Global Scans · UK · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: Achieving Brexit will dominate the UK's agenda up to and beyond 2020 with uncertainty rife until clear decisions are made on the form of Great Britain's future relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.

• [New] The UK Government has entered a partnership with Google DeepMind, citing the potential for AI in public services, education and security. UKAuthority
• [New] The UK government will monitor whether its new set of digital guardrails, under the Online Safety Act, have the desired impact on child safety. The Guardian
• [New] All police forces in England and Wales will have dedicated rape and sexual offences teams by 2029. The Guardian
• [New] The Bank of England should be focussed on meeting the 2% inflation target - the MPC remit - not boosting growth, which will raise not lower inflation. City AM
• [New] Much of British farming and the family business sector will be shut down or sold off to foreign interests. The Guardian
• [New] Britain and Norway have announced an extensive defence agreement under which they will operate an interchangeable fleet of British-built Type-26 anti-submarine warfare frigates. The i Paper
• [New] The United Kingdom has big plans for its nuclear sector, with the construction of two conventional nuclear plants underway and plans to develop small modular reactor (SMR) technology. oilprice.com
• [New] AI could double UK GDP growth by 2035. Eversheds Sutherland
• [New] Top banks are investing large sums into generative AI, with UK banks expected to invest £1.8bn into the tech by 2030. City AM
• [New] By the end of the decade, British pupils could be swapping pens for keyboards in GCSE and A Levels, marking the biggest change to exams in a generation. City AM
• [New] Electric flying taxis could be transporting passengers to and from London airports by 2028, a British company has announced. The Independent
• [New] Electric flying taxis with speeds of up to 150 mph could soon be available to UK passengers, with plans to gain approval for commercial flights as early as 2028. SKY
• [New] London could see electric flying taxis transporting airport passengers as early as 2028, a British aerospace company has announced. AOL
• [New] The United Kingdom is projected to reach 135 million 5G connections in 2025 as operators expand their networks and demand for faster mobile data grows. Electro IQ
• [New] The Labour-led UK Government is aiming for the electricity generation mix to be dominated by renewables and nuclear by 2030 - five years sooner than the previous Conservative administrations. Edie
• [New] The UK could end its reliance on plastic waste exports, and create 5,400 new jobs, if it invested in up to 15 new recycling facilities. The Guardian
• [New] Quantum could contribute £11 billion to the UK economy by 2045. BBC News
• [New] SAF demand will take off under EU/UK legislation, becoming embedded in trading and fundamentals. ResourceWise
• [New] The Bank of England, on evidence of a softening economy and lower inflation, is forecast to bring rates down to 2.75% in 2026 before pausing. Morgan Stanley

Last updated: 16 December 2025