5 top UK news stories today: Co-Op toxic culture scandal, Starmer leadership challenge, Tesco joblessness warning & more (11 February 2026)
Here’s your UK news roundup for Wednesday (11 February 2026):
Co-Op in hot water for toxic work culture
Some senior managers at the Co-op have complained of a “toxic culture” at the executive level of the 180-year-old member-owned food and services group that prides itself on its ethical values. A letter to Co-op board members, seen by the BBC, complains of “fear and alienation” among even senior staff who feel scared to raise concerns about the direction of the business in front of the leadership team, including chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq. [BBC]
Streeting still set to challenge Starmer
Allies of Wes Streeting expect him to try to challenge Keir Starmer’s leadership within weeks, despite the health secretary insisting he backs the prime minister and is not intending to move against him, the Guardian has been told. Starmer attempted to regain authority over his party on Tuesday after a tumultuous day in Westminster during which he was denounced by the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and lost his director of communications. [Guardian]
UK sleepwalking into joblessness epidemic, Tesco boss warns
The UK is “sleepwalking into a quiet epidemic” of joblessness with millions of people out of work and on benefits, the boss of the nation’s biggest supermarket chain has warned. Ashwin Prasad, who runs the UK arm of Tesco, said he believed far fewer people were in work than should be and that taxpayers were spending “an ever-increasing proportion of our national income on out-of-work benefits”. The rate of unemployment sat at a four-year high of 5.1%, according to official data released last month. [Telegraph]
Landmark trial on Instagram and YouTube begins
Instagram and YouTube have been accused of “engineer[ing] addiction in children’s brains”, in the opening statements of a landmark social media trial taking place in LA. Mark Lanier, representing plaintiffs who accuse social media companies of developing harmful and addictive platforms, described the case as being “as easy as ABC”, which he said stands for “addicting the brains of children.” [Sky News]
Financial headlines
On Wednesday, Oil was trading higher at $68.10. The pound is trading at $1.37, €1.15, and ¥9.45.
