EDF investment hailed as ‘vote of confidence in UK’, despite reduced stake July 8, 2025 The Prime Minister has hailed investment by French energy giant EDF in the Sizewell C nuclear plant as “a vote of confidence in the UK as an investment destination”, though the company appears to be taking a reduced stake in the major project. The French state-owned electricity company said it had agreed in principle to [...]
Trump tariffs: Fresh delay as UK steel exemption hangs in the balance July 8, 2025 Downing Street would not say whether the Government was confident that a deal to eliminate American tariffs on UK steel would be struck as Donald Trump’s deadline looms. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Monday that US President Donald Trump would be delaying an increase to the baseline 10 per cent tariff rate [...]
Consumer confidence rising as summer holiday season begins July 7, 2025 The majority of UK households are feeling financially secure, with 70 per cent of people confident enough to plan a summer holiday, according to a survey. The number of people feeling financially secure has risen this quarter by three percentage points to 58 per cent, while confidence that the UK economy is improving has risen [...]
National Wealth Fund to put £28m into carbon capture project July 7, 2025 A government -backed fund is pledging more than £2 for a carbon capture project. Energy secretary Ed Miliband has said that workers in “Britain’s manufacturing heartlands” will benefit from the investment in the Peak Cluster works. Peak Cluster is working towards a pipeline that will take carbon emissions from cement and lime companies in the [...]
Ministers ‘pushed ahead too fast’ on welfare reform, says Phillipson July 6, 2025 Ministers “pushed ahead too fast” and “didn’t listen enough” on welfare reform, the education secretary has said. Bridget Phillipson also said that future spending decisions had been made “harder”, when asked about the prospect of the two-child benefit cap being scrapped. Phillipson told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that she was “not going [...]
Starmer and Macron hope for ‘progress’ on defence and migration at summit July 5, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have said they hope to make “good progress” on issues including migration and defence when they meet next week, Number 10 has said. The two leaders will hold a summit when the French President travels to the UK for a state visit next week, with the two leaders speaking [...]
Starmer abandons key welfare reforms July 1, 2025 Keir Starmer has suffered a crushing blow to his authority after rebel Labour MPs forced him to effectively abandon his flagship welfare reform proposals after chaotic scenes in the House of Commons. Just 90 minutes before the vote, and several hours into a heated debate, the government announced it was pulling a key measure of [...]
Government calls for investigation as Lindsey refinery owner folds July 1, 2025 The government has called for an urgent investigation after the group behind one of Britain’s largest oil refineries collapsed into administration, putting hundreds of jobs at risk. State Oil – the parent company of Prax Group, which owns the Lindsey refinery in North Lincolnshire – appointed administrators on Monday. A separate winding-up order has also [...]
AI system to analyse NHS databases and identify scandals June 30, 2025 The UK will be the first country in the world to use an AI system to analyse hospital databases and catch potential safety scandals early, the government has announced. The technology can identify patterns of abuse, serious injuries, deaths or other incidents that can slip through the net. When concerns are raised, the Care Quality [...]
Government announces concessions to welfare bill in ‘screeching U-turn’ June 27, 2025 People who currently receive the personal independence payment (Pip) will continue to do so after the government made concessions to Labour rebels on controversial welfare reforms. A letter from Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall to MPs said adjustments to universal credit would also see incomes protected. The announcement comes after crisis talks with backbenchers, [...]
