5 important things happening in the UK today (8 June 2026)
Here are five important things happening in the UK on Friday (8 June 2026):
UK companies are hiring more temporary workers over permanent staff
UK companies are increasingly hiring temporary workers instead of permanent staff because of low confidence in the economy and higher cost pressures, according to a report. Recruiters reported a strong increase in offers of temporary roles in May, according to new research from KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). [Financial Times]
UK banks becoming uninvestable
UK banks are becoming increasingly difficult to invest in, analysts and CEOs have said, and the situation is unlikely to change until the outcome of any Labour leadership contest is known. There are concerns that the UK government is on track to shift to the left as the potential for a challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership grows. One of the frontrunners to replace Starmer, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, is standing for election on June 18 in a by-election in Makerfield. [The Banker]
M&S launches new traineeship for 1,000 young people
Marks and Spencer is launching a new training scheme for young people trying to get on the career ladder in a bid to tackle the “growing youth unemployment challenge”. Aimed at 16 to 24-year olds, it will create 1,000 training places in the UK and Ireland over the next 18 months. M&S said the paid scheme was intended to help tackle the rising number of young people not in employment, education or training, or Neets as they are known. [BBC]
Extra £174 million earmarked for ‘spiralling’ bill for Lower Thames Crossing
Ministers have earmarked more than £170 million extra to help build the Lower Thames Crossing road tunnel, fuelling concerns over the “spiralling” costs of one of the UK’s largest planned infrastructure projects. The proposed £11 billion route under the Thames between Kent and Essex is already estimated to cost more each mile than the HS2 high-speed rail link from London to Birmingham. It was given the funding boost as part of a plan to spend £3.1 billion of public money on the project, before a hoped-for injection of £7.5 billion by a private sector firm. [Guardian]
Financial news
Brent crude futures climbed above $96 per barrel on Monday, rebounding after two consecutive sessions of losses as Iran launched multiple rounds of missiles toward Israel, warning against further military actions in Lebanon and raising concerns over the durability of a fragile ceasefire amid stalled peace negotiations. On Monday, Oil was trading higher at $94.13. The pound is trading at $1.33, €1.16, and ¥9.03.
