5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today – 24 June 2025.

Pushback against benefit changes: More than 100 Labour MPs are supporting a fresh effort to block the government’s planned changes to the benefits system. The MPs have signed an amendment that would give them an opportunity to vote on a proposal to reject the welfare reform bill in its entirety. Dozens of Labour MPs have expressed concerns about the plans to cut disability and sickness-related benefits payments to save £5 billion a year by 2030. [BBC]

UK to spend big on defence: Britain will commit to spending 5% of its GDP on defence by 2035 after weeks of diplomatic pressure and intense negotiations with allies. The decision came as Keir Starmer, the prime minister, prepared to join Nato leaders at a summit dominated by global conflict and expectations of European military self-reliance. [Guardian]

Amazon makes big investment in the UK: Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed a three-year program by Amazon.com to invest £40 billion ($54 billion) in the British economy over the next three years, including opening four new warehouses. The investment is expected to create thousands of jobs. [Bloomberg]

AI headache for NHS: NHS bosses have demanded GPs and hospitals stop using artificial intelligence software that could breach data protection rules and put patients at risk. A warning sent out by NHS England this month came just weeks after the same body wrote to doctors about the benefits of using AI for notetaking, to allow them more time to concentrate on patients. [SkyNews]

Oil prices dropped after US President Donald Trump threatened to take action against any countries which pushed it higher. On Tuesday, Oil was trading at $69.25. The pound was trading at £1.36 to the dollar, £1.17 to the euro and £9.74 to the yuan.