Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : We must honour the dedication of humanitarian and UN personnel on the front lines through action to protect them – UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 April 2026.

Statement by Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.

In conflict and crises around the world, humanitarian and UN personnel are often the first to arrive and the last to leave, risking their lives to save others.

2024 was the deadliest year on record, with 383 aid workers killed.

In 2025, over 320 were killed. And, already, in 2026, the devastation continues with aid workers killed across the Middle East, the DRC, and Sudan.

This cannot continue.

The United Kingdom was proud to co-sponsor Resolution 2730 in May 2024.

We hoped it would mark a turning point.

Instead, threats to humanitarian personnel have intensified.

We must act urgently.

Resolution 2730 must be implemented fully, without delay.

In all humanitarian crises, local personnel bear the greatest risk.

In Yemen, local humanitarian personnel remain arbitrarily detained.

We reiterate calls for their immediate and unconditional release.

In Sudan, local aid workers continue to sustain the response amid relentless insecurity, obstruction, and violence.

And in Gaza, the overwhelming majority of the more than 589 aid workers killed since 7 October 2023 were local staff, including 391 UNRWA staff.

Behind every aid worker killed is a family and a community left grieving.

President, implementation of resolution 2730 requires sustained investment in practical protection to keep humanitarian workers safe.

This includes civil-military coordination, robust security and duty of care, and consistent support to frontline agencies.

The UK supports global platforms such as INSO, the Global Interagency Security Forum and the Aid Worker Security Database, alongside our support to frontline agencies, and we urge others to do the same.

We must also address emerging risks.

The growing use of Uncrewed Aerial Systems by those not acting within the confines of international humanitarian law is making fragile environments even more dangerous.

This has had fatal consequences in the DRC, Sudan, and Ukraine.

Disinformation further erodes trust and shrinks humanitarian space.

We must call out disinformation and counter false narratives that endanger those delivering lifesaving assistance.

Finally, International humanitarian law must be upheld by all parties to armed conflict.

The UK is proud to co-chair a workstream under the ICRC’s Global International Humanitarian Law Initiative and to have co-launched, with Australia, the Political Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.

We call for full compliance with IHL and for transparent, timely investigations when aid workers are harmed.

Two years since the World Central Kitchen strike in Gaza, in which three British nationals were killed, we are still waiting for Israel to conclude and publish its findings into this attack.

Israel has a responsibility to provide answers as to how and why this happened.

President, we must honour the dedication of those on the front lines by showing the same level of commitment in our actions.

Resolution 2730 must be more than a paper promise; it must be a practical priority and implemented fully by all.

April 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on the conflict in the Middle East [April 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 April 2026.

Statement by President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Starmer, Prime Minister Albanese, Prime Minister Carney, President Dan, acting Prime Minister Frederiksen, Prime Minister Frostadóttir Prime Minister Jetten, Prime Minister Kristersson, Prime Minister Michal, Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Prime Minister Montenegro, Prime Minister Sanchez, Prime Minister Siliņa, Prime Minister Støre, President Stubb, Prime Minister Takaichi, President of the European Commission von der Leyen, President of the European Council.

We welcome the two-week ceasefire concluded between the United States and Iran today.

We thank Pakistan and all partners involved for facilitating this important agreement.

The goal must now be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the war within the coming days. This can only be achieved through diplomatic means.

We strongly encourage quick progress towards a substantive negotiated settlement.

This will be crucial to protect the civilian population of Iran and ensure security in the region. It can avert a severe global energy crisis.

We support these diplomatic efforts. To this end, we are in close contact with the United States and other partners.

We call upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon.

Our Governments will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

April 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : FCDO statement on DPRK ballistic missile launches [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 April 2026.

The FCDO has released a statement following ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 8 April.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

DPRK’s ballistic missile launches on 8 April are another breach of UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs), destabilising regional peace and security.

The UK continues to urge DPRK to stop provocations, to engage in meaningful diplomacy and return to dialogue.

April 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Government announces preferred candidate for Ofcom Chair [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 8 April 2026.

Sir Ian Cheshire named as preferred candidate for Ofcom Chair, subject to parliamentary hearing before final appointment is confirmed.
- The Secretary of State for Science and Technology, Liz Kendall, announces Sir Ian Cheshire as the government’s preferred candidate to be appointed as Chair of Ofcom
- Subject to parliamentary hearing, Sir Ian will be appointed for a 4-year term
- The former Chair of Channel 4, Sir Ian’s career spans senior leadership across the private and public sectors making him ideally suited to lead Ofcom through its next chapter
Business leader Sir Ian Cheshire has been announced as the preferred candidate to be appointed as Chair of Ofcom, the UK’s independent regulator for communications.

Sir Ian brings extensive experience of senior leadership across the private and public sectors, with a strong track record in governance, consumer facing regulation and organisational change.

Most recently, Sir Ian was the Chair of Channel 4, having been appointed in April 2022 before leaving at the end of his term in April 2025. If appointed to Ofcom, he would succeed Lord Michael Grade, whose term as Chair concludes at the end of April 2026.

He has previously served as Chief Executive of Kingfisher plc, leading a major international retail group operating across multiple markets, before going on to hold a number of senior non‑executive and advisory roles spanning business, sustainability and public policy, including as Chair of Barclays UK, Debenhams plc, Maisons du Monde and Menhaden plc.

The Chair of Ofcom plays a critical role in providing strategic leadership to the organisation as it delivers its statutory responsibilities, including overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Online Safety Act, protecting consumers and supporting growth and innovation across the UK’s communications sectors.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

The work of Ofcom has never been more relevant to people’s lives, from protecting people online to supporting the growth of our communications sector. The organisation sits at the heart of some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the country.

Sir Ian has a proven track record of leading complex organisations through periods of significant change, and that is exactly the kind of leadership Ofcom needs right now.

I also want to pay tribute to Lord Grade for his contribution as Chair. He has steered Ofcom through a period of profound change, and his leadership during the introduction of the Online Safety Act has been pivotal.

Sir Ian Cheshire said:

Across my career in e-commerce, telecoms and broadcasting I have seen first-hand how much effective regulation matters – for consumers, for businesses and for the wider economy. Ofcom has a critical job to do at a time of rapid change in how people communicate, access information and stay safe online. I look forward to setting out my vision for how Ofcom can meet those challenges when I appear before the Select Committee.

In April 2015, Sir Ian was appointed government Lead Non-Executive, a role he was reappointed to for a further 3 years in April 2018. That same year, he also became Lead Non-Executive Member of the Cabinet Office Board.

The preferred candidate will now be subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee, before a final appointment decision is confirmed.

Notes to editors

The Chair of Ofcom is remunerated at £120,000 per annum for a time commitment of 3 days per week.

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Pre-appointment hearings enable select committees to take evidence from preferred candidates for major public appointments before they are appointed.

Hearings are in public and involve the select committee publishing a report setting out their views on the candidate’s suitability for the post.
April 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister travels to Middle East to meet allies and support ceasefire [April 2026]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 April 2026.
- The Prime Minister will travel to the Gulf this week to meet leaders of countries who have been in the front line, and will set out his full support for the newly agreed ceasefire
- In meetings with regional leaders, he will reiterate unwavering UK support and need for a long-term diplomatic resolution to make sure the ceasefire leads to a lasting agreement
- He will hold talks on ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains permanent, with the United Kingdom continuing to lead international efforts
The Prime Minister is travelling to the Gulf today to meet with Gulf partners and discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire in order to bring about a lasting resolution to the conflict and protect the UK and global economy from further threats.

On the visit, the Prime Minister will make clear his government’s commitment to de-escalation, and hold further talks on practical efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz following promising progress reported as a result of the ceasefire. As announced by the Prime Minister last week, the United Kingdom is continuing to lead the international effort, convening allies from across the world to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

He will also see in person the defensive support the UK has provided in the collective self-defence of our allies in the region and thank UK personnel for their brave service.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.

Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

The Prime Minster’s travel follows the UK-convened meeting last week of more than 40 countries to begin work on a viable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz when the fighting subsides, and subsequent military planning meeting hosted by the UK on Tuesday to further advance this work.

Work will now continue at pace in light of the ceasefire and the Prime Minister is expected to discuss this further in meetings with leaders in the region.

The Prime Minister’s first stop will be to thank the UK and local personnel who have bravely put their lives at risk in the defence of our people, our interests and those of our allies.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that UK personnel have intercepted more than 110 drone attacks in the region, and the RAF have conducted more than 1600 hours of defensive operations.

The Prime Minister will also pay tribute to the work of our partners in the Gulf, whose armed forces have protected the hundreds of thousands of UK nationals living in the region in the face of Iran’s brutal aggression.
April 8, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : It is deeply regrettable that this resolution did not pass – UK Explanation of Vote at the UN Security Council [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 April 2026.

UK Explanation of Vote delivered by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

No country should be allowed to hold the world’s economy hostage.

Yet that is exactly what Iran is doing, by denying the right of transit passage, a key navigational right under international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Today, Russia and China chose to shield their ally, Iran, rather than join international efforts to open the Strait and avert risks to the global economy.

We reject the claims made by Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi last week that the efforts by the Council to open the Strait will ‘complicate the situation’.

It is Iran’s actions that have closed the Strait.

This has already had dire consequences, and the longer this stranglehold continues, the worse the situation will get.

In the last 24 hours, we have heard only nine vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz, an international shipping route that would normally see up to 150 vessels a day.

The World Food Programme has estimated that this hostile act could push 45 million more people into extreme hunger by June.

We supported Bahrain’s initiative, and it is deeply regrettable that this resolution did not pass.

The United Kingdom is already supporting our allies in the Gulf to defend themselves, in accordance with the existing and inherent right to individual and collective self-defence.

We all want to see the de-escalation of tensions in the Strait, and we welcome current diplomatic efforts underway and stress the importance of respect for international law, including the international law of the sea as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

As my Foreign Secretary said last week, when the UK convened over 40 countries in support of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, we are determined to see every possible diplomatic, economic, and coordinated measure to get the straits reopened.

We will not cease in these efforts.

April 7, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Britain’s innovators backed with around £100m of new investment [April 2026]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 7 April 2026.

Entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups are to receive a boost as a package to unlock private investment and double tax reliefs is brought into force.
- £100 million of new investment a year unlocked as entrepreneurship tax relief package comes into force.
- Package includes significant expansion of Enterprise Management Incentives scheme, Enterprise Investment Scheme, and Venture Capital Trusts.
- Wider support measures include the British Business Bank’s Five-Year Strategic Plan and three years of UK Listings Relief.
Entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups are to receive a boost as a package to unlock private investment and double tax reliefs is brought into force.

The changes implemented today (6 April 2026) at the start of the new tax year include:
- Significantly expanding the number of companies eligible for the Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) scheme, further supporting companies to attract and reward talent.
- Doubling the amount a company can raise through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) to boost investment through additional tax relief through these schemes.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced the package for entrepreneurs at Budget 2025, and together these changes are expected to support around £100 million of additional investment a year.

The EMI is a world-leading tax advantaged share scheme which allows eligible companies to offer their employees options to acquire tax-advantaged shares. EIS and VCT provide a range of tax reliefs for investors to encourage investment in higher-risk, early-stage companies that face the biggest challenges in accessing growth capital.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

I am backing business with a more active state that’s making big commitments to industry. I have taken steps to unlock £100 million a year for new investment in the businesses founded by our wealth creators so they can access the finance critical to their success.

The expansion to EMI will include quadrupling the gross assets test from £30 million to £120 million while both the employee limit, and company share option limit, will be doubled from 250 to 500, and £3 million to £6 million, respectively. This is expected to support around 1,800 of the highest growth scale-up companies in sectors including financial technology, life sciences, and AI over the next five years, allowing them to reward an estimated 70,000 employees.

The EIS and VCT lifetime company investment limits will double to £24 million, and the annual company investment limits will increase to £10 million. The gross assets test will increase to £30 million before share issue, and £35 million after.

The government is backing the UK’s most innovative companies. Knowledge intensive companies using EMI, EIS and VCTs benefit from higher asset and investment limits so they can continue to benefit from the schemes as they scale.

Income Tax relief available for those investing in VCTs will be reduced from 30% to 20%, to better balance the amount of upfront tax relief compared to EIS, and incentivising funds to seek out higher returns to ensure they are targeting the highest growth companies.

As part of the package, the government launched a Call for Evidence at Budget 2025 to gather evidence from founders, scaling companies and investors, on tax policy support for investment in high-growth UK companies. The consultation closed in February and the government will respond in due course.

The government is also supporting scale-ups to list in the UK as the Chancellor announced at the Budget, in an international first, UK Listing Relief – a three-year exemption from Stamp Duty Reserve Tax for companies listing in the UK. This will boost the trading volumes and share prices of UK scale-ups that take the next step and list in the UK.

Today’s package comes on top of the British Business Bank’s (BBB) new Five-Year Strategic Plan – a step‑change in how it will support small businesses, including scaling companies, using its increased permanent financial capacity of £25.6 billion.

The BBB will invest at least £5 billion in growth-stage funds and scale-up companies, and the government has also asked the BBB to explore using its existing financial guarantee capacity to support IP-backed lending.

Stakeholder responses:

Carolyn Dawson, CEO at Founders Forum Group, said:

The UK has always been a brilliant place to start a company and today’s reforms are a positive step towards making it just as compelling a place to scale. We’re particularly pleased to see the expansion of the EMI scheme: giving more employees a genuine stake in the companies they’re building is one of the most powerful ways to attract talent and reward the risk-takers who drive British innovation forward.

But keeping Britain’s best companies at home requires an ongoing commitment from all of us to back British success stories. When British innovation thrives, it translates directly into better jobs, higher wages, and a more resilient economy for everyone.

Eva Barboni, Executive Director of Enterprise Britain, said:

Britain needs more companies to make the leap from start-up to scale-up to global champion. These measures speak directly to two of the three pillars we set out as urgent priorities in our most recent report: access to capital and the ability to attract and retain talent.

The changes to the EMI scheme are particularly important. Talent is the lifeblood of high-growth firms, and widening access to share ownership will help more British scale-ups attract and retain the people they need to compete globally. It will also help ensure that the benefits of those companies’ success are shared more widely.

Dom Hallas, Executive Director, Startup Coalition:

Expanding EMI is a genuine win for the startup ecosystem – it gives high-growth companies far more room to compete for talent, which is ultimately what drives scaling success. The improvements to EIS will also help unlock more capital into early-stage businesses, particularly in knowledge-intensive sectors where the UK has real comparative advantage. We are optimistic that next year we will see further improvements to the tax landscape for founders, following the ongoing call for evidence.

Irene Graham OBE, CEO at ScaleUp Institute, said:

It is very good to see the commitments made in the Budget now being fully enacted. The changes now in effect for EIS / VCT / EMI make a tangible difference to businesses scaling across sectors and geographies as they progress their global growth ambitions. The long-term increased capacity of the British Business Bank and practical solutions that are now deployed such as the British Growth Partnership Fund, alongside Venture Link, are vital enablers, working with the private sector, to build and increase critical scaleup investment into our innovative scaling firms across the country. These packages, alongside the Government’s listing relief; further review of tax policy to support investment in high-growth UK companies and focus on how to evolve IP lending, are clear signals to encourage businesses to start, scale and stay in the UK.

Hannah Seal, Partner at Index Ventures, said:

The UK now has the most competitive stock option scheme of any large economy in the world. By doubling the headcount cap and quadrupling the asset threshold for EMI, the Government has created a world-leading scheme that surpasses its global peers. This is a game-changer for British entrepreneurship, allowing UK startups to compete with global giants for the best talent. We are grateful to the founders who joined us to advocate for this change and to the Government for taking decisive action to make the UK the best place for top talent.

Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive, Entrepreneurs Forum, said:

It’s encouraging to see real practical support which will help ambitious businesses to scale. Access to funding remains one of the biggest barriers to growth, and these measures should make it easier for entrepreneurs to unlock that next stage.
April 7, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Surge in neighbourhood police in communities fighting crime [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 7 April 2026.

Over 3,000 additional police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) have been put into neighbourhood roles in less than a year, as new figures reveal the government has hit this target 2 months ahead of schedule.

While murders and serious violent crimes are at their lowest level for more than a decade, communities have continued to be blighted by shop theft, mobile phone theft and drug offences.

Figures released today show that 3,123 additional neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs have been hired or redeployed since April last year and are now focused on fighting local crimes in communities.

Last year the government pledged to have 3,000 additional neighbourhood policing personnel by the end of March 2026, meeting the target in January.

The increase in neighbourhood officers is already delivering results. The Home Office’s Winter of Action scheme across December and January saw almost 18,000 arrests across more than 600 towns and cities as police presence and patrols were ramped up.

Of these, over 5,000 were for retail crime, over 1,000 for sexual offences, almost 1,000 for street crime, and over 10,000 – more than half – were for violent assault.

Crime and Policing Minister, Sarah Jones, said:

Neighbourhood policing was hollowed out under the previous government. Communities were left to face an epidemic of everyday crime that all too often seemed to go unpunished.

To make matters worse, too many officers have been stuck behind desks in support roles when we need them out on our streets.

We’re delivering the biggest reforms to policing in over 200 years and, crucially, putting 13,000 more neighbourhood officers where they belong – on the beat and fighting crime in our communities. The government will halve knife crime within a decade, saving lives and protecting communities.

Significant successes have been seen across some of the busiest individual forces in country, including these self-reported examples:
- South Wales reporting a 37% reduction in home burglaries and a 14% reduction in anti-social behaviour
- Greater Manchester Police making more than 1,300 arrests – more than 400 were for anti-social behaviour, 272 for retail crime, and 170 for serious violent crime
- Merseyside Police making 1,045 arrests, with retail crime arrests up 26% on the previous 2 months before the campaign, while street crime arrests increased by 71%
The early delivery of additional neighbourhood officers marks a major milestone in meeting the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which will ultimately see 13,000 additional neighbourhood personnel by the end of this parliament – an increase of more than 75%.

The guarantee is putting officers back on the beat, tackling the issues that matter most to their local communities. Arrests already rose by 5% last year, as the renewed focus on neighbourhood policing delivers real results.

All police forces have now also published bespoke antisocial behaviour action plans – another key commitment of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee – setting out how they intend to continue tackling antisocial behaviour (ASB) in their communities. The plans were published by each force’s designated antisocial behaviour lead, roles that were established last year as part of the guarantee.

John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch Network, said:

The government increasing the number of neighbourhood police officers is welcome and essential, and the quality of relationships built with communities will embed confidence. That is where the benefit of working with people and community organisations is realised.

Neighbourhood Watch has been advocating for named, contactable local officers for many years. Local people know their areas best, and when police engage with communities meaningfully, it generates valuable intelligence and insight that simply cannot be gathered any other way.

Harvinder Saimbhi, CEO of ASB Help, said:

It’s positive to see 3,000 neighbourhood officers are now in place, with a mandate to deliver the ASB Action Plan and work with key local agencies on priorities most important to communities.

For ASB victims to be able to have direct conversations about their concerns will provide crucial reassurance that their experiences are taken seriously, and that meaningful steps will be taken to address the issues affecting their daily lives.

Dal Babu, former Chief Superintendent at the Metropolitan Police, said:  

The government’s investment in an extra 3,000 neighbourhood officers is an excellent opportunity to focus on the crimes which cause huge harm in our communities.

As someone who worked on reducing anti-social behaviour in my 30-year police career, I am extremely pleased to see the decades-long hollowing out of neighbourhood policing is being reversed.

Association of Convenience Stores Chief Executive, Ed Woodall, said:  

We strongly welcome the government’s commitment to increasing police presence in communities, which has led to a majority of retailers reporting better relationships with their local police forces.  

We now need to capitalise on this momentum so that more repeat shop thieves are brought to justice and taken out of the cycle of reoffending. Local shops remain committed to working with the police to make this happen.

Today, the government will launch its plan to halve knife crime within a decade. Titled ‘Protecting Lives, Building Hope’, it will save lives, transform the futures of young people and protect communities across the country.

To tackle knife crime, the government will support young people so they get the best start in life, stop those at risk from turning to knife crime and police our streets to catch and punish perpetrators.
April 7, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Interest rate cap introduced to protect Plan 2 borrowers [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 7 April 2026.

Interest on Plan 2 and 3 student loans will be capped at 6%, instead of RPI+3%, to provide borrowers with certainty in an uncertain world.

The government is capping the maximum interest rates on Plan 2 and 3 student loans at 6% from 1 September, for the 2026/27 academic year, delivering stability and protections for graduates from escalating student loan interest.

This measure will protect students and graduates in England and Wales from the potential of inflation pressures due to the situation in the Middle East. Graduates will not pay the price for a war which the UK has no direct involvement in.

This reform removes the risk of any temporary increase in inflation causing loan balances to compound at an unsustainable rate and is in line with actions taken in the past to secure stability in the student finance system.

Graduates with Plan 2 loans currently pay interest rates of between RPI and RPI plus 3%, depending on their earnings. Current students on Plan 2 and Plan 3 also attract an interest rate of RPI +3% while they are studying.

Interest on Plan 2 and 3 student loans will be capped at 6% instead of RPI+3% to protect borrowers. This will ensure no Plan 2 or Plan 3 borrower faces an interest rate of above 6%, protecting them from any short-term increase in RPI due to global shocks, such as temporary spikes in oil prices, outside the government’s control. The government is clear this is not our war and the UK will not be dragged into conflict, but the impacts will affect the future of our country.

It follows changes this government has already made to the student finance system we inherited to improve it and make it fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers. This includes increasing the repayment threshold for Plan 2 loans to £28,470 in April 2025 – its first increase since 2021 – and we have increased it again on 6 April this year, to £29,385.

The government is continuing work to make the student finance system fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers.

Minister for Skills, Jacqui Smith, said:

We know that the conflict in the Middle East is causing anxiety at home, and while the risk of global shocks is beyond our control, protecting people here is not.

Capping the maximum interest rate on Plan 2 and Plan 3 student loans will provide immediate protection for borrowers, supporting those who are most exposed within this already unfair system.

We’re acting now to defend against the consequences of far-away conflicts in an uncertain world. More broadly, we’re bringing back maintenance grants and continuing to look at the broken Plan 2 system we inherited, and the wider student finance system, to make it fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers.

The Prime Minister has outlined plans to protect the UK public from the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East, including cutting energy bills, extending the cut to fuel duty, supporting those exposed to heating oil rises and taking back control of our energy security, by investing in clean British energy.

The government is making this change ahead of student loan interest rates being confirmed for the coming 2026/27 academic year. The interest that applies to student loans is fixed by academic year, from 1 September to 31 August the subsequent year, using the RPI value for the year to March prior (in this case, March 2026).

The student finance system also protects lower-earning graduates, with repayments determined by incomes and outstanding loans and interest being written off at the end of repayment terms. This write-off is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy.

Since 2024, we have been committed to supporting the aspiration of anyone who can and wants to attend higher education. We have reintroduced targeted, means-tested maintenance grants from the 2028/29 academic year, providing students from low-income households with up to £1,000 extra support that will not need to be repaid to ensure those from the poorest families receive more support without increasing their debt. We have also set an ambitious target of two thirds of young people taking a gold standard apprenticeship, higher-level training or heading to university by the age of 25.

April 7, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Millions of workers get new access to sick pay and parental leave [April 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 7 April 2026.

Landmark employment rights reforms kick into force.
- Millions of employees to benefit from reforms to Statutory Sick Pay, ensuring they can take time off when sick without worrying about going without pay.
- New rights to paternity leave from the first day in a new job, helping families balance work and home life.
- Changes are part of the Employment Rights Act, which will benefit over 18 million workers across the UK and make work pay for everyone.
The world of work has today [6th April] been upgraded for the 21st century, as landmark employment rights reforms kick into force.

From today, employees will receive Statutory Sick Pay from their first day of sickness absence – rather than having to wait until the fourth day, regardless of how much they’re getting paid. This will benefit millions of people across the United Kingdom, who will get around 400 million a year extra in sick pay.

By ensuring people can rest and recover without fear of losing income, the reforms are expected to help reduce the duration of sickness absences, boost productivity, and limit the spread of illnesses.

32,000 new fathers and partners have also gained the right to paternity leave from the first day in a new job – rather than having to wait six months to be eligible. New day one rights to unpaid parental leave have also begun, which will benefit 1.5 million working parents across the UK who will no longer have to wait a year before qualifying.

Business Secretary, Peter Kyle said:

“Day one rights mean exactly that: rights that are there for you from the moment you start a job, and from the moment you get sick.

“Whether you’re a low-paid employee who’s been forced to work while unwell, or a new parent who wants to be there for their family, these changes are for you. We’re delivering the most significant upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation”

From today, parents will also be granted a new right to time off following the death of a child’s mother or primary adopter, through new Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave – hard fought for by campaigners including Aaron Horsey and the charity Gingerbread.

The Fair Work Agency will also be launching on 7th April, bringing together three separate agencies to ensure employment rights can be enforced more effectively and efficiently.

Employment Rights Minister, Kate Dearden said:

“No one should have to drag themselves into work when they’re unwell because they can’t afford not to — and no new parent should miss out on time with their child because they haven’t been in their job long enough.

“These reforms put that right. This is what it means to make work pay for everyone.”

Minister for Employment, Dame Diana Johnson said:

“No one should ever have to choose between their health and earning a living.

“For too long, sick employees have had to make the impossible decision between losing out on a day’s pay or returning to work while ill.

“Today’s landmark changes will support employees to recover while providing businesses with the peace of mind that their workforce can return to work healthier and more productive.”
April 7, 2026