🇬🇧 UK News from Politica UK

 

🇬🇧 UK News

1. Government launches “Sterling 20” club to attract infrastructure investment

  • The UK government has formed a coalition of 20 major pension funds (including Legal & General, Aviva, M&G) to channel capital into UK infrastructure and high‑growth sectors such as AI and affordable housing. Reuters

  • Legal & General alone pledged £2 billion over five years; several other funds will increase their private venture allocation from 0.6 % to 5 %.

  • The initiative is timed ahead of a regional investment summit in Birmingham and reflects the government’s push to use private finance to stimulate growth amid public budget constraints. 

2. Pressure mounts on PM Keir Starmer not to cut UK aid contribution to global health fund

  • The UK’s £1 billion commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is under threat of a ~20 % cut, as Treasury weighs broader aid budget reductions. The Guardian

  • Public polling shows 62 % of Britons support maintaining or increasing aid; the Fund estimates that retention of full UK funding could save ~1.7 million lives over three years. 

  • With Germany already pledging €1 billion, the UK decision is seen as both a moral and reputational test ahead of the UK‑hosted summit in November. 

3. UK housing market shows clear signs of cooling ahead of the Budget

  • According to data from the property site Rightmove, the average asking price rose only 0.3 % in four weeks to 11 Oct, much weaker than the typical ~1 % in October. Reuters+1

  • Buyer enquiries and seller listings both dropped ~5 % year‑on‑year in September, with many participants delaying decisions until after the next Budget amid speculation of property tax increases. The Guardian+1

  • Potential measures under discussion include a new tax on homes above £500k, removal of capital‑gains tax relief on expensive primary residences, and an extra council tax band for top‑end homes. 

🎬 Creator Economy / YouTube Updates

4. Short‑form video dominates: 63 % of global social‑media users prefer quick videos

  • A recent survey by Impact.com and eMarketer finds that nearly two‑thirds (63 %) of global users prefer short video formats (e.g., 15‑60 second clips) when engaging with creator content. EMARKETER

  • This reinforces the strategic importance of formats like YouTube Shorts and similar offerings as the dominant mode for creator engagement. 

  • Creators and brands alike should acknowledge that production, editing and optimisation for short‑form video are increasingly table‑stakes.

5. YouTube Shopping expands: 500 K+ creators now using direct‑buy links in videos

  • According to a Los Angeles Times report, more than half a million creators now use YouTube Shopping, allowing viewers to purchase products directly from videos via AI‑powered links. Los Angeles Times

  • The move signals YouTube’s push to turn creator content into full‑funnel commerce, not just attention capture. 

  • For creators: integrating shopping links and brand/affiliate partnerships into both short‑form and long‑form content is becoming more viable and valuable.

6. Creator economy reaches a tipping‑point: YouTube stars now centre stage at MIPCOM

  • At the 2025 MIPCOM market in Cannes, the creator economy — especially YouTube stars — dominated the agenda, marking a generational shift from traditional TV to creator‑led business models. StageRunner+1

  • YouTube claimed to be the largest commercial platform in the UK by reach and watch‑time (~47 m adults spending ~78 min/day), emphasising its role in culture and brand‑building. The Media Leader+1

  • Brands attending MIPCOM are increasingly working directly with creators rather than relying solely on legacy broadcasters — a signal of structural change in media economics. Variety+1

🎨 Arts, Culture & Children’s Education

7. New youth theatre initiative from Bristol Old Vic to connect young people to culture

  • The theatre announced a free programme in state secondary schools across Bristol for 2026, linked to its 260th anniversary and working with the Five Year Commitment Writers initiative. Bristol Old Vic

  • The two forthcoming plays will explore British identity and amplify voices of young people often excluded from theatrical‑education outreach. 

  • The move responds to a declining rate of school‑based theatre access and the sector’s concern about future pipeline of creative talent.

8. Exhibition traces the UK Punjabi‑diaspora journey via art and oral‑history in Amritsar

  • A UK‑based cultural‑diversity body launched a 30‑day visual‑arts exhibition in Amritsar titled “After the Partition: A Shared Cultural Heritage”, collaborating with UK artists and elder diaspora voices. The Times of India

  • The exhibit uses archives, artefacts and storytelling to connect the 1947 Partition legacy with contemporary UK‑Punjab cultural links. 

  • It underscores the cross‑border nature of diaspora identity and arts as a vehicle for heritage and educational dialogue.


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