Prime Minister Keir Starmer is spearheading urgent diplomacy ahead of the G7 in Canada amid escalating Israel–Iran tensions.
Browsing: Keir Starmer
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.
Much of the UK news has been dominated by international affairs, with the G7 summit at the beginning of the week marking a big moment for the prime minister, who got his UK-US trade deal over the line.
The prime minister announced a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal after an audit suggested a cover-up and that an entire generation of women and girls had been failed.
By midweek, the news is dominated by the MPs voting in favour of legislative changes to abortion rules, marking the biggest change in 60 years.
Wednesday also marks the beginning of the UK heatwave, set to last until Sunday with temperatures reaching 33C.
On Friday MPs will vote on the assisted dying bill and there are reports the UK could enter the Israel-Iran war, if the United States does.
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.
Tehran perceives its recent rocket strikes on Israel as “effective”, resulting in at least five fatalities in central Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak.
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.
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 conflict between Israel and Iran has intensified sharply, characterised by Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities, prompting swift retaliation from Iran with missile attacks.
The G7 summit is fraught with challenges, lacking a joint communique as leaders struggle for consensus amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
In 2019, nine men were jailed for raping and abusing two teenage girls in Bradford, with one victim, Fiona Goddard, claiming over 50 men assaulted her.
Sir Keir Starmer is initiating a national inquiry into grooming gangs, following insights from a government-requested audit led by Baroness Casey.
Cliff Notes Iran asserts it has shot down two Israeli F-35 fighter jets and commenced retaliation following Friday’s Israeli strikes aimed at its nuclear facilities.…
European leaders expressed deep concern after Israel launched an unprovoked attack on Iran and have called for an immediate de-escalation.
An Air India Flight 171 crash on 12 June killed all 241 on board and 28 on the ground after the plane hit a hostel near Ahmedabad’s B. J. Medical College. The sole survivor, British–Indian passenger Vishwash Kumar Ramesh (40), is stable in hospital.
Cliff Notes The UK government has urged for restraint and diplomacy following Israeli airstrikes on Iran, termed Operation Rising Lion, which targeted nuclear sites and…
The UK government is set to announce a £14.2bn funding commitment for the Sizewell C nuclear power station, aimed at directly creating 10,000 jobs, including 1,500 apprenticeships.
Cliff Notes The NHS will shift to a digital focus, delivering appointment reminders, test results, and health screening invitations via the NHS app on mobile…
Labour may consider adjustments to the two-child benefit cap, potentially exempting specific families, as suggested by Harriet Harman.
Cliff Notes Counting is underway in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, triggered by the passing of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie in March. Voter turnout…
Zia Yusuf has resigned as chairman of Reform UK, stating that working to elect the party is no longer a “good use of my time.”
The Labour government’s U-turn on their deeply unpopular cuts to the winter fuel payments leads much of the newspapers. The government has said more pensioners will now be in line to receive the payment again but stopped short of explaining the new eligibility criteria. The chancellor did confirm those who will be eligible will receive their payment by this winter.
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.
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.
Andy Burnham acknowledges the possibility of Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister, urging Labour to enhance connections with voters.
The government has confirmed that more people will qualify for the winter fuel payment this year, in a U-turn on one of Labour’s first controversial policies. Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated the increased eligibility will be in place “this winter,” though specific details on the new threshold and who qualifies remain vague.