5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, 28 August 2025.

NHS to lose out on new drugs: NHS patients will lose access to new cutting-edge treatments because of skyrocketing costs, the pharmaceutical giant Novartis has claimed amid a row over drug pricing deals. The warning comes after talks over the cost of medicines for the UK between Health Secretary Wes Streeting and pharma firms broke down last week. [BBC]
Landlords could face national insurance on rental income in the budget: The Treasury is considering a tax increase for landlords in an attempt to boost revenue by targeting “unearned income” in Rachel Reeves’s budget. Officials are examining proposals for applying national insurance (NI) to rental income in the hope of raising £2 billion. [The Times]
Property tax threat is slowing down the housing market: Speculation that the chancellor could announce new property taxes in her autumn budget is likely to slow down an already price-sensitive housing market, estate agents have said. Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering a tax on the sale of homes over £500,000 and the removal of the capital gains tax exemption on primary residences above £1.5 million as ways to boost income for the government. [Guardian]
Reform retreats on migration plans: Nigel Farage said Reform UK’s deportation plan would not include women and children within its first five years, exposing divisions within the party over its controversial migration policy. “We are not even discussing women and children at this stage; there are so many illegal males in Britain,” Farage told a press conference near Edinburgh as he announced the defection of a Conservative MSP to Reform UK on Wednesday. [Financial Times]
On Thursday, Oil was trading flat at $66.33. The pound is trading at $1.35, €1.16, and ¥9.66.