Tag: News Story

STORY

The National Security (State Threats) Act has received Royal Assent, giving the Home Secretary new powers to designate organisations linked to hostile activity carried out on behalf of foreign states. Criminal sanctions will apply to designated bodies and those supporting them.

The Government said the legislation was intended to address espionage, sabotage, cyber operations, disinformation and interference in Britain’s political system. It builds on powers introduced by the National Security Act 2023.

Ministers said threats from foreign powers and their proxies had increased in scale and complexity. Civil liberties groups and Parliament will continue to scrutinise how the designation powers are used and what safeguards apply.

STORY

UK Export Finance provided more than £11 billion in new financing during the past year, supporting contracts in 37 countries, according to the Government. The department estimated that the activity supported up to 85,000 jobs across the United Kingdom.

The financing was also estimated to have supported up to £6.4 billion in national economic output. Assistance was directed towards sectors including advanced manufacturing, defence, sustainable energy and critical minerals.

UK Export Finance provides loans, guarantees and insurance where viable export deals cannot secure sufficient private finance. Ministers said the results demonstrated the role of exports in the Government’s growth and industrial strategy.

STORY

Sizewell B nuclear power station has been granted a 20-year lifetime extension, allowing it to continue operating until 2055. The decision follows safety assessments and is intended to preserve a major source of low-carbon electricity.

The Suffolk plant had previously been expected to stop generating in 2035. The extension will require continued investment, regulatory oversight and maintenance to ensure that the station can operate safely for the additional period.

The Government said nuclear power would remain an important part of Britain’s energy security and net zero plans. The decision is separate from the proposed Sizewell C development, which would create a new nuclear station alongside the existing site.

STORY

The Government has said the UK life sciences sector attracted more than £3 billion in public and private investment during the past 12 months. Ministers said the funding reflected international confidence in British research, manufacturing and medical innovation.

The announcement accompanied new plans for jobs and growth in life sciences, with the Government seeking to accelerate clinical research and the adoption of new treatments. It said investment would support skilled employment and faster access to medicines for patients.

The sector is a central part of the Government’s industrial strategy. Ministers are seeking to maintain the UK’s position in pharmaceutical research while addressing concerns about investment, regulation and the speed at which innovations reach the NHS.

STORY

An independent review has concluded that Personal Independence Payment is no longer fit for purpose and has failed to keep pace with changes in disability, health and employment. The Timms Review published an update setting out concerns about the operation of the benefit.

The review is examining how PIP assessments work, whether the system treats claimants fairly and how support can better reflect fluctuating and long-term conditions. Its findings are expected to inform future Government reforms.

Ministers will face pressure to ensure that any changes protect disabled people from sudden losses of income. Campaigners have repeatedly called for a less adversarial assessment process and greater involvement of people with direct experience of the system.

STORY

The NHS waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England has risen for a second consecutive month, according to the latest performance figures. The list reached about 7.28 million treatments involving approximately 6.16 million patients.

The total was reported as the highest level since December 2025, reversing some of the earlier progress in reducing the backlog. Ministers have made cutting waiting times one of the Government’s principal health priorities.

The figures will increase pressure on the Government to demonstrate that additional investment and reforms are improving access to care. NHS leaders continue to face workforce pressures, high demand and difficulties moving patients safely through hospitals.

STORY

Andy Burnham has promised greater public scrutiny of defence spending as he prepares to become Labour leader and Prime Minister. He said national security would be his first priority and argued that higher defence investment should also support British industry, jobs and apprenticeships.

Burnham said major defence and infrastructure projects should be subject to more detailed public progress reports, with greater transparency over delays and cost overruns. He also backed rebuilding Britain’s military capabilities while reducing dependence on overseas suppliers.

He reaffirmed support for NATO, the nuclear deterrent, the United States alliance and Ukraine. Burnham also called for closer defence co-operation with European countries and faster progress in the UK’s negotiations with the European Union.

STORY

Mrs Geraldine McCafferty has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in succession to Mr Edward Hobart.

Mrs McCafferty will take up her appointment during August 2026.

Curriculum Vitae

Full name: Geraldine Mary McCafferty

Year	Role
2022 to present	Beijing, Deputy Head of Mission
2019 to 2022	FCDO, Director, Policy
2015 to 2019	Bogotá, Minister Counsellor
2012 to 2015	Copenhagen, Minister Counsellor
2010 to 2012	FCO, Private Secretary
2007 to 2009	FCO, Team Leader
2005 to 2007	Sarajevo, First Secretary
2004 to 2005	FCO, Pre-posting Training, including Bosnian Language Training
2001 to 2004	FCO, Desk Officer
2000 to 2001	FCO, Russian Language Training
1998 to 2000	Nicosia, Second Secretary Economics
1996 to 1998	FCO, Desk Officer
1996	Joined FCO

STORY

West Sussex County Council has been found at fault for delays during a child’s Education, Health and Care needs assessment and for failing to make a timely decision about alternative education. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman said the council’s handling of the case caused avoidable uncertainty and distress for the family.

Councils have statutory deadlines for deciding whether to issue an Education, Health and Care Plan and must consider their duty to arrange suitable education when a child cannot attend school. The investigation found delays in the assessment process and shortcomings in the way the authority considered its responsibilities under section 19 of the Education Act 1996.

The Ombudsman recommended action to remedy the injustice and improve the council’s procedures. The case adds to wider concern about pressure on special educational needs services, with councils reporting rising demand, workforce shortages and significant financial strain in the high-needs system.

STORY

Southwark Council has successfully defended its choice-based lettings and direct allocation policies after the High Court rejected a challenge alleging that the system was unlawful and insufficiently transparent. The judge found that the London borough could have explained parts of the process more clearly but had operated the scheme lawfully.

The claimant argued that she had been treated less favourably than households placed below her on the waiting list and could not understand why her family had not received enhanced priority. She also alleged that the council had failed to follow its direct offer procedure and had breached the public sector equality duty.

The court concluded that there had been no unlawful discrimination or failure to comply with transparency requirements. The judgment underlines the discretion councils retain when allocating scarce social housing, while also indicating that clearer information about priority categories and direct offers could reduce confusion and disputes.