Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 February 2026.

The Government will give parents and carers greater clarity and support as the Prime Minister announces immediate action to make the online world safer for children.

• PM announces new powers to act within months to keep children safe amid rapid technology changes
• New action will ensure no platform gets a free pass – as government today will close loopholes that put children at risk, and lays the groundwork for further, faster action
• PM leads new crackdown on AI chatbots to protect people from illegal content

The Government will give parents and carers greater clarity and support as the Prime Minister announces immediate action to make the online world safer for children.

Speaking to parents and young people later today [Monday 16 February], the Prime Minister will make clear this government will act at pace to keep kids safe online as they navigate a digital world that did not exist a generation ago, and one that is shaped by powerful platforms, addictive design and fast-moving technologies.

The new measures announced today include crackdown on vile illegal content created by AI. The government will move fast to shut a legal loophole and force all AI chatbot providers to abide by illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act or face the consequences of breaking the law. This will ensure the Act keeps up with rapidly evolving harms.

This follows government action to call out abhorrent non-consensual intimate images being shared on Grok, which subsequently led to the function being removed.

The Prime Minister will also make clear today that his government is taking new legal powers to lay the groundwork for immediate action following its consultation on children’s wellbeing online. The Government is committed to following the evidence, and these powers will mean we can act fast on its findings within months, rather than waiting years for new primary legislation every time technology evolves.

That means being able to act quickly on measures like setting a minimum age limit for social media and restricting features like infinite scrolling that are harmful, in line with the consultation. The law is crystal clear: the distribution of nude images of children is already illegal. But the government will also consult on how best to ensure tech companies can safeguard children from sending or receiving such images in the first place.

The consultation will also confront the full range of risks children face online. This includes examining restrictions on children’s use of AI chatbots, as well as options to age restrict or limit children’s VPN use where it undermines safety protections and changing the age of digital consent. We will also strengthen protections for families facing the most devastating circumstances, by ensuring that vital data following a child’s death is preserved before it can be deleted, except in cases where online activity is clearly not relevant to the death.

This marks a clear shift in how the UK approaches child online safety, meaning the UK can continue to be a world leader in keeping children safe online.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“As a dad of two teenagers, I know the challenges and the worries that parents face making sure their kids are safe online.

“Technology is moving really fast, and the law has got to keep up. With my government, Britain will be a leader not a follower when it comes to online safety.

“The action we took on Grok sent a clear message that no platform gets a free pass. 

“Today we are closing loopholes that put children at risk, and laying the groundwork for further action.

“We are acting to protect children’s wellbeing and help parents to navigate the minefield of social media.”

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

“I know that parents across the country want us to act urgently to keep their children safe online. That’s why I stood up to Grok and Elon Musk when they flouted British laws and British values. 

“We will not wait to take the action families need, so we will tighten the rules on AI chatbots and we are laying the ground so we can act at pace on the results of the consultation on young people and social media.

“We are determined to give children the childhood they deserve and to prepare them for the future at time of rapid technological change.”

The children’s digital wellbeing consultation will launch next month and will be guided by what parents and children say they need now, not in several years’ time.

Ministers are already engaging with parents, young people and civil society groups, and the message has been consistent and clear that parents want support and fast.

To help parents immediately, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched the ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign. It offers practical guidance on safety settings, conversation prompts parents can use with their children, and age‑appropriate advice on dealing with harmful content, including misogynistic material and ragebait.

Chris Sherwood, NSPCC CEO, said:

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s promise to act quickly and decisively to hold tech companies to account and make the online world safer for children. The status quo can’t continue, and without real change the pressure for an under‑16 social media ban will only increase.

“Much of what is being proposed mirrors what we have been pressing for: proper age‑limit enforcement, an end to addictive design, and stronger action from platforms, devices, and AI tools to stop harmful content at the source. Delivered swiftly, these measures would offer far better protection than a blanket ban.

“We also strongly support putting children’s voices at the centre of this debate. They understand both the benefits and risks of being online and – after their insights have been overlooked in discussions so far – their experiences must now help guide the decisions made in the months ahead.

“We need urgent action and an ambitious agenda if the Government is going to take on tech bosses and make a difference for children and young people.”

Andy Burrows, Chief Executive of Molly Rose Foundation, said:

“Parents are right to demand urgent action on online safety, and we strongly welcome the Government’s ambition to move quickly and decisively to tackle appalling and preventable harm. 

“This announcement should reassure parents that change is on the way. It means that children and families could see much needed safety improvements within months, including action against high-risk AI Chatbots and new measures to prevent girls from being coerced into sending nude photos.  

“This a welcome downpayment but the Prime Minister must now go further. Sir Keir Starmer should commit to a new Online Safety Act that strengthens regulation and that makes clear that product safety and children’s wellbeing is the cost of doing business in the UK.”

Notes to editors:

• New powers, to be tabled in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, will enable the Government to act at speed to introduce targeted actions off the back of the upcoming children’s digital wellbeing consultation.
• Government intends to table an amendment to the C&P Bill to give effect to the measures around preservation of child social media data.
• Action will be guided by the outcomes of the consultation with parents and children, set to launch next month, and subject to an affirmative vote on the floor of the House of Commons, giving MPs a clear say on the proposals.
• Government is tabling an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to allow the government to require chatbots not currently in scope of the Online Safety Act to protect their users from illegal content.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 February 2026.

The Prime Minister met the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the Munich Security Conference this afternoon.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue work that will bolster our collective defences in the face of growing threats to European security. 

They agreed that Europe needs to step up and work towards becoming a more European NATO, while protecting our strong transatlantic ties. 

The Prime Minister shared his high ambition for the future UK-EU partnership. He set out his desire for further integration across the economy, defence and technology – in the interests of greater security, stronger growth and higher living standards for the British people. There is no question where the national interest lies and I will always fight for what’s best for the United Kingdom, he added. 

They committed to take forward further work ahead of the next UK-EU summit. They also agreed to double down on the existing negotiations to agree a food and drink deal which could lower prices, an emissions trading scheme which could lower bills, and a youth experience scheme to give our young people more opportunities to work and travel abroad.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 February 2026.

Europe must shift from overdependence on the United States and towards a more European NATO, underpinned by deeper links between the UK and the EU, the Prime Minister will say today.

Europe must shift from overdependence on the United States and towards a more European NATO, underpinned by deeper links between the UK and the EU, the Prime Minister will say today [Saturday 14 February].

In a speech at the Munich Security Conference, he will argue that in the face of the looming threat from Russia, the UK’s future prosperity and security rest on closer defence and security ties with Europe, and vice versa.

The Prime Minister is expected to say:

We are not the Britain of the Brexit years anymore. Because we know that, in dangerous times, we would not take control by turning inward – we would surrender it. And I won’t let that happen.

There is no British security without Europe, and no European security without Britain. That is the lesson of history – and it is today’s reality too.

[…]

He will say that the US remains an indispensable ally, and they have made an unparalleled contribution to European security. But as their own national security posture evolves, Europe must shift from overdependence to interdependence – forging a new path towards sovereign deterrence and hard power.

He will add:

I’m talking about a vision of European security and greater European autonomy, that does not herald US withdrawal but answers the call for more burden sharing in full, and remakes the ties that have served us so well.

Arguing that Europe’s fragmented defence industrial base has contributed to gaps and duplication – he will say that leaders must focus on collective effort to build a stronger, more integrated defence capability, backed by historic increases in spending.

British companies already account for over a quarter of the continent’s defence industrial base. They are a job-creating, community-building machine, employing around 239,000 people across the UK –

We want to bring our leadership in defence, tech and AI together with Europe – to multiply our strengths and build a shared industrial base across Europe which can turbocharge our defence production.

[…]

As I see it – Europe is a sleeping giant. Our economies dwarf Russia’s, ten times over. 

We have huge defence capabilities. Yet, too often, all of this has added up to less than the sum of its parts. 

Across Europe, fragmented industrial planning and long, drawn out procurement mechanisms have led to gaps in some areas – and massive duplication in others. 

To meet the threats we face, the UK defence budget is rising to record levels – delivering the biggest boost to defence spending since the Cold War, totalling £270 billion this parliament alone. In his speech, the Prime Minister will also signal the UK’s willingness to participate in innovative joint solutions alongside European partners to accelerate new defence investment and ensure spending increases are used to their full potential.  

He will also point to the UK’s existing bilateral co-operation – including our £10 billion deal with Norway to supply their Navy with frigates, our £8 billion Typhoon deal with Turkey, and ongoing collaboration with Germany, Italy and France to deliver next generation long-range missiles  – as a signal for what could be achieved by joint work on a greater scale, all while delivering jobs and growth at home.

He will add:

We must level with the public and build consent for the decisions we will have to take to keep us all safe. 

Because, if we don’t, the peddlers of easy answers on the extreme left and the extreme right are ready. They will offer their solutions instead.

It’s striking that the different ends of the spectrum share so much. Soft on Russia and weak on NATO – if not outright opposed. 

And determined to sacrifice the longstanding relationships that we want and need to build, on the altar of their ideology. 

The future they offer is one of division and then capitulation. The lamps would go out across Europe once again. But we will not let that happen.

If we want to repair our social fabric, if we believe in our values, in democracy, liberty, the rule of law, then this is the moment to stand up and fight for them, and prove that they are worth fighting for.

That’s why we must work together and show that by taking responsibility for our own security. In a volatile world, we help our people look forward not with fear, but with determination – and hope.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 February 2026.

The Prime Minister met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Munich Security Conference this afternoon.

Addressing the scale of the challenge facing Europe, they reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together, alongside other partners, to enhance our collective defence and security.

They agreed that Europe needs to step up and do more to share the burden while protecting the enduring strength of the Euro-Atlantic partnership.

We must take advantage of our huge defence capability in order to bolster our shared security and deliver for people at home, the Prime Minister added.

They confirmed their enduring support for Ukraine, especially in the face of Russia’s horrific recent attacks, and the ongoing work to secure a just and lasting peace.

They looked forward to further discussions in Munich this weekend.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 12 February 2026.

Sir Chris Wormald to stand down as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service.

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary have agreed that Sir Chris Wormald will stand down as the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service by mutual agreement from today (12 February). 

Sir Chris Wormald, said: 

It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as a civil servant for the past 35 years, and a particular distinction to lead the Service as Cabinet Secretary. I want to place on record my sincere thanks to the extraordinary civil servants, public servants, ministers, and advisers I have worked with. Our country is fortunate to have such dedicated individuals devoted to public service, and I wish them every success for the future.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said: 

I am very grateful to Sir Chris for his long and distinguished career of public service, spanning more than 35 years, and for the support that he has given me over the past year. I have agreed with him that he will step down as Cabinet Secretary today. I wish him the very best for the future.

For an interim period, the responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary will be shared by Catherine Little CB, Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office, Dame Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary at the Home Office and James Bowler CB, Permanent Secretary at His Majesty’s Treasury. 

The Prime Minister will appoint a new Cabinet Secretary shortly. The appointment process will be agreed by the First Civil Service Commissioner.

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

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

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

Lord Richard Walker said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 February 2026.

The Prime Minister has appointed Victoria Buhler as The Prime Minister’s Deputy Adviser on Business, Investment and Trade and Hannah Bronwin as The Prime Minister’s Expert Adviser on Energy and NetZero.

Victoria Buhler

Victoria brings extensive experience as a finance and strategy professional, with a background spanning investment banking, management consulting and a range of sectors.

Victoria will advise Ministers while working across No10 and Government advising economic, business and trade teams.

Since 2015, she has worked at Robey Warshaw (Evercore), advising corporate boards on complex M&A transactions, UK public takeovers, and shareholder activism, contributing to deals worth approximately £85bn across diverse industries. Previously, she was a consultant at Boston Consulting Group in London and New York.

Victoria holds an MPhil in International Relations and Politics from the University of Cambridge and a BA in Economics and Global Affairs from Yale University. She has also worked as a research assistant to Nobel laureates Robert Shiller and George Akerlof.

Hannah Bronwin

Hannah brings with her extensive experience as a senior policy professional, a strong background in energy policy, and a range of roles within and external of Government.

Hannah will advise Ministers while working across the No10 and Government energy teams, having already supported our ambitions as an expert adviser to the Clean Power Commission.

Before this she was the Director of Business Development for SSE Thermal responsible for strategy, origination of new projects and partnerships and M&A.

In addition, she has worked as Commercial Director at the innovation agency Energy Systems Catapult; Deputy Director for new nuclear financing at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; and spent ten years as a project finance lawyer at global law firm Linklaters LLP.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 January 2026.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson this afternoon.

The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Kristersson for Sweden’s strong and consistent support for Ukraine and highlighted the need to collectively go further to support their resilience, energy security, and air defence.

They underlined the importance of ensuring Ukraine has the long‑term security assurances and continued international support it needs to secure a just and lasting peace.

The leaders then reflected on the strength of the wider UK-Sweden defence relationship. They agreed on the need to step up security in the High North and across Europe to deter threats posed by adversaries such as Russia.

They agreed to speak again soon.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 January 2026.

Millions of leaseholders across England and Wales are set to benefit from a major shake-up of the outdated leasehold system – with ground rents set to be capped at £250 a year, changing to a peppercorn cap after 40 years.

Making the announcement in a video on TikTok this morning, Prime Minister Keir Starmer sets out how the cap will save some families hundreds of pounds as the cost of living is the single most important issue across the country.

New leasehold flats will also be banned and homeownership strengthened thanks to groundbreaking legislation that will give people control over their homes and calls an end to the feudal leasehold system which dates to medieval times.

Over 5 million leaseholders and future homeowners will benefit from stronger control, powers and protections, through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill published today (Tuesday 27 January), which will fundamentally rewire homeownership across England and Wales.

It will cap ground rent at £250 a year before ultimately reducing it to a peppercorn after 40 years – marking the end of residential leaseholders paying over the top bills for no clear service in return.

This move will ensure leaseholders keep more of their hard-earned cash, with many seeing savings of over £4,000 over the course of their lease, improving cost of living for millions. This will also unlock house sales for leaseholders whose lives have been put on hold because of ground rent terms that make their homes hard to sell.

In a video on TikTok making the announcement, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Good news for homeowners, we’re capping ground rent at £250. That means if you are a leaseholder, and your ground rent is more than £250, you’ll be paying less.

And I’ve spoken to so many people who say this will make a difference to them of hundreds of pounds.

That’s really important because the cost of living is the single most important thing across the country.

So this is a promise that we said we’d deliver and I’m really pleased that we’re delivering on that promise.

Secretary of State for Housing Steve Reed said:

If you own a flat you can be forced to pay ground rents that can become completely unaffordable. We said we’d be on the side of leaseholders – which is why today we are capping ground rent – helping millions of leaseholders by saving them money and giving them control over their home.

The leasehold system has tainted the dream of home ownership for so many. We are taking action where others have failed –strengthening home ownership and calling time on leasehold for good.

Forfeiture, whereby leaseholders can lose their home and the equity they built up by defaulting on a debt as low as £350, will also be abolished and a new enforcement regime will rebalance the system – making it fairer between landlord and leaseholder.

A new process to make it easier for existing leaseholders to convert to commonhold will also be introduced under a revamped commonhold model where  homeowners will receive a stake in the ownership of their buildings and be given a stronger say in the issues that affect them, with greater control over how the building is managed and the bills they pay.

The reinvigorated commonhold system will ensure it works for all types of developments, as well as mortgage lenders, with strong management rules in place around repairs and leadership, and greater rights for homeowners.

Those living in the building will have a say in the annual budget and how the building is run, and new protections when things go wrong. Current leaseholders will also be given the opportunity to switch to commonhold, where the majority of residents agree to it.

The reforms build on action currently being undertaken by the government to implement the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, including increased transparency over service charges so that leaseholders can better hold their landlords to account.

This comes as the government passed through its landmark Renters’ Rights Act, delivering the biggest boost to renters’ security and protections in a generation – ending unfair ‘no fault’ evictions, multiple rent hikes and bidding wars, and giving millions more stability and control over their homes.

Supportive stakeholder comments

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA said:

CMA action has freed thousands of homeowners from doubling ground rents, and we have long supported a cap on ground rents to make sure all leaseholders get the fair deal they deserve. The CMA welcomes the government’s proposals so people won’t have to struggle against these rising fees anymore – particularly when many are already grappling with high costs elsewhere.

RICS Chief Executive Justin Young said:

Today’s announcement offers greater certainty and clarity on the Government’s proposed reforms to the leasehold system, including long-awaited action on ground rents. The publication of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill is a critical step in this process. RICS looks forward to working with members, MHCLG, and other key stakeholders to deliver the best outcomes for consumers and the market”.

Martin Boyd, Chair of the Leasehold Advisory Service said:

This is a significant milestone for leaseholders and marks the beginning of the end for the leasehold system as we know it. The draft Bill tackles some of the most damaging features of leasehold, including high and escalating ground rents and the threat of forfeiture, which has left some leaseholders at risk of losing their homes over relatively small debts.

More fundamentally, the Bill signals a decisive shift away from leasehold as the default form of home ownership. Moving towards commonhold, and making it easier for existing buildings to convert where leaseholders choose to do so, has the potential to give homeowners genuine control, security and long-term certainty over their homes.

Chris Norris, Chief Policy Officer for the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) said:

Around one in four leasehold homes are in the private rented sector. Given this, the greater certainty provided by today’s announcements is welcome.

In particular, the cap on ground rents will enable landlords to plan more effectively for future expenditure and business costs.