5 important things happening in the UK today
Here are five important things happening in the UK on Monday (27 April 2026):
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UK needs a ‘trade bazooka’ to protect it from wars and tariffs
Britain needs a ‘trade bazooka’ to fight off threats to economic security, a report has urged. Ministers should have an ‘arsenal of responses’ to threats of coercion, says the British Chambers of Commerce. The call comes as wars and tariffs threaten supply chains, access to raw materials is wielded as a bargaining chip, and subsidised products made abroad threaten the competitiveness of UK firms. [This is Money]
Starmer insists ‘majority’ of Labour MPs back his leadership
Prime Minister Keir Stamer has insisted the “vast majority” of Labour MPs supported him and wanted him to continue doing his job as prime minister. He was speaking to the Sunday Times, external at the end of a week in which speculation about a potential leadership challenge has risen. Starmer told the paper “in politics, you get this sort of thing all of the time, there is always talk”. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the prime minister should resign over his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US, adding that Labour MPs should “develop a backbone and get rid of him” if he did not step down. [BBC]
Dozens of toys recalled in the UK after asbestos found in play sand
More than 30 children’s toys have been recalled in the UK after the Guardian revealed that play sand sold by Hobbycraft was contaminated with asbestos. Over the past three months, other children’s products ranging from candle-making kits to stretchy rubber toys have been recalled by retailers including Tesco, Primark, Matalan, and M&S after being found to contain the substance. Asbestos can cause cancer in later life if inhaled, and the UK prohibits the sale of products containing it in any quantity. [Guardian]
Financial news
Oil prices rose on Monday morning in Asia after plans for a second round of peace talks between the US and Iran stalled again. On Monday, Oil was trading higher at $107.01. The pound is trading at $1.35, €1.15, and ¥9.26.
