The United Kingdom has witnessed its sunniest spring on record in 2025, with the Met Office reporting an unprecedented 630 hours of sunshine between March 1 and May 27. This figure surpasses the previous record of 626 hours set in 2020, marking a significant milestone in the country's meteorological history. With data collection beginning in 1910, this year's achievement highlights a notable trend towards brighter springs, with seven of the top ten sunniest springs occurring since the year 2000.

Emily Carlisle, a scientist at the Met Office, remarked on the exceptional nature of this spring, noting that while 2020 was remembered for its sunny days, 2025 has now taken the lead. Despite the record-breaking sunshine, Carlisle cautioned that with a few days remaining in the season and unpredictable weather on the horizon, it's premature to conclude how other seasonal records might be affected. The Met Office is set to release further details on rainfall and other meteorological statistics later this week.

The trend of increasingly sunny springs in the UK aligns with broader climate change patterns, where extreme and fluctuating weather events are becoming more common. Last year's spring, in stark contrast, was one of the dullest on record with only 377 hours of sunshine. This year's record not only reflects the variability of the UK's weather but also underscores the ongoing shifts in global climate dynamics.

As the UK basks in the glory of its sunniest spring, the implications of such weather patterns extend beyond mere records. Farmers and environmental agencies are closely monitoring the situation, especially after reports of the driest start to spring in 69 years raised concerns over potential droughts and crop impacts. With the Environment Agency already convening its national drought group in response to exceptionally low reservoir levels, the record-breaking sunshine of 2025 serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between enjoying the weather and addressing the challenges it may bring.

London's Metropolitan Police has reversed its longstanding position on grooming gangs in the capital, acknowledging for the first time that it has multiple active investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation. The shift came after an investigation by MyLondon and The Daily Express challenged official statements from both police leadership and Mayor Sadiq Khan, who had consistently maintained there were "no reports" or "no indication" of Rochdale or Rotherham-style rape gangs operating in London.

The investigation uncovered evidence from four separate His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services reports spanning 2016 to 2025 that documented at least six potential victims of grooming gang abuse. These case studies, which the Mayor of London personally responded to according to public statements, described children as young as 13 being exploited by groups of predatory men. The reports detailed how girls were plied with drugs and alcohol, raped in hotels by multiple perpetrators, and subjected to life-threatening situations.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed to Assembly Members at City Hall that the force now acknowledges a "steady flow" of live multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations and a "very significant" number of historic cases requiring reinvestigation. The commissioner estimated these reviews would cost "millions of pounds a year, for several years" to properly investigate, contradicting previous assertions that the force had "not seen" such cases in London.

Political figures including Reform UK MP Lee Anderson and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp have criticized the mayor's handling of the situation, with Anderson stating there is "real, credible evidence that grooming gangs exist in London" and Philp alleging that Khan is "facilitating a cover-up." A spokesman for the mayor maintained that Khan has "always been clear that the safety of Londoners is his top priority" and remains "committed to doing all he can to protect children in London."