Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the UN General Assembly on 22 September 2026 that the UK will work towards a single set of global principles and standards for AI and put AI at the heart of the UK’s G20 Presidency in 2027, building on the work of the AI Security Institute with the US and leading AI laboratories. Burnham said that the government may introduce AI legislation if necessary to protect the public from AI risks. He also announced that he had tasked security chiefs with beginning work on a National Centre for Information Defence to detect, attribute and disrupt hostile state information attacks, warning that AI would increase the threat from hostile information activity. The speech also addressed international security, Ukraine, the Middle East, international cooperation and the rule of law.

Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has outlined the updated roles and responsibilities for parties involved in nominating peers to the House of Lords. Following a December 2024 announcement, political parties are now required to provide public citations justifying their nominations, ensuring that nominees possess the appropriate skills, abilities, and commitment to high standards in public service, while also reflecting the UK's regional diversity. The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) will continue its independent vetting of nominations on propriety grounds and recommending non-partisan Crossbench candidates with the power to decline nominations if necessary. Although the Prime Minister may directly recommend a limited number of Crossbench nominees—subject to HOLAC's vetting—this process reinforces the Government’s commitment to reform the appointments process and enhance the quality and representativeness of the second chamber.

The Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) has launched a consultation on its Draft FRAND Guidelines Discussion Paper, developed by the PMAC FRAND Guidelines Working Group and unanimously approved by the Working Group’s members. The proposed Guidelines are intended to provide a non-binding and flexible best-practice framework for resolving fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) disputes through mediation, arbitration, expert determination or hybrid procedures. The Discussion Paper addresses procedural issues including party autonomy, confidentiality, proportionality, early definition of the scope of the dispute, selection of neutrals, evidence, patent portfolio valuation, parallel court proceedings and possible outcomes. SEP holders, implementers and other interested stakeholders are invited to comment on the proposed structure and content by 26 October 2026. Following consideration of the submissions, the Working Group will continue developing the Guidelines, with a further public consultation planned at a later stage. PMAC and the European Patent Office (EPO) have also agreed to develop a global database of relevant FRAND case law, with further information to be published in due course.

The Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) has established a working group to develop non-binding guidance and best practice recommendations for fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing disputes. Chaired by Simon Dack of the PMAC Expert Committee, the group comprises 12 additional experts in standard essential patents and FRAND determinations. Feedback may be submitted on the initial discussion paper until mid-September 2026, with a subsequent consultation on draft guidelines scheduled to follow.

The Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) of the Unified Patent Court has launched its website, providing details of its alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services for patent disputes. PMAC offers arbitration, mediation, expert determination, hybrid med-arb procedures and specialised services for standard essential patents and fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (SEPs / FRAND) licensing disputes. The website indicates that PMAC has appointed 87 sole and emergency arbitrators, 156 arbitral tribunal members, 114 mediators, 79 associated mediators and 75 experts. The first application round for neutrals closed on 10 October 2025, and a new round is expected to open soon.

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) has released a statement on the provision of the adverse event reporting statements of digital materials following some confusion relating to Clause 12.9 of the 2021 ABPI Code of Practice. To clarify its position on banner advertisements, the PMCPA stated that ‘all promotional material, including digital material which includes banner advertisements, requires the inclusion of the prominent adverse event reporting statement as part of the material itself’. The PMCPA recognises that the statement can at times be included within the prescribing information, but reaffirms that the statement is a separate requirement to the prescribing information. Thus, if it is included within the prescribing information, it does not automatically apply to the statement requirements. The PMCPA further stipulates that in accordance with Clause 12.9 of the 2021 Code, the statement must be prominent and PMCPA notes that it must be added within digital materials including banner advertisements ‘in a way where it is unlikely to be missed’. This provision is said to be under further consideration when the Code is next amended.

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to its Constitution and Procedure, which sets out how the pharmaceutical industry’s self-regulatory complaints process operates. The proposals include formalising the limitation period piloted since 1 June 2025, under which complaints would generally not proceed if received more than two years after the relevant activity took place or the material complained about was last used or appeared. A six-month limitation period would apply to complaints relating to the personal social media activity of company personnel. The PMCPA would retain discretion to proceed with cases in exceptional circumstances, including where patient safety concerns arise. The consultation also proposes expanding the abridged complaints procedure introduced in the 2024 Constitution and Procedure so that it could be used in a greater proportion of cases, while more complex or serious complaints would continue to be considered in full. Responses are invited by 21 September 2026.

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) has published updated guidance on Clauses 3.1 and 11 of the 2024 Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Code of Practice, which prohibit the promotion of medicines before a marketing authorisation is granted. The guidance covers medical science liaison activities and governance, the legitimate exchange of medical information during medicine development, and advance budgetary notification. It replaces the previous Clause 3 guidance.

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) has published updated social media guidance, now presented as a standalone section of its website. The revised guidance has been developed in collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including the MHRA, the ABPI, and representatives from pharmaceutical companies.

The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has announced the inaugural meeting of its new Administration Industry Group, a strategic forum established to raise standards in pensions administration and improve outcomes for members and beneficiaries across the UK.

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The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has announced a new package of 30 sanctions targeting Russia's financial, military and energy sectors. The measures include sanctions against 20 oil tankers in Russia's shadow fleet, two companies managing these vessels Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ, and the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI). Two UK residents were sanctioned for supplying $120m of restricted electronics to Russia. The government also announced plans to tighten the Oil Price Cap mechanism in coordination with international partners.