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You will be forgiven for missing a raft of new significant developments over the past few weeks that do not concern the actions of Donald Trump.
Nonetheless, from climate action to new laws being proposed, the UK’s Labour Government has been busy with some pretty major reforms, as well as some smaller initiatives that could significantly affect people’s lives.
Most of these have been buried well away from the newspaper front pages.
So here’s a collection of some recent news from Westminster and Whitehall you may have not seen, as part of an occasional series looking at what the Government is really getting up to.
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 announcements which haven’t been extensively reported on.
However, the examples do offer a flavour of some of the things that we could, but aren’t, talking about. The war in the Middle East is a clear reason behind some of these silences. But it doesn’t account for all of it.
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1. Orgreave Inquiry formally launched
On 26th March, the Orgreave inquiry began investigating the violence that arose between police and picketing miners at Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984, resulting in 95 arrests and scores of injuries.
The attacks by police – and the search for truth about what orders they were given and how they behaved – have been a bubbling concern of unions for the past 42 years.
Those arrested were charged with riot and unlawful assembly, but all charges were later dropped after police evidence was discredited.
The terms of reference have now been published, in consultation with the Chair, the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield, and informed by his engagement with campaigners, policing bodies, and local representatives.
The inquiry has formal statutory powers to demand evidence. Chris Kitchen, General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, said: “Our hope is that once the truth has been brought to light, those directly and indirectly affected can finally start to move on.”
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2. New rules on ‘subscription traps’
A new Government crackdown on unwanted and misleading subscriptions has been launched which ministers say will save consumers around £400 million every year.
New rules, announced on 2nd April, aim to make it “simpler and far less painful to escape unwanted subscriptions, stop people being silently rolled onto expensive contracts and ensure that companies are upfront and open when selling subscription services.”
The hope is to tackle the cost-of-living by giving consumers greater control over their spending.
Newspaper groups have expressed concern that a new 14-day cooling off period for subscriptions will mean people can reap the benefits of their reporting for free during major events, before cancelling. It is the first battle the Government has engaged with the media for a while.
3. Badger culling to end
Campaign group Protect the Wild says that environment department Defra has confirmed that badger culling will end once the final Cumbria licence expires.
The group says: “Back in 2022, midway through the cull, we released undercover footage from Grafton Pet Crematorium in Northamptonshire. What it showed was shocking. Badgers being carelessly handled and stored, with a complete disregard for basic biosecurity.
“This is a cull justified on the basis of disease control, yet those involved were behaving as if there was no risk at all. If these animals truly posed such a threat, why were they being treated like this? It raised serious questions, not just about standards, but about the entire premise of the policy…”
From Coal Tip to Clean Energy: The UK Projects Turning Former Mines Into Renewable Powerhouses
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“Now, we have to be listened to…it is so important that we recognise moments like this. This is progress. This is a win.”
Groups like Badger Trust and Born Free have also been fighting the cull, alongside high-profile figures like musician Brian May.
Defra has been contacted for comment.
4. Species Recovery Programme funding doubled
The Government has unveiled the first five species set to benefit from the “largest ever amount” of Government funding for threatened species in England.
The turtle dove, diamond-backed spider, Eurasian oystercatcher, red-billed chough and glutinous snail are among the hundreds of species set to benefit from new funding for recovery projects across England.
The Government will invest £60m over the next three years – more than double the previous round of funding – into the Species Recovery Programme, administered by Natural England. A further £30m will be dedicated to fund species recovery on the national forest estate.
Defra has also revealed a new campaign, “Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife”, which will promote work to protect and recover native species.