WIREDGOV

The Government yesterday confirmed the timeline for phasing in its ban on imports of refined oil derived from Russia, as part of the recently announced package of sanctions to further squeeze Putin’s war machine. 

Young Brits are set to benefit from Dutch style employment support as the Government steps up localised support to tackle rising NEET numbers.

Two men sentenced in insolvency fraud and money laundering conspiracy

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MP opens Europe’s biggest drone testing centre in Swindon, learning lessons from the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.

Welsh Government has announced that young people in Wales will be offered a free vaccination against meningococcal B disease (MenB) ahead of the new academic year, in response to a series of outbreaks across the UK.

The Health and Social Care Committee has today published a report outlining amendments to the Health Bill, including legal duties for NHS services to comply with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) tribunals.

New push to get qualified nursery teachers into England's most deprived communities so nurseries can offer more childcare places, helping families save money.

Farmers in Wales will have their voices heard on red tape, as the Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd, appoints an independent chair to lead a review into the bureaucratic burden on family farms.

More than £6 billion of new investment and around 8,000 new jobs have been announced this week, as companies from around the world choose to build, hire and scale here – reinforcing Britain’s position as a global hub for AI.  

Two-dose MenB vaccine to be offered to young people ahead of the autumn as part of a one-off vaccination programme in England.

TfL is offering free Santander Cycles annual subscriptions to help prospective taxi drivers complete their Knowledge of London studies more efficiently and affordably

The public will be better protected from crime under a major expansion of tough Texas-style courts which will see thousands of offenders monitored by judges.

The expanded fleet strengthens integrated transport links, connecting rural and urban communities where rail services are limited.

Bridgwater Tidal Barrier won the Digital Excellence award at the Flood & Coast Excellence Awards 2026, recognising design partner AtkinsRéalis’ standout digital design work.

Joint Statement by the Foreign Minister of Australia and the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom on Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence.

With Scotland back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and England hoping to win a first men’s major trophy in 60 years, the Culture Secretary believes the coming weeks can deliver a series of much-needed, shared national moments.

The Charity Commission and the Fundraising Regulator have today published new, joint guidance to help people who want to raise funds for charity.

Young people in Wales will be offered Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination for the first time, in autumn 2026, as part of a time limited programme.

Strategy aims to deliver 5,000 new walking, wheeling and cycling routes and 10,000 safer crossings over the next 5 years.

Biodiversity, conservation and human influences on the natural world among the topics of study, as public encouraged to have their say on the new qualification.

Ofsted has today published the first of our annual updates to the education inspection toolkits and operating guides.

New regulations coming into force in April 2027 will require certain contractual control agreements affecting registered land in England and Wales to be submitted digitally to HM Land Registry.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is appealing for witnesses after a man died shortly after police contact at a counter-protest in Bristol earlier this year.

Siva Anandaciva, Director of Policy, Events and Partnerships at The King’s Fund, responded to the inaugural publication of Official Statistics on Corridor Care and latest performance statistics from NHS England

‘Groundbreaking’ NHS teams that have freed up thousands of hospital beds, accelerated cancer diagnosis, and transformed care for patients have been recognised at the inaugural 2026 NHS Excellence Awards.

David Williams says NHS leaders welcome the confirmation of how their organisations will be assessed and overseen in 2026/27.

The government will offer flu vaccination to those experiencing homelessness beginning in Autumn.

Investigators uncover additional funds relating to £8.2m investment fraud.

A major new book restating the moral, philosophical and theological case for free-market capitalism has been published by the Institute of Economic Affairs.

The FCA has decided to fine Carlos Fuenmayor, the Chief Executive of BancTrust, £99,600 for failing to disclose 3 separate matters to the FCA.

Matthew Hopkins, interim acute and ambulance network director at The NHS Alliance, responded to the latest NHS performance figures and corridor care data 

Around 60 per cent of Tube stations that are 'underground' now have coverage, with the whole network set to be connected by the end of the year

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) are working together, along with government and industry, to support the safe and responsible adoption of robotics in the workplace.

More than three-quarters of employees who consistently saved into a pension stop doing so when they move into self-employment.

UKHSA publishes its first Health Security Risk Assessment (HSRA), which characterises the most significant health security risks facing the UK over the next 5 years.

Lizzie Crowley, Skills Adviser at the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, responds to the government's AI job centre initiative

The new approach will spread funding more fairly, target family farms and give farmers greater certainty.

We’re delighted to announce that our accredited qualifications covering frontline practice, outreach work, and service management, are now open for applications, with funded cohorts starting this July.

The government risks undermining its own ambition to cut homelessness unless it urgently strengthens support for people leaving the asylum system, according to new analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)

Measles activity increased earlier this year, mainly due to outbreaks in London and the West Midlands.

Funding for councils is failing to keep pace with rising costs and demand despite a small real terms increase in funding.

Two men have been found guilty today, 11 June 2026, of running a secretive international arms brokering operation including attempting to flood conflict zones with weapons ranging from assault rifles to surface-to-air missile systems.

The TUC is today (Thursday) calling for an emergency energy social tariff to shield households from spiralling energy bills as a result of Trump’s illegal war. 

A&Es experienced their busiest month on record in May, as last month’s heatwave piled pressure on NHS services.

Up to 13,000 prison cell windows across England and Wales will be fitted with heavy-duty steel grilles to stop drones smuggling drugs, weapons and mobile phones into jails.

Joint statement from the Foreign Ministers of the UK, Australia and Canada on the launch of the International Peace Fund for Israelis and Palestinians

New research reveals only 1 in 7 people (14%) have a clear understanding of how their smart devices collect and use their personal data – yet almost all of us (97%) own at least one.

On June 8th, as part of a series of announcements during London Tech Week and at the Government’s AI Adoption Summit, the government has launched a £1.1bn “UK AI Hardware Plan”, which aims to secure UK future capabilities across semiconductors, compute and AI. You can read the full plan on gov.uk here. 

Thousands of disabled people and those with health conditions and more complex barriers have moved closer to work following support from the Government’s landmark Supported Employment scheme.

The post-16 reforms in England bring challenges and apprehension about the future for educators and learners. 

France, Germany, the UK and the United States (the Quad) yesterday delivered a joint statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board on Iran's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement

UK Space Minister unveils more than £19 million at London Tech Week to support British companies developing next-generation space technologies.

We have today published our finalised guidance on consumer Internet of Things (IoT) products and services, setting out clear expectations for manufacturers and developers on how to use people’s personal information responsibly. 

Marking errors affected more than 60,000 candidates taking international English language tests.

Officers across England and Wales will spend less time behind desks and more time protecting their communities.

Chief of Defence Staff speech on AI in defence and the announcement of Rapid AI Delivery Task Force (10 June 2026).

In a keynote speech at the AI Summit during London Tech Week, AI Minister Kanishka Narayan argued that the central question of AI is not just what the technology can do, but who gets to shape it.

Funding boost for charity fundraiser’s World Cup campaign.

The Initial Teacher Education (ITE) incentive in priority subjects will rise by £5,000, to £20,000 from September 2026, as part of the new Welsh Government's 100-day plan.

Delays to the UK’s Defence Investment Plan do not bode well for the UK’s Armed Forces transformation, or confidence the government is prioritising defence spending.

Experts recommend new science-led approach aiming to protect farmers and reduce infection

Government invests in AI technologies to modernise the NHS and reduce waiting times.

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

The Welsh Government has announced a package of work to reform vocational skills training in Wales.

A new national centre focused on the development and responsible use of artificial intelligence in policing in England and Wales has been launched.

Surveillance cameras spot vehicles – five now prosecuted over village dumps

New powers introduced to crack down on organisations carrying out hostile activity on behalf of foreign states, including proxy groups who do their bidding.

Universities across England awarded a share of £80 million to offer up to 2,500 student places, as well as help build new facilities to support increased capacity growth over the next decade.

Pension savers will be better protected from scams under new plans announced recently (Tuesday 9 June 2026), as the Government acts to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraudsters who rob people of their lifetime savings.

TfL Travel for Life awards recognise schools working to deliver the activity, safety and environment goals of the TfL Travel for Life Programme.

The ICO has made temporary changes to the governance around how the Information Commissioner’s responsibilities are carried out.

Budget airline Ryanair is under investigation by the CMA over fees that parents must pay to sit with their children – including those with disabilities.

The NI business community stand united in strongly condemning the violence, disorder and intimidation witnessed in recent days across Northern Ireland.

Senior leaders from business and civil society are being brought in to support the Government to deliver a digital ID system that works for the public.

It outlines how the transfer of decision-making powers to local communities provides a major opportunity to improve access to sport and physical activity and support better health for all

​On 05 June 2026, the UK Government published a study assessing the profile of the Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT) sector. The study revisited DSIT’s earlier ACT definition and taxonomy, measuring the sector against economic contribution, future workforce, and investment and innovation.  

Matthew Lesh, Public Policy Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs responded to the Government’s plan to regulate images on devices

A new scoping review from Public Health Wales and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe found that inequities in digital infrastructure between regions risk creating uneven access to innovation.

Claire Daly, Head of Policy and Advocacy at WWF Scotland responded to the latest Scotland latest Greenhouse Gas emissions 

MPs are ‘not convinced’ the magistrates’ court will be able to cope with the potential increase in caseload the Government’s flagship court reforms could generate and it requires ‘significant additional support’, a new Justice Committee report has warned.

Policy makers should take Japan and Sweden's approach of creating a 'national mission' to support England's near 'super-ageing' population, a major new report by The King's Fund and International Longevity Centre UK (ILC) has concluded.

In the third of a series of blogs on new regulations in the homelessness sector, Homeless Link Associate Consultant Becky Elton explains how the Competence and Conduct Standard will shape how providers train, support and manage staff across housing management.

Sir Ciarán Devane, the new chief executive of The NHS Alliance, has warned that staff from diverse backgrounds feel particularly under threat at present.

The number of contactless payment cards checked by TfL enforcement officers increased by 50 per cent last year, while the number of penalty fares issued was up by nearly 10 per cent

Midlands Mindforge, the investment company dedicated to supporting university spinouts in the Midlands, has completed its first round of investments.

Daniel Freeman, Managing Editor at the Institute of Economic Affairs, responded to Conservative proposals to repeal the Public Sector Equality Duty 

Customer debt to water and energy companies has climbed to more than £7 billion while millions of households continue to miss out on financial support, according to a new report by the National Audit Office (NAO).

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children, Young People and Families Committee, responded to a new report by the Children’s Services Funding Alliance, warning that the cost of children’s social care is at a record high

The Rapid AI Delivery Taskforce is a new unit set up to get AI-enabled technology and tools into the hand of Britain's Armed Forces to prepare the UK for the future of warfare.

Dodgy vape shops, barbers and nail salons linked to organised crime will be shut down as criminal bosses are put behind bars in a nationwide crackdown.

National metrology (Weights & Measures) project work by Trading Standards Officers in Scotland testing medical weighing equipment in GP practices across Scotland has found that more than 55% of all scales did not meet minimum accuracy class levels set by the NHS themselves.

The government is on track to meet its manifesto promise that every school and college will have access to mental health support teams by the end of 2029

New proposals setting out how billions of pounds in DB pension scheme surpluses could be safely released have been launched today (10 June), helping unlock billions of pounds for the UK economy. 

Thousands of men with prostate cancer are to be offered high-powered ‘precision’ radiotherapy on the NHS to target the disease more effectively, helping reduce side-effects and spare them 15 courses of treatment.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) today launched a 16-week consultation on key updates to its technical guidance for schools in England and Scotland, as well as new guidance for schools in Wales.

Businesses find the UK’s regulatory landscape burdensome, complex, and difficult to navigate. In a report on regulating for growth, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) calls for a review of UK regulation.

First-time buyers, older borrowers and the self-employed could find it easier to get a mortgage, as the FCA sets out next steps to help reform the market.

Qualification reform continues to reshape England’s skills system, with a stronger focus on how education connects to employment, productivity and social mobility. 

New rules to require councils to prove they are doing more to fix potholes and future-proof roads.

For many emerging technology companies, the challenge is not developing innovative solutions – it is finding a route to adoption. 

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has welcomed the Government’s intention to strengthen enforcement powers across England and Wales, subject to consultation. This is something that CTSI has extensively campaigned on and will help Trading Standards – and partner agencies – to close down “dodgy shops”.

Following a public consultation, the Environment Agency has issued a permit variation to Saputo Dairy UK for their creamery site near Davidstow, Cornwall.

Twelve homelessness services from across the UK have been named winners in Homeless Link’s Excellence Awards 2026, with a further eight organisations highly commended.

UK Armed Forces set to receive a 3.6% pay rise, recognising the dedication and professionalism of military personnel.

Cricket fans old and new will soon be able to play the sport throughout the year, as the Government has marked the start of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup by unveiling five new locations for state-of-the-art all-weather domes.

This publication provides estimates of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis; that is emissions that are associated with the spending of Scottish residents on goods and services, wherever in the world these emissions arise, together with emissions directly generated by Scottish households.

The Sentencing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 22 January 2026.  The act made a number of important changes to the sentencing regime in England and Wales, as well as to the law governing release and supervision of those serving custodial sentences in England and Wales.

For Europe, technology dependence is a strategic liability. The European Commission’s Tech Sovereignty Package offers solutions, but can it hold its resolve?

Up to £3.2 million to restore peatland and moorland devastated by the 2025 Fylingdales wildfire.

Government invests £20million to digitise referrals from the high street directly and digitally into NHS hospital eye services.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper yesterday announced coordinated sanctions with international partners targeting individuals and entities involved in financing and enabling settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

A landmark optical downlink from low Earth orbit signals a new era of speed, security and sovereign capability for the British Armed Forces. 

Millions of people are missing out on support for essential bills, such as water, energy and broadband, as debt to water and energy companies climbs over £7 billion – this is according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) published today (10 June)

A draft strategy has been published to manage climate change impacts along 15km coastline between Hurst Spit and Lymington.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves yesterday delivered a speech at the AI Adoption Summit.

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 just days away, fans across the world are finalising their viewing plans for the 104 matches set to be played out in this year’s tournament.

New analysis shows children are up to 55% more likely to miss school on their birthday.

Immediate assistance for Clackmannanshire Council.

This week we chat to Seema Walker, Student Services Manager in the Institute of Education (IOE). 

The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a criminal charge against an 18-year-old man following an arson on volunteer-led ambulances run by the Jewish community in Golders Green.

The latest Economic Forecast from the Confederation of British Industry has revised down its expectations for UK growth, warning that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and higher energy costs are set to weigh on households and businesses through 2027.

More than £200 million in government support to help companies in Britain adopt AI – paving the way for the UK to become fastest AI adopting country in the G7

Total Scottish greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture were 7.5 MtCO­2e in 2024, the second-lowest level since current records began in 1990.

In 2001, the work that would become the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) began with children who were being asked to learn in a world their homes were not yet equipped for.

The Government must reform stamp duty as part of a package to help first-time buyers to afford a home, says the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee in a report published yesterday.

Public protection against banned dog breeds such as XL bullies will be strengthened

The National Crime Agency welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcement on device controls that prevent children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images, and we fully support any measures that make the online world safer for children.

Britain will become the first country in the world where it is impossible for children to take, share or view naked pictures on their devices.

TfL's new Pride Audio Tour produced by Art on the Underground in collaboration with OUTbound, TfL's LGBTQIA+ staff network, celebrates LGBTQIA+ perspectives across artworks on the London's transport network.

Joint statement from Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom in response to the deteriorating situation in the West Bank (09 June 2026).

Every major AI company now has a page on its website about responsible AI. Most have signed at least one coalition pledge.

Thousands of victims could see justice delivered more quickly as the Government pilots the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Crown Court.

Concierge service for business launched as part of mission to bring about the UK's first trillion-dollar firm.

In 2024, Scottish net emissions of the basket of seven greenhouse gases were estimated to be 39.0 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). Emissions reduced by 0.4 MtCO2e compared to 2023; a 1.0 per cent reduction.

The launch of the AI Assurance Consortium, chaired by BCS and supported by DSIT, marks a significant step forward in professionalising AI assurance at scale. 

The history of pound sterling, the world’s previous dominant currency, is not reassuring for the dollar.

In this blog post Vicky Iglikowski-Broad, our Principal Records Specialist (Diverse Histories), explains how you can get started in researching LGBTQ+ histories through government records.

Five companies shut down this year following Insolvency Service investigations.

From classrooms to boardrooms, there is a clear recognition that AI is not just another technology, but is fast becoming a foundational skill of the modern workforce. 

Facebook owner Meta must do more to prevent scams on its platform – and the UK Government must do more to hold the company to account, according to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).

Most leadership teams I have worked alongside know the size of their budget gap to the pound. 

Statement given yesterday by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Population pressures, staffing challenges and overcrowding have undermined staff and prisoner safety and the effectiveness of rehabilitation across the prison estate in England and Wales, the Welsh Affairs Committeewarns in a report published today.

Policy Lab worked with MHCLG's Changing Futures programme to shape services around the lived experience of people facing multiple disadvantage.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak has responded to Nigel Farage’s comments in The Times urging unions to affiliate with Reform UK.

When the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) began its work through the e-Learning Foundation, the problem was immediate and practical.

Here are the key questions that should be asked when assessing the much-delayed plan.

The Access to Banking Review is inviting views from businesses, organisations and members of the public as it enters an intensive phase of evidence gathering

New AI Growth Labs launched designed to accelerate the development and deployment of AI products and services.

First-ever government guidance on healthy screen use for children aged 5–16 .

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released Domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland, 2024-25.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Liz Kendall's speech to the AI Adoption Summit on Monday 8 June, 2026.

With the Strait of Hormuz closed, national oil reserves have been steadily depleting, and will empty by the end of the summer, halting most economic activity, globally.

Alan has served as chair of the Environment Agency for four years

This month has brought the issue of youth unemployment sharply back into focus. 

Statementgiven yesterday by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.

techUK has brought together trade associations from across the eight Industrial Strategy sectors to form a new coalition with a shared purpose: to drive meaningful and responsible AI adoption across the UK economy.  

Policy Lab worked with Government Skills in Cabinet Office to co-design a more people-centred Civil Service skills system, grounded in lived experience.

A new £50 million government investment will help Somerset’s homes, farms and businesses better withstand the growing threat of flooding, the Government has announced today (Tuesday 9 June 2026).

Somewhere in Westminster right now, multiple strategy documents are being finalised.

Ofcom yesterday wrote to online platforms ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, to make sure they protect sportspeople and pundits from harm in line with their duties under the Online Safety Act.

New AI Hardware Plan sets out how the government will back British companies developing the chips and semiconductor technologies behind AI

An outbreak of American Foulbrood (AFB) has been confirmed in a single hive in the Kincardineshire area.

To mark Carers Week, the FDA have published a new report, Changing Perceptions: Helping carers in the civil service reach their potential, which uses the experiences of our members with caring responsibilities to understand the working lives of carers in the civil service and highlight the barriers they face.

The Government has announced it is launching the advisory AI Growth Lab. This will bring together regulators to give AI innovators and adopters clear, practical information on how existing regulations apply to novel AI applications.

On 2 June 2026, the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in A Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. 

Thirteen commemorative red plaques to be unveiled at locations across the UK to celebrate Beagle 2 — the first British and European spacecraft to successfully land on another planet.

Policy Lab worked with the Department of Health and Social Care to develop a co-design toolkit enabling parents and carers to shape early years services.

The Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Strategic Framework sets out Scotland’s national ambitions through to 2030. This progress report provides an overview of all actions delivered in 2025-26 and the key priorities for 2026-27

TfL consultation on station designs, construction plans and environmental impacts open now until Thursday 16 July 2026.

Policy Lab worked with Defra and the Welsh Government to co-design a new sea bass Fisheries Management Plan shaped by the lived experience of fishers.

A return to more settled conditions from next weekend with the likelihood of temperatures reaching the high 20s is the latest forecast from the Met Office.

On 29 June the Homeless Link team will be in Parliament, hosting a drop-in session to share the findings of the soon-to-be published Support to End Homelessness 2025, our latest annual report on homelessness services in England. The event will take place from 4:00 – 5:30pm in the Boothroyd Room.

The Government will not achieve its ambition of delivering the highest growth in the G7 unless it undertakes sweeping reforms to Britain's investment institutions, the Business and Trade Committee warned recently (07 June 2026).

Delivered to the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors extraordinary meeting on 05 June 2026.

Officers from the City of London Police’s Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) have secured the conviction of a man involved in the use of a sophisticated device to send fraudulent text messages as part of an organised criminal operation.

The Ministry of Defence yesterday announced that 331 organisations from across the UK have achieved the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award for 2026, recognising their sustained commitment to supporting the armed forces community.

Pubs across the country set to benefit from extensions to licensing hours, special screenings and pavement pints as the country gears up for the World Cup

Applications open for First Minister’s Start Up Challenge.

A veteran Singaporean diplomat and scholar reflects on today’s strategic uncertainties and enduring myths, appealing for calmer and more sober perspectives on the challenges.

Ankara’s deepening relations with Gulf countries and a potential rerouting of trade are among the factors likely to benefit Turkey.

More than half a million NHS staff are being given access to new artificial intelligence (AI) tools that could free up an average of 2 days every month from admin duties, freeing up more time for the duties that matter most for patients and staff.

GAD reviewed 2 Network Rail Risk Funds as part of the Office of Rail and Road’s programme to encourage greater private investment in railway infrastructure.

From 15 June, local Pride organisers across Wales can apply for funding to cover event costs. The fund is delivered by the Welsh Government in partnership with Pride Cymru.