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Catch up on the speeches from this year’s Annual Delegate Conference.

Businesses across the UK have one month from today to put a data protection complaints process in place, before new legal requirements come into force on 19 June 2026.

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), in partnership with real estate advisers Bidwells, is launching NRLA Living to better support large portfolio landlords, Build to Rent (BTR) operators, investors, funders and associated professional services companies – alongside its core and growing membership.

The Pensions Commission has today (19 May) published its interim report on the state of retirement saving in the UK, setting out the key challenges facing the current system and where it will focus its work next.

Ahead of their biennial Congress, which is set to take place in Llandudno between 19 and 21 May, TUC Cymru has called on the newly elected Welsh Government to establish a new National Care Service which removes private profit from the system.

The UK’s cool and unsettled weather will make way for increasingly warm conditions on Friday, with the warmest day of the year so far on the way and pleasant weather at times through the weekend.

Parents urged to claim Child Benefit for their new baby to avoid missing out.

To mark The Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Action Week (18–24 May), we want to share reflections on one of our community projects. In this blog post, Sara Griffiths discusses our learnings from recent outreach sessions in care settings as well as an activity suggestion for others.

Ministers announce the introduction of legislation to tackle late payments and protect small businesses.

The Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation, backed by us, is supporting the creation of more football clubs and organisations for women and girls in England.

Online bazaars operating through Telegram are key enablers of online scams using stablecoins for payments and industrialised money laundering, totalling hundreds of billions of dollars.

The Housing and Planning Minister's speech at the UK Real Estate and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) on 19 May 2026.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has strengthened how it supports the use of new science and technology in the transport sector, such as maritime decarbonisation and sustainable aviation fuel – but it must establish a clearer risk appetite to guide its investment decisions and provide better support to see innovative concepts through to widespread practical use, according to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report.

Opening speech by Baroness Chapman at the Global Partnerships Conference.

The Welsh Government’s new Cabinet met for the first time this afternoon, following the appointment of ministers to their new roles last week.

Waste carrier DTM Grab Hire Ltd has been told to pay out £16,664 after thousands of tonnes of waste were dumped on a floodplain.

APCC Joint Lead on Criminal Justice Danielle Stone has responded to the government’s Youth Justice White Paper.

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence confirms the death of Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, who died on 15 May.

Cairo is working with regional partners for a diplomatic resolution to the war as it aims to improve its economy, counter Israeli dominance and restore focus on Gaza, Sudan and the Horn of Africa.

Ofcom yesterday announced it is strengthening its Illegal Content Codes by introducing a new recommendation that tech firms use automated detection technology to reduce the spread of illegal intimate images online.  

Blog posted by: William Malcolm, the ICO's Executive Director Regulatory Risk and Innovation, 18 May 2026.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) welcomes the creation of a High Street Organised Crime Unit, but urges the Home Office to rapidly review enforcement powers, resources, and measures to keep Trading Standards officers safe, to help further clamp down on organised crime on the high street.

Qualification reform continues to reshape England’s technical education landscape, with a clear focus on improving progression and outcomes for young people.

Young people across the East and West Midlands will have more work opportunities as Severn Trent becomes the latest backer of a government drive to tackle youth unemployment, pledging 400 roles in the water industry. 

The TUC is calling for “genuine reform” of the Personal Independence Payment scheme (PIP), as new analysis shows that disabled people are more than twice as likely to be unemployed compared to non-disabled people.

Stricter background checks to be introduced for waste carriers.

The latest in our series of events encouraging new ways to engage with our collections explored the feel, texture, and appearance of parchment.

Voices for Homeless is a peer-led group based on the simple truth: people with lived experience know what needs to change.

UK scientists and companies are at the heart of a pioneering mission, launched into orbit today, that will transform our understanding of how Earth is protected from the Sun.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is calling for a bold, modern approach to public-private partnerships (PPPs) to accelerate infrastructure delivery and spark growth across the UK.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) yesterday published its spring Outlook including the latest update on the annual levy for 2026/27.

Red Arrows set to tour the United States this summer to support 250th anniversary celebrations.

Initial strategic assessment commissioned into potential bid for Olympic and Paralympic Games in the North of England in the 2040s

Update on the administrator of the government's Bill Discount Scheme.

The government will modernise the Consumer Credit Act for the first time in over 50 years, giving consumers clearer information and firms the flexibility to innovate.

Last week, I launched my biggest survey yet of England’s children: The Big Future. But surveying children was not enough. I knew I wanted to continue to speak to, and crucially hear from, England’s children personally. 

National Crime Agency arrests for offences linked to people smuggling have gone up by more than 55 per cent in a year, according to new figures.

He accessed the company’s account when he was no longer director

Classified Russian government document revelations add to concerns that the adversarial nation’s undersea threat is both acute and invested towards a further-reaching campaign.

The Administration Committee has today published its report following an inquiry into health and wellbeing services available to those working in Parliament.

UK financial firms can adopt tokenisation and distributed ledger technology (DLT) with greater confidence, as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank of England set out a shared vision and seek industry views on the future of UK wholesale markets.

As the English devolution agenda continues to reshape the adult skills system, momentum is building across regions. Providers, employers, and policymakers are all playing an active role.

Education Secretary calls on global leaders to join International Alliance to deliver opportunity for all children with SEND.

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 Gateshead.

The new combustion permit regulates the diesel backup generators, and improves the site’s resilience in the case of a power cut.

British businesses stand to benefit from billions in fresh financing being unlocked through reforms to the bank ring-fencing regime

A lorry driver has been jailed for smuggling more than £7m worth of cocaine hidden on a vehicle carrying a consignment of Kim Kardashian’s Skims underwear and clothing.

Oil shortages as a result of the Iran war present a unique opportunity for ASEAN chair the Philippines to make progress on a South China Sea Code of Conduct with China. And for Trump to strike a deal.

Findings on the affordability, energy supplier service and views and actions towards net zero of businesses with a non-domestic contract.

The UK should return to the Law of Armed Conflict alone, rather than allow Human Rights Law Courts to interfere with conducting military action overseas.

In her speech, Bridget Phillipson called on global leaders to join an International Alliance to deliver opportunity for all children with SEND.

Criminals from two organised crime groups have been jailed over an elaborate plot to smuggle large amounts of cocaine through a UK airport, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Statement given recently (15 May 2026) by Helen King, UK Ambassador to ECOSOC, at the UN Economic and Social Council meeting on Safeguarding energy and supply flows: Supporting global development through international cooperation.

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth will today chair the first meeting of the new Welsh Government Cabinet, setting out an agenda focused on outcomes, openness and action on the priorities of people across Wales.

The Environment Agency has issued an environmental permit variation to Angus Fire Limited in High Bentham, North Yorkshire.

In April, we published our updated approach and guidance about local authority assurance assessments ahead of starting the next phase.

Children and young people will get earlier support to steer them away from crime under a major overhaul of the youth justice system unveiled by the Government today (Monday 18 May).

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has reviewed the latest international scientific, technical and workplace evidence on Great Britain’s asbestos control limit.

techUK is excited to launch its inaugural Supply Chain Security Campaign Week, taking place from 18–22 May 2026, bringing together insights and expertise from across our Cyber Resilience, Defence and National Security programmes.

A financial investigator who worked for Cumbria Constabulary has been jailed for four months for unlawfully accessing police systems and sharing confidential information following a directed Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.

Blog posted by: Civil Service, 15 May 2026 – UK Civil Service.

British citizens and regional partners will be better protected against drone attacks as the Royal Air Force deploys a new low-cost anti-drone weapon on operations in the Middle East.

Rivelin Robotics, supported by Dstl expertise, has created microfactory technology that automates the slow, risky manual finishing of 3D printed parts.

The Communications and Digital Committee publishes the Government’s response to its report ‘AI, copyright and the creative industries’.

Blog posted by: Shelina Hargrove, Deputy Director for GOV.UK AI, GDS, 14 May 2026 – AI, GOV.UK, Transformation.

Protected salmon and trout died in the pollution incident, and the watercourse was still impacted two years later.

New data confirms a large increase in misconduct reports and the number of investigations we are having to undertake as result.

The Government has set out its vision for transforming care through its Neighbourhood Health Framework, supported by NHS England’s latest guidance to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) on developing Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs).

Rebecca Gray says it is a great opportunity to consider all aspects of mental health.

Funding available to help homelessness organisations become safer and more inclusive for LGBT+ young people, ensuring they experience respectful and consistent support when seeking help. And to improve practice and learning across the sector.

Durham Constabulary performs well in some areas of child protection and needs to improve in others, the police inspectorate has said.

Yeovil town centre will come alive with culture over the next two years, thanks to National Lottery players.

A survey conducted by Policing Insight, supported by a steering group comprising the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the Police Federation of England and Wales, the Home Office, and the Police Digital Service, has found that more than half of police officers are dissatisfied with the current provision of digital, data and technology (DDaT) within police forces.

Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, responded to the Government announcement of a new Mental Health strategy for England 

A new wound research institute will develop effective treatments for chronic wounds, which cause suffering to more than 2 million people in the UK each year.

YPO generated 50% of leads at the Schools and Academies Show (SAAS) on 7 May, highlighting its extensive brand range and how schools and academies can collectively save £12 million by switching from branded stationery to its own-brand alternatives.

The Work Foundation at Lancaster University responded to the Public opinions and social trends figures for April 2026 released by the Office for National Statistics. Aman Navani - Senior Research and Policy Analyst, Work Foundation at Lancaster University - commented:

The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/2026 is an annual report commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Home Office.

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, responded to the conclusion of Ofgem’s prepayment meter installation investigation of British Gas

A husband and wife from Nottingham have been given a suspended sentence after arranging for taking two boys under 18 to Pakistan to be married.

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

CMA independent inquiry group concludes deal can proceed if Shutterstock sells its editorial business

Activities will place communities at the heart of Windrush Day 2026 as nation continues to celebrate and commemorate the Windrush generation

The court of appeal yesterday quashed a jury’s finding of guilt on a rape charge because the Crown Court which heard the trial had no jurisdiction to do so.

Our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones and all those affected by the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. Public Health Wales is working with Welsh Government, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Welsh health boards and local authorities to respond to the outbreak and to take appropriate action.  

Last Friday, I hosted my second Our Future, Our Voice: Festival of Childhood in collaboration with the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester.

Safer and faster care for patients as NHS set to introduce Single Patient Record and cut bureaucracy

Wider youth employment support, backed by £2.5 billion which will ensure every young person is able to earn or learn. 

X has made the following public commitments to better protect UK users from illegal hate and terror content, which Ofcom has today accepted:

A former imam who carried out a sustained campaign of sexual abuse against women and girls over more than a decade has been jailed.

In a joint initiative coordinated by the CBI and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), business leaders from across the UK have come together to sign a collective open letter condemning antisemitism and committing to meaningful action.

Drones which will accompany the Army’s Apache helicopters are receiving £10 million investment today as the programme reaches a new milestone.

Eleven foreign far-right agitators intent on coming to the UK to spew their extremist views have been blocked from entering the country, as the Prime Minister takes action to protect British communities from vile hate.

The National Lottery Community Fund has warned that the rapid development of AI risks leaving some of the UK’s most marginalised communities behind

PROSECUTORS have been issued new legal guidance on the use of offensive banners, slogans, chants or symbols to recognise the changing national and international context and increase in hate crime ahead of significant planned protests in London this weekend.

Ofgem has closed its investigation into British Gas on its treatment of customers who had a prepayment meter (PPM) installed without their permission, with consumers set to benefit from the settlement agreement made with the regulator.  

New Mental Health strategy will transform care in England and drive shift from crisis intervention to preventative care.

Government announces first 130 universities and colleges approved to offer new bite-sized courses, with applications opening this September.

Measures will help separating families save cash and settle childcare issues more easily.

GOV.UK Chat is now available in the GOV.UK app – a new AI tool that lets people ask questions in plain language and get clear, reliable answers instantly.

Access to UK eGates expanding to children aged 8 and 9 years.

Registration for tax advisers opens next week

Water companies are failing to win back customers’ trust amid deepening concerns over the fairness and affordability of water bills, a new report has revealed.

Renters in England worked for 133 days for their landlords this year. The 14th of May is the first day they start working for themselves.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has raised concerns about the support provided to Hounslow children with special educational needs who are schooled out of borough after two complaints were upheld in quick succession.

A new appeal has been launched to locate and bring to justice 12 of the UK’s most wanted fugitives, who are believed to be hiding in, or have links to Spain.

The centre, a UKRI investment funded through the government's Gambling Levy, will direct world-leading research on how to tackle and prevent gambling harms. 

Stronger protections for UK audiences under new content and accessibility standards for streaming services 

Rather than being a principled reform to the taxation of pensions, this change creates another new arbitrary line in the tax system.

RMT union members are scheduled to take strike action on the Tube network this week between 19-22 May

New strategy launched to strengthen UK preparedness against African and classical swine fever

Dr Layla McCay responds to the latest NHS performance figures.

The targeted treatment helps people live longer and can help prevent the disease from returning.

Harry Quilter-Pinner, executive director of IPPR, responds to the King’s Speech

Government-backed insurance continues to enable exports to Middle East countries.

Funding of up to £1m available for existing veterans’ hubs across the UK to join VALOUR – the Ministry of Defence’s new support system

Ben Jones, CBI Senior Lead Economist, responds to latest GDP figures (three months to March 2026)

People living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in England are set to gain routine access to two potentially life-changing treatments, following our publication of final draft guidance

The Work Foundation at Lancaster University responded to the UK Government's priorities announced in the King's Speech 2026. Ben Harrison, Director of the Work Foundation at Lancaster University, commented:

The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) will hold its End Digital Poverty Gala Reception on Thursday 10 September at the Royal Watercolour Society Gallery in London, as part of a wider week of activity marking a new chapter for one of the DPA’s most important annual moments.

HIV testing uptake lowest among Black African heterosexual women in sexual health services

An independent review will look at how shifts in face-to-face banking services affect people and communities, with new powers enabling the Government to act on what it finds.

The Government is cracking down on waste and delays as defence companies are to be incentivised to deliver equipment on time and on budget with new reforms to Single Source Contract Regulations.

CMA sets out scope of its investigation to determine whether Microsoft should be designated with strategic market status for its business software ecosystem.

Hundreds more children with muscle-wasting condition spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are to be offered potentially “life-changing” therapy on the NHS which could help them live years longer and attend primary school.

The Sentencing Council has published a new guideline for offences related to hare coursing which will come into effect on 1 June 2026. 

Renters face bearing the brunt of the Chancellor’s planned tax hikes, with almost half of landlords planning to increase rents as a result of the changes due next year. 

The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a charge against a 31-year-old man in connection with an arson attack at a former synagogue in east London.

As we launch our Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2031, it is important to reflect on what Cafcass Cymru achieved over the past five years and how this has shaped our ambitions for children and young people.

Ambassador Holland welcomed the US-brokered ceasefire and Ukraine’s efforts to pursue peace, condemns Russia's mass attack on Kyiv and highlighted how Russia’s actions have undermined cooperative security, OSCE mechanisms and trust.

But they can make important progress at their summit, by sharing their threat perceptions about the nuclear escalation risks brought by AI.

Blog posted by: George Armstrong, 14 May 2026 – Business Relationship Management, strategic partnerships, Technology Services.

The Prime Minister has extended the term of Lieutenant-General Andrew Figgures CB CBE FREng for 9 months, from 1 February 2026 to 31 October 2026.

The Government's Growing Up in the Online World consultation closes on 26 May. techUK sets out its positions ahead of submitting a formal response.

The Iran war shows loitering munitions critically influence conflict. Yet, allied air defences remain inadequate. Remedy requires will and investment in people and technology.

Today, I am in Carlisle, starting a journey across England with a simple but important purpose: to hear directly from children about their lives.

The NHS has hit its target for the number of patients waiting 18-weeks thanks to the biggest improvement in waiting times since the launch of the iPad.

UK Senior Military Advisor, Colonel Joby Rimmer warns that Russia’s selective ceasefires mask bad faith engagement, a war dependent economy, and growing militarisation, making Moscow more coercive and risk tolerant. Russia’s actions, not its rhetoric, demonstrate the absence of any genuine commitment to a lasting peace in Europe.

A major inflation shock is likely thanks to high global energy prices.

Cyber criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to carry out attacks that are faster, more advanced and harder to detect. From AI-generated phishing emails that impersonate trusted contacts, to automated tools that scan for and exploit software vulnerabilities, the threat landscape is evolving rapidly.

UK Defence Minister Lord Coaker visited Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo strengthening NATO partnerships and Euro-Atlantic security across the Western Balkans

The Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill will take its first step through Parliament today with its First Reading.

What the 2026 legislative agenda means for investment, innovation, and the UK’s digital economy.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal police shooting in Bedford recently (12 May).

The UK Government and European Commission gave a joint statement following the 18th meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights.

CBI yesterday responded to King's Speech 2026.

Statement given recently (12 May 2026) by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Colombia's 31 May presidential election will decide whether ‘paz total’, Petro's flagship security framework, is refined under a continuity government or dismantled outright.

CIPD responds to King's Speech

New fund aims to make fostering more accessible and support more people to become carers, as part of wider drive to create 10,000 new foster places.

Who would be most affected by the government’s planned reform to the NICs treatment of salary sacrifice pensions and would it improve the tax system?

Yesterday’s King’s Speech outlined the government’s legislative priorities for the year ahead, including an upcoming Bill covering digital identity, called the Digital Access to Services Bill. The focus of the Bill is to modernise how citizens interact with public services. 

British soldiers will be equipped with modern guns capable of firing eight rounds per minute at targets up to 70km away – delivering the long-term close support artillery solution for the British Army, a landmark moment in UK defence modernisation.

Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, which represents councils responds to the King’s Speech

Joanna Marchong, head of communications and external affairs of the Adam Smith Institute responds to The King’s Speech

Appeal comes after the number of reported incidents involving items on Tube tracks more than doubled between 2022 and 2025

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth yesterday appointed his Cabinet which he has said will have a “relentless focus on doing what’s best for Wales”.

Sarah Walter responds to the King's Speech and NHS Modernisation Bill

The UK Government and European Commission gave a joint statement following the 18th meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights.

Sussex families to get answers as maternity review scope confirmed.