5 important things happening in the UK today
Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Tuesday (23 December 2025):
Starmer told to accelerate reset with EU: Keir Starmer’s government has been told a closer EU trade deal is a “strategic necessity” for companies in Britain as growing numbers of exporters find it tougher to do business under the UK’s post-Brexit agreement. Calling on Labour to accelerate its reset with Brussels, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the UK’s existing trade and cooperation agreement (TCA) was failing to help them grow their sales in the EU. [Guardian]
UK economic slowdown confirmed: A UK economic slowdown has been confirmed by new official figures. The 0.2% figure, for April to June, was itself revised down by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), from its earlier estimate for the period of 0.3%. The cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover, which halted production for weeks, appears to have played a part in the July to September slowdown. [Sky News]
English councils warned against adopting a four-day week: Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has written to all council leaders in England warning them not to introduce four-day working weeks.
The letter is understood to say that “council staff undertaking part-time work for full-time pay without compelling justification would be considered an indicator, among a wide range of factors, of potential failure”.A Labour source said “Voters deserve high standards and hard work from local councils, and seeing council staff working a four-day week just won’t cut it.” [BBC]
UK on track for warmest year on record: This year could be Britain’s warmest on record, forecasters have said.The Met Office said 2025 was on track to become one of the UK’s warmest years, possibly surpassing 2022 to take the top spot.So far, the average annual temperature is tracking at 10.05C (50.09F), ahead of the previous record of 10.03C set in 2022.But a cold spell forecast over Christmas meant the final result was “too close to call”, the Met Office said. [Met Office]
On Tuesday, Oil was trading flat at $60.94. The pound is trading at $1.35, €1.15, and ¥9.50.
