Stories from United Kingdom

Former UK Foreign Office Permanent Under-Secretary Oli Robbins testified to Parliament that he felt pressure from the Prime Minister's office during the appointment process of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the US. Robbins was dismissed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on April 14 after it was revealed Mandelson failed to obtain security clearance in January 2025. Starmer has denied misleading Parliament regarding the appointment.

An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill is expected to receive royal assent this week in England and Wales. The amendment will remove criminal liability for women who end their own pregnancies. Supporters state the measure aims to prevent the prosecution of vulnerable women. The bill aims to prevent vulnerable women from being prosecuted for terminating pregnancies under 10 weeks. Labour MP Tonya Antonasi supported the amendment, according to the broadcast. The change will allow women to terminate pregnancies under 10 weeks.

Winston Churchill placed fourth in a public preference poll regarding the new design of British banknotes. The survey identified the former leader as a popular choice among the British public. The poll results were discussed in the context of democratic exercises involving public input on currency design. Winston Churchill, who currently appears on the 5 pound banknote, ranks fourth in a public preference poll for new British banknote designs. The figure currently appears on existing 5 pound notes. The poll was described as a democratic exercise to gather public ideas for banknote imagery. The Bank of England invited the public to submit design proposals last July, receiving approximately 44,000 messages across six categories. Other popular suggestions included the 1966 World Cup, the National Health Service (NHS), castles, and cathedrals.

Barclays reported a 16% increase in equities revenues. However, the bank's fixed income revenues remained broadly flat compared to the previous year. The bank's returns fell short of its US rivals during the quarter. The report was provided by Bloomberg's UN Pots in London.

British energy corporation BP reported that its net profit for the first quarter exceeded 3 billion US dollars. This figure represents more than a doubling of profits compared to the same period last year. The company attributed the increase to high energy prices.

The head of the RMT Union told LBC that reports of looming nationwide strike action are overblown. Eddie Dempsey spoke at a rally in Glasgow, addressing claims that mass walkouts are being threatened during pay deal renegotiations. Dempsey characterized the reports as exaggerated.

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.