Government contracts to require job creation instead of green targets under new rules

The Guardian World Tuesday 04 August 2026, 21:30 UTC By Alexandra Topping Political correspondent 1 min read

Key Points

Louise Haigh says taxpayer money must benefit local communities amid backlash from environmental groupsMinisters will scrap the requirement for companies to prove their green and progressive values before they are awarded government contracts, and instead ask firms to prove they will help young people back into work. As part of a government push to reduce the number of people not in education, employment or training (Neets) in the UK and boost regional growth, public sector buyers will...

Louise Haigh says taxpayer money must benefit local communities amid backlash from environmental groups

Ministers will scrap the requirement for companies to prove their green and progressive values before they are awarded government contracts, and instead ask firms to prove they will help young people back into work.

As part of a government push to reduce the number of people not in education, employment or training (Neets) in the UK and boost regional growth, public sector buyers will double the consideration they give to whether companies will get more people into jobs, rather than if they can show they are improving social and environmental wellbeing. Government procurement contracts account for about £90bn of taxpayers’ money spent each year.

Louise Haigh (PERSON) UK (LOCATION)

Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

The road to confirmation just got bumpier for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. After surviving a key committee vote on Tuesday, Blanche’s fate became even more uncertain as Republican leaders eye a full floor vote to confirm him. That’s because Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is not going to back him.

Fox News 10m ago

White House Readies A.I. Framework to Review Security Risks

President Trump at the G7 meeting with Sam Altman of OpenAI in June. The Trump administration laid out how the federal government plans to review whether new A.I. tools pose a security risk.

NYT Technology 19m ago

WA government has no plans to change uranium mining ban

Cook government has no plans to change WA's uranium mining ban despite trade, development push Wed 5 Aug 2026 at 8:07am In short: The West Australian government has ruled out lifting the state's long-standing uranium mining ban. WA and the Northern Territory are home to the nation's largest untapped deposits of uranium. Mining industry figures say the recent trade deal allowing uranium exports to India represents a significant economic opportunity if the ban is lifted.

ABC Australia 29m ago

Democrats put redistricting amendment on Maryland’s midterm ballot

Maryland’s Democratic-controlled Legislature voted Tuesday to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would pave the way for them to eliminate the state’s lone Republican-held congressional district before the 2028 election. The move came after months of Democratic divisions over whether they should redraw their state’s congressional map in response to GOP redistricting efforts across the country. Democratic state Senate President Bill Ferguson had long balked at joining...

NBC News 31m ago

Government contracts to require job creation instead of green targets under new rules

Related Stories

Collins drops the hammer on Trump's pick to lead DOJ, jeopardizing path to confirmation

White House Readies A.I. Framework to Review Security Risks

WA government has no plans to change uranium mining ban

Democrats put redistricting amendment on Maryland’s midterm ballot