Author: News Desk

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 cut policy that Labour introduced early into their reign. The paper says more pensioners will have access to the payment once again – but Starmer failed to tell the public when it will come into effect or how many of the roughly 10 million pensioners affected will be eligible to claim the winter fuel payment.  The front page has a piece on Hollywood stars Scarlett Johansson and Kevin Spacey.

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.

Cliff Notes – ITV confirms Britain’s Got Talent: Live Final will be longer than most movies The live finale of Britain’s Got Talent will run for a substantial two hours and 45 minutes, airing on Sunday, May 31, at 7pm on ITV. Finalists competing for a spot in the Royal Variety Performance include Jasmine Rice, Vinnie McKee, and Stacey Leadbeatter, among others. The show has faced challenges, including the withdrawal of act Teddy Magic and the elimination of singer Max Fox, who hopes to return for the finale. ITV confirms Britain’s Got Talent: Live Final will be longer than most…

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 of yet another thrilling triple-header in the 2023 season. Following an exhilarating race in Imola, where Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing showcased their dominant prowess, the circuit at Monte Carlo presents new challenges with a mandatory two-pitstop rule. Will Monaco Change the F1 Order Again? This latest round in the championship has sparked discussions about whether it will shift the current power dynamics among teams. The tight, twisty streets of Monaco historically favour drivers…

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.