Government departments will look at cutting budgets to fund defence, minister says June 14, 2026 Government departments are looking at cutting their budgets further in order to help fund defence, a cabinet minister has said. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy insisted the country’s national security remains minister’s “highest priority” adding departments are looking to shift their budgets to fund defence. She said to Sky News: “There’s a clear picture emerging from [...]
Starmer overrules Miliband on electric car sales targets as he looks to appease automotive industry June 14, 2026 Keir Starmer will water down the UK’s electric vehicle sales, in a significant blow to energy secretary Ed Miliband’s net-zero agenda, in a bid to quash fears in the automotive industry. According to reports in The Sunday Times, the prime minister is understood to have overruled Miliband following pressure from the industry, the Unite union [...]
Peace deal will be finalised Sunday, Trump says but Tehran casts doubt June 14, 2026 US president Donald Trump has said a deal to end the conflict between the US and Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday, but Iran has cast doubt on the timing. On Saturday, key mediator Pakistan said the deal was “likely expected” to be finalised within 24 hours, while Trump declared that his administration [...]
British forces intercept Russian shadow fleet in Channel June 14, 2026 British armed forces have intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel during the early hours of Sunday morning, the prime minister has said. In an operation lasting six hours, Royal Marine Commandos, alongside specialist officers from the National Crime Agency, intercepted the oil tanker in the Channel. The operation marks the [...]
Starmer agrees investment deal with Japan as EU deal questioned June 13, 2026 The UK government has agreed an £18bn investment deal with Japan in a bid to boost post-Brexit international ties but questions are now looming over Sir Keir Starmer’s “reset” deal with the EU. Starmer said “landmark agreements” with Japan on technology and life sciences would lift the UK economy and improve trade with the fourth [...]
Thames Water, energy grid, rent prices: Burnham drums up public control agenda June 13, 2026 Andy Burnham will press for an agenda of public control over water companies, the national energy grid and government procurement regulation if he becomes Prime Minister. Reports on Saturday indicated that the Manchester mayor, who is standing as Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election before a likely bid to become the party’s leader, would push [...]
London Tech Week was ‘complacency in conference form’ June 12, 2026 London Tech Week has been accused of masking some of the biggest structural problems facing Britain’s tech sector and of offering “complacency in conference form”. Adam French, partner at global venture capital firm Antler, said the flagship event highlighted a widening gap between the public narrative around UK tech and the realities facing founders trying [...]
Starmer clings on as defence spending plan in disarray after resignations June 12, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership has been dealt another major blow as defence ministers quit the government over a lack of funding for security. It was confirmed on Friday that the Defence Investment Plan had still not yet been completed after months of wrangling and delays. But on Thursday, John Healey resigned as defence secretary in [...]
Liz Kendall ramps up push to funnel pension cash into UK startups June 12, 2026 The government is stepping up efforts to channel more institutional money into British tech firms as ministers look to stop promising startups heading overseas for funding. Tech secretary Liz Kendall announced that Labour would pursue reforms to unlock pension fund investment into UK growth firms, adding Britain needs to become an “indispensable partner” in the [...]
‘Unsustainable’ – Iceland boss and Labour peer calls for end of triple lock pension June 12, 2026 Lord Walker, the influential Iceland boss who was made a Labour peer, has called for the triple lock pension to be scrapped as the mechanism was “profoundly unfair”. In a debate on welfare reform in the House of Lords, Walker added to a growing number of economists and political figures calling for the state pension [...]