After a challenging few weeks, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is likely relieved to welcome the May half-term recess. The past month has been particularly troubling, with catastrophic local election results prompting calls for his resignation. Over 80 of his own MPs have demanded he step down, while potential successors Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham are positioning themselves for a leadership bid.
In an effort to counter the negative headlines, Starmer's government ramped up positive announcements this week. The Treasury extended a 5p cut to fuel duty, slashed tariffs on popular shopping products until 2028, and introduced a savings scheme that cuts VAT on tickets for attractions like theme parks and museums.
However, as is customary on the last day before MPs break for recess, the government also slipped out some less pleasant news. The Mirror has compiled four bits of bad news that ministers published on Thursday.
1. The Andrew Files
Shock files relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's tenure as a trade envoy revealed that the late Queen was 'very keen' for her son to take on a 'prominent role in the promotion of national interests.' The explosive documents show that Sir David Wright, then chief executive of British Trade International, stated that Queen Elizabeth II's 'wish' was for the now-disgraced royal to assume the position. Ministers agreed in February to publish documents related to his appointment, which granted him access to senior government and business contacts worldwide.
Sir David said: 'The Queen's wish is that the Duke of Kent should be succeeded in this role by the Duke of York. The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests. No other member of The Royal Family would be available to succeed the Duke of Kent. The Duke of York's adoption of his role would seem a natural fit.' The documents also reveal that the disgraced royal preferred 'more sophisticated countries,' and there were concerns raised to prevent him from golfing during official functions abroad.
2. Civil Servants Pay
Senior civil servants received an unwelcome surprise on the last day before recess. The government announced it would increase their base pay by only 2.5%, not the 3.5% recommended by the independent Senior Salaries Review Body. Additionally, ministers said performance-based pay will be introduced. The overall senior civil service bill for 2026/27 will increase by 3.5%, but 1% of this will be reserved for performance-based awards.
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones stated: 'The Prime Minister has called for a complete rewiring of the state. In January this year, I set out the need to reward the doers, not the talkers in the Civil Service. It’s pretty simple. Those who perform well should be rewarded. Those who fall short should be held to account.'
3. Equalities Guidance Slipped Out
Long-awaited updated guidance on single-sex spaces was quietly released on the last day before recess. The new code, written by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), confirmed that a service must be used on the basis of biological sex to be classed as single-sex under the Equality Act 2010. The guidance states that hospitals can lawfully provide single-sex wards that exclude trans patients of the opposite biological sex. It also confirms that trans people will not be allowed to compete in single-sex or separate-sex competitive sport based on their gender identity.
The guidance finds it 'unlikely to be proportionate' to stop trans people from using toilets if there is no service they are allowed to use, warning that it could amount to discrimination. It reads: 'In the case of services which are necessary for everybody, such as toilets, it is very unlikely to be proportionate to put a trans person in a position where there is no service that they are allowed to use. If the service provider does not act proportionately, this is very likely to amount to direct or indirect discrimination because of gender reassignment.' The guidance also states that it 'may be legitimate' to ask for confirmation of eligible sex, but advises this should be done sensitively and respect privacy.
4. NHS Pensions
Ministers slipped out an update on removing age discrimination from NHS pensions but failed to provide a specific deadline. The Department of Health and Social Care published a statement on the McCloud remedy, which aims to eliminate age discrimination in public service pension schemes, including the NHS Pension Scheme. In summer 2025, Health Minister Karin Smyth admitted that several deadlines for issuing remediable service statements to members would be missed.
In a statement released on Thursday, Smyth acknowledged 'progress' but could not give specific new deadlines. She said: 'I remain committed to setting deadlines that prioritise the delivery of the remedy to members who are likely to be facing financial detriment as a consequence of the discrimination identified by the McCloud judgment. The deadlines must be realistic and achievable.' She expressed hope that she could 'issue new statutory deadlines with confidence before Summer Recess.'
