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New cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo will lead a review of the organisation, performance and transformation of the permanent civil service, reporting in early 2027. The review will assess current performance, technology adoption and recruitment challenges. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also asked for a refresh of the Cabinet Manual by the same deadline.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described warning shots fired by the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich near a British yacht in the English Channel as reckless but not sinister. The incident involved the yacht crew being warned away from the warship's position south of the Isle of Wight, with the vessel outside UK territorial waters. It has heightened maritime tensions between the UK and Russia amid ongoing European security concerns.
The UK left the EU single market on 31 December 2020 after Brexit, ending free movement of goods, services, capital and people with the bloc. Since then, UK exports to the EU have faced new customs checks, regulatory divergence and non-tariff barriers, while the government has pursued independent trade deals outside the EU. Polls continue to show divided public opinion on whether closer alignment or full re-entry would deliver net economic gains.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey resigned on 11 June 2026 after rejecting the government's Defence Industrial Plan funding settlement. The settlement provides extra support backloaded toward 2030, reaching 2.68% of GDP then, while current plans already project 2.6% next year. Healey cited rising threats, including intelligence assessments of a possible Russian attack on NATO by 2030, and warned the level of funding would force reductions in force readiness.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle stated that the government must adopt a more assertive role in the 2020s and 2030s. He argued the UK needs to accept higher risk in startup funding to prevent companies from leaving as they grow.
Keir Starmer became Prime Minister in July 2024 after Labour won a large majority in the general election. His government has faced criticism over economic pressures, immigration levels, and policy decisions including welfare reforms and public spending priorities.
An independent MP has called for reform after revelations that a former Health Minister chief of staff continued to access the minister while working in government relations. Australia currently has 2,200 parliamentary pass-holders with no public record of who they represent or what they do. Existing rules lack mandatory cooling-off periods and a unified lobbyist register.
The Labour Government published the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan on 29 October 2025, setting out how it will meet emissions reductions for carbon budgets four to six. The plan builds on the Great British Energy Act and further 2025 spending commitments to decarbonise the economy. The Climate Change Committee has assessed that the 2050 net zero target is within reach if the government maintains its current course.
The Government plans a new 'core protection' system under which refugees would only qualify for settlement after 20 years of residence. The change forms part of wider reforms to asylum policy.
Keir Starmer is the UK Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party. JD Vance is the US Vice President. Starmer has accused Vance of interfering in UK domestic politics over comments on free speech and immigration policies. The accusation follows Vance's public statements criticising UK approaches to hate speech laws and migration.
The College of Policing provides anti-racism training that includes modules on unconscious bias, white privilege, white fragility and microaggressions. A recent staff survey found 15% of officers felt pressured to adopt certain ideas during these sessions. Police policies also include commitments to racial equity that aim for equal outcomes rather than equal treatment.
The National Audit Office found that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received undisclosed rental income from subletting cottages on the Royal Lodge estate while paying only a peppercorn rent. The Sovereign Grant Act shifted responsibility for maintaining royal properties from ministers to the monarch. Campaigners including Republic and Norman Baker are urging the public accounts committee to investigate the entire system.
MPs on the DSIT committee have called for government to confirm Palantir’s access to NHS patient data and justify a £240m Ministry of Defence contract awarded without competition. They also urge use of the Procurement Act to favour UK suppliers and open-source technology over dominant cloud providers.
The Social Housing Bill proposes lengthening the time before tenants can exercise Right to Buy, reducing the maximum discount, and removing a disincentive for councils to build new homes. It would also require private providers to notify local authorities before selling properties and strengthen protections for tenants who are victims of domestic abuse.
The NHS Modernisation Bill proposes a Single Patient Record across services. The King's Fund states it could improve joined-up care and safety. The Fund also warns that reforms require effective implementation.
The government is considering changes to workplace pension rules. These changes would increase UK workers' pension pots by £2.77 trillion. The changes require new legislation and time to implement.
The Defence Investment Plan, expected to cost up to £18bn, remains unpublished because the Treasury has not approved funding. Defence experts and industry insiders warn that delays create uncertainty for UK defence companies and investors. A Russian drone attack on Romania and recent submarine activity have renewed calls for urgency.
Suffolk County Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 under Conservative control, committing to net zero emissions by 2030. Reform UK took power last month and its leader says the council inherited expensive environmental schemes. The new administration plans to axe the declaration and review all related projects.
The education secretary will write to the Office for Students confirming a reduction in the strategic priorities grant, formerly the teaching grant. Vivienne Stern, head of Universities UK, told the House of Commons Treasury Committee on 2 June that the letter will be sent in the coming days. The cut would reduce public funding for higher education teaching.
A cross-party House of Lords committee has urged the Bank of England to reconsider planned stablecoin rules. The proposals include capping holdings by individuals and businesses and requiring issuers to back tokens with non-interest-bearing deposits. Lawmakers argue the measures could hinder growth of a sterling-backed stablecoin market.