AGP Executive Report

NHS Medicines: Parliament’s Pharmacy APPG says ministers should publish their overdue response on allowing pharmacists to offer alternatives during medicine shortages. The government says it will set out next steps in the coming weeks. Trade and Industry: No. 10 has left open aligning with EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to secure UK access to the bloc’s “Made in Europe” scheme, despite earlier resistance and a warning from Beijing. Media Plurality: The Culture Secretary may intervene in Sky’s proposed ITV deal; the NUJ says any review must assess the impact on Northern Ireland’s UTV. Devolution: Andy Burnham has offered John Swinney a deal to shift power to Scottish councils, while ruling out a second independence referendum. Parliament: MPs criticized the government over Jagtar Singh Johal’s detention in India and urged stronger diplomatic action to bring him home. Heritage Pubs: A bill to protect historic pubs, prompted by the Crooked House demolition, ran out of time in the Commons without a vote.

Media Regulation: The UK is a European outlier in allowing serving politicians such as Nigel Farage to present current-affairs programmes, a new study finds. Separately, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is considering intervention in Sky’s proposed £1.6bn ITV takeover over media plurality. Island Communities: MPs warn poor transport links are worsening depopulation in Scotland’s islands. The Scottish Affairs Committee says fixed links could help sustain communities and local economies. Flood Protection: A bill seeking clearer responsibility and funding for flood prevention has returned to Parliament, as Norfolk homeowners face growing concerns over insurance and mortgages. Small Businesses: The Small Business Commissioner helped firms recover more than £1m in overdue payments in the first half of the financial year. A Commercial Payments Bill, including a 60-day payment cap and mandatory late-payment interest, is advancing through Parliament. Devolution: Andy Burnham is urging John Swinney to work with him on shifting more decision-making to Scotland’s regions and cities. Heritage Pubs: MPs are due to debate a bill aimed at preventing communities from losing historic pubs like the Crooked House.

Water Emergency: Ministers have convened a Cobra meeting after severe drought was declared across parts of southern England, affecting areas with more than 4.5 million people. Emergency water measures are being considered. Senedd and Free Expression: Wales’s National Poet says the Senedd dropped her opening-day poem as too political; it referred to Gaza, water use and fascism. The dispute has raised questions about political speech at the legislature’s ceremonial opening. Media Plurality: Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is minded to intervene in Sky’s proposed ITV takeover, citing concerns about the range of programmes available to UK audiences. Devolution: SNP minister Stephen Flynn challenged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to allow a second Scottish independence referendum, as the party opened its conference in Aberdeen. Public Services: The DWP says Access to Work applicants waited an average of 100 days for a decision in 2025–26, up from 67 days the year before, as demand for the employment-support scheme grows. Stormont: Northern Ireland’s budget deadlock is prompting cuts by default, while political tensions add to concerns over stalled government.

Ukraine Support: Andy Burnham pledged continued backing for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with the UK bringing forward £10m for urgent winter needs and accelerating missile deliveries. Welsh Parliament: King Charles will attend the Senedd’s opening ceremony for the first time as monarch, marking a new chapter for the expanded parliament and its new electoral system. Scottish Politics: The SNP launched its “Choose Scotland” independence campaign at its Aberdeen conference, while Burnham has ruled out another referendum under his government. Public Consultation: Government plans to repeal thousands of consultation requirements have raised concerns about reduced public input, including for charities. Parliamentary Action: Southend MP David Burton-Sampson introduced a bill seeking clearer wet-wipe labelling and tougher standards to help prevent sewer blockages.

Constitutional Scrutiny: Dominic Cummings delivered a combative critique of Britain’s political system to a House of Lords committee examining constitutional safeguards and the balance of power. China Policy: A cross-party legislators’ group says UK engagement with Beijing is incoherent and weakened by a shortage of senior expertise. PMQs and the Rule of Law: Andy Burnham faced calls to apologise after referring to an accused man as responsible for Ann Widdecombe’s murder before trial; Conservatives said the remark undermined the presumption of innocence. Northern Ireland Finances: First Minister Michelle O’Neill rejected the UK Government’s claim that no more money is available, as Stormont departments remain without a budget and the two sides dispute funding needs. Asylum Plans: MPs are due to vote on a non-binding Conservative motion opposing plans to house more than 1,000 asylum seekers at a former military site in Bicester. Parliamentary Security: Calls are growing for rules on AI smart glasses at Westminster after a Senedd member appeared to use them as a teleprompter.

Budget: Finance Minister John Healey is expected to fund cost-of-living measures through tax rises or spending cuts rather than extra borrowing, ahead of his first budget on October 28. National Security: MI5 says more than 50 arrests over the past year were linked to Iran, warning of threats to Jewish communities and the potential use of AI to develop biological weapons. Northern Ireland: MPs voted to continue the Troubles legacy Bill, despite criticism that its amendments have left the legislation in disarray. Food Security: Farmers told a Commons hearing that volatile harvests and high costs make growing food increasingly risky, raising questions about how to strengthen domestic supply. Welfare and Work: A review has found parts of the Personal Independence Payment system are not fit for purpose, while Citizens Advice says 5.6 million workers face insecure, low-paid employment that can push households into debt and food-bank use. Public Safety: Families bereaved by drowning have asked the Prime Minister to appoint a minister to coordinate water-safety policy.

Security: MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned that Iran is expanding its hostile activity in Britain, including towards military sites, while Russia remains the leading state threat. The government has blamed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard for the RAF Fairford plot and announced sanctions. Europe and Brexit: Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged MPs to seek a closer EU relationship, calling the status quo inadequate ahead of a November summit. He also said Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum; McCallum agreed Moscow tried, but said there was no evidence it changed the result. Parliament: MPs heard warnings that AI companies are taking “catastrophically high” risks in the race to build powerful systems, with a former OpenAI researcher questioning whether safeguards can keep pace. Representation: Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee from Somalia, was sworn in as Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras after winning the by-election. Scottish oversight: Ministers said they had held no talks with Police Scotland about the discovery of a nitazene lab, calling the investigation an operational matter as drug deaths rise across Ayrshire.

Security: Prime Minister Andy Burnham told MPs the RAF Fairford plot was almost certainly directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The UK has imposed fresh sanctions and summoned Iran’s ambassador, with 32 countries condemning Tehran’s alleged activity. EU Reset: Burnham says the “status quo is not good enough” and will seek closer ties at a November 20 summit. His claim that Russia interfered in the Brexit vote has sparked a row, with ministers playing it down and a Labour MP warning against reopening the referendum debate. Parliamentary Safety: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered an urgent review of security for MPs and royals after former MP Ann Widdecombe was killed; the government is also widening police support for people outside Parliament. Troubles Legacy: New legislation would give the attorney general the final say on prosecutions linked to Northern Ireland’s past, drawing criticism from veterans and keeping an Irish legal challenge alive. Asylum Policy: Reform UK has pledged to suspend asylum claims for five years and cancel tens of thousands of pending cases, a plan critics say would strip away legal routes and protections. New Voice in the Commons: Sagal Abdi-Wali has taken her seat as the first Somali-born refugee elected to the UK Parliament.

Political Security: Shabana Mahmood has ordered an urgent review of protection for MPs and royals after Ann Widdecombe’s murder, extending police support to party leaders who are not MPs, peers and former elected representatives. RAF Fairford: Andy Burnham told MPs the suspected plot near the Gloucestershire base was highly likely coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by the IRGC. Britain has sanctioned two Iranians and summoned Tehran’s ambassador. The suspects have been released on bail; no charges have been reported. EU Reset: Burnham says the UK-EU relationship is “not good enough” and will seek a pragmatic reset at a November 20 summit, promising the public will be “the boss” on the country’s long-term direction. Brexit and Russia: His claim that Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum has sparked a political row. Burnham says he did not suggest the meddling changed the result; the government’s established position is that Russian attempts were unsuccessful. Troubles Legacy: Proposed changes to the Troubles Bill would give the UK Attorney General final say on prosecutions involving death or serious injury, bypassing Northern Ireland’s attorney general.

Russian Interference: Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he was told Moscow interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, but gave no details. He is the first UK prime minister to make the claim publicly, reigniting debate over foreign influence and Britain’s EU ties. Europe: Burnham will urge MPs to pursue closer cooperation with the EU, arguing that sticking with the status quo risks economic growth and stronger immigration controls. Scotland: A new poll finds 51% of Scots think the country is heading in the wrong direction, up from 45% in May, putting pressure on First Minister John Swinney ahead of the SNP conference. Troubles Legacy: The government plans to transfer authority over new Troubles prosecutions from Belfast’s Public Prosecution Service to the Attorney General for England and Wales, drawing concern from families who fear the changes could weaken accountability. Holyrood Scrutiny: Scottish civil servants say AI-generated parliamentary questions and freedom-of-information requests are diverting staff from core duties, including farmers’ payments; the government says it plans to reduce bureaucracy.

National Security: Ed Miliband faces calls to explain his September handshake with Iran’s foreign minister, after reports the UK had received intelligence about a threat to RAF Fairford. Brexit and Russia: Andy Burnham says officials confirmed Russian interference in the 2016 referendum, but has not disclosed the assessment or its supporting details. A new report says Britain could rejoin the EU within one Parliament if political backing and alignment were in place. Devolution: Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth is seeking more control over policing, justice, railways and the Crown Estate, and has asked Burnham for a new settlement with Westminster. Scottish Energy: The SNP faces pressure to acknowledge that its floating-wind ambitions are off track, as ScotWind developers may relinquish contracts and questions grow over investor confidence.

Climate Policy: Kemi Badenoch says the Conservatives would scrap the Future Homes Standard, removing planned requirements for solar panels, heat pumps and high-grade insulation in new homes. An Oxford energy expert warns that building less-efficient homes could leave households with higher bills for decades. Nature Protection: South Cambridgeshire MP Pippa Heylings has introduced a bill to strengthen protection for chalk streams, many of which struggled through this summer’s heat and drought amid concerns about water abstraction and sewage pollution. Scottish Health: Bereaved mother Elizabeth Crammond will take a petition to Holyrood next month, calling for improvements to maternity and early-pregnancy care after she says she sought help 60 times before being seen. Public Accountability: An investigation found that the Tory treasurer owns the company behind a proposed Scottish data centre through a British Virgin Islands holding company. The project could receive up to £23m in public support; the company says its profits will be subject to UK tax. Protest and Policing: Police made 20 arrests at Saturday’s pro-Palestinian march in central London. Organisers estimated 250,000 participants, but no independently verified count was available.

Public Order: At least 20 people were arrested at a pro-Palestine march in central London, police said, including protesters suspected of damaging the Battle of Britain memorial and breaching protest conditions. Local Government: Hammersmith and Fulham Council says funding changes could force a 150% rise in its council tax, adding about £29 a week for Band D households under one scenario. Political Ethics: MPs received nearly £500,000 in hospitality from the UAE and Manchester City, prompting fresh concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Westminster: Labour held Holborn and St Pancras in a by-election, with Somali-born refugee Sagal Abdi-Wali elected; Green leader Zack Polanski lost his bid for a Commons seat. NHS Funding: Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey rejected the Health Secretary’s request for extra money, leaving the department to meet rising costs from existing budgets as hospitals face winter pressures.

Aviation: Ministers are proposing to make airlines seat children under 14 beside an accompanying adult at no extra cost and ban fees for correcting booking-name errors. The measures are being considered in a consumer protection bill. By-election: Labour held Keir Starmer’s former Holborn and St Pancras seat, with Sagal Abdi-Wali winning 12,292 votes. Green leader Zack Polanski came second and says he will stay on. Party politics: A senior Liberal Democrat has quit the front bench amid a reported bid to oust Ed Davey. NHS: Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey have rejected Health Secretary Yvette Cooper’s request for extra funds for NHS pay and frontline care, as waiting-time targets remain at risk. Scottish psychiatrists are also urging ministers to give mental health equal weight in NHS reforms. Planning: Two Conservative MPs criticised approval of a vast Northamptonshire solar farm, saying it will take arable land and alter the countryside. The national Planning Inspectorate handled the decision. Scottish government: Emails showing SNP minister Stephen Flynn’s office was told about a CalMac ferry gas leak before he denied being briefed have fuelled calls for an investigation.

By-election: Labour held Holborn and St Pancras, with Sagal Abdi-Wali winning 45% of the vote and beating Green leader Zack Polanski. The defeat has intensified pressure over the Greens’ “Zionism is racism” motion, but Polanski says he will stay on. Lib Dems: Witney MP Charlie Maynard has quit the front bench in a move reportedly intended to trigger a no-confidence vote in leader Ed Davey; deputy leader Daisy Cooper says most MPs back Davey. NHS: The Health Foundation warns that, if current trends continue, only 92% of patients could start treatment within 34.9 weeks by the end of the parliament—far short of the government’s 18-week target. Migration policy: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood plans tighter rules on last-minute human-rights claims and new charges for some asylum accommodation, drawing scrutiny of the balance between removals and protection. Holyrood accountability: Emails sent to Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn before a committee hearing have renewed questions over his claim he was unaware of a ferry gas leak.

By-election: Labour held Holborn and St Pancras, with Sagal Abdi-Wali beating Green leader Zack Polanski by 12,292 votes to 8,928 — a boost for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, while the Greens increased their share. Asylum Accommodation: Home Office plans to house 1,250 asylum seekers at former RAF Barnham have drawn police opposition: Norfolk and Suffolk forces use the base for specialist training and say they need time to relocate. National Security: A serving Royal Navy sailor, 24, has been charged under the National Security Act with preparing to disclose sensitive information to a foreign power. Scotland: A new homelessness report says coordinated policy action could cut the worst forms of homelessness by nearly half in two years; it estimates 22,800 households are affected, with about 19,000 in temporary accommodation. UK-Israel Relations: Israel has ordered the British consulate in East Jerusalem to cease functions, forcing more than 20 diplomats to leave; the UK says it will seek to rebuild its presence.