WIREDGOV

Sir Chris Wormald to stand down as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service

A former nursery worker from Finchley in north London has been jailed today after pleading guilty to a raft of sexual offences including those committed at a daycare centre and a primary school.

The Electoral Commission has said the UK Government’s Representation of the People Bill (Opens in new window) would significantly improve the electoral system for voters, parties, campaigners and administrators.

The public is urged to remain vigilant

Ofcom has today fined Kick Online Entertainment SA £800,000 for failing to put in place age checks to protect children from pornographic content.

Guidance for gender questioning children is clear schools should take a careful approach when a child asks to social transition.

Last week (WC 2nd February 2026) the National Consortium for Societal Resilience issued a report that £1 invested in societal resilience to disasters generates £35.12 of public value.

For more than a week now, the policing sector has been digesting the Government’s wide-ranging and ambitious white paper on police reform.

Digital researcher Bernard Ogden reflects on using experimental technology to foster co-learning between digital and collection experts at Wellcome Collection.

A project to reduce the impact of fuel poverty on vulnerable people is being promoted nationally as an example of how to tackle health inequalities.

CBI has responded to latest GDP data for Q4 2025.

A man who rigged properties with improvised explosive devices and a homemade flamethrower to protect a large-scale drugs operation has been jailed.

Ofsted has published a letter with findings from a joint targeted area inspection of the multi-agency response to child sexual abuse in the family environment in Leicestershire. 

For more than a century and a half, the Met Office has been at the forefront of weather and climate science, providing trusted, world-leading insights to organisations across the globe.

The Transport Secretary recently (10 February 2026) set out her vision for a reformed railway that's run by the public, for the public.

ScotRail fares will be frozen for the next year to keep money in people’s pockets, First Minister John Swinney has announced.

Recent purges within the Central Military Commission in China echo the Chekist approach to ideological purity and absolute loyalty to the Party and, at its core, Xi Jinping.

Fisheries management plans secure the long-term sustainability of UK fish stocks.

Jessica Gillie first began her journey as a Business Administrator Apprentice here at NCFE in 2022 at the age of 19.

Sudan Core Group Statement for the oral update of the OHCHR on the human rights situation in and around El Fasher, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Sudan.

The NHS delivered more elective activity in 2025 than any other year in its history, helping cut the waiting list to its lowest level since February 2023.

999 call sees 2 held, and lorry and devices seized. Latest arrests in Environment Agency purge on illegal waste.

The UK will lead the multinational defensive cyber exercise Defence Cyber Marvel (DCM) 2026, a multilateral cyber defence exercise conducted by the British Army Cyber Association.

Review will examine digital shifts, market trends and emerging technologies including use of AI.

From healthcare to food production, seven biotech start-ups have joined a government-backed business incubator to bring innovations to market and improve lives.

We are pleased to announce that two further individuals have been convicted following our extensive investigation into the unlawful accessing and sale of personal information obtained from over 400 garages across the UK, as well as claims management and insurance companies.

DPP says end-to-end reforms are needed to deliver swift justice for victims 

The capability of the CJS to deal with the volume of work coming in is rapidly eroding and with it, public confidence

Greater alignment between police, prosecutors and courts is vital to fix a system now listing trials in 2030

Reforms are needed to help tackle modern offences, including online-facilitated abuse and ‘borderless’ organised crime

Prosecutors, police and the courts must align to deliver end-to-end reform of a criminal justice system that has failed victims for too long, Stephen Parkinson the Director of Public Prosecutions said today.

He highlighted the Crown Prosecution Service’s unique position to connect the sweeping police and court reform programmes to make sure they can deliver for victims, defendants and witnesses.

With some trials now listed as far ahead as 2030 and backlogs at record highs, the DPP issued a warning on “unacceptable” victim attrition rates – with almost one third of contested Crown Court cases not proceeding to trial due to victims feeling unable to carry on.

He said, “No-one working in the criminal justice system can look victims in the eye and say we are delivering swift justice for them.  For too long we have tolerated a system that constantly lets victims down – a system which produces huge delays and frequent adjournments. 

“We are at a critical juncture and this is a once in a generation opportunity to drive-end to-end reforms and create a modern, fit for purpose system. 

“The CPS will do everything in our power to make the proposed reforms effective, working closely with the police and courts to improve outcomes for victims, witnesses and defendants.”

The DPP supported proposals that would increase incentives for defendants who plead guilty early, reducing the Crown Court caseload and freeing up court time, as well as an increase to magistrates’ sentencing powers to 18 months.

On police reform, Mr Parkinson outlined the advantages that consolidating police forces could bring, with potential reforms bringing greater efficiencies and co-operation between prosecutors and police officers in the fight against new and emerging types of crime.

He said: “Prosecutors on the front line are seeing the prevalence and evolving nature of offending that is enabled and enhanced by technology. 

“In the face of these threats, we are building a service that is equipped to fight the challenges we face. We’ve already got teams of specialist prosecutors working on fraud, counter-terrorism, child abuse, immigration crime, meaning we are in a good place to support wider policing reform. And we are actively using and developing technology to scale up to meet the challenge of tackling increasingly complex and borderless crime.”

He was clear of the need to modernise hand-in-hand with our partners to seize this critical opportunity to reduce delay, slash duplication, and deliver better results for victims and society.

Mr Parkinson also stressed that any structural changes to the system must be underpinned by an unyielding focus on increasing efficiency and highlighted progress against the CPS’s own modernisation programme. This includes:

An end-to-end reform of all CPS processes to streamline them and remove unnecessary work, duplication and waste.  

Automation of much routine work, savings hours of lawyer and support staff time.

A new casework app has already saved the equivalent of 31 years’ of prosecutor time since it was introduced in February 2024.

Slimming down charging guidance for police so they can focus on their core job and free up time.

The introduction of a new National Charging Model that turbocharges decision-making by ensuring prosecutors deal with priority remand and bail cases within strict deadlines.

Driving a culture of stronger collaboration with policing to speed up decision making.

Serving our case earlier on the defence to encourage early guilty pleas

Developing our workforce for the future – a third of all future criminal barristers are trained in the CPS and this year we had 2600 applications for 120 lawyer training posts.

Delivering for victims and rebuilding confidence: 

There has also been a major focus on transforming the approach to supporting victims. 

This includes earlier joint working with police forces, under the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan which launched in November 2024.  

Our new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy was published in November and equips prosecutors with both the knowledge and tools they need to prosecute cases effectively and secure results for victims who too often feel the system is not delivering for them.  

Victim Service Standards have also been published to make sure a consistent and compassionate service is available to anyone affected by crime. 

As part of our Enhanced RASSO Service, launched in December 2024, we have already held more than 1800 pre-trial meetings with victims of rape since this was introduced. 

Survivors of rape and serious sexual offences are also offered a dedicated liaison officer, so they have a consistent point of contact. 

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak has commented on ONS figures showing 0.1% GDP growth in the three months to December 2025, and 0.1% GDP growth in December 2025.

People looking for a career in the Armed Forces will receive advice directly from military personnel in their local jobcentre, under new plans to boost military recruitment.

Reconviction rate after Community Payback lower than short term sentences.

Promatic International exports to 41 countries thanks to a £1 million trade facility backed by UKEF.

A suspected people smuggling boss has been arrested in Birmingham as part of a joint investigation involving the National Crime Agency and West Midlands Police.

The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that a 13-year-old boy has been charged following stabbings at a high school in North West London.

New half a billion pound package of air defence for Ukraine, including £150 million for NATO PURL, and additional 1,000 UK-manufactured missiles.

Despite government progress towards removing RAAC from schools, significant concerns remain about the condition of England’s school estate, MPs warned yesterday. 

£35 million to help companies scale up and stay in Scotland.

The government has appointed HSBC as the platform provider for the Digital Gilt Instrument (DIGIT) pilot issuance following a competitive procurement process.

The AI Impact Summit in New Delhi represents a pivotal moment in the global AI dialogue, marking the first time this summit series will be hosted in a developing economy. Taking place from February 16-20, 2026 in New Delhi, this international gathering will bring together government leaders, business executives, researchers, and civil society stakeholders from around the world. 

Foreign actors will no longer be able to use their money to interfere in the UK’s elections, as part of the biggest expansion of democratic participation in a generation

“High streets don’t die by accident” – BTC sets out series of reforms to end late payments, overhaul business rates, cut costs and boost revenue for small businesses.

Agreement reached on pay and contract reform.

Environment Agency water enforcement team increases by almost fivefold since 2023

Every child caught carrying a knife in England and Wales will be given a mandatory targeted plan to stop them reoffending and protect the public.

Vote of confidence in UK as Singaporean firm moves HQ to Liverpool

Major telecoms providers sign new charter to end unexpected mid-contract price rises and make social tariffs easier to access, helping millions manage living costs.

A woman from Derby has been convicted of murdering her partner 15 years ago and burying her in the garden of the house they shared.

Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) borrowers will benefit from stronger protections from 15 July 2026, following the Government's decision to bring the sector under the FCA's regulation.

Victims of serious and sexual crimes to receive improved guidance and support in the Service Justice System

Since 2016, MHCLG has allocated £10.5 billion to unlock land for an estimated 713,000 homes and is currently preparing to launch a new National Housing Delivery Fund. A new report from the NAO finds that to deliver value for money the ministry will need to swiftly build on the work it has started to set up the new fund, so it is ready to deliver the homes the country needs.

The Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) new powers to reach further into citizens’ lives must be used effectively and proportionately.

Major milestone in delivering faster access to care.

The FCA has begun legal proceedings against global crypto exchange HTX (formerly Huobi) for illegally promoting cryptoasset services to UK consumers.

Aspiring apprentices across Wales will soon be able to benefit from new construction apprenticeships, helping fill skills gaps identified by the industry.

Good quality financial management is key to government achieving its savings targets and better services to citizens, but too often the basic requirements are not being met as proven by the whole of government accounts being disclaimed for a second year in a row, the head of the National Audit Office (NAO) will say on Tuesday 10 February.

New findings from Public Health Wales’s latest Time to Talk Public Health survey show strong public support for the provision of health and well-being support for women in the year after pregnancy.

Multi-year investment to support women and girls.

During a visit to meet Royal Marine Commandos at Camp Viking in the Arctic Circle in northern Norway, the Defence Secretary will today confirm that the number of British troops deployed to Norway will double over three years from 1,000 to 2,000 personnel.

A new scheme to widen access to affordable childcare for families across Wales has been announced by the Welsh Government.

We’re proud to announce that our newest programme, Aspiring Leaders, has been approved as ILM Recognised by ILM, the UK’s leading specialist provider of leadership qualifications.

Government and Royal College of Nursing agree comprehensive package to recognise value of profession.

Legislation supported by Parliament.

New Independent Legal Advocacy scheme will provide free, independent legal advice to complainants of rape and sexual offences committed by Service personnel, from Spring 2026.

A bold and ambitious Bill which aims to transform our response to homelessness was yesterday passed by the Senedd.

Schools to be inclusive by design, with dedicated ‘inclusion bases’ and new guidance on adaptations to improve inclusivity and accessibility.

Commitments would deliver immediate improvements to the way UK developers publish apps and how they access Apple’s tools.

Emma Hardy spoke with EA officers on the ground to learn more about the response.

HM Treasury hosted representatives from the U.S. Treasury and regulatory agencies in London to conduct joint industry engagement on the Transatlantic Taskforce.

The UK Space Agency is launching Skills for Space, a new internship programme offering 50 paid placements across the UK space sector to give young people hands-on experience and industry exposure.

MI5 and cyber security services deliver rare briefings to Vice Chancellors and political parties to harden the UK’s resilience against foreign interference.

The UK needs and enduring and dynamic approach to cybersecurity, one that embraces continuous offensive operations to achieve an advantage over its adversaries.

A little over a year on from their initial letter to the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Business Secretary on how they are working to promote economic growth, the ICO have issued an update. 

Record solar, onshore wind, and tidal projects – building on last month’s offshore wind success – deliver Britain’s biggest-ever clean energy auction.

A man who tried to scam university applicants out of thousands of pounds has been jailed, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Government recently published a review with recommendations to protect information security at future fiscal events.

Families of all 2 year olds in Swansea can now benefit from free childcare through the Welsh Government’s Flying Start scheme.

The FCA has fined Dipesh Kerai and Bhavesh Hirani for insider dealing in shares of Bidstack Group Plc.

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, has been appointed by the Department for Education to lead the drafting of reforms to the National Curriculum for Computing and associated qualifications for England. 

The opening weeks of 2026 have been exceptionally wet across the UK. A strong and unusually southerly jet stream has steered a succession of low‑pressure systems towards our shores, bringing frequent rain, strong winds and, at times, wintry hazards.

Consultation launched on providing better, earlier, and more targeted help to adopted children and funding increased for adoption support fund

Views are being sought on proposed changes to the Code of Practice for how Scotland’s police officers use stop and search powers.

The Transport Committee has called for more detail about the Government’s landmark reforms to the rail sector and changes to the legislation to prevent undue political interference in Great British Railways.

Bangladesh’s long-awaited election is being shaped by new political forces and intensified information warfare.

Blog posted by: Jamie Fowler, 10 February 2026 – Early careers, Skills.

Intensive surveys by the Environment Agency has found the native white clawed crayfish population in Northumberland has survived a major incident.

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, recently visited Bridgend College to meet apprentices and industry partners at the college's roofing training facility.

Last year, the Digital Poverty Alliance introduced the UK Digital Inclusion Awards to recognise organisations that had moved beyond commitment and into delivery. 

Innovate UK has opened a new Skills Development competition under the Robotics Adoption Programme, supporting projects that build capability to enable the effective use of robotics and automation technologies. 

The BBC is reporting that a Leicestershire farmer has pleaded guilty to three breaches of cattle movement and bovine tuberculosis regulations, and has been ordered to pay over £10,000.

The educational charity and leading vocational and technical learning organisation NCFE has appointed four new trustees to its board, further strengthening its governance with expertise spanning technology, adult social care, early years, and the sport, active leisure and wellbeing sector. 

Lowering the train driver age from 20 to 18 will give younger people the chance to build rewarding careers in the UK railway industry.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and BritishAmerican Business (BAB) have agreed a new Partnership aimed at promoting the UK-US relationship and securing opportunities for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.  

Oral statement given yesterday in the House of Commons from the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on standards in public life.

New customers registering for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) digital services can now sign-up using GOV.UK One Login. 

The Met Office is entering an exciting new chapter with the arrival of a scientific model upgrade – our first major science upgrade to operational weather modelling in over three years and the first on our new supercomputer.  

A new campaign for parents, full of immediate practical advice on how to talk to your children about harmful online content, as the government bolsters efforts to give every child the healthy upbringing they deserve.

Ofcom has today announced that 47 community radio stations have successfully been awarded grants following the conclusion the Community Radio Fund, with the total amount of funding awarded reaching over £1 million. 

The national conversation must address society’s preparations to defend itself, reimagining the citizen solider of the 21st century, and every sector’s role in this effort.

Biggest ever public investment in community energy will cut bills and create revenue for community centres, social clubs and places of worship.

Members of a 24/7 drugs supply gang who offered a special discount on cocaine to mark the release of a Premier League footballer’s kidnapped father have been jailed for more than 63 years.

An FCDO statement on the Israeli Security Cabinet's decision to expand Israeli control over the West Bank.

First Minister, Eluned Morgan, has welcomed the backing of a record 20 major renewable energy projects, totalling more than 530 MW, in Wales which could see thousands of green jobs created.

Charity introduces “bonding benches” amongst other family initiatives.

Learn how to use AI intelligently without damaging trust or credibility.

The Met Office has launched its most significant scientific upgrade in more than three years, a major step forward for the UK’s weather and climate science capability.

13,000 apprenticeship and T Level opportunities created by government’s plan to transform school buildings.

February's poems feature a mix of international poets and contemporary British writers, including Blake Morrison and Jonathan Davidson, who were part of Poems of the Underground's 40th anniversary celebrations on 30 January.

Women in the UK who use online banking tools are nearly five times as likely to manage their household finances and about twice as likely to have the final say in major financial decisions, compared with women who don’t bank online, a new UCL-led study has found.

On 1 April 2026, Crown Commercial Service and several Cabinet Office Central Commercial teams (operating under the Government Commercial Function) will join to form the Government Commercial Agency.

Life-saving medicines, optical fibres and semiconductors could be made in space to benefit people and businesses across the UK.

Fairer funding as part of the Final Local Government Financial Settlement will help to tackle deprivation and improve public services.

Community groups, cultural organisations and education initiatives are amongst the Scottish organisations who will be able to bid for support from a fund aimed at engaging people in tackling the climate emergency.

An accessible toilet and a gender-neutral toilet, both with baby change facilities, are now available at Morden Underground station.

UK hosted nature summit ends with agreement of a Business & Biodiversity Assessment to shape private sector action on nature.

People across England and Wales are set to receive faster, fairer access to innovative HealthTech under the new National HealthTech Access Programme (NHAP).

Government expands Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route.

The Welsh Government has announced more than 100,000 apprenticeships have been created this Senedd term.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper yesterday responded to the sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong.

APM has launched a new Network in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Network will offer a platform for both established and emerging project professionals in the region to exchange knowledge, build skills, and make a lasting impact on projects in the region.

British soldiers will be able to make faster, better decisions on the battlefield through thousands of new radios, headsets and tablets.

Welfare reforms designed to rebalance the benefits system and support more people into work moved forward yesterday, as Universal Credit legislation was laid in Parliament (Monday 9 February).

A partnership to boost outcomes and better support communities.

Raising the standard of social homes in England is essential given the progress at bringing homes up to a minimum standard has almost ground to a halt, says the cross-party Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee in a report published yesterday (Monday).

Competitiveness is not enough. The former president of the European Central Bank’s call for ‘pragmatic federalism’ would require Europe to strengthen its decision-making process if it wants to weigh in as a fully-fledged power.

What did the Second World War look, feel and sound like in India? This blog combines oral testimony with The National Archives’ documents to explore Subhas Chandra Bose's impact on India from 1939–1945.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is to investigate several officers and staff at Leicestershire Police and Nottinghamshire Police over their response to safeguarding concerns at a summer camp where children were given sweets laced with tranquilliser.

This week, during Welsh Charities Week, the Welsh Government is celebrating the charities and volunteers who help hold communities together across Wales. Every day, they provide practical help, create connections and offer support when it is needed most.

A man who raped and sexually abused a teenage girl had his sentence extended after the Solicitor General intervened.

At NCFE, we’re gearing up to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week by bringing you the latest information and statistics to guide your decision on whether studying an apprenticeship is right for you.

Young people across the country are to benefit from a clearer path into apprenticeships, as the Prime Minister vows to “unlock opportunities for young people across the country” ahead of National Apprenticeship Week.

A 6-year-old boy who cannot communicate verbally made a new friend by pointing at symbols on a colourful board in his local park.

This joint blog post from Ofgem and the Energy Ombudsman helps consumers understand the benefits and risks of AI and ensure they know their rights and protections.

Young people encouraged to claim their Child Trust Fund savings for financial head start.

The UK temperature is rising and that brings the risk of new pests becoming established in the UK, posing threats to agriculture and forestry warns the Met Office.

Young people will be given a quicker route into high-quality jobs on major projects as the Government slashes red tape to fast-track the process.  

Spending on schools across Scotland has increased by more than £1 billion in real terms over the past decade, official statistics show.

The Government’s HIV Action Plan, backed with £170 million in funding is welcome, but further improvements in access to PrEP are required, the Women and Equalities Committee has said, following the Government’s response published recently (February 6) to its report ‘Tackling HIV transmission’.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is marking National Apprenticeship Week (9–15 February 2026) with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the Institute of Licensing (IoL).

Natural England has approved the release of beavers at two projects in South West England.

The FDA has responded to the latest publication of UK Parliament’s Restoration and Renewal Board, Delivering restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster: the costed proposals.

A programme to help support Welsh-speaking teachers to become secondary school teachers in Wales is now open for applications until 22 February 2026.

A new laboratory that will help UK companies develop and test the engines powering the next generation of satellites has opened at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.

APM Sustainability Interest Network podcast series.

The Met Office and Microsoft are deepening their partnership with the release of two significant Met Office datasets, UK deterministic (2km) and global deterministic (10km), on the Microsoft Planetary Computer.

A temporary export bar has been placed on Michael Rysbrack’s sculpture of two ‘putti’ supporting an architrave.

This paper summarises further analysis that expands the methodology developed in the “Importance of Natural Capital to the Scottish Economy” analysis.

UK Statement at The Gambia’s World Trade Organization Trade Policy Review. Delivered by Kumar Iyer, Ambassador and Permanent Representative for the UK Mission to the WTO and UN in Geneva (05 February 2026).

The US has proved it is serious about creating a new mining and processing ecosystem. Now it must convince investors and industry that its policy will last for the next 10 years.

The TUC and unions are supporting the workplace day of action for Palestine on 12 February.  We continue to stand in solidarity with Palestinians in their struggle for justice, freedom and peace.

Social work students to receive targeted financial support, under plans set out in a consultation launched recently (06 February 2026) by the government.

First Minister John Swinney recently commented the announcement of the death of former Health Secretary Jeane Freeman.

Funding for housing, farming and agricultural businesses.

The latest forecast from Met Office scientists indicates that the rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) increase this year will remain too fast to meet climate targets outlined for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

The UK government has been supporting more than 1 million Ukrainians affected by the energy crisis this winter.

Two thirds of landlords planning to increase rents cite forthcoming tax rises on the sector as a key reason according to new polling.

IFS analysis shows the Scottish Budget relies on ambitious efficiency savings to shift health spending and reshape capital investment.

Latest grants from Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund

New tram-trains that will revolutionise transport in south Wales are now in their final phase of testing before being introduced into service on some of the Core Valleys Lines this spring.

The Environment Agency has completed a flood scheme which will reduce flood risk for 333 properties and unlocks £75 million regeneration opportunities.

The UK Government’s recently published its response to the House of Lords UK Engagement with Space Committee report, “The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out,” marks an important moment for the UK’s growing space sector.  

Trade union access reforms in the Employment Rights Act could cost UK businesses over £1 billion, according to new research from the Adam Smith Institute (ASI)

Commission publishes recommendations for a fairer and more effective justice system.

For the permanent fix to the crossbeams on the Menai Suspension Bridge traffic management will be put in place with a tidal flow system operating for this part of the work only.

Multi-agency operation into suspected illegal waste dumping in Liverpool results in arrest and vehicle seizure.

TfL is running a 12-month trial on new bus shelter designs to improve accessibility, safety and customer experience

Flexible working has risen exponentially since Covid, and should be supported where it is genuinely voluntary between employers and staff. However, Government attempts to effectively mandate flexible working risk imposing a “stealth tax” on jobs, wages and productivity, according to a new discussion paper from the Institute of Economic Affairs.