5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Thursday (4 December 2025):

Wes Streeting orders review of mental health diagnoses as benefit claims soar: The health secretary, Wes Streeting, has ordered a clinical review of the diagnosis of mental health conditions, according to reports. Streeting is understood to be concerned about a sharp rise in the number of people making sickness benefits claims because of diagnoses for mental illness, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the Times reported. He has asked leading experts to investigate whether normal feelings have become “over-pathologised”, the newspaper said, as he seeks to grapple with the 4.4 million working-age people now claiming sickness or incapacity benefit. [Guardian]

Live facial recognition cameras planned for every town centre in the UK: Police could be given access to Britain’s passport database to catch criminals under an expansion of facial recognition technology that could be deployed in every city, town and village. Labour is proposing that police compare photos of crime suspects from CCTV, doorbells and dashcams against facial images on government databases, including the passports of 45 million Britons, and immigration records. [Telegraph]

Energy regulator approves £28 billion in investment to improve the UK’s energy network: Most of the funding in the five-year plan will go towards maintaining gas networks, but £10.3 billion will be used to strengthen the electricity transmission network. Households will see an additional £108 added to energy bills by 2031 under the plan. But Ofgem said that what people would end up paying for energy will only rise by £30, as the investment will help lower reliance on imported gas and make wholesale energy cheaper. [BBC]

Accountants expect price hikes and job cuts following Budget: A chartered accountancy body has urged the government to consult on a path to a single VAT rate to simplify and restore business confidence following the Autumn Budget. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which represents over 140,000 UK members, reported negative overall sentiment toward the recent Budget. Over 70% of respondents believe the Budget will negatively impact their business, with 22 per cent of those in accountancy practices expecting a “very negative” effect. [CityAM]
On Thursday, Oil was trading higher at $62.66. The pound is trading at $1.33, €1.14, and ¥9.42.