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This Friday marks a year since the Labour Government took office. It’s not been smooth sailing, and we’ve covered scandals, policy rows, and the headwinds PM Keir Starmer has faced extensively at Byline Times.
But the Government has certainly been busy – even if much of it does not make it on to the front pages of Britain’s largely right-leaning press, a media that save for this week’s welfare row, tends to prefer discussing polling and personal spats over policy.
So here’s a collection of some news from Westminster and Whitehall you may have missed.
This list is by no means conclusive, and it is up to you whether you think the news is either good or bad. Mostly, as you’d imagine, they are things the Government sees as positive developments – as we’ve picked out Government announcements which haven’t been extensively reported on.
However, they do offer a flavour of some of the things that we could, but aren’t, talking about thanks largely to the priorities of the British press.
Protest Crackdown in Britain Now Amounts to ‘State Repression’ And the Labour Government is Continuing the Trend, Warn Campaigners
Infringements on the right to protest have been ’emboldened’ by successive governments, report argues
A Green Energy Revolution
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has published its ‘Solar Roadmap’, a ‘landmark’ strategy for solar energy with over 70 actions pledged to rapidly boost solar deployment in Britain, from 18GW now to 45-47GW by 2030.
It’s part of the Government’s push to get to 100% – or near-100% – clean energy by the end of the decade.
The Government is also establishing a ‘Solar Council’ between Government and business to monitor delivery and provide a forum for industry-Government engagement on the issue.
Heat pump grants of up to £7,500 are being extended until 2030, and the Government is expected to set up a loan scheme for home energy upgrades such as installing solar panels. The vast majority of new homes will have solar panels installed on them by default under Ed Miliband’s plans.
Meanwhile, Ministers are looking at how to boost the use of ‘solar canopies’ covering car parks, as is common in France. The energy department has launched a call for evidence on the idea.
Mike Childs, head of science, policy and research at Friends of the Earth, welcomed the new strategy, noting that it makes clear “only a tiny fraction of land [0.4%] is required…and that solar farms can work in harmony with wildlife.”
The Government says families could save around £500 a year on their energy bills by installing solar panels as part of Labour’s “rooftop revolution”.
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An EU ‘Customs Convention’
The Government will consult on whether Britain should join a European customs convention, to simplify international supply chain rules, according to Politico.
Ministers will consult on whether Britain should join the “Pan-Euro-Mediterranean” convention to simplify rules around international supply chains, a new trade blueprint states.
Politico reported that the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean customs convention relaxes ‘rules of origin’ regulations and tariffs between nations, helping firms with international production chains that cross borders.
This one probably should have got more attention, though it is still early days. A Global Vaccine Alliance
A Global Vaccine Alliance
The UK has pledged £1.25 billion towards renewal of Gavi, the global Vaccine Alliance, for 2026-2030.
It will help Gavi in their mission to protect up to 500 million children between 2026-2030 and save up to eight million more lives.
Gavi, which provides free vaccines internationally, now receives investment from 56 countries and over 60 organisations.
Romilly Greenhill, CEO of Bond, the UK network for organisations working in international development and humanitarian assistance, said the UK cash was a “welcome step that reaffirms the UK’s role as a committed partner in protecting the world against preventable disease and support childhood vaccinations.”
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Bond has, like many aid organisations, been very critical of international aid cuts by the Government more widely. But this seems to be a major commitment not facing the chop.
More Support for Farmers
Farmers are to receive more advice and support to help them meet high environmental standards with Environment Agency (EA) farm inspections increasing by around 50%.
The boost in funding will help the EA offer more guidance to farmers, strengthen links with supply chains and farm networks, make better use of technology like remote sensing, and take stronger action against serious or ongoing pollution.
It will see the expected number of inspections reach a record 6,000 a year by 2029, supported by more investment in “advice-led” regulation.
The EA’s approach sees officers visiting farms to check compliance with environmental law. If rules are broken, farmers are told what to fix and given a deadline in writing as part of the enforcement process.
Fast-Tracked Housing
A new ‘Fast Track’ planning process will be introduced to “enhance the review of newbuild applications, unblock delays and boost sector confidence.”
It comes as Government reforms are set to lead to the creation of a single construction regulator, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The Government accepted every recommendation of the inquiry.
Ministers say delays to building new high-rise homes will be “unblocked” through a new package of reforms to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) announced this month.