Appointments, departments, policy announcements and the machinery of government.
The Government has launched a new UK Space Strategy backed by £7.8 billion to 2030, including major investment in satellite communications, space intelligence and protection against hostile threats.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAngela Rayner has withdrawn local government reorganisation decisions covering Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and paused the wider programme for review following updated legal advice.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readJaguar Land Rover has confirmed plans to cut around 4,000 jobs globally over two years as the carmaker targets £1.7 billion of savings, with ministers preparing further talks with the company.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe British Chambers of Commerce has urged Chancellor John Healey to replace the state pension triple lock with inflation-linked increases, estimating the change could save £3.3 billion over two years.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readHundreds of anti-migration protesters gathered in Portsmouth and blocked roads after a small boat carrying around 140 migrants was intercepted and its occupants brought ashore.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readLiverpool City Region has begun bringing its bus network back under public control, starting in St Helens before expanding to Wirral and the rest of the region.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readChancellor John Healey is unveiling a £150 million British Business Bank fund offering investments of £5 million to £15 million to fast-growing companies across the North of England.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAround 140 migrants have reached Britain in a single inflatable boat after setting out from an unusually distant part of Normandy, days after Andy Burnham and Emmanuel Macron discussed efforts to reduce Channel crossings.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readJohn Swinney's SNP Government plans to combine Scottish Government and Scottish Development International offices into an expanded Scotland House network operating in more than 40 locations.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBusiness Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has ruled out a taxpayer-funded bailout for Jaguar Land Rover as the carmaker prepares major job cuts, while leaving the door open to support for long-term investment.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readCommons Defence Committee chair Tan Dhesi has urged the Government to commit now to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, arguing that renewed tensions over the Falkland Islands underline the need for faster decisions.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe Government has announced plans to simplify UK corporate reporting, potentially exempting some medium-sized companies from audits and removing reporting requirements for thousands of smaller firms.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readRoyal Marines and RAF personnel have deployed to Norway's remote Jan Mayen island alongside Norwegian and US forces in a NATO operation designed to strengthen allied capability in the strategically important High North.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readSuella Braverman has pledged that a Reform UK government would scrap limits on medical training places for British students within its first 100 days, promising to resign if she failed to deliver.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readReform UK has pledged to raise the income tax personal allowance from £12,570 to £15,000 within its first 100 days in government, with the party saying most taxpayers would save around £500 a year.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readMasked protesters blocked key routes into the Port of Dover during an apparent anti-immigration demonstration, causing miles of congestion before access was restored.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe Government has launched a new crackdown on illegal, cloned and ‘ghost’ number plates, funding a national roads-policing centre to share intelligence, data and technology across England.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readArgentina has begun sanction proceedings against 45 people and companies linked to Falklands oil exploration after President Javier Milei vowed tougher action over the Sea Lion project.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readThe British Army has scaled back a range of non-essential collective training as funding pressures bite, with readiness-related and deployment training being prioritised.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readFrance is deploying 45 additional officers to western beaches as the UK and France respond to smugglers using larger ‘mega-dinghies’ and launch sites further along the French coast.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readSir Keir Starmer has announced he will stand down as Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras after 11 years in Parliament, paving the way for a high-profile by-election.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readKemi Badenoch has reportedly asked Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo to seek approval for formal pre-election Civil Service access talks as the Conservatives prepare for the possibility of an early election under Andy Burnham.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readThe review drawing up a new map of larger regional police forces has reportedly been pushed into the autumn after proposed boundaries clashed with Andy Burnham's devolution plans.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a crackdown on rogue builders and private bailiffs, including a new Approved Code and milestone-linked payment system — but participation in the flagship trader scheme will be voluntary.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has ordered every police force in England and Wales to establish specialist rape and sexual-offence teams by December 2027, alongside £13.3m for up to ten specialist protection-order teams.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readChancellor John Healey is reportedly preparing to shelve the 2030 deadline he once championed for defence spending to reach 3% of GDP as he confronts a £4.7bn funding gap in the existing Defence Investment Plan.
Charlotte Mercer · 6 min readDowning Street has reaffirmed Andy Burnham's ‘unwavering’ commitment to every part of the Good Friday Agreement after his declaration that an Irish unity referendum was ‘off the table’ sparked a political row.
Charlotte Mercer · 6 min readMike Ashley has launched a fierce attack on Andy Burnham's high-street strategy, branding parts of the Government's business-rates approach ‘delusional’ and calling for urgent action on retail costs and shoplifting.
Daniel Whitmore · 5 min readAlmost 200,000 people were granted permanent UK settlement in the year ending June 2026, up 24% and the highest annual total since 2011, new Home Office figures show.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAndy Burnham has been accused of a U-turn after newly reported correspondence showed he previously backed a £500,000 political donations cap and argued that the limit should be reduced further over time.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAndy Burnham has declared an Irish unity referendum 'off the table' during his first visit to Northern Ireland as Prime Minister, prompting a sharp challenge from Sinn Féin over the Good Friday Agreement.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readIsrael is considering expelling British officials from the US-led Gaza coordination centre as tensions rise with Andy Burnham's Government over planned measures targeting Israeli settlements.
Staff member · 4 min readRussia has threatened that British military assets could be targeted in response to Ukrainian strikes using British-supported missiles, following Andy Burnham's agreement to help Kyiv produce long-range Storm Shadow weapons.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readSmall-boat arrivals fell 23% to around 33,000 in the year ending June 2026 while the number of supported asylum seekers living in hotels halved to 16,000, new Home Office statistics show.
Staff member · 4 min readMore than 100 organisations have challenged Andy Burnham over the early release of domestic abuse perpetrators, warning the policy conflicts with Labour's pledge to halve violence against women and girls.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAndy Burnham has dropped support for a general cap on large political donations as Labour MPs push for tougher limits on mega-donors ahead of the Representation of the People Bill returning to the Commons.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readForty people who disappeared while they were children living in Home Office asylum hotels remain unlocated, with Parliament demanding answers over efforts to trace them.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAndy Burnham is poised to impose a trade ban on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as ministers prepare a wider response to the E1 settlement expansion.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readDavid Dinsmore will leave his role as the Government's communications chief on 30 September, with the Cabinet Office explicitly linking the timing to the change of Prime Minister and administration.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBritain will host a permanent Five Eyes counter-extremism hub bringing together specialists from the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to identify emerging threats and tackle online radicalisation.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBritons are set to be urged to keep food, bottled water and other emergency supplies at home as the Government steps up national resilience preparations.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readSerious sexual and violent offenders could be confined to tightly controlled areas just a few miles wide after leaving prison under new restriction zones launching in October.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readAndy Burnham is considering reforms to the special administration regime that could make it easier for the Government to take failing utilities into public control.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAndy Burnham is facing pressure over electoral reform as 98 Labour MPs join a cross-party push for a National Commission to examine the Westminster voting system.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readHousehold energy bills are set to rise again from October after Ofgem increased its price cap by 4% to £1,723, despite the Government removing VAT from domestic electricity.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readMauritius is reportedly preparing to press Andy Burnham at the UN over the stalled Chagos sovereignty agreement, leaving the Prime Minister caught between Port Louis and Donald Trump's opposition to the deal.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAndy Burnham is preparing further measures targeting Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, with trade restrictions and additional sanctions reportedly under consideration.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readAndy Burnham is exploring giving English mayors powers to suspend Right to Buy locally as ministers seek to protect council housing stock and accelerate social housebuilding.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readChancellor John Healey has backed increased US economic pressure on Iran and revealed that the UK Government has imposed more than 240 sanctions on Iran since taking office.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readAndy Burnham is preparing for his first face-to-face talks with Donald Trump as he plans to press the US President over access to Patriot air-defence interceptors for Ukraine.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readNearly 100 Labour MPs are backing a parliamentary move for a National Commission on Electoral Reform, increasing pressure on Andy Burnham over the future of first-past-the-post.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe Government is preparing a public resilience campaign urging households to keep basic emergency supplies as it steps up planning for extreme weather, cyber attacks and hostile-state threats.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readAndy Burnham has reportedly decided not to place Thames Water into special administration immediately amid concerns over taxpayer costs, legal risks and practical difficulties.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe Government has allocated £9.58 billion to 33 strategic housing partners for 73,600 homes, as scrutiny turns to Andy Burnham's pledge to revive council housebuilding.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has refused to rule out tax rises in the October Budget as he warned that Britain's public finances are in a challenging position.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBritain has become the first international partner to gain access to Ukraine's Avengers AI Labs under a new defence and artificial intelligence partnership signed in Kyiv.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe Coalition of the Willing has reaffirmed preparations for a multinational force that could deploy to Ukraine once a credible cessation of hostilities is in place.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe Treasury has launched an independent review of business rates valuations for pubs and hotels, but any resulting changes are expected to feed into the 2029 revaluation.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe Government has told social media platforms to remove content celebrating dangerous driving after seven people died in a collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has said Britain must be bolder in seeking closer ties with the European Union as he and António Costa called for a step change in relations.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has travelled to Kyiv on his first overseas visit as PM as Britain backs plans to assemble long-range SCALP missiles in Ukraine.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readReform UK has proposed giving British-born workers under 35, young families and veterans greater priority for social housing while pledging 50,000 affordable homes a year.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBritain, Australia and Canada have condemned Israel’s decision not to pursue criminal investigations into the 2024 strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readThe UK borrowed £1.8 billion in July, £2.3 billion more than the OBR expected, adding to the pressure on Chancellor John Healey before October's Budget.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readSue Gray has described her experience as Keir Starmer’s Downing Street chief of staff as “unbearable”, citing internal briefings and a breakdown of trust.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readHome Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the Government is involved in live international discussions about return hubs for people whose UK asylum claims have failed.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readLabour has suspended the whip from Southend East and Rochford MP Bayo Alaba while the party investigates questions concerning Covid-era business loans.
Charlotte Mercer · 1 min readAndy Burnham's government is approaching a major decision on the Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea developments as the final public consultation closes and ministers weigh climate effects against jobs and energy security.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readLabour has introduced a new presumption in favour of suitable housing developments close to well-connected railway, tram and Underground stations in England, including some sites in the green belt.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readAndy Burnham has warned that Britain faces an acute wildfire threat while his government consults on potentially reducing the proportion of new cars that manufacturers must sell as zero-emission vehicles by 2030.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBritain’s economy grew by 0.4% between April and June, but the Bank of England expects underlying growth to slow to around zero as renewed Middle East conflict, higher energy costs and Budget uncertainty test Andy Burnham’s new government.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readHouseholds within 500 metres of eligible new electricity transmission infrastructure could receive £250 a year off their electricity bills for ten years, with 43 expected projects named across England, Scotland and Wales.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readFifty policing and law-enforcement leaders have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to examine every lawful option to prevent the earlier release of two men convicted of the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper.
Charlotte Mercer · 6 min readShadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has attacked the Government's £662 million border agreement with France after a record 230 people crossed the Channel in a single overcrowded inflatable boat.
Staff member · 6 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham will begin a month-long tour of the UK on Monday, promising to listen to communities and announce further measures addressing living costs, consumer practices and struggling high streets.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readDefence Secretary Wes Streeting has visited the Rosyth shipyard and forces housing in Edinburgh, highlighting Scotland’s role in Royal Navy shipbuilding, skilled employment and national security.
Peter Jackson · 4 min readBusinesses bidding for major central government contracts will receive greater credit for creating local jobs, apprenticeships, training and work placements under procurement rules taking effect in January 2027.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readUp to 159 NHS mental health facilities will open across England under a £343 million programme designed to provide earlier walk-in support and specialist emergency care away from busy A&E departments.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readPolice representatives are considering legal action over plans allowing Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole to leave prison earlier, as Sentencing Minister Jake Richards defended the Government’s position.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readLissie Harper has accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government of an ‘utter betrayal’ after two men convicted of the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper remained eligible for earlier release despite new exemptions for serious sexual offenders.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readAndy Burnham has promised to be relentless in tackling small-boat crossings, but more than 2,000 people arrived during his first 12 days as Prime Minister as questions continued over enforcement on French beaches.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readVeterans are preparing a legal challenge over rules that treat Armed Forces occupational pensions as unearned income when Universal Credit is calculated, amid claims that some former service personnel have received demands for tens of thousands of pounds.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readA tribunal has ruled that the Cabinet Office does not have to reveal whether serving ministers declared criminal convictions during the appointment process, or how many did so.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readNames, organisations and work email addresses belonging to police officers, staff and other criminal justice professionals have been published on the dark web following a breach of the Police National Legal Database.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readUK health officials are urging holidaymakers to take additional food and water precautions following a sharp rise in cyclospora infections, with most cases linked to travel in Mexico.
Staff member · 3 min readHousing Secretary Angela Rayner has approved a data centre and wider redevelopment around Brick Lane despite demands for a housing-led future for the former Truman Brewery estate.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readThe first 46 of 138 new homes for British armed forces personnel and their families have been completed at Dhekelia Station in Cyprus.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readLabour’s Bev Craig has been elected Mayor of Greater Manchester after defeating Reform UK’s Sian Astley in the second stage of voting.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readForeign Secretary Ed Miliband has welcomed the announcement that Hamas will disarm, while warning that Israeli withdrawal, the ceasefire and humanitarian access must also be delivered.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readChancellor John Healey will present the Government's next Budget on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, alongside a new economic and fiscal forecast from the OBR.
Charlotte Mercer · 1 min readThe Government has announced plans to give English mayors a share of locally raised income tax as part of one of the biggest transfers of power away from Westminster in decades.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readDiane Abbott has been readmitted to the Labour Party following an independent disciplinary process. The Jewish Leadership Council has questioned whether the decision is consistent with Labour's approach to antisemitism.
Staff member · 2 min readScottish Labour MP Joani Reid has been restored to the Parliamentary Labour Party after an independent review, saying she was never a suspect or witness in any police investigation.
Staff member · 2 min readAndy Burnham has welcomed investment in the UK's nuclear deterrent, highlighting the creation of 22,000 apprenticeships and the role of defence manufacturing in supporting skilled jobs.
Staff member · 2 min readAndy Burnham has called for a new cross-party approach to social care, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey backing efforts while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticised the talks.
Staff member · 3 min readConservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to repeal provisions allowing the early release of certain serious offenders, arguing ministers can halt the scheme before further releases take place.
Staff member · 2 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Bridget Phillipson as Chair of the Labour Party following his recent Cabinet reshuffle, with the Houghton and Sunderland South MP taking on responsibility for the party's organisation and election preparations.
Staff member · 2 min readThe Government has announced plans to work with major UK pension providers on a proposed £1 billion scale-up fund designed to invest in Britain's fastest-growing science and technology businesses.
Staff member · 2 min readShadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho has written to Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh urging her to investigate allegations made by whistleblowers about the National Energy System Operator (NESO).
Staff member · 2 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed his support for banning trail hunting, telling the Labour Animal Welfare Society he wants to see the government's animal welfare strategy implemented in full.
Staff member · 3 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham's appointment of Andy Slaughter as Solicitor General has prompted criticism from Conservative MPs over meetings Mr Slaughter held with Hamas representatives during visits to the Palestinian territories in 2010.
Staff member · 2 min readNew Defence Secretary Wes Streeting will forgo his salary for three months to offset his resignation pay-off, in contrast to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, who has refused to return her own severance payment.
Staff member · 3 min readShadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has called for a wider investigation into former ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following his dismissal, while Mr Khan continues to deny allegations of sexual misconduct.
Staff member · 2 min readChancellor John Healey has confirmed the Treasury is committed to ensuring pensioners whose only income is the state pension will not pay income tax, as the triple lock pushes payments toward the personal allowance.
Staff member · 3 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham said the opening of No 10 North was "the best day of my life" as he outlined his vision to bring government closer to every part of the United Kingdom.
Staff member · 2 min readAndy Burnham is facing criticism after flying by government jet to Manchester for his first day working from No10 North, with estimates suggesting the trip cost taxpayers over £30,000.
Staff member · 3 min readGraham Hardwell has held Longwell Green for the Conservatives in a South Gloucestershire Council by-election, fending off a strong first-time challenge from Reform UK.
Staff member · 2 min readThe Conservatives have held the Exmouth Brixington seat on East Devon District Council in a by-election, fending off a strong first-time challenge from Reform UK and a resurgent Liberal Democrat vote.
Staff member · 2 min readHousing Secretary Angela Rayner has ruled out freezing rents as part of Andy Burnham's cost of living measures, telling BBC Breakfast the government would not be pursuing rent controls.
Staff member · 3 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham will work from No 10 North in Manchester for the first time tomorrow, as part of his plan to move some Downing Street functions out of London.
Staff member · 3 min readRestore Britain leader Rupert Lowe MP has publicly called on the Justice Secretary to reverse the decision to move Southport killer Axel Rudakubana to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.
Staff member · 2 min readAxel Rudakubana, jailed for the Southport murders, has been transferred from Belmarsh prison to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital after a psychologist assessment, sparking anger from victims' families.
Staff member · 3 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has ruled out discussions on a second Scottish independence referendum as he seeks a more practical relationship with Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney.
Staff member · 2 min readDowning Street has said there are currently no plans to abolish jury trials following reports that Prime Minister Andy Burnham could abandon proposals introduced under former Justice Secretary David Lammy.
Staff member · 1 min readHousing Secretary Angela Rayner has defended her decision not to repay a £16,876 ministerial severance payment after returning to government, saying she was out of office for almost a year before rejoining Cabinet.
Staff member · 2 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has paused the Government's planned September prisoner release scheme, saying no inmates will be released under the policy until an urgent review has been completed.
Staff member · 2 min readLeading figures from the pensions industry have welcomed the decision to keep Torsten Bell as Pensions Minister, saying continuity will help deliver the Government's reform programme.
Staff member · 2 min readOlivia Bailey has announced she is leaving government following the latest ministerial reshuffle, reflecting on her time as Minister for Early Education and Equalities and thanking colleagues for the opportunity to serve.
Staff member · 2 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England, with the Government saying nearly 32,000 businesses will benefit from the new relief scheme.
Staff member · 2 min readAnas Sarwar has announced he is joining Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Government as UK Minister of State for Trade, saying he is "delighted" to take on the role.
Staff member · 2 min readLabour MP Jo White has been appointed Minister for Migration and Citizenship, replacing Mike Tapp. Her appointment comes after she responded to reports surrounding a leaked audio recording.
Staff member · 2 min readLabour MP Natalie Fleet has announced she is stepping down as Minister for Safeguarding, saying the role became "overwhelmingly triggering" and that victims deserve "someone at their best."
Staff member · 1 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has ordered a review of the Government's early prisoner release scheme following concerns over the potential early release of two of PC Andrew Harper's killers.
Staff member · 2 min readMike Tapp has confirmed he is leaving his role as Minister for Migration and Citizenship, thanking Home Office staff and pledging to continue supporting the Government from the backbenches.
Staff member · 1 min readScottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is reportedly set to resign and join Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government as a minister, triggering a Scottish Labour leadership contest.
Staff member · 1 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has stepped back from plans to increase the personal income tax allowance, citing the state of the public finances despite raising expectations during the Makerfield campaign.
Staff member · 1 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has announced plans to introduce a £2 cap on single bus fares across England from January 2027 as part of a wider package of cost-of-living measures.
Staff member · 1 min readCabinet Office Minister Louise Haigh has lost responsibility for tackling public sector fraud following her appointment, with the Government reallocating the brief after renewed scrutiny of her previous conviction.
Staff member · 1 min readReports are suggesting Prime Minister Andy Burnham has approved the continued use of British military bases for certain US strikes against Iran, with the Government describing the authorised operations as limited and defensive.
Staff member · 1 min read