5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today – 15 May 2025.

• UK economy growth: The UK’s economy grew by more than expected in the first three months of the year, according to new data from the ONS. The economy expanded by 0.7% in the January-to-March period, which was stronger than the 0.6% that analysts had forecast. [BBC]

• EU relations: Plans to reset UK-EU relations hit a snag on Wednesday after EU member states demanded further concessions from London over fishing rights and youth mobility. [Financial Times]

• NHS proposal: The NHS will cut the salaries of senior executives who fail to reduce waiting times or improve patient outcomes. The new policy would dock as much as £15,000 from the pay of healthcare bosses. [Bloomberg]

• Fossil fuel fightback: A new private member’s bill proposes that fossil fuel companies and their shareholders and owners of superyachts and private jets should have to pay into a fund for flood defences and home insulation in the UK [Guardian]

• On Thursday (15 May), the pound was trading at £1.33 to the dollar, £1.19 to the euro and £9.58 to the yuan. Oil was trading slightly lower at $64.68 a barrel.