Le Monde reported that US 10-year Treasury yields broke above 4.5 percent on May 13 for the first time in a year, Japanese 10-year yields hit 2.7 percent — their highest since the 1990s — and French 10-year yields neared 3.8 percent, level with their 2009 highs, as the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz kept oil durably above $100 a barrel. Markets, Rexecode economist Anthony Morlet-Lavidalie told the paper, have concluded the crisis is not as transitory as they first thought; Natixis analysts said "le marché obligataire perd patience." The repricing follows Iran's May 15 announcement that it considered the strait a joint Omani–Iranian waterway and was preparing a toll regime, and earlier UK demand-side hits — Heathrow traffic down 5 percent in April and Tui logging a 10 percent drop in UK summer bookings.

The International Monetary Fund upgraded its 2026 growth forecast for the UK to 1% from 0.8%, citing more momentum than expected after first-quarter GDP rose 0.6%. It warned that a prolonged Iran conflict could raise energy and food prices, and that domestic uncertainty might hold back consumption and investment. Chancellor Rachel Reeves welcomed the upgrade as proof of the government's economic plan.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will cancel a planned 1p rise in fuel duty due in September and may scrap all of a 5p increase scheduled over six months, government sources said. The move is part of a wider package to mitigate inflation driven by the war in Iran, which Reeves is expected to announce to the Commons on Thursday. The Treasury declined to comment, while the prime minister’s spokesperson said the government is determined to keep costs down for motorists.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will on Tuesday present the first official cost estimate for HS2 in 2026 prices, which backers hope will stay below £100bn, and a revised completion date after the project was delayed beyond 2033. The reset follows a critical review by former national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove that blames HS2's failings on a focus on maximum speed, political pressure, and premature contract awards. Alexander has also asked HS2 Ltd to consider lowering top speeds from 360 km/h to 320 km/h to cut costs.

British MPs and Muslim civil society groups have criticized the UK government for failing to condemn anti-Muslim hate speech delivered at the Unite the Kingdom rally in London on May 16, organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Speakers called for Muslims to leave the country and for Islam to be removed from public office. Police arrested 20 people at the rally but not the speakers. Critics accuse the government of failing to protect minority communities and of applying a double standard compared to its treatment of pro-Palestinian protesters.

The UK government published a Youth Justice White Paper on Monday proposing stronger Parenting Orders, including fines exceeding £1,000 and potential jail terms for parents in extreme cases if their children commit crimes. The reforms also pilot Youth Intervention Courts, aim to reduce custodial remand for children by 25%, and consult on reforming childhood criminal records. An additional £15.4m per year will fund early intervention programs. The measures respond to findings that eight in 10 prolific offenders committed their first crime as a child and follow the Southport Inquiry Report into the 2024 attack by Axel Rudakubana.

More than 100 maternity staff, including midwives and healthcare assistants, are taking legal action against Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust over exposure to hazardous levels of nitrous oxide (Entonox) at Basildon Hospital between 2018 and 2023. Symptoms include fatigue, anxiety, headaches, and 'brain fog'. An internal report found gas levels up to 30 times the legal limit. The trust has paid £89,000 in settlements and admitted delays in addressing the risk. The case is next due in High Court in July.

A report by campaign group War on Want accuses multiple English Premier League clubs of being complicit in Israeli atrocities through sponsorship deals and treatment of pro-Palestinian staff and supporters. The report names Arsenal, Brighton, Burnley, and Everton for alleged discrimination, and identifies at least nine clubs with sponsors linked to companies facilitating Israeli actions in Gaza and the occupied territories. The findings highlight the intersection of sports, corporate ties, and human rights concerns, raising questions about freedom of expression and ethical responsibilities of major football clubs.