Senior UK Ministry of Defence officials told the House of Lords National Resilience Committee on 21 May that the UK is improving homeland defence but significant work remains. They outlined the Fortitude plan for homeland defence, including reserve categories (operational, reinforcement, strategic), a Defence Readiness Bill raising recall age to 65, and testing via NATO's Steadfast Defender 27 exercise. The MoD is also exploring a civilian reserve for critical national infrastructure.

Campaigners including the Child Poverty Action Group and TUC have urged the UK government to proceed with banning zero-hours contracts despite business opposition. The Employment Rights Act, passed last year, left details for later implementation. Business groups warn the ban will reduce flexibility and hiring, while campaigners argue it will provide security for over a million workers, many in hospitality and retail. The consultation has been delayed but is expected before summer, with rules potentially effective next year.

BP's board unanimously removed Chairman Albert Manifold less than a year after his appointment, citing unacceptable governance standards, oversight, and conduct issues. Ian Tyler has been appointed interim chair as the company searches for a permanent replacement. The removal comes amid falling profits in the global energy industry and follows the recent resignation of CEO Murray Auchincloss, with new CEO Meg O'Neill now leading the company's strategic pivot back to core oil and gas operations.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an external explosion near a tanker approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of Oman, causing damage to the vessel's port side and a fuel leak. All crew and passengers are safe, and authorities are investigating the incident. The event raises concerns about maritime security in the region.

Navantia UK has commenced full production of the Royal Navy's new Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships across its UK yards in Belfast, Appledore, and Methil, alongside construction in Spain. The company has committed £157 million in investment, with over £98.5 million allocated to Belfast and £26.7 million to Methil. Upgrades include robotic plasma cutting and AI-enabled processes under its Shipyard 5.0 concept. Test blocks are being built in Belfast, bow sections in Appledore, and blocks in Spain. Methil is contributing specialist fabrication and logistics, including a new transport barge. The FSS ships will resupply carrier strike groups with ammunition and provisions, with final integration in Belfast and further milestones expected in 2026.

Morgan McSweeney, former chief of staff to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, warned at the GlobSec Forum in Prague that left-wing parties risk falling behind authoritarians if they fail to master artificial intelligence. He argued AI is a tool for democrats against authoritarians, not left vs. right, and noted the UK could learn from Ukraine's use of AI in election campaigns. The remarks come as Starmer faces a revolt from Labour MPs after poor local election results.

Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate for the Makerfield byelection, has been found to have posted deleted messages on X and a rugby league forum from 2022-2023 downplaying the seriousness of Covid-19, opposing vaccine boosters, and insulting Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. He suggested vaccine mandates were a scare tactic. The revelations add to previous controversies over his interactions with far-right figures and comments about Carol Vorderman. Reform UK defended him as a 'straight-talking' non-politician.

Royal Navy divers from Delta Squadron deployed to the Gulf of Riga as part of NATO's Exercise Open Spirit to detect and neutralize unexploded ordnance from World War I and II. The operation involved nearly 400 personnel from Canada, the US, Germany, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. The clearance is vital for commercial shipping and regional security, given the strategic importance of the Baltic since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Corey Edwards, a former Reform UK Senedd candidate who resigned after a photo emerged appearing to show him performing a Nazi salute, has been appointed as a special adviser to Reform UK's Welsh leader Dan Thomas. Edwards is now listed on an internal Welsh Parliament system as a special adviser to Thomas. The appointment has drawn criticism from Plaid Cymru and Labour. Reform UK declined to comment on the hire.

Babcock has entered a five-year engineering framework agreement with AtkinsRéalis to support critical UK defence and submarine programmes. The agreement forms part of a wider strategy to build closer long-term partnerships with key suppliers, creating a simpler and more consistent route for bringing specialist engineering expertise into critical defence programmes. Similar five-year agreements have also been established with nine other strategic suppliers across Babcock’s defence portfolio. This partnership aims to enhance capacity and efficiency in delivering complex defence infrastructure and new platforms, particularly within the UK's submarine enterprise and future obligations under AUKUS. The deal enables earlier engagement and more efficient delivery of specialist engineering expertise.

The Northern Ireland Assembly is debating a private member's bill introduced by Alliance Party MLA John Blair to ban hunting wild mammals with dogs, aiming to align Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK. Supporters argue the bill ends unnecessary cruelty, while opponents, including the Countryside Alliance Ireland, warn it could inadvertently criminalize ordinary dog owners and harm rural pest control. The bill is expected to pass its second stage with cross-party support from Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party, and some DUP members, though concerns remain about exemptions for lawful rural activities.