Wes Streeting

Force in Play

Confirmed investigation continuing

A farmer's call from a lane near RAF Fairford at 1:36 am on September 27 led police to five British men in vans carrying petrol. Police found no explosives. Eight men have since been arrested; two were charged under the National Security Act on October 27, and one of them, Nouman Essghir, 24, is in custody awaiting a November 20 hearing at the Old Bailey.

Updated 4 hours ago

Money Moves

Described DSRB as an innovative mechanism

Britain will not join the Canada-led Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), ending talks to merge the two countries' defence financing efforts. Reuters reported the sides could not agree on the bank's headquarters, the level of joint procurement, lending to members, or rules for new members.

Updated Oct 29

Force in Play

Announced Typhoon deployment to Saudi Arabia

Britain is sending RAF Typhoon fighter jets to fly defensive patrols over Saudi Arabia, tasked with shooting down missiles and drones aimed at Saudi cities and oil infrastructure. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told Parliament the jets will not strike Houthi targets in Yemen, and said the government sees no long-term military solution to the war.

Updated Oct 22

New Capabilities

As of September 2026: Defending the centre's scope against free speech concerns

Britain is standing up a new state agency to fight foreign disinformation. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the National Centre for Information Defence on September 23 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Updated Sep 23

Force in Play

As of July 2026: Withdrew from the contest; backing Burnham

Keir Starmer resigned on June 22, 2026, after Labour lost more than 1,000 council seats in May. Andy Burnham ran unopposed to replace him, winning 379 of 403 Labour MPs' nominations—the highest share in modern party history. On July 20, he met King Charles III and became the UK's seventh prime minister in a decade.

Updated Jul 20