Birmingham bin strike deal rejected – Backlash from China amid British Steel crisis – Katy Perry goes to space

It’s a wet and windy morning here in the capital, but lots is happening in the news – grab yourself a coffee and let’s dive into the headlines. 

The ongoing Birmingham bin strike is a popular story in the country this morning as unions overwhelmingly rejected a deal to end the strike. Several newspapers suggest the strike could spread outside the city – and there are reports on the growing concerns over a potential health crisis as residents report streets being overrun by large rats and trash. 

There is backlash from China amid the British Steel crisis – after the government dramatically took over control of the Scunthorpe plant over the weekend – as Beijing warns the UK to avoid politicising the situation. There are concerns from the top that the Chinese owners are intentionally trying to sabotage the UK steel industry to force the country to become more reliant on cheap Chinese steel. 

On the international front, there are reports on the all-female Blue Origin team that took a trip to space. Katy Perry and Gayle King were amongst the crew. 

The business publications continue their heavy coverage of the US tariffs saga amid an investigation into the semiconductor and pharmaceutical trade – which could lead to their tariff exemptions ending. In recent news, JD Vance has said there is a good chance the UK will secure a trade deal with the US.

In sports news, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is in hospital with pneumonia, he is set to miss more matches. Several publications look ahead to tonight’s Champions League match involving the English club Aston Villa. The Birmingham club need to overturn a 2 goal deficit. 

Birmingham bin strike deal rejected 

• Daily Mail reports Labour was “humiliated” by its top union backer yesterday as bin workers voted to prolong crippling strikes. Angela Rayner had pleaded with Unite to accept a ‘significantly improved offer’ to end the month-long crisis, which has seen rats running through mountains of bin bags.
• The Daily Telegraph reports the bin strikes are set to spread “across the country” as the Birmingham strike enters its sixth week and there is no end in sight as Unite (workers union) members overwhelmingly rejected a second offer from the council. The paper says the vote will be seen as a “humiliation” for Angela Rayner after she “pleaded” with union bosses to accept the deal. 
• Birmingham Mail says an expert has “sounded the alarm” that “swarms of giant rats” could transmit a lethal illness in the city amid the strikes. The council has implemented emergency procedures to handle the crisis. 
• The Independent says there is a “stand-off” between Birmingham and deputy PM Angela Rayner after Unite members rejected a deal. It comes amid public health warnings over rats, rubbish and poison. Bin collectors in Birmingham called the deal “totally inadequate”.

China warns UK not to make British Steel crisis political

• The Guardian reports that senior Labour figures are urging the government to review Chinese investment in UK infrastructure in the wake of the British Steel crisis. The paper says that the figures are warning that a rapprochement with Beijing could risk national security. 
• The Times reports Ed Miliband is responsible for encouraging Chinese involvement in key parts of the UK’s critical infrastructure less than a month before the government wrested control of British Steel.
• The Telegraph says China has warned the UK against making the situation political. 
• The i newspaper reports that Beijing has warned the prime minister that it may cut back investment in the UK after suggestions of malign influence. Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian warns Britain to avoid politicising trade cooperation or linking it to security issues so as not to impact the confidence of Chinese enterprises in going to the UK. No 10 appears keen to resist pressure from MPs to review Chinese ownership of critical businesses, the paper adds. 
• The Independent says the government has found the raw materials from US to save the Scunthorpe plant but accuses Jingye of ‘not acting in good faith’. Senior ex-ministers say the crisis is a wake-up call over China’s role in critical British industries. 

Katy Perry goes to space 

• Metro reports that celebrities are slamming the all-female Blue Origin 10-minute space flight. Amy Schumer and Olivia Wilde are amongst those speaking out against the ‘gluttonous’ flight. 
• The Guardian asks, wasn’t there anyone else they could have taken, saying, “no disrespect to the pop star or the rest of Blue Origin’s all-female crew, but most of them weren’t obvious astronaut material.” 
• USA Today also questions why Katy Perry went. “The kookiness of this whole ordeal makes perfect sense for Katy Perry who, throughout her career, has made being corny and unserious her whole brand,” it says. 

Trump Tariffs Twist 

• City AM reports that US TECH firms breathed a much-needed sigh of relief on Monday after the White House bowed to pressure to soften the blow of sky-high tariffs. 
• FT says America’s risky corporate borrowers have been shut out of the bond market since Donald Trump’s tariffs blitz, in a freeze that is reverberating across Wall Street and which threatens a tentative rebound in dealmaking.