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.
Cliff Notes A year after Labour’s significant election win, the party faces pivotal decisions in June 2025 that could influence its future direction. Upcoming strategies…
The UK will build up to 12 new conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines, as part of a sweeping Strategic Defence Review to be announced on Monday by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The submarines will begin replacing the current fleet from the late 2030s and are designed to safeguard Britain and its NATO allies for decades to come.
Sir Keir Starmer plans to enhance the UK’s military capabilities, including buying more attack submarines, but has not committed to new defence spending ahead of the Strategic Defence Review.
The UK is poised to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP in the next parliament, as stated by Defence Secretary John Healey, aligning with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s ambition.
Cliff Notes The UK government plans to purchase up to 7,000 long-range missiles, rockets, and drones, alongside building at least six new weapons factories, as…
Cliff Notes – Farage’s fantasy policies will lead to Truss-style economic meltdown Sir Keir Starmer warns that Nigel Farage’s economic policies could trigger an economic…
Cliff Notes A car drove through a crowd celebrating Liverpool FC’s Premier League win, injuring at least 27 people, including four children; fortunately, there have…
Cliff Notes The UK government plans to create 120,000 new training routes for various sectors, including construction and healthcare, as part of a wider strategy…
Cliff Notes King Charles has commenced his initial visit to Canada as head of state, landing in Ottawa shortly after 1pm local time, despite ongoing…
Cliff Notes A 53-year-old man has been arrested after a car struck multiple pedestrians during Liverpool FC’s trophy parade, resulting in chaos as onlookers attempted…
Cliff Notes An investigation into whistleblower allegations is focusing on two labour suppliers for the HS2 rail project, concerning misclassification and inflated billing rates for…
Cliff Notes The King is set to visit Canada for two days, marking his first trip as the country’s head of state, with a significant…
Cliff Notes An Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza has resulted in at least 20 fatalities, including women and children; the school was sheltering…
Cliff Notes Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner expressed a desire for an update on winter fuel payment changes within weeks, suggesting the upcoming spending review…
Cliff Notes New government rules require house builders to commit to delivery time frames for planning permission, with potential loss of land to local authorities…
Cliff Notes Sir Keir Starmer is considering lifting the two-child benefit cap in the upcoming autumn budget, amid pressure to attract traditional Labour voters. Reform…
Cliff Notes The two-child benefit cap has been a contentious issue for the Labour party, with lifting it potentially raising 350,000 children out of poverty…
Cliff Notes Labour’s claimed increase of 3.6 million NHS appointments in eight months is reportedly less significant than 4.2 million appointments observed during the same…
Friday’s front page headlines offer a wide variety of domestic and international news with ongoing coverage of the UK handing over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands offering a clear political divide.
Labour’s plans to free up prison spaces in England and Wales have outraged the right-wing papers boldly claim that sex offenders will be roaming the streets.
There are discussions around benefits – including the two-child benefit cap, as well as coverage of potential tax rises, splashed on the front pages.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signed a major agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the strategic military base on Diego Garcia for £101 million a year.
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.
Israel’s leadership has condemned recent antisemitic shootings in Washington DC, linking them to global protests and media narratives that incite hatred against Jews.
Most of Thursday’s UK newspaper front pages lead with the U-turn on the winter fuel payment cuts. Last year the government announced changes to the benefit which saw more than nine million pensioners lose out on payments worth up to £300 – after the eligibility threshold was tightened.
A High Court injunction has temporarily blocked the UK government from finalising a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, initiated by legal action from Chagossian woman Bertrice Pompe.
