5 important things happening in the UK today (28 May 2026)
Here are five important things happening in the UK on Thursday (28 May 2026):
One in six young people will not be in work or training in five years
One in six young people will not be in education, employment or training within five years unless “urgent” action is taken, a major review has warned. The education, health, and welfare systems are “no longer fit for purpose” in preparing young people for adult life, said its author, former minister Alan Milburn. “We are at risk of a lost generation,” he warned, with the number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work, education or training set to rise to 1.25 million by 2031. [BBC]
Mandelson vetting warned of ties to senior figures in China, Russia, and Israel
Peter Mandelson’s associations with senior figures in China, Russia and Israel were among the concerns raised by the UK’s vetting agency when it concluded he should be denied clearance, multiple sources have told the Guardian. [Guardian]
Lidl leapfrogs Morrisons to become the UK’s fifth-biggest supermarket
Lidl has soared past struggling Morrisons to become the UK’s fifth-biggest supermarket, as its heavy discounting gave the grocer an edge in the fiercely competitive market. The German grocer snatched an 8.6 per cent market share, powered by an 8.8 per cent uplift in sales across the last 12 weeks, according to data by Worldpanel. The record market position is a coup for Lidl, which, along with fellow German cut-price grocer Asda, has shaken up the supermarket sector since its arrival in the UK in 1994. [CityAM]
Resident doctors announce four-day strike in June
Resident doctors will strike for four days in June, the British Medical Association (BMA) has announced. The BMA said walkouts will begin at 7am on Monday, 15 June, and end at 6.59am on Friday, 19 June. It also warned further strikes would be announced for July should no progress be made. [Sky News]
Financial news
Brent crude futures climbed toward $97 per barrel on Thursday, recovering losses from the previous session as negotiations between the US and Iran remained deadlocked over several key issues tied to ending the conflict. On Thursday, Oil was trading flat at $92.03. The pound is trading at $1.34, €1.165, and ¥9.07.
