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.
Thursday’s newspaper headlines report on the winter fuel U-turn announced by the chancellor yesterday – widely welcomed by the newspapers.
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.
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.
Wednesday’s UK newspaper front pages offer a variety of headlines with no one story dominating the papers. A handful touch on the migrant channel crossings, in particular Labour’s theory that crossings have risen due to the good weather. But there is little unity across the papers and instead standalone reports ranging from war and conflict to the latest showbiz news.
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 is prepared to take legal action against Roman Abramovich over £2.5 billion in frozen proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC, intended for humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
The UK government is prepared to take Roman Abramovich to court for the proceeds of his £2.5bn Chelsea FC sale, aiming to direct the funds to humanitarian causes related to the Ukraine war.
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 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.
Monday’s front pages feature a real variety of stories – mostly domestic. There’s a little bit of coverage of the Vancouver car attack, which was largely overshadowed in print media by the funeral of Pope Francis. Online, the story dominates most international broadcasters.
Closer to home, there are several political stories on the front pages this morning including the latest polling ahead of England’s local elections later this week.
The government received pay rise recommendations from the independent review body, suggesting increases of nearly 4% for teachers and 3% for NHS workers, exceeding the current 2.8% offer.
Economists say Chancellor Rachel Reeves may have to raise taxes in the October Budget.
The chancellor is back on the front pages this morning ahead of a meeting with her American counterpart. Rachel Reeves is in the United States in hopes of securing a trade deal but has warned she will not rush it.
Ukraine is back in Britain’s headlines after US President Donald Trump insisted that Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, is jeopardising a peace deal with Russia. The US has repeatedly threatened to walk away if Ukraine doesn’t sign the latest peace deal – which would include handing over Crimea.
This comes as Russian missile and drone attacks battered the Ukrainian capital overnight, killing at least nine people and injuring a further 63.
The IMF has significantly downgraded the UK’s growth forecast for this year to just 1.1%, citing the adverse impacts of the global trade war and rising inflation.
The UK Economy grew by 0.5% in February, outperforming analyst forecasts of a 0.1% rise, driven by strong manufacturing and service sectors.
The UK government is considering nationalising British Steel as concerns grow over the Scunthorpe plant’s future after Jingye cancelled vital orders for raw materials.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to meet with top City executives to assess the impact of President Trump’s tariffs on the UK Economy.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is back in the headlines after an impact assessment revealed the chancellor’s welfare overhaul – aimed to get more people back in work – could see even more people signed off.
Chancellor rejects poverty fears – Chancellor Rachel Reeves has rejected claims that her welfare strategy will push children and families into poverty. It comes after analysis has started on her Spring Statement – and what it means for both the poorest and wealthiest in Britain.
King Charles in hospital – Much of Friday’s headlines in the UK are reporting on the latest update in King Charles’s health. The 76-year-old has been admitted to the hospital due to side effects from his treatment.
There are ongoing discussions over Wednesday’s Spring Statement, with disability payments and potential future tax raids being two of the most popular talking points.
On the international front, there’s more coverage of Donald Trump and his administration as they continue to push to take over Greenland and the Germany’s reaction to the latest tariff announcements.
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