5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Friday (3 October 2025).

Bad budget news expected for Reeves: Britain’s fiscal watchdog is poised to deliver a £20 billion blow to Chancellor Rachel Reeves by downgrading its forecasts ahead of the Budget. The embattled Chancellor will on Friday receive initial predictions from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) about the state of the economy, which will underpin her autumn tax and spending plan set to be unveiled on November 26. [Telegraph]

Chancellor could raise £45 billion in taxes: Reeves could raise as much as £45bn in taxes without breaking Labour’s manifesto promises, according to a City report. Economists at the US investment bank Morgan Stanley said they expected the chancellor to use next month’s budget to announce billions of pounds in tax increases to cover a potential £30bn shortfall in the public finances. [Guardian]

Software giant Palantir snubs UK’s ‘undemocratic’ digital ID: Palantir has ruled out helping the government to implement its digital ID card scheme, saying it lacks democratic legitimacy. The group said it would not be participating in the scheme and warned it was a “programme that needs to be decided at the ballot box”. The US-based company had been touted as a potential bidder as it specialises in managing vast amounts of data from different sources. [Times]

Storm Amy upgraded to amber warning: Storm Amy has been upgraded from a yellow to an amber warning for large parts of north and west Scotland. The Met Office has warned of widespread winds reaching 60-70mph, with more exposed areas seeing gusts in excess of 95mph. The warning is in place from 17:00 Friday to 09:00 on Saturday, external. A yellow warning for wind , externalgusting to up to 60mph – and up to 70mph in exposed areas – has been issued for all of Scotland, Northern Ireland and large parts of north and west England and Wales, from 15:00 on Friday to midnight on Saturday. [BBC]