Politics · 16 May 2026

Pound drops 2.2% as Starmer faces challenge

Unsplash / Sarah Agnew

UK government borrowing costs rose, and the pound experienced its weakest performance in eighteen months. Sterling fell 2.2% to $1.332 on Friday, May 15, as Andy Burnham prepared a Labour leadership challenge against Keir Starmer. This drop pushed the currency to a five-week low, its steepest weekly fall since November 2024.

By BriefTea Editorial · 16 May 2026 at 14:21

Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs

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