News
Spending Review: What to look out for on energy
Next week’s Spending Review will set departmental budgets for the next three years, shaping the long-term direction of energy policy, infrastructure investment, and the Government’s net zero agenda. In this article, Brevia Energy explores what to watch for in the energy brief.
The Rise of Reform UK: Implications for the Energy Sector
While still on the fringes of Westminster, could Reform UK’s growing local presence, covered in our previous article, create new obstacles for the national net zero agenda? In this article, Brevia Energy examines what the rise of Reform UK could mean for the energy sector.
Baroness Curran Appointed Minister at DESNZ: What’s in Her In-Tray?
Baroness Margaret Curran has been appointed Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero in the House of Lords, following the retirement of Lord Hunt. She inherits a high-stakes brief at a crucial moment, particularly for the UK’s nuclear sector. Her portfolio includes responsibility for nuclear, individual planning decisions and DESNZ businesses in the House of Lords. With the Government expected to announce its Final Investment Decision for Sizewell C in a few weeks, the new Minister takes up her post at a critical time for the nuclear sector.
UK-EU Reset: What the New Agreement Means for Energy
Beyond borders and e-gates, a quiet energy reset is taking place, with the potential to reshape UK-EU carbon markets, cut costs, and power the net zero transition. In this article, Brevia explores the key energy provisions of the new UK-EU agreement and what they mean for businesses navigating the transition.
UK Government Launches £3 Billion Skills Programme for Key Sectors
On 27 May 2025, the Government announced a major investment in workforce development through a new skills strategy designed to train the next generation of construction workers, healthcare professionals, and digital specialists. The initiative, part of the wider Plan for Change, aims to address longstanding skills shortages, strengthen the UK economy, and reduce dependence on migration by building homegrown talent.
What to expect from Reform UK in local government
With the dramatic success of Reform UK in the local elections on 1 May, attention must now turn to considering how they will run the local authorities they now control. Reform is a fairly new political party, and has never controlled a local authority executive before. On a national level, most who follow politics will now be familiar with their headline policies: support for lower immigration, opposition to diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives and scepticism towards climate change and net zero. However, Reform’s policies and procedures on a local level are much less clear. With Reform winning outright control of ten local authorities on 1 May, trying to predict how Reform will run the local authorities they control will be important to anyone who intends to engage with local authorities in the coming months and years.
UK Government Unveils Immigration White Paper to Curb Net Migration
On May 12, 2025, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer introduced a comprehensive Immigration White Paper aimed at significantly reducing net migration and strengthening the UK’s borders. The reforms are designed to prioritise high-skilled migrants, reduce dependence on overseas labour, and enhance border security measures.
UK Government Advances Sustainable Aviation Fuel Strategy with Revenue Certainty Mechanism
In a significant move to decarbonise the aviation sector, the UK Government has announced the introduction of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Revenue Certainty Mechanism. This initiative aims to provide financial stability for investors and producers in the SAF industry, encouraging the development of domestic production facilities and reducing reliance on imported fuels.
Is the UK Government Powering Up on Nuclear?
The UK Government is expected to announce its FID for Sizewell C, as well as funding for SMRs, before the June spending review. However, despite bold pledges, both current and previous Government action on nuclear has faced delays. With the Future of Energy Security Summit taking place last week, discussions around energy security and the UK’s future energy mix have featured heavily in the news. In this article, Brevia Energy reviews the latest considerations the Government faces in delivering its nuclear ambition, and how this fits into the Net Zero transition.
What Are the New Planning Reforms Announced by the UK Government?
On 23 April 2025, the UK Government announced significant reforms to the planning system aimed at expediting the delivery of major infrastructure projects. These changes, part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, are designed to reduce delays and streamline processes for developments such as clean energy projects, reservoirs, and railway lines.
The 2025 local elections will be the most unpredictable ever
On 1 May 2025, elections will be held to elect councillors in 24 local authorities, and 6 mayors. With the collapse of the Conservatives and Labour in the polls and the rise of Reform, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, the electorate has never been more fragmented. As a result, the results of the 2025 Local Elections will be very difficult to predict.
What Is the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill and Why Was It Introduced?
In a rare Saturday sitting (only the sixth such occasion since the Second World War), Parliament was recalled from Easter recess to pass the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill.
