5 important things happening in the UK today
Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today – 30 May 2025.
- UK to sign controversial deal with Gulf states: The government is facing criticism for a planned £1.6 billion trade agreement with Gulf states, amid warnings from rights groups that the deal makes no concrete provisions on human rights, modern slavery or the environment. The UK has said it hopes the deal will eventually add an extra £8.6 billion a year to trade between the UK and GCC countries by 2035. [Guardian]
- Push for closer ties to Europe: Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has called on the government to minimise the negative effects of Brexit by seeking closer alignment with the EU. Bailey made the case on Thursday for non-tariff barriers to be reduced, particularly in the financial services industry, saying that less red tape would boost trade and economic growth. [Financial Times]
- Make or break for Thames Water: Thames Water’s financial rescue is entering a decisive month, as suitors haggle over creditor losses and the future of the indebted utility. Negotiations are expected to run throughout June with agreement in summer — but for that, the successful bidder will need to cut a deal with the debtholders that currently control the company on the scope of their losses. [Bloomberg]
- Tube dodgers: Almost one in 20 Tube passengers are dodging fares – at a cost of £130 million a year – amid a surge in violence against the staff who try to stop them. It comes as shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick took to the London Underground himself to catch fare dodgers on camera. [Independent]
- On Friday, Oil was trading slightly lower at $63.89 a barrel. The pound was trading at £1.35 to the dollar, £1.19 to the euro and £9.71 to the yuan.
