Tag: News Story

STORY

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to use a speech at London Tech Week to argue that the technology revolution must benefit the whole country rather than a narrow group of companies or already prosperous areas. The Prime Minister is due to say that artificial intelligence and new digital tools should be used to create jobs, support public services and improve opportunity across the United Kingdom.

The speech comes as the Government seeks to place technology at the centre of its wider economic and public service agenda. Ministers are expected to present AI as a tool for growth, with a particular focus on skills, employment support and the use of digital systems inside Government departments.

The intervention also comes at a politically sensitive moment for Starmer, with pressure on his leadership continuing inside Labour and the Makerfield by-election approaching. Downing Street will hope that a focus on technology and opportunity helps shift attention back towards policy delivery rather than internal party tensions.

STORY

Reform UK has raised significantly more than other parties from private donations, prompting renewed debate about political finance rules. Figures published by the Electoral Commission showed the party received around £9 million in the first quarter of 2026, outstripping Labour and the Conservatives.

The Guardian reported that much of the money came from cryptocurrency-linked donors, including Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo. Nigel Farage is also under scrutiny over a separate £5 million personal gift from Harborne, which the Reform leader has said was connected to security and his Brexit campaigning.

STORY

Downing Street has rejected a US State Department suggestion that the UK has a problem with two-tier policing following the Henry Nowak case. The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said the Government rejected the allegation, while stressing that the UK-US relationship remained strong.

The comments followed criticism from senior American figures about the police handling of Nowak after he was stabbed. Ministers have said mistakes can occur in public services, but that the proper response is investigation, accountability and reform rather than sweeping claims about the entire policing system.

The issue has become politically charged because it is being used by Reform UK, Conservative figures and international right-wing commentators to argue that police treat people differently because of race. The Government is trying to hold the line between acknowledging serious failings and rejecting broader claims of systemic anti-white bias.

STORY

The UK-led Operation Interflex training programme for Ukraine is moving into a new specialist phase after training more than 63,000 Ukrainian personnel. The Ministry of Defence said the programme would now expand further into areas including aviation, medical, engineering and logistics training.

Operation Interflex was launched after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and originally focused on rapid basic infantry training for Ukrainians with little or no military experience. The Government said the programme had also trained leaders and instructors, with support from international partners.

The new phase is intended to help Ukraine build longer-term military capability rather than focusing solely on immediate battlefield replacement training. The announcement comes as the UK continues to emphasise long-term support for Ukraine in talks with European allies.

STORY

More than 400 additional prison places are being delivered across HMP Norwich and HMP Wayland as part of the Government’s plan to expand capacity in the prison estate. Ministers said the project formed part of the drive to create 14,000 extra places nationwide by 2031.

The development includes 170 additional places at HMP Norwich, with modern security features including reinforced windows intended to address threats such as drones. The Government said 3,100 places had already been added since July 2024.

Ministers have argued that expanding prison capacity is necessary to keep the public safe and avoid running out of jail space. The policy comes amid continued pressure on the justice system, with overcrowding and sentencing policy both central to the wider political debate.

STORY

The Government has begun the roll-out of new Experts at Hand teams to provide specialist support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Ministers said the service would help families access support without always needing a formal diagnosis first.

The teams are intended to bring specialist expertise into schools and communities, reducing the need for families to navigate lengthy assessment routes before help is available. The Government said the programme was backed by a wider £1.8 billion investment in SEND support.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (in photo) said the aim was to end the postcode lottery faced by families seeking help. Guidance for local areas has been published, alongside the appointment of a national panel of experts to help shape the new system.

STORY

The Government has launched a consultation on strengthening legal protections for unmarried couples when relationships end. Ministers said the review would invite views from the public, legal professionals, academics, charities and other interested groups.

The consultation will run for 10 weeks and is intended to consider whether the law provides fair outcomes for cohabiting couples. The Government said many people incorrectly assume that long-term unmarried partners already have similar rights to married couples or civil partners.

The issue affects millions of people across England and Wales and has been the subject of repeated calls for reform. Ministers said the consultation would help determine whether changes are needed to provide clearer and fairer protections when relationships break down.

STORY

The Foreign Secretary has completed a three-day visit to China and India, with the Government saying the trip strengthened UK links with two major global powers. Ministers said the visit focused on security, economic resilience and the UK’s role in international diplomacy.

In India, the Foreign Secretary held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The discussions covered maritime security, supply-chain resilience, critical minerals and the impact of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz on international shipping.

The UK also co-launched a Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence with India. The Government said the centre would support work on maritime security and resilience, while helping to deepen cooperation under the UK-India Vision 2035 framework.

STORY

The Government has announced a new partnership with industry and trade unions to support young people into entry-level jobs as artificial intelligence changes the labour market. The Early Careers Jobs Alliance will bring together employers, unions, Government and young people to examine how first jobs can be protected and reshaped.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Work and Pensions said 400,000 young people in disadvantaged schools across the UK would receive AI and technology training. New AI bootcamps will also be rolled out in England, beginning with a pilot in the North West this summer.

Ministers said the scheme was intended to help young people move into further education, training or work, while ensuring that technological change does not close off routes into skilled careers. The announcement forms part of a wider focus on youth employment and skills.

STORY

A Labour MP has called for Reform UK to expel Karl Catchpole, a Reform UK councillor in Norfolk, following allegations about social media posts and comments attributed to him. Ben Goldsborough, the MP for South Norfolk, said he had written to Reform UK urging the party to remove Catchpole, who was elected for the Long Stratton division on Norfolk County Council with 1,517 votes.

The allegations include claims that Catchpole called Enoch Powell “one of the greatest visionaries of the last 50 years”, praised Tommy Robinson as “a caring family man” and shared a post about David Lammy which described him as “like some corrupt African official”. The remarks have prompted criticism from political opponents, with Goldsborough arguing that the posts were unacceptable and that Reform UK should take disciplinary action.

The row adds to wider scrutiny of Reform UK’s vetting of candidates following the local elections, after several councillors around the country faced allegations over past comments, social media posts or political associations. Reform UK has previously said it investigates allegations against candidates and councillors, but Goldsborough has accused the party of failing to act in this case. Reform UK said that they were not planning to expel Catchpole and were unable to make any further comment.