WIREDGOV

A Canadian man has formally admitted causing the deaths of 73 victims in England and Wales.

A drug supplier who is linked to the deaths of at least two people from hugely powerful Class A nitazene drugs has admitted a raft of criminal charges, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation has found that the use of lethal force by a Thames Valley Police (TVP) firearms officer was necessary, proportionate and reasonable, during an incident in Milton Keynes in which a man died after being shot.

Government to propose tougher fines and prison sentences for those who damage subsea infrastructure essential for UK internet access.

The £1.5bn/year fraud risk the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is exposed to has not been addressed by the department with requisite focus or leadership.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's statement on Russian drone hit in Romania.

For NATO, this year has seen one battle after another, all started by the U.S. The latest is a plan to allocate fewer forces to Europe. Europeans should treat it as an opportunity.

A programme to help prevent brain injury during childbirth has been firmly embedded in the North West Coast.

EU’s Digital Omnibus simplification: More than 20 tech industry associations have now warned member states against watering down key simplification measures proposed by the Commission, particularly around GDPR definitions and plans for a single EU-level cyber incident reporting mechanism. Industry is also increasingly concerned about proposed cookie reforms, arguing they could significantly impact parts of the digital advertising ecosystem and broader online economy. 

Ethiopia will hold elections on 1 June amid persistent instability and simmering regional tensions.

Young Women in Mind 2026-2028 is a collaborative funding programme set up by the Pilgrim Trust, the Prudence Trust and the Julia Rausing Trust to support charities providing gender‑specific therapeutic mental health support for girls and young women aged 14–25 in the UK.

A million people have flocked to Map Your Mobile, a free mobile checker, to help avoid dropped calls, sluggish data and patchy signal, Ofcom has revealed today. 

Young people across the country will be helped onto the career ladder thanks to the creation of 300,000 new work experience and training placements in sectors including construction, health and social care and hospitality.

On 28 May 2026, the eve of the G7 Digital Ministers’ meeting, the leading digital sector trade associations from the G7 (the UK, the USA, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Japan and the EU) have presented our joint recommendations, aimed at strengthening growth, competitiveness, and innovation in the global digital economy.

As Iraq faces regional war, fiscal uncertainty and armed-group politics, Ankara is seeking to turn security cooperation, trade and connectivity into strategic leverage.

Cures for infectious diseases and pioneering improvements in women’s health, and strengthening a partnership between two of Europe’s leading supercomputers.

Statement given yesterday by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Milburn Review: NEET crisis has been “years in the making”- action must start now to turn it around (28 May 2026).

Blog posted by: Daniela Wegrostek, Senior Engagement Manager, GDS and Eleanor Mcconachie, Service Owner, GDS, 28 May 2026 – Digital, Data and Technology.

Today the government published one of the most forensic diagnoses of youth economic exclusion in a generation. 

Pollen levels across the UK over the next five days will show a clear north–south contrast, with generally low levels across Scotland and Northern Ireland, while much of England and Wales sees higher concentrations, particularly of grass and weed pollen.

Patients to benefit from more services and treatments from their community pharmacy, as part of new deal.

The devolution of energy powers to Scotland would help deliver fairness for families and bring energy bills down, Energy Minister Stephen Gethins has said.

The UK thanks Ambassador McGurk for his concise and focused report presentation, and underlines support for the Mission's work on democratic processes and with non-majority communities (28 May 2026).

Statement given yesterday from the Children’s Commissioner on the Milburn review of young people and work

In a world filled with plastic toys and touchscreens, there’s something powerful about placing a tool into a child’s hands.

Taxpayers to be protected from financial mismanagement in local government

Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, responded to the interim report on Young People and Work by Alan Milburn

Greene King, Severn Trent and other leading UK businesses have joined forces with central and local Government to help more care leavers, ex-offenders and young people with mental health challenges in the West Midlands into quality jobs.

The UK’s electricity system costs are set to more than double by 2030, adding the equivalent of £700 per household even if gas prices remain the same, according to a new post published by the Institute of Economic Affairs.

Some Tube drivers are planning to strike from 00:01 - 23:59 on both Tuesday 2 June and Thursday 4 June

Tom MacInnes, Director of Policy at Citizens Advice responded to the Milburn interim report

UK welcomes Sweden’s leadership in brokering new deal to supply Ukraine with fighter jets.   

We have published our terms of reference for the super-complaint investigation of excessive delays in police investigations of sexual offences.

The Work Foundation at Lancaster University responded to the latest figures on young people not in education, employment or training (May 2026) released by the Office for National Statistics.

Financial firms have made progress in preventing sanctions breaches – with £37bn worth of assets frozen in the UK as of last year – but gaps remain, warns the FCA.

The Scottish Government and its partners have made progress in cutting the criminal courts backlog and modernising justice services – but risks remain to delivering much needed reforms.

The Environment Agency has opened a consultation into its draft decision to grant a permit variation to Drax Power Limited in Yorkshire.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred a man’s convictions for driving without a licence and insurance to the Crown Court because he is a victim of human trafficking or modern slavery and therefore had a defence under the Modern Slavery Act of which he was not advised.

One in six could be NEET by end of the decade, finds IPPR

UKRI-backed research aims to cut years from diagnosis and help millions of women be believed sooner.

Rebecca Gray responds to findings from Alan MIlburn's review into the increase in the number of young people who are Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET).

A man who murdered his cousin in her own home with an axe has been sentenced to life imprisonment.  

Four people have been arrested by the National Crime Agency as part of an international money laundering investigation.

 TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak commented on union membership numbers rising by 192,000 to 6.6 million in 2025

Climate Risk Is a Multiplier, not a Scenario.

Young Scots are set to benefit from over £925,000 of funding to help them build skills, gain work experience and move towards employment, as part of a wider £5.6 million Young Start funding package announced yesterday (Wednesday 27 May) by The National Lottery Community Fund.

More needs to be done to ensure funding is adequate for the unique policing and security challenges in Northern Ireland, MPs say today, in a report that also calls for action on PSNI officer numbers and representation.

The CMA has secured a court-endorsed settlement from mattress firm Emma Sleep after concerns its sales practices misled consumers.

A coalition of the Trades Union Congress, 38 Degrees, Child Poverty Action Group, Women’s Budget Group, Young Women’s Trust, Fawcett Society, Timewise and Work Foundation has today (Wednesday) told the government that it must stand firm on its manifesto commitment to ban zero hours contracts and ensure workers have a right to guaranteed hours. 

Migrants who arrived in small boats during the weekend’s sunny weather and calmer waters in the English Channel have been charged with illegal immigration offences.

Ofcom yesterday fined pornography provider Youngtek Solutions Ltd £500,000 for not having age checks in place, plus £100,000 for failing to respond to a formal request for information from the regulator.

The final days of May have brought an exceptional spell of heat to the UK, with widespread impacts on both daytime and night-time temperatures.

Thousands of patients with painful joint and muscle conditions will receive employment support and treatment to tackle health-related economic inactivity.

The Sentencing Council yesterday published an evaluation of the public order offences guidelines.  

The acquisition of glide bombs for the F-35B is a welcome and overdue way to efficiently increase practical UK combat air mass in a NATO context.

Households across the UK continue to embrace solar power as the government accelerates its clean power mission.

Figures show Renters’ Rights Act is making many landlords reluctant to let to tenants considered higher risk of defaulting on rent payments.

Ambassador Holland set out why Russia’s illegal war is failing: unsustainable casualties, minimal gains and mounting economic strain at home. Russia cannot outlast Ukraine’s partners. Russia needs to get serious about negotiations on a just and lasting peace.

Fully funded training delivered by the Government Commercial College is available to help organisations strengthen contract management capability.

The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a recycling company for attempting to illegally export plastics contaminated with household waste.

You can tell a session is worthwhile when the people who weren’t intended to be in the room pull up chairs and stay. 

In 2026, EUMETNET marks 30 years of cooperation between European National Meteorological Services, highlighting a long-standing commitment to collaborative working across borders.

The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) and easyJet have launched Tech4Takeoff, a new programme that will provide iPads to students aged 11-19 who need better access to technology outside the classroom.

Business optimism and activity across the service sector declined sharply in the quarter to May, according to the CBI’s latest Service Sector Survey.

Ambassador Holland condemned Russia’s largest aerial attack on Kyiv since 2022, including the use of an Oreshnik nuclear-capable missile. Russia’s threats to strike the heart of Kyiv are unwarranted, irresponsible and completely unjustified. The UK will continue to stand firmly with Ukraine.

Armenians face a febrile campaign but feel the benefits of improved security since hostilities with Azerbaijan ended.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak yesterday commented on the energy price cap announcement.

Overview of current bluetongue cases, risk level, vaccinations and restrictions.

The Sentencing Council has published a simplified version of the SentencingACE tool.  

Statement given recently (26 May 2026) by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Multilateralsiam.

Matthew Hopkins says decision to strike yet again is rash and wholly irresponsible and will leave patients paying the price.

With average annual energy bills set to increase by £221 from Wednesday 1 July, a new policy from JRF would give all consumers a portion of cheaper energy, providing savings across the income spectrum with households in the lowest third of incomes saving on average  over a month’s worth of energy on their annual bill.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which includes Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express, will transfer into public ownership.

50,000 first-time buyers supported in this parliament.

The Deputy Prime Minister has approved the reappointment of Dr Jake Hard and Professor Seena Fazel as members of the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody.

Dr Layla McCay responds to NHS England's announcement on the first six advanced foundation trusts.

UKHSA urges public to practise good food hygiene as new data shows persistently high levels of common gastrointestinal infections.

We’re bringing environmental sustainability to the forefront during this week’s King’s Baton Relay ahead of the Commonwealth Games in July.

The number of people living with diabetes in Wales is rising faster than previously projected, new data from NHS Wales has revealed — prompting Public Health Wales and Diabetes UK Cymru to join forces and call on people to know their risk of Type 2 diabetes and act now, so they can live longer, healthier lives tomorrow. 

Global average temperatures are likely to continue at or near record levels in the next five years.

Five men have been arrested after a yacht carrying seven people to the UK illegally was intercepted off the south coast of England.

The new Walking and Wheeling Action Plan will help more Londoners walk safely to school, shops and public transport links - improving people's health and supporting high streets

New resources launched to help boards cut costs, reduce risk and drive growth through investment in nature

The UK could play a central role in building a new European Defence Alliance as long-term US security guarantees become less certain, according to a new paper from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

An Official Statistics in Development publication for Scotland.

The Government has published a list of 125 everyday essentials - including fruit, oils and core pantry staples - targeted for tariff reductions, alongside uprating mileage rates to support working people with the cost of living.

Treaty between the Republic of Poland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on a Security and Defence Partnership

Energy regulator Ofgem has today (Wednesday 27 May) announced a 13% increase of the energy price cap for the period covering 1 July to 30 September 2026. 

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is reviewing a significant amount of evidence as we continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding a fatal police shooting in Bedford this month (12 May).

Three convicted people smugglers are among thirty people who have today been warned that they will stay on the National Crime Agency’s radar after serving their prison sentences.

Scottish Child Payment key to eradicating child poverty

Firms that approve financial promotions should be doing more to protect consumers, an FCA review has found.

In the first of a series of blogs on new regulations in the homelessness sector, Homeless Link Associate Consultant Becky Elton explains the implications of new access to information requirements.

The convictions of a young teenage girl, ‘Ms AB,’ have been sent back to the courts by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the first such referral since the publication of Baroness Louise Casey’s report on institutional failures to protect children from grooming gangs. 

The Government’s draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill makes a significant step towards giving leasehold homeowners greater control of their buildings, but the government needs to go further and faster to meet leaseholders' expectations and deliver on previous government pledges, says the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee in a report published today (Wednesday).

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

The competition will be open to a single organisation, or group of organisations, that are willing to come together to deliver the project.

The first annual surveillance report on the impact of cold weather on mortality and morbidity in Wales shows that there were around six more deaths per day on cold days, compared to non-cold days in the winter of 2024-25, and that people aged 85 and over and women were more affected.

Most organisations don't build AI. They buy it. And that changes everything. 

FM: “I will lead a government that is always on Scotland’s side.”

Establishing a dedicated Welsh investment promotion agency (IPA) would improve and streamline support for overseas businesses wanting to invest in Wales, MPs say today.

The UK is set to sign a new defence and security treaty with Poland to protect British borders, tackle organised crime, bolster collective defences and deepen cooperation with the European Union.

A unique Cornish moorland landscape shaped by thousands of years of history becomes a National Nature Reserve for local people and visitors to enjoy

A demonstration of laser technology has paved the way for a transformational leap in faster and more secure communications for the UK’s armed forces.

Minister for Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan, goes to Australia ahead of the online safety consultation closing.

The Crown Prosecution Service has referred the sentences passed for three teenage boys who were found guilty of rape but spared jail as unduly lenient sentences.

Transport staff from World Cup competing nations gather at Wembley Park Tube station ahead of a busy summer of late-night travel.

Canada has dedicated considerable time and resource to the challenge. Europe could learn a lot from across the Atlantic.

Government commits up to £7.5 million and calls for delivery partners to submit bids to help deliver landmark new forest covering more than 200 square miles 

Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP yesterday announced the release of £102.6 million by the UK Government to support public service transformation in Northern Ireland.

MHCLG has published guidance on Long-Term Rough Sleeping Partnership Plans alongside a wider toolkit for local authority homelessness strategies and action plans.

Retail selling prices grew in the year to May at the slowest rate in over a year – according to the CBI’s latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey – and are set to grow at a similar pace in June.

Crypto and illicit finance networks exploited by Russia to circumvent UK sanctions are being targeted as the government ramps up pressure on Putin’s war machine to support Ukraine.

The Attorney General has made the decision to refer the cases of the Fordingbridge Three to the Court of Appeal.

Earlier this week, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) published the Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment - Independent Assessment (CCRA4-IA).

Education Secretary writes to the CMA to examine the childcare market and launches a free tool helping families find childcare and budget for costs.

An Accredited Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) should launch a full market investigation into the live music industry before the end of 2026, says the Commons Business and Trade Committee in a report recently (24 May 2026).

Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the sentencing in the Fordingbridge rape case (24 May 2026).

Thousands of people in England have had lung cancer caught early thanks to NHS scanning trucks in supermarket car parks, sports stadiums and busy high streets.

Around 30% of all private school bursaries and scholarship funds go to the wealthiest families, with pupils from poorer families receiving less grant funding than those from both high- and middle-income families, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

techUK has published its first report on photonics, the science and technology of light, which sets out how the UK can position itself as a global leader in photonics technologies and lead the next wave of photonics innovation and deployment.

Launched in March 2026, this year-long initiative will discover how the UK can lead on the development and deployment of Frontier Compute technologies. 

Statement by Legal Advisor Colin McIntyre at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya (22 May 2026).

Blog posted by: Tom Gannon, 21 May 2026 – Major Projects, Mission delivery, Supply Chain, Waste management.

More of the support available to people experiencing homelessness is now reached online, while the basics needed to get online can be hard to hold onto without stable housing.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak recently (24 May 2026) responded to Reform’s proposal to change working time laws and stop worker from having to pay tax on overtime

An El Niño event could disrupt UK weather, laying bare the vulnerabilities flagged by the Climate Change Committee’s new report.

This data provides information about the number and types of applications that HM Land Registry completed in April 2026.

Vital emergency services, military operations and British businesses will be better protected through a new system to protect UK satellites and the services they provide from space.

UK and Australia agree deeper ties to tackle AI risks.

Pledge on 150,000 additional appointments and procedures surpassed.

The targeting of water supply is being normalised by cognitive warfare. More must be done to reverse this.

£30 million investment important step toward protecting 30% of England's land for nature by 2030.

A 76-year-old man from West Sussex has pleaded guilty to 36 child abuse offences, including paying for children in the Philippines to be sexually abused to order.

In response to announcements on civil service pay, the FDA welcomes progression for Senior Civil Servants, but introducing progression for other grades remains ‘top pay priority’ after ‘lack of meaningful change for two decades’.

Ahead of its annual business lunch in Edinburgh on May 22, CBI Scotland has urged the new Scottish Government to work tirelessly across party lines – and with the business community – to make economic growth the defining priority of this parliament.

Royal Mail’s current performance is not acceptable. For several years, too many deliveries have been delayed, and this has had a serious impact on families, communities and businesses across all the nations and regions of the UK.

Most organisations know they need to build AI capability across their workforce. 

The first National Cadet Week in October 2026 will celebrate the cadet forces, one of the country's most effective youth organisations.

The roll-out of the South Western Arterio fleet shows how nationalisation of the railway is transforming passenger journeys.

As of 31st March 2024, it was estimated that 60% of the 2.73 million dwellings in Scotland were owner-occupied, 23% were social rented properties, 13% were privately rented or lived in rent-free and 4% were vacant or second homes.

GAD's Georgina Bedenham co-authors an industry report warning nature loss is a serious societal risk that should not be ignored by actuaries and institutions.

I launched my biggest and final survey of England’s children: The Big Future by going for a walk with some brilliant young people.

Fair work includes fair use of Welsh at work.  TUC Cymru Congress recently (21 May) celebrated and welcomed the first signings of the Twf Charter in Cyngor Gwynedd and Carmarthenshire County Council, with the Welsh Government and many other organisations planning for its adoption in workplaces across Wales.

Regulations laid recently (21 May 2026) will overhaul the way investments are managed in the Local Government Pension Scheme, a major development for millions of council workers.

A nationwide summer programme of free and low-cost sporting activities – including football, rugby, padel, swimming, cycling and athletics – has been launched by Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth.

Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia and New Zealand on the situation in the West Bank.

A Wiltshire Police officer has admitted assaulting a boy in a police station car park following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

On 21st May 2026 the Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, laid the long-awaited Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) draft Code of Guidance before Parliament.

A targeted NRLA campaign, highlighting the postcode lottery when it comes to enforcing housing standards, has hit the national headlines - shining a light on huge disparities across the country.

Our annual report and accounts for 2024/25 iwere published on 21 May 2026, including details about the organisation’s performance over that period.

Two of the UK’s most senior law enforcement officers have said that restrictions on under 16s’ access to unsafe online platforms are needed to protect children from harmful online offenders.

A new injectable cancer immunotherapy is being rolled out across the NHS, offering faster treatment for tens of thousands of patients each year.

The Department for Education (DfE) has awarded £6 million to establish two new research centres, both led by academics from the UCL Institute of Education.

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) published its Fourth Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk, A Well-Adapted UK, on 20 May 2026. For the tech sector it is a message that the physical risks of climate change are already affecting the infrastructure businesses depend on, the investment case for adaptation is compelling and the role of the private sector in delivering a resilient UK is non-negotiable. 

Tom MacInnes, Director of Policy at Citizens Advice, responded to the Business and Trade Committee’s report on the regulation of postal services

Speaking at Chatham House, Dr Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, said Strait of Hormuz closures and rising summer demand could push oil markets into a ‘red zone’.

The Environment Agency has made changes to an operator’s environmental permit to reduce odour issues at Jameson Road landfill.

The Government has announced a £1 billion investment in PE and school sport to ensure equal access for every child and tackle obesity in young people

On 21st May 2026, DBT announced that the UK has signed an FTA with the Gulf Cooperation Council, comprised of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. This is the GCC’s first FTA with a G7 economy. DBT estimates the deal will remove an estimated £580 million in duties every year. 

Cllr Louise Gittins, Local Government Association Chair, responded to the Government’s announcement of a Neighbourhood Guarantee to improve villages, towns and cities