Labour ministers have officially recommended using a VPN.
Asked what the guidance is for Virtual Private Networks, a DSIT minister answered in a parliamentary question:
“A summary of the wide variety of guidance provided by the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) is available on their website.
The national technical authority for cyber security is the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Their website ww.ncsc.gov.uk provides a range of guidance on cyber security, including on the use of virtual private networks.”
As Guido pointed out at the time, the guidance happens to say:
“You can also use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), a technique that encrypts your data before it is sent across the Internet. If you’re using third party VPNs, you’ll need the technical ability to configure it yourself, and should only use VPNs provided by reputable service providers.”
Peter Kyle previously begged people not to use VPNs when the Online Safety Act came in. Good advice from the actual experts there…
Starmer has landed in Saudi Arabia on his vanity jolly and spoken to broadcasters. Here we go…
He said there is “still a lot of work to do” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz:
“There’s work to do. It’s early days…”
He added there is “a real sense” of relief after the supposed ceasefire. He claimed his ‘leading’ work to reopen the strait was crucial “because the impact on our energy prices, you can see it on a daily basis over the last 39 days, it’s our job to make sure that the strait is open, that we’re able to get the energy that the world needs out and stabilise the prices back in the United Kingdom.” What will that work entail when the only navy warship in the region is docked for repair?
Labour’s ‘Council of the Nations and Regions’ has only met twice since its creation after the 2024 general election. At the time, the government claimed it would be “a central driving forum that brings together governments and authorities… on a structured and sustained basis“. In reality this meant two perfunctory meetings in the first year, and then nothing. They last met in May 2025…
Co-conspirators with long memories might recall that Sue Gray was offered the nonsense title of ‘envoy to the nations and regions‘ after she was dumped as Starmer’s Chief of Staff. She rejected it and sulked off to the Lords instead. Labour never bothered to appoint a replacement.
UPDATE: A Tory source said: “We all knew Sue Gray’s job was a sham, and now we know the council she was meant to sit on is a sham too. Another waste of time and money courtesy of Labour.”
The Fair Work Agency – set up to police employers and enforce the Employment Rights Act – has been instructed by Labour to expand itself outside of its current remit. Two foundational documents published yesterday have snuck the provisions in…
The ‘strategic steer’ document from DBT contains a “thought leadership” section. In it the FWA is told it should focus on:
Later it is instructed to “prepare to commence holiday pay enforcement in 2027 and set out a clear plan to extend enforcement to other rights.” In addition it will have police-style powers to raid employers. The Enforcement Policy Statement additionally states that “the need to consult lawyers prior to compliance” is not considered reasonable cause for withholding information during an inspection. Nor is the absence of a senior member of staff, nor “inconvenience.” No lawyering up when the inspectors arrive…
The FWA also has the ability to obtain authorisations to intercept and acquire communications data under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. Rayner’s troops can check your phone messages…
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Iranians agreed to a ceasefire under “overwhelming pressure” and that “President Trump had the power to cripple Iran’s entire economy in minutes, but he chose mercy.” Calm down everyone – Starmer’s there now…
The BBC’s executive complaints unit (ECU) has upheld complaints against the corporation for breaching editorial standards in the wake of the BAFTAs Tourette’s slur debacle. A new mess for incoming director-general Matt Brittin to try mopping up when he starts next month…
BBC chief content officer Kate Phillips said the ECU “found this should not have made it to air and it was a clear breach of our editorial standards… [but] found the breach was not intentional”. The broadcast remained on iPlayer in full until the following morning…
The ECU report itself said “This delay was a serious mistake. The fact that the unedited recording remained available for so long aggravated the offence caused by the inadvertent inclusion of the N-word in the broadcast”. Days since the BBC has reported on the BBC: zero…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”