Browsing: UK Economy

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. 

Grab your coffee —it’s time to dive into what’s lighting up the UK news (and beyond) this Wednesday, 11 June 2025.
This morning in London the grey skies are putting in an appearance —and with rain on the way, if you head out, don’t forget your brolly!

The UK news is dominated by the Spending Review which Chancellor Rachel Reeves will set out later today. Several big announcements have already been leaked to the press – including billions being spent on a science and tech package.

Elsewhere, the ongoing chaos in LA has a prominent place on news websites and the front pages. The LA major has issued a curfew in a bid to quell the growing violence – which has grown rapidly since Trump sent in the National Guard to deal with what was essentially small protests against immigration raids.

The sports papers react to England’s 3-1 loss to Senegal – with pundits already panicking ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will introduce a £39 billion, 10‑year investment in social and affordable housing as the centrepiece of a multi‑year spending review, nearly doubling current levels to meet a target of 1.5 million homes.

The UK is one step closer to a new nuclear power plant after the government announced a further £14.2bn in funding.

The UK government has confirmed a £14.2 billion investment in the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk, its largest-ever public commitment to a UK energy project.

Good morning! ☕ Let’s grab a coffee and dive into the headlines for Tuesday, 10th June 2025. The skies are grey over the UK this morning, but sunshine is expected to soon return – so get ready to soak up the rays once again. But for now, let’s catch up on the latest news dominating the UK this morning.

As expected the UK news is heavily focused on Wednesday’s spending review – with announcements being made early, including the winter fuel payment reversal and the threshold being raised to include more pensioners.

The government has also confirmed a £14 billion investment to build a nuclear power station in Suffolk as part of a wider £113 billion infrastructure investment. The new build will create thousands of jobs and eventually provide power to more than 6 million homes.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reversed the winter fuel payment cut, confirming full payments of £200–£300 this winter for pensioners earning up to £35,000 a year in England and Wales.

The UK government has committed £14.2 billion to build the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk, aiming to generate electricity for about 6 million homes and create 10,000 jobs, as part of a wider £113 billion infrastructure investment plan announced by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

The five problems with the chancellor’s U-turn on winter fuel payments – and there are some major issues.

Nearly 350,000 NHS nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being asked to vote on a 3.6% pay rise from Monday. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has slammed the offer as “grotesque” and warned it could trigger a fresh strike ballot.

Thursday’s newspaper headlines report on the winter fuel U-turn announced by the chancellor yesterday – widely welcomed by the newspapers.

The UK government has announced that 500,000 more children in England will become eligible for free school meals from September 2026, as part of a major expansion aimed at tackling child poverty. From that date, any family receiving Universal Credit—regardless of income—will qualify. Currently, parents must earn less than £7,400 a year after tax to be eligible.

Good morning! ☕ Let’s grab a coffee and dive into the headlines for Wednesday, 4th June 2025. After weeks of glorious sunshine, the grey skies have returned. A touch of morning rain is on the way – so don’t forget your brolly if you’re heading out.
Oh no!! Tariffs are back in the headlines, as Donald Trump’s hike on metals comes into effect. The UK has been temporarily spared the hike with the rate for the UK still at 25%.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce a £15 billion investment package for transport aimed at boosting infrastructure across the North, Midlands and West Country.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to unveil a £15.6bn transport investment package aimed at boosting infrastructure across the North, Midlands and West Country. The cash will fund tram, train and bus improvements, including major projects in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and the West Midlands.

The UK government’s proposed Data (Use and Access) Bill has faced its fourth defeat in the House of Lords. Peers voted 242 to 116 in favour of an amendment that would require greater transparency from tech companies using copyrighted material to train artificial intelligence models.

Cliff Notes – IMF upgrades UK economic growth forecast The IMF has revised its UK economic growth forecast upward to 1.2% for this year, although…

Net migration in the UK has halved from 860,000 to 431,000, marking the largest recorded drop for a 12-month period since the pandemic’s early stages.

Let’s grab a coffee and dive into this morning’s headlines — it’s a busy one! From rising inflation giving wallets a bit more to worry about, to the UK taking a firm stand on the Gaza crisis, and Donald Trump unveiling a space-age missile defence plan (yes, really) — here’s your quick catch-up on the stories making waves across the UK today.

UK inflation rose to 3.5% in April, up from 2.6% in March, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This figure is higher than most forecasts — economists expected around 3.3%, while the Bank of England predicted 3.4%.

Good morning! Grab a coffee and let’s dive into today’s headlines.

In a significant development, the UK, France, and Canada have jointly warned Israel of “concrete actions” if it continues its military operations in Gaza and restricts humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has secured a landmark “Brexit reset” deal with the EU, aiming to revitalise UK-EU relations. The agreement includes easing trade barriers, reintroducing the UK into the Erasmus programme, and establishing a new defence partnership. While the deal promises economic benefits, it has faced criticism over concessions like extended EU fishing access to UK waters.

On the trade front, the UK is actively pursuing a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, comprising six Gulf nations. Recent discussions between UK officials and Gulf leaders indicate progress towards strengthening economic ties in the region.

Internationally, tensions remain high as global leaders respond to the escalating situation in Gaza, with calls for ceasefires and increased humanitarian assistance.

Donald Trump has said Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” start negotiating towards a ceasefire and an end to the war – after a two-hour phone call with Putin.

The UK and European Union have announced a comprehensive agreement aimed at resetting relations post-Brexit. Key elements include a commitment to work towards a common sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area, and aligning UK rules with EU standards on plant and animal health.

The UK and EU have finalised a post-Brexit trade deal after extensive negotiations, addressing contentious issues including fishing rights, which will now allow EU access to UK waters for 12 years.

The UK’s leading business lobbying group, the CBI, is calling for a major reset in relations with the EU, saying the current post-Brexit setup is “no longer fit for purpose”. Ahead of a UK-EU summit on 19 May, the group has urged both sides to rebuild trust and take “practical steps” to reduce red tape, ease staff mobility, and coordinate on climate, defence and energy.

Thursday’s headlines see coverage of the government’s plans to ease the pressure on prisons across England and Wales, as a report says prisons will run out of space by November. The government has announced a series of measures which include early release for some offenders as part of the plans to tackle the overcrowding. The government also announced they will build three new prisons – but despite the dire state of the prison system, the plans still might not be enough to tackle the problem.

The UK economy grew unexpectedly in the first three months of 2025 – a major win for the government, especially the chancellor, who’s been under increasing pressure over the state of the economy and the government fiscal plans. The ONS said the growth was driven by the service sector and production. But the joy might be short-lived, the figures mark the period just before the US imposed tariffs.

The UK economy grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of the year, outpacing expectations and marking a stronger start to 2025 than analysts had predicted. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that growth was primarily driven by a resilient services sector, alongside significant gains in industrial production.