5 important things happening in the UK today

Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Friday (30 January 2026):

Trump warns Starmer against doing business with China: Donald Trump has warned the UK against doing business with China, just hours after Keir Starmer lauded the economic relationship during a landmark visit to Beijing. The US president said it was “very dangerous” for the UK to pursue closer ties with the rival superpower as the prime minister’s three-hour talks with leader Xi Jinping underlined a thaw in previously strained relations. [Guardian]

Millions to get £150 off energy bills for a further five years: Around six million low-income households will continue to receive £150 off their winter energy bills after the government confirmed its Warm Home Discount will remain for five more years. It follows a consultation on how best to continue the scheme, which has been in place since 2011, with eligibility widened last year to include a further 2.7 million families. [BBC]

UK business confidence weakens as doubts grow over the wider economy: British business confidence has weakened this month after executives’ view of the global economic outlook declined to its darkest in a year, a survey by Lloyds showed on Friday. Lloyds’ business barometer slipped to a net balance of +44% in January from +47% in December, driven by a 14-point drop in businesses’ net economic optimism to a one-year low of +28%. During the January 5 to January 20 survey period, President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Britain and other European countries that opposed his efforts to bring Greenland under US control. [Reuters]

Asda underpays 53,000 staff after IT glitch: Asda has admitted that 53,000 staff were underpaid by the supermarket after its payroll systems were damaged by a botched IT upgrade. Allan Leighton, the supermarket’s executive chairman, said the company had reviewed its systems and discovered errors in how it calculated workers’ holiday and sick pay in the wake of an overhaul dubbed “Project Future IT”. [Telegraph]
On Friday, Oil was trading lower at $67.29. The pound is trading at $1.38, €1.15, and ¥9.56.