Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Friday (23 January 2026):
- Fight brewing over Labour leadership: Keir Starmer’s allies have launched a “Stop Andy Burnham” campaign to prevent the Labour mayor from returning to parliament after the resignation of a Manchester MP triggered a byelection. Multiple members of the party’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) predicted it would be impossible for Burnham to make it through the selection process given the number of Starmer loyalists on the body desperate to avoid a leadership challenge.
- Retired civil servants left in pension limbo: Some former state employees across the country have been left with no income this month after the company managing civil service pensions failed to pay them. The Civil Service Pension Scheme, which manages the pensions of 1.7 million public sector workers in the UK, has been unable to provide lump sums or regular payments to many people since Capita took over administration of the scheme in December. [BBC]
- HMRC to replace fines with penalty points system: HMRC will replace for some taxpayers who miss self-assessment deadlines with a penalty points system. The points system, which will replace automatic fines, will be introduced this month for 100 taxpayers who are part of a Making Tax Digital trial, before being rolled out for all those who file a tax return, HMRC said. [Telegraph]
- Private school fee rises ‘to be lowest in years’: Parents will enjoy the lowest rise to private school fees for many years – in a scramble to keep pupils after Labour’s VAT charge. Schools are being “incredibly cautious” because last year’s introduction of VAT on fees has intensified an already fierce competition to attract pupils, an independent schools expert said. [The i Paper]
- On Friday, Oil was trading higher at $63.12. The pound is trading at $1.35, €1.15, and ¥9.41.
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