PM heads to G7 summit | UK News Briefing week 25

The prime minister is in Canada for the G7 meeting – where he’ll be looking to get Britain back on the global stage.

🌍 UK News Briefing 16 June 2025 - WEEK 25

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🇬🇧 Monday’s Big UK Brief: Inquiry U‑turns, High‑stakes Spying & Global Tensions

It’s Monday and the UK’s news agenda is buzzing. First up, Keir Starmer has announced a national inquiry into grooming gangs—pressuring councils and police to answer for past cover‑ups, as the NCA gears up to investigate hundreds of cases.

The prime minister is in Canada, joining other world leaders, at this yeat’s G7 summit. The ongoing strikes between Israel and Iran is set to dominate the agenda.

News In Pictures

PM heads to Canada for tense G7 Summit (1)

PM launches national inquiry into grooming gangs

Key Events

📅 Key Cultural & Business Events – This Week

🇬🇧 London Tech Week – UK
🇪🇺 European Sustainable Energy Week – Brussels
🇫🇷 VivaTech – Paris

🌼 Flower of the Week

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)

Blooming across central Europe and the UK in May, the cornflower symbolises hope and remembrance. Once a weed of wheatfields, it’s now a protected wildflower in France and Germany.

🕊️ Swift (Apus apus)

- Why it’s special: Arrives in early May, shrieks overhead in “screaming parties” on summer evenings, and spends nearly its entire life airborne—eating, sleeping, even mating on the wing. Spot it: Look high above towns at dusk for dark, crescent‑winged silhouettes and piercing screams.

G7 Summit Underway Amid Tensions Over Middle East and Trade War

What is the G7 Summit?

The 51st G7 Summit kicked off on 16–17 June 2025 in Alberta, hosted by Canadian PM Mark Carney, marking Canada’s second summit here since 2002.

The G7 is a group of advanced democracies—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US – plus the EU, meeting annually to align on global economic, security, and geopolitical issues.

What’s on the agenda?

This year’s summit spotlights three priorities: protecting communities and global peace, ensuring energy security and digital transition, and securing partnerships for the future.

The central debates centre on the Israel‑Iran conflict, US tariffs, and escalating tensions over trade and nuclear proliferation, under the looming shadow of US President Donald Trump and the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war.

What Next?

Expect G7 declarations limited to thematic issues rather than full communiqués, avoiding direct public confrontation—particularly on Trump’s unilateral tariff decisions and Iran policy. European leaders will press Trump on Israel‑Iran de-escalation, while Canada pushes unity on global trade and energy resilience.

Bilateral discussions are underway on US auto tariffs, Ukraine support, and AI and defence contributions.

The summit’s outcome will be a critical test for international cooperation under a Trump presidency, with implications for the upcoming NATO meeting, future sanctions on Russia, and global supply chains. Security concerns are boosted, with Calgary and Banff set as protest hubs and emergency services on alert.

Source: [The Guardian, 16 June 2025]

Keir Starmer launches diplomatic push to head off Middle East crisis before G7 summit

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is spearheading urgent diplomacy ahead of the G7 in Canada amid escalating Israel–Iran tensions. In Ottawa, he met Canadian PM Mark Carney, calling for de‑escalation and international collaboration, and signalled arms and jet displacement to protect UK interests. The Foreign Office issued a “no‑travel” advisory for Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, hinting at contingency evacuations. Starmer has not ruled out defensive support for Israel but insists adherence to international law through diplomacy is paramount. He also engaged with the UAE’s President, leveraging regional influence. The UK’s position will be central at the G7, where leaders are expected to press President Trump on his Iran–Israel stance.

🔁 Reactions (tweets):

Government (Starmer/X): “Our priority is de‑escalation through diplomacy—not deeper regional conflict.”
Opposition (German Chancellor Merz/European leader): “We must hold the U.S. to account—President Trump needs a clear strategy, not unilateral action.”
Viral/Public (Political analyst on Politico): “Starmer is angling to be Trump’s whisperer—charm diplomacy or overreach?”

📰 Bias Snapshot:

Reuters/AP deliver neutral reporting: detailing meetings, military repositioning, travel advice, and G7 priorities without emotive framing.
The Guardian underscores diplomatic nuance and Starmer’s balancing act, emphasising de‑escalation and moral responsibility (theguardian.com).
Politico Europe injects analysis with hints of skepticism: spotlighting Starmer’s “love‑bombing” strategy towards Trump and questioning its efficacy (politico.eu).

📊 Sentiment: Neutral–positive.

Starmer Steps Up At G7 Calling For De-Escalation In The Middle East

What happened

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has launched a diplomatic campaign in Canada ahead of the G7 summit, urging global leaders—including Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron—to defuse rising tensions between Israel and Iran. He met Canadian PM Mark Carney in Ottawa, suggesting the summit could be a platform for de-escalation. The UK Foreign Office issued a strong travel warning and deployed RAF jets amid fears of reprisals, following recent Iranian missile strikes on Israeli cities.

What next

At the G7 summit in Alberta, Starmer seeks backing for a coordinated push for de-escalation and humanitarian access, as European leaders plan to challenge Trump on his stance toward Iran and Israel. The UK’s response—balancing military readiness, diplomatic pressure, and travel safety—will shape the summit’s approach to Middle East security. Ongoing efforts, including a trade and security working group with Canada, reaffirm Britain’s strategic positioning amid global uncertainty.

Nationwide police operation on grooming gangs announced

Source: [Sky News, 15 June 2025]

The Home Office today announced a major, nationwide police operation targeting grooming gangs, led by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Over 800 historical cases have been reopened, with specialist teams—including Operation Hydrant and the Child Sexual Exploitation Taskforce—mobilised to identify and prosecute offenders who had been previously overlooked. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says institutional failures—even fears of accusations of racism—allowed these crimes to continue unchallenged. Baroness Casey’s audit, released last night, confirmed the need for a statutory public inquiry and a coordinated national response. The renewed focus comes as Keir Starmer also backs a formal inquiry with subpoena powers to ensure accountability.

Read a full WTX News report on the grooming gangs scandal

Reactions:

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper: “Not enough people listened to them then. That was wrong and unforgivable. We are changing that now.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said on Saturday that Sir Keir should recognise “he made a mistake and apologise for six wasted months”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves refused to say if the government will apologise for dismissing calls for a national public inquiry into grooming gangs.

📰 Bias Snapshot:

Sky News frames the operation as a decisive government action, combining investigatory force with institutional scrutiny.
Reuters/AP report factually on opened cases, NCA involvement and Starmer’s inquiry endorsement—avoiding emotive language.
The Sun presents it as political theatre ahead of G7, emphasising tribal criticism (“civil unrest warning”) and invoking public frustration.

📊 Sentiment: Neutral‑negative.

Source: [The Guardian, 15 Jun 2025]

PM Keir Starmer is pressing ahead with a controversial £5 billion-a-year overhaul of disability benefits, centred on tighter eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), despite facing rebellion from up to 170 Labour MPs.

Criticism centres on the “four-point rule,” under which claimants must score on a single daily living activity, potentially pushing around 1 million disabled people into poverty by 2029–30. Ministers, including Liz Kendall, have offered targeted protections; transitioning payments for 13 weeks, lifelong illness exemptions, and a “right to work” scheme, but insist there will be no further concessions.

The vote, expected in late June, may become Labour’s largest internal rebellion and could even trigger confidence stakes.

🔁 Reactions:

Keir Starmer: We’ve got to get the reforms through … the system needs reform, for those needing support & taxpayers.
@Thunda007: “PIP helps disabled people with the costs associated with their daily needs that able bodied people don’t have. Its NOT a benefit in the strictest sense. Its NOT work related. Its to help people live an independent life that others take for granted.” (twitter.com)

📰 Bias Snapshot:

The Guardian highlights personal impact and internal Labour dissent, focusing on front-line voices and warnings of increased poverty. ( Diverting the issue away from the actually policy)
Reuters/AFP provide fact-driven reporting: scope of reforms, number of MPs opposed, and summary of protections, neutral in tone.
The Sun/Telegraph emphasise political drama—Starmer vs rebels, framing it as a leadership test and focusing on the scale of dissent. Pushing the need for a Farage government.

📊 Sentiment: Neutral in a negative tone.

POLITICIAN TRACKER

A round up of what the Politicians have been doing.

*Denotes wanted for war crimes.

Keir Starmer

The prime minister is in Canada for the G7 summit where he will be looking to take a lead on de-escalating the situation between Iran and Israel.

Volodymyr Zelensky

Zelenskyy will be at the G7 meeting after being invited by Canada. There are reports he might meet with Donald Trump.

Donald Trump

The G7 will be all about Donald Trump – as it often is with all American presidents, as world leaders will be looking to get on his good side in hopes of a deal, and for the USA to take a tougher approach to Netanyahu and Putin.

Mohammed Bin Salman

The Saudi prince has expressed his anger at the Israeli attacks on Iran calling them a violation of international law.

Syrian Leader

The Syrian leader spoke to Turkey’s president recently regarding Israel’s attack on Iran.

Ursula von der Leyen

The EU chief will be heading to the G7 summit today. She is under pressure to secure a deal with the USA.

President Macron

Macron is heading to Canada for the G7 summit.

Narendra Modi

Modi is heading to Canada for the G7 meeting – despite not being a member, he was invited to the summit.

Benjamin Netanyahu*

Benjamin Netanyahu, is the face of genocide, he knows his days are numbered. The West is already diverting support for his opposition as he (his gov’t) continue to deny genocide, starvation and innocent deaths. Dubiously claiming to have killed 30,000 Hamas fighters, out of the 56,000 Palestinians killed, with 80%, women and children.

✍️ Quote of the Week

“History is a set of lies agreed upon.” — Napoleon Bonaparte

This week’s news shows how narratives — whether political, digital, or economic — can be engineered, exposed, or reimagined. The truth, as ever, lies between the lines, but there is no doubt, that history belongs to the victor.

mojo

HIDDEN STORY

🕵️ No, Macron did not hide cocaine on a train to Ukraine

A viral video claiming French President Emmanuel Macron was “caught red-handed” hiding a cocaine bag on a train to Ukraine has been thoroughly debunked by France 24’s fact-checking team. The footage, which showed Macron holding a white pouch before tucking it into his coat, was deceptively edited. The object was a known brand of French facial tissue.

The clip gained traction on platforms like X and TikTok, fuelled by conspiracy influencers. AI analysis of the video confirmed digital tampering.

This story reflects the increasing use of manipulated media to undermine political figures — particularly during periods of tension like Macron’s current Green rebellion.

Key takeaway: In an age of digital warfare, viral misinformation can move faster than diplomacy.

EVENTS and Culture

This weeks global cultural & business events provides a round up of the highlights key events taking place around the world. You don’t need a private jet to get around, some are virtual as well.

🌍 Global Cultural & Business Events This Week

🇮🇹 La Biennale di Venezia – Venice
🇺🇸 G7 Finance Ministers Summit – New York
🇺🇳 UN Digital Inclusion Forum – Geneva
🇩🇪 Berlin Design Week – Berlin
🇺🇸 SXSW EDU Europe – London

🏛️ Political events to keep your eyes on

NATO: Turkey requests joint monitoring of PKK disbandment
IMF: Revises 2025 global growth forecast to 3.2%
UNESCO: Adds Gaza’s Old Port to watchlist of threatened heritage sites
WHO: Issues early warning for rising dengue clusters in Asia
World Bank: Launches climate adaptation bond for Sahel nations

FEATURED EVENT – International Summit – Tirana, Albania

Meeting of the European Political Community, 16 May 2025

The sixth meeting of the European Political Community will bring together leaders from across the continent in Tirana, Albania under the theme ‘New Europe in a new world: unity – cooperation – joint action’.

The EU will be represented by the President of the European Council, António Costa, who will co-chair the meeting along with the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama.

🖼️ Art/Culture Highlight – Kunsthaus Zurich: “Surveillance and the Self”

An exhibition tracing the history. A Future for the Past

The exhibition focuses on various – also contradictory – perspectives on the historical context in which the arms manufacturer and patron Emil G. Bührle built up his collection: it highlights the biographies of former owners of individual works, whose sale took place under questionable circumstances, and the question of how a differentiated approach to history can succeed in the immediate present.

The Bührle Collection: art, context, war and conflict.

Motivation

✍️ Thought of the day

We’ve delveoped this need to move on to the ‘next thing’ standing in one place seems to make one anxious. That may be because of the way we are being engineered, the thirst for more. But the negative impact of that is, we rarely get to enjoy the moment.

When enjoying a meal, a walk in nature, or any other activity, pay attention to the details and fully experience it, just stand still (figuratively) and process what you have done, The next, more is not always better.

✍️ Quote of the Week

☀️ “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow fast in movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

The summer is here in the UK – get outside and enjoy the weather, it won’t be long until we’re back to the rain.

mojo

HIDDEN STORY

UK markets held back by lack of self-esteem

The chief executive of City broker Peel Hunt, Steven Fine, has claimed that London’s markets are being held back by a “domestic lack of self-esteem.” Speaking to City AM, Fine argued that the UK perceives itself to be in far worse shape than the rest of the world does, a mindset that has contributed to the undervaluation of assets. He suggested that this pessimistic sentiment starts at the top, pointing out that the average tenure of a UK public company CEO is just 3.7 years — a period that has coincided with the emergence of a bleak economic outlook.

EVENTS and Culture

The sun is back out in Britain – and there are lots of great things to get involved in this week. From arts to culture to business and community. Here’s your UK events guide for the week of 16–22 June 2025, covering arts, entertainment, business, festivals and more:

🎨 Arts & Exhibitions

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition – London
A highlight of British art, featuring works by Tracey Emin, Cornelia Parker and others. (visitbritain.org, theguardian.com)
London Design Biennale – Somerset House (until 29 June)
“Surface Reflections” explores the impact of internal and external ideas on our lives. (visitlondon.com)
MK Gallery – Andy Warhol Retrospective – Milton Keynes (until 29 June)
A chronological look at the artist’s career. (thetimes.co.uk)
Tate Britain – Utagawa Hiroshige Prints (until 7 Sept)
Stunning Japanese woodblock prints for visual elegance. (thetimes.co.uk, visitbritain.com)

🎭 Performance & Festivals

Greenwich+Docklands International Festival – London (mid‑June to July)
Free outdoor theatre, circus and dance across East and South‑East London. (Festival.org)
Capital Summertime Ball – Wembley Stadium, London (15 June)
Headliners include Mariah Carey, Rita Ora, Will Smith & more; ITV1 airs highlights on 22 June. (Capitalfm.com)

🎶 Music & Entertainment

Barbican Summer Jazz Series – London (starts 16 June)
Launch with Tigran Hamasyan, plus Brad Mehldau and later Herbie Hancock. (visitlondon.com)
Outbreak Festival – London (13 June) & Manchester (14–15 June)
Punk, post‑hardcore and experimental rock acts including Slowdive and Danny Brown. (outbreak-fest.co.uk)

💼 Business & Industry

LDX3 London – One Hamilton Place, Park Lane (16–17 June)
Conference for senior engineering leaders with talks and networking opportunities. (bigevent.io)
SME XPO – ExCeL London (16–17 June)
Premier scaling event for UK small‑to‑medium enterprises. (bigevent.io, en.wikipedia.org)
Banking, Insurance & Lending Transformation Summits – ExCeL London (18–19 June)
Industry insight into finance innovation and digital disruption. (bigevent.io)
London Biotechnology Show, Elevate, MOVE, Blue Light Show, SME XPO, Allergy & Free From Show, Digital Marketing World Forum – ExCeL/Olympia London (17–25 June)
Covering biotech, fitness, mobility, emergency services, SMEs, health and digital marketing. (expocart.com)
City Week 2025 – Central London (30 June–2 July, registration open)
Global finance forum with keynotes from City institutions and UK Government. (thecityuk.com)

🍷 Food, Drink & Community

English Wine Week – Nationwide (21–29 June)
Vineyard tours, tastings, winemaker sessions and picnics celebrating British wine. (en.wikipedia.org)
Beer Day Britain – 15 June
Raise a glass to ale and the Magna Carta–inspired national beer day. (en.wikipedia.org)
Refugee Week – Southampton & across UK (starts 16 June)
Acknowledging refugees through community events and celebrations. (southampton.gov.uk)