5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today – 27 June 2025.

Starmer climbs down on controversial Welfare bill: Downing Street has announced major changes to the government’s welfare bill in an attempt to win the support of more than 120 rebels who had threatened to vote against it next week and hand Keir Starmer a damaging first defeat as prime minister. Welfare Secretary Liz Kendall wrote to Labour MPs on Thursday night to lay out the concessions, which were thrashed out over 24 hours of negotiations between senior rebels and government officials. [Guardian]
National Insurance rise is contributing to job market slowdown: More UK businesses are responding to Labour’s increase in national insurance contributions by cutting hiring, working hours and pay, the Bank of England governor has said, warning of a weakening jobs market. [Financial Times]
Trump’s Anti-Harvard campaign fuels interest in UK universities: The shift is an early indication that President Donald Trump’s unprecedented effort to reshape higher education around his America-first politics may turn into a boon for UK universities, whose prestige and English-language curricula make them a natural alternative to those in the US. [Bloomberg]
Heat wave warning for the UK this weekend: Amber heat health alerts have been issued for parts of England as temperatures are set to climb to more than 30C over the weekend. The alerts will be in force from 12:00 BST on Friday until 18:00 BST on Tuesday, with the warmest weather expected on Sunday and Monday. [BBC]