Pensioners to wait year after winter fuel U-turn The Times says pensioners will face waiting more than a year to have the winter fuel payments reinstated…
Month: May 2025
Starmer announces U-turn over winter fuel after fierce backlash The Guardian says the U-turn comes after a “backlash against one of the most unpopular policies of…
Starmer in fuel U-turn: Labour rebels force climbdown The Metro leads with the news the prime minister has U-turned on the controversial winter fuel payment…
Most of Thursday’s UK newspaper front pages lead with the U-turn on the winter fuel payment cuts. Last year the government announced changes to the benefit which saw more than nine million pensioners lose out on payments worth up to £300 – after the eligibility threshold was tightened.
Ruben Amorim has stated he will not seek compensation from Manchester United if they decide to part ways following the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Much of England’s news is dominated by last night’s all-English Europa League final that saw North London club Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United to claim their first silverware in 17 years.
Good morning! Grab your coffee and let’s take a brisk scroll through today’s headlines…
In politics, Sir Keir Starmer has bowed to pressure and announced a U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts. The scheme, which had been scaled back to save £1.4 billion, left over 10 million pensioners without support. Starmer now says more pensioners will qualify again, with changes expected in the autumn Budget – though the exact numbers and timing are still under wraps. It comes after Labour lost big to Reform UK during recent local elections.
Meanwhile, a government-commissioned review has suggested that prisoners should serve only a third of their sentences in custody, rather than the current half. There are proposals to chemically castrate sex offenders in order to release them earlier in a bid to free up spaces in prisons.
In economic news, the UK government’s borrowing reached £20.2 billion in April, surpassing expectations and placing additional pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
After lots of glorious sunshine, the UK is set to experience a shift in weather just in time for the bank holiday weekend. The Met Office forecasts unsettled conditions, with many areas expecting rain or showers and more unpredictable weather patterns continuing into the half-term week.
Elsewhere, the UK government has been temporarily blocked from finalising a landmark deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following a late-night injunction granted by the High Court.
In sport, underdogs are stealing the spotlight. Crystal Palace shocked football fans by beating Manchester City 1–0 to lift the FA Cup – their first major trophy. Not to be outdone, Spurs ended their 17-year silverware drought with a scrappy 1–0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final, with Brennan Johnson the unlikely hero.
On the international front, there has been a shooting in the US with two Israeli embassy staffers shot dead near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
The WHO has said Gaza’s health service is ‘stretched beyond breaking point’ and Donald Trump held a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa – in which the US president ambushed his counterpart with unfounded claims of genocide against white South Africans.
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Is Monaco Set to Shake Up the F1 Order Again? Formula 1 heads to the iconic streets of Monaco this weekend, marking the second leg…
A High Court injunction has temporarily blocked the UK government from finalising a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, initiated by legal action from Chagossian woman Bertrice Pompe.
Two Israeli embassy staffers, a young couple on the verge of getting engaged, were shot dead in Washington, DC on Wednesday night.
Tottenham Hotspur have finally ended their 17-year trophy drought by beating Manchester United 1–0 in the Europa League final.
Sir Keir Starmer has announced a U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts, following weeks of political pressure.
Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed ongoing high-level discussions with the US regarding participation in Trump’s proposed $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile defence programme.
The proposed sentencing policy review could lead to sex offenders undergoing chemical castration, with widespread early release for certain inmates after serving only a third of their sentences.
Sixteen European consumer groups, led by BEUC, have accused seven low-cost airlines of misleading practices regarding hand baggage fees, urging the EU to investigate and impose sanctions for violations of consumer laws.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, defending the Trump administration’s foreign policies amidst criticism from Democratic senators regarding issues such as budget cuts to foreign assistance and the refugee admissions program.
Cliff Notes – ITV is about to release ‘addictive’ thriller that will keep you guessing Intriguing Premise: The series follows five ordinary Brits accused of…
A new North Korean destroyer launch ended in failure, described by Kim Jong Un as a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness.”
Tottenham Hotspur secured their first trophy in 17 years by defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final, with Brennan Johnson scoring the decisive goal.
Tottenham Hotspur ended a 17-year trophy drought by defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final, marking their first European trophy in 41 years.
Ben Stokes has indicated that Jacob Bethell will return as England’s No.3 for the Test against India, following his impressive performances in New Zealand.
The potential shift towards a PC-like architecture for future PlayStation consoles could reduce hardware R&D costs, allowing Sony to focus more on game development.
George Kaplan, a former assistant to Combs, testified about his experiences travelling with the musician on a private jet and setting up hotel rooms for him.
Chris Brown has been released on bail with a £5m security fee, allowing him to continue his world tour despite facing a charge of grievous bodily harm.