5 top UK news stories today (7 April 2026)

Here’s your UK news roundup for Tuesday (7 April 2026):

Oil prices continue to rise ahead of Trump’s Iran deal deadline

Global oil prices rose on Tuesday afternoon in Asia ahead of a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping route. The price of global benchmark Brent crude was up by about 1.4% to $111.33 (£84.13) a barrel, while US-traded oil gained 2.8% to $115.61. On Monday, Trump threatened to take out Iran “in one night” if it failed to agree a deal with the US by 20:00 Washington DC time on Tuesday. [BBC]

Sick pay rule changes to benefit up to 9.6 million UK workers

Up to 9.6 million UK workers are to benefit from the changes to sick pay rules, according to unions. They say the policy has widespread support from voters despite pushback from some businesses. From Monday, about 8.4 million workers who rely on statutory sick pay – the minimum amount employers must pay – will be paid from the first day of becoming ill rather than from day four, according to an analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). [Guardian]

UK courts Anthropic to expand in London

Keir Starmer’s government is trying to tempt Anthropic to expand its presence in the UK, looking to capitalise on the $380bn start-up’s fight with the US defence department to woo one of America’s top AI groups. Staff at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology have sketched out proposals for the San Francisco-headquartered company, spanning from an office expansion in London to a dual listing, according to multiple people with knowledge of the plans. [Financial Times]

E-bike and e-scooter fires hit a record high in the UK

E-bike and e-scooter fires reached a record high last year, new figures suggest. There were 432 blazes involving e-bikes during 2025 – a 38% jump compared with a year earlier. Meanwhile, 147 e-scooter fires were reported, up 20% from the 123 seen in 2024. These incidents are often caused by failing batteries, conversion kits and chargers. Products bought from online marketplaces are at a greater risk of malfunctioning, because they aren’t subject to the same regulations as established retailers. [Sky News]