Here are 5 important things happening in the UK today, Thursday (5 February 2026):
- Starmer’s days as PM are numbered amid fury over Mandelson: Labour MPs have warned that Keir Starmer’s days as Prime Minister are numbered after a day of fury over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. MPs said that Starmer’s admission at Prime Minister’s questions that he had known about Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein before his appointment was a clarifying moment. [Guardian]
- Bank of England expected to hold interest rates: Interest rates are expected to remain on hold as the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets for the first time this year. The MPC cut the Bank rate from 4% to 3.75% in December, and suggested rates were “likely to continue on a gradual downward path”. The majority of analysts are predicting the MPC will keep the Bank rate on hold at 3.75% when it announces its latest decision at 12:00 GMT on Thursday. [BBC]
- UK’s job market shifting to apprenticeships: The hottest ticket for this year’s A-level leavers isn’t an Oxbridge offer, but a place on a degree apprenticeship. The continuing graduate ‘jobpocalypse’ – which is sweeping away thousands of entry-level job opportunities – has seen unprecedented numbers of students pivot to seek the security of a guaranteed professional job, alongside having their study costs covered. This year, the education platform Higherin reports that interest in apprenticeships is going through the roof. Searches doubled over the past 12 months and are up a further 78 per cent in 2026 already. [The Times]
- Controversial Liverpool Street redevelopment tipped to get green light: The controversial redevelopment of Liverpool Street station has been tipped for approval despite receiving thousands of objections. “Planning officers at the City of London Corporation recognised that the plans would cause harm to a number of heritage assets, including the station itself, but said the issues were “clearly and convincingly justified” given the wider benefits of the scheme. [CityAM]
- On Thursday, Oil was trading flat at $66.78. The pound is trading at $1.36, €1.15, and ¥9.45.
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