5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Wednesday (12 November 2025):

Starmer’s leadership under threat: Downing Street has launched an extraordinary operation to protect Keir Starmer amid fears among the prime minister’s closest allies that he is vulnerable to a leadership challenge in the wake of the budget. Starmer’s most senior political aides warned that any attempt to oust the prime minister over tanking poll ratings would be a “reckless” and “dangerous” move that could destabilise the markets, international relationships, and the Labour Party. [Guardian]

NHS to make thousands of redundancies: Thousands of NHS staff redundancies in England will now go ahead after a deal was reached with the Treasury to allow the health service to overspend this year to cover the cost of pay-offs. The government said earlier this year that 18,000 admin and managerial jobs would go with NHS England, the body that runs the NHS, being brought into the Department of Health and Social Care alongside cuts to local health boards. [BBC]

Reeves to target six-figure earners: Six-figure earners could lose as much as £50,000 from their retirement pots if the chancellor goes ahead with cuts to salary sacrifice schemes. However, Rachel Reeves is expected to cap at £2,000 a year the amount that someone can sacrifice without incurring national insurance payments. Those earning less than £50,270 would pay national insurance contributions at 8%, with those above paying an additional 2%. [The Times]

Money-printing spree saved £125 billion, says Bank of England: Andrew Bailey has claimed that money-printing by the Bank of England has saved the Government as much as £125 billion. The Bank’s Governor said new analysis showed the policy of creating money to buy bonds during crises had aided the public finances over the past 15 years by pushing down borrowing costs. [Telegraph]