-off stopped as Right to Buy rules overhauled and tightened  
    • Backed by the government’s £39bn investment in social and affordable housing – the biggest in a generation

    Abusers will be evicted from social homes and victims will be able to stay safely in their communities, under a new landmark Social Housing Bill returning to Parliament for its Second Reading today (Monday 1 June).

    Under new protections, landlords and courts will be able to evict perpetrators of domestic abuse from social housing – without the victim having to leave first. 

    Currently, landlords can only evict a perpetrator after the victim has already left the home, and in joint tenancies, the only option for the victim is to end the tenancy entirely – potentially leaving them homeless.

    The Bill also closes a loophole that let abusers serve a Notice to Quit to make victims homeless. Under the proposed new law, a Notice to Quit served by a perpetrator will not end the social housing joint tenancy while court proceedings are ongoing.  

    In addition, for joint tenancies, courts will be able to transfer the tenancy into the victim’s sole name, or where staying is not appropriate, require the landlord to provide suitable alternative accommodation where available. 

    Last year, around 15,000 households in England were forced to find a new social home because of domestic abuse. This Bill means victims can stay safely in their homes and communities, close to support networks, schools, and work. 

    The news follows the swift introduction of the Bill earlier this month, which also includes the biggest overhaul of Right to Buy in a generation to reverse the decline of social housing.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    “No victim of domestic abuse should face the awful choice between staying in danger or losing their home. This government is putting that right, so perpetrators are forced out and survivors and their children can stay safely in the homes and communities they know and love.

    “We’re also fixing the systemic issue of failing to protect and invest in social housing. I will never stand by as much-needed housing is sold off while families do not have a safe place to call home and children are growing up in temporary accommodation.

    “This government will stop at nothing to get Britain building, invest in social housing, and restore pride in communities in every part of our country.”

    Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:

    “Victims of domestic abuse have faced an impossible choice – stay in danger or make themselves homeless. This is a moral failure this government is determined to end and these changes are deeds not words that put victims first, give landlords the powers they need, and make sure perpetrators can no longer use housing as a weapon of control. 

    “But protecting tenants is only half the picture. We also need more social homes – and this Bill tackles the decades of sell-off that has left over a million families on waiting lists with nowhere to turn. Together, these reforms will make social housing safer, fairer and built to last.”

    The Bill also addresses and fixes the long-term decline in social housing. More than two million homes have been sold under the Right to Buy scheme since 1980, with many never replaced, and between 2012 and 2025, around 133,000 council homes were sold against just 51,000 replacements.

    Not only has this depleted much-needed stock, but it has also reduced the motivation and confidence of councils to build, and restricted broader investment in council housing. This has depleted supply, undermined councils’ confidence to build and restricted investment – at a time when 1.3 million households are on councils’ waiting lists and more than 175,000 children are living in temporary accommodation.

    The Right to Buy scheme provides an important route for social housing tenants to own their own home, many of whom may not otherwise be able to access home ownership, boosting social mobility and opportunity for families across the country.

    The Bill rebalances Right to Buy without closing the door on home ownership. Following extensive consultation, reforms will see eligibility rise from three to 10 years, newly built social homes protected for 35 years, hard-to-replace rural homes will be exempt, and discount rules will be updated to reflect the cash discounts cap introduced in November 2024. Councils will gain a stronger right of first refusal to buy back properties – helping recover homes lost to the scheme.

    The Bill also strips out outdated and unimplemented requirements from the Housing and Planning Act 2016, including rules forcing councils to sell high-value homes, offer fixed-term tenancies and charge higher rents to higher-income tenants, giving providers the certainty they need to build for the long term. 

    These reforms are backed by £39 billion through the 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme – the biggest investment in a generation. Together, they will protect existing social homes and build at the scale the country needs.

    Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs said:

    “Sharing a social home with a perpetrator presents victims and survivors of domestic abuse with an impossible choice. Remaining in their home means facing further abuse but leaving could put them at risk of homelessness and struggling financially. 

    “Alongside survivors and campaigners, I have been calling for action to be taken to stop perpetrators from weaponising joint tenancies – and I’m pleased to see that the government has listened. 

    “People experiencing domestic abuse need safety and stability in order to recover and rebuild free from harm. This will be an important step towards that for many.”

    Head of Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance, Nicki Clarke said:

    “The Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) welcomes the Government’s tenancy reforms proposed within the Social Housing Bill. These changes represent an important and long overdue step forward, with the potential to transform the lives of many domestic abuse victims.

    “Domestic abuse typically takes place in the home and it is where most women are killed. By enabling landlords to safeguard victims and hold the perpetrators of abuse to account, these reforms will enable domestic abuse victims, including children, to achieve safety, stability and long-term housing security. This is essential for all individuals impacted by domestic abuse to rebuild their independence and move forward with lives free from harm.

    “We look forward to working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to support the development and implementation of these measures, and to ensure that the detail of the reforms delivers meaningful, practical outcomes for those affected.”

    Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, Veronica Oakeshott said:

    “Today, the Social Housing Bill has received its second reading, and we are pleased to see that it contains measures to protect some survivors of domestic abuse in joint tenancies, which Women’s Aid, along with sector colleagues, have long campaigned on.

    “For too long, survivors have been faced with impossible choices – either staying with their abusers or risking homelessness – all because of outdated practices. The measures introduced in this Bill begin to change that picture by enabling social landlords to transfer a tenancy to a survivor in certain circumstances or, where needed, evict perpetrators and prevent them from unilaterally ending a tenancy. While ultimately we hope the measures will go further to enable more survivors to qualify, this is an important start.”

    Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, Kate Henderson said:

    “This Bill demonstrates the government’s commitment to safeguarding our social homes for future generations and to strengthening protections for survivors of domestic abuse.

    “No one should be forced to lose their home to escape abuse. We strongly welcome new powers to evict perpetrators of domestic abuse from social housing. This will support survivors to remain safely in their homes where that is the right option for them and reduce their risk of homelessness.

    “Reforms to Right to Buy are an essential step towards protecting social housing stock. The policy has led to the sale of over two million social homes in its lifetime, severely depleting numbers available for low-income families.

    “We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the government to deliver a decade of renewal for social housing and to build the new social homes our country needs.”

    Further information

    The Social Housing Bill was confirmed in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 and introduced to Parliament on 14 May 2026.

    For further details on the full list of measures in the Bill are available here.

    The Bill’s Right to Buy reforms build on the steps the government has already taken to date, including returning the maximum Right to Buy cash discounts to the pre-2012 levels, following a review of the impact of the higher discounts on social housing stock.

    The government response to the consultation on Reforming the Right to Buy was published in July 2025.

    The Right to Buy reforms in this Bill include:

    • Extending the minimum period of secure public sector tenancy to be eligible for the scheme from 3 to 10 years
    • Reforming the percentage discounts for the scheme, to start at 5% of the property value, increasing by 1% per annum up to a maximum of 15%, subject to the revised cash caps (whichever is lower).
    • Exempting newly built social and affordable homes from the scheme for 35 years.
    • Exempting rural properties from the scheme, which will include homes in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and areas designated as rural.
    • Preventing tenants who have previously benefitted from the Right to Buy from using the scheme again, with exceptions for victims of domestic abuse and in cases of irretrievable relationship breakdown.
    • Exempting council homes for market rent from the Right to Buy.
    • Extending the period in which, on resale of the property, the council has the right to ask for all, or part, of the Right to Buy discount to be repaid, from 5 to 10 years.
    • Extending the right of first refusal, in which a former Right to Buy property when sold must first be offered to the former landlord, from 10 years after the original sale to in perpetuity.
    • Allowing the Secretary of State to determine the rules governing the spending of Right to Buy capital receipts through issuing a determination.
    • Amending the Right to Acquire scheme for housing association tenants in line with the changes to the Right to Buy, to better align the two schemes.
    • Supporting councils with the administration of Right to Buy applications.

    The territorial extent of the Bill is England and Wales, with all measures at introduction applying to England only. 

    Eligibility for social housing remains unchanged. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing. 

    The Bill does not make changes to the private rented sector. From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act gives private renters greater security and stability.

    For the social rented sector this Act will be implemented from October 2027.

    Under the Bill, a Notice to Quit served by a perpetrator in a social housing joint tenancy will not take effect where a notice under the domestic abuse grounds is in force, or during ongoing court or eviction proceedings, preventing the misuse of such notices to force tenants out of their homes.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Landmark report sets out action to address key skills gaps [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Landmark report sets out action to address key skills gaps [June 2026]

    The press release issued by Skills England on 1 June 2026.

    Skills England has published its first Annual Skills Report, providing the most comprehensive picture to date of current and future skills demand across England.

    • Skills England has today published its first Annual Skills Report, providing the most comprehensive picture to date of current and future skills demand across England
    • it sets out actions to tackle key challenges and build a more responsive, high-quality skills system
    • new analysis shows demand in priority sectors will grow by 24% over the next decade
    • up to 1.8 million additional workers will be needed to meet this demand

    Skills England has today published its Annual Skills Report, marking its first anniversary with a comprehensive assessment of current and future skills needs.

    The Alan Milburn interim report into young people and work, published last week, found that nearly one million 16 to 24-year-olds are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), underlining the need to better connect young people to jobs and training. At the same time, Skills England’s new analysis shows demand across priority sectors is expected to grow by around 24% over the next decade — equivalent to an additional 1.8 million workers.

    Together, these trends underline the urgent need for a more agile, high-quality skills system that can respond to the needs of a fast-changing economy while opening up opportunities for young people.

    The Annual Skills Report draws on detailed skills needs assessments across ten priority sectors critical for driving economic growth. It sets out priorities for strengthening the skills system, making sure it delivers for the Industrial Strategy and better meets the needs of employers, including small and medium sized businesses (SMEs), and supports individuals into good jobs.

    The top five challenges identified in report and the targeted action Skills England will take are:

    1. Addressing skills shortages: Demand for key occupations will grow by nearly 25% in the next decade. Reskilling and upskilling workers will be essential. Skills England will review and reshape the mix of apprenticeships and technical education, so training is closely aligned to labour market priorities.
    2. Maximising employer investment: The long-term decline in employer investment continues and SMEs struggle to engage in the skills system. Employers want training that is relevant, responsive and gives a clear return on investment. Skills England will deliver this by using data, AI-enabled insight and a new expert network to adapt training at pace, giving businesses the apprenticeships and short course they need to develop their workforce.
    3. Responding to rapid adoption of AI: AI will affect almost every job and sector, but the pace of this change and the future skills requirements are uncertain. Skills England will define and embed core AI skills in technical education to equip the workforce to adopt new technologies at pace.
    4. Supporting young people’s employability: The Milburn Review has warned that the number of young people not in education, employment or training could rise to 1.25 million over the next few years. At the same time, employers report gaps in work-readiness. Skills England will work with partners, including Youth Employment UK, to improve how employability skills are recognised and valued by employers, alongside supporting higher-quality work experience.
    5. Building a responsive place-based skills system: The national skills framework needs to enhance local systems by aligning data and insight to shape provision in a local area. Skills England will work with Strategic Authorities and other local partners to better connect people to jobs. The Skills England Investment and Infrastructure Service provides major projects with expert advice and works with local partners to support businesses deliver a skilled workforce.

    The report emphasises that no single organisation can address these challenges alone, and highlights the need for stronger partnerships between employers, providers, local leaders and government. 

    Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills:

    Today’s report highlights the importance of making sure our workforce has the skills it needs today, while preparing for the demands of tomorrow. With 1.8 million new priority jobs expected by 2035, we are determined to keep this country at the cutting edge of fast-growing sectors like AI and the creative industries. Our reforms to the apprenticeship and skills system, alongside continued engagement with employers, will ensure people can build long lasting and fulfilling careers that work for them and the wider economy.

    Phil Smith, Chair of Skills England, said:

    We’re expecting strong growth in priority jobs, which presents a huge opportunity for the UK. But to realise it, we must urgently address the skills gaps holding people and businesses back. The Milburn review findings made clear the scale of the challenge, particularly with so many young people currently not in education, employment, training. Employers – especially small and medium-sized businesses – also have a critical role to play in investing in apprenticeships, training and reskilling staff. I’m proud of what Skills England has achieved in its first year. This report sets out how we will work with partners across the system to tackle these long-term challenges and make sure people and businesses can thrive.

    Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE DL, CEO of Youth Employment UK, said:

    Skills England’s first Annual Skills Report lands at a critical moment. With more than one million young people now not in education, employment or training, and demand in priority sectors set to grow significantly, we have to connect the youth employment challenge with the skills and workforce needs of the economy. Young people are not short of aspiration, but too many are still locked out by unclear pathways, limited access to work experience, uneven local support and employers who often want to help but find the system difficult to navigate. A more responsive skills system must make it easier for employers, especially SMEs, to invest in young talent and to understand the practical steps they can take. Youth Employment UK welcomes Skills England’s focus on employability, employer engagement and place-based skills systems.

    Sara Todd, Chief Executive of Trafford Council, said:

    It’s great to see Skills England shining a light on how much Place matters when it comes to skills. What works in one area won’t always work in another, and local leaders know their economies best. Strategic Authorities are already bringing businesses, providers and communities together to make training match real jobs. This report recognises that and backs a more local approach. If we keep building on that, we can make it easier for people to get the skills they need and help local economies grow in a way that works for them.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Regional leaders to get more power over innovation funding to drive local jobs and growth [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Regional leaders to get more power over innovation funding to drive local jobs and growth [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 1 June 2026.

    Mayors in England to be given more power to fuel innovation and boost jobs in their region through Local Innovation Partnerships Fund.

    • Mayors in England to be given more power to fuel innovation and boost jobs in their region through Local Innovation Partnerships Fund 
    • The Fund helps local leaders target R&D investments to support opportunities for growth and support innovations which improve people’s lives, from new medical technology to cleaner energy 
    • This comes alongside the announcement today of two projects in Liverpool set to receive £23.7 million in Local Innovation Partnerships funding

    Mayors in areas including Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and Greater London will be handed control of Local Innovation Partnership funding designed to boost the new industries and technologies that will drive the growth, jobs and businesses of the future. 

    After the next Spending Review, Mayors of Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities will be given the ability to decide how and where to target regional R&D investment through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund on their own doorstep.   

    This decision is driven by the government’s commitment to empower local leaders to make the right funding decisions for their communities and unlock investment in their region.  

    The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund supports partnerships of local leaders, businesses and universities to turn existing research breakthroughs into practical solutions that back local businesses, create jobs and improve people’s lives. 

    Joining mayors and local officials on a visit to Liverpool today (Monday 1st June), Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has confirmed plans to pass future control of the Local Innovation Partnership Fund in England to regional leaders, with the change expected to kick in during the next Spending Review period. 

    Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: 

    Science and technology is the ultimate driver of growth, and this Government is determined to ensure every region shares in the prosperity brought about by innovation. 

    Through the future devolution of Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, we are putting money and power into the hands of regional leaders that know the strengths of their communities best, allowing them to back local businesses, encourage innovation and create the high-quality jobs that will drive the growth these regions need now and in the future.

    Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: 

    The projects being backed in our region today show exactly what can happen when you trust places like ours to lead from the front. We’ve got world-class expertise here in the Liverpool City Region and this investment will help turn that innovation into good jobs, new industries and real opportunities for local people. 

    But the really important part of today’s announcement is about what comes next. For too long, decisions about funding and investment have been made in Whitehall by people too far removed from the strengths and challenges of our communities. Giving mayors greater control over future innovation funding is another important step towards putting those decisions in local hands. 

    Whether it’s life sciences, AI, advanced manufacturing or clean energy, we’ve shown time and again that our region can compete with anyone when we’re given the tools to do it. This is about backing our strengths, growing the economy and making sure the benefits are felt by the people who live here.

    The £500 million committed last year for the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund between 2026-31 will power innovative businesses in 17 regions across the country.  

    Today, the local partnership in Liverpool City Region has announced that two projects led by the University of Liverpool are set to receive £23.7m of the £30 million Local Innovation Partnership Funding for the region.  

    One project, AIM HI, will accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and robotics in materials chemistry, to increase productivity and new business growth. The other project, NBIC LIVE, will establish the world’s first centre of innovation excellence dedicated to AI-enabled rapid innovation of antimicrobial, anti-viral, and anti-biofilm surfaces and materials. 

    The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund builds on the success and knowledge gained by previous regional innovation funding programmes, which have generated hundreds of high-quality jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds worth of private co-investment.  

    This will ensure that the decisions on how the fund’s future support will be even more locally led than before, helping them to be directly targeted to the businesses, researchers and projects with the most potential in their communities. 

    The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund is part of the government’s record £86 billion R&D settlement until 2030. The level of funding delivered through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund in future will be subject to affordability to be determined at future Spending Reviews. 

    The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology and UKRI will now work closely with mayors over the coming months to determine the best way to deliver this commitment to devolution.  

    Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: 

    For the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy to succeed, it needs to empower the local leaders who know their communities, businesses and universities best. 

    From financial services and health technology to advanced manufacturing and clean energy, West Yorkshire is a world leader in the sectors that are growing the UK economy fastest. 

    With local control of public innovation funding, we’ll target investment where it has the greatest potential to create good jobs, boost economic growth, and create a stronger, better off West Yorkshire.

    Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:  

    The West Midlands has always been a powerhouse for innovation. Its strengths in science and technology are at the very heart of my plans to drive new growth and prosperity across our region. We know better than anyone the massive potential our communities offer. By putting funding directly into local hands, we’re giving our people the tools they need to spearhead breakthroughs, create new jobs, and power the wider UK economy. 

    Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool said:

    This new funding recognises the power of partnership between universities, industry and civic leaders. Through AIM-HI and NBIC-LIVE, the University of Liverpool will help accelerate world-leading advances in AI-enabled materials chemistry and life science, while creating new opportunities for businesses, researchers and the LCR workforce.

    The projects have been developed through strong partnership working with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and our industry partners The LCR LIPF projects will foster long-term economic growth and support high-value jobs whilst securing our region’s reputation as a global centre for scientific and technological innovation.

  • James Murray – 2026 Comments on the Single Patient Record

    James Murray – 2026 Comments on the Single Patient Record

    The comments made by James Murray, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 1 June 2026.

    When I was in my 20s I was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition. I am now symptom-free and I get fantastic support from the NHS. But I know how much effort it can be to keep different parts of the health service joined up, and how distressing it is for some patients to repeat their medical history over and over.

    That’s why our Single Patient Record is so important. It sits at the heart of our NHS Modernisation Bill will end this once and for all – making care safer while saving clinicians’ time.

    My priority as Health Secretary is to modernise the NHS and make it work better for patients. This is our 10 Year Health Plan in action — making the NHS fit for the future by building it around patients’ lives, not the other way round.