Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : LinkedIn and government join forces to help jobseekers build their careers [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : LinkedIn and government join forces to help jobseekers build their careers [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 15 June 2026.

    Thousands of jobseekers could be supported into a new career as the government joins forces with LinkedIn to bolster careers advice.

    • Landmark partnership between LinkedIn and the Government reflects that the ‘job for life’ has given way to career mobility.
    • Anonymised data from LinkedIn’s pool of 40 million UK accounts will help the DWP have the best possible data within the Jobs and Careers Service. 
    • This comes as government brings forward the biggest employment reforms in a generation with a particular focus on helping young people into work.   

    Thousands of jobseekers could be supported into a new career as the government joins forces with LinkedIn to bolster careers advice. 

    It will see timely anonymised data on jobs, skills, hiring and workforce movement shared with Skills England from LinkedIn’s network of 40 million UK accounts, giving the government a new way of viewing the labour market. 

    In the future this could be used by the new Jobs and Careers Service to provide jobseekers with more tailored advice on industry specific skills and career routes, helping them to reach their goals. 

    As the recent Skills England Annual Report found, a further 1.8 million extra jobs will be needed in priority sectors by 2035. The DWP will work with LinkedIn to map how people move between jobs, with the aim of helping people to widen their career options and businesses to look beyond traditional recruitment pools. 

    The landmark partnership with LinkedIn recognises the days of a job for life are increasingly rare. As Funding Circle has found, the average worker will go through seven jobs in their lifetime, with younger people more likely to change roles. This shows that having the right data on career paths and the skills necessary to follow them is more crucial than ever. 

    The DWP and Skills England are excited to explore how this data can be used and will explore a number of possibilities as our work with LinkedIn progresses.  

    An improved understanding of where there is a skills mismatch between local job adverts and the skills of the local population is our first priority for this work in order to inform new skills options and drive economic growth.  

    Young people in particular will benefit from this partnership as the government will gain a more detailed insight of the local workforce and how it is evolving.  

    Last week the Secretary of State Pat McFadden met with LinkedIn’s Blake Lawit, to mark this exciting new partnership. The partnership comes as the government takes forward the biggest employment reforms in a generation, including the creation of the new Jobs and Careers Service and a major drive backed by £2.5 billion investment to give every young person the chance to earn or learn. 

    Pat McFadden Secretary of State said: 

    We know young people today are far less likely than previous generations to stay in the same career for life, which is why we must give them the tools to build a fulfilling, lasting career path.  

    This partnership with LinkedIn will give us a clearer understanding of the jobs market – what employers need, where opportunities are, and how people are building their careers, in order to boost economic growth.  

    Together with our £2.5 billion youth employment support package, we are making sure that every young person across the country has the chance to earn or learn.

    Phil Smith, Chair of Skills England, said:  

    I’m really excited about this partnership. LinkedIn has become such a hub for businesses that are recruiting and people on the look-out for jobs.  

    The resulting insights from their anonymised data will be incredibly valuable to Skills England and the new Jobs and Careers Service – particularly when it comes to identifying local skills gaps and helping young people to fill them.  

    We’re looking forward to joining forces to make a major difference.

    Blake Lawit, Chief Global Affairs & Legal Officer of LinkedIn: 

    Today’s careers are increasingly shaped by skills, adaptability, and continuous learning.  

    Professionals entering the workforce now are on pace to hold twice as many jobs over their careers compared to 15 years ago. As people navigate more career transitions, access to timely labour market insights is more important than ever.  

    We’re proud to be supporting the UK Government’s efforts to better understand workforce trends, close talent gaps, and help more people find their next opportunity faster.

    Additional Information

    No individual-level member data will be shared with DWP. 

    LinkedIn has a database of 40 million accounts which includes students, retirees and working people recognise the UK as their professional home. 

    To protect the privacy of LinkedIn’s members, data will be collected within LinkedIn’s existing systems, with anonymised findings shared with Skills England. insight into how many people are employed, how they’re working. 

    Skills England will lead on this partnership on behalf of DWP, with officials already working to begin the initial phase of the project.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Eritrea [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Eritrea [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 June 2026.

    UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Eritrea. Delivered at the 62nd Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    The UK thanks the Special Rapporteur for his update and for his work throughout his tenure. We are disappointed that the Eritrean Government continues to refuse to engage with this mandate.     

    We welcome the release of some of those held in arbitrary detention for political or religious reasons. However, many more remain detained in inhumane conditions, and we encourage the Eritrean Government to extend these releases.   

    The system of indefinite national service has a suffocating impact on the lives of Eritreans, especially young people, and has contributed to mass emigration including to the UK. It requires urgent reform.  

    We support the report’s recommendations, including the call for the implementation of Eritrea’s Constitution.  

    Special Rapporteur,  as you reflect on the past 6 years of your tenure, where do you see the most realistic opportunities for progress as you hopefully hand the baton to a successor?

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government backing helps UK’s Rolls-Royce SMR win multibillion-pound Sweden nuclear export contract [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government backing helps UK’s Rolls-Royce SMR win multibillion-pound Sweden nuclear export contract [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 15 June 2026.

    Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by the Swedish development company Videberg Kraft to build small modular reactors (SMRs) in Sweden, marking a major multibillion-pound export win for the UK and a breakthrough moment for British nuclear.

    • Rolls-Royce SMR wins race for multibillion-pound deal to partner with Videberg Kraft for Sweden’s nuclear programme.
    • Major vote of confidence in UK innovation and government’s Modern Industrial Strategy secured by government export campaign.
    • Deal to support thousands of skilled jobs, strengthen supply chains and deepen UK–Sweden partnership.

    Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by the Swedish development company Videberg Kraft to build small modular reactors (SMRs) in Sweden, marking a major multibillion-pound export win for the UK and a breakthrough moment for British nuclear. 

    The multibillion-pound deal was supported by a UK Government export campaign, including a visit by Business Secretary Peter Kyle to Sweden earlier this year.

    The deal will boost jobs, back UK industry and strengthen the UK’s domestic nuclear programme, while supporting Sweden’s plans to deliver clean, reliable and secure power. 

    The decision marks a clear endorsement of the technology’s credibility, following the decision by Great British Energy – Nuclear in June 2025 to select Rolls-Royce SMR as its preferred technology partner for the government’s own SMR programme. 

    It is also a strong signal of international confidence in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, almost a year on from its launch in 2025. 

    It opens up significant opportunities for UK and European supply chains, supporting thousands of skilled jobs and long-term economic growth across both countries. 

    The partnership also represents a step-change for Europe’s energy security, delivering reliable clean power and reducing dependence on volatile fossil fuels. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    This deal is a major win for Britain’s economy — showcasing UK engineering on the world stage and securing high‑value jobs, investment and export growth for years to come.  

    It proves that British technology and innovation is helping to drive Europe’s clean‑energy transition, strengthen energy security and open new markets for our world‑class nuclear sector.

    Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: 

    I’m unashamedly backing British business on the world stage and that’s why I went to Stockholm earlier this year to champion this partnership, and it’s great to see Government’s effort paying off. 

    This is a major vote of confidence in Rolls-Royce SMR and the UK’s world‑leading civil nuclear sector — showing that, thanks to our Modern Industrial Strategy, Britain is the partner of choice for the next generation of clean energy. 

    At a time of global instability, this deal strengthens Europe’s energy security while creating jobs, driving investment and growing our supply chains at home and with partners like Sweden — backing British industry to deliver clean, reliable power for decades to come.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    This is further proof that clean energy is the industrial opportunity of this century for Britain – and that this Government’s commitment to this agenda is winning jobs and investment for Britain.  

    It’s time to make and build things in Britain again – that is why we’ve embarked on the biggest nuclear power programme in a generation, as we drive for energy sovereignty and abundance.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    We have the right economic plan, and after this government backed Rolls Royce to make the UK’s first SMRs at Wylfa, this deal showcases British businesses’ ability to compete and win in the global market for clean energy technologies.

    New high-value jobs, a strengthened industrial base and export opportunities worth billions of pounds will help drive long-term growth and position the UK at the forefront of the industries powering the future.

    This decision reflects strong alignment between the UK and Sweden on clean energy, energy security and long-term economic growth — and lays the foundations for deeper cooperation on nuclear deployment across Europe.  The Government will now work closely with Swedish partners alongside Great British Energy – Nuclear to explore how the respective SMR programmes can benefit from collaboration.  

    The global SMR market is expected to reach nearly £500 billion by 2050, with the UK well-placed to lead the race to build and export next-generation nuclear technology. 

    The UK’s first SMR project will be built at Wylfa in North Wales and is estimated to support around 3,000 jobs at peak construction and thousands more across the UK supply chain. 

    Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce plc, said: 

    Rolls-Royce SMR has now been successful in every competitively tendered SMR selection process in Europe and it is now very well placed to become a market leader globally. Success in Sweden shows the real momentum that Rolls-Royce SMR is generating as it builds upon its crucial first-mover advantage in a market that is growing and attracting significant international interest. 

    Selection by Videberg Kraft reinforces the status of Rolls-Royce SMR as the only company with multiple contractual commitments to deliver SMR units in Europe. It is an endorsement of our technology and technical capability to deliver a scalable, repeatable nuclear solution. 

    This selection is also further evidence that the strategic choices we have made in the transformation of Rolls-Royce are delivering. We are unlocking significant future growth opportunities through our unique nuclear capabilities and are well positioned to benefit from the ongoing nuclear renaissance.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors 

    • Rolls-Royce SMR is the UK’s leading small modular reactor technology, designed to deliver reliable low-carbon electricity and support domestic and export growth. 
    • The deal supports skilled jobs and supply chain opportunities across the UK and Europe. 
    • The UK is positioning itself as a global leader in next-generation nuclear technology.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Solicitor General refers Vickrum Digwa to Court of Appeal [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Solicitor General refers Vickrum Digwa to Court of Appeal [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 15 June 2026.

    The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC has referred the sentence of Vickrum Digwa, convicted of the murder of Henry Nowak, to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    The Court of Appeal will now decide whether the sentence imposed was unduly lenient, and whether to increase the existing sentence.

    The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP says:

    This case horrified me, and I know that feeling is shared by the British public. It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry’s Nowak’s murder, while my role is to review Digwa’s sentence for his crimes.

    After careful consideration, I have taken the decision to refer this case to the Court of Appeal.

    No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry’s family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss. But I hope this referral goes some way towards bringing them the justice they deserve.

    Notes for Editors

    • Anyone can ask for a Crown Court sentence to be reviewed if they think it’s too low.
    • The Law Officers can review sentences given by the Crown Court in England and Wales if they’re asked to. The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to carefully consider the case and make a decision
    • By law only certain types of case can be reviewed, such as murder, manslaughter and rape
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to build UK’s first permanent mobile museum to bring art to communities everywhere [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to build UK’s first permanent mobile museum to bring art to communities everywhere [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 15 June 2026.

    £1.6 million investment from DCMS and Art Explora will create the UK’s first permanent mobile museum.

    • Renowned British architecture studio Ab Rogers Design appointed to design new mobile museum after international competition
    • Artworks from the Government Art Collection will tour the South West and North West of England this summer
    • This is the government’s latest step towards ensuring everyone can access arts and culture in the places they call home 

    The UK’s first permanent mobile museum will hit the road next year, bringing world class art to the doors of people all across the country. 

    A total of £1.6 million, formed of £800,000 from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and £800,000 matched by arts access charity Art Explora, will be used to build a state-of-the-art vehicle and tour three national collections per year, including the Government Art Collection (GAC). Designed by renowned British architect Ab Rogers, this colourful new vehicle will be the first dedicated mobile museum in the country and is part of the Culture Secretary’s plan to ensure arts are available everywhere for everyone. 

    From 2027, Art Explora will tour the new mobile museum with three 12-week exhibitions each year. GAC artworks will feature in one exhibition annually, with national and regional partners including Tate, the National Portrait Gallery, Leeds Art Gallery, Birmingham Museums Trust and National Museums Liverpool among other national museums delivering the remaining programme to ensure the widest possible reach across the UK. 

    The Government Art Collection was established in 1899 and is a national collection of historic, modern and contemporary British art that is displayed in government buildings in the UK and around the world. The works are seen by hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, promoting British art and contributing to cultural diplomacy. Through an extensive public engagement programme, the GAC brings artworks into the heart of communities and works with UK and international partners to support creative exchange and skill development for young people. 

    Ahead of this, a three month pilot tour will take place in the South West and North West with an existing mobile museum. This will bring a curated selection of works from the collection to communities across England this summer, including many who have never had the chance to experience a national gallery up close. 

    The exhibition brings together a selection of artworks from the Government Art Collection that explores the sea’s influence on people, places and communities. Through themes of exploration, migration and climate change, the works reflect the many ways the sea has shaped the UK and the wider world.

    Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

    I am determined that great art isn’t just for the few but for everyone, no matter where they live. The Government Art Collection belongs to the whole country, and this tour is an exciting step towards making that a reality. 

    By taking the collection directly into communities, to parks, schools, libraries and public squares, we’re breaking down the barriers that have kept people from experiencing the art that belongs to everyone. This is what ‘Arts Everywhere’ really means in practice, and I’m proud that we’re making it happen.

    The establishment of a permanent mobile museum for the UK builds on the success of two previous Art Explora mobile museum tours, in collaboration with Tate, in 2023 and 2024 across the Midlands and the North.

    The mobile museum is currently being built in Telford by Torton Bodies Limited, a leading UK firm, with a striking design by renowned British architect Ab Rogers.

    Jemima Montagu, Director, Art Explora, said:

    There remains a growing gap between those who have access to museums, galleries and arts venues, and those who are left behind. Art Explora is trying to bridge this divide by taking art into the heart of communities and sharing our rich national collections more widely. The new UK Mobile Museum is a stunning piece of design and engineering which will itself be a source of wonder and inspiration wherever it goes. A tardis for the 21st century!

    Frédéric Jousset, Founder and Chair of Trustees, Art Explora, said:

    Art Explora was founded on the belief that art should be accessible to everyone. We now have a growing Mobile Museum fleet in France, which – over 15 years – has proven the value of bringing art from our national collections directly to communities. UK government support for a dedicated UK truck is an important milestone, as we extend access to great art collections further across Europe.

    Ab Rogers, Founder and Director, Ab Rogers Design, said:

    It is not every day you get the opportunity to design a mobile museum. We wanted to capture the feeling of the circus arriving in town, creating an explosive burst of energy and anticipation that contains and nurtures extraordinary, curated collections. More mobile, more vibrant and more alive than any other museum, it’s a project that’s very close to my heart.

    The mobile museum is one of the core programmes of Art Explora UK, an arts charity founded in 2021 with a mission to tackle the social, economic and geographic barriers that prevent many people from participating in the arts. The mobile museum addresses these barriers head-on, setting up within walking distance of local schools and community centres in areas identified as having high deprivation and low cultural engagement. Over 36–40 weeks of touring annually, it will visit 40 – 45 locations, reaching 25,000 visitors and serving 130–150 schools each year.

    This builds on the Culture Secretary’s commitment of up to £1.5 billion to the cultural sector over this parliament, with the Arts Everywhere Fund aiming to save more than 1,000 cherished arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to the arts on their doorstep.

    Notes to editors

    • Art Explora’s mission is to expand access to the arts in the UK through innovative touring, digital and creative programmes. They work with artists, communities and cultural organisations to remove barriers to participation and make the arts accessible to all.  They champion the power of art to connect people, inspire ideas and enrich lives.
    • Ab Rogers is a designer specialising in small spaces and experiential design, known for his use of colour, narrative, and high functionality. Rogers’ work focuses on diverse conceptual approaches to interiors, including the use of dynamic materials, sensation, and movement. 
    • The Government Art Collection’s exhibition ’Shaped by the Sea’will go on tour on the Art Explora Mobile Museum for 13 weeks, from 15 June to 13 September 2026. 
    • The mobile museum tour will start in St Budeaux, Plymouth. It will bring historic, modern and contemporary works by British artists from the GAC to communities across the South West and the North West of England. Artists included in the exhibition: Roger Ackling, Simon Bayliss, Samuel and Nathaniel Buck,Chila Kumari Singh Burman, Mohini Chandra, EVEWRIGHT, Anya Gallaccio, Lubaina Himid, Tess Jaray, Thomas Luny, Will Maclean, Zethu Maseko, Paul Nash, William Pye, Bridget Riley, Ro Robertson, Zineb Sedira, Emma Stibbon and J. M. W. Turner. 
    • MuMo (‘Mobile Museum’) was founded by Ingrid Brochard, designed by matali crasset with the support of the Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue with the UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue with the UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 June 2026.

    UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue with the UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Kumar Iyer.

    Mr President, 

    The UK thanks the Fact-Finding Mission for its harrowing update. It is deplorable that as the conflict enters its fourth year, such grave violations and abuses of human rights continue unabated.  

    Mr President, we are deeply alarmed by what we have heard today. Systematic arbitrary detention and torture devastate civilian lives. Rape and other forms of sexual violence are abhorrent and must end. Survivors must be supported and those responsible held to account. Let us be clear: sexual violence must never be used as a tactic of war.  

    The expanding use of drones is intensifying humanitarian need, with over 880 civilians reportedly killed by drone strikes this year alone. We deplore the continued targeting of civilian infrastructure, including schools, markets, and hospitals. 

    We call on the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and their allies to comply fully with their obligations under international humanitarian law, enable safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access and end the fighting.  

    We welcome the continued cooperation between the UN Fact-Finding Mission and the AU Fact-Finding Mission, including the Banjul Declaration. Together, their efforts are critical for ending the cycle of impunity and building the foundations of peaceful future for the people of Sudan.  

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New police data-sharing to target organised crime [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New police data-sharing to target organised crime [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 15 June 2026.

    UK police to access European vehicle data in seconds, accelerating organised crime investigations.

    Foreign criminals involved in serious and organised crime, including those operating networks moving illegal migrants across continents, will be identified more quickly as UK police gain faster access to European vehicle data.

    As part of efforts to secure the border and tackle illegal migration, officers will be able to check overseas-registered vehicles and receive key information in seconds rather than days or even months. Previously, delays slowed investigations into criminal gangs involved in smuggling migrants, illicit drugs and illegal weapons into the UK.

    Officers can now carry out number plate checks through the EU’s Prüm data-sharing framework and receive results in around 10 seconds, rather than having to make individual requests to EU Member States. Where a match is found, the system provides vehicle keeper details and other key information, while also flagging stolen vehicles, helping police tackle crime, including vehicle theft, across the UK.

    This capability will strengthen intelligence on cross-border crime and improve the identification of vehicles linked to trafficking networks. Earlier visibility of vehicles and individuals will enable law enforcement to identify vehicles repeatedly used in smuggling activity, better understand the supply chains underpinning migrant smuggling, and carry out more targeted, intelligence-led operations to disrupt organised criminal networks.

    The system builds on the UK’s existing participation in the Prüm framework, which already enables the sharing of DNA and fingerprint data with European partners, and will be operational ahead of the second UK-EU Summit in Brussels.

    Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said:

    This gives British police faster access to vital information and strengthens our work with European partners.

    Officers will be able to quickly link vehicles to suspects, spot stolen or cloned cars, and track the movements of smugglers across borders.

    For criminals, the message is simple: you can’t outrun the law by crossing borders. We will find you and bring you to justice.

    Detective Chief Constable Peter Ayling, National Policing Lead for International Crime at the NPCC, said:

    The ability to access keeper details of EU-registered vehicles is a welcome addition to a suite of other capabilities that help the UK tackle international crime.

    Crime is increasingly a global issue, and a swift and effective approach to exchanging information and intelligence with EU partners is critical for public protection.

    APCC Joint Leads on Serious Organised Crime, Lisa Townsend (Surrey PCC) and David Allen (Cumbria PFCC) said:

    Serious organised crime is an increasing and global threat that plays out in communities across our country. Too many lives are devastated by the international trade in drugs and weapons, so it is vital police have all available tools to tackle it.

    Quick access to EU data enabling police here to track the transnational movements of those involved in trafficking people, narcotics and lethal weapons into the UK will significantly support law enforcement in the fight against dangerous criminals whose illegal activities blight our local communities.

    Today’s expanded access to vehicle registration data builds on the success of earlier UK-backed operations. During Operation Mobile 3, a coordinated 2-week effort involving multiple countries, more than 44,000 vehicle checks led to the recovery of over 350 stolen vehicles and 1,000 vehicle parts, while supporting action against organised crime networks, including 17 suspected migrant smugglers.

    Vehicle data sharing under the Prüm system will launch with the Police Service of Northern Ireland before rolling out to forces across the UK in the coming weeks.

    Under a reciprocal arrangement, EU law enforcement authorities will be able to request access to UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency data. This will help ensure criminals fleeing the UK can be identified and brought to justice.

    All data sharing is subject to strict safeguards and is carried out in line with UK data protection law and the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, ensuring information is used securely and appropriately.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Nigeria – Peter Vowles [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Nigeria – Peter Vowles [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 June 2026.

    Mr Peter Vowles has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in succession to Dr Richard Montgomery CMG.

    Mr Vowles will take up his appointment during September 2026.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name:  Peter Vowles 

    2023 to presentHarare, HM Ambassador  
    2022 to 2023FCDO, Transformation Director  
    2021 to 2022Yangon, HM Ambassador  
    2018 to 2021DFID, Director, Asia, Caribbean and Overseas Territories 
    2016 to 2018 Kenya, DFID Country Director 
    2013 to 2016 DFID, Head of Programme Delivery  
    2010 to 2013 Democratic Republic of Congo, Deputy DFID Country Director  
    2007 to 2010 India, Head of Global Partnerships  
    2006 to 2007 Afghanistan, Governance and Security Team Leader   
    2006Joined DFID  
    2005 to 2006 Mott MacDonald, Health and Development Consultant   
    2003 to 2005 Bangladesh, Population and Health Programme Director   
    2002 to 2003 Bangladesh, World Bank Health Adviser  
    2000 to 2002 National Health Service, Management Training Scheme   
    1999 to 2000 Raleigh International, Head of Projects  
    1996 to 1999 Zimbabwe, Policy and Programme Manager, Students Partnership Worldwide  
    1992 to 1993Zimbabwe, Teacher, Ministry of Education Sports and Culture
  • PRESS RELEASE : Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 15 June 2026.

    Social media platforms to be blocked from offering services to under-16s, marking a line in the sand and setting a new normal for future generations.

    • UK will go further to protect kids with world-leading additional restrictions on harmful features online such as live streaming and strangers communicating with children 
    • Government action shows clear choice to side with families over tech companies to put power back in parents’ hands and give kids the childhood they deserve 
    • Decisive action – backed by 9 in 10 parents – expected to be brought to Parliament before Christmas, with protections expected to come into force in Spring 2027 

    Children will be given back their childhoods thanks to government action to ban social media platforms from offering services to under-16s, with less time for scrolling and more time for play. 

    The plans will set a new normal for future generations, kickstarting a cultural shift and driving forward the government’s fight to give every child the best start in life. 

    The government plans to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia. This would capture user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material, alongside algorithms. The ban will therefore include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. We do not intend for messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to be included in the social media ban.

    In a move to protect children online and address the scale of the challenge, the government will also go further than a blanket ban on social media with world-leading blocks on harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s. These restrictions – which together with the ban go further than any other country – will apply to a wider range of online services, including on gaming sites. 

    Restrictions on these functionalities will also be on by default for under 16- and 17-year-olds to prevent a cliff-edge at 16. The government will also be looking in more detail at overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18-year-olds and will set out more detail in July. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:  

    Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever. 

    I’ve heard first hand from families crying out for change and we will do right by them.  

    That’s why we’re going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back. 

    This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we’re stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations.

    So-called AI ‘romantic companion’ chatbots – designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users – will have to enforce a minimum age of 18. Similar intimate functionalities will be restricted for under-18s on AI chatbots more widely. 

    Taken together, these measures will mean a much more comprehensive model than just a blanket ban on social media — one that responds to how children experience harm online, rather than just where it happens. 

    The changes will back parents grappling with the risks for children that come from the online world and help empower them by providing a clear decision on what is safe and age-appropriate for children. 

    This is a decisive first step by the government which marks a clear choice to put children’s wellbeing first and give them a healthy life online. We stand ready to take further measures in the future.

    Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: 

    Today we take a bold and significant step, towards creating a safer, healthier life online, for our children and future generations. 

    Tech companies have had countless opportunities to keep children safe, yet they have failed to act. That is why we are a taking power away from the tech giants and putting it back in parents’ hands. 

    My driving force has always been to give every child, from every background, the best possible start in life. That is what these regulations will deliver.

    The government will also learn the lessons from Australia’s experience by introducing more highly effective age assurance (HEAA) measures to support compliance, making it far harder for children to bypass safeguards. 

    Ofcom will conduct a rapid study on what is effective age assurance for verifying whether someone is over 16. The Secretary of State has also written to the new Chair of Ofcom to ask for an urgent review of Ofcom’s enforcement capabilities with a clear enforcement strategy to be published as soon as possible.

    In her letter, the Secretary of State confirmed the government will ensure Ofcom has the funding it needs to carry out its new responsibilities – as well as continue its vital work to enforce the existing provisions of the Online Safety Act, including protecting women and girls online, tackling harmful content that puts vulnerable people at risk, and taking action against serious illegal activity such as child sexual abuse material and online fraud and scams.  

    Today’s announcement follows one of the biggest national conversations held by this government, with more than 116,000 responses submitted by parents, children and experts across the country. The responses showed overwhelming public backing for tougher action. 9 in 10 parents said they would support a social media ban for children under 16.

    The majority of young people also backed action, with two-thirds agreeing that children younger than 16 should not be allowed to use at least some social media platforms. 

    On social media services, real-time content makes harmful material harder to moderate, and algorithmic feeds can intensify exposure to dangerous, distressing or overly engaging material.

    Parents rightly expect government to take action as quickly as possible, which is why the government has already taken powers through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act to act fast — using secondary legislation to introduce targeted protections without needing to wait to bring in a whole new Act. This means the first set of regulations could be in effect in Spring 2027. 

    Today’s action builds on the government’s work to date to go further and faster to protect children online and fight for their wellbeing. Last week, the Prime Minister challenged tech companies so that Britain will be the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images – with a 3-month deadline to make meaningful progress. 

    This watershed moment will come alongside the government’s drive to remove barriers to opportunity and set every child up for happy, fulfilling lives. Yesterday, the government set out further steps to make sure children in every part of the country get greater access to enrichment opportunities in sport, creative activities, nature and the arts both in and out of school.

    This builds on wider work to halve the participation gap and reclaim childhood for all young people, including through reforms to the curriculum so that every child gets the skills they need to get on in life, and support throughout their school years to explore and develop their talents, regardless of their background or where they live.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint E4 Leaders’ Statement on the US-Iran peace deal [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint E4 Leaders’ Statement on the US-Iran peace deal [June 2026]

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

    Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy on the US-Iran peace deal.

    We warmly welcome the announcement of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. We congratulate the United States, the Iranian government and all those involved, including Pakistan, Qatar and all other mediators, on this diplomatic breakthrough.

    This is a moment of opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilise the global economy.

    It is now vital that the detailed negotiations are concluded and this agreement is implemented rapidly and comprehensively. We are ready to support that effort.

    The urgent re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation is essential. We are committed to playing our part to achieve this —in accordance with our respective constitutional requirements— including through a strictly defensive and independent mission to reassure commercial shipping and conduct mine clearance operations.

    Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon. We stand ready to work with the US, Iran and the IAEA to this end. We are prepared to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear programme.

    We will work intensively with the US, Iran and regional partners to seize this moment, maintain momentum and achieve a long-term diplomatic settlement.

    We also reaffirm our full support to the stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and the importance of a robust ceasefire.