5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Tuesday (30 December 2025):

HS2 will not be built by 2033: HS2 has confirmed that its aim to get trains running between Birmingham and London between 2029 and 2033 “cannot be achieved”. Birmingham’s Curzon Street Station is currently taking shape in the heart of the city but the divisive high-speed railway project has been plagued by serious challenges. In an end of year update, HS2 insisted that significant progress had been made throughout 2025 with the project now at an “advanced stage of a comprehensive reset”. [BBC]

Three-hour airport queues for UK passengers as post-Brexit rules hit: Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe, said ‘significant discomfort’ had been inflicted on travellers since the launch of biometric registration in October. From 9 January, the number of non-EU nationals required to have their fingerprints and photos taken to travel to Europe climbs from 10% to 35%. By April, 100 per cent of arrivals will be required to submit their biometrics for travel to the Schengen area. [The i Paper]

Brits to hold back spending in 2026: UK consumers are reluctant to spend going into 2026 despite feeling almost as secure about their personal finances as they did at the beginning of the year, according to research. A study by the accountancy multinational KPMG found that concerns about the health of the UK economy were holding consumers back from spending, especially on eating out and big ticket items such as cars and furniture. [Guardian]

Big drop in the value of London homes: Homes in the most expensive areas of London have lost a quarter of their value in little over a decade, as higher taxes have led to a correction in the market. An analysis by Savills shows that prices in the prime central London market, which it categorises as being homes sold for £4.5 million or more, have fallen sharply amid higher stamp duty for purchasers and the end of non-domicile tax status, which has triggered an exodus of wealthy residents. [The Times]