Manchester

Addressing Uncertainty in Housing In a keynote address at the Housing Community Summit, Jonathan Walters outlined the increasing uncertainty facing the housing sector, emphasising the challenges that are likely to persist in the coming years. He noted, “We are in a world of greater uncertainty and cannot predict that it will get any easier in the next few years.” This uncertainty, he explained, is compounded by significant pressures within the system, making investment in existing homes a critical yet costly endeavour. Jonathan elaborated on the current financial landscape for landlords, revealing that over two-thirds now possess a viability grading of V2. However, he pointed out that issues vary geographically, particularly in major urban centres like London, where fire safety remediation...

Arrests Made in Kidlington Waste Dumping Investigation In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the illegal disposal of waste at the notorious site in Kidlington, two men have been apprehended, as announced by the Environment Agency on 8th September 2026. The suspects include a 21-year-old from Ashford, Surrey, and a 43-year-old from Stanwell, Surrey, bringing the total number of arrests related to this case to six. This follows earlier arrests made in February and January 2026, as well as one in November 2025. The investigation is being spearheaded by the Environment Agency’s National Environmental Crime Unit, which aims to identify those responsible for the unlawful activities, ensuring they are held accountable and justice is served for the local community. Communi...

Significant Sewage Discharge Affects Fylde Coast In a distressing environmental incident, raw sewage was released into the Fylde coastline for over 35 hours, impacting popular tourist destinations such as Blackpool, Lytham, and Fleetwood. This prompted authorities to issue a ‘no bathing’ advisory across all eight designated bathing waters, following tests that indicated the presence of E. coli during the event. United Utilities Water Limited faced severe repercussions for this incident, as they were fined a total of £964,225 at Preston Magistrates’ Court on 8 September. The company pleaded guilty to five breaches of environmental permits linked to this significant pollution event that occurred between 11 and 22 June 2023. Details of the Pollution Incident The sewage discharge originated fr...

Flu Vaccination Uptake Among Primary School Children During the winter of 2025-26, only 55.5% of primary school children, approximately 2.5 million out of a total of 4.5 million eligible, received a flu vaccine. Although this represents a slight increase from the previous winter's uptake of 54.5% for 2024-25, it remains significantly lower than the pre-pandemic levels, which exceeded 60% during the winter of 2019-20. The introduction of the nasal flu vaccine for the youngest primary school children dates back to the 2014-15 season, with availability extended to all primary school-aged children by the 2019-20 season. Since reaching a peak of 62.5% in the 2020-21 season, vaccination rates have declined over the following years. The flu vaccination is recognised as the most effective means of...

Significance of Public Procurement in Economic Policy It is a privilege to be here today, alongside esteemed Chairs and members from the three All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs), to discuss two reports published by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that focus on a critical aspect of UK economic policy: public procurement. Every year, the UK government allocates approximately £400 billion towards acquiring goods, services, and infrastructure from the private sector. This substantial sum, sourced from taxpayers, carries considerable weight, especially given the mounting financial pressures faced by households and public institutions. Traditionally, public procurement has not attracted widespread attention; however, it has far-reaching implications. The decisions made in this re...

New Appointment in the NAD Group Ian brings with him over four decades of financial leadership experience, which encompasses a diverse range of sectors including professional services, global pharmaceuticals, and luxury retail. His appointment as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) places him on the Executive Committee of the NAD Group, where he will play a pivotal role in the execution of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), aligning with the evolving capability priorities of the Defence sector. Under Ian’s stewardship, the finance team will be instrumental in supporting the various NAD Group divisions tasked with the development, delivery, maintenance, and management of the UK’s national arsenal and defence estate. His extensive background in formulating effective financial strategies and enhanc...

Good afternoon. I extend my gratitude to the Financial Times, the News Media Association, and Reset for hosting this event, and to Roa for the insightful report, alongside my colleagues at the Institute for Public Policy Research. A Remarkable Achievement on the World Stage Let me commence by highlighting a notable achievement for Britain on the global stage in 2026. This is not, as you might expect, the publisher conduct requirement introduced by the CMA in early June, which may be at the forefront of your minds. Instead, I am referring to British middle-distance runner Josh Kerr, who, in July, shattered the world record for the mile—a record that had remained unbroken since the end of the last millennium. He completed the distance in an astonishing 3 minutes and 42 seconds. You may wonde...

New Strategy Aims to Strengthen the UK’s Space Sector The UK government has unveiled an ambitious national space strategy designed to enhance the country’s capabilities in growth, defence, and national security. This initiative is poised to play a crucial role in the reindustrialisation of the UK, with a significant investment of £7.8 billion allocated through to 2030. By consolidating government efforts in space investment and activities under a single framework, the strategy aims to stimulate growth, bolster security, and support technologies integral to daily life. Recognising the strategic significance of space in safeguarding national security, the government plans to enhance Space Domain Awareness, which involves monitoring satellites, rockets, and orbital debris. Key initiatives inc...

Transforming Bus Services in Liverpool City Region Millions of passengers in the Liverpool City Region are poised to experience significant enhancements to their bus services as the area becomes the first to bring its network under public control following recent government initiatives. This landmark move is expected to facilitate more reliable services and affordable fares, thereby stimulating the local economy. The government has committed £86.3 million in funding, which will extend until 2029, aimed at improving services for passengers. Additionally, a new one-off allocation of £3 million has been earmarked to assist mayors in assuming control of their respective bus services. This investment will empower the combined authority to strategically plan bus networks, ensuring services are p...

Gratitude for Support and Collaboration Thank you for your warm welcome. I would like to extend my appreciation to the dedicated staff who have played an integral role in organising this event. As we were entering the venue, I asked Graham what he takes pride in regarding the MTC. He responded by highlighting our ability to transform small ideas into remarkable businesses. This is precisely why we are so proud to support you, and it brings me great pleasure to be here today. I am particularly delighted to be joined by my esteemed friends and colleagues, Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, and Johnny Reynolds, our Business Secretary. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional Treasury ministerial team present here: James, Dan, Lucy, and Torsten. Above all, my hear...