Tag: News Story

STORY

Passengers could be able to book taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles later this year after the Government opened applications for operators to join a new pilot scheme. The Department for Transport said the trials would allow approved firms to run services on roads in Great Britain.

Ministers said the scheme could support older and disabled people, create skilled jobs and help develop the UK’s autonomous vehicle sector. Services will be subject to safety assessments, cyber-security checks and local consent from transport authorities before operating.

Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood (in photo) said self-driving vehicles could expand independent travel and support economic growth. The pilots will be used to gather real-world evidence as ministers develop the regulations needed for wider deployment of the technology.

STORY

The UK is sending three additional sniffer dogs to Bulgaria as part of efforts to disrupt organised migration crime before it reaches the Channel. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the dogs would help strengthen border security and detect equipment used by criminal networks.

The Government said the deployment forms part of a whole-route approach to stopping small boats, including cooperation with European partners and the National Crime Agency. More than 1,000 boats and engines have been seized since early 2023 through joint work with countries including Bulgaria, Belgium, France and Germany.

The announcement follows recent talks in Moldova where Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper secured agreement from European partners on reforms linked to migration cases. Ministers said the UK’s international work is designed to break criminal supply chains and reduce the profits made by organised gangs.

STORY

The Government has launched a consultation on new rules requiring mandatory age checks for sunbed use in England. Ministers said the proposals are intended to stop under-18s using commercial sunbeds and to strengthen existing protections against skin cancer risks.

Under the plans, staff would need to be present to check identification before customers use sunbeds, closing loopholes linked to contactless and unsupervised systems. The Government also wants clearer health warnings and a ban on misleading claims that sunbeds can help with weight loss or prevent sunburn.

Public Health and Prevention Minister Sharon Hodgson said children as young as 14 were still accessing sunbeds illegally and that the Government wanted to prevent cancer before it starts. The consultation will run until 14 August 2026, with new rules potentially introduced in 2027.

STORY

UK officials have discussed further reductions to the international aid budget as ministers look for ways to fund higher defence spending. The Financial Times reported that the talks follow earlier plans to reduce aid spending from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027.

The Government has committed to increasing defence spending in response to growing international security threats. Ministers have also faced pressure from NATO allies to go further, while campaigners and some MPs have warned that additional aid cuts could damage the UK’s influence and humanitarian work overseas.

The debate highlights the difficult choices facing the Government as it seeks to balance defence, diplomacy and public spending limits. Ministers have said the UK remains committed to international development, but the aid budget remains under pressure as defence priorities rise.

STORY

Andy Burnham has launched his campaign for the Makerfield by-election, saying the contest should be used to send a message that Labour needs to change. The Greater Manchester Mayor is seeking to return to the House of Commons after being selected as Labour’s candidate for the seat.

The Guardian reported that Burnham used the campaign launch to set out positions on housing, immigration, the economy and electoral reform. He said the by-election was not about returning to Westminster for its own sake, but about changing the direction of politics and reconnecting Labour with communities that had lost confidence in the party.

The by-election follows the resignation of Josh Simons, who stepped down as MP to allow Burnham to stand. The contest is expected to be closely watched because of Labour’s internal tensions and the challenge from Reform UK in a seat Labour has historically held.

STORY

Keir Starmer’s Government is facing continuing political pressure over the cost of living, with households still affected by high prices, mortgage costs and weak real wage growth. Reuters reported that the Prime Minister’s early hopes of securing public confidence through economic competence have been undermined by persistent financial strain on voters.

The Government has announced targeted support measures, including help with transport costs and changes to energy bill pressures, but ministers face concern that the public may not feel a significant improvement before the next election. Labour’s poll ratings have fallen sharply since its 2024 general election victory, adding to wider questions over the Government’s political position.

Reeves has argued that stability and investment remain central to the Government’s economic strategy. However, the cost of living remains one of the most difficult political issues facing ministers, with inflation, fuel prices and slow productivity continuing to affect household finances.

STORY

Government borrowing was higher than expected in April, adding pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves (in photo) as ministers seek to maintain control of the public finances. The Office for National Statistics said public sector net borrowing was £24.3 billion in April, above forecasts and higher than the same month last year.

The increase reflected higher spending on debt interest, benefits and pensions, alongside the wider impact of inflation on departmental budgets. Reuters reported that the figure was £3.4 billion above the level expected by economists polled by the news agency, underlining the challenge facing the Treasury as it seeks to meet its fiscal rules.

The figures come shortly after the International Monetary Fund raised its UK growth forecast but warned that the Government should avoid unfunded measures. Reeves has said the Government will continue to focus on economic stability, investment and reducing borrowing over time.

STORY

British companies have reported their most widespread fall in activity for more than a year, according to survey data cited by Reuters. The report said business activity had been hit by the economic effects of the Iran war and by political uncertainty in the UK.

The Guardian reported that the S&P Global purchasing managers’ index fell to 48.5 in May, below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction and below economists’ expectations. The figures suggested pressure in the services sector, alongside a wider weakening in business confidence.

The data adds to pressure on ministers as they try to manage inflation, energy costs and uncertainty over the public finances. The Government has announced targeted cost of living and industrial support measures, but economists and businesses have warned that geopolitical instability could continue to affect prices, investment and consumer demand.

STORY

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has launched a consultation on a proposed framework intended to make it quicker and less costly to develop therapies for rare diseases. The regulator said the new approach could help patients with rare conditions access treatments earlier where conventional development routes are difficult.

The proposed Rare Disease Therapies Regulatory Framework includes plans for an Investigational Marketing Authorisation and compressed development pathways. The MHRA said the framework is designed to address scientific, evidentiary and commercial barriers that can prevent rare disease therapies from reaching patients.

The Government said rare diseases affect up to 3.5 million people in the UK. The consultation will allow the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors, patient groups and other stakeholders to comment before the framework is finalised.

STORY

The UK has announced up to £20 million in new funding to help contain an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the funding would support the World Health Organisation, UN agencies, international partners and NGOs responding to the outbreak.

The funding is intended to strengthen disease surveillance, support frontline health workers, improve infection prevention and control and help affected communities access care. The Government said most confirmed cases are in the Ituri region, an area already facing serious humanitarian and security challenges.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and the Health Secretary chaired a cross-government meeting to coordinate the UK response, including work to protect British nationals overseas. Ministers said the UK was also working with authorities in DRC and Uganda, the WHO and international partners on vaccines, treatments and diagnostics.