The prime minister and his plans for British military deployment in Ukraine dominate several newspaper front pages this morning and still find space on the websites – though much has been pushed further down to cover the massive fire at Heathrow Airport and the ongoing travel chaos. 

The papers report the prime minister has stepped up plans for a 31-nation military force to provide security guarantees to Kyiv.

The prime minister is having a change of heart regarding putting boots on the ground in Ukraine and instead favours air and sea support.

The country’s defence secretary has warned Britain will not shy away from using nuclear weapons that could do ‘untold damage’ if UK troops are attacked.

There is a variety of stories dominating the UK headlines this Friday from the chaos at Heathrow Airport to Nicola Sturgeon cleared in the SNP embezzlement case – there’s a lot happening today, so grab a coffee – here’s your daily news breakdown. 

The UK’s busiest airport, Heathrow, will be closed all day on Friday after a fire at a nearby electrical substation that supplies it with power. The airport has warned there will be “significant disruption” over the coming days and has told passengers not to travel “under any circumstances” until it reopens. 

The former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been cleared in the police investigation into the funding and finances of the party she led – the SNP. Her husband, who is separated from Sturgeon, has appeared in court charged with embezzlement. Murrell, who had been SNP chief executive since 1999, resigned in March 2023 amid a row over party numbers.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been cleared of any wrongdoing in Police Scotland’s investigation into the SNP’s funding, expressing relief at the outcome.

Ousted Reform MP Rupert Lowe criticises Nigel Farage after leaked WhatsApp messages reveal Farage’s disdain for Lowe’s recent critical interview, calling him “disgusting” and “contemptible.”

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aiming to dismantle the Department of Education, although congressional approval is required for complete closure.

The EU’s new defence strategy underscores the necessity for enhanced military capabilities, driven primarily by Russian aggression and the complex global security landscape, with an aim to bolster defence readiness by 2030.