Milburn's 'anxious generation' report and the political-prisoners study land in a Britain still without a steady prime minister
Alan Milburn's NEET report -- to be published next week -- warns of an "anxious generation" of 946,000 16- to 24-year-olds, with 43 percent now citing mental health as the primary obstacle to work, up from 24 percent in 2011. Ayrton Redfearn, 23, of south Devon, was killed in action in Donetsk on May 9, his mother said. A Queen Mary / Defend Our Juries study documents 286 climate and Palestine-solidarity protesters jailed with lengthening sentences; David Miliband called for a "national consensus" on rejoining the EU.
Top Stories
Milburn report warns of an 'anxious generation' as nearly 1 million UK 16-24s remain out of work or study
Government jobs adviser Alan Milburn -- the former Labour health secretary commissioned in November by Prime Minister Keir Starmer -- will publish an interim report next week warning of an "anxious generation" of young people, with the share of NEETs citing mental health as the primary obstacle to work rising from 24 percent in 2011 to 43 percent today. Of the 946,000 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training, more than half have never worked, and a quarter are classed as unable to work due to long-term sickness or disability. Milburn argues businesses must adapt with mental health support and flexibility, and that the cohort could relieve labour shortages as net migration drops -- to 171,000 in 2024 from a 2022 peak of 891,000.
British volunteer killed in action in Donetsk, Ukraine
Ayrton Redfearn, a 23-year-old British man from south Devon, was killed in action in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on 9 May, his mother confirmed. He had joined a specialist unit supporting the Ukrainian army in 2025. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said it is supporting his family and is in contact with Ukrainian authorities.
UK creating 'new breed of political prisoners' with rising anti-protest sentences, report says
A report by Queen Mary University of London and Defend Our Juries finds that custodial sentences for protest-related civil disobedience in England and Wales have become more frequent and longer, identifying 286 cases involving climate and Palestine-solidarity activists who received a total of 136 years in jail. The average detention period was 28 weeks, with one in five jailed for more than a year. The report, to be launched on Tuesday, cites anti-protest legislation, police powers, corporate injunctions, and judges removing legal defences as drivers.
UK Carrier Strike Group Shadows Russian Spy Ship During NATO Exercise in Norwegian Sea
The UK Carrier Strike Group tracked the Russian intelligence vessel Yuri Ivanov during NATO's Exercise Dynamic Mongoose in the Norwegian Sea, the UK Defence Journal reported. The operation involved a joint effort with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, including the Portuguese frigate NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida and a Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 helicopter from HMS Prince of Wales. The Yuri Ivanov is designed for signals intelligence collection, and its presence coincided with a separate Russian nuclear weapons exercise in the Barents Sea.
All Events
Every other event tracked in United Kingdom, with a one-line preview.
gb30UKMTO reports multiple suspicious skiff approaches in Gulf of Aden
The UKMTO had previously reported a suspicious approach off Yemen's al-Mukalla. On 23 May 2026, it reported multiple new incidents of vessels being approached by skiffs in the Gulf of Aden, including a large skiff with two outboard engines observed carrying both ladders and weapons, indicating an escalation in maritime security threats. Authorities are investigating and urged vessels to transit with caution.
Show summaryHide
UKMTO reports multiple suspicious skiff approaches in Gulf of Aden
The UKMTO had previously reported a suspicious approach off Yemen's al-Mukalla. On 23 May 2026, it reported multiple new incidents of vessels being approached by skiffs in the Gulf of Aden, including a large skiff with two outboard engines observed carrying both ladders and weapons, indicating an escalation in maritime security threats. Authorities are investigating and urged vessels to transit with caution.
The UKMTO had previously reported a suspicious approach off Yemen's al-Mukalla. On 23 May 2026, it reported multiple new incidents of vessels being approached by skiffs in the Gulf of Aden, including a large skiff with two outboard engines observed carrying both ladders and weapons, indicating an escalation in maritime security threats. Authorities are investigating and urged vessels to transit with caution.
gb28Brewdog founder James Watt pledges shares in new beer brand to compensate Equity for Punks investors
James Watt, co-founder of collapsed craft brewery Brewdog, announced a new beer brand called Second Best and pledged to allocate up to 19.3% of its shares to investors who lost money in Brewdog's Equity for Punks crowdfunding scheme. Brewdog collapsed with over £500m in debt and was sold to US firm Tilray in March 2025, leaving thousands of small investors with no return. Investors expressed skepticism about the offer, questioning its value given the company's failure.
Show summaryHide
Brewdog founder James Watt pledges shares in new beer brand to compensate Equity for Punks investors
James Watt, co-founder of collapsed craft brewery Brewdog, announced a new beer brand called Second Best and pledged to allocate up to 19.3% of its shares to investors who lost money in Brewdog's Equity for Punks crowdfunding scheme. Brewdog collapsed with over £500m in debt and was sold to US firm Tilray in March 2025, leaving thousands of small investors with no return. Investors expressed skepticism about the offer, questioning its value given the company's failure.
James Watt, co-founder of collapsed craft brewery Brewdog, announced a new beer brand called Second Best and pledged to allocate up to 19.3% of its shares to investors who lost money in Brewdog's Equity for Punks crowdfunding scheme. Brewdog collapsed with over £500m in debt and was sold to US firm Tilray in March 2025, leaving thousands of small investors with no return. Investors expressed skepticism about the offer, questioning its value given the company's failure.
gb24Asylum seeker returned to France under UK 'one in, one out' scheme covertly returns to UK, claims others have done same
Background: A 26-year-old Kurdish asylum seeker from Syria, returned to France under the UK-France 'one in, one out' small boat returns agreement, had his French asylum claim rejected on the grounds that Syria is safe for him, raising concerns about onward refoulement. Today: An asylum seeker sent back to France under the same scheme has covertly returned to the UK and is now in hiding. He reports being beaten by smugglers after refusing to work with them and claims at least 18 others have similarly returned. The returnee paid €4,000–5,000 for a lorry journey to bypass increased police presence on French beaches. Critics argue the policy pushes migrants into unsafe routes and criminalizes them. The Home Office stated that anyone returning after removal will be removed again.
Show summaryHide
Asylum seeker returned to France under UK 'one in, one out' scheme covertly returns to UK, claims others have done same
Background: A 26-year-old Kurdish asylum seeker from Syria, returned to France under the UK-France 'one in, one out' small boat returns agreement, had his French asylum claim rejected on the grounds that Syria is safe for him, raising concerns about onward refoulement. Today: An asylum seeker sent back to France under the same scheme has covertly returned to the UK and is now in hiding. He reports being beaten by smugglers after refusing to work with them and claims at least 18 others have similarly returned. The returnee paid €4,000–5,000 for a lorry journey to bypass increased police presence on French beaches. Critics argue the policy pushes migrants into unsafe routes and criminalizes them. The Home Office stated that anyone returning after removal will be removed again.
Background: A 26-year-old Kurdish asylum seeker from Syria, returned to France under the UK-France 'one in, one out' small boat returns agreement, had his French asylum claim rejected on the grounds that Syria is safe for him, raising concerns about onward refoulement. Today: An asylum seeker sent back to France under the same scheme has covertly returned to the UK and is now in hiding. He reports being beaten by smugglers after refusing to work with them and claims at least 18 others have similarly returned. The returnee paid €4,000–5,000 for a lorry journey to bypass increased police presence on French beaches. Critics argue the policy pushes migrants into unsafe routes and criminalizes them. The Home Office stated that anyone returning after removal will be removed again.
gb18David Miliband calls for UK 'national consensus' on rejoining EU
Former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called for a national consensus on rejoining the European Union, arguing that the current government reset is insufficient. He emphasized the need for a deeper institutional relationship with the EU, noting that the bloc is evolving with Ukraine's potential associate membership. Miliband also urged the Labour Party to focus on policy over leadership debates. The remarks follow reports that the UK proposed a single market for goods with the EU, which was rejected.
Show summaryHide
David Miliband calls for UK 'national consensus' on rejoining EU
Former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called for a national consensus on rejoining the European Union, arguing that the current government reset is insufficient. He emphasized the need for a deeper institutional relationship with the EU, noting that the bloc is evolving with Ukraine's potential associate membership. Miliband also urged the Labour Party to focus on policy over leadership debates. The remarks follow reports that the UK proposed a single market for goods with the EU, which was rejected.
Former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called for a national consensus on rejoining the European Union, arguing that the current government reset is insufficient. He emphasized the need for a deeper institutional relationship with the EU, noting that the bloc is evolving with Ukraine's potential associate membership. Miliband also urged the Labour Party to focus on policy over leadership debates. The remarks follow reports that the UK proposed a single market for goods with the EU, which was rejected.
gb6BAE Systems outlines SME entry path into defence supply chain
At the Scottish Defence Procurement and Supply Chain Summit, BAE Systems Naval Ships Engineering Director Stuart Justice detailed practical steps for SMEs to enter the defence supply chain, including using the official supplier portal, avoiding cold calls, and meeting compliance requirements such as ISO 9001, cyber security standards, and insurance. He highlighted specific areas where BAE seeks SME support, including marine autonomy, modularity, and advanced coatings, and noted that around 40% of a ship's cost is procured through the supply chain, with over 3,000 SMEs already in BAE's tier one supply chain.
Show summaryHide
BAE Systems outlines SME entry path into defence supply chain
At the Scottish Defence Procurement and Supply Chain Summit, BAE Systems Naval Ships Engineering Director Stuart Justice detailed practical steps for SMEs to enter the defence supply chain, including using the official supplier portal, avoiding cold calls, and meeting compliance requirements such as ISO 9001, cyber security standards, and insurance. He highlighted specific areas where BAE seeks SME support, including marine autonomy, modularity, and advanced coatings, and noted that around 40% of a ship's cost is procured through the supply chain, with over 3,000 SMEs already in BAE's tier one supply chain.
At the Scottish Defence Procurement and Supply Chain Summit, BAE Systems Naval Ships Engineering Director Stuart Justice detailed practical steps for SMEs to enter the defence supply chain, including using the official supplier portal, avoiding cold calls, and meeting compliance requirements such as ISO 9001, cyber security standards, and insurance. He highlighted specific areas where BAE seeks SME support, including marine autonomy, modularity, and advanced coatings, and noted that around 40% of a ship's cost is procured through the supply chain, with over 3,000 SMEs already in BAE's tier one supply chain.