5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Thursday (6 November 2025):

Bank of England expected to hold interest rates: Policymakers at the Bank of England are widely expected to hold interest rates at 4% following their final meeting before the chancellor’s Budget. Some Bank watchers have suggested that the latest inflation data could strengthen the case for a cut, but most commentators think such a move is more likely in December. In September, the Bank’s governor Andrew Bailey said he still expected further rate cuts, but the pace would be “more uncertain”. [BBC]

Reeves to hit drivers with pay-per-mile tax: Electric vehicle (EV) drivers will be hit with a new pay-per-mile tax in the Budget, The Telegraph can reveal. Under current plans, to be announced by the Chancellor on Nov 26, drivers of electric cars will be charged 3p per mile on top of other road taxes. The scheme, set to kick in from 2028 after a consultation, will mean the average driver faces paying an extra £250 a year. [Telegraph]

Resident doctors’ strike to go ahead: Wes Streeting has failed in an attempt to end the long-running resident doctors’ dispute with a new offer to them, which means their five-day strike next week is expected to go ahead. The Health Secretary tabled a new offer to resident doctors – formerly junior doctors – in England on Wednesday in a move intended to avoid the strike, their 13th. But the British Medical Association’s resident doctors committee (RDC) rejected Streeting’s attempted olive branch and said his proposal was too limited for them to call off their action. [Guardian]

UK warned of crime wave: Police are bracing for huge surges in crime if the Government goes ahead with plans to cut the number of prison sentences and release criminals early. Service bosses are expecting crime stats to rise by up to 6% as a result of more offenders on the streets rather than behind bars. Plans proposed under the Sentencing Bill to ease the prisons overcrowding crisis include limiting the use of short sentences and releasing convicted criminals earlier in their jail terms. [LBC]