Tootfinder

Yes, it's a higher wage bill for businesses, but it also means more money for people to spend, which means more revenue for those same businesses. And less poverty means a lower benefits bill for the government.
BBC News - Minimum wage to rise again from April to £12.71 for over-21s - BBC News
https://www.bbc.c…

UK government wastes police time. Repeat offender
Mass arrests at UK protest in support of hunger-striking detainee | Protests | Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/1/25/mass-ar…

Mass arrests at UK protest in support of hunger-striking detainee
Police carried out mass arrests after a peaceful protest outside a London prison in support of hunger-striking detainee.

Hoping the launch of GDS Local brings us closer to the harmonised taxonomy and API of my notional, game changing, local government digital service "when-is-bins.service.gov.uk"
https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2025/11/24/gds-local-goes-live/

GDS Local goes live – Government Digital Service
GDS Local is a new unit within the Government Digital Service (GDS) that brings central and local government together to improve how digital public services are designed and delivered. Working alongside councils, we’re helping create services shaped around real lives—easier

Domain Name Stat: the number of .ai domains has surpassed 1M; data suggests Anguilla, the UK territory managing the domain, made ~$70M in fees in the past year (Sherwood News)
https://sherwood.news/tech/now-more-on…

There are now more than 1 million “.ai” websites, contributing an estimated $70 million to Anguilla’s government revenue last year
Data from Domain Name Stat reveals that the top-level domain originally assigned to the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla passed the milestone in early January.

British anti-hate speech campaigners sanctioned by US state department
– Imran Ahmed and Clare Melford are among five Europeans hit with visa bans
over claims they wish to
‘suppress American viewpoints they oppose'
http…

"UK Government unveils £43m funding competition for low-carbon aviation innovation"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Technology

There are two reasons that Motability includes “premium” brands:
1/ they are often the ones that meet the needs of the users with features like parking assistance for those who cannot see behind them
2/ the leases are often cheaper than non premium brands as their resale value is so much higher.
The effect of these changes might well be that Mobility actually costs the government MORE money 🤦‍♀️

Motability Scheme makes ambitious goal that half of Scheme vehicles leased from 2035 will be British built
Motability Scheme sets ambition for 50% of all vehicles leased to be British built from 2035  Scheme is a lifeline for disabled people and will now further support the UK economy  With government and industry support, ambitious commitment could create demand for 150,000 vehicles annually, boosting jobs and driving new investment  Premium brand vehicles, including Mercedes Benz and BMW, removed from the Scheme 

Responding to hate-speech on hate platforms is futile. Even posting such responses on platforms such as X, however tempting it may be, is lending support to them and amounts to collaboration with the haters.
https://www.

Government says it is ‘fully committed to free speech’ after campaigners’ US visa ban – UK politics live
Imran Ahmed and Clare Melford among five Europeans hit with visa bans over claims they wish to ‘suppress American viewpoints they oppose’

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #SonicReducer
T.S.O.L.:
🎵 Abolish Government / Silent Majority
#TSOL
https://cleopatrarecords.bandcamp.com/track/abolish-government-silent-majority
https://open.spotify.com/track/1R79vtF6xSaDdTrh8qId8W

Replacing animals in science #AnimalRights

Replacing animals in science - Human Relevant Science
The UK Government has (11.11.2025) published its strategy for “Replacing animals in science”, to deliver on a key pledge from the Labour Party’s election manifesto to set out a clear plan to reduce and ultimately phase out the use of animals in research. The Alliance for Human Relevant Science welcomes this turning point in government-led […]

The construction of a £1 billion datacentre in Iver, Buckinghamshire, have been put on hold after the government admitted it had made a critical error in granting planning permission.
https://www.computing.co.uk/news/2026/data

£1bn datacentre plans on hold after government admits legal blunder
The construction of a £1 billion datacentre in Iver, Buckinghamshire, have been put on hold after the government admitted it had made a critical error ...

Oh dear.
I suppose we'll have to do a critical analysis.
The chief flaw is obvious: no growth on a finite planet.
But we need to critically analyse the methodology and indicate a degrowth alternative.
Weve done a lot on the latter before, of course.
Northern Growth Strategy: Case for change - GOV.UK

Northern Growth Strategy: Case for change
This document sets out a vision for a stronger, more dynamic northern economy and how government will work in partnership with local leaders to achieve this.

It's so mad to me that there is now an actual military AI drone company that named itself "STARK".
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/100-new-jobs-created-as-drone-factory-opens-in-swindon

100 new jobs created as drone factory opens in Swindon
Factory will build next-generation uncrewed systems and loitering munitions.

Despite concerns, Labour MPs and other left-wing UK politicians stay active on X; the UK government says it stopped paid ads in 2024, after spending £9M in 2021 (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/5b0e3ea9-acc9-4dcc-85fe-2273ea8abb86

"We have a funding system for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that is entirely based on the spending priorities of the UK government in England. The Welsh government has less borrowing powers than a local council, and it often publishes its final budget nine months into the financial year, because the Treasury has decided to change funding in England. This doesn’t work. And it can’t work"

"Internal government memos show how Trump administration officials ‘conspired’ against students, judge says"
Marco Rubio personally signed off on arrests of pro-Palestine students, documents show | The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/marco-rubio-student-protests-palestine-b2906597.html

This seems about right. Taking smaller family farms out of the plan but retaining the tax above inheritance of 2.5M.
Government waters down farm inheritance tax plan - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e9n3y28g1o

Government waters down farm inheritance tax plan
The government has now said it will lift the intended threshold from £1m to £2.5m.

There are two open consultations about digitising the information about properties for use in the home selling process.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/material-information-in-property-listings

Material information in property listings
​​This consultation seeks views on guidance to make important property information available upfront for home buyers and sellers.

The UK Treasury committee says the government and Bank of England's "wait-and-see approach" to AI risks in the financial sector poses "serious harm" to the UK (Kalyeena Makortoff/The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/

"‘Massive disruption’: UK’s worst-case climate crisis scenarios revealed by scientists"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Climate

UK Government Plans to Ban Small Hen Cages and All Pig Crates in England by 2030 https://veganfta.com/articles/2025/12/26/uk-government-plans-to-ban-small-hen-cages-and-all-pig-crates-in-england-by-2030/…

UK Government Plans to Ban Small Hen Cages and All Pig Crates in England by 2030
On 22nd December 2025, the UK government confirmed that it wants to outlaw “colony cages” for laying hens and “farrowing crates” for pigs in England as part of a new animal welfare strategy that…

If you live in the #UK, go sign this petition! :heart_trans:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/738780

Review of the cost structure for connecting generators to the grid really is long overdue.
Instead of charging Scottish generators more to connect to the grid, the UK government should be investing to increase energy storage to make the most of our renewable generation capacity.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/new…

Plans for huge wind farm paused over 'unfair' grid charges
A developer warns that a development will not be built unless "unfair" transmission charges are overhauled.

What is the Chagos deal?
Last year, Sir Keir agreed a deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius,
while retaining control of the UK-US military base on the island of Diego Garcia.
In return, the UK has been promised a 99-year lease on the base,
in return for an average annual fee of £101m in current prices.
The government estimates this will mean a total cost of £3.4bn.
These islands are currently governed by the UK as the
"British India…

What is the UK’s Chagos Islands deal and why has Trump labelled it ‘great stupidity’?
The US president has appeared to change his view on the deal

Disinformation works:
Two-thirds of UK voters wrongly think immigration is rising, poll finds
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/10/two-thirds-of-uk-voters-wrongly-think-immigratio…

UK confirms Foreign Office hacked, says ‘low risk’ of impact to individuals https://therecord.media/uk-foreign-office-hacked-china

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #SonicReducer
The Vandals:
🎵 Anarchy Burger (Hold the Government)
#TheVandals
https://thevandals.bandcamp.com/track/anarchy-burger-hold-the-government-2
https://open.spotify.com/track/3QebYR26gRT9Bso2VSnUOR

The military project CORTISONE sounds like it's going to be some high-adrenaline Jason Statham action movie shit, but it's just digitising health records.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-digital-medical-records-to-speed-up-ar…

New digital medical records to speed up Armed Forces recruitment
New digital system - fully integrated with the NHS - will dramatically cut delays for those joining the Armed Forces, boosting readiness and recruitment.

Today’s sanctions also zero in on eight cyber military intelligence officers for working for the GRU for cyber operations targeting Yulia Skripal with X-agent malware and, five years later, the attempted murder of Yulia and her father on UK soil
https://www.

UK cracks down on Russian intelligence agency authorised by Putin to target Skripals
UK announces sanctions against the GRU as Dawn Sturgess Inquiry report finds Putin personally ordered their activity in Salisbury in 2018.

The government has rolled back a key part of its plans to introduce a digital identity scheme by the end of this parliament.
People will no longer be required to sign up to the digital ID scheme in order to seek work in the UK.
https://www.computing.co.uk/news/2026/gove

Government backtracks on digital ID
The government has rolled back a key part of its plans to introduce a digital identity scheme by the end of this parliament.

Despite concerns, Labour MPs and other left-wing UK politicians stay active on X; the UK government says it stopped paid ads on X in 2024, down from £9M in 2021 (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/5b0e3ea9-acc9-4dcc-85fe-2273ea8abb86

"Water firms could be let off pollution fines as part of government overhaul"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Pollution #Environment

There's a lot to like in this government initiative but concerning that improved heat-tightness (chiefly via insulation) doesn't get the leading emphasis it should have. Instead a lot of emphasis on solar, but the EROI of solar isn't great in the UK.
Skip past the copious puff to the bottom, notes to editors, to find a bit of detail.
Families to save in biggest home upgrade plan in British history - GOV.UK

Families to save in biggest home upgrade plan in British history
Government launches Warm Homes Plan to upgrade the nation's homes, help families cut their energy bills, and tackle fuel poverty.

The Justice Ministry is proposing to take 75% Client Account Interest into its own hands, so a tax.
This is essentially Clients own money as Solicitors have to account for it.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultation

Interest on Lawyers' Client Accounts Scheme

More than 600 government files released under 20-year rule https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/more-than-600-government-files-released-under-20-year-rule/

More than 600 government files released under 20-year rule - The National Archives
More than 600 documents have been released by the Cabinet Office today under the 20-year rule. Most are correspondence and work on government policies during Sir Tony Blair’s Labour administration 2004-2005. They include a file about Kim Philby’s archive and another relating to the successful Olympics 2012 bid. There is material relating to the tsunami […]

On the UK CPO Consultation (2022) - UK central government consulted on the operation of Compulsory Purchase Orders in England and Wales as will affect 16WW. - https://m.earth.org.uk/note-on-2022-CPO-consultation.html

On the UK CPO Consultation (2022)
UK central government consulted on the operation of Compulsory Purchase Orders in England and Wales as will affect 16WW.

UK Government wants to remove the right to jury trials. Constitutionally terrible, etc, but
During my jury service, I only saw the inside of the waiting room, not the court room. Every case I was assigned to had the defendant plead guilty just before the case was about to start.
I can't tell if this is part of a defence strategy, or just a side-effect of scheduling, where the trail date is when the defence and client are actually in the same place.
I'd fix that fir…

David Lammy considers scrapping jury trials for all but the most serious cases
Senior lawyers criticise justice secretary’s radical plan for England and Wales, saying it could ‘destroy justice as we know it’

The UK government begins its review of the BBC's charter, set to expire in 2027, as ministers consider licence fee reforms and allowing more commercial revenue (Jake Kanter/Deadline)
https://deadline.com/2025/12/bbc-charter-review-launched-1236649702/

BBC Charter Review Launched: Government Opens Door To More Commercial Funding & Board Duties On Workplace Misconduct
The UK government has fired the starting gun on BBC charter review, a once-in-a-decade review of the broadcaster's funding and operations.

“The reforms would give more people access to domestic electricity rates, enabling families to run their EVs for as little as 2p per mile – the equivalent of London to Birmingham for £2.50.
[..]
The government will also work with Ofgem to ensure public costs are fair and strengthen protections against landowners overcharging tenants for home charging above the market rate.”

Government looks to slash red tape to make charging electric vehicles at home easier
Reforms will open up affordable home charging to thousands more households

Tories in 5 words:
Don't prevent Armageddon, embrace it.
Cut green spending to make UK ready for war, Conservatives say - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1kprwgzlm0o
And I do know much of the UK government's 'green' posturing is just …

Cut green spending to make UK ready for war, Conservatives say
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says defence "must be the first priority of any government".

🌡️ Government told to prepare for 2C warming by 2050
#uk

Government told to prepare for 2C warming by 2050
The Climate Change Committee said the UK should make climate change adaptions beyond the Paris Agreement.

I wasn't previously aware, but apparently the government is looking, again, at updating the Computer Misuse Act 1990 with proposals to protect researchers. (Although I haven't seen an open consultation since 2023.)

The UK announces a £100M plan to support local AI hardware startups via guaranteed "first customer" payments, and estimates its AI market to be worth over £72B (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/d4d9d091-5fd7-4c20-a3ca-f68f580f7d6b

UK government will buy tech to boost AI sector in £100mn growth push
Liz Kendall unveils plan to offer guaranteed payments for British start-ups making AI hardware

just discovered this glorious mix of thumping techno and local government service design user research
https://charlieoctogirl.bandcamp.com/track/whens-bins-happy-birthday-gilly

Jeremy Corbyn says the UK government is endangering pro-Palestine hunger strikers
Former UK Labour leader Cornyn has issued a statement in solidarity with Amu Gib, who is accused of participating in the Palestine Action break-in of RAF Brize Norton airbase this summer.
The action,
carried out in protest of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the UK government’s participation in it,
led to the proscription of the group under “anti-terrorism” laws.
Dozens of protesters h…

Palestine Action activists on trial in UK over Israeli arms maker protest
The judge urged the jury to do away with personal feelings about the war on Gaza or the legality of the proscription.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/730194
9 more days to hit 3M!

Petition: Do not introduce Digital ID cards
We demand that the UK Government immediately commits to not introducing a digital ID cards. There are reports that this is being looked at.

Since the new Chinese Embassy in London is back in the news:
I repeat my call that the government, per Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, make a version of the NUAR for Royal Mint Court publicly available.
And that this be done routinely for any prospective embassy or chancery.
https://www.leg…

Right, what odds would I get for a bet that the next UK government will be a Labour-Conservative coalition, justified to their supporters by both parties as 'the only way to keep out the extremists'?

"UK, Dutch agencies pull funding from Total’s controversial Mozambique LNG project"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Netherlands

UK, Dutch agencies pull funding from Total’s controversial Mozambique LNG project
U.K. and Dutch export credit agencies have withdrawn their financial commitments for French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies’ gas project in Mozambique, in an unprecedented move that marks the latest setback for the controversial project. UK Export Finance (UKEF), a government agency, and Netherlands-based Atradius, both of which provide companies with loans, guarantees and insurance […]

Sources: the US has paused a tech trade deal with the UK, signed in September, over disagreements about the UK's digital regulations and food safety rules (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/13/business/economy/trump-uk-trade-deal-tariffs…

U.S.-U.K. Trade Deal Hits Stumbling Block
The U.S. government has paused a tech-focused trade pledge with Britain over broader disagreements about Britain’s digital regulations and food safety rules.

UK Government Overhauls Animal Welfare Strategy To Target Puppy Mills, Caged Farming, And Trail Hunting https://plantbasednews.org/news/uk-government-animal-welfare-trail-hunting/

UK Government Overhauls Animal Welfare Strategy To Target Puppy Mills, Caged Farming, And Trail Hunting
The UK government has announced a new animal welfare strategy that aims to ban trail hunting, snares, puppy mills, and cages for farm animals

You don't want to miss today's Metacurity for a surprising number of critical infosec developments you might have missed over the weekend, including
--Pro-Hamas hackers stole plans for Australia's next-gen infantry fighting vehicles,
--Australia, UK, Denmark and Norway raise security concerns about Chinese buses,
--CISA 2015 will extend once US government shutdown ends,
--Chinese cyber company with close ties to Beijing suffered massive hack,
--New NS…

Pro-Hamas hackers stole plans for Australia's next-gen infantry fighting vehicles
Australia, UK, Denmark and Norway raise security concerns about Chinese buses, CISA 2015 will extend once US government shutdown ends, Chinese cyber company with close ties to Beijing suffered massive hack, New NSO Group owner seeks US headquarters, much more

I suspect that this could be the start of a (slow) turning point for government enthusiasm for AI. Embarrassment of a Chief Constable before a Commons Select Committee is going to lead to new questions about integrity of data in police reports in his force, and probably beyond.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c394…

Police chief admits misleading MPs after AI used in justification for banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans
An intelligence report referred to a football game that never happened - Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will make a statement later today.

Ha ha.
If they seriously want to learn about economic growth then they should meet those of us who have been critical of this ecocidal doctrine for over a decade.
Government sends advisors to Greater Manchester to learn about economic growth - Manchester Evening News
…

Government sends advisors to Greater Manchester to learn about economic growth
Greater Manchester's economy has grown faster than anywhere else in the UK over the last 10 years

When the UK's new nuclear power plant Hinkley Point C starts to produce power in 2030, its guaranteed 'strike price' will have risen to ~150 £/MWh (170 €/MWh). Average wholesale electricity prices will probably be around half of that, so that's a 50% subsidy.
At an annual production of 25 million MWh (3.2 GW in baseload), I'd say that's £1.9 billion per year in subsidies.

The UK has spent more than £500K since 2024, including £350K by the Department for Education, on 215 influencers to promote government campaigns (The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/dec/25/uk-government-spending-social-media-infl…

A bit of movement on this vexatious problem at last.
New local powers to keep pavements clear for those who rely on them most - GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-local-powers-to-keep-pavements-clear-for-those-who-re…

New local powers to keep pavements clear for those who rely on them most
Local councils will be given the power to crack down on problem pavement parking.

Stop the Government Redefining Animal Testing Sites as “National Infrastructure” #AnimalRights

Animal testing petition - Protect the Wild
Stop the Government Redefining Animal Testing Sites as “National Infrastructure” The Government is quietly pushing through a change to the law that would dramatically restrict the public’s right to protest. A new Statutory Instrument, due to be considered by MPs this week, would amend the Public Order Act 2023 to…

One thing I'm interested in is government committing to transparency in service performance. This was one of the original features of the post-2012 approach... that got ignored and shuttered ( www.gov.uk/performance goes to an archive)
https://roadmap-…

Creating a consistent approach to measuring how digital services perform
GDS is establishing a consistent government digital performance framework to measure services, driving evidence-led improvements across departments.

The UK government drops plans for mandatory digital IDs to work in the country, marking a reversal from when the UK first announced the policy in September 2025 (BBC)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3385zrrx73o

Government drops plans for mandatory digital ID to work in UK
There will still be digital checks on those starting a new job, but people will not need to hold a digital ID.

FAA cuts airline traffic in 40 markets over shutdown as Americans already face uncertainty over holiday travel plans | The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/air-traffic-cuts-government-shutdown-b2859497.html

British government sanctions Russian and Chinese groups over information warfare https://therecord.media/uk-sanctions-russia-china-entities-information-warfare

Indonesia and Malaysia block #Grok access
UK threatens ban as explicit deepfake problem grows
Elon Musk has called the government intervention
an attack on free speech
https://mashable.com/article/grok-bloc<…

Grok blocked by Indonesian and Malaysian governments as UK threatens full ban
Musk has called the government intervention an attack on free speech.

Check out today's Metacurity for the most crucial cybersecurity developments you should know, including
--Man pleads guilty in the first successful US prosecution of a stalkerware operator,
--Korea warns of hacking forum that steals and sells data,
--NZ High court enjoins publication of stolen medical data,
--UK government launches $282m cyber action plan,
--Threat actor stole and threatens to leak data from insurer Prosura,
--Command injection flaw fou…

Man pleads guilty in the first successful US prosecution of a stalkerware operator
Korea warns of hacking forum that steals and sells data, NZ High court enjoins publication of stolen medical data, UK government launches $282m cyber action plan, Threat actor stole and threatens to leak data from insurer Prosura, Command injection flaw found in D-Link DSL routers, much more

Can I just say that among the stock photos illustrating a diverse young dynamic Britain, in the "roadmap for modern digital government", I love that someone has used what looks like a photo of a Job Centre from the 70s/80s.
https://roadmap-for-modern-digit…

Launching a modern jobs and careers service to support people into work
DWP is launching a new digital-first jobs and careers service for England, which will provide personalised coaching, smart job matching, and skills support.

There's a subscribers-only podcast which Lesley Riddoch has put out (which unfortunately means I can't link to it), in which she interviews Sara Salayers.
Salayers points out that the Union with England Act, 1707 (linked) is specifically conditional (§XXV) on the Claim of Right Act, 1689 (also linked); and that the Claim of Right Act forbids government from prosecuting people on 'stretches of old... laws'.

Sustainable aviation fuel take-up in UK unlikely to hit 2025 target, data suggests https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/26/sustainable-aviation-fuel-mandate-uk-government-data-2025

The UK government will take a £25M stake in Octopus Energy's tech spin-off Kraken, last valued at $8.65B, in an effort to encourage Kraken to list in London (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/6d29dab0-c18d-4244-ba89-c5a4bb40e516

The financial arrangement between Westminster and Holyrood is bonkers!
A 2% increase in income tax for England, Wales and Northern Ireland would lead to a £1 billion reduction for the Scottish Government.
"A change to UK income tax ... would not directly affect Scottish taxpayers, but an increase would lead to an automatic deduction from the block grant that the Treasury pays to the Scottish government."
How much longer do we have to be saddled with Westminster?…

UK tax hike would have 'massive' impact on Scotland - Robison
The finance secretary says an increase in income tax south of the border could lead to a £1bn shortfall at Holyrood.

"UK government backs more than 180,000 heat pump installations"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Energy #HeatPumps

UK government backs more than 180,000 heat pump installations
Subsidy support has driven heat pump adoption, with the pace of deployment increasing since early 2024. Second largest subsidy scheme to be wound down in 2026 leaving expanded boiler upgrade scheme as dominant support mechanism. Full details on UK government's Warm Homes plan expected in early 2026.

Scotland "..there are 17 live planning applications for hyperscale data centres across the country, with more in the pipeline; enough to increase energy demand by 4,450-4,950 megawatts."
Scottish government face calls for data centre moratorium | Morning Star
https://www.

Trump attends another extravagant party at Mar-a-Lago as thousands, including government employees, hit food banks in shutdown | The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-banquet-mar-a-lago-snap-funding-b2861556.html

It'll be interesting to see how long this takes to cover the whole UK train network - basically allowing anyone with a contactless payment to travel without buying tickets in advance.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/simpler

Simpler train travel to London airports as tap-in, tap-out expanded across south-east England
Buying tickets will be more convenient, more accessible and more flexible, ensuring passengers can get the best fares.

UK Unveils Roadmap to Phase Out Animal Testing, Commits £75M to Develop Alternative Methods https://vegconomist.com/science/uk-unveils-roadmap-phase-out-animal-testing-commiting-develop-alternative-methods/

UK Unveils Roadmap to Phase Out Animal Testing, Commits £75M to Develop Alternative Methods - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine
The UK government has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap that will allow animal testing to be phased out more quickly. Where possible, the strategy will empower

Sources: some Telegraph directors alerted the UK government that RedBird's Gerry Cardinale may have breached rules protecting the paper's editorial independence (Simon Goodley/The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/nov

UK PM Keir Starmer says X indicated to government officials it was acting to comply with UK laws by restricting the generation of non-consensual sexual images (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/72c2a5b7-e10d-4e7c-8af0-e95b64d99d79

HS2: "at least £100bn will be spent but only 135 miles of railway built."
That's double the original cost for the Y shaped lines to Manchester and Leeds.
New Birmingham-Manchester rail link to be proposed - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c75xrwlw5n2o

New Birmingham-Manchester rail link planned
Previous plans for a high-speed rail line between the cities were scrapped by Rishi Sunak's government.

Local Hero.
"The head of a leading disability rights charity turned down an MBE in the New Year Honours over what she described as the "simply intolerable" situation facing disabled people in the UK."
"Tressa Burke, chief executive of the Glasgow Disability Alliance, was recognised by the prime minister for her services to people with disabilities."

Disabled charity chief condemns UK government as she rejects MBE
Tressa Burke, chief executive officer of the Glasgow Disability Alliance, says the situation facing disabled people in the UK is "simply intolerable".

Trump DoJ ‘immediately’ stops enforcing prison rape protections for trans and intersex people, according to a leaked memo
The Department of Justice instructed prison auditors across the country to simply stop assessing whether facilities are violating laws designed to shield LGBT prisoners from sexual abuse

Trump DoJ ‘immediately’ suspends prison rape protections for trans and intersex people, according to leaked memo
Civil rights advocates described the changes as a government ‘endorsement’ of sexual abuse against LGBT+ prisoners

"Great British Energy plans 15 GW clean energy investment"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Energy

Great British Energy plans 15 GW clean energy investment
UK government-owned energy company’s first strategic plan sets GBP 15 billion private finance target and commits to support for more than 1,000 local and community energy generation projects.

ReformUK and their ilk keep claiming it is easy for asylum seekers. Like if they eventually get settled status, the Home Office immediately makes them homeless. So easy for them, our beneficent welfare system. That's after living on a pittance while awaiting a decision, so no spare money to put down for a deposit.
Andy Burnham makes demand after claims government policies creating homelessness - Manchester Evening News

Andy Burnham makes demand after claims government policies creating homelessness
It comes after the government set out a new plan to tackle homelessness

Sources: the UK government wants Apple, Google, and others to block explicit images at the OS level by default to protect kids and have adults verify their ages (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/0ef79775-eadf-4cc9-b32c-e97b0eff816f

"[Government] launches new APIs" should be a more frequent news story, IMO.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hm-land-registry-launches-new-apis-to-save-customers-time

HM Land Registry launches new APIs to save customers time
The changes bring faster applications and a more reliable service for Business Gateway customers.

Government to invest in AI solutions to reduce administrative errors.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deputy-prime-minister-announces-new-measures-to-bear-down-on-releases-in-error-and-keep-public-safe<…

Deputy Prime Minister announces new measures to bear down on releases in error and keep public safe
Immediate action to clamp down on mistaken releases from prisons and restore public confidence in the criminal justice system has been announced by the Deputy Prime Minister today (Tuesday 11 November).

Accenture agrees to acquire UK AI startup Faculty, which works with the UK government, for an undisclosed sum; Faculty CEO Marc Warner will become Accenture CTO (Mark Bergen/Bloomberg)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/20

Ban Private Jets Now! #environment #BanPrivateJets

If you agree that the UK government should ban private jets, add your name.
Sign our petition to ban private jets

Streeting and Starmer, 2 sides of the same coin. It's just that one is probably more competent.
Streeting allies call for unity amid reports Cabinet colleagues want him sacked
https://nation.cymru/news/streeting-allies-call-…

Streeting allies call for unity amid reports Cabinet colleagues want him sacked
Allies of Wes Streeting have called for unity within UK Government, amid reports Cabinet ministers are urging the Prime Minister to sack his Health Secretary. Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing calls within the Cabinet to remove Mr Streeting from his post, amid what they see as his public pronouncements of outspoken opinions, according to […]

DfT have released a public version of their tool that shows the "connectivity" of any location in England and Wales, but because it doesn't use URLs meaningfully, the reports can't be bookmarked or shared.
(Which is the sort of thing I would hope comes up in a service assessment.)
https://connectivity-t…

Given the remarkable #GreensSurge in members and polling, and the ongoing chaotic infighting at 'Your Party', it's maybe worth reposting my questioning of both leaderships on the eco-planetary crisis and overshoot.
As UK politics turns both right and left, how do we get degrowth onto the agenda? – degrowthUK

As UK politics turns both right and left, how do we get degrowth onto the agenda?
By Mark H Burton In the series, Prospects for Degrowth The last few weeks have seen two opposing developments in British politics, both in the context of the Starmer Labour government and its failu…

I'm particularly interested in what the thresholds will be for mandatory "incident" reporting of cyber attacks. When reporting is mandatory and thresholds are low, any (possible) attack is a potentially successful DoS, if the resources used, for even a cursory analysis, are human.
https://www.

Cyber Security and Resilience Bill
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill proposes new laws to improve UK cyber defences and protect our essential public services.

UK government continues to communicate the current bird flu status by amending a 2022 news item. (Because if there's one thing covid taught us about communicating the status of a multi-year unplanned event, it's... been lost to attrition.)
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/…

Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England
Find out about the latest bird flu situation in England and guidance for bird keepers and the public.

Guardian faffing around the issue.
The government should clearly overturn Javid's cruel decision to strip this victim of grooming of her citizenship.
But they won't, being on human rights, even worse than the last Tory government.
Ministers cannot go on ignoring the Shamima Begum case, for two important reasons | Shamima Begum | The Guardian

The UK government says X restricting Grok's image creation to paid users is insulting as it just makes the ability to generate unlawful images a premium service (The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/202

A headline emphasising the government's support for Britain's High Streets.
> Thousands to get free digital training so everyone has the chance to shop around for cheaper deals online
https://www.gov.uk/government…

Thousands to get free digital training so everyone has the chance to shop around for cheaper deals online
Free support to get people online is rolling out in communities in every region of the country.

"Government cyber unit" sounds like a class of robot enemies in a futuristic video game.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-cyber-action-plan-to-tackle-threats-and-strengthen-public-services

New cyber action plan to tackle threats and strengthen public services
New measures will be introduced to make online public services more secure and resilient, so people can use them with confidence - whether applying for benefits, paying taxes or accessing healthcare.

Article doesn't say if the capacity for remotely-disabling machines is something the government ordinarily wants?
Basically any device that can receive remote firmware/software updates from a manufacturer can be remotely disabled - intentionally or otherwise.
https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/…

UK asks cyberspies to probe whether Chinese buses can be switched off remotely
: Norwegian testers claim maker has remote access, while UK importer says supplier complies with the law

Best headline in the GOV.UK news feed today
> Framework for interrogation of honey authenticity databases
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/framework-for-interrogation-of-honey-authenticity-databases

Framework for interrogation of honey authenticity databases
A project, commissioned under Defra’s Food Authenticity Programme, to develop a practical framework for the interrogation of honey authenticity databases.

The "Telecommunications Charter" being signed by UK telecoms providers today includes traceability data sharing between networks and the police, and the blocking of internet resources identified by NCSC.
https://www.gov…

Fraud Sector Charter: telecommunications (accessible version)

If you've looked at recent US government websites, and wondered why you don't see UK government sites covered with photos of British cabinet members, it's not entirely a design choice.
Central government resources aren't allowed to be used to promote party political content - and for websites that can include raising the public profile of politicians.
There is, in essence, a civil servant who can reject website update requests made by the Prime Minister if they fe…