5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Monday (15 December 2025):

More than 700 migrants crossed the Channel on Saturday: More than 700 migrants crossed the Channel on Saturday after a four-week gap in small boat crossings, according to the latest Home Office figures. The arrival in Dover of 737 migrants on 11 boats marked the end of the longest period without any small boat crossings in seven years. It brings the total number of people making the Channel crossing so far this year to 40,029, surpassing 2024, when there were 36,816 for the entire year. The last recorded arrivals before Saturday were on 14 November, marking the longest uninterrupted stretch since 2018. [BBC]

UK unemployment rate expected to rise further: Young people are bearing the brunt of Britain’s jobs downturn, according to a report, before official figures this week that are expected to show the UK unemployment rate rising to 5.1%. The Resolution Foundation think tank said a “jobs deficit” was pushing a growing number of graduates and non-graduates into unemployment as employers reduced hiring. City economists expect the unemployment rate to have edged up from 5% in September to 5.1% in October, in Tuesday’s update from the Office for National Statistics. [Guardian]

New MI6 boss warns of Russia threat: The new head of MI6 will on Monday attack an “aggressive, expansionist” Russia, warning Vladimir Putin that Britain’s spies will not abandon Ukraine. In her first speech from the MI6 headquarters, Blaise Metreweli will declare Britain’s commitment to Kyiv is steadfast, saying: “Putin should be in no doubt, our support is enduring. The pressure we apply on Ukraine‘s behalf will be sustained.” Describing the risk Moscow poses to Britain, the 48-year-old, who took over as the head of the Secret Intelligence Service on Oct 1, will say: “The export of chaos is a feature, not a bug, in the Russian approach to international engagement and we should be ready for this to continue until Putin is forced to change his calculus.” [Telegraph]

Brits set to face social media checks to attend next year’s World Cup: Britons travelling to the United States have been warned about “intrusive” plans by the Trump administration to demand ten years of email addresses from visitors. The proposal is part of a wider package of measures that includes demands for five years’ worth of social media history from travellers applying for a 90-day visa waiver. Those applying for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta) would have to declare telephone numbers used in the last five years, family members’ names, their telephone numbers, dates of birth, residences and IP addresses and metadata from submitted photos. [The Times]