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MIDWEEK UPDATES
- 🛒 Asda-owner nears £600 million loss: TDR Capital’s supermarket group saw sales plunge and debt costs soar, resulting in a near £600 million loss last year.
- 🇺🇸 King invites Donald Trump for full state visit: Buckingham Palace confirmed a second state visit for Trump this September—an unprecedented repeat—after Sir Keir reportedly fast‑tracked the invitation.
- 🎓 Graduates hit hardest by tough job market and AI: UK university leavers face the most challenging employment conditions since 2018, with job postings down 33% year‑on‑year, and employers increasingly using AI to cut costs.
🛡️ Starmer sends £70 million-worth of missiles to Ukraine: Prime Minister Keir Starmer will send 350 ASRAAM air‑defence missiles to Ukraine, financed by interest on £70 million in frozen Russian assets—a first for UK weapon funding.
🇬🇧 Monday Morning Mood: Global Crisis As Trump Takes US Into Israel War
Monday’s UK news is focused on the Middle East crisis after Donald Trump took the United States into Israel’s war with Iran on Saturday.
There’s some coverage of weight loss jabs being available on the NHS and government plans to lower energy costs for businesses (set to be announced later on Monday) – but otherwise it’s all focused on the global crisis and what might happen to America’s allies. PM Keir Starmer has called for calm, asking Iran to not retaliate to the attack.
📅 Key Cultural & Business Events – This Week
- 🇬🇧 Royal Ascot – Ascot, Berkshire
- 🇬🇧 The UK Black Business Entrepreneur Conference – London
🇬🇧 Business Travel Show Europe – London
✍️ Thought of the week
Take a break and hydrate well. A glass of water or herbal tea is a simple act of kindness to your body.
Today, give yourself the gift of hydration – a little herbal tea break can help bring a soothing calm into your busy day.
🌼 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.
🐦 Bird of the Week
Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
This reclusive songbird is arriving from Africa. Best heard at dusk, its powerful, melodic call echoes through southern woodlands — though habitat loss has made it harder to find.
Reform UK would win most seats in a general election, new poll suggests
An in‑depth YouGov poll projects Nigel Farage’s Reform UK could gain around 271 seats, emerging as the largest party in a hung parliament, while Labour drops to 176–178 seats and the Conservatives collapse to about 46 seats if a general election were held today.
Key findings:
- Reform UK leads on 34 % of the national vote (Ipsos), ahead of Labour (25%) and the Tories (15%).
- Labour faces fallout from its welfare cuts rebellion and internal tensions under Morgan McSweeney, whose right‑leaning pivot has unsettled some MPs.
- Reform is making inroads in former Labour heartlands, especially northern manufacturing regions, capitalising on working‑class disillusionment.
Read a full WTX News report on the new polling
🔁 Reactions:
- Political analyst: > “This is not a protest wave; Reform is polling as a serious contender for power.”
- Labour backbencher: “McSweeney’s strategy may win voters but is alienating our core.”
- Former Conservative: “27–34 % for Reform is real, but FPTP or full‑election behaviour may differ.
📰 Bias Snapshot:
- YouGov/The Sun/Sky emphasise Reform’s electoral surge and strategic implications for Starmer and Badenoch.
- The Times/FT provide deeper analysis of Labour’s internal fracturing and Reform’s appeal in deindustrialised communities.
- The Guardian highlights Reform’s traditional “protest vote” origins and flags the limits of translating local or national vote share into actual seats under first‑past‑the‑post.
📊 Sentiment: Neutral–negative. The poll signals profound instability in UK politics, threatening both Labour and Conservative dominance, with urgent questions over Reform’s staying power under electoral system pressures and Labour’s internal turbulence.
UK to ban Palestine Action as police clash with supporters in London
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper plans to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military planes. If Parliament approves, supporting the group could lead to up to 14 years in jail.
Protests in Trafalgar Square turned tense as police moved supporters away from Parliament. Campaigners and rights groups, including Greenpeace and Liberty, say the move is extreme and could silence peaceful protest.
Read a WTX News report on Palestine Action
🔁 Reactions:
- Government (Yvette Cooper/X): “Palestine Action’s actions threatened national security—we will not tolerate that.” (apnews.com)
- Opposition (Apsana Begum MP/X): “Proscribing them while arms are still sent to Israel is chilling—this government targets protest, not policy.” (theguardian.com)
- Viral/Public (Palestine Action statement): > “Draconian response… people will not be intimidated.” (aljazeera.com)
📰 Bias Snapshot:
- Reuters/AP/Al Jazeera offer neutral and factual coverage: details of the break‑in, proscription plans, and the Trafalgar Square protest. (apnews.com)
- FT focuses on legal implications and the shift in protest boundaries, noting internal dissent from Labour figures.
- Guardian and civil‑liberties commentary underscore the precedent-setting nature and potential chilling effect on free expression.
📊 Sentiment: Negative–neutral. While the government frames the move as a necessary security response, critics warn it blurs the line between protest and terrorism, potentially undermining democratic rights and opening a wider crackdown on activism.
Keir Starmer backs US strike on Iran but warns of wider escalation risk
What Happened?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed support today for the US airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, seen as a coordinated effort with Israel to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, but simultaneously warned of the high risk of broader Middle East escalation. The UK was not directly involved in the strikes, viewed by Donald Trump as a “spectacular military success” against sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. In response, Iran launched missile attacks on Israel, disrupting flights and raising tensions in the region. Starmer convened a Cobra emergency meeting, and alongside leaders of France and Germany, issued a joint call urging de-escalation and demanding Iran return to diplomatic talks.
What Next?
Diplomatic efforts now intensify: Starmer held high-level calls with leaders from Jordan, Oman, Canada, and the EU, reinforcing the need for Iran to resume negotiations amid rising conflict threats. Parliament is expected to debate the legality and long-term implications of supporting US-led strikes. The UK has enhanced regional military readiness, deploying RAF Typhoon jets and increasing force protection. With Iran threatening further escalation, including closing strategic routes like the Strait of Hormuz, global oil markets and diplomatic channels hang in the balance. The government is now under pressure to navigate between supporting nuclear non-proliferation and preventing a full-scale war.
GPs begin prescribing weight-loss jabs on the NHS
GPs begin prescribing weight-loss jabs on the NHS in England. GPs can now prescribe Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to combat obesity for the first time via the NHS. Initially, eligibility is limited to around 220,000 severely obese patients (BMI over 40) with at least four related health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease or sleep apnoea. This marks a shift from specialist-only access to GP-led prescribing over the next three years, with future expansion to around three million people with a BMI over 35 anticipated.
Read a WTX News report on the weight-loss jabs
🔁 Reactions:
- Government (Health Secretary Wes Streeting): “This rollout is about universal access to revolutionary treatments, not just for those who can afford them.”
- Opposition (Royal College of GPs): “While promising, this mustn’t be seen as a silver bullet—GP workloads and proper training are crucial.” (news.sky.com)
- Viral/Public (r/mounjarouk Reddit): “That’s not the guidelines at all… the article clearly says 40 and 4 conditions.” indicating confusion over rollout details (reddit.com)
📰 Bias Snapshot:
- Sky/AP/Reuters present balanced reporting: the eligibility rules, patient numbers, GP capacity concerns, and prevention strategy are clearly laid out.
- The Guardian highlights both the record-breaking scale of the rollout and cautionary notes against overreliance on pharmacotherapy (theguardian.com).
- The Sun sensationalises with headlines like “fat jabs”, stressing side effects and private users versus NHS patients with alarmist tones (thesun.co.uk).
📊 Sentiment: Neutral–positive.
Residents Evacuated in St Helens After Discovery of Explosives
Residents of Chadwick Street in St Helens, Merseyside, were evacuated following the discovery of several unexploded ordnance items during a police investigation into a man’s non-suspicious death. Officers had attended the property on Monday, 23 June, and found an unexploded ordnance inside the house. A subsequent search led to the discovery of several more explosives. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was called to assess the situation and carry out a safe detonation in an open space. A cordon remained in place overnight, and accommodation and support were provided to displaced residents at the nearby Chain Lane Community Centre. The police advised motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area while emergency services dealt with the incident.
🔁 Reactions:
- Merseyside Police: “We appreciate the public’s cooperation during this operation.”
- Local Resident: > “It’s unsettling to think such things were in our neighbourhood.”
📰 Bias Snapshot:
- The Independent reports the incident with a focus on the discovery and public safety measures.
- ITV News provides additional details on the evacuation and response efforts.
- Local media offer community perspectives and updates on the situation.
📊 Sentiment: Neutral. The report provides factual information about the incident and the response efforts.
UK announces plans to buy 12 F-35A fighter jets
UK announces plans to buy 12 F-35A fighter jets, reintroducing a nuclear role for the Royal Air Force (RAF) for the first time since the Cold War. This decision marks a significant enhancement of Britain’s nuclear capabilities amid escalating global instability.
The F-35A jets, capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional weapons, will be stationed at RAF Marham in Norfolk. This move aligns the UK with NATO’s dual-capable aircraft nuclear mission, an aircraft-sharing agreement among NATO allies. The purchase is part of a broader strategy to modernise the UK’s defence posture and reaffirm its commitment to NATO. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasised that this initiative represents the “biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation.”
WTX News report on the UK’s purchase of the jets
🔁 Reactions:
- UK Ministry of Defence: “Enhancing our nuclear capabilities to ensure national security.”
- NATO Secretary-General: “Welcome, UK’s commitment to NATO’s nuclear mission.”
- Public (Twitter user): > “A bold move to strengthen national defence.”
📰 Bias Snapshot:
- The Independent presents a balanced perspective, highlighting both the strategic importance and the potential concerns associated with the decision.
- BBC News focuses on the implications for UK defence policy and international relations.
- The Guardian provides an in-depth analysis of the political and security aspects of the announcement.
📊 Sentiment: Neutral. The report underscores the UK’s strategic decision to enhance its nuclear capabilities while acknowledging the broader geopolitical context.
Labour MPs launch major rebellion, hoping to kill off welfare bill
Labour MPs have launched a significant rebellion against the government’s welfare reform plans, with over 100 MPs backing an amendment that could effectively kill off the flagship welfare bill. The amendment, spearheaded by select committee chairs including Treasury Committee Chair Meg Hillier, calls for a pause on benefit cuts, demanding full consultation with disabled people and independent analysis of the employment impact before further changes are made.
The motion, backed by 108 MPs, includes signatories such as former Cabinet minister Louise Haigh and Vicky Foxcroft, who resigned as a whip over the issue. It warns the bill risks pushing 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children, and criticises the government for pushing ahead without finalised support structures or analysis from the Office for Budget Responsibility, expected in the autumn.
While the amendment does not seek to wreck the bill outright, its passage would halt the bill at second reading via a “reasoned amendment” mechanism. To succeed, it must be selected by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and gain support from opposition parties. Its political weight, however, already poses a significant challenge to Keir Starmer, with some frontbenchers reportedly considering resignations ahead of next Tuesday’s vote.
Read a WTX News report on Labour’s welfare reform
🔁 Reactions:
- Government (Liz Kendall/X): “These reforms are essential to ensure the welfare state survives and supports those most in need.”
- Opposition (Meg Hillier/X): “We need reform, but the current bill is rushed, and disabled people must not pay the price.”
- Viral/Public (Disability Rights UK): > “Consult us. Listen to us. Stop reforming around us without us.”
📰 Bias Snapshot:
- The Guardian highlights the amendment’s ethical core and the tension within Labour ranks over consultation and poverty impacts.
- Sky News frames it as a key test of party unity, focusing on the potential political fallout for Starmer and the rebellion’s scope.
- The Times stresses the financial pressure on Rachel Reeves and portrays the bill as essential to Labour’s fiscal credibility.
📊 Sentiment: Negative–neutral. The rebellion lays bare deep unease within Labour about the scale and speed of welfare reform. While the government emphasises fiscal survival, critics warn of avoidable harm to the UK’s most vulnerable.
A round up of what the Politicians have been doing.
*Denotes wanted for war crimes.
The prime minister will attempt to step up his diplomatic efforts regarding the Middle East crisis this week after Trump unexpectedly took the US into Israel’s war in Iran.
The UK going into war will not be well received at home, and it does not seem like something the PM is willing today.
He continues to call for de-escalation and will hold further talks with Iranian diplomats.
………………………………
Midweek updates
It’s Wednesday and the PM is pushing on with his benefit cuts despite a growing Labour rebellion that could threaten his premiership.
The PM is attending a NATO summit after announcing the UK will commit to spending 5% of GDP on defence and will buy 12 nuclear-carrying warplanes.
- Kemi Badenoch
The Conservative leader is slamming Keir Starmer for not saying the US was justified in attacking Iran, despite the United States’ own intelligence saying there was no evidence.
………………………………
Midweek updates
Badenoch has told the prime minister that the Tories will back his welfare cuts – which Labour are threatening to rebel over – under certain conditions.
- Nigel Farage
The Reform UK leader has said that if he gets into power, he would give non-doms the chance to dodge paying UK taxes if they pay a one-off fee of £250,000, with the proceeds going to the poorest in the country.
………………………………
Midweek updates
A new report suggests proportional representation was once the only hope for insurgent parties. It may now be the singular reason that Reform won’t make it.
- Ed Davey
The leader of the Liberal Democrats has suggested that new recruits to the army should be offered a £10,000 signing-on fee to help boost military numbers.
✍️ 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.
🕵️ 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.
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.
✍️ 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
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
➤ A gentle reminder that we’re always a work in progress. Whether today brings triumphs or stumbles, what matters most is pressing on. Be proud of the journey you are on, take note of the successes as much as the failures keep going forward with a smile on your face and be willing to learn more as you go.
🇬🇧 UK a ‘standout’ destination for deals despite economic uncertainty
After months of doom and gloom about the UK economy, there’s finally some good news – the UK has just been named Europe’s top spot for business deals.
New data shows a massive 52% jump in mergers and acquisitions compared to last year, with over 1,200 deals worth nearly £88 billion in the first half of 2025 alone. The second quarter saw a strong bounce back, helped by falling interest rates, more political clarity, and a US trade deal.
Big moves like DoorDash’s takeover of Deliveroo and the Saipem–Subsea7 merger are signs that confidence in the UK market is returning fast.
The heatwave may be over, but the summer vibes most certainly are not! Plenty is happening across the UK this week, from arts and culture to sports and business.
🎨 Arts & Culture
- Aldeburgh Festival – Aldeburgh, Suffolk (ongoing until 29 June)
Ticket details: Various concerts; expect £20–£60 per performance (ecb.co.uk) - The Herds – London (late June)
Street‑theatre; free outdoor puppet performances on climate change - Oxford Gets a Taste of Bollywood – Oxford (this week)
Free public dance event at university sites
🎭 Festivals & Local Entertainment
- Taste of London – Regent’s Park, London (18–22 June)
Tickets from £24 (standard) to £61 (VIP) (london.tastefestivals.com) - West End LIVE – Trafalgar Square, London (21–22 June)
Free outdoor performances showcasing top musicals (boundless.co.uk) - Jane Austen Regency Week – Alton & Chawton, Hampshire (21–29 June)
Historic-themed events; ticket prices vary by event - Salisbury Motor Show – Salisbury, Wiltshire (16 June)
Free to attend; vintage to supercar exhibits (boundless.co.uk, theguardian.com)
🏏Sports & Outdoor Activities
- England vs India (1st Test) – Headingley, Leeds (20–24 June)
Tickets from ~£40 for day 4; hospitality available - Vitality T20 Blast – Various venues across England and Wales (ongoing)
Domestic T20 cricket tournament runs until 13 Sept
💼 Business & Community Events
- Refugee Week Events – Various towns (16–22 June)
Free community celebrations and workshops
🗓️ Week at a Glance
| Day | Event Highlights |
|---|---|
| Mon 16 | Salisbury Motor Show; English Riviera Air Show |
| Tue–Wed (17–18) | Aldeburgh Festival; Air Show continues |
| Thu–Sun (19–22) | Taste of London; West End LIVE; Herds in London; Regency Week starts |
| Fri–Tue (20–24) | England vs India Test at Headingley |
Lessons in leading through crisis from Jacinda Ardern
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shares insights and lessons in leading through crisis, reflecting on the challenges of leadership at the highest levels.
She shares how her empathetic leadership style, shaped by self-doubt, that drove her with the power of transparent communication and leading with trust, not ego, allowed her to move forward decisively.
Here are the Key Takeaways from her interview on Leadership:
1 – Imposter Syndrome Can Be a Leadership Asset
2 – Trust Is Built Through Honesty, Not Perfection
3 – Empathy and Resilience Aren’t Mutually Exclusive
4 – Crisis Is an Opportunity to Advance Policy Goals
5 – Sustainable Leadership Requires Self-Awareness
A bit of travel inspiration from some of our favourite places and best deals.
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