British politician and former Army officer, Defence Secretary since 2023
The government has announced a national wildfire resilience push, drafting RAF aircraft to help firefighting efforts, restoring peatlands as natural firebreaks, funding PPE for crews, and launching an AI unit to speed detection and response. The plan follows a record 2026 wildfire season and heat waves across Europe.
Refs to the UK’s Prevent programme have surged to a record 10,293 referrals involving 9,957 individuals in the year to September 2025, up 39% from the previous year. The rise follows the Southport 2024 attack and is accompanied by concerns over ideology, including 20% linked to extreme right-wing beliefs and 56% with no identified ideology. The data shows young people aged 11-15 are the largest group among referrals.
The UK has established a national day to honour victims and survivors of terrorism. The event recognises those affected, including families and first responders, and signals ongoing support and calls for improved access to compensation and legal assistance. Northern Ireland communities are urging local recognition as well.
Joshua Cammidge, 31, has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service and preparing an act of sabotage after prosecutors say he gave Google Maps screenshots and addresses for four drone-manufacturing sites in Swindon and volunteered to carry out sabotage while communicating with a suspected GRU Volunteer Corps representative.
MI5 has published an Espionage Alert saying the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI) has funded projects involving more than 100 UK-based academics and has very strong ties to China’s Ministry of State Security. Security minister Dan Jarvis has written to university leaders telling them to end relationships with CGTRI; continuing ties could expose staff to prosecution under the National Security Act.
Multiple suspects were detained near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses. Five British men were released on bail as the investigation unfolds; authorities say no explosives were found, but the probe is ongoing with strong indications of Iranian involvement.
The Green Party has faced international condemnation after a policy motion declaring Zionism as racism was passed at a Brighton conference. Four of five Green MPs opposed the motion, which endorses a single Palestinian state and calls Zionism an ideology of racism. The party’s leadership and membership are under intense scrutiny as by-elections approach, with discussions about governance and inclusivity intensifying.
Prime minister has flagged Russian attempts to influence democratic processes, with Burnham saying Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum. Officials caution on evidence, while UK, EU ties are framed against a backdrop of disinformation and a new information-defence push.
The question of whether Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum has resurfaced as Prime Minister and MI5 warn of ongoing influence operations. Burnham has claimed a clear answer exists, sparking backlash and a renewed focus on online disinformation in the UK political process.