Tag: Cabinet Office

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 18 May 2026.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Lisa Nandy and Minister for Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall, will today lead a delegation of 250+ strong business and cultural leaders to the US to drive economic growth at a major expo, Greater Together LA.

• Following King Charles’s historic address to Congress, the UK Government’s GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign is holding a major expo in Los Angeles, California, from 18th – 22nd May, 2026.
• 250+ of the UK’s financial, tech and cultural leaders are heading to LA to drive growth and transatlantic cooperation
• The event, jointly led by Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy and Minister for Economic Transformation Blair McDougall, has attracted major corporate sponsors, including presenting partners American Airlines, British Airways, PwC UK and TSL.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Lisa Nandy and Minister for Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall, will today (Monday 18th May) lead a delegation of 250+ strong business and cultural leaders to the US to drive economic growth at a major expo, Greater Together LA.

The mission will convene hundreds of business and cultural leaders to strengthen the vital partnership which is underpinned by investment stock totalling around $1.5 trillion in each other’s economies, supports over 2.6 million jobs and a $437 billion trading relationship.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy said:

The UK’s creative industries, sporting heritage and world-class tourism are among our greatest national assets – and Greater Together LA is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase them on the world stage.

From our music and film sectors to sport and the arts, this delegation will demonstrate the immense cultural and commercial value the UK brings to our partnership with the United States.

I look forward to deepening those connections and opening new doors for British talent and creativity.

Greater Together LA will focus on driving commercial outcomes across the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy sectors and aims to secure new growth opportunities following last year’s record-breaking £150 billion in investment commitments. 

The visit, which arrives on a chartered British Airways flight, follows the recent removal of US tariffs on UK-made whisky, an industry worth £1 billion in annual exports. It also builds on the momentum of AstraZeneca’s new £300 million investment in the UK, fueled by the 2025 Pharmaceutical Partnership.

Co-hosted by Sir Lucian Grainge and Sir Jony Ive, the event features speakers including Simon Cowell, singer/songwriter Leona Lewis, Sir Paul Smith, scientist Dr Katie King, WPP CEO Cindy Rose, astronaut Major Tim Peake and ambassador Sir Christian Turner, alongside leading academics and the chief executives of British Airways, News Corp and American Airlines.

Following his successful state visit to the US a fortnight ago, His Majesty the King has called Greater Together LA a “remarkable gathering”, encouraging delegates to “deepen existing alliances and forge new ones” and noting that a “willingness to think boldly about collaboration will help create opportunities that benefit communities across the United Kingdom, the United States and beyond”. His Majesty will address the delegates of the conference via a video message.

The event will explore UK-US cooperation in AI, quantum computing, cultural exchange, fintech, scientific innovation and much more.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is due to visit the Getty Museum to explore links with British regional museums and galleries, as well as the Amazon MGM Studios at the Culver Studios complex, where many classics from Hollywood’s Golden Age were filmed.

Britain’s tourism offer will be showcased by VisitBritain, which is forecasting that visitors from the USA will spend £7.5 billion on their trips to the UK this year, up 4% on the estimate in 2025. That means more than £1 in every £5 spent by overseas visitors in the UK is by a visitor from the USA.

The growing demand from American students to study abroad will also be reflected by the GREAT ‘Study UK’ Campaign, which will spotlight transatlantic academic collaboration as both a pathway for student mobility and driver of economic growth and global connection.

Presenting partners for the mission include American Airlines, British Airways, PwC UK and TSL, alongside Payward, The Wall Street Journal and YouTube as official partners and official supporters DOOH.com and Premier League.

The UK possesses some of the world’s leading life science, financial and cybersecurity industries. By connecting UK innovators with US investors, the delegation will drive high-quality jobs and economic growth in both countries.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 13 May 2026.

The UK Government and European Commission gave a joint statement following the 18th meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights.

The 18th meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights was held on 13 May 2026 in Brussels, co-chaired by officials from the European Commission and the UK Government. Representatives from EU Member States were also in attendance.

The co-chairs took stock of the implementation of the Citizens’ Rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement, and discussed elements that require further work, under the overall objective of ensuring the full, timely and faithful implementation of the Agreement.

Representatives from civil society organisations, representing EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU, attended the meeting and expressed their views and experience from the ground.

The co-chairs welcomed overall progress on the issuance of documents for Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries correctly evidencing their status, while noting that many beneficiaries were yet to obtain them. They underlined the importance of ensuring a successful transition to permanent residence for all eligible EU citizens and UK nationals over the course of this year.  

The co-chairs also discussed the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme (ETA) and recalled that guidance is available for Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries for a better understanding of the applicable rules on the websites of the Commission (PDF, 528KB) and of the UK Government.

The EU reiterated the concerns about the approaches that affect the rights of EU citizens when attempting to travel on a certificate of application, access to proper appeal rights for EU citizens whom the UK authorities consider were originally granted their residence status in error, and about NHS charges for those who submit a successful residence application after the June 2021 deadline, with particular consequences for newborn children. 

The UK highlighted its concerns with the implementation of one member state concerning the treatment of late applications and the risk of further issues in the future as UK nationals seek to acquire permanent residence. The UK also noted that several EU Member States are not currently providing overseas criminal conviction certificates in a timely fashion, resulting in delays to EUSS application processing times. 

The EU and the UK underlined their ongoing commitment to the full implementation of the Citizens’ Rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement and to continue meeting regularly to advance. They agreed to meet again in autumn 2026.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 11 May 2026.

HMGCC (His Majesty’s Government Communications Centre) has today announced the appointment of Dr Simon Fabri as its new Chief Executive, leading the organisation’s work at the forefront of national security and defence technology.

Dr Fabri takes up the role today (11 May), succeeding Dr George Williamson CMG, who has left HMGCC to join the Alan Turing Institute.

Founded in 1938, HMGCC is the UK government’s centre for national security engineering. Based at Hanslope Park in Milton Keynes, it brings together engineers, scientists and technologists to develop specialist tools and technologies that support national security, defence and law enforcement, helping to keep the UK safe.

For much of its 88-year history, HMGCC operated almost entirely behind the scenes. In recent years, it has begun to share more of its technology challenges openly, working with partners across industry and academia through initiatives such as HMGCC Co‑Creation to source the best innovation from across the UK and beyond.

Dr Fabri joined HMGCC in 2023 to lead its product and engineering teams. Since then, he has overseen significant changes to how the organisation designs and delivers technology, strengthening its ability to respond to rapidly evolving national security threats.

Before joining HMGCC, Dr Fabri built a career spanning academia and industry, with senior roles across the telecommunications, energy and automotive sectors, followed by leadership positions at Amazon.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr Fabri said:

I am proud to be taking on this role at a time of both significant challenge and opportunity for HMGCC.

Technology and national security are becoming ever more closely linked, and that intersection sits at the heart of HMGCC’s mission. I feel a deep sense of responsibility for the work we do and the impact it has on the UK’s security and defence capability.

As Chief Executive, Dr Fabri will focus on building on HMGCC’s existing strengths: investing in its in‑house technical expertise, deepening partnerships with industry and academia, and ensuring that the organisation continues to deliver cutting‑edge capabilities for the national security community.

He added:

HMGCC brings together exceptional people, world‑class facilities and a strong location within the Oxford–Cambridge growth corridor. This gives us a unique opportunity to work with partners across the UK to strengthen our national security technology base.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 7 May 2026.

The UK Government and European Commission gave a statement after the Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework meeting.

The Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework met in Brussels today, co-chaired by officials from the European Commission and the UK Government.

The co-chairs took stock of the implementation of the Windsor Framework since the last meeting on 3 December 2025. They reaffirmed the importance of continued work to deliver the full, timely, and faithful implementation of the Windsor Framework.

They welcomed the further progress made in the Windsor Framework’s implementation across various areas and noted the remaining work to be undertaken to deliver in full the safeguards underpinning the flexibilities for the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area, they noted the satisfactory functioning of the SPS inspection facilities and individual labelling requirements, as well as the positive direction in the provision of information in the general SPS certificates. Progress should however continue on the remaining pending issues, including full compliance of certificates, box-level labelling, and ensuring that flexibilities are applied for compliant goods only. They also took note of the robust ongoing preparatory work for the interplay between the Windsor Framework SPS provisions and the future EU-UK SPS Agreement, which is undertaken to fulfil the commitment from the Common Understanding(1) from the EU-UK Summit of 19 May 2025.

The co-chairs also took stock of the ongoing work in the area of customs. They welcomed the finalisation of the work to grant Union representatives access to all relevant UK IT systems. They noted the ongoing discussions at technical level on customs duties of business to consumer parcels. They stressed that further work to ensure that the Windsor Framework arrangements in the customs and trade area are implemented properly should also continue.

They welcomed the technical flexibilities in the functioning of the Duty Reimbursement Scheme for the benefit of Northern Ireland operators whilst maintaining the necessary protection of the Union Single Market.

The co-chairs took stock of the work of the Joint Consultative Working Group and its structured sub-groups, noting its good functioning and the usefulness of the exchange of information.

They reiterated the importance of the joint engagement with Northern Ireland stakeholders, which should continue, thus supporting the advancement of the Windsor Framework implementation.

The co-chairs also noted the conclusion of their work relating to the exchange of views on the implications of the Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Resilience Acts for the proper functioning of the Windsor Framework, in line with Article 13(4) of the Windsor Framework, following on from the delegation of that responsibility by the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee. They would report to the Joint Committee co-chairs on their work with a view to advancing the process foreseen under Article 13(4) of the Framework at the next Joint Committee meeting.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 2 May 2026.

Hundreds of UK business leaders will travel to the US later this month as part of the largest ever UK trade mission to the country, building on the success of the State Visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen.

• Following the successful State Visit of His Majesty King Charles III, Greater Together LA will build on positive momentum to convene hundreds of business and cultural leaders from both countries.
• With investment stock between both countries already reaching around £1.2 trillion and supporting over 2.6 million jobs in UK and US, Greater Together LA will drive jobs at home through commercial opportunities abroad.
• Follows removal of US tariffs on UK-made whisky and new £300 million investment in UK by AstraZeneca announced this week 

Hundreds of UK business leaders will travel to the US later this month as part of the largest ever UK trade mission to the country, building on the success of the State Visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen this week.

The State Visit culminated with the US announcing the removal of tariffs on UK-made whisky – an industry worth around £1bn in exports to the US each year and supporting thousands of jobs across the UK. The removal of tariffs builds on the historic agreement secured by the Prime Minister last year, which has saved millions of pounds for British exporters.

It also follows a £300 million investment from pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, announced this week, with the firm and the UK Government attributing the investment to the pharmaceutical partnership between the UK and the US struck in December 2025.

The partnership makes the UK the first country in the world to secure 0% tariffs on pharmaceutical exports to the US, with UK pharmaceutical exports to the US worth at least £5 billion a year.

Greater Together LA will be led by Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle and will run from 18-22 May, bringing together policymakers, business leaders, investors and creative minds from both countries to drive real commercial outcomes across sectors. 

Co-hosted by Sir Lucian Grainge (CEO, Universal Music Group) and Sir Jony Ive (Founder, LoveFrom), delegates will hear first-hand insights of headline voices from key sectors of the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. Speakers include: Sean Doyle (CEO, British Airways), Cindy Rose OBE (CEO, WPP), Robert Thomson (CEO, News Corp), Mira Murati (CEO, Thinking Machines Lab), two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora, Sir Paul Smith, Simon Cowell and many more. 

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:

This relationship is one of the most important economic partnerships in the world, and this week’s removal of tariffs on whisky demonstrates that – it’s a tangible win for British industry and for UK-US relations.

Greater Together LA is all about turning the strength of this relationship into real commercial outcomes, and I can’t wait to get out there with British businesses and show American partners exactly what the UK has to offer.

Greater Together LA will celebrate the strength and potential of the UK-US relationship. With investment stock reaching around £1.2 trillion in each other’s economies and supporting over 2.6 million jobs in each country, the relationship is vital for driving the economic growth at the heart of the government’s Plan for Change. 

The government’s eight Modern Industrial Strategy sectors will be represented by senior business leaders from across the UK, showcasing where this government is backing industry with a deliberately more active state. 

Ewan Venters, Executive Chairman Paul Smith and Chair of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland Campaign Private Sector Council said:

The private sector has a vital role to play in cementing the UK’s position as America’s partner of choice – and that’s exactly why we are bringing together the very best of UK business, creativity and innovation to Los Angeles this month.

We have seen a fantastic appetite to join the Greater Together LA delegation, from a whole range of organisations; testament to the clear opportunity that the US market presents for driving jobs and growth here in the UK.

Greater Together will bring UK businesses and investors together with US counterparts, building on a successful Presidential Visit to the UK last year, when a record-breaking £150bn investment commitments were unveiled, creating more than 7,600 high-quality jobs across the UK. 

Presenting partners of the event include British Airways and American Airlines, TSL and PwC. Official partners of the event include Payward, YouTube and the Wall Street Journal.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 1 May 2026.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) yesterday (30 April 2026) raised the UK National Threat Level from SUBSTANTIAL, meaning an attack is likely, to SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely.  

The increase in threat comes following the stabbing in Golders Green in North London, but it is not solely a result of that attack. The terrorist threat level in the UK has been rising for some time, driven by an increase in the broader Islamist and Extreme Right Wing terrorist threat from individuals and small groups based in the UK.

While the UK National Threat Level set independently by JTAC reflects the terrorist threat in the UK, it comes against a backdrop of increased state-linked physical threats which is encouraging acts of violence, including against the Jewish community. This is an independent, systematic, and rigorous process, based on the very latest intelligence and analysis of internal and external factors which drive the threat.

For the public, this means remaining alert but not alarmed.  If you see anything that doesn’t feel right report it via the ACT Action Counters Terrorism website. In an emergency always call 999. 

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 April 2026.

The Chair of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee, with the approval of the Minister for the Cabinet Office, has announced the appointment of Susan Harris as Vice-Chair.

Susan has been a longstanding, active and trusted advocate for the infected blood community. Susan was infected with Hepatitis C at just 6 months old as a result of treatment she received for an inherited bleeding disorder.

Susan has worked with the whole blood community throughout her career, advocating for further support and engaging regularly with the Hepatitis C Trust, Haemophilia Society and Thallesemia Association. 

Susan replaces Joan Edgington as Vice-Chair, who has provided invaluable support to the Memorial Committee throughout her tenure.

Chair of the Infected Blood Committee, Clive Smith said:

I am very pleased to welcome Susan as the Vice-Chair of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee. Following Joan stepping down from the role, Susan’s appointment is especially important to ensure the Committee is representative of the whole community.

Susan has done a huge amount of work to advocate and support the whole blood community. She has also worked closely with the Thalassemia community. I look forward to working with Susan to progress this important work.

David Abdo also interviewed for the Vice-Chair position and was an outstanding candidate. On the basis of his interview, David is being appointed as an additional committee member. 

The new Vice-Chair of the Infected Blood Committee, Susan Harris said:

I am deeply honoured to accept the appointment of Vice Chair for the Infected Blood Memorial Committee. Having witnessed the decades-long struggle for justice and recognition, I am profoundly committed to ensuring that the voices of the infected and affected remain at the heart of our work. 

I look forward to collaborating closely with the Chair, Clive Smith, and our fellow committee members to deliver memorials that provide not only a site for national reflection but also a powerful, lasting recognition of the lives lost and the injustices endured. It is a solemn responsibility to help shape a legacy that truly honours the resilience of this community, and I am dedicated to ensuring that our collective history is never forgotten.

The appointment has been agreed, on the advice of the Chair, by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds. 

Susan and David will join the rest of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee who are working with the community to create fitting memorials to recognise and remember what happened to people. 

The Committee is preparing for the Infected Blood: A Service of Recognition, Remembrance and Reflection at St Paul’s Cathedral on 19 May in honour of those impacted by the scandal.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 10 March 2026.

The Government has launched a consultation asking the public to share their views on how digital ID is used to make public services quicker, easier and more secure to access.

• Consultation will let the public have their say on how digital ID is used to make public services quicker, easier and more secure to access.
• Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister says government needs to “catch up” with services offered by the private sector, like online banking
• Digital ID prototype shows how “government by app” could work with the digital ID system as its foundation, doing the join-up work between departments you currently have to do yourself, for you. 

The public are being given the chance to have their say on how the new digital ID could help them access public services more quickly, easily and securely – as the government launches a national consultation today.

From managing free childcare payments to filing tax returns, the consultation will seek views from people on how the system could be used to make public services work better for them.

Alongside the consultation, the government will reveal images and videos of a working prototype of the system showing how people could log on to a single app and prove who they are, ending a reliance on multiple logins and paper documents to access the support they need, saving time and effort. 

Government by app will be as easy and secure as online banking, and will be available to those who want it. It will remove the frustration of endless telephone calls, complicated printed forms and people having no idea of how long it will take them to get the support they need. Existing routes to accessing public services will continue to be available for those who prefer them. 

The system is part of wider government plans to reform public services, modernise public sector technology and replace legacy systems, to make services work better for people across the country and is expected to save money in the long run, by replacing the expensive legacy paper-based systems currently in place. The numbers across government are huge: the DVLA currently processes 45,000 letters a day, Defra uses 500 different paper forms, HMRC handles 100,000 phone calls a day.

Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, said:

People too often dread their interactions with public services. Endless telephone calls, complicated printed forms and having to tell your story multiple times to different parts of government.

I want to change that and make public services work for you. The new digital ID will make that possible, allowing you to log on and prove who you are to access public services more quickly, easily and securely. 

Supermarkets, banks and shops have all chosen to move their services online because it delivers a better customer experience and value for money, and other countries like Estonia fully digitised public services years ago. We need to catch up.

We’re launching a public consultation to let you have your say about how we use digital ID to make public services work for you. We want to build a system that works for everyone. Now is your chance.

Anyone starting a new job will be able to use the new digital proof of identity for digital right to work checks, which will be required by the end of the Parliament – or they will be able to do a digital check of other documents such as passport or eVisa if they prefer.

The consultation will find out how digital ID can best work for people across the country and use their feedback to build a system that can help them access services and offer the best possible benefits. Questions include:

• At what age you should be able to get a digital ID;
• What information it would be useful to include – such as proof of address as well as identity – to end the scramble for a utility bill or bank statement;
• Which government services it could improve your experience of, for example getting a driving licence or checking your tax code; and
• How we make sure everyone is included.

To ensure the government hears views from people from all walks of life, an in-depth process going beyond typical government consultations will be launched. Alongside the eight-week online consultation, the government will establish a People’s Panel on digital ID, bringing together people across the country from different backgrounds. The panel will have in-depth discussions, sharing different views on the proposals and will agree ways to move forward.

While the prototype unveiled today gives the public insight into what the digital ID might look like and the type of services it might cover, the final design of the scheme will be subject to the outcome of the consultation and the views shared.

The announcement follows the Roadmap for Modern Digital Government, which set out how technology will transform services right across the state, from digitising planning to making it easier for people to manage their benefits and tax. The government is making it easier for organisations to move away from outdated technology, overhauling funding so old systems can be replaced faster, and doubling the number of tech experts across Whitehall.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 19 February 2026.

The appointment marks the first time a woman has held the role in its over 100 year history.

The Prime Minister has appointed Dame Antonia Romeo as the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, following a process approved by the independent First Civil Service Commissioner.

Dame Antonia is currently Permanent Secretary of the Home Office. Building on 25 years of public service leadership, as Cabinet Secretary she will lead the Civil Service to drive change and implement the government’s agenda. 

Dame Antonia Romeo is currently the longest-serving permanent secretary in government and will become the first female Cabinet Secretary in the more than 100-year history of the role. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

I am delighted to appoint Dame Antonia Romeo as the new Cabinet Secretary. She is an outstanding public servant, with a 25‑year record of delivering for the British people.

Since becoming Prime Minister, I’ve been impressed by her professionalism and determination to get things done. Families across the country are still feeling the squeeze, and this government is focused on easing the cost of living, strengthening public services and restoring pride in our communities. It is essential we have a Cabinet Secretary who can support the government to make this happen.

Antonia has shown she is the right person to drive the government to reform and I look forward to working with her to deliver this period of national renewal.

Dame Antonia Romeo said: 

It is a huge privilege to be asked to serve as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service.

The Civil Service is a great and remarkable institution, which I love. We should be known for delivery, efficiency and innovation, working to implement the Government’s agenda and meet the challenges the country faces.

I look forward to working with all colleagues across the Civil Service to do this, in support of the Prime Minister and the Government.

Dame Antonia has spent nearly a decade leading economic, public services and security departments. As Permanent Secretary of the Department of International Trade, Dame Antonia set up the new department from scratch as the UK left the EU, bringing together trade policy with promotion and finance for the first time. 

As Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice she led the official response to the civil unrest of summer 2024, working across the criminal justice system to keep the country safe, and launched the Sentencing Review. 

At the Home Office she has launched a plan to restore order and control to the asylum system and the biggest reform of policing in decades, and led the publication of the strategy to build a safer society for women and girls in support of the Home Secretary. 

Appointment process:

Following the departure of Sir Chris Wormald as Cabinet Secretary, the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary.   

Once this process was complete, the First Civil Service Commissioner confirmed that Dame Antonia Romeo is an exceptional candidate of the highest calibre, having run two of the largest operational departments in Government, and confirmed her track record makes her the right candidate for the role. 

First Civil Service Commissioner Baroness Gisela Stuart said: 

I approved the comprehensive due diligence process and agreed the conclusions drawn, to form the basis for the Prime Minister to make an appointment decision.

Dame Antonia Romeo has an excellent track record in leadership positions across the civil service, including three Permanent Secretary roles in some of the most complex operational departments in Government.

Dame Antonia was found to be a suitable candidate for the role during the previous recruitment process in 2024. Under the direction of the First Civil Service Commissioner, consideration has been given to her performance at the Ministry of Justice and Home Office since the previous recruitment process took place. 

An enhanced due diligence process has also been undertaken by the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office and the interim Government Chief People Officer, which will form the basis for the appointments to the Cabinet Secretary role in future.

Dame Antonia takes up the role with immediate effect.