Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, 21 August 2025.
- Government borrowing was lower than expected in July: UK government borrowing was lower than expected in July, following a rise in tax and National Insurance receipts. Borrowing – the difference between public spending and tax income – was £1.1 billion in July, which was £2.3 billion less than the same month last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. [BBC]
- Government issues urgent appeal for 5,000 homes to house 20,000 migrants: The Home Office has issued an urgent appeal for 5,000 properties to house up to 20,000 migrants amid an accommodation crisis caused by a landmark High Court ruling. Asylum accommodation contractors working for the Home Office “reached out” to property specialists earlier in August, seeking 5,000 residential units. Insiders suggested each flat would have two bedrooms on average, with space to house four migrants. [Telegraph]
- Rayner hit with legal challenge over data center on green belt land: Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been hit with a legal challenge after she overruled a local council to approve a hyperscale data center on green belt land by the M25 in Buckinghamshire. Campaigners bringing the action are complaining that no environmental impact assessment was made for the 90MW data center, which was approved as part of the Labour government’s push to turn the UK into an AI powerhouse. [Guardian]
- UK green power surges with record approvals: A record amount of renewable energy capacity has been granted planning permission in the second quarter this year, in a sign of the growing momentum behind the UK government’s push for clean power. More than 16.1 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity spread across 323 projects were given permission to start building during the quarter. [Financial Times]
- On Thursday, Oil was trading higher at $66.31. The pound is trading at $1.34, €1.16, and ¥9.65.
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