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Labour rebels win as Starmer backs down over benefit cuts – UK second heatwave this weekend – Pound hits four-year high | What Happened Today
Friday’s headlines are dominated by the embarrassing U-turn from the prime minister over benefit cuts. More than 120 Labour MPs were mounting a rebellion over Starmer’s heavy cuts to welfare, which the government’s assessment said could end up pushing 250,000 people into poverty, including children. The PM’s desire to slash the ballooning welfare bill is a bid to save around £5bn a year. But it had caused massive upset as the most vulnerable were facing losing key benefits, including disabled people.

The government confirmed the climbdown will mean those currently receiving PIP or the health elements of Universal Credit will continue to do so, and instead, the planned cuts will only hit future claimants.

The vote will proceed as planned on Tuesday in the Commons and is expected to pass.

Amber health alerts have been issued for parts of England as temperatures are set to rise above 30C, in the second UK heatwave in June this year – don’t forget your sunscreen!

Elsewhere, the news that the pound briefly hit its highest level against the dollar for almost four years after markets were unnerved by a report that Trump could bring forward the naming of a new head of the US central bank.

Thursday’s headlines continue their coverage of the prime minister’s defiance over the upcoming benefits cuts bill. The PM says he’ll push ahead with the vote, expected next Tuesday, despite the mounting rebellion, which could seriously damage his premiership. There have been reports that the prime minister has told Labour MPs that if they vote down the bill, they won’t be considered for promotion. Other reports suggest No. 10 is drafting a watered-down bill to appease the critics.

The UK has seen a surge in Chinese imports as businesses seek to avoid the 55% tariff slapped on them by the United States. Economists say it could help the UK ease inflation, but domestic industries warn of being undercut by cheap goods.

A 37-year-old man, who brutally murdered a boy on his walk to school last year, has been found guilty of murder and three counts of attempted murder. Marcus Monzo went on a rampage in North London last year, killing 14-year-old schoolboy Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword and injuring three others. The judge says he would face a life term when he returns to court for sentencing on Friday.

In happier news, the UK is set for its second heatwave of the month, with temperatures hitting 30C this weekend, just in time for Glastonbury! If you’re heading out and about this weekend, don’t forget your sunblock and shades!!

Wednesday’s headlines report that the UK is set to buy 12 new nuclear-carrying jets from the United States as it seeks to boost its deterrents amid an increasingly unstable world.

The prime minister is set to push ahead with his welfare reforms bill, despite the growing backlash and a mounting rebellion from Labour MPs, and some opposition. Critics suggest the bill could push thousands into poverty.

There is widespread coverage of Donald Trump’s recent outburst at Israel and Iran after they broke the US-brokered ceasefire within hours of it being agreed.

A leaked report from US intelligence has suggested that the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites did minimal damage and only set Iran’s nuclear programme back “a few months”. Trump has rejected the report, saying the nuclear sites in Iran were “completely destroyed.”

For a second day running, the Israel-Iran conflict leads the way as Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two nations. It comes after the US joined Israel in bombing Iran over the weekend, claiming to have wiped out Iran’s nuclear sites. Iran has returned retaliatory strikes on US bases in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Despite the US President announcing a ceasefire and Israel confirming it, it’s unclear how accurate this is. Iran has denied a ceasefire and has continued striking Israel.

It’s set to be a difficult week for the prime minister as Labour backbenchers mount a rebellion over cuts to welfare.

Ahead of the NATO summit this week, the UK is amongst the countries agreeing to up defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.

The home secretary has moved quickly to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror law. It comes just a day after activists broke into an RAF base and vandalised two military planes.

There will be little surprise that Monday’s UK headlines are dominated by the latest from the Middle East after Donald Trump took everyone by surprise over the weekend and bombed Iran. It comes after Trump signalled he would give Iran two weeks to discuss ending their nuclear weapons programme. The decision to take the USA into Israel’s war is proving unpopular in the US, even amongst his supporters. There’s little support for the move this side of the pond as well, with many looking at how Prime Minister Keir Starmer will react to the bombing and whether the UK could be dragged into the war.

Friday’s UK headlines are dominated by the upcoming vote in the House of Commons on assisted dying. The End of Life Bill would allow terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to get medical assistance to end their own lives. MPs will have one final debate before the vote takes place this afternoon. If approved, it will go to the House of Lords for scrutiny, but if MPs do not support it, it will fail.

UK, French and German foreign ministers will hold talks with their Iranian counterparts in Geneva today as part of efforts to ease the Israel-Iran conflict. Ahead of the meeting, David Lammy says “a window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution”.

The UK’s ongoing heatwave is a hot topic today, with temperatures set to rise above 30C for a second day running. Heat alerts have been issued as the heat gripping the nation is set to last until Sunday.

Wednesday’s headlines continue to be dominated by the latest from the Middle East as Donald Trump appears to signal US troops could be entering the war. The potential arrival of the Americans comes as Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear energy sites.

The G7 summit has ended, with Donald Trump leaving early and skipping the arrival of Ukraine’s Zelenskyy – commentators suggest a calculated move from the US president, who continues to cosy up to Russia’s Putin. Much of the summit’s key talking points were sidelined due to the Israel-Iran war.

A little closer to home, MPs have overwhelmingly voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales, a milestone moment, that marks the biggest change to abortion laws for nearly 60 years.

The UK is set to enjoy a heatwave this week, with temperatures reportedly hitting 33C in England. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, telling the public to make sure they remain safe.

The HS2 railway project is set to be delayed beyond the target date of 2033, according to a report from the BBC. The transport secretary is expected to tell Parliament on Wednesday that there is no way to deliver the railway line on schedule and within budget.

New stats show that UK inflation has held at 3.4% in the year to May. It’s come as a bit of a surprise, as many analysts expected to see a bit of a dip, owing to the impact of the timing of Easter on transport costs.

Tuesday’s UK headlines are dominated by the ongoing backlash after a report into grooming gangs in the UK was released. The media is reading through the 197-page audit, and reacting to the details. The UK government has announced a full national inquiry to begin soon.

Global news takes centre-stage in the UK this morning, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the UK-US trade deal with Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Canada. The agreement removes tariffs on UK aerospace exports and cuts tariffs on British cars from 25% to 10%. The US president said the UK is ‘protected’ because he likes them.

There’s good news for British Steel which has secured a five-year contract worth £500m to supply train tracks for Network Rail.

MPs are debating on a law change aimed at decriminalising abortion in the House of Commons today. MPs are usually given a free vote on abortion, meaning they do not have to follow any party line on the subject.

Donald Trump has left the G7 summit early as the cross-border attacks between Israel and Iran continue to escalate. Israel is targeting Iran’s energy sector, which Iran says is a war crime. Trump leaving the Middle East so abruptly has global commentators suggesting that US troops could be preparing to enter the war.

Monday’s news is dominated by the latest in the Middle East and the upcoming G7 summit. The G7 summit is to start today, with world leaders arriving in Canada at a time of high tension and political chaos. The summit will focus on de-escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the US tariff war and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Friday’s UK news is dominated by Israel’s attack on Iran – and analysis into whether the attack might spiral into a wider conflict, the Air India plane crash in which one person – a British man – remarkably survives. The media are assessing what might have caused the crash and attempting to assign blame. Also topping the UK news, is the major blood cancer breakthrough as a new therapy is rolled out on the NHS in a “world first.”

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.

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.

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.

Good Morning! It’s a cloudy start this morning in the capital, but don’t despair – the heat is expected to return later this week.

It’s all pretty glum news leading the UK media this moring, with most of it focused on the international chaos from across the USA and the war in Gaza.

Closer to home, NHS nurses are to vote on a pay deal today, there’s coverage of the upcoming Spending Review – set to be released on Wednesday and Premier League transfer gossip dominates the back pages.

Good morning! ☕ Let’s grab a coffee and dive into the headlines for Friday, 6 June 2025. After weeks of glorious sunshine, a touch of morning rain has struck the capital – so don’t forget your brolly if you’re heading out!

It’s all politics this morning, with news of the Scottish Labour Party’s victory over the SNP in the Hamilton by-election. The SNP came in second, with Reform in third and the Conservatives in fourth. In reality, whilst Reform came in third – in terms of votes they weren’t far off Labour.

But there was some bad news for Reform UK, with the party chair Zia Yusuf stepping down from his role amid questions of turmoil inside the party.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk last night engaged in a dramatic and shocking online spat, trading barbs back and forth over Donald Trump’s spending bill.

Good morning! ☕ Let’s grab a coffee and dive into the headlines for Thursday, 5 June 2025. After weeks of glorious sunshine, a touch of morning rain has struck the capital – so don’t forget your brolly if you’re heading out.

It’s all politics this morning. There’s coverage of the government’s U-turn on the winter fuel payments after the prime minister announced more pensioners will be eligible for the payment by this winter.

The government has also announced that they will be expanding free school meals as part of a broader effort to tackle child poverty in the UK.

Donald Trump and the US are, of course, in the headlines as the president of the US has announced a travel ban on 12 countries and the US was the only country to veto a full ceasefire in Gaza.

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.

Good morning! ☕ Let’s grab a coffee and dive into the headlines for Tuesday, 3rd 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.

Leading the news in Britain is news that the UK government’s AI bill has been defeated in the House of Lords again (for the fourth time) as peers back an amendment to the bill that would require AI companies to reveal which copyrighted material they have used.

Good morning! ☕ Let’s grab a coffee and dive into the headlines for Monday, 2nd June 2025. The sun is shining over the capital this morning, so let’s soak up the rays while catching up on the latest news.
Much of the news dominating the UK headlines focuses on international events, however, there are a handful of UK-focused stories – mostly around the UK’s defence spending and plans set to be announced later today in the Strategic Defence Review.

Good morning – let’s grab a coffee and catch up on what’s making headlines in the UK and beyond today.

There’s some relief on the way for households as energy bills are set to fall for the first time in a year. Ofgem has confirmed a 7% cut to the energy price cap from July, which means the average household in England, Scotland and Wales will see their annual bill drop by around £129.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signed a significant agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. As part of the deal, the UK will lease back the vital military base on Diego Garcia for £101 million a year, securing its use for an initial 99-year period.

In England, public sector workers are seeing a boost in their pay packets. Teachers and doctors will receive a 4% pay rise following recommendations from official pay review bodies. While education unions have largely welcomed the decision, they’ve warned that schools could face budget shortfalls without additional funding. Meanwhile, health unions have criticised a smaller 3.6% increase for NHS staff such as nurses and midwives.

On the global stage, tensions are rising after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a scathing attack on Keir Starmer and the leaders of France and Canada. Netanyahu accused them of siding with Hamas, following recent international criticism of Israel’s military actions. The comments came after two people were shot dead at the Israeli embassy in Washington, which has further strained diplomatic relations.

In the United States, the Trump administration has taken dramatic action against Harvard University, revoking its ability to enrol international students. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Harvard had failed to comply with immigration laws, while the university has called the move “unlawful” and a direct threat to academic freedom.

And finally, a suspect has been charged with the murder of two Israeli embassy staff members outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC. US prosecutors are treating the shooting as a hate crime and an act of terror, and have confirmed it’s a death penalty-eligible case. More charges are expected as the investigation continues.

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.

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.

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.

Good morning! Grab a coffee and let’s dive into the headlines dominating the UK news today. It’s busy on the politics front with Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosting a pivotal summit with EU leaders in London, aiming to reset post-Brexit relations. Meanwhile, charities are increasing pressure on the government to abolish the two-child benefit cap, highlighting its impact on child poverty.

In international news, former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, sparking global concern and an outpouring of well wishes. An attempted terrorist attack on a Palm Springs fertility clinic is also featured heavily in the news as the suspect has been named as 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus.

And in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have intensified, resulting in significant casualties amid ongoing ceasefire talks. It comes as Israel agreed to allow a limited amount of food into Gaza to prevent a “starvation crisis” amidst a blockade lasting nearly three months.

On a lighter note, Crystal Palace fans are still celebrating their historic FA Cup victory over Manchester City and Chelsea WFC beat Manchester United to win the Women’s FA Cup – completing the domestic treble.

Friday’s headlines are dominated by the debate around legalising assisted dying in England and Wales (Scotland has its own separate bill). Politicians, health experts and scholars are offering their opinions ahead of Friday’s debate.

The bill passed the first stage of the Commons last November – but since then there have been dozens of amendments added by both sides. A vote to pass or reject the bill is not likely to take place on Friday, but rather in June.

UK businesses are calling on the government to reset relations with the EU ahead of a summit hosted in London next week. More than 400 UK firms have urged the government to take “practical steps” to reduce red tape, ease staff mobility, and coordinate on climate, defence and energy.

On the international front, there’s widespread coverage of the humanitarian crisis facing Gaza as Israel continues to block aid (including food) and continues to heavily bomb the strip. Donald Trump is concluding his tour of the Middle East where he has signed huge investment deals.