Stories from London · United Kingdom

BP reported profits of £2.4bn for the first three months of the year. This figure is nearly £0.5bn higher than analyst expectations. The company attributed the profit increase to the war in Iran.

Kemi Badenock told LBC that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is fearful of a parliamentary inquiry regarding the Lord Mandelson vetting row. Badenock stated that the Conservative leader is forcing MPs to support him in an upcoming vote on the matter. The inquiry is being conducted by a privileges committee consisting of a handful of MPs. She characterized the privileges committee investigation as a small group of MPs rather than a inquiry. The UK Parliament's Standards Commissioner is reviewing a £5 million donation made to a Reform UK leader. The donation was provided by Christopher Harbourn, a billionaire based in Thailand, prior to the recipient becoming an MP. While not classified as a political donation, MPs are required to register gifts received within 12 months of an election. Farage was elected to Parliament. Farage stated he used the funds to pay for his personal security.

Dr Itai Gradel, an antiques dealer who previously exposed theft at the British Museum, has died of cancer at age 61. The deceased was associated with a museum in London, according to the report.

A Danish antiques dealer has died of cancer. His death follows his role in uncovering the museum security breach. Gradel warned the museum about a thief selling its treasures in 2021 after purchasing hundreds of ancient carved gemstones on eBay. The museum did not contact police until 2023 following an internal investigation that found 2,000 items were stolen, missing, or damaged. Gradel served as a key witness in the ongoing investigation. His expertise enabled the discovery of a thief operating within the institution and selling treasures on eBay. Museum administrators had initially ignored the accusations of theft. The source described him as a prominent lexicographer and critic of 18th-century English. He was noted for being a large, erudite man with an acerbic writing style. His works were characterized as being more temperamental than standard academic anthologies.

The British government intends to leverage personal and symbolic relationships between the monarchy and the US presidency to strengthen security, trade, and diplomatic links. The Wall Street Journal reports the visit aims to soften relations between London and Washington. This occurs during a year marking bilateral milestones. The move is described as an effort to reinforce strategic cooperation. This comes as UK households face economic pressure expected to last at least six months. German Chancellor Merz recently stated the US lacked an exit strategy in Iran. The strategy follows discussions regarding the economic pressures facing UK households. The move comes as analysts suggest Europe may need to build defense structures independent of the United States.

One in three people reportedly know of instances where individuals are wrongly claiming benefits. The discussion highlighted concerns regarding working-class taxpayers observing neighbors receiving benefits they may not deserve. The source questioned how such misuse is identified and the impact on those who pay taxes. Figures related to benefit misuse or related claims have risen from 160,000 to 300,000. This represents an increase of 140,000 since 2019. The discussion noted that increased awareness of conditions like ADHD among younger generations may be a contributing factor.

Voters report that obtaining benefits has become increasingly difficult. Voters in the United Kingdom believe it is too difficult to access benefits. The discussion highlights that current processes, such as requesting GP records to list diagnoses, fail to provide necessary details regarding a person's functional abilities or limitations. This evidence suggests systemic issues in how the welfare system affects lives. This process is cited as a primary difficulty in accessing support.

A new report indicates that nearly one in three people personally know someone receiving benefits who does not generally need them. Only five constituencies in the country reported that voters believe it is too difficult to access benefits. Figures released by the Trussell Trust indicate a growing number of people believe the British welfare system is being gamed or wrongly claimed. The discussion suggests that diverting cash benefits toward treatment could be a potential alternative. Disability rights journalist Rachel Charlton Daly was brought in to discuss the implications for disability activism. There are claims that the system is being wrongly accessed through fraudulent claims. Figures from the TBI suggest a growing number of people are allegedly gaming or wrongly claiming the British welfare system.

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has completed the United Kingdom's first plain vanilla listed bond conversion.

The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee is hearing evidence from former Number 10 Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney this morning. McSweeney resigned from his position in February following his role in the appointment of Mr. Mandelson. A vote for an inquiry is expected today, which could impact the political future of Keir Starmer. The proceedings follow discussions regarding whether the appointment was a political stunt ahead of local elections on May 7th. The UK House of Commons decided via a vote on April 28 not to dismiss the investigation into whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer misled Parliament regarding the appointment of Lord Mandelson as the UK Ambassador to the United States. The decision follows parliamentary scrutiny over the appointment process.