On 7 October 2026, Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar Graeme Downie, who serves as deputy chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rearmament, together with researcher Dominic Reed, published an analytical report titled Putin’s Tax. The foreword was written by Tom Keatinge, Director of the Centre for Finance and...
UK rejects Steve Witkoff’s statement calling Putin a “humanitarian”
The British government has rejected the characterisation of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” made by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff during their meeting in St Petersburg on 21 October. This was stated by the British Prime Minister’s spokeswoman, Kate Simmons, in response to journalists’ questions. According to her,...
UK restarts large-calibre weapon production for first time in 20 years
For the first time in two decades, the United Kingdom has resumed production of large-calibre weapons, the British government announced. Manufacturing has begun at Rheinmetall UK’s new facility in Telford, Shropshire, as part of a plan to rapidly strengthen domestic defence capabilities amid a growing security threat. The 11,500-square-metre “Gun...
UK to accelerate deliveries of Lightweight Multirole Missiles to Ukraine
The United Kingdom has announced it will accelerate deliveries to Ukraine of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs), which have proven highly effective against Russian jet-powered drones, and is preparing additional packages of sanctions, military assistance and financial support. The announcement came ahead of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s meeting with President Volodymyr...
UK and EU to hold annual leaders’ summit on 20 November in Brussels
London and Brussels have agreed to hold the annual UK-EU leaders’ summit on 20 November 2026 in Brussels. The date was confirmed on Monday, 12 October, by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in a statement to the House of Commons. The summit will be the second annual leaders’ meeting under...
UK economic losses from Russian hostile activity amount to at least £2–2.5 billion a year
Economic losses to the United Kingdom from Russian hostile activity amount to at least £2–2.5 billion a year, according to the report The Putin Tax, published on 7 October 2026 by Labour MP Graeme Downie and researcher Dominic Reed. The authors describe the estimate as a floor and warn that...
Nearly half of Britons support rejoining the EU
Debate in Britain over the country’s future relationship with the European Union has intensified again after a new Messina Group poll. According to the survey, 49% of respondents would support the country rejoining the EU, while 28.5% were opposed. The poll was conducted by The Messina Group (TMG) from 12...
UK imposes a new package of sanctions against Russia
The UK Foreign Office announced a new package of sanctions against Russia on 1 October. It covers 23 individuals and entities and eight vessels. According to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the package is aimed at restricting funding for the war, putting pressure on networks that London describes as...
UK offers to extend its nuclear umbrella to nine JEF countries
The United Kingdom has offered to extend its national nuclear deterrent to nine partner countries in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). The corresponding agreement is expected to be signed in November. The countries in question are Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The Finnish newspaper...
Police arrest five men near RAF Fairford air base
Police have arrested five men on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The base is used by U.S. forces. According to Gloucestershire Police, a call was received at around 00:45 on Sunday, 27 September, reporting three suspicious vehicles travelling towards the air...