Latest News
- Iranian cargo ship bound for Russia sinks in the Caspian Sea
- Ten British far-right activists barred from France for migrant harassment
- Waitress in helmet with sparklers among 40 casualties in Swiss bar fire
- UK Government Mulls X Block due to Grok AI Image Concerns
- Wingsuit pilot dies after 1,000ft mountain dive at 120mph
- US Forces Boldly Capture Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker Marinera in Atlantic
- US Spy Planes Gathering at RAF Bases in the UK
- UK Faces Heavy Snowfall as Storm Goretti Hits: What to Expect
Going beyond the ordinary news headlines
- January 14, 2026 11:28 pm
Spending review analysis – Northern Ireland violence | What’s happening in the UK?
Good morning! ☕ Let’s grab a coffee and dive into the headlines for Thursday, 12 June 2025. The sun is making a welcome appearance over the capital, with temperatures reaching a pleasant 25°C. However, a touch of afternoon rain might have dampened your day, so keep an umbrella handy just in case.
Unsurprisingly, the chancellor’s spending review dominates the UK news this morning, with some publications seeing the plans as a huge investment that will boost the UK economy, and others arguing it will lead to huge tax hikes in the autumn.
The UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, the chancellor has said, just a day after her spending review. The decline was sharper than expected.
Elsewhere, there is coverage of violence in Northern Ireland, as “protesters” set fire to a leisure centre – the violence began after an alleged sexual assault by two foreigners.
Spending review 2025: chancellor gambles on Renewing Britain to win support
Source: [The Guardian, 12 Jun 2025]
Summary:
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled a bold, near‑£113 billion, four‑year investment‑led spending review ahead of the next general election, marking a clear shift from austerity to a “renewal” agenda.
Major beneficiaries include the NHS (+2.8 % annual day‑to‑day spending), defence (targeting 2.5 % of GDP by 2027), regional transport, housing, and nuclear power — all supported by £190 billion in operational funding and £113 billion in capital outlay. Cuts hit the Home Office, culture, foreign aid and broader departmental budgets; nearly all departments face efficiency drives of at least 5 %.
Reeves insists the plan adheres to fiscal rules, but economists warn of possible future tax hikes by autumn and susceptibility to economic shocks.
Read a full WTX News breakdown of the spending review
🔁 Reactions:
- Government: Chancellor Rachel Reeves on X: “We are investing in Britain’s renewal to make working people better off.”
- Opposition: Conservative Shadow Chancellor’s post: “Today’s spending review was nothing more than an obfuscation. Now we know – tax rises are coming.”
📰 Bias Snapshot:
- The Guardian frames Reeves’s strategy as a positive pivot from austerity, highlighting regional investment and long‑term growth (theguardian.com).
- Financial Times emphasises risks: doubts over departmental capacity, timing of benefits, and looming tax or spending challenges (FT.com).
- The Times is sharply critical, warning of bond market backlash, economic fragility, and a lack of fiscal credibility (thetimes.co.uk).
📊 Sentiment:
- Neutral–negative. Ambitious and growth‑oriented, but overshadowed by uncertainty over finance, implementation, and voter impact.
Elon Musk says he went too far in posts about Donald Trump
Source: Elon Musk says he went too far in posts about Donald Trump [Metro 12 June 2025]
Summary:
Elon Musk publicly acknowledged on X early 11 June that he “regret[s] some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” following a heated public feud sparked by his criticism of Trump’s sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill” and allegations tying Trump to Jeffrey Epstein’s withheld files. The spat triggered a dramatic sell-off in Tesla shares (dropping by up to 14 %), wiping over $150 billion off its market value.
Following Musk’s apology, Trump softened his tone, calling the gesture “very nice” on a New York Post podcast and signalling openness to reconciliation. Behind the scenes, Vice‑President JD Vance and others brokered an outreach that resulted in a private call between Musk and Trump. Some inflammatory posts—like calls for impeachment and Epstein-file insinuations—have been deleted, though Musk retained criticism of the spending bill.
Read a WTX News report on the fallout between Musk and Trump
🔁 Reactions:
- Government (Trump/WH): “Very nice that he did that”—President Trump on Musk’s apology.
- Eric Swalwell (CA Congressman): “Elon Musk called out Trump’s connection to Epstein—and Trump didn’t sue. That silence is very telling coming from the most litigious man on Earth. What else is he hiding?”
📰 Bias Snapshot:
- Time present measured, fact-focused coverage, emphasising economic fallout and high‑level mediation (time.com).
- People.com highlight the personal drama: Musk’s regret and Trump’s “very nice” reaction, with colourful quotes and emotional framing (people.com).
- MarketWatch spins it into a cautionary tale about social‑media caution, drawing out broader lessons (marketwatch.com).
📊 Sentiment: Neutral:
- Musk’s apology cools tensions, but underlying business and political implications loom large, keeping uncertainty in play.
- Northern Ireland violence
Third night of violence in Northern Ireland as rioters torch leisure centre
Source: Third night of violence in Northern Ireland: [The Independent, 12 Jun 2025]
Summary:
A group of masked rioters set fire to Larne Leisure Centre—used as temporary housing for displaced families—on the third consecutive night of unrest linked to an alleged sexual assault case in Ballymena. Riot police in Ballymena deployed water cannons, plastic baton rounds and dog units as crowds threw petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks across County Antrim.
Multiple places—Coleraine, Newtownabbey and Belfast—reported incidents. At least 17 PSNI officers were injured on the second night; 32 overall by the third, while six arrests were made. Political leaders condemned the violence, with calls for calm and affirmation of the need to let the criminal justice process run its course.
Read a WTX News report on the violence in Northern Ireland
🔁 Reactions:
- Government (Stormont Executive): “This violence is pure racism—hate will not be tolerated.” – First Minister Michelle O’Neill
- Opposition (DUP MLA Gordon Lyons): “Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful.”
- Viral/Public (Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly): “Larne leisure centre has been attacked by masked thugs. Windows smashed and fires lit nearby. Larne does not need this.”
📰 Bias Snapshot:
- The Independent focuses on the facility’s humanitarian use and human impact, highlighting local leadership quotes (independent.com).
- Al Jazeera frames the events as anti-immigrant unrest, citing “racist thuggery” and noting threats to justice (aljazeera.com).
- The Sun sensationalises with “masked yobs” and violent visuals, stressing shock value over context (thesun.ie).
📊 Sentiment: Negative
- Highly concerning xenophobic violence, public disorder, and serious harm to victims, communities, and police, with widespread condemnation.
Read how the left-wing media has reacted to the chancellor’s Spending Review.
Read how the right-wing media has reacted to the chancellor’s Spending Review.
Thursday’s newspaper front pages are dominated by reactions to the spending review. It won’t come as much of a surprise how the papers have reacted – with the left-leaning press cheering on the injection of cash, bringing an end to the Conservative austerity and framing the review as a “renewal of Britain.” The right-leaning press tells their readers to “brace for tax pain” calling Rachel Reeves’s review “fantasy spending.”
© 2026 WTX News.