Economy grows 0.4% & Trump's Ireland comments
The UK economy grew by 0.4% in July, continuing a trend of modest expansion following 0.3% growth in June. While this indicates a slight upward trajectory, experts project total annual growth for the year will remain at approximately 1%.
In political developments, US President Donald Trump has sparked a diplomatic row by publicly endorsing a united Ireland during his visit to Dublin. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and political leaders including Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage have rejected the comments, reaffirming that Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the United Kingdom.
Separately, you may see higher prices at the checkout as extreme weather conditions have impacted domestic agriculture. Recent heatwaves and high winds have caused vegetable yields to drop by 20% to 25%, which could place upward pressure on food costs in the coming weeks.
For those following immigration and border policy, the UK-France agreement on preventing dangerous Channel crossings, which came into force on 6 August 2025, remains a point of focus amidst ongoing discussions regarding its effectiveness in managing migrant arrivals.
For more updates, including the recent record donation to Reform UK, the passing of film producer Jeremy Thomas, and the latest university rankings, please check the News section of our app.