Tag: Politics

Scotland gets £66 million transport boost as part of record Spending Review settlement

The Chancellor visited Paisley yesterday to announce £66 million of investment in Scottish transport

  • Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces millions for West of Scotland transport links and extra funding to explore upgrades to the A75.
  • Investment follows the Industrial Strategy which boosted Advanced Manufacturing clusters and the Spending Review which delivered a record settlement for Scottish public services.
  • Funding is part of Government’s plan to invest in the economy right across the UK.

The investment will help workers access jobs in high growth sectors supercharged by the government’s modern Industrial Strategy and Spending Review.

The UK Government is boosting investment across Scotland through two investment zones and multiple industrial sites from the North East of Scotland Investment Zone to the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster.

This £66 million will work alongside these investments to fund three Scottish transport schemes and create direct links between towns and economic hubs in the West of Scotland.  

Renfrewshire Council will get £38.7 million to link Paisley town centre with Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and Glasgow Airport. New walking, cycling, bus and car links will be built so local people can benefit from the growth of high value manufacturing in Renfrewshire. 

Another £23.7 million will be given to North Ayrshire Council to upgrade the B714. This upgrade will see a much faster route between the Three Towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston to Glasgow, and cut traffic in Kilwinning. The Chancellor prioritised finding this cash during last month’s Spending Review, which also saw billions invested in Scotland’s growth sectors.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: “We’re pledging billions to back Scottish jobs, industry and renewal – that’s why we’re investing in the major transport projects, including exploring upgrades to the A75, that local communities have been calling for.

“Whilst previous governments oversaw over a decade of decline of our transport infrastructure, we’re investing in Britain’s renewal. This £66 million investment is exactly what our Plan for Change is about, investing in what matters to you in the places that you live.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government will be given an extra £3.45 million to suggest upgrades to the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway.  The key road, which links the Cairnryan port serving Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK, is vital to UK connectivity and growing the economy.

This new money comes on top of the up-to-£5 million announced at the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2024. 

As part of a wider investment strategy in Scotland the Spending Review saw around £200 million committed to the Acorn Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage project, subject to business cases, and £8.3 billion confirmed for Great British Energy, strengthening Scotland’s position as the home of the UK’s clean energy revolution. 

A multi-decade, multi-billion project to secure jobs at HM Naval Base Clyde was also kickstarted with an initial £250 million investment.

Whilst in Scotland the Chancellor will also visit the Edinburgh Supercomputer, which will receive up to £750 million in UK Government funding, later on Friday. The funding, announced during the Chancellor’s Spending Review will ensure that Scotland becomes home to the UK’s most powerful Supercomputer, supporting Scottish research and development, and industry.

The Spending Review delivered a record settlement for Scottish public services, with the Scottish Government’s largest settlement, in real terms, since devolution in 1998. Scottish Government’s settlement is growing in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29. This translates into an average of £50.9 billion per year between 2026-27 and 2028-29.

Scotland Secretary, Ian Murray, said: “This £66 million investment in Scotland’s roads demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to improving infrastructure and driving economic growth in all parts of the UK as part of our Plan for Change.

“This investment will make a real difference to people’s daily lives and to the local economies of the South of Scotland, Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.

“New road links will connect Paisley town centre with Glasgow Airport and the new advanced manufacturing innovation district, to boost high value manufacturing in Renfrewshire.

“The upgrade to the B714 will speed up journeys between Glasgow and the three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston, as well as cutting traffic in Kilwinning. And the A75 is strategically important just not within but beyond Scotland. Its upgrading is long overdue. I am pleased that the UK Government has stepped up to fund the delivery of the A75 feasibility study in full.

“This investment is yet another example of how the UK Government is building the foundations for a stronger, more prosperous future that benefits communities right across Scotland.

  • As strategic roads in Scotland are the Scottish Government’s responsibility, any future upgrades to the A75 will be funded from the Scottish Government’s block grant. 
  • The Ayrshire and Renfrewshire projects are part of a £378m UK-wide Levelling Up Fund cash boost, upgrading transport links across Britain, which were also announced yesterday.
  • Building work on the LUF projects will be able to start as final business cases are given the green light by the Department for Transport.

Unacceptable Lothian gynaecology waits show women’s health being ignored, says local MP

 Tracy Gilbert MP has condemned the SNP Government over damning figures showing years long waits for vital gynaecological treatment, with NHS Lothian among the health boards  failing women across Scotland. 

New data obtained by Scottish Labour reveals that, despite repeated promises to prioritise  women’s health, the average wait for inpatient gynaecology treatment in NHS Lothian has  barely improved, in fact, it has fallen by just 12% since 2019/20, even as demand has  surged. 

Tracy Gilbert MP said: “This data shows a staggering failure of leadership from the SNP. Women in Lothian are  being forced to wait far too long for care, often in pain, often in silence, while the  Government spins promises that never materialise. A 12% decrease over five years is not  progress: it’s complacency. Women deserve better.  

“They deserve a health system that works for them, not against them. Scottish Labour will  tackle waiting times head-on, because women’s health can’t wait.”

Westminster’s new immigration rules will be ‘devastating for care sector in Scotland and across the UK’

Kaukab Stewart, Scotland’s Minister for Migration, has commented as changes to immigration rules advanced by Westminster came into force yesterday.

Ms Stewart said: “The UK Government’s approach to immigration simply isn’t working for Scotland. As these new rules come into force, they will hinder the prosperity of Scotland. We have repeatedly called on them to take a more pragmatic approach to migration—one that recognises our distinct demographic and economic needs.

“Ending the international recruitment of care workers, without sufficient notice or any substantial consultation on its impact, will be devastating for the care sector in Scotland and across the UK.

“These changes will prevent, rather than promote, economic growth. By increasing the salary threshold for skilled worker visas, it will become harder for people to choose to work in Scotland, hurting businesses in turn.

“The UK Government should listen to the large majority of businesses who support a Scottish visa to allow migrants to make a positive contribution to Scotland’s economy, public services and communities.

“The UK Government must engage seriously with the Scottish Government on our proposals for tailored migration routes, including a Rural Visa Pilot and a Scottish Graduate Visa, or risk further damage to Scotland’s economy and public services.”

Scotland’s Water: Calls for apology following ‘inaccurate comments’

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT WANTS WESTMINSTER RETRACTION

Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin has written to Steve Reed calling for a retraction of comments regarding the quality of water in Scotland.

The text of Ms Martin’s letter in full:

To: Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed MP

From: Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin

Dear Steve,

Independent Water Commission

I am writing following the publication of the final report from the Independent Water Commission led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, and to request that you retract inaccurate and misleading comments regarding the quality of water in Scotland.

The Commission’s report notes that 66% of Scotland’s water bodies are of good ecological status as compared with 16.1% in England and 29.9% in Wales. Whilst we of course need to be careful how these figures are used, as they are not calculated on the same basis, it is clear that Scotland has a higher performance.

The report correctly points out that this is, in part, due to population density. However, it is also worth reflecting that much of the improvement is due to significant investment in the water industry to reduce pollution driven by Scottish Water and SEPA and efforts made by SEPA to address pollution from other sources such as agriculture.

I was therefore extremely disappointed to hear you make inaccurate and misleading comments regarding performance in Scotland and to dismiss out of hand the value of public ownership of a key asset like water.

During a Channel 4 News interview last night, when asked about public ownership, you stated:

“In any case, it is not guaranteed to work…and we know that from looking north of the border where, in Scotland, they have a nationalised water company but pollution levels in Scotland are worse than they are in England.”

Leaving aside my slight confusion at a Minister in the United Kingdom government referring to Scotland as ‘they’, I cannot understand how you could make such an inaccurate comment when the very report that you were on the programme to discuss clearly states the opposite.

Your comments sought also to undermine the idea of public ownership in the minds of voters, yet this is clearly what the people of Scotland continue to want. Indeed, it is the very fact of that public ownership and control which has allowed us to keep water bills lower for people, compared to what people with privatised water supplies in England have to pay.

While there is clearly more to do, 87% of Scotland’s entire water environment is assessed by SEPA as having a ‘high’ or ‘good’ classification for water quality – up from 82% in 2014. That is also, in part, due to water being a publicly owned asset, allowing for investment without shareholder returns or the pressure to make profits.

I am therefore asking that you acknowledge that your comments were inaccurate, that you apologise publicly for making them and seek to correct them.

The Commission’s report makes a number of recommendations which may have cross-UK impacts or opportunities which I would welcome further engagement across the four Nations.

I hope this can be done in an attitude of mutual understanding about the collective challenges we face – but also with a clear understanding of what delivers the best outcomes for the public.

Gillian Martin

Foreign Secretary statement on the Middle East

Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a statement to parliament on the Middle East yesterday:

With permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the Middle East.

I’ll begin on Syria.

We have been horrified by the recent violence in the south, including civilian deaths.

Clashes between Druze and Bedouin militias have quickly escalated into intense fighting between government forces and further Israeli strikes on the Syrian military.

As I said directly to Foreign Minister Shaibani we want to see the fighting ended, civilians protected and the rights of all Syrians upheld.

The violence in Suwayda must be investigated and those responsible held accountable.

We want humanitarian access to be restored, aid delivered and Syria’s sovereignty must be respected. 

The UK can be proud of our support to the Syrian people over many, many years.

And a stable Syria matters to the UK’s national interest, for terrorism, for irregular migration, for regional stability.

We must work to prevent extremism, sectarianism or lawlessness taking hold now that Assad is gone.

That’s why we are backing a sustainable ceasefire and that is why we support an inclusive transition.

And that’s why I visited Damascus recently to support and to press the new government to meet its commitments.

I will now turn to the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

It’s two and a half months since Prime Minister Netanyahu restarted offensive operations.

The IDF has driven Palestinians out of 86 per cent of Gaza, leaving around two million people trapped in an area scarcely over twenty square miles.

Whatever this Israeli government might claim, repeated displacement of so many civilians is not keeping them safe. In fact, it’s quite the reverse.

Mr Deputy Speaker, the new Israeli aid system is inhumane, it’s dangerous and it deprives Gazans of human dignity.

It contradicts long-stablished humanitarian principles. It creates disorder Hamas is exploiting with distribution points reduced from 400 to just four.

It forces desperate civilians, children among them, to scramble unsafely for the essentials of life.

It’s a grotesque spectacle, wreaking a terrible human cost.

Almost 1000 civilians have been killed since May seeking aid, including 100 over this weekend alone.

There are near daily reports of Israeli troops opening fire on people trying to access food.

Israeli jets have hit women and children waiting for a health clinic to open.

An Israeli drone has struck down children filling water containers which Israeli officials blamed on a ‘technical error’.

Hamas is contributing to the chaos and taking advantage of it.

I utterly condemn the killing of civilians seeking to meet their most basic needs.

The Israeli government must answer:

What possible military justification can there be for strikes that have killed desperate, starving children?

What immediate actions are they taking to stop this litany of horrors?

What will they do to hold those responsible to account?

Mr Deputy Speaker, I have said before I am a steadfast supporter of Israel’s security and right to exist.

I treasure the many connections between our peoples

And the horrors of October 7th must never be forgotten.

But I firmly believe the Israeli government’s actions are doing untold damage to Israel’s standing in the world and undermining Israel’s long-term security.

Netanyahu should listen to the Israeli people, 82 per cent of whom desperately want a ceasefire.

And to the hostages’ families because they know it offers the best chance to bring their loved ones home.

Those hostages may be hidden in cramped tunnels under the ruins of Gaza but we will not forget them or Hamas’s despicable actions and we will continue to demand their unconditional release.

This offensive puts them in grave danger.

But still Netanyahu persists.

Indeed, Minister Katz has gone further proposing to drive Gaza’s entire population into Rafah, imprisoning Palestinians, unless persuaded to emigrate.

Mr Deputy Speaker, this is a cruel vision which must never come to pass.

I condemn it unequivocally.

Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law.

Many Israelis themselves are appalled.

A former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said ‘it marches us into the abyss’. He was right.

Mr Speaker, today I joined a joint statement by 25 Foreign Ministers with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now.

There is no military solution.

Negotiations will secure the hostages.

Further bloodshed serves no purpose. 

Hamas and Israel must both commit to a ceasefire now. 

And the next ceasefire must be the last ceasefire.

I thank the US, Qatar, and Egypt for their tireless efforts.

And I am sure all Members share my intense frustration it has not happened.

Until there is such a breakthrough, we must keep doing all we can to relieve suffering.

UK aid has saved lives.

Reaching hundreds of thousands with food, water, hygiene, and sanitation, and essential healthcare.

And under the most appalling circumstances our aid is saving lives today.

That includes, the almost nine million pounds the UK has provided to UK-Med, since we entered office,

reaching half a million patients inside Gaza, 24,000 in the past fortnight alone.

Like 3-year old Razan.

UK-funded medics removed a bullet from her neck after nearly three hours of surgery.

These doctors and nurses working in the most extreme conditions are true heroes.

They deserve the thanks and admiration of the entire House.

We are also working, of course, multilaterally.

The 149 trucks from the World Food Programme and UNICEF entering Gaza in recent day included food supplies funded by the UK.

And thousands more trucks laden with aid paid for by British taxpayers can enter, the moment the Israeli government lets it.

Today, I am announcing an extra £40 million for humanitarian assistance in Gaza this year, including seven and a half million for UK-Med to sustain their vital operations in Gaza and save more lives.

Mr Deputy Speaker, accompanying the horrors in Gaza, there is an accelerating campaign to prevent a future Palestinian state in the West Bank.

It’s embraced by Netanyahu, it’s encouraged by his Ministers. It’s driven by an extremist ideology which wants to suffocate the two-state solution, the only route to a lasting peace and security.

We see it in the unprecedented pace of settlement expansion.

In the shocking levels of settler violence, even settler terrorism,

for that is what the most egregious ideological attacks are.

And in the deliberate attempts to squeeze the Palestinian Authority, unjustly denying it access to its own funds, and it harms Israel’s long-term interests.

Now, the Israeli government is reintroducing plans to construct new units in the E1 area of occupied east Jerusalem.

If built, this settlement would separate the West Bank’s north from its south and Palestinians in the West Bank from East Jerusalem.

These plans are wholly unacceptable.

They are illegal.

And they must not happen.

Mr Deputy Speaker, we are also striving to keep open the prospects of a two-state solution.

UK assistance has been preserving the Palestinian Authority, contributing to essential Palestinian workers’ salaries and supporting them to progress critical reforms.

Today, I can confirm we are enhancing our support, providing £7 million to strengthen the PA and Palestinian governance, implementing the agreement signed by myself and PM Mustafa earlier this year.

And we’re delivering the reform plans President Abbas has set out.

I can also confirm that we are providing £20 million to support UNRWA’s many services for Palestinian refugees.

And alongside this support, we are leading diplomatic efforts to show there must be a viable peaceful pathway to a Palestinian state, involving the PA, not Hamas, in security and governance of the area.

Hamas can have no role in the governance of Gaza nor use it as a launchpad for terrorism.

Israeli Ministers should support the PA – not actively undermine its economy, as Ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are doing.

The UK is co-leading with Egypt the humanitarian and reconstruction track for the forthcoming Two-State Solution Conference.

And we are pushing to agree plans for a credible next phase in Gaza with a responsible, reformed PA at their core.

So we turn any temporary ceasefire into a lasting peace.

Mr Deputy Speaker, in our year in office, this Labour Government has acted to address this horrendous conflict.

We restored funding to UNRWA, after the Tories froze it.

We suspended arms export licenses, when the Tories declined to act.

We have provided nearly a quarter of a billion in humanitarian assistance, this year and next, getting medical treatment and food to hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza.

We have stood with the hostage families at every stage.

We’ve worked with Jordan to fly medicines into Gaza, with Egypt to treat medically evacuated civilians, with Kuwait and UNICEF to help children in Gaza.

We’ve delivered three sanctions packages on violent settlers, suspended trade negotiations with this Israeli government and sanctioned far-right Israeli Ministers for incitement.

We have defended the independence of international courts. We signed a landmark agreement with the Palestinian Authority, and hosted the Palestinian Prime Minister in London, pushing for the reform it needs.

We called for…

worked for…

and voted for…

an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages at every possible opportunity.

And we will keep doing so until this war is over, Hamas release the hostages and we finally have a pathway to a two-state solution.

I commend this statement to the House.

But while Lammy spoke, our country continues to supply Israel with weapons being used to slaughter innocent people in the Middle East.

Actions, not words.

UK Government pledge to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030

ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY TAKES ON ENGLAND’s WATER COMPANIES

Sewage pollution from water companies will be cut in half by the end of the decade, the Environment Secretary Steve Reed will pledge today. 

Our rivers, lakes and seas will be the cleanest since records began, meaning millions of families will benefit from cleaner beaches and rivers.  

For the first time the Government has made a pledge to cut sewage pollution with a clear target which they will be held accountable to, but campaigners say the Government’s pledge is ‘too little, too late’.

The Government, in partnership with investors, has secured funding to rebuild the entire water network to clean up our rivers. 

In one of the largest infrastructure projects in this country’s history, a record £104 billion is being invested to upgrade crumbling pipes and build new sewage treatment works cutting sewage pollution into rivers.  

Over the past year, the Government has introduced a package of measures to slash pollution levels. Bills are now ringfenced to force companies to invest in upgrades and over £100 million of water fines are being spent on local clean-up projects.  

The commitment comes as the Government vows “root and branch reform” to usher in a revolution in the water industry, ahead of the Independent Water Commission’s final report, which will be published tomorrow.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “Families have watched their local rivers, coastlines and lakes suffer from record levels of pollution.

“My pledge to you: the Government will halve sewage pollution from water companies by the end of the decade.

“One of the largest infrastructure projects in England’s history will clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.” 

 The Government has already taken decisive action to clean up England’s waterways:

  • Record investment: with £104 billion to upgrade crumbling pipes and build sewage treatment works across the country.  
  • Ringfence customers’ bills for upgrades: customer bills earmarked for investment must now be spent on new sewage pipes and treatment works – not spent on shareholder payments or bonuses.  
  • Reinvesting company fines into local projects: with over £100million being invested into local clean-up projects in communities.  
  • Largest budget for water regulation: the Environment Agency received a record £189 million to fund hundreds of enforcement officers to inspect and prosecute polluting water companies. 
  • Polluter Pays: companies will now cover the cost of prosecutions and successful investigations into pollution incidents, enabling the regulator to hire more staff and pursue further enforcement activity.  
  • Banning wet wipes containing plastic in England: introducing legislation to reduce microplastics in our waters. 
  • The Water (Special Measures) Act: banned unfair bonuses for ten polluting water bosses this year and threatened prison sentences for law-breaking executives. 

This package of measures will slash storm overflow spills by 50% by 2030 and halve phosphorus from treated wastewater by 2028. 

Both contaminants choke our rivers, suffocate wildlife and destroy ecosystems. In 2024, sewage spilled into waterways for a record 3,614,428 hours.  

Pollution levels were a decisive factor in the Government launching the Independent Water Commission last October – the largest review of the sector since privatisation.     

Led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, the Commission’s final report will be published tomorrow with recommendations on regulation, strategic frameworks and support for consumers.

The Government will respond to the recommendations in Parliament on Monday.  

Environment Secretary Steve Reed’s pledge is based on:   

  • A 50% reduction in spills from storm overflows – an outlet from the public sewer that spills both sewage and rainwater into the environment – by 2030. 
  • A 50% reduction in the amount of phosphorus from water company treated wastewater entering our waterways by the end of January 2028. 
  • Work with devolved governments to ban wet wipes containing plastic across the UK. We will go further to tackle the issues caused by unflushables to reduce plastic and microplastic pollution, particularly in our waters. 
  • Continued work on pre-pipe measures, such as sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) which help to reduce pressure on the sewerage system.     
  • The start of trials by water companies of nature-based solutions, such as constructed wetlands, to investigate if they can be used in the treatment process to reduce harm. 

MSPs seek views on Bill which aims to prevent domestic abuse in Scotland

‘PICTURE – Laura Dodsworth

Views are being sought on a new Bill which aims to reduce incidences of domestic abuse, by the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee.

The Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill is a Members Bill which has been introduced by Pam Gosal, MSP.

The Bill is in four parts and would introduce notification requirements for certain people convicted of domestic abuse offences, similar to those for registered sex offenders. This would mean people would have to inform the police of things like their address or passport details.

It would give courts the power to order an assessment of the suitability of certain people convicted of domestic abuse to take part in rehabilitation or behaviour change programmes.

The Bill would place a data collection duty on Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and charities working with victims of domestic abuse, and an annual reporting duty on the Scottish Government.

If passed, the Bill would also require schools to provide education on domestic abuse and healthy relationships as part of the curriculum.

Police Scotland recorded 63,867 incidents of domestic abuse in 2023-24, an increase of 3% compared to the previous year.

Criminal Justice Committee Convener, Audrey Nicoll MSP, said: “Our Committee is acutely aware of the devastating impact domestic abuse has on individuals, families, and communities across Scotland, and the latest statistics on domestic abuse show the scale of this issue.

“This Bill presents a range of proposals aiming to prevent domestic abuse, including statutory data collection on authorities and improving school education but we want to hear views on whether individuals and organisations support these proposals.

“We are particularly keen to hear from those with lived experience, their families and frontline professionals on if they agree with the proposals in this Bill, or if they feel other actions are required to tackle domestic abuse in Scotland.”

Read the questions and submit your views on Citizen Space

The call for views closes on 15 September 2025.

Chancellor to cut financial red tape to boost home ownership

  • Red tape swept away in biggest financial regulation reforms in a decade to boost homeownership and put more money into people’s pockets through the Government’s Plan for Change.  
  • Nationwide set to widen access to its ‘Helping Hand’ mortgage from Wednesday, supporting 10,000 extra first-time buyers thanks to Chancellor’s Leeds Reforms. 
  • Reeves: Benefits of a thriving finance sector will be felt all over Britain  

The Chancellor is expected to announce the biggest set of reforms to financial regulation in a decade at a summit of top finance executives in Leeds tonight as part of the Government’s mission to kick start economic growth and support more first-time buyers.  

Red tape holding back the competitiveness of the UK financial sector will be swept away under the Leeds Reforms, addressing long-standing industry complaints.  

The changes will see Britain become the top destination for finance firms over the next decade, attracting inward investment from across the globe to create good, skilled jobs around the country.  

Prospective homeowners will be given a leg up onto the housing ladder under the plans, with regulators acting on the Chancellor’s push to regulate for growth.  

More mortgages will be available at over 4.5 times a buyer’s income following Bank of England recommendations that some banks and building societies offer more high loan-to-income mortgages – creating up to 36,000 additional mortgages for first-time buyers over the first year. 

This change means that Nationwide will be able to make its popular ‘Helping Hand’ mortgage available to people with lower incomes. From Wednesday, eligible first-time buyers can apply for the mortgage with a £30,000 salary, down from £35,000, and joint applicants with a £50,000 combined salary – down from £55,000. This will support an additional 10,000 first-time buyers each year. 

This comes alongside the creation of a permanent mortgage guarantee scheme, delivering on a Manifesto commitment and ensuring high loan-to-value mortgages continue to be available in times of uncertainty, as well as a review of Financial Conduct Authority lending rules that could allow a prospective buyers’ record of paying rent on time to show they can afford mortgage repayments. 

The reforms will be unveiled in Leeds ahead of the Chancellor’s Mansion House speech on Tuesday evening. 

Speaking in the City of London, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is expected to say: “This is the foundation of an economy, and a country, that is more active and more confident.  

“Where people and businesses look to the future and talk about hope about opportunity. 

“Assured of their own capability, and of the ability of our country to boldly face the challenges that lie ahead. 

“And certain of the prize if they succeed. 

“Of higher wages and higher living standards. 

“The renewal of Britain in every home and every high street. 

“To put it simply: a Britain that is better off. 

She will add on homeownership: 

“I welcome the recent changes the Financial Policy Committee has announced to the loan-to-income limit on mortgage lending, which the PRA and FCA are implementing immediately.  

“With an instant impact for consumers, such as Nationwide offering its ‘Helping Hand’ mortgage to more first time-buyers – supporting an additional 10,000 each year. 

She will conclude: 

“Today, I have placed financial services at the heart of the government’s growth mission. 

“Recognising that Britain cannot succeed and meet its growth ambitions without a financial services sector that is fighting fit and thriving. … 

“And I have been clear on the benefits that that will drive. 

“With a ripple effect that will drive investment in all sectors of our economy and put pounds in the pockets of working people.” 

New panel of young people to shape UK Government’s Youth Guarantee

Young people with experience of being out of education, employment and training will help shape policy as part of a new Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel in England

  • New panel of young people to advise the Government on shaping employment support for the next generation launched in Youth Employment Week.
  • Group identifies mental health challenges and a lack of focus on apprenticeships in schools as some of the biggest barriers to getting into work or training.
  • Panel marks major milestone in building the Youth Guarantee to give every 18-21-year-old the chance to earn or learn and break down barriers to opportunity as part of the Plan for Change.

Young people with experience of being out of education, employment and training will help shape policy as part of a new Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel.

The panel, made up of 17 young people aged 18 to 24, will regularly meet to discuss the biggest barriers they face to building their careers and advise what can be done to break these down.

It comes as the latest data shows one in eight young people are currently not in education, employment or training – demonstrating the urgent need for reform to ensure the next generation get the support they need to get on in work and in life.

Officially launched in Youth Employment Week, the step to put young people’s voices at the heart of decision-making marks another major milestone in building the UK Government’s Youth Guarantee to ensure all 18-to-21-year-olds in England get the chance to earn or learn.

Panel members were recruited with the help of our partners, Youth Futures Foundation and Youth Employment UK. These key organisations support the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education to run the sessions.

Early insight from the panel has found that some of the most significant obstacles include mental health challenges and an overemphasis in school on UCAS applications instead of tailored careers advice, including alternative options like apprenticeships and training. Lack of public transport and access to digital tools and devices have also been raised as barriers.

The Government has already started making changes to address these challenges – including reforming the apprenticeship system, providing access to mental health support in every school and college and maintaining the £3 bus fare cap on single bus fares in England outside of London.

This comes alongside wider Get Britain Working reforms to transform Jobcentres and roll out eight Youth Guarantee trailblazers across England to test and deliver targeted skills and employment support for young people.

All views shared in the panel meetings will go on to inform policy to ensure that the Youth Guarantee best serves young people.

Giving every young person the best start in life is central to the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity in every part of the country as part of the Plan for Change.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Young people know better than anyone the challenges they face – and the support they need to succeed.

“That’s why their voices will shape how we will deliver a Youth Guarantee that truly works, opening up real opportunities for every 18-to-21-year-old to be in work, training or education.

“Backed by our £45 million investment in targeted youth employment support, this is about unlocking potential, tackling inequality and transforming lives.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “For too long, young people have been talked down to and had their opinions dismissed. The Youth Advisory Panel’s contributions so far have been incredibly insightful, and we are already starting to implement some of their suggestions.

“We have started to reform the apprenticeship system, reprioritising funding to young people, cutting red tape to make it easier to start or complete an apprenticeship and introducing foundation apprenticeships to give young people a route into careers in critical sectors.

“We are also committed to improving careers advice, as well as delivering two weeks’ worth of work experience for every secondary school pupil and providing access to mental health support in every school and college.

“We will ensure the Youth Advisory Panel’s views continue to be taken into account as we continue to break down barriers to opportunity to help young people thrive through our Plan for Change.”

Barry Fletcher, CEO, Youth Futures Foundation and Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE, CEO, Youth Employment UK said: “We are proud to jointly support the launch of the Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel and welcome the decision by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education to involve young people from the outset in the design of this policy.

“This partnership is about ensuring young people have a meaningful role in shaping the Youth Guarantee, and it’s encouraging that trailblazers are actively exploring how to do this locally.

“Panel members are already highlighting barriers to education and employment and offering critical insights into the support young people need to succeed.

“We look forward to continuing this work to build a system that works for all young people, regardless of their background or circumstances.”

Shana Fatahali, Youth Advisory Panel member and Future Voices Group Ambassador, Youth Futures Foundation said: “It has been empowering to be a member of the Youth Guarantee Youth Advisory Panel.

“I’ve had the opportunity to make connections with other young people who share my passion for creating a better future. Since we are the ones using the system, we are aware of its challenges and where it needs to be improved. For this reason, youth voices are important.

“I’m honoured to be a member of an organisation that is influencing actual decisions and introducing alternative perspectives. I can’t wait to keep advocating for a system that genuinely hears, involves, and supports all youth.”

Brewster, Youth Ambassador, Youth Employment UK said: “During the time I have spent with the Youth Advisory Panel, it has been amazing to see others engage in the activities and discussions.

“I really love how committed my fellow Youth Ambassadors, Youth Employment UK, Youth Futures Foundations, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education are to change things for the better for the youth.

“I’m really proud to see this happening with my own eyes. I can’t wait to see what things will happen that will positively affect young people. I can’t wait to learn more and work towards making a positive difference to young people.’’

In May, the Government officially launched eight Youth Guarantee trailblazers across England.

Backed by £45 million, the trailblazers are testing a new form of local delivery, matching young people to local job or training opportunities. The trailblazers will provide all-important learnings to inform the national roll-out of the programme.

This comes alongside record investment in skills and apprenticeships, providing a more personalised system for employers and those looking for work.

The Westminster Government has also taken further action to boost employment and drive-up living standards through boosting the National Living Wage, creating more secure jobs through the Employment Rights Bill and overhauling jobcentres as part of the Get Britain Working White Paper.

Further information

  • The Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel has held some early sessions and will meet every six to eight weeks moving forward.
  • Officials from DWP and DfE may test ideas related to the development of the Youth Guarantee to ensure the policy effectively answers the needs of young people today.
  • Insights will be fed back to relevant senior officials and ministers after sessions.
  • The latest ONS figures showing how many young people are not in education, employment or training were published on Friday 23 May: Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) – Office for National Statistics
  • The eight youth trailblazers are in: Liverpool, West Midlands, Tees Valley, East Midlands, West of England, and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and two in London.
  • The Youth Guarantee is an England only initiative as Skills, Education and Employment support are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • We are working closely with the devolved governments to share experiences and lessons learned.

Advice services need greater support to tackle the cost of leaving

Services supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse should be resourced to be easy to access and able to provide joined-up and consistent access to advice and information on financial support, according to MSPs.

Holyrood’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee has today released a new report that outlines how people who leave an abusive relationship can be better protected from severe financial implications.

Some domestic abusers restrict a person’s ability to manage their finances. This can involve stopping a victim from opening a bank account, controlling how they use their income, preventing them from working or being in education, or building up debt in a victim’s name. This is known as economic abuse.

In its inquiry, the Committee heard widespread evidence about the barriers faced by victims and survivors trying to access support. Challenges included generic information, a lack of trauma-informed financial advice and “England-centric” online information.

While the Committee appreciated that the Scottish Government provides funding for advice on income maximisation and its Equally Safe strategy to address violence against women and girls, the feedback it heard made it clear that support provided by advice services was vital.

Additionally, the Committee calls for more consistent support from local authorities, asking for the Scottish Government to work with COSLA to develop a single point of contact. Without this, victims and survivors will continue to face significant challenges to accessing advice on problems relating to housing, benefits and legal advice.

The Committee’s report also asks for an update on the Scottish Government’s Fund to Leave pilot which several witnesses cited as a valuable resource when leaving an abusive relationship and before receiving a decision on eligibility for social security.

Collette Stevenson MSP, Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “The impact and cost of leaving an abusive relationship can be absolutely devastating and it is critical that victims and survivors can access advice and support quickly and easily.

“Our report calls for the Scottish Government to strengthen and standardise the support that is available to people. We heard about some excellent work that exists, but it is inconsistent and not always easy to find, which has created barriers for people in horrendously stressful situations.

“We’d like to thank everyone who shared their views with us during this inquiry, particularly the members of Scottish Women’s Aid’s Survivor Reference Group and the staff at Financially Included who spoke so powerfully.”