UK work on an AI safety law lapsed before the science department was abolished

The Guardian reported on 18 September 2026 that, towards the end of Keir Starmer's time in office, ministers had started work on an AI safety law, including whether advanced companies could be required to submit products for safety testing before launch, and that the work fell away during the political turmoil. Andy Burnham then abolished the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which had been leading that work. Chi Onwurah, who chairs the Commons science and technology committee, said the government's response to the risk could not be that nothing can be done.

What it means for business: on this report, UK frontier testing is not a legal requirement.