UK Morning Brief: Trade Deficit Alarm, EU Snub, Supercomputer Delays, Barracks Blaze, and Tax Rebellion

The UK's food and drink trade deficit has ballooned to £21bn – the largest since 2000 – with exports down 11.7% in the first half of 2026. Brexit disruptions, Middle East war fallout, and US tariffs are squeezing British producers while imports soar, prompting industry leaders to demand government action on national security grounds.

2. France Leads EU Push to Shut UK Out of 'Made in Europe' Rules

France is driving a campaign to exclude the...