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The Prime Minister met with the First Minister of Scotland in Glasgow following a meeting of the National Economic Council today (Friday 30 October). 

Statement from the First Minister

The Prime Minister met with the First Minister of Wales, Rhun Ap Iorwerth, in Glasgow following a meeting of the National Economic Council today (Friday 30 October)

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has encouraged small businesses and sole traders across Northern Ireland to take advantage of new free data protection training from the Information Commission’s Office (ICO).

FM welcomes recognition Westminster is not working for Scotland.

A driver who continued driving with a headteacher trapped beneath his car for more than two kilometres has been found guilty of murder.

New analysis of the latest Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) finds that average annual household disposable incomes are projected to fall by £450 over the course of the current parliament after adjusting for inflation (from April 2024 to April 2029).

Chancellor John Healey presented his first Budget this week, and the first under Prime Minister Andy Burnham. It was billed as a Budget to give ‘breathing space’ to households and businesses, and it offers a series of targeted financial breaks.

Northern Games could transform region, drive growth and benefit whole country

Government confirms eligibility for the spring 2027 COVID-19 vaccination programme in line with JCVI advice

Hundreds of young people attended Cornwall’s first Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair to explore opportunities for jobs, apprenticeships, training and work experience at some of the region’s largest businesses.

Burnham entered Downing Street with big ambitions – but this Budget was not their moment.

The National Economic Council meeting in Glasgow today (Friday 30 October) will be “the Prime Minister’s opportunity to prove his commitment to a respect agenda that works both ways”, First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth has said.

The Government should commit to an earlier review of the rule changes into how planning decisions are split between council officers and planning committees of elected councillors, the Local Government Association (LGA), said yesterday. 

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has today published updated guidance to help employers understand and meet stronger legal duties to prevent workplace harassment.  

Charity regulators from nine nations gathered in Ireland for a two-day meeting (19-20 October 2026).

UKHSA urges those eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible – help protect yourself and stop the spread of viruses to family, friends and your community.

Investigation will examine concerns that Meta’s terms and conditions unfairly harm news publishers and other content businesses.

UK and Ukrainian defence companies have come together at Larkhill Garrison on Salisbury Plain to showcase the latest innovations in battle-proven drone technology.

Millions of people are set to get stronger protections from sexual harassment at work.

Parents urged to ensure children are protected with free vaccine now available as part of NHS Childhood Vaccination Programme

The Health and Social Care Committee has urged the Prime Minister to make it his “clear, personal mission” to tackle England’s obesity crisis, after decades of policy failure.

Charities invited to become lead sponsors, marking a major step towards delivering the Home Secretary’s commitment to open new safe and legal routes.

Overseas firms winning UK defence contracts to be required to invest benefits back into the UK under new Offsets policy.

More than 1,000 people join trial testing shorter radiotherapy treatment, potentially saving patients 10 hospital trips.

The government has dropped its proposed national Digital ID scheme. So what does that mean for digital identity in the UK?

Ministers have confirmed that the programme is continuing and remains aligned with the wider plans to shift power out of Westminster.

Delivery providers are under increasing pressure to deliver programmes that lead to meaningful employment, meet employer expectations, and reflect place-based economic priorities. 

Prime Minister Andy Burnham makes new offer to work with each nation to place more decision-making in the hands of regions and cities at a meeting with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales in Glasgow today.

Promises by the UK Government to deliver a £14 billion commitment to put right decades of rail underfunding have been kicked further down the tracks.

The FCA has secured High Court undertakings to ensure that HTX (formerly Huobi), a global crypto exchange, will not knowingly promote cryptoasset services unlawfully to UK consumers.

Customers expect more for their money with many not seeing any improvement in service from their water company, despite rising bills.

Helping struggling households break the cycle of energy debt is at the heart of a new three-pronged strategy unveiled by Government and regulator Ofgem.  

Lord Tim Clement-Jones spoke at the House of Lords on 27 October for the launch of The Distance Between Aspiration and Opportunity, the latest report from the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA). 

Organisations offering support to veterans and their families are being urged to apply for grants of up to £10,000 to help those facing disadvantage as a result of their service to the country.

Russia’s disposable sabotage networks already give Moscow room to manoeuvre. AI agents that adapt autonomously could make that strategy of optionality cheaper and more persistent.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) welcomed the next phase of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which came into force yesterday (29 October 2026), closing long-standing loopholes that Trading Standards has been calling on the Government to address.

Business’ expectations for growth in the next three months are at their least negative in two years, according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator. Nonetheless, this result extends a period of negative predictions for growth that have persisted since late 2024.

ICO statement given yesterday on Highly Effective Age Assurance.

Fund financed by offenders opens for new applications.

Criminals are using AI, including deepfakes videos and images, to endorse fraudulent investment schemes with the over 60s most impacted, new data has shown.

The UK challenged Russia’s shifting justifications for its war of aggression against Ukraine, calling on Russia to explain how its use of force and attempts to alter Ukraine’s borders are compatible with the principles of the Helsinki Final Act.

Ofcom has today published its rapid assessment of how social media firms could reliably determine whether someone is aged 16 or over, ahead of Government and Parliament deciding how the UK’s social media ban will work in practice. 

Chief Medical Officer responds to restrictions on the sale and promotion of vapes and nicotine products.

Putting the needs of end users at the heart of public buildings - YPO has launched Embrace Space Design, a rebranded furniture and design offering that provides schools and public sector organisations with end-to-end support for furniture and spaces.

The UK’s 2025 Ten-Year Infrastructure Strategy made recommendations to assess the communications needs of energy, water and transport. 

University of Bedfordshire (UoB) and Arts Council England have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Signed on Friday 23 October at the UoB campus, the MoU outlines a shared framework for future collaboration.

The final three members of a people smuggling network investigated and dismantled by the National Crime Agency were yesterday (Wednesday 28 October) sentenced.

Ambassador Neil Holland, reaffirmed the UK's unwavering political and financial support for ODIHR and called on participating States to protect its independence. The UK urges stronger action on human rights violations, democratic backsliding, election observation, political prisoners and reprisals against civil society.

TUC Cymru has welcomed the UK Government budget, particularly the extra £450m being invested in Welsh public services.

Regulators join forces for first combined report on water company performance.

Today, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation published a report on the police response to electronically monitored bail conditions and the effectiveness of electronic monitoring used by the Probation Service.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak yesterday commented on the Budget.

The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) recently launched The Distance Between Aspiration and Opportunity at Parliament, presenting research on how a laptop at home can influence children’s confidence, motivation and interest in further education.

Fund financed by offenders opens for new applications.

The UK will give a further £10 billion of economic and military support in the largest ever package of financial backing for Ukraine.

Gulf diplomacy fuels claims of a middle-power moment, but the Iran war exposes limits to strategic autonomy and enduring US supremacy.

Ambitious scale-ups across Britain will get the expert support they need to scale up and stay in the UK, creating good jobs and growth.

People in Wales who want to stop vaping can now get free, evidence-based help to manage their cravings, cut down and plan their quit through a new app module launched by Public Health Wales. 

Politico-Military Counsellor Arron Newble says Russia is spending a growing share of its budget on the war for limited gains, and asks how this fits its Code of Conduct commitments.

The Deputy Minister for Transport, Mark Hooper, has welcomed new figures showing a continued fall in road collisions and casualties across Wales, with clear reductions seen on roads with 20mph and 30mph speed limits.

Homeless Link has issued an immediate response to the Chancellor's 2026 Budget statement. Further analysis of the details of the Budget and implications for our members will be shared in the coming days and weeks.

Government’s first ever joint regulator report leaves nowhere to hide for water companies.

A factsheet on local and regional growth measures in England.

Weather and climate intelligence will help safeguard nuclear safety thanks to a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Met Office and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

The KDP and PUK largely agree on Kurdish issues in Turkey, Iran and Syria. But division on how to govern at home could invite outside interference and undermine hard-won self-governance.

Findings from a process and impact evaluation of the Scottish Government's Adaptation Scotland Programme. The Programme supports the delivery of Scotland’s National Adaptation Plan.

The UK's ambition for modern digital government is increasingly focused on outcomes: more productive public services, better use of data, greater adoption of AI, and services that work more seamlessly across organisational boundaries. 

The Chancellor has announced a new package of over £10bn in economic and military support for Ukraine.

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, yesterday responded to the government’s Budget announcements

Government implements new restrictions on the sale and promotion of vapes and nicotine products across the UK.

People across Scotland are being invited to have their say on proposals to make recycling easier and more consistent.

How can the government build technical resilience while wrestling with relentless structural reform and decades of inherited legacy tech?  Across Whitehall, local authorities, and national infrastructure, every priority, from citizen services to cross-agency AI, depends on secure data mobility.

Families and businesses in Scotland will get breathing space from action announced in Budget 2026.

Government announces a major new push to back women in technology by helping tackle barriers facing female founders and workers while boosting growth across the UK economy.

We will be opening the Welsh Government Pavilion (opposite NFU Cymru) for you to visit us with any scheme queries you may have.

DFM - Action on energy bills ‘falls short of what is needed’.

Frank Ferguson, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: "Stephen Lennon weaponised social media and subjected two journalists to a campaign of harassment which caused them serious fear of violence.

The economic backdrop to yesterday’s Budget was stronger-than-expected growth in the UK. As Chancellor John Healey noted, the UK economy was the fastest growing in the G7 in the first half of 2026. There can be no doubt: technology is a major reason for the UK’s robust economic performance. 

Families and businesses in Northern Ireland will get breathing space from Budget 2026.

The United Kingdom’s candidate to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will help strengthen the rule of law in an increasingly unstable world, the Lord Chancellor will tell the United Nations General Assembly later today (Thursday, 29 October).

Changes to protect young people from nicotine addiction.

The Autumn Budget will create breathing space for families with the cost of living.

Upgrades include the construction of a new central overbridge, 3 new entrances, nearly 40% more rail ticket barriers and increased lift capacity to make journeys quicker and easier.

Government and Rolls-Royce have agreed a £2.5 billion programme which could see jet engines built in the UK for decades and create tens of thousands of jobs.

The government will cut prices at local, lower-powered electric vehicle chargers across Britain, saving drivers who rely on them around £150 a year.

£20bn of total borrowing over five years for investment on AI, defence and green energy is expected in tomorrow's budget. This would cost less than £1bn in debt interest and running costs in 2029-30, according to new IPPR analysis. 

David Williams responds to the chancellor's budget.

This report was issued in October 2026 and covers the time period 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026 inclusive.

UK exporters set to benefit from wider eligibility and faster access to government-backed finance of up to £15 million through UK Export Finance’s General Export Facility

Families and businesses in Wales will get breathing space as a result of action announced in Budget 2026. 

An Official Statistics in Development publication for Scotland

From online banking and contactless payments to healthcare and streaming, data centres support the services we use every day, and as new developments progress, communities rightly have questions about what a data centre could mean for their local area. Data Centres Explained is a free resource helping people understand what data centres are, how they function and the role they play in our lives. 

The Prime Minister and Chancellor spoke to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this morning ahead of Cabinet.

We have reprimanded Staffordshire Police after the force unlawfully disclosed a domestic abuse victim's home address to their alleged abuser.

The King is visiting The Bahamas and Guyana, before being joined by The Queen in Antigua and Barbuda for the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. The tour will celebrate the people, culture and heritage of each nation, while highlighting themes of environmental stewardship, youth leadership, community service and Commonwealth partnership.

Partnership to accelerate progress for care-experienced people.

The developer dumped 25,000 tonnes of waste including asbestos.

The UK, Netherlands, Finland and Poland update on next steps for the Multilateral Defence Mechanism

 The Cabinet Minister for Finance Elin Jones makes a statement Ahead of the UK government’s Budget

Fairer climate finance to be key priority.

Following this summer's extreme heat, new Met Office research suggests 18-24-year-olds are among the most engaged age group when it comes to following weather warnings and advice.

A former Metropolitan Police officer has been convicted of rape and three sexual assaults following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.

Douglas Alexander toured the Fife shipyard where the new apprentices will work on building three Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Standing charges from household gas bills will be removed for around 23 million homes.

Conditions improve but coastal flood risk remains.

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has announced new proposals to help more leaseholders at risk of high bills to fix serious building and fire safety defects.

The UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights, Eleanor Sanders, visits Tanzania ahead of the UN’s forthcoming review of the status of Tanzania’s human rights landscape

The UK will lead development of three advanced undersea sensor payloads for uncrewed vehicles under AUKUS, following a week of testing at the Maritime Big Play exercise in San Diego.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is raising the alarm over the substantial financial contribution and risk borne by UK taxpayers and consumers in the construction of Sizewell C.

It’s been a turbulent twelve months for digital identity in the UK: a national digital identity scheme announced, debated, and then scrapped, all within the space of a year.

The station features the longest escalators on the network, which have been in service for almost 35 years

Customer service must get markedly better, Ofcom has today warned postal operators, as the watchdog considers additional consumer protections for parcel deliveries.

HM Land Registry is consulting on both the future of its fee structure and on increasing access to data on land ownership.

Business announces planned £6 million for first phase of investment.

Statement given recently (26 October 2026) by Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait.

Nivalda Santos Pirjani and Klevi Pirjani had their minimum terms increased after an Unduly Lenient Sentence referral by the Attorney General.

Halloween might conjure up images of chilly nights, mist and howling winds, but the UK's weather on 31 October has been remarkably varied.

How the government's Warm Homes Loan scheme can help households install clean energy technology and save money on bills.

Alcohol Minister Maree Todd has pledged further action to tackle alcohol-related harm as new figures show alcohol-specific deaths have fallen for the second year in a row.

Central government has an opportunity to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve productivity, modernise services and help civil servants make better use of information.

New campus for the National School of Government and Public Services opened at York.

The Charity Commission’s decision to take legal action against the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), which resulted in the Ombudsman essentially being blocked from laying her reports before MPs, was wrong and must be learned from, according to a new report by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

Recent website outages and the launch of the Government’s ‘Be Ready’ campaign offer a timely reminder that resilience is not just about protecting technology. It is about preparing people, organisations and communities to manage disruption.

The TUC yesterday (Tuesday) renewed its call to tax bank windfall profits to cut energy bills ahead of the Budget, as the union body publishes new analysis which reveals the scale of massive pay packets of top bosses at Britain's big four banks.  

Britain will be more secure as a result of a new defence agreement with Poland designed to deter Russian threats.

When people talk about artificial intelligence in the public sector, the conversation often jumps quickly to chatbots, virtual assistants or the idea of AI replacing work traditionally carried out by people. 

The review will examine whether opportunities were missed to prevent Henry Nowak’s murder and how the Nowak family were treated in the aftermath.

Prescribing of NICE-recommended tablets for endometriosis and fibroids has more than tripled in a year across England, giving thousands of additional women another option to manage painful and debilitating symptoms.

The Crown Prosecution Service has today announced that two men have been charged following an incident involving RAF Fairford.

An Accredited Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

The Childhood Lottery: Reflecting on the findings and response 27 October 2026.

Chancellor unveils five everyday fixes to ease household costs, support working families and end the Carer’s Allowance cliff edge ahead of Wednesday’s Budget.

Innovate Awarding Limited (Innovate) has been fined £185,000 by Ofqual after the regulator found serious failings in its oversight of a centre delivering a business administration qualification.

More than 1,000 young people attended Norfolk’s first Youth Guarantee Jobs fair to experience first-hand the various professions in the agricultural sector.

An Accredited Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

As HSBC announce Q3 pre-tax profits of $9.6 billion – up 32% on the year – and bringing its 2026 profits to $29.2 billion so far – up 26% on the year – the TUC is today (Tuesday) urging the Chancellor to increase taxes on banks in tomorrow's Budget.

If the Netherlands agrees to US export controls, it must be mindful of its vulnerability to retaliatory measures from Beijing.

Kraken Technologies, National Grid, Octopus Energy, and SSE will sponsor the UK Pavilion at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.

An Albanian fisherman who skippered a yacht from France to the UK with 17 migrants on board has been convicted.

Statement given yesterday by Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Children and Armed Conflict.

Wales is gearing up for the Tour de France Grand Départ 2027, with £4.5 million in Welsh Government investment to boost cycling tourism, attract visitors and support local economies.

Judge condemns operator – 'A deliberate and blatant attempt to get around the law.' Penalty over £47,000 includes costs for dangerous disposal of red diesel.

Imagine a bid team a year after contract award. The social value section named a delivery partner, the commitments went live, and now a performance update is due for publication. 

E5 Defence Ministers' Statement: 26 October 2026.

The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into ADAPT (North East) over serious concerns about how the charity is being managed.

Almost £1m to support ‘ask and act’ projects ahead of implementation of new legislation.

HM Land Registry has published a new practice guide to help conveyancers and the wider property market understand and prepare for new requirements on contractual control agreements.

Retail sales volumes fell in the year to October at the slowest rate since April 2025, according to the CBI's latest Distributive Trades Survey.

Perpetrators of anti-social behaviour could be hit with tougher restrictions as new Respect Orders came into force across England and Wales yesterday.

The nationwide movement is back for 2026, with new research from This Girl Can revealing more than half of women feel unsafe exercising alone after dark. 

When we build an AI application, the question “does it work?” needs a precise answer. Extracting a clause from a contract is one test. Giving someone enough context to assess that clause and use it in their work is another.

The UK, Ukraine and Latvia agreed to extend the Grain Verification Scheme, widening the net against those profiting from stolen Ukrainian grain

Referral rates for managing children’s tooth decay in Wales have remained broadly stable since 2022/23, according to an updated Public Health Wales report.  

Border Force officers seized more than 4 million illegal cigarettes, worth an estimated £2.59 million, in a 4-day crackdown at Manchester Airport.

Funding further increases in defence spending would require hard choices – cutting spending elsewhere, raising taxes or borrowing more – both at this Budget and in the years ahead.

One year after the fall of El Fasher, the UK is bringing forward a new package of action designed to shine a spotlight on the horrific violence seen during the siege of the city.

As of yesterday (Monday 26th October), new Respect Orders have come into effect across England and Wales, giving police and partners tougher powers to crack down on the most relentless adult anti-social behaviour offenders.

We’ve published the latest figures for complaints we’ve received about the UK’s main landline, broadband, mobile and pay-TV providers.

Benefits cheats have been put on notice with tough new anti-fraud measures used for the first time as part of a drive to save billions of pounds for the taxpayer.

Contract signed for first year of delivery of backpacks for P1s.

The next generation of public services will undoubtedly need to rely on better-connected technology. But their success will often come from the insights that can be gained in ordinary moments.

The cost of living, growth and jobs are all impacted by global geoeconomics. To pass the ‘Makerfield Test’ and deliver for ordinary people, the budget should recognize this and build resilience to external shocks.

The NRLA yesterday set out its views on how the Chancellor of the Exchequer can address the private rented sector's supply and affordability issues, ahead of the 2026 Budget on 28 October 2026.

Royal Lofts & Extensions Ltd has been wound up in the public interest following an Insolvency Service investigation into complaints about the company.

People are being urged to be aware and report vandalism, anti-social behaviour and heritage crime at Welsh historic sites this half-term after thousands of pounds’ worth of damage was caused at a newly renovated site in west Wales.