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Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee responds to the NAO report on restructuring Integrated Care Boards,

The Energy Independence Bill will cut bills for households and put power back in people's hands with a fairer energy system.

The NCSC warns that ‘tech on the cheap’ has left UK organisations exposed to AI uncovering and exploiting longstanding cyber security weaknesses and calls for urgent investment in resilience.

New laws to govern the use of groundbreaking technology and maximise public safety.

Almost 380,000 more households received lower water bills through water companies’ social tariff schemes in 2025-26, according to annual figures from the Consumer Council for Water.

Landmark qualification will help pupils preserve their language and cultural heritage while opening doors to future opportunities

An expert-led independent Wales Covid-19 review will assess whether Wales’ ability to respond to a future pandemic or national emergency has been strengthened.

Helping teachers prepare for major curriculum changes.

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have restructured, made redundancies and developed new operating models at pace to meet NHSE savings targets, but it is not clear yet if they have retained the necessary skills and capacity for effective strategic commissioning delivery, a new NAO report has found.

A man has been arrested in North West London as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the advertising of illegal immigration services online.

Supported by the UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF), Indonesia is scaling solutions to protect its globally significant coral reefs supporting food security, sustainable livelihoods, and greater climate resilience.

Our independent investigation into a police shooting in Bristol on Thursday 22 October is progressing.

Publication of Trust in Public Institutions (2025): Findings from the Scottish Household Survey.

Health and care leaders across Wales must look beyond organisational boundaries and work together to improve health and give people better care, the health minister has said.

Decision focuses on whether remedies remain appropriate and continue to deliver benefits.

The UK’s International Climate Finance is helping Bangladesh sustain clean, affordable electricity for millions of people in rural and off-grid communities.

Clark Sinclair Limited took more than £123,000 from businesses with debts by claiming they could provide alternatives to formal insolvency.

Children will learn how to spot fraud and protect themselves from financial and sexual exploitation, as new lessons are offered to schools across the country.

The Prime Minister met the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in St John's.

A joint statement by the Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom, The Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, and the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius.

Tens of thousands of patients to take part in landmark trial to see if blood tests can spot cancers

The Secretary of State pays tribute to the courage of serving and former officers as the PSNI marks its 25th anniversary.

Ministers, police, Mayors and local authorities join forces to target organised waste crime

Professor Dapo Akande elected as judge to the International Court of Justice.

The Charity Commission, the regulator of charities in England and Wales, has appointed interim managers to Merseycare Transport Services Ltd (charity number 1133408).

UKHSA is measuring PFAS and other chemicals in blood and urine samples to establish UK exposure levels and inform future health research.

The latest release supports continued efforts to improve application quality and reduce avoidable requisitions.

UK physicists have found the first evidence of an extremely rare particle decay at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC), after a 42-year hunt.

Ofgem yesterday responded to the skills and capability review.

New UK rules for environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating providers will raise standards in the market, helping investors to make better informed decisions.

Hundreds of British troops, RAF jets and forces from 11 nations will rehearse how to secure lasting peace in Ukraine when the fighting ends in a major exercise in Poland this month.

The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) is offering a series of Carbon Literacy® courses for professionals working across the digital and tech sector, helping participants understand the carbon impact of everyday decisions and identify where their work can contribute to reducing emissions.

Minister for Mental Wellbeing Maree Todd has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling the underlying factors and inequalities which cause suicide, as the number of deaths by suicide reach their lowest level in the past eight years.

The Numeracy for Life Committee publishes its report Making it Count: Numeracy for Life.

The Secretary of State has signed an extension to a transitional provision made under the Legacy Act.

Addressing online violence in our democracies – promoting equality in Commonwealth Parliaments

New intelligence-led enforcement initiative 'Operation Vector' targets prolific fare evaders across the TfL network.

A wave of decision models has swept through the tech world in recent weeks. Typesafe’s Jev model popularised this new phase of enterprise AI in September, introducing a model that produces structured outputs cheaply, quickly and consistently.

A new UCL-led survey of 14-19-year-olds in England found that girls and those from more advantaged backgrounds carry a higher emotional burden from climate change than boys and the less well off.

Young people lacking the mental capacity to make financial decisions will finally have easier access to their Child Trust Funds.

Four Barnsley training projects will share over £800,000 to bring practical artificial intelligence skills into everyday workplaces.

Flexible solutions to tackle growing challenges within the children’s residential care sector underpin a new procurement framework launched by YPO, one of the UK’s largest public-sector buying organisations. 

The current coalition has sought closer relations with the US and rowed back climate commitments. What would change under a coalition of the left?

Settlement will be earned through contribution and good character.

A largely settled spell of weather is expected across the UK this week, as high pressure remains the dominant feature.

Around 17 million private sector workers now saving into a pension will be given the option of an income in retirement, closing the gap with pensions seen in the public sector, under government plans for default pensions launched today.

In 2026, AI evolves from pilot testing into a full-scale driver of business efficiency and cost reduction. Companies now leverage AI integrations as a competitive advantage, offering personal AI assistants to automate routine tasks.

In a report today, the ESNZ Committee says it remains to be convinced of the contribution fusion energy will contribute to the country's energy security in the next decade, and is unconvinced of the need at all for a National Policy Statement (NPS) on fusion energy at this stage.

12-tonne ‘double beam box’ vessel will double MAST Upgrade’s heating power, allowing scientists to investigate plasma conditions needed for future power plants.

125 more NHS scanners and AI technology are helping deliver a million extra scans each year, supporting earlier cancer diagnosis and faster treatment.

Research shows consumers want the choice, rather than wait for the legal challenges to conclude.

Welsh Government’s Farm Liaison Service (FLS) is celebrating 25 years since its launch.

EHRC yesterday wrote to Reform UK about concerns raised following ITV News investigation.

YPO has signed a three-year partnership with Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation, allowing it to expand support across their Community Projects, Education, Inclusion and Rugby League departments.

A joint statement given yesterday by the UK's Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP and Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius MdB.

Thousands of small and medium-sized business owners across the UK can now take advantage of a new Government-backed 75% discount for its Cyber Essentials certification programme.

Information on the capital and pre-capital projects which have been funded through Scotland's Heat Network Fund, Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund and the Heat Network Support Unit.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's statement on earned settlement (02 November 2026).

A flurry of diplomatic meetings and positive statements suggest Tehran sees closer cooperation with Moscow as key to its short-term survival and long-term deterrence.

CBI yesterday responded to government changes to indefinite leave to remain rules.

The transport resilience strategy sets out the government’s approach to strengthening the resilience of the UK transport system over the next 5 to 10 years yesterday (2 November 2026).

Minister convenes industry to help unlock potential £23 billion boost to economy.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade has published its long-awaited consultation on reforms to the employment status framework for employment rights. 

The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) publishes second annual report, highlighting progress in promoting fair dealing and addressing concerns across agricultural supply chains

A new report by the National Audit Office (NAO) examines the government’s response to climate-related risks and the strength of its sustainability reporting. Based on the financial disclosures of 31 public bodies, it reveals how climate change could have serious consequences for public services and infrastructure, and a mixed picture of the government’s resilience.

The UK is a step closer to launching its first digitally native government bond, with roles allocated to the six banks supporting the landmark pilot.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s interest in cryptocurrency reveals both the continuing power of financial sanctions and the current limits of technological attempts to circumvent them.

October was wetter, warmer and sunnier than average across the UK, with two named storms contributing to a notably wet end to the month, according to provisional Met Office statistics.

The UK and Morocco agreed to deepen trade ties, boost market access, support World Cup 2030 projects and build on up to £5bn in UK export finance.

The defendant given 14-week prison sentence, suspended for 2 years after fire crews spent over 3 hours tackling blaze at overloaded site in Midlands.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred to the Court of Appeal the indeterminate sentences of seven people convicted between 2005 and 2012, all of whom remain in custody despite none being given a minimum tariff over seven and a half years. 

The NHS is rolling out an innovative early warning system for doctors and nurses in emergency departments (ED), to help spot and treat deteriorating child patients, faster.

HMRC busts five common Making Tax Digital myths ahead of the 7 November quarterly update deadline.

Welsh Ministers have restated their commitment to the priorities that matter most to people in Wales ahead of the Supplementary Budget being voted on in the Senedd today.

Explanation of Vote by Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Western Sahara (30 October 2026).

Public sector organisations may be investing heavily in AI, but many are still grappling with a much older challenge: understanding the technology, data, and processes they already have.

Marshall Keene, Head of Street Naming and Numbering for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and London Borough of Sutton, explains how the work of his team supports everything from emergency response to council finances, and why keeping address and street data up to date matters to so many services.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham met First Minister of Wales Rhun Ap Iorwerth in Glasgow at the National Economic Council on Friday 30 October 2026

Explanation of Vote by Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya (30 October 2026).

Campaign to deter knife crime in London knife crime hotspots to appear over billboards, digital advertising, and social media across Westminster and Croydon.

New Belfast shipbuilding hall crowns year of record-breaking defence investment in Northern Ireland industry, supporting 900 jobs and apprenticeships in Belfast

Homeowners and small businesses to get quicker answers as new rules put expert officers in charge of straightforward applications.

In Parliament’s first official report on doing business with China, published today, the BIST Committee warns that Government has failed to deliver on its 2024 promise of a new, strategic, long-term, consistent UK approach to China.

Operation Rummy, the first joint Franco-British nuclear air exercise, deepens bilateral deterrence and offers a template for wider European nuclear cooperation.

Almost 83,000 crimes have been recorded through the 61016 number since the public safety campaign launched in 2016.

People across Wales are being invited to take part in the first national diabetes parkrun and parkwalk initiative of its kind on Saturday 14 November, bringing together communities, healthcare organisations and charities to encourage people to get active and learn more about diabetes. 

From Hunger Hotspots to political action: What should the UK do when a hunger crisis is coming? Speech from Development Minister, Kirsty McNeill, on 28 October.

Whether you are a soldier doing a military appreciation, a seller carrying out a SPIN analysis to encourage a prospect to commit or the director of an organisation considering a business case, the process is essentially the same: 

Updated EHRC guidance explains the law and gives employers practical steps to prevent sexual and third-party harassment.

Public sector organisations face a growing transformation challenge. While investment in new technologies continues to increase, many departments remain constrained by complex legacy estates that consume the majority of technology budgets, limit agility and make innovation difficult. 

Fog can transform familiar surroundings in a matter of minutes, reducing visibility and creating difficult conditions on roads, at airports and across other transport networks.

Local communities across the UK are benefiting from Civil Service jobs coming closer to home, with four in five civil servants based outside London.

Criminals are impersonating Amazon and contacting customers out of the blue claiming suspicious activity has occurred on their account, new data shows.

Statement given recently (30 October 2026) by Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Breathing room or big ambitions? The Budget 2026, explained.

Hospitals are bracing for an increase in patients with firework-related burns and injuries next week, after admissions jumped 42% last November, with some children suffering life-changing injuries. 

Government has been candid about legacy IT. The Government Cyber Action Plan, published in January 2026, puts legacy at around 28% of the technology estate.

The Business Secretary has announced a £700 million government funding package to unlock up to 10 major industrial and commercial sites across the UK.

Plans to make public procurement for lower-value contracts quicker, simpler and more proportionate have been announced.

As of saturday (31st October), families of workers who have died from asbestos-related diseases before claiming compensation will now receive the full award.

The Government's recent announcement on tackling misogyny in schools will not come as a surprise to many teachers. It is, however, likely to be widely welcomed. 

Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, following the UN Security Council vote on Colombia (30 October 2026).

The British Council estimates that it generates over £1bn in soft power activity for the UK each year – and yet its future is in danger over a £197m loan.

Young people in West Dunbartonshire are set to benefit from expanded employment support through a new Youth Hub in the area, as the government continues to deliver opportunity directly into the heart of the community.

Government approves Sea Link, a major undersea power connection between Suffolk and Kent.

Pilot to improve BSL access at pharmacies

Homeless Link responds to the CHAIN figures for Q2 2026/27

Investors are almost twice as likely to recognise pressure tactics in a horror film as they are when those tactics are used to promote an investment opportunity, new FCA data suggests.

The first five bluefin tuna landed at Milford Haven have been processed and sold locally for the first time, marking a milestone for the Welsh fishing industry.

Scottish Islands Survey underway.

Alex Stewart says findings can help us to understand the concerns of clinicians who are seeing the impact of extensive AI use in people accessing mental health support.

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.