Counter-terrorism police are investigating a suspected arson attack at the former East London Central Synagogue in Whitechapel, where the London Fire Brigade put out a small exterior fire reported at 05:16 BST on May 5; the Metropolitan Police said initial CCTV footage showed the fire was started deliberately, and there were no injuries. Cdr Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing, said officers were examining potential links to a string of arson attacks on Jewish sites in north and north-west London since late March, and to a double stabbing in Golders Green being treated as terrorism. Most of those incidents have been claimed by a group calling itself Hayi, suspected of being Iran-backed.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned Iran on Tuesday that attempts to incite antisemitism in the UK "will not be tolerated," as he hosted a Downing Street summit on rising anti-Jewish hate. Starmer said police are investigating whether a foreign state was behind recent attacks, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green on April 29. The government announced an extra £1.5 million in funding for community cohesion and new anti-terror powers to ban state threats such as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

UK long-term borrowing costs have risen to their highest level since 1998, reflecting sustained pressure on government debt markets. The increase in yields on long-dated gilts signals heightened investor concerns over fiscal outlook and inflation. The milestone marks a significant shift in the cost of servicing the UK's public debt.

The UK House of Lords has expelled its hereditary peers, fulfilling a Labour Party manifesto pledge. King Charles III will open the new parliamentary session on May 13 with almost no members present who hold their seat by birthright. A transitional arrangement allows about two dozen hereditary peers to remain as life peers appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner reports a record 23,000 potential modern slavery victims in 2025, a 22% increase. The report cites rising living costs, debt, insecure work, conflict, and AI-enabled digital platforms as key drivers. British nationals are the largest victim group, with children increasingly exploited via online gaming. The commissioner calls for urgent government action including funding for specialist police units and business fines.

The UK imposed sanctions on 35 individuals and organizations involved in trafficking vulnerable migrants to fight for Russia in Ukraine and supplying components for Russian drone manufacturing. The sanctions target human trafficking networks, including those operating the Alabuga Start program, and entities from Thailand and China supplying drone parts. Among those sanctioned is Pavel Nikitin, whose company produces the VT-40 attack drone, and Polina Azarnykh, who facilitates migrant transport from multiple countries to the front lines.

The family of 18-year-old Lauren Hewson, who died by suicide after alleging she was raped while an apprentice at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, has condemned the closure of the police investigation as a miscarriage of justice. Cumbria Police arrested a man but did not charge him due to insufficient evidence. The inquest ruled her death a suicide, and the family criticizes both the police and BAE Systems for failing to protect her.

UK electric car sales jumped 59% year-on-year in April, with the two-millionth EV registered, but the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) warns that rising inflation and energy prices due to the Iran war could temper demand. The BEV market share (26.2%) remains below the 33% mandate target, and the SMMT downgraded its 2026 BEV share forecast to 26.8%.