5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Wednesday (8 October 2025).

Labour can’t sugarcoat how badly things are going as leadership race begins: The Labour deputy leadership contender Lucy Powell has told party members that she will not “sugarcoat” how badly the party is doing, promising to challenge Downing Street’s “groupthink” as voting begins. Ballots open on Wednesday for members and affiliates in the race between Powell and the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, with polls for LabourList suggesting Powell is the clear frontrunner. [Guardian]

Starmer says ‘no’ to UK visas for highly skilled Indian workers: Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to resist demands from business leaders to provide more visas for highly skilled workers from India to come to the UK, the prime minister said en route to Mumbai for a two-day trade trip. Asked whether he could allow more visas for the smartest talent from India, the prime minister said this was “not part of the plan”, pointing out that the UK’s trade deal with India signed in July did not involve a substantial change in the visa arrangements. [Financial Times]

Badenoch unveils ‘golden rule’ to fix fiscal black hole: Kemi Badenoch will announce on Wednesday that she will plug the country’s financial black hole using a new “golden economic rule”. The Conservative leader will tell delegates at her party conference that a Tory government would use £47 billion in spending cuts to reduce the deficit, boost growth, and cut taxes. Rachel Reeves, the Labour Chancellor, is facing an economic shortfall of up to £50 billion and is expected to be forced to raise taxes in what will be a difficult Budget next month. [The Telegraph]

Badenoch’s future in doubt: The Tory leader’s future is in doubt. Badenoch’s shadow cabinet is divided over her future, and some shadow ministers are so concerned that they are considering the “nuclear” option of resigning to precipitate a leadership contest. Allies of the Tory leader believe that she has bought herself time with a “policy blitz” at conference, including proposals to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and scrap the Climate Change Act. [The Times]