5 top UK news stories today (25 February 2026)

Here’s your UK news roundup for Wednesday (25 February 2026):

Energy bills to fall in April

Energy bills will fall in April following a shake-up in costs by the government, with details of the extent of the drop to be announced shortly. Nearly everyone in England, Wales and Scotland will benefit from a cut irrespective of their tariff, although the amounts will vary between households. Energy regulator Ofgem will publish its next price cap imminently. The latest forecasts suggest households on variable tariffs will see their bill cut by about 7%. [BBC]

Reeves urged to cut bank tax

Rachel Reeves is facing renewed calls to cut tax on the banking sector after new bombshell research laid bare the competitive disadvantage UK lenders are battling against. The Chancellor spared banks from a highly-anticipated fresh tax raid in the Autumn Budget, but a new report, penned by the Association for Financial Markets (AFME) and KPMG, has urged her to go a step further. The AFME argues that whilst there may be political rationale for sector-specific taxes on banks, the burden of any levy is “ultimately transferred to bank services and customers, resulting in increased costs across the broader economy. [CityAM]

UK travel changes to take effect from today

British dual nationals will no longer be able to enter the UK using only a foreign passport, as the government starts enforcing its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. To board a flight, they must present a valid British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement, which costs £589, or risk being denied boarding. Travellers face being blocked from boarding their flight, ferry, or train if they don’t have one of these. Although British and Irish citizens are exempt from applying for an ETA, airlines must now check that passengers have the correct documentation before departure. Non-visa nationals from 85 countries must also have an ETA before travelling, as part of the government’s move towards a fully digital border system. [Sky News]

Rebound for UK housing

Spring has come early to the UK housing market, with a surge in people listing their homes for sale as confidence returns to the sector, a report by the property website Zoopla found. The site said this month was on course to record the highest number of newly listed homes for sale in any February for a decade. Zoopla’s data comes days after the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said there were tentative signs that the UK housing market may be turning a corner after a challenging period that included the run-up to the November 2025 budget. [Guardian]