5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Tuesday (18 November 2025):

Starmer faces a fresh challenge to his leadership over new migration plans: Keir Starmer is facing another major challenge to his authority as angry Labour MPs vowed to force changes to new hardline migration measures that would bring an escalation in the deportations of children and families. The policies – which include the possibility of confiscating assets from asylum seekers to contribute to costs – have caused significant divisions inside the party, with some MPs accusing their colleagues of not taking seriously public anger about illegal migration and asylum. [Guardian]

Farage to deliver ‘shadow’ Budget: Rachel Reeves should slash the foreign aid budget to fill the hole in public finances, Nigel Farage will declare on Tuesday. The Reform UK leader will set out plans for £25bn in savings, which he says would allow the Chancellor to make up her budget shortfall without tax rises. He will also advocate increasing NHS fees for migrants. Reform will propose a series of cuts to “unfair” payments to foreigners, including the development budget, NHS surcharges, and Universal Credit (UC) payments. [Telegraph]

More than half of UK firms are putting investment on hold until after the Budget: More than half of British businesses are putting investment plans on hold until after next week’s Budget while uncertainty over taxes and policy is hitting small firms the hardest, according to a report. The latest Barclays Business Prosperity index survey found 55% of all firms polled are pausing investment decisions until after the Chancellor’s long-awaited Budget, with speculation swirling over whether taxes will or will not be increased. [Independent]

Reselling tickets above face value to be banned in the UK: Reselling tickets to live events for a profit is set to be banned by the government. Ministers are expected to announce the plan in a bid to tackle touts and resale sites which offer tickets at several times’ face value. Restricting ticket touts was one of the Labour government’s election pledges, as fans complained of massively inflated prices for resale tickets for music and sporting events. [BBC]