5 big UK news stories today: Starmer fights to control Labour, new apprenticeship clearing system, Barclays AI job cuts & more (9 Feb 2026)
Here’s your UK news roundup for Monday (9 February 2026):
Starmer in fight to control Labour party
Keir Starmer is fighting to reassert control over his party after accepting the resignation of his closest adviser, Morgan McSweeney, amid anger over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. After days of pressure over the scandal, his departing chief of staff said on Sunday he took “full responsibility” for his advice to send Mandelson to Washington despite his ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, which McSweeney conceded had undermined trust in Labour and in politics itself. [Guardian]
New clearing system to be introduced for apprenticeships
A new clearing-style system will be introduced to match young people who miss out on an apprenticeship with alternative placements, the government has said. Similar to university and college clearing – a process which matches students with institutions that have unfilled places – the online platform will provide information about available roles in their chosen area of interest. Ministers hope the pilot scheme will make apprenticeships easier to navigate and more appealing to young people weighing up their options. [BBC]
Barclays cuts jobs in AI and offshoring drive
Barclays has put dozens of London jobs at risk with plans to move roles to India and use artificial intelligence (AI). The British bank is planning to cut up to 50 staff from its internal advertising unit, moving the jobs offshore by the end of August. Barclays will cut costs by slashing the jobs in London and rehiring a new team in India, where they will be supported by AI tools. The cuts mark the latest effort by CS Venkatakrishnan, the chief executive of Barclays, to reduce spending as part of plans to cut the bank’s total costs by £2 billion. [The Telegraph]
UK CEOs shift investment plans amid geopolitical tensions
Top UK company bosses are being forced to shift or ditch their investment strategies amid rising geopolitical and trade tensions.
The latest EY-Parthenon chief executive outlook survey – which surveyed 100 UK bosses – showed nearly 80% had switched up investment plans due to developments in international trade policy and wider political pressures. Nearly a third of company bosses said they had delayed planned investment as a result of geopolitical flare-ups, whilst another third said they were accelerating due to matters. One in ten said they would scrap an investment altogether. [CityAM]
Financial watch
On Monday, Oil was trading lower at $66.29. The pound is trading at $1.36, €1.15, and ¥9.45.
