11/08/2026. Ilkeston, United Kingdom. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner visit Ilkeston High Street. Picture by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street
There has been widespread national, regional and broadcast coverage of the government’s announcement on improving Britain’s high streets.
The Guardian, The Times, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, The i Paper, BBC News and Metro all ran pieces noting the new measures announced by the Prime Minister which are designed to give councils and local communities greater control over their high streets, including powers to block new vape shops, betting shops and adult gaming centres.
The announcement was also picked up by the The Daily Mail, The Daily Express and the Daily Star.
There is also extensive coverage across regional outlets including The MEN, The Standard, CityAM, The York Press, Birmingham Live, Eastern Daily Press, Liverpool Echo, Lancashire Telegraph, Cambridgeshire Live, Somerset Live, Bristol Live, Devon Live, The Northern Echo, Wales Online, Leeds Live, and The Star.
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner was interviewed by BBC Radio 4 Today, BBC Breakfast, LBC and GMB on the morning round.
There has been further coverage on broadcast including on BBC News, ITV News, GB News, Sky News, LBC News among others alongside regional outlets such as BBC Look North, BBC London and BBC Northwest.
Radio coverage includes BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 6, LBC News, Sky News Radio, Heart Kent, Times Radio, talk Radio, Hits Radio East Midlands, and Greatest Hits who all covered the story in afternoon bulletins.
The announcement has also featured on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine and Storm and Alex daytime programming.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said:
"People know when their high street isn't working for them. Whether it’s the vape shop or betting shops that's opened with no say from locals, the shopfront that's seen better days, or the sense that nobody's in control.
“These problems have built up over years, but this government won't leave councils and communities powerless to crackdown on everyday eyesores that blight our high streets.
"That's why we're giving local leaders the power to say no to what doesn't belong on their high street, and the tools to fix it themselves.”
https://mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/12/coverage-of-the-governments-high-streets-announcement/
seen at 14:35, 12 August in MHCLG in the Media.