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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : British research expertise to deliver faster cancer diagnosis and cleaner energy [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : British research expertise to deliver faster cancer diagnosis and cleaner energy [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 February 2026.

    Major new backing for medical imaging centres across the UK including tidal energy testing expansion in Orkney and cutting-edge materials.

    • Major new research programmes backed by the government and delivered through UKRI will drive innovation in healthcare, cleaner energy and advanced manufacturing.
    • Pioneering medical imaging centres across the UK will help doctors detect diseases earlier and speed up treatment for patients.
    • Tidal energy testing expanded in Orkney – cementing Scotland’s place as a clean energy superpower and unlocking greener power for communities.
    • £80 million pumped into efforts to produce cutting-edge materials, supporting everything from lighter and more efficient aircraft parts to long-lasting medical implants.

    Patients will see faster cancer diagnoses and doctors will gain new insights into how diseases develop and resist treatments, as part of 3 new research programmes which harness cutting-edge tech to deliver benefits for hardworking people across the country. 

    Unveiled by Science Minister Lord Vallance today (Thursday 19 February), a combined pot of £150 million will support 3 key projects spanning healthcare, clean energy, and the development of state-of-the-art materials. This will help deliver on the government’s plans for national renewal, by growing the economy, improving lives, and helping turn the brightest UK research ideas into new businesses.

    The investment is part of UKRI’s record £38 billion funding settlement, which will specifically target curiosity-driven research, R&D addressing government priorities, and support for innovative companies to start, scale and stay in the UK.

    The UK’s research community has already been backed by a record £86 billion in R&D investment over the coming years, with today’s announcements highlighting how that support is helping researchers go further and faster to deliver positive change and tangible impact for the British public.

    One key area is in the treatment and diagnoses of cancer – a disease which will touch all of us over the course of our lifetimes. The earlier a disease is caught, the better a patient’s chances, while the ability for researchers to understand why a treatment works for one person but not others holds the potential to transform care for millions.

    Backed by £55 million, a new medical imaging programme will create ‘Centres of Imaging Excellence’ in England, Scotland and Wales. These hubs for cutting-edge med tech will bring together the latest scanning technology with clinical expertise to unlock new insights into how diseases develop and why some infections resist drugs. For patients, this means faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments tailored to them. For the NHS, it means staying at the forefront of medical science while easing pressure on services.

    A project backed by £15 million meanwhile will tap into Britain’s coastline – one of our greatest natural assets – to help generate reliable, clean power. Blue Horizon will expand the European Marine Energy Centre’s world-leading tidal test facilities in Orkney, meaning more companies can trial their turbines in real world conditions, accelerating the journey from prototype to power grid. The investment brings tidal energy closer to becoming a mainstream part of Britain’s energy mix, creating skilled jobs in coastal communities and supporting the government’s mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.

    Scotland’s natural strengths as a renewable energy powerhouse have already seen the country taking on an increasingly pivotal role to deliver growth and opportunity. Lanarkshire’s new AI Growth Zone announced just weeks ago will not only create 3,400 high-value local jobs but will also be powered by on-site renewables. This pioneering approach highlights the potential of renewable energy to power the UK’s science, innovation, and technology ambitions for generations to come.

    Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

    Britain has world-class researchers and a proud history of turning insight and ideas into innovation. Our job is to make sure those ideas don’t just stay in the lab, but become the treatments, technologies and products that improve lives in hospitals, homes and communities across the country.

    Government investment in projects like these – from helping to spot diseases earlier and developing new cancer therapies to taking advantage of our coastline to power the nation – will make a real difference to people and spark the economic growth hardworking communities deserve.

    This represents British research at its best – bringing together ideas, expertise, and technical know-how and turning it into impact.

    Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation Minister, said:

    After 20 years of frontline NHS experience, I know how vital it is that cancer is caught early to give patients a fighting chance.

    Cutting edge research like this could save lives by giving patients faster diagnoses and individually-tailored treatments.

    This is another step on our journey to shift our NHS from analogue to digital, as part of our 10 Year Health Plan.

    As part of today’s announcements, the government is also rolling out an £80 million National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP) – helping deliver on the ambition of its Modern Industrial Strategy. Advanced materials are already part of daily life – they stop our phone screens from shattering when they’re dropped and help electric car batteries charge faster and last longer. They’re also behind critical innovations in healthcare, defence and clean energy.

    Britain has world-leading researchers developing these materials, but promising discoveries too often end up manufactured abroad. The programme unveiled today will bridge that gap, helping UK innovations reach market faster and keeping production in Britain. This sort of innovation is already delivering positive change for the public. Only 3% of UK adults with glioblastoma – the most aggressive brain cancer – currently survive for 5 years, with Cheshire-based QV Bioelectronics now using advanced materials to develop a world-first implant device which delivers targeted therapy directly to the brain. The company has secured £4.5 million, including Innovate UK funding, to now begin first-in-human trials.

    The money announced today will help bring together industry, academia, and government to streamline access to funding, and support targeted pilots which could lead to the eventual development of everything from lighter, more efficient aircraft parts through to long-life medical implants.

    Mike Biddle, Executive Director Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:

    Working alongside Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will help establish a coordinated approach for the UK advanced materials sector and accelerate the pull through of impactful innovations into industry, boosting productivity, resilience and growth nationwide.

    The programmes announced today highlight how curiosity-driven research and a focus on national priorities and support for companies to scale up and grow will deliver sustainable, positive change for British people. This agile, focused, and impactful approach won’t just put British expertise at the heart of innovations and breakthroughs delivering for people here at home, but which are transforming lives for the better all over the world.

    Notes to editors

    The National Materials Innovation Programme will fund 5 areas of activity:

    • connecting researchers with businesses – new networks bringing together universities, companies and government
    • backing high-potential projects – targeted support for the most promising innovations
    • protecting strategic supplies – ensuring the UK can produce materials critical to national security,
    • improving testing and data – developing better ways to measure and verify how new materials perform
    • building international partnerships – working with global partners to attract investment, share expertise and strengthen the UK’s reputation as a world leader in materials science

    The Blue Horizon project is delivered by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, with funding from UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK hands over modernised rehabilitation wards to Ukraine Armed Forces [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK hands over modernised rehabilitation wards to Ukraine Armed Forces [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 16 February 2026.

    UK hands over final modernised medical rehabilitation wards to Ukraine’s Armed Forces under Project Renovator, following two-year Defence collaboration.

    The UK has handed over the last of five modernised medical rehabilitation wards to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as part of Project Renovator. Defence Equipment and Support and the Defence Medical Services have been working together for two years on this project, and representatives were on site to sign the formal handover documents.

    Renovator is a NATO funded project to expand Ukraine’s military medical rehabilitation services and help troops who suffered life-changing injuries to return to the frontline and help them readjust to civilian life. The UK was the first nation to join the project, responsible for refurbishing, equipping and providing training to one site, and providing urgent support to the other sites as they awaited NATO partners. Norway, Sweden, Lithuania and Latvia have now joined the project and the UK is working alongside them to deliver a fully integrated rehabilitation capability for Ukraine.

    Nearly all core work for the project has now been delivered, including; two heating and hot water systems to enhance resilience at two sites; five modernised wards with accommodation, treatment spaces and staff facilities; a range of physical training kit, clinical equipment and diagnostics capabilities to support rehabilitation and training; and four deployed training teams providing specialist clinical shoulder-to-shoulder mentoring and training.  The project has increased bed capacity by 250, and delivered over 21,000 items of equipment.  The final element before achievement of Full Operating Capability will be the installation of a modern CT scanner to enhance diagnostics for complex trauma injuries.

    Colonel Simon Doyle, the Renovator Project Director said:

    This has been an enormous team effort from our Ukrainian hosts and colleagues, industry, and the UK. Standing here now it is difficult to believe that the full scale invasion had put this facility totally out of action, and now it is helping return Defenders to the fight with the brand-new high-quality facilities they deserve. We look forward to helping you on the next stage of developing this amazing facility.

    Colonel Victor Korchenok, the Site Deputy Commander said:

    It is a great honour to mark the handover of the last ward. The UK was the first nation to support Renovator, providing infrastructure development, modern rehabilitation, surgical and diagnostic equipment, and training for our professionals. Each component has greatly enhanced our rehabilitation capabilities and improved the quality of care for our defenders who protect our sovereignty.

    Rickie Nixon, the Defence Equipment and Support Operations Team Leader said: 

    We started this project two years ago, and have come a long way. Our small team has achieved so much here on the Renovator sites, and we are hugely grateful for the opportunity to support our friends in Ukraine on such an important project.

    Andriy Dyshuk, director of Ukrainian construction company Fragola Government Services, said:

    This project demonstrates how proper cooperation between two countries, even in the most difficult conditions, can deliver massive results. It is not just words but the physical outcome that matters. This success was only possible through stakeholder collaboration, and I thank Prevail and the United Kingdom for their efforts.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Parents urged to protect children through vaccination campaign [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Parents urged to protect children through vaccination campaign [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 February 2026.

    New vaccination campaign launched to boost uptake of childhood immunisations.

    • National campaign launches today to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated
    • Routine childhood immunisation prevents around 5,000 deaths and 228,000 hospital admissions every year in England
    • Parents encouraged to check their child’s vaccination status and raise awareness in their communities

    More children’s lives would be saved if they were vaccinated against deadly diseases so the government is today launching a new childhood immunisation campaign.

    Illnesses like measles can spread very easily between children who are not vaccinated, as we are currently seeing in North London.

    Parents will now have easy access to trusted information on childhood vaccines through the government’s new campaign, helping them understand the protection vaccines provide and making it simpler to keep children healthy.

    Illnesses like measles can spread very easily between children who are not vaccinated. The United Kingdom recently lost its World Health Organization (WHO) measles elimination status after over 2,900 cases of measles were confirmed in England in 2024, the highest levels recorded in decades. At the same time childhood vaccination rates were, and still are, well below the 95% WHO uptake target needed to prevent measles outbreaks. 

    Failing to vaccinate children leaves them unprotected against diseases that are easily preventable through free NHS vaccinations.

    The ‘Stay Strong, Get Vaccinated’ campaign encourages parents to ensure their children receive their routine childhood immunisations and aren’t put at unnecessary risk.

    Separately parents are also being encouraged not only to ensure their own children are fully up to date, but also to help raise awareness among family, friends and their wider communities about the importance of routine immunisation.

    Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation and Safety Minister said:

    Vaccination is one of the greatest public health successes of our time, protecting children from serious and sometimes life-threatening diseases. But with vaccination rates falling and the UK losing its measles elimination status, it’s vital we act now. 

    Our campaign will help parents get clear, trusted information about childhood vaccines and the protection they offer. 

    By making vaccines easier to access — including the introduction of chickenpox protection into the childhood programme with the MMRV vaccine — we are supporting families to keep their children safe and healthy, while helping to protect communities across the country.

    Routine childhood immunisations are free and highly effective — they are the safest way to protect our children’s health. UKHSA estimates that childhood vaccinations prevent around 5,000 deaths and more than 228,000 hospital admissions in England every year.

    The government campaign, developed with support from NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency, aims to reverse the decline in uptake by providing clear, trusted information and making it easier than ever for families to access vaccines, including new protection against chickenpox through the combined MMRV vaccine, following on from successful flu and maternal vaccination campaigns.

    Aimed at the parents of children aged 0 to five-years-old, it will include:

    • A new 30-second TV and video on demand advert
    • Online video, social media content and digital display advertising.
    • Gaming and parenting forum partnerships including with Netmums and Mumsnet

    This year NHS has introduced protection against chickenpox into the childhood programme – with the MMRV vaccine protecting children against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox in a single jab.

    Vaccination remains one of the most effective public health interventions, second only to clean water. Immunisation protects millions of children from severe illness, long-term complications and death globally each year. 

    These programmes protect against a wide range of serious diseases, including measles, whooping cough, meningitis, polio and diphtheria. As well as directly protecting vaccinated children, many vaccines also reduce transmission across the population, helping to protect those who are too young or too vulnerable to be vaccinated.

    The MMRV vaccine includes protection against varicella (chickenpox) and the second dose is offered earlier — at 18 months — to ensure more children are fully protected before starting school.

    The varicella vaccine costs parents around £150 for a full two-dose course if accessed privately. The MMRV vaccine is available free on the NHS for eligible children, removing cost barriers and helping ensure equitable access to protection for families.

    Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination, said:

    Childhood vaccines have protected generations of children from devastating diseases for decades, yet too many children are still missing out on vital protection.

    We’re urging all parents to check their children are up to date with their recommended vaccinations and to book an appointment through their GP practice when invited– it’s quick, it’s free, and it could save their life.

    Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director Immunisation at UK Health Security Agency:

    A decade of falling vaccination rates means that many children remain unprotected from serious but preventable diseases. Measles, whooping cough and other diseases spread quickly in unvaccinated children and can have devastating consequences . The NHS childhood vaccination programme offers the best protection to children against 13 diseases.

    It’s important that parents can easily get clear, trusted information and this campaign reminds parents of the overwhelming benefits of vaccines and to check their children are up to date – it’s never too late to catch-up for vaccines such as MMRV. By taking up the NHS offer, which now also includes protection against chickenpox, parents are helping give their children the very best start in life.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK to champion how AI can supercharge growth, unlock new jobs and improve public services at AI Impact Summit in India [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK to champion how AI can supercharge growth, unlock new jobs and improve public services at AI Impact Summit in India [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 16 February 2026.

    UK and international partners to redouble efforts for AI to transform public services, create jobs and drive renewal for people worldwide at AI Impact Summit.

    • UK and international partners to redouble efforts for AI to transform public services, create jobs and drive renewal for people worldwide, as talks get underway at India AI Impact Summit 2026
    • Talks build on the Bletchley, Seoul, and Paris AI summits – focusing AI’s impact on citizens, growth and sustainability
    • Deputy PM and AI Minister lead UK delegation with a range of planned engagements and moves to support global AI innovation

    The UK will use the AI Impact Summit in India this week to champion how AI can supercharge growth, unlock new jobs, improve public services and deliver benefits for people across the globe.

    Led by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, the UK delegation begins a week of discussions focused on how AI can improve everyday life– not just in advanced economies but in every corner of the world.

    They will make the case that AI is the engine of renewal – helping doctors diagnose faster, teachers personalise learning, councils deliver services in minutes, and businesses create the next generation of good jobs.

    The Summit follows the momentum of the Bletchley, Seoul and Paris AI summits, where the UK has consistently shaped the global agenda. At home Britain is powering ahead – deepening partnerships with leading tech firms, working with international governments and delivering on the AI Opportunities Action Plan to unlock jobs and investment.

    Since taking office in the summer of 2024, the government has attracted more than £100 billion worth of private investment alone into the UK’s AI sector – highlighting the huge appetite from global backers to support British AI expertise.

    The UK and India are natural tech partners, with major Indian tech companies like Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro already expanding in the UK. Their backing follows hot on the heels of the PM’s visit to Mumbai in October, where a combined £1.3 billion of investments was pumped into the UK by Indian firms.

    UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said:

    The UK is leading the way on AI innovations and expertise. We are rightly a magnet for investment and talent from across the globe. 

    This Summit is an important moment in determining how we can work together with our international partners to unlock the full benefits and potential of AI, while baking in robust and fair safety standards that protect us all. 

    We are turning ambition into action to deliver UK jobs, growth and prosperity. The business leaders joining us in India will build concrete partnerships and secure investment that delivers opportunity for working people in the UK, India and across the globe.

    UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said:

    AI is the defining technology of our generation – and we’re determined to make sure it delivers for everyone. It can cut waiting times, transform public services, create new jobs and give hard working communities a fresh start – and that’s exactly the message we’re taking to the summit.

    It is central to our plans for delivering national renewal but its benefits can’t and shouldn’t be reserved by the few.

    That’s why the UK is leading from front, pushing a global vision for AI that helps people everywhere to learn more, earn more, and shape the future on their terms.

    On the agenda this week, The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to speak on a high‑level panel on Friday about unlocking opportunity through global languages. He will announce new UK support for an African Language Hub, enabling AI to work in 40 African languages – making the technology more inclusive and accessible for millions.

    This is 1 of 3 new initiatives being announced as part of the £58 million AI for Development (AI4D) programme to ensure that developing countries benefit fully from the AI revolution:

    • Asian AI4D Observatory – supporting responsible AI innovation and governance across South and Southeast Asia.
    • AI4D Compute Hub at the University of Cape Town – giving African innovators the compute power they need to turn ideas into impact.

    Ahead of the Summit, Minister Narayan will also travel across India to see how our 2 countries are working together to reap the benefits of breakthrough tech – including at Indian Institute of Technology – Delhi, which holds India’s record for most unicorn startups produced, as well as travel to Bengaluru, often described as India’s Silicon Valley.

    In New Delhi, the Deputy Prime Minister will explore new British and Indian innovations changing the world in AI and take part in a session looking at how AI can drive inclusive social empowerment and tackle inequality. 

    Collaboration with India is critical to the UK’s ambitions in science and technology. The UK and India are investing tens of millions in cutting edge research – from better batteries and next generation telecoms for rural communities, to genomic medicine that could tackle rare diseases.

    India is also a vitally important market for British businesses generally – with UK firms generating more than £47.5 billion in revenue from their business in India.

    The Prime Minister joined PM Modi last year to unveil Vision 2035, a shared ambition for how the UK and India partner together to unlock the huge potential of this partnership. Unlocking new opportunities for growth across both economies, driving innovation, and shaping the technologies of tomorrow together are key pillars of that commitment.  

    Notes to editors

    Overall, the UK has contributed £58 million to the AI for Development programme, launched alongside partners at the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in 2023.

    Projects being awarded UK support through the AI for Development (AI4D) programme, in partnership with Canada

    Asia AI4D Observatory
    This will support responsible AI innovation and governance across South and South East Asia – helping innovators and people in India, and right across the continent. This is work that will encourage AI adoption in Asia that aligns with development goals, protects people’s rights, and safeguards marginalised groups.

    Masakhane African Languages Hub
    Aiming to make AI accessible 40 African languages – benefitting up to 700 million people.

    AI4D Compute Hub
    To be based at the University of Cape Town and in partnership with Canada, UK investment will help build a new AI4D Compute Hub to democratise access to computing for innovators in Africa. The Hub will help Africa’s innovators access the compute infrastructure they need to bring their ideas to life. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer “No platform gets a free pass”: Government takes action to keep children safe online [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer “No platform gets a free pass”: Government takes action to keep children safe online [February 2026]

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

    The Government will give parents and carers greater clarity and support as the Prime Minister announces immediate action to make the online world safer for children.

    • PM announces new powers to act within months to keep children safe amid rapid technology changes
    • New action will ensure no platform gets a free pass – as government today will close loopholes that put children at risk, and lays the groundwork for further, faster action
    • PM leads new crackdown on AI chatbots to protect people from illegal content

    The Government will give parents and carers greater clarity and support as the Prime Minister announces immediate action to make the online world safer for children.

    Speaking to parents and young people later today [Monday 16 February], the Prime Minister will make clear this government will act at pace to keep kids safe online as they navigate a digital world that did not exist a generation ago, and one that is shaped by powerful platforms, addictive design and fast-moving technologies.

    The new measures announced today include crackdown on vile illegal content created by AI. The government will move fast to shut a legal loophole and force all AI chatbot providers to abide by illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act or face the consequences of breaking the law. This will ensure the Act keeps up with rapidly evolving harms.

    This follows government action to call out abhorrent non-consensual intimate images being shared on Grok, which subsequently led to the function being removed.

    The Prime Minister will also make clear today that his government is taking new legal powers to lay the groundwork for immediate action following its consultation on children’s wellbeing online. The Government is committed to following the evidence, and these powers will mean we can act fast on its findings within months, rather than waiting years for new primary legislation every time technology evolves.

    That means being able to act quickly on measures like setting a minimum age limit for social media and restricting features like infinite scrolling that are harmful, in line with the consultation. The law is crystal clear: the distribution of nude images of children is already illegal. But the government will also consult on how best to ensure tech companies can safeguard children from sending or receiving such images in the first place.

    The consultation will also confront the full range of risks children face online. This includes examining restrictions on children’s use of AI chatbots, as well as options to age restrict or limit children’s VPN use where it undermines safety protections and changing the age of digital consent. We will also strengthen protections for families facing the most devastating circumstances, by ensuring that vital data following a child’s death is preserved before it can be deleted, except in cases where online activity is clearly not relevant to the death.

    This marks a clear shift in how the UK approaches child online safety, meaning the UK can continue to be a world leader in keeping children safe online.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    “As a dad of two teenagers, I know the challenges and the worries that parents face making sure their kids are safe online.

    “Technology is moving really fast, and the law has got to keep up. With my government, Britain will be a leader not a follower when it comes to online safety.

    “The action we took on Grok sent a clear message that no platform gets a free pass. 

    “Today we are closing loopholes that put children at risk, and laying the groundwork for further action.

    “We are acting to protect children’s wellbeing and help parents to navigate the minefield of social media.”

    Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

    “I know that parents across the country want us to act urgently to keep their children safe online. That’s why I stood up to Grok and Elon Musk when they flouted British laws and British values. 

    “We will not wait to take the action families need, so we will tighten the rules on AI chatbots and we are laying the ground so we can act at pace on the results of the consultation on young people and social media.

    “We are determined to give children the childhood they deserve and to prepare them for the future at time of rapid technological change.”

    The children’s digital wellbeing consultation will launch next month and will be guided by what parents and children say they need now, not in several years’ time.

    Ministers are already engaging with parents, young people and civil society groups, and the message has been consistent and clear that parents want support and fast.

    To help parents immediately, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched the ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign. It offers practical guidance on safety settings, conversation prompts parents can use with their children, and age‑appropriate advice on dealing with harmful content, including misogynistic material and ragebait.

    Chris Sherwood, NSPCC CEO, said:

    “We welcome the Prime Minister’s promise to act quickly and decisively to hold tech companies to account and make the online world safer for children. The status quo can’t continue, and without real change the pressure for an under‑16 social media ban will only increase.

    “Much of what is being proposed mirrors what we have been pressing for: proper age‑limit enforcement, an end to addictive design, and stronger action from platforms, devices, and AI tools to stop harmful content at the source. Delivered swiftly, these measures would offer far better protection than a blanket ban.

    “We also strongly support putting children’s voices at the centre of this debate. They understand both the benefits and risks of being online and – after their insights have been overlooked in discussions so far – their experiences must now help guide the decisions made in the months ahead.

    “We need urgent action and an ambitious agenda if the Government is going to take on tech bosses and make a difference for children and young people.”

    Andy Burrows, Chief Executive of Molly Rose Foundation, said:

    “Parents are right to demand urgent action on online safety, and we strongly welcome the Government’s ambition to move quickly and decisively to tackle appalling and preventable harm. 

    “This announcement should reassure parents that change is on the way. It means that children and families could see much needed safety improvements within months, including action against high-risk AI Chatbots and new measures to prevent girls from being coerced into sending nude photos.  

    “This a welcome downpayment but the Prime Minister must now go further. Sir Keir Starmer should commit to a new Online Safety Act that strengthens regulation and that makes clear that product safety and children’s wellbeing is the cost of doing business in the UK.”

    Notes to editors:

    • New powers, to be tabled in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, will enable the Government to act at speed to introduce targeted actions off the back of the upcoming children’s digital wellbeing consultation.
    • Government intends to table an amendment to the C&P Bill to give effect to the measures around preservation of child social media data.
    • Action will be guided by the outcomes of the consultation with parents and children, set to launch next month, and subject to an affirmative vote on the floor of the House of Commons, giving MPs a clear say on the proposals.
    • Government is tabling an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to allow the government to require chatbots not currently in scope of the Online Safety Act to protect their users from illegal content.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with President of the European Commission [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with President of the European Commission [February 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 February 2026.

    The Prime Minister met the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the Munich Security Conference this afternoon.

    Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue work that will bolster our collective defences in the face of growing threats to European security. 

    They agreed that Europe needs to step up and work towards becoming a more European NATO, while protecting our strong transatlantic ties. 

    The Prime Minister shared his high ambition for the future UK-EU partnership. He set out his desire for further integration across the economy, defence and technology – in the interests of greater security, stronger growth and higher living standards for the British people. There is no question where the national interest lies and I will always fight for what’s best for the United Kingdom, he added. 

    They committed to take forward further work ahead of the next UK-EU summit. They also agreed to double down on the existing negotiations to agree a food and drink deal which could lower prices, an emissions trading scheme which could lower bills, and a youth experience scheme to give our young people more opportunities to work and travel abroad.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands on Alexei Navalny’s death [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands on Alexei Navalny’s death [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 February 2026.

    Joint Statement by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands on Alexei Navalny’s death.

    The UK, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands are confident that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin. 

    This is the conclusion of our Governments based on analyses of samples from Alexei Navalny. These analyses have conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine. 

    Epibatidine is a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America. It is not found naturally in Russia. 

    Russia claimed that Navalny died of natural causes. But given the toxicity of epibatidine and reported symptoms, poisoning was highly likely the cause of his death. Navalny died while held in prison, meaning Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison to him. 

    Russia’s repeated disregard for international law and the Chemical Weapons Convention is clear. 

    In August 2020 the UK, Sweden, France, Germany, The Netherlands and partners condemned Russia’s use of novichok to poison Alexei Navalny. 

    This followed Russia’s use of novichok in Salisbury in 2018, which led to the tragic death of a British woman, Dawn Sturgess. 

    In both cases, only the Russian state had the combined means, motive and disregard for international law to carry out the attacks. 

    These latest findings once again underline the need to hold Russia accountable for its repeated violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention and, in this instance, the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. 

    Our Permanent Representatives to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have written today to the Director General to inform him of this Russian breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. 

    We are further concerned that Russia did not destroy all of its chemical weapons. 

    We and our partners will make use of all policy levers at our disposal to continue to hold Russia to account. 

    Agreed by the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK confirms Russia poisoned Navalny in prison with rare toxin [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK confirms Russia poisoned Navalny in prison with rare toxin [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 February 2026.

    • UK and partners are today exposing the tragic circumstances surrounding Alexei Navalny’s death and have confirmed there was poison found in samples from his body.
    • As Ministers meet at the Munich Security Conference, this news comes on the two-year anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s death in a penal colony in Siberia. 
    • UK reporting the poisoning to the Organisation for the prohibition of Chemical Weapons as a flagrant violation by Russia of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and urges Russia to immediately cease this dangerous activity. 

    The UK is today exposing the brutal and barbaric circumstances surrounding the death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison.

    Two years after the Munich Security Conference was shocked by the news of the leading Russian opposition figure’s death, consistent, collaborative work has confirmed through laboratory testing that the deadly toxin found in the skin of Ecuador dart frogs (epibatidine) was found in samples from Alexei Navalny’s body and highly likely resulted in his death.  

    Only the Russian state had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin to target Navalny during his imprisonment in a Russian penal colony in Siberia, and we hold it responsible for his death.  

    Epibatidine can be found naturally in dart frogs in the wild in South America. Dart frogs in captivity do not produce this toxin and it is not found naturally in Russia. There is no innocent explanation for its presence in Navalny’s body.  

    Russia has brazenly developed and deployed this poison in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Russia’s egregious and irresponsible actions, including its barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine continue to threaten our shared security. Time and again the Russian state shows the depths it is willing to go to terrorise people and undermine democracy.  

    The UK has pursued the truth of Alexei Navalny’s death with partners from Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Germany. We know the Russian state now used this lethal toxin to target Navalny in fear of his opposition.

    Today’s announcement comes as the Foreign Secretary attends the Munich Security Conference where she met with Yulia Navalnaya to reflect on her husband’s enduring legacy and outlined the painstaking laboratory work that has been carried out since his death in Russian captivity was discovered.

    Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper said:  

    Since Yulia Navalnaya announced the loss of her husband here in Munich two years ago, the UK has pursued the truth of Alexei Navalny’s death with fierce determination

    “Only the Russian Government had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin against Alexei Navalny during his imprisonment in Russia. 

    Today, beside his widow, the UK is shining a light on the Kremlin’s barbaric plot to silence his voice.

    Russia saw Navalny as a threat. By using this form of poison the Russian state demonstrated the despicable tools it has at its disposal and the overwhelming fear it has of political opposition.

    The UK has informed the Organisation on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of Russia’s blatant breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Alongside partners the UK will continue to hold Russia to account for its actions.  

    This alarming pattern of behaviour follows the targeting of the Skripal’s with Novichok on the streets of Salisbury in 2018 and Russian troops frequent use of chemical weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine. 

    It is clear Russia did not destroy all its chemical weapons as claimed in 2017, and that it has not renounced biological weapons, as it is obliged to under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.  

    The Kremlin believes that it can develop these weapons covertly and without consequences. They are mistaken. The UK knows what Russia is doing and will expose and combat this activity at every opportunity.  

    The UK continues to stand with civil society and human rights defenders tirelessly to build a better future for Russia despite immense personal risk.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Carrier Strike Group to deploy to North Atlantic to keep UK safe [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Carrier Strike Group to deploy to North Atlantic to keep UK safe [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 February 2026.

    UK will bolster regional security by deploying a Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and High North.

    • UK to deploy Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and High North in 2026 in a major boost for regional security.
    • Powerful show of force with Royal Navy warships, F-35 jets and helicopters to deter Russian aggression and protect vital undersea infrastructure.
    • Deployment will include major exercises alongside US, Canadian, and Northern European allies.

    Britain will send its Carrier Strike Group back to sea in 2026 in a major show of force across the Euro-Atlantic and High North, reinforcing NATO’s deterrence at a time of rising Russian threats in the region.

    Known as ‘Operation Firecrest’ and led by HMS Prince of Wales – the largest warship in the Royal Navy – the UK will deploy the strike group across the North Atlantic and Arctic. It will include world-class Royal Navy warships and RAF fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to bolster defence and security. 

    It comes as Russia’s military activity in the North Atlantic continues to increase. Over the past two years, there has been a 30% increase in Russian navy vessels threatening UK waters. 

    The deployment will see the UK and US working side-by-side on Euro-Atlantic security around the North American East Coast, boosting the historic alliance between the two nations. The Carrier Strike Group will sail across the Atlantic to visit a US port, with US jets also expected to operate from the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales.  

    The deployment will include activity under NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission, launched this week, strengthening the Alliance’s security in a region where melting sea ice is opening new routes and increasing threat from hostile state activity. 

    With growing concern over Russian operations in the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap and the increased risk to critical undersea cables and pipelines, the deployment will send a clear message that the UK will always defend its waters, protect critical infrastructure, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its Allies.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    I’m proud that we’re stepping up UK leadership on High North and Atlantic security.

    This deployment will help make Britain warfighting ready, boost our contribution to NATO, and strengthen our operations with key allies, keeping the UK secure at home and strong abroad.

    Operation Firecrest will involve thousands of personnel from all three services of the Armed Forces, demonstrating Britain’s ability to project force wherever it is needed and operate seamlessly within NATO. The Carrier Strike Group will exercise alongside NATO’s Standing Naval Maritime Group 1, itself being led by the UK, with HMS Dragon acting as the command ship of the NATO maritime group throughout 2026.

    Parts of the deployment will fall under NATO command, including close cooperation with operational headquarters Joint Force Command Norfolk, which is set to be under the command of a British officer for the first time. 

    The deployment will be carried out alongside key allies including the United States, Canada, and Joint Expeditionary Force nations, building on the UK’s growing defence cooperation in the High North and reaffirming the strength of the historic UK–US defence relationship. 

    This reinforces the UK’s commitment to High North security and builds on the Defence Secretary’s commitment to double the number of UK troops deployed to Norway, from 1,000 to 2,000.  

    It also reaffirms the Government’s commitment to stepping up on defence. The UK has committed to the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027 – to ensure that Britain and our allies are safe.

    The deployment follows the success of the UK’s 2025 Carrier Strike Group mission to the Indo-Pacific, which saw over 1,000 F-35 sorties and activity with over 30 nations, and resulted in the UK’s Carrier Strike Group being certified fully ‘mission ready’ and committed to NATO.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Enemy weapons detector in the hands of soldiers five years early [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Enemy weapons detector in the hands of soldiers five years early [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 February 2026.

    New acoustic weapon detection system will help keep soldier safe on the battlefield by helping to locate and target positions of enemy gunfire, mortars and explosions.

    • 250 jobs across the country sustained after new contract signed with Leonardo UK.
    • System to be in soldiers’ hands five years ahead of schedule, with rollout to frontline troops within 12 months.
    • 29 UK SMEs to benefit as part of the supply chain, helping to make UK defence an engine for growth.

    British soldiers will be able to more aggressively hunt, detect, and locate hostile gunfire, as well as receive a further layer of protection on the battlefield, with the early delivery of new technology.

    Through SONUS – a new system to detect enemy weapons – UK forces will now have access to a capability that weighs 70% less than its predecessor, making it easier to transport and able to deploy in under three minutes.

    SONUS works by detecting acoustic pressure waves from gunfire, mortars and explosions.

    This form of detection means the system can operate covertly, without emitting an electronic signature, helping troops to avoid enemy fire. It will also enable soldiers to identify targets faster and more accurately, meaning they can take evasive or offensive action more effectively.

    Defence supplier Leonardo UK have been awarded the £18.3 million contract by the Army five-years earlier than originally planned. The works sustains 250 jobs across the UK, notably at Leonardo’s Basildon site, as well as through 29 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

    The procurement is happening as part of the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027.

    Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, said:

    We’ve accelerated our procurement of this equipment by five years to provide additional layers of safety for our personnel through more durable, lightweight systems in a new era of threat.

    Making defence an engine for growth is a key priority for this government and this deal sustains jobs across the UK, benefits multiple SMEs and boosts our Armed Forces.

    The SONUS platforms will be delivered to 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, the British Army’s dedicated Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment, over the next 12 months.

    Brigadier M Birch, Senior Responsible Owner for the Land ISTAR Programme, said:

    This investment in Leonardo’s SONUS Acoustic Weapon Locating System demonstrates the Army’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology to the front line.

    It will significantly enhance our ability to protect our people and respond to emerging threats, ensuring the Army remains ready to meet the challenges of the future.

    Olly Manning, Vice President Mission Systems at Leonardo, said:

    Leonardo has over 40 years of experience in passive acoustic weapon-locating technology, with battle-proven systems that have seen operational use with over 13 armed forces – many of whom are NATO members.

    We are looking forward to working in partnership with the British Army to ensure SONUS provides them with an accurate, robust and reliable passive detection system that will keep our Armed Forces safe – now and into the future.

    The investment helps deliver on the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) – improving warfighting readiness, strengthening the UK’s defence industrial base, and making defence as an engine for growth.

    Through procurement reforms, the Army prioritised fast tracking important weapon-locating systems as part of the Army’s initiative to modernise and double their lethality by 2027. Its accelerated delivery was achieved by the LAND ISTAR Team, working with Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and Task Force RAPSTONE.