Slow News — 27 June 2026 – 04 July 2026

Keir Starmer resigns as UK Prime Minister with Andy Burnham set to take over; record European heatwave kills thousands; England reach World Cup quarter-finals ahead of high-altitude tie with Mexico.

Record European heatwave kills thousands; UK temperatures smash records

Europe had been experiencing an unusually hot early summer, but the final week of June brought something of a different order entirely. A heat dome pushed temperatures to record levels across the continent, with Germany recording 41.7°C for three consecutive days, the Czech Republic hitting 41.1°C at Doksany, and Poland reaching 40.5°C in Słubice — all national records. The WHO's director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported more than 1,300 excess deaths linked to high temperatures since 21 June, with France alone recording around 1,000 more deaths than expected in a single week, predominantly among people aged 65 and over. The UK recorded a provisional June record of 37.7°C. As the week closed, the heat dome shifted west across the Atlantic, placing some 250 million Americans under dangerous heat conditions ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. Forecasters then warned Britain to expect a second prolonged heatwave in July, likely exceeding 30°C.

Slow Brief: Europe is warming at twice the global average rate, and the infrastructure of daily life — homes, schools, workplaces — was not designed for these temperatures. Back-to-back heatwaves with mounting death tolls are no longer projections; they are the recurring rhythm of European summers.

US-Iran conflict threatens Gulf ceasefire; Strait of Hormuz tensions ease

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated since June, centring on control of the Strait of Hormuz. Following a 14-point memorandum agreed on 18 June, Iran launched drone and missile strikes on 28 June after fresh US strikes in southern Iran. Kuwait and Bahrain reported interceptions and damage respectively. By Sunday evening, both sides agreed to stand down, allowing vessels through the strait. However, deeper disagreement persists: Iran rejected an IMO-brokered shipping route and insists only Tehran can lift its blockade, giving it leverage over energy markets and nuclear negotiations. Oman has been facilitating diplomatic talks, with reports of planned discussions in Doha.

Slow Brief: The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20% of global oil supply. Iran's maximalist reading of the memorandum—that only Tehran can lift the blockade—grants considerable leverage over both energy markets and the timeline of any nuclear negotiations. Western governments will be watching the Doha talks closely; energy exposure to Gulf instability is significant.

Starmer resigns as Prime Minister; Andy Burnham poised to take No. 10

Makerfield had long been a safe Labour seat; Burnham's landslide victory there signalled a shift in the party's centre of gravity and crystallised doubts about Starmer's leadership. On 22 June, Starmer announced his resignation. In his first post-resignation interview, he told the BBC he held no personal animosity towards Burnham and would not publicly advise his successor. By early July, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester was widely regarded as Labour's next leader and the country's next Prime Minister, with an agenda centring on tax reform, devolution, and housing.

Slow Brief: A leadership transition of this kind reshapes government priorities across every department, and Burnham's emphasis on devolution in particular will have significant implications for how power and public spending are distributed between Westminster and England's regions. Parliament returns shortly, and the pace at which a new administration takes shape will determine how much of the legislative agenda survives intact.

UK Politics

Defence spending 'black hole' left for incoming Prime Minister

NATO members have called for increased defence spending; the UK committed to the increase but struggled to find funding. Keir Starmer's government announced a £15bn uplift in military spending over four years, with Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis securing an additional...