Tag: UK Government

Ministers to ‘bang the drum for Britain’ at Davos gathering

  • Chancellor and Business Secretary at World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos this week
  • Ministers will meet CEOs and investors to bang the drum for British business
  • UK delegation to tell global business leaders and investors that the time to invest in Britain is now
Impressions from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland 18 January 2025. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Thibaut Bouvier

Ministers will be banging the drum for Britain at Davos this week, with the most visible UK Government presence in recent years pitching the UK’s investment offer to top business chiefs.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will meet with leading members of the global business community to encourage them to put their money into the UK and back British business.

They will highlight the UK’s political and economic stability, making us an attractive place to do business. This is backed by an unashamedly pro-business government that is slashing burdensome regulation, launching ambitious planning reform, and leveraging our trade relationships with Europe, America, Asia, the Gulf and beyond to help businesses use Britain as their base to connect with exciting global markets.

The visit will continue to deliver on the government’s number one mission to grow the economy and raise living standards for working people, coming days after the IMF revised their growth forecast for the UK economy upwards for next year.

The government’s Davos attendance also follows a survey from consultancy firm PwC, who on Monday ranked the UK as the second most investible location globally after the U.S. – the first time the UK has secured this position in the 28-year history of the survey.

Impressions from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland 18 January 2025. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Thibaut Bouvier

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “Business leaders and investors need to know that the UK is where their businesses will flourish, so I’m meeting them face to face in Davos to make our case.

“We are one of the most exciting places in the world for them to put their money, with a history of innovation, a skilled workforce and a stable government that backs business. I will not rest until the UK economy is growing and this government is delivering on its Plan for Change, so we can put more money in people’s pockets.

“The time to invest in Britain is now.”

The Chancellor will be on the ground at Davos on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 January. She and the Business Secretary will speak at a Bloomberg event on Wednesday morning.

She will also speak at the Country Strategic Dialogue alongside Ruth Porat, president and CIO of Google and Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture, to over 80 global CEOs and business leaders from across tech, financial services and green industries. In the evening the Chancellor will attend the Global Goals dinner.

On Thursday, the Chancellor will take part in a fireside chat with the Wall Street Journal to an audience of business leaders, following which she will speak at an economy roundtable with fellow finance ministers on global issues. The Chancellor will also speak at a lunch hosted by the CBI to an audience of 50 senior executives from UK-based businesses and international investors.

Meetings are planned with a wide range of CEOs and business leaders, including Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, Jo Taylor, president of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs – amongst others.

The Business and Trade Secretary will have bilateral meetings with many of his international trade counterparts, including Robert Habeck, Vice-Chancellor of Germany, Maros Sefcovic, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

He will also meet with a range of businesses and investors, including AON; Anglo American; AWS; Carlsberg; Capgemini; Honeywell; RWE; and SABIC.

Impressions from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland 18 January 2025. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Thibaut Bouvier

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Britain is back in business under this government, and our Plan for Change is already delivering for working people.

“The UK is the most connected market on earth, and we will continue to be the home for innovative businesses looking to face outwards to the world. We’ve lifted barriers to investment and secured £63 billion at the International Investment Summit, creating thousands of jobs in the process.

“These investments promise better wages, stronger communities, and better services and I’ll be at Davos to build on this momentum.”

The UK Government’s presence at Davos will also be the most visible in years, with print and out of home marketing promoting the UK’s connectivity, openness and opportunity to coincide with the summit.

Chancellor calls on watchdog bosses to tear down regulatory barriers that hold back growth

  • Chancellor pledges to work with regulators to develop ambitious reforms.    
  • Today’s summit marks the first in a series of meetings with the regulators ahead of publishing action plan.
  • Reeves welcomes initial ideas from regulators to boost innovation and investment, but pushes for more ambition.

The CEOs of key regulators were urged to ‘tear down regulatory barriers’ that hold back economic growth at a summit in the Treasury yesterday.    

In a meeting hosted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, chief executives at watchdogs covering sectors including railways, water, energy, aviation were told that economic growth is the absolute top priority for the government, as part of the Plan for Change for put more money in people’s pockets.    

The meeting was the first in a series following a joint letter from the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Secretary of State for Business and Trade in December, in which the government asked the regulators to each propose five reforms to support growth in the coming year. Over the coming weeks, 17 regulators will be called in to have their proposals scrutinised as the government leaves no stone unturned to deliver growth.    

At yesterday’s meeting, the Chancellor told the regulators that they would have a key role to play in delivering growth by helping to create a regulatory environment that unlocks innovation and investment, supports businesses to thrive and allows much needed infrastructure to be built.    

The regulators agreed with the Chancellor that they have a role to play in driving growth but highlighted that there are some barriers, including the need to balance growth with their other legal responsibilities.    

The Chancellor noted that the regulators’ responsibilities had accumulated over time and said she was open to hearing about where this was preventing them from taking clear, consistent and balance actions to drive growth.

She emphasised the importance of leadership to deliver a mindset shift on regulation, calling on each of the CEOs in the room to institute cultural change based on helping to deliver growth instead of excessively focusing on risk. 

The Chancellor also promised that the government would work with them to develop and deliver important reforms by playing its part, including by making time for legislation where it is needed or using the upcoming Spending Review, and noted the Prime Minister’s promise to rip up regulation that blocks investment to make the regulatory regime fit for the modern age.    

The Chancellor was clear that while some of the proposals already put forward were promising, she wanted to see greater ambition and urgency to drive economic growth. She emphasised that fresh ideas were needed and noted that the Government will also ask industry to come forward with their own ideas to deliver a more growth supportive regulatory environment.    

She highlighted some specific and promising ideas she had heard from the regulators today. These included: driving greater responsiveness to business demands, particularly on planning and license applications; grant funding administered by Ofwat to drive innovation in the water sector supply chain; energy tariff reform; increasing access to rail operator efficiency data and innovative drone solutions which would unlock growth in the public sector.   

The regulators agreed to continue working with the government on their proposals reform ahead of publishing an action plan in Spring, and welcomed today’s strategic discussion. 

The Chancellor finished the meeting by reiterating that leadership matters, noting that every regulator would have to play their part to improve living standards across the country.    

Following the meeting, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “There’s no substitute for growth. It’s the only way to create more jobs and put more money in people’s pockets, which is why it’s at the heart of our Plan for Change.     

“Every regulator, no matter what sector, has a part to play by tearing down the regulatory barriers that hold back growth. I want to see this mission woven into the very fabric of our regulators through a cultural shift from excessively focusing on risk to helping drive growth.”

£60 million boost for creative industries to turbocharge growth

Hundreds of creative businesses and projects across the UK are to receive government funding to help them grow as part of a major boost to the economy – marking the first step of the Government’s Sector Plan for the creative industries.

  • Culture Secretary hosts major economic growth summit in Gateshead for creative industries and announces key priority areas
  • Marks first step towards delivering Sector Plan, as part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy
  • £60 million package of support to drive growth, including £40 million investment for start-up video game studios, British music and film exports and creative businesses outside of London
  • British Business Bank will increase its support for the sector to help the UK’s Creative Industries realise their full growth potential, while government also launches Soft Power Council to drive investment

Hundreds of creative businesses and projects across the UK are to receive government funding to help them grow as part of a major boost to the economy – marking the first step of the Government’s Sector Plan for the creative industries.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is bringing together more than 250 creative businesses and cultural leaders at the The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, in Gateshead today. As part of its modern Industrial Strategy, she will set out how the Government will work together with the sector to increase growth and investment, starting with a £60 million package of government support.

This includes investments for start-up video game studios, grassroots music venues and creative businesses to boost British music and film exports, which will facilitate investment and innovation in communities, in turn supporting businesses and employment. 

Growth is the number one mission of the Government’s Plan for Change, so we can put more money in people’s pockets. Today’s summit is the first step towards delivering the Creative Industry Sector Plan, as part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy. It will set out the enormous growth potential of the sector and where the biggest opportunities are at home and in new markets abroad.

It will identify what key barriers are currently holding back the sector’s growth potential, and government and industry’s shared commitment to overcoming them, laying the groundwork for the publication of the full Creative Industries Sector Plan in the spring. 

At the summit, the Culture Secretary will also announce that the priority regions for Creative Industries are the  North East, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Greater London, West of England, South Wales, Glasgow, Edinburgh-Dundee corridor, and Belfast. 

Alongside this, the Government will provide additional funding, to be agreed as part of the Spending Review, to six Mayoral Combined Authorities (North East, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, West of England) . This will maximise the strengths of these areas to deliver growth and builds upon progress to provide an attractive business environment and encourage strong, continued investment in the creative industries for years to come.

As the Government ramps up support for the sector, the Culture Secretary will also announce that we will bring forward changes so that shorter apprenticeships are available from August 2025, recognising the particular needs of the creative industries, as one of our first steps towards a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy.
The government is working with industry, including through a Creative Industries Taskforce chaired by Baroness Shriti Vadera and Sir Peter Bazalgette, on the sector plan and there will be more detail and policy announcements made in the months ahead. 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “From film and fashion to music and advertising, our creative industries are truly world-class and play a critical role in helping us deliver on this Government’s mission to drive economic growth in all parts of the UK.

“Our £60 million funding boost will support creative and cultural organisations across the UK to turbocharge growth by transforming local venues, creating jobs, supporting businesses and spreading opportunity across the country.

“But this is by no means the limit of our ambitions, which is why the creative industries are at the heart of the forthcoming Industrial Strategy and will continue to play a key part in this Government’s Plan for Change.”

The Government will create the most attractive business environment to encourage strong, continued investment in the creative industries for years to come. The Government will design the sector plan with business, who have set out the barriers to growth, including skills and access to finance.

The Government will design the sector plan with business, who have set out the barriers to growth, including skills and access to finance. As a result the Government is also making a significant signal of intent ahead of the Spending Review by announcing positive changes to the way the British Business Bank, UK Research and Innovation and skills policy will prioritise the Creative Industries.

The British Business Bank, which supports £17.4 billion of finance to over 64,000 smaller businesses, has committed to increase its support for creative businesses to access the finance they need to grow. 

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “Our number one mission is to grow the economy and our creative industries are a British success story with a big part to play.

Building on our plans to boost our AI sector, this is another step as we go further and faster to deliver growth so we can put more money in people’s pockets.”

Today’s summit comes as the Culture Secretary and Foreign Secretary David Lammy also confirmed the membership of a new Soft Power Council. The council will act as an advisory board to the UK Government and will bring together soft power and foreign policy experts to champion the UK abroad, and drive investment and growth at home.

Members include former rower and chair of UK Sport Katherine Grainger, former athlete and television presenter Baroness Grey-Thompson and V&A director Tristram Hunt.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Soft power is fundamental to the UK’s impact and reputation around the world.  I am often struck by the enormous love and respect which our music, sport and educational institutions generate on every continent.

“But we have not taken a sufficiently strategic approach to these huge assets as a country. Harnessing soft power effectively can help to build relationships, deepen trust, enhance our security and drive economic growth. 

“That is why I have created the Soft Power Council to channel British expertise as we look to re-imagine Britain’s role on the world stage, reinvigorate alliances and forge new partnerships.”

Joint investment in Scottish City Deals now more than £3 billion

UK Government investment in the City Region and Growth Deal programme in Scotland is now £1.5 billion – meaning more than £3 billion in total

The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, has today [15 January] confirmed that, following the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, the total UK Government investment specifically on City Region and Growth Deals in Scotland has now reached £1.5 billion.

The Scottish Government is also investing £1.6 billion in the City Region and Growth Deals programme. That means that total investment now tops £3 billion in total.

Of the UK Government contribution, £527 million was part of a nearly £1.4 billion package of local growth investment signed off by the Chancellor in her Autumn Budget. That means that the UK Government is also, separately, investing £840 million in some two dozen local growth projects and programmes across Scotland. Driving growth and improving living standards across the UK is a key part of our Plan for Change, and these investments are an important part of that.

The Scottish Secretary gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee yesterday [15 January]. He is the first Cabinet Minister since the General Election to appear before a Holyrood committee.

Mr Murray was invited by the Committee to give evidence on the UK Government’s involvement in the City Region and Growth Deals programme, which is delivered jointly in Scotland with the Scottish Government.

Mr Murray said: “I am delighted to confirm that UK Government investment in City Region and Growth Deals alone in Scotland is now £1.5 billion. This is our Plan for Change in action, and this funding will drive economic growth and improve living standards right across Scotland.

“I am very pleased to be the first minister from this administration to give evidence at Holyrood. We have changed the way we do business and work with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament.

“We have reset those relationships to ensure we can work together to deliver for people in Scotland. That means genuine partnership working with the Scottish Government, and the City Region and Growth Deals programme, delivered jointly across Scotland, is an excellent example of that.”

City Region and Growth Deals are packages of funding agreed between the Scottish Government, UK Government and local authority partners.

At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor confirmed additional funding for the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal to support Grangemouth refinery workers and their communities, confirmed funding for a number of projects not yet in delivery, and gave the go-ahead for the signing of the Argyll and Bute Growth Deal.

That means that we will shortly have City Region and Growth Deals covering every part of Scotland, with UK Government investment in them specifically, since 2014, totalling more than £1.5 billion.

UK and Ukraine to sign ‘landmark 100 Year Partnership’

The UK and Ukraine will sign a historic partnership, as the Prime Minister travels to the country to meet President Zelenskyy

  • Treaty will bolster military collaboration on maritime security through a new framework to strengthen Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Azov Sea security and deter ongoing Russian aggression
  • Will bring together experts to advance scientific and technology partnerships, in areas such as healthcare and disease, agri-tech, space and drones, and build lifelong friendships through classroom projects
  • New UK-built Grain Verification Scheme will also be launched to track stolen grain from occupied Ukrainian territories

The UK and Ukraine will sign a historic partnership, as the Prime Minister travels to the country to meet President Zelenskyy.

The unbreakable bonds between the UK and Ukraine will be formalised through the landmark new 100 Year Partnership between the two countries, broadening and deepening the relationship across defence and non-military areas and enabling closer community links.

From working together on the world stage to breaking down barriers to trade and growth and nurturing cultural links, the mutually beneficial partnership will see the UK and Ukraine advocate for each other to renew, rebuild and reform for generations to come.

The partnership underpins the Prime Minister’s steadfast leadership on Ukraine as his government continues to provide support. Spanning nine key pillars, it will harness the innovation, strength and resilience that Ukraine has shown in its defence against Russia’s illegal and barbaric invasion; and foster it to support long-term security and growth for both our countries. The Treaty and political declaration, which form the 100 Year Partnership, will be laid in Parliament in the coming weeks.

It is expected to bolster military collaboration on maritime security through a new framework to strengthen Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Azov Sea security and deter ongoing Russian aggression, bring together experts to advance scientific and technology partnerships, in areas such as healthcare and disease, agri-tech, space and drones, and build lifelong friendships through classroom projects.

It also cements the UK as a preferred partner for Ukraine’s energy sector, critical minerals strategy and green steel production.

The 100 Year Partnership is a major step in supporting Ukraine’s long-term security – ensuring they are never again vulnerable to the kind of brutality inflicted on it by Russia – and committing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a sovereign Ukraine for the next century.

Ukraine has a highly trained military, and a thriving technology sector that is rapidly designing and deploying state of the art battle-ready equipment: a security partnership with Ukraine will make Britain stronger. 

To mark the signing of the partnership today, the Prime Minister is expected to announce new UK support for Ukraine from lethal aid to economic resilience.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Putin’s ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level.

“This is not just about the here and now, it is also about an investment in our two countries for the next century, bringing together technology development, scientific advances and cultural exchanges, and harnessing the phenomenal innovation shown by Ukraine in recent years for generations to come.

“The power of our long-term friendships cannot be underestimated. Supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric invasion and rebuild a prosperous, sovereign future, is vital to this government’s foundation of security and our Plan for Change.

“Through this partnership, we are creating a strong economy that works for the British people, a safe country that protects our interests at home and abroad, and a prosperous society.”

The Prime Minister will join a Ukrainian class dialling into a primary school in Liverpool today, who will be joined by the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson. He will hear from the next generation about how the partnership will deliver brighter futures for children in both countries, fostering cultural exchanges and learning for youngsters.

100 schools in the UK and Ukraine will be partnered over the coming months as part of a two-way programme built around reading for pleasure. Through sharing stories from their own cultures, they will explore the power of reading to overcome adversity – building links between the countries for generations to come.

The Prime Minister is also expected to see firsthand how UK aid is supporting Ukrainians living under bombardment through a visit to a Ukrainian hospital. He will meet patients and doctors and hear how £100m of UK humanitarian funding is supporting needs across Ukraine and specialist medical care for burn victims, including those maimed by Russian missiles raining down on neighbourhoods.

The hospital is being supported by specialist NHS doctors, who are upskilling Ukrainian medical teams and providing lifesaving opinions on treatment for severely injured patients, both virtually and through short deployments to the country. Many admitted to the hospital have burns to between 30% and 40% of their body surface.

The Prime Minister will also announce £40m for a new economic recovery programme to unlock hundreds of millions of pounds worth of private lending to bolster the growth and economic resilience of small and medium businesses in Ukraine, which form the backbone of the country’s economy.

The programme will create opportunities for UK companies by supporting key growth sectors in Ukraine, opening up enhanced trade and investment opportunities with one of our closest allies. The funding will be targeted at businesses supporting the green economy, and marginalised groups including women and veterans.

It is hoped over the long term, the programme, called TIGER (Triggering Investment Growth and Economic Resilience), will reduce reliance in Ukrainian communities on humanitarian support and help build economic resilience.

And as part of the partnership, a new Grain Verification Scheme will also be launched to track stolen grain from occupied Ukrainian territories. The UK developed the new scheme following an ask from Ukraine to the G7 to help trace snatched grain from Ukraine fields under Russian control, which is then relabelled and sold on.

Using cutting edge science to help determine where grain has been grown and harvested, the UK has developed a database to support Ukraine’s efforts to trace and stop theft of grain from occupied regions.

Ukraine, a country which remains a major supplier of agricultural produce, is crucial for global food security. The database will be handed over to Ukraine from the Environment Secretary in the coming weeks.

Today’s announcement builds on the £12.8 billion package of support the UK has given Ukraine, including £7.8bn of military assistance, a commitment for £3bn in military aid until as long as it takes, and ongoing energy infrastructure support to help hospitals and community facilities provide light and warmth to innocent civilians impacted by Putin’s invasion.

The UK and Ukraine will use an annual high-level Strategic Dialogue to ensure progress on the partnership for decades to come.

Chancellor’s National Wealth Fund ‘fuels 8,600 jobs in six months’

  • 8,600 jobs fuelled across the UK by the Chancellor’s National Wealth Fund since July, with almost £1.6 billion of private investment unlocked, delivering on the Plan for Change.
  • Jobs and investment spread across UK’s growth sectors from clean energy to digital infrastructure, driving government’s number one mission to grow the economy
  • New deal also announced today for North Wales with £92 million committed to support crucial improvements to coastal flood defence barriers protecting business and homes.

Thousands of jobs have been fuelled by the Chancellor’s National Wealth Fund in the last six months, with almost £1.6 billion of investment unlocked, driving growth across all corners of the UK.

The Chancellor began work just days into office to establish a new National Wealth Fund (NWF) that would invest in the new industries of the future to create good jobs and opportunity across every part of the country. With £27.8 billion of firepower, the NWF will help drive the government’s Plan for Change and turbocharge growth across the country to raise living standards in every part of the United Kingdom.

The jobs that have been created will support the digital and clean energy sectors, including 6,500 expected to be created in the retrofit sector across the UK, with the NWF providing a financial guarantee that will see Lloyds and Barclays deliver £1 billion of funding to deliver improvements such as low carbon heating and insulation in social housing.

New figures reveal almost £1.6 billion of private investment has been leveraged into projects across the UK’s clean energy and growth sectors over the past six months. This includes to support faster broadband connections for thousands of businesses and households in Cornwall, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Cumbria, fuelling economic growth.

Millions of pounds have also been committed to help West Suffolk Council to decarbonise its buildings and transition its fleet to electric vehicles, alongside supporting the expansion of a successful rooftop solar scheme.

This innovative investment model has the potential to be replicated by other local authorities and means more businesses can benefit from low cost, low carbon electricity, supporting local businesses and the growth of the clean energy sector.

It comes as today, the NWF announces a loan of £92 million to support Denbighshire County Council’s crucial improvements to coastal flood defence barriers in Denbighshire, North Wales, protecting businesses and homes against the devastating impact of flooding, creating jobs and growth in the construction industry.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said: “Growth is our national mission, and the cornerstone of our Plan for Change that will improve living standards and put more money in people’s pockets.

“And the National Wealth Fund is playing a vital part in delivering economic growth, securing over a billion of private investment since July in industries that turbocharge growth in our economy and create good quality jobs across the UK”.

The Chancellor announced in October how the NWF would drive long-term investment in Britain, working hand in hand with business to create new high skilled jobs right across the UK, helping make people better off.

To mobilise investment at pace, the NWF will expand on the UK Infrastructure Bank’s offer including additional financial instruments so it is more catalytic and will take on more risk to have a greater impact:

  • The NWF has more capital with £27.8 billion – inheriting UKIB’s £22 billion and having an additional £5.8 billion.
  • It has a renewed focus to support the delivery of the wider industrial strategy, and the Government’s clean energy and growth missions. At least £5.8bn of the NWF’s capital will focus on the five sectors announced in the manifesto: green hydrogen, carbon capture, ports, gigafactories and green steel.
  • The NWF will have increased resources and focus on conducting more outreach to identify expanded project pipelines and structure innovative transactions.
    It will have a strong regional mandate to unleash the full potential of our cities and regions.

Roads Minister tests the ‘Pothole Pro’ for National Pothole Day, following record £1.6 billion government boost

UK Government pledges funding to fix up to 7 million potholes in England this year

  • Roads Minister visits JCB plant in Derbyshire on National Pothole Day, to see how the government’s record £1.6 billion boost is fixing the nation’s roads
  • new funding includes £75 million for the East Midlands which will see councils across England fill up to 7 million more potholes this year
  • as part of its Plan for Change, the government is investing to boost infrastructure and tackle the pothole plague to get Britain moving

Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, is marking National Pothole Day (15 January 2025), with a visit to the JCB Factory outside Derby, to see cutting-edge technology helping councils tackle potholes.

Derbyshire, highlighted by the RAC as the worst area in England for potholes, is set to benefit from a share of the government’s record £1.6 billion investment to resurface across England.

This includes an additional £20 million for the East Midlands County Combined Authority, which includes Derbyshire, as part of a £1.6 billion funding for highway maintenance that will enable councils to fix up to 7 million more potholes.

At the J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited (JCB) power systems factory, the Roads Minister will speak to engineers to learn about the latest innovations being used to tackle the pothole plague. She will operate JCB’s ‘pothole pro’, a machine that can fix a pothole in 8 minutes, with a cost of around £30. The ‘pothole pro’ is currently used by 20 local authorities.

The minister will also meet with local leaders to discuss their plans for filling potholes to deliver safer, quicker and less costly journeys for all road users in Derbyshire. This is part of the government’s plans to work more closely with local authorities to ensure they have the powers to spend it where their communities need it most.

As part of its Plan for Change, the government is committed to delivering safer, smoother journeys – reducing delays, saving drivers money and going above and beyond its manifesto pledge.

Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: “Potholes are a clear sign of decline in our infrastructure and for too long roads like those in Derbyshire have been left in a state that endangers and costs road users.

“It’s time for change and we are investing £1.6 billion to fix up to 7 million more potholes across England this year, including over £75 million for the East Midlands Combined Authority.

“JCB’s ‘pothole pro’ is one of the many great examples of using new technology to repair potholes faster and demonstrates how companies are harnessing new technology to repair potholes faster.

“We’ll continue to engage with local leaders and industry to ensure innovations are being used to deliver roads the country deserves.”

Ben Rawding, general manager, municipalities at JCB, said: ” We are looking forward to introducing the minister to the benefits that innovation and technology can deliver in tackling the plague of potholes in our country.

“Last month’s announcement by the Department of Transport of £1.6 billion of funding for road repairs in England during 2025 is very welcome. Our appeal to the Minister will be for this funding to be spent wisely to ensure permanent long-term repairs become the priority for local authorities making best use of value-adding, productive technology such as the JCB pothole pro.”

RAC senior policy officer, Rod Dennis, said: “There’s no motoring-related issue drivers are more concerned about than the state of their local roads – where almost everyone’s journeys begin and end.

“Going beyond merely patching potholes is the name of the game, and using the latest technology to perform permanent repairs is a much better use of public money. To stop our roads falling apart in the first place, we support councils surface dressing them at regular intervals and resurfacing those that are beyond reasonable repair.

We’d also strongly encourage drivers to report potholes they’re aware of to their local authority, via GOV.UK, the RAC website or using the Stan app.”

https://twitter.com/i/status/1879423539310207058

The UK government’s latest road maintenance funding builds on the wider support it’s giving to councils to deliver core services and serve their communities.

£69 billion of funding will be injected into council budgets across England to help them drive forward the government’s Plan for Change through investment and reform and to fix the foundations of local government.

You can report potholes on GOV.UK, using the RAC website or the Stan app.

83% of drivers paying out of pocket for pothole damage

Insurance experts are urging drivers to understand how they can claim for motor damage caused by potholes. 

This comes after a survey from Quotezone.co.uk reveals 92% of drivers feel potholes in their local area are getting worse. 

Because of this, many drivers are having to take evasive action to help prevent an incident or unnecessary damage. 

Nine out of ten, (94%), admit to having swerved a dangerous pothole to avoid damaging their car, but the insurance experts say these actions could actually see drivers penalised, disqualified from driving, or hit with penalty points for careless and inconsiderate driving. 

Motorists could find themselves hit with fines of up to £2,500 if their attempts to avoid pothole damage are viewed as driving without due care and attention.

Of those who have experienced vehicle damage due to potholes, over four in five (83%) have paid out of pocket for repairs, while only 6% have claimed through their insurance company. 

Drivers can claim for pothole vehicle damage either through the local council looking after the road, local road authority, or through their insurance provider. 

It’s important to remember no claims discounts will likely no longer be in place for those who choose to claim through their insurance, and they will normally have to pay the excess fee, so it’s worth weighing up the savings. 

Before making a report to the local council, it’s important to gather as much information as possible to help prove eligibility to claim and that the damage was caused by a pothole – witnesses to the incident and evidence from a trained mechanic can help with this. 

Motorists are also told to record where and when the accident occurred and take a photo if it is safe to do so, noting the size and location of the pothole. Note the pothole in question normally needs to be at least 40mm deep.   Copies of this essential information can then be used when making the report to the council or local road authority depending on the area. 

Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said: “With the battle against potholes surging across the country, it’s not surprising to hear so many are having to make manoeuvres to avoid driving over dangerous potholes. 

“Costly damage to vehicles is the last thing any driver needs right now, but we want to help them understand what they are entitled to if they can prove they have experienced vehicle damage as a result of driving over an unrepaired pothole. 

“Many drivers are unaware their attempts to avoid car damage from dangerous potholes could see them penalised. From our survey, 66% of drivers admitted they were not aware swerving potholes was illegal. 

“However, with 92% saying the potholes in their area are an increasing problem and are not being fixed quickly or at all – it is not surprising to hear that so many are having to make potentially dangerous manoeuvres to avoid hitting potholes. 

“When claiming, it’s key to include as much information as possible – you could also provide contact details for anyone who witnessed the incident. 

“This will all strengthen your case when it comes to proving the damage was caused solely by the unrepaired pothole and helping you to secure the appropriate compensation. 

“If you have tried to claim through the local council and been turned away, you can look to your insurance provider for protection.  If your policy is fully comprehensive then pothole damage is normally covered as standard. 

“You will need to provide them with as much information as possible and help them to understand how the damage was solely caused by the unrepaired pothole. 

“However, when taking this route, it is important to remember your no claims discount will likely be affected, so check the policy details carefully and look for no claims bonus protection – also try quoting with the claim added to see if your premium price will change, to help you make the decision.”

Quotezone helps millions of UK drivers every year compare car insurance quotes and find real savings across all sorts of products including car insurance for learner drivers, affordable car insurance for new drivers and even fleet insurance.  

Gordon Macdonald MSP calls out Labour’s betrayal of 24,230 WASPI women across Edinburgh

Gordon Macdonald MSP has hit out at UK Labour government’s betrayal of WASPI women as figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) reveal 24,230 women across Edinburgh may have lost out on pension payments.

As a result of the DWP’s failure to inform them of changes to the state pension age, it is estimated that a total of 355,910 women across Scotland did not receive money they were entitled to.

Now, following their electoral victory in July last year, the UK Labour government have reneged on their promise to compensate these women. The SNP however continues to call for the WASPI Women to receive the compensation they deserve, doing so again in a Holyrood debate this week.

Commenting, Gordon Macdonald MSP said: “The Labour government’s betrayal of the WASPI Women is utterly shameful.

“As many as 24,230 across Edinburgh have lost out as a result of a UK government mistake, and many have tirelessly campaigned for decades to right this wrong.

“For the Labour Party – after mere months in power – to break their promise to compensate these women is wrong and an enormous breach of trust.

“The SNP will continue to campaign alongside the WASPI Women for the compensation they deserve. I urge the Labour government to see sense and u-turn on their decision.”

Based on NRS mid-year 2023 population estimates

Local authorityNumber
Aberdeen City11,360
Aberdeenshire16,560
Angus7,990
Argyll and Bute6,670
City of Edinburgh24,230
Clackmannanshire3,320
Dumfries and Galloway11,120
Dundee City7,820
East Ayrshire7,860
East Dunbartonshire7,480
East Lothian7,170
East Renfrewshire6,130
Falkirk9,500
Fife23,710
Glasgow City29,560
Highland16,430
Inverclyde5,490
Midlothian5,630
Moray6,240
Na h-Eileanan Siar1,890
North Ayrshire9,730
North Lanarkshire19,840
Orkney Islands1,520
Perth and Kinross10,500
Renfrewshire11,240
Scottish Borders8,740
Shetland Islands1,380
South Ayrshire8,610
South Lanarkshire21,140
Stirling5,400
West Dunbartonshire5,820
West Lothian10,070

Starmer sets out blueprint to ‘turbocharge AI’

Artificial intelligence ‘will deliver a decade of national renewal’ as part of a new plan announced today

  • AI to drive the Plan for Change, helping turbocharge growth and boost living standards
  • public sector to spend less time doing admin and more time delivering the services working people rely on
  • dedicated AI Growth Zones to speed up planning for AI infrastructure
  • £14 billion and 13,250 jobs committed by private tech firms following AI Action Plan

Artificial intelligence will be ‘unleashed across the UK to deliver a decade of national renewal’, under a new plan announced today (13 January 2025).

In a marked move from the previous government’s approach, the Prime Minister is throwing the full weight of Whitehall behind this industry by agreeing to take forward all 50 recommendations set out by Matt Clifford in his game-changing AI Opportunities Action Plan.

AI is already being used across the UK. It is being used in hospitals up and down the country to deliver better, faster, and smarter care: spotting pain levels for people who can’t speak, diagnosing breast cancer quicker, and getting people discharged quicker. This is already helping deliver the government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future.

Unveiling details of the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan today, the Prime Minister will say AI can transform the lives of working people – it has the potential to speed up planning consultations to get Britain building, help drive down admin for teachers so they can get on with teaching our children, and feed AI through cameras to spot potholes and help improve roads. 

Backing AI to the hilt can also lead to more money in the pockets of working people. The IMF estimates that – if AI is fully embraced – it can boost productivity by as much as 1.5 percentage points a year. If fully realised, these gains could be worth up to an average £47 billion to the UK each year over a decade.

Today’s plan mainlines AI into the veins of this enterprising nation – revolutionising our public services and putting more money in people’s back pockets. Because for too long we have allowed blockers to control the public discourse and get in the way of growth in this sector.

The plan puts an end to that by introducing new measures that will create dedicated AI Growth Zones that speed up planning permission and give them the energy connections they need to power up AI.

The UK occupies a unique place in the world. We can learn from the US’s and EU’s approach – delivering the dynamism, flexibility and long-term stability that we know businesses want. 

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: “Artificial Intelligence will drive incredible change in our country. From teachers personalising lessons, to supporting small businesses with their record-keeping, to speeding up planning applications, it has the potential to transform the lives of working people.

“But the AI industry needs a government that is on their side, one that won’t sit back and let opportunities slip through its fingers. And in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by. We must move fast and take action to win the global race.

“Our plan will make Britain the world leader. It will give the industry the foundation it needs and will turbocharge the Plan for Change. That means more jobs and investment in the UK, more money in people’s pockets, and transformed public services.

“That’s the change this government is delivering.”

It comes as three major tech companies – Vantage Data Centres, Nscale and Kyndryl – have committed to £14 billion investment in the UK to build the AI infrastructure the UK needs to harness the potential of this technology and deliver 13,250 jobs across the UK. That’s on top of the £25 billion in AI investment announced at the International Investment Summit.

Vantage Data Centres – which is working to build one of Europe’s largest data centre campuses in Wales – plans to invest over £12 billion in data centres across the UK – creating over 11,500 jobs in the process.

Kyndryl – the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider and a leading IT consultancy – announces plans to create up to 1,000 AI-related jobs in Liverpool over the next three years. This new tech hub will share the Government’s ambition to roll AI out across the country to help grow the economy and foster the next generation of talent.

Nscale – one of the UK’s leading AI companies – has announced a $2.5 billion investment to support the UK’s data centre infrastructure over the next three years. They have also signed a contract to build the largest UK sovereign AI data centre in Loughton, Essex by 2026.

The plan includes initiatives that will help make the UK the number one place for AI firms to invest, which is vital if Britain is to be at the forefront of this industry and be a changemaker rather than a change-taker.

The key changes include:

  • forging new AI Growth Zones to speed up planning proposals and build more AI infrastructure. The first of these will be in Culham, Oxfordshire
  • increasing the public compute capacity by twentyfold to give us the processing power we need to fully embrace this new technology – this starts immediately with work starting on a brand new supercomputer
  • a new team will be set up to seize the opportunities of AI and build the UK’s sovereign capabilities
  • creating a new National Data Library to safely and securely unlock the value of public data and support AI development
  • a dedicated AI Energy Council chaired by the Science and Energy Secretaries will also be established, working with energy companies to understand the energy demands and challenges which will fuel the technology’s development – this will directly support the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower by tapping into technologies like small modular reactors.

Taken together, the 50 measures will make the UK irresistible to AI firms looking to start, scale, or grow their business. It builds on recent progress in AI that saw £25 billion of new investment in data centres announced since the government took office last July.

This Action Plan is also at the heart of the government’s Industrial Strategy and the first plank of the upcoming Digital and Technology Sector Plan, to be published in the coming months.

Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said:  ”AI has the potential to change all of our lives but for too long, we have been curious and often cautious bystanders to the change unfolding around us. With this plan, we become agents of that change.   

“We already have remarkable strengths we can tap into when it comes to AI – building our status as the cradle of computer science and intelligent machines and establishing ourselves as the third largest AI market in the world.   

“This government is determined that the UK is not left behind in the global race for AI, that’s why the actions we commit to will ensure that the benefits are spread throughout the UK so all citizens will reap the rewards of the bet we make today. This is how we’re putting our Plan for Change in motion.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves MP said: “AI is a powerful tool that will help grow our economy, make our public services more efficient and open up new opportunities to help improve living standards.

“This action plan is the government’s modern industrial strategy in action. Attracting AI businesses to the UK, binging in new investment, creating new jobs and turbocharging our Plan for Change. This means better living standards in every part of the United Kingdom and working people have more money in their pocket.”

Matt Clifford CBE said:  ”This is a plan which puts us all-in – backing the potential of AI to grow our economy, improve lives for citizens, and make us a global hub for AI investment and innovation.   

“AI offers opportunities we can’t let slip through our fingers, and these steps put us on the strongest possible footing to ensure AI delivers in all corners of the country, from building skills and talent to revolutionising our infrastructure and compute power.”

Chancellor marks £600m of secure growth for UK economy in Beijing

  • Lifting of market access barriers across areas such as agri-food, helping British business compete on level-playing field and grow exports.
  • Pragmatic cooperation results in agreements worth £600 million to the UK economy over the next five years and sets course to deliver up to £1 billion.
  • The UK continues to challenge China on areas of disagreement, with the Chancellor raising concerns over China’s support for Russia’s illegal war, domestic interference and sanctions against British parliamentarians.

Working people and businesses across the UK will feel the benefits of agreements worth £600 million to the British economy, as agreed in the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD).

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was hosted by Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing today, in support of a stable and balanced UK-China relationship. Both sides agreed to deeper cooperation across areas such as financial services, trade, investment, and the climate to support secure growth, while being frank and open on areas of disagreement.

Overall, this government’s reengagement with China sets us on course to deliver up to £1 billion of value for the UK economy.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “The agreements we’ve reached show that pragmatic cooperation between the world’s largest economies can help us boost economic growth for the benefit of working people – a priority of our Plan for Change.

“More widely, today is a platform for respectful and consistent future relations with China. One where we can be frank and open on areas where we disagree, protecting our values and security interests, and finding opportunities for safe trade and investment.

Britain is a leading financial services partner for China. A range of financial services companies with a substantial presence in the market – HSBC, Standard Chartered, Prudential, Schroders, abdrn, Fidelity International and London Stock Exchange Group – accompanied the Chancellor as a business delegation on the trip. The granting of new licences and quota allocations for UK firms such as HSBC, Schroders, abrdn and Aspect Capital to enhance their business in China will further strengthen these ties.

Alongside this are initiatives to improve capital market connectivity – including a commitment to further enhance the UK-China Stock Connect and welcoming the launch of UK-China over-the-counter bond business – as well as initiatives on pensions, countering illicit finance and sustainable finance cooperation.

As part of this, China announced plans to issue an inaugural overseas sovereign green bond – to be used to finance environmentally sustainable projects – in London during 2025. The UK and China will also explore a Wealth Connect programme in recognition of the role asset management has to play in supporting growth. The agreements today in financial services will provide significant value to the UK economy over the next five years.

Both sides have committed to improving existing channels to discuss more sensitive issues, including the need to speak candidly about national and economic security. In her engagement, the Chancellor made clear UK concerns about imbalances in the Chinese economy, and both sides agreed to discuss industrial policy in support of a global level playing field.

The UK and China have agreed to further cooperation including through strengthening the existing UK-China clean energy partnership and committing to a dialogue on international development – to work together in tackling shared global challenges.

The lifting of barriers that restricted export to China across a range of goods and services will support UK exports and innovation, particularly in the agri-food sector where a package headlined by pork, wool, poultry, and pet food stands to boost UK trade with China and support new jobs. China has also agreed to continue to liberalise sectors that restrict foreign investment, such as education and culture, and support a level playing field and fair competition.

The EFD is also part of a wider programme making substantive progress in improving arrangements for UK exports and investors.  This is reflected in new agreements on vaccine approvals, fertilizer, whisky labelling, legal services, automotives and accountancy which set course for the EFD to unlock £1 billion of value for the UK economy.

In her meetings with Chinese government counterparts yesterday the Chancellor was clear on the importance of open channels on areas where we disagree. She urged China to cease its support for Russia’s defence industrial base, which is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war against Ukraine.

In recognition that upholding national security is this government’s first duty, the Chancellor raised this government’s deep concerns over cases involving interference in our democracy and malicious cyber activity emanating from China. Reeves also raised the case of British National Jimmy Lai and raised UK concerns around the respect of protected rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.

She raised human rights, including in Xinjiang, and forced labour. The Chancellor made clear that China’s sanctions against Parliamentarians are completely unwarranted and unacceptable.

Looking ahead, regular dialogues and technical exchanges to progress pragmatic cooperation have been established. This includes further engagement at Ministerial and official level on trade, science and tech, intellectual property, customs, sports and creative industries.

A full list of outcomes from the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue can be found here.