5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Monday (13 October 2025).

Reeves eyes tax raid and spending cuts in crunch Budget: Chancellor Rachel Reeves is looking to implement widespread tax increases and spending cuts in her upcoming Budget to create billions of pounds of extra fiscal headroom to protect Britain from economic shocks. Sources told the Financial Times that senior Treasury insiders are considering possibly doubling or tripling the existing buffer. [Financial Times]
Badenoch demands Keir Starmer addresses questions over Chinese spy case: Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer to demand that he addresses unanswered questions over the charges being dropped against two men who were arrested for allegedly spying for China. “It seems that you and your ministers have been too weak to stand up to Beijing on a crucial matter of national security,” Badenoch wrote to Starmer. [BBC]

Hamas releases first group of Israeli hostages: As part of a deal to end its war with Israel, Hamas has released the first group of living hostages from Gaza. 737 days after they were initially taken, seven hostages have now been received by the Israeli Defence Forces, with a second group of more than 20 living hostages set to be released later today. [The Telegraph]
Greater Anglia nationalised ahead of Great British Railways being established: Greater Anglia became the ninth major passenger rail service to be nationalised on Sunday 12 October, meaning that most major rail operators are now under public ownership. West Midlands Trains is the next service slated for nationalisation early next year, when it is expected the government will establish a new state-owned company called Great British Railways to manage rail services in the country. [The Guardian]