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Advance UK News Diary

May 11-17: Elections fallout, King’s Speech, and Trump visits China

May 8, 2026
  • Slice 1

A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda, from the team at Foresight News.

Leading the week

Keir Starmer’s position was already under threat coming into the local and devolved elections, but the loss of several councils and hundreds of seats in England and projected losses in Scotland and Wales mean the pressure is likely to increase significantly over the coming days.

The Prime Minister is thought to be considering a ‘reset’ speech on Monday to convince voters – and his own MPs – that’s he’s the man to lead the country through the remainder of this Parliament and into the next election, though a dire set of results this weekend are likely to embolden any potential leadership plotters and disrupt what’s looking like another crucial week for Starmer’s premiership.

Monday (May 11): EU foreign ministers gather to discuss Middle East and Ukraine, with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand attending; Deadline for preliminary World Cup squad announcements; Second legs of the Championship playoff semifinals.

Tuesday (May 12): Cannes Film Festival opens with honorary Palme d’Or awarded to director Peter Jackson.

Wednesday (May 13): King’s Speech sets out legislative priorities at the State Opening of Parliament; Princess of Wales travels to Italy, making her first overseas visit since undergoing cancer treatment; Valdo Calocane’s brother testifies at the Nottingham attacks inquiry.

Thursday (May 14): Donald Trump begins two-day visit to China; UK Q1 GDP; Valdo Calocane’s mother gives evidence at the Nottingham attacks inquiry.

Friday (May 15): Donald Trump continues visit to China; Council of Europe foreign ministers meet to discuss migration and ECHR reform; Man in court over Golders Green attack.

Saturday (May 16): Duelling protests as Tommy Robinson leads Unite the Kingdom march and Palestine Solidarity Campaign holds Nakba Day protests in London; FA Cup final: Chelsea v Manchester City; Eurovision grand final.

Sunday (May 17): Israel-Lebanon ceasefire due to expire; Final week of the Women’s Six Nations.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping shake hands in front of Chinese and American flags.
Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok

 

Also look out for...

May 11

BMA begins balloting senior doctors on strike action

Top tax lawyer Robert Venables goes on trial charged with tax evasion

Prince William visits charity in Birmingham

Evacuation of MV Hondius passengers in Tenerife expected to begin

May 12

Lord Timpson addresses Prison Officers’ Association annual conference

EU defence ministers meet

Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel testify at Congressional committees

Tate Britain commission unveiled

May 13

Andy Burnham speaks at BIBA conference

Jonathan Hall addresses POA conference

Doctor sentenced over Matthew Perry’s death

League One playoff semifinals: second legs

May 14

King’s Speech debate begins in the Commons.

Home Affairs Committee hearing on antisemitism

Holyrood’s Presiding Officer may be elected

Israel and Lebanon hold talks at the US State Department

May 15

Preliminary hearing for man accused of attack on Sam Altman’s home

Planned test flight for SpaceX’s Starship using V3 rocket

League Two playoff semifinals: second legs

Drake releases new album

May 16

Peter Kyle, Liz Kendall and Wes Streeting address Progress conference

30-day sanctions waiver on Russian oil at sea expires

SNL UK: Ncuti Gatwa and Holly Humberstone

Dave v Goliath: Dave Allen v Filip Hrgovic fight in Doncaster

May 17

New rail timetables take effect

Elections in Cape Verde and Andalusia (Spain)

Final round of the US PGA Championship

Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia

Key statistics, reports and results

May 11

Childhood mortality in England and Wales

NOAA monthly global climate report

S&P Global/REC report on jobs

China consumer and producer price indices

Results from: Saudi Aramco, Barrick Gold, Compass Group, Fox

May 12

IATA State of the Airline Industry report

US inflation

Universal Credit statistics

BRC retail sales monitor

Results from: Panasonic, Vodafone, ThysennKrupp, Bayer, Imperial Brands, Olympus

May 13

EU flash estimate GDP

OECD economic survey of Japan

IEA and OPEC monthly oil reports

Results from: Alibaba, Tencent, RWE, E.ON, Siemens, Nissan, Nippon Steel, SoftBank, TUI, Porsche, StubHub, Birkenstock

May 14

UK trade

NHS key services performance data

RICS residential market survey

Results from: Honda, AMAT, National Grid, ITV, United Utilities, Burberry

May 15

OECD unemployment figures

Moody’s sovereign review of Ukraine

May 16

Israel Q1 GDP

 


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