5 top UK news stories today (24 March 2026)

Here’s your UK news roundup for Tuesday (24 March 2026):

France migrant deal put on hold

A deal between the UK and France to pay for migrant crossing beach patrols has been delayed because of a hardline stance by the Home Secretary. The deal between Britain and France is being held up by Ms Mahmood’s insistence that payments to Paris should be dependent on results. The Home Office says it wants to add “flexibility and innovation” to the agreement, which would see base funding for the patrols to be supplemented by payments based on how many attempted migrant crossings were intercepted in northern France. The existing arrangement is set to expire next Tuesday, with British officials set to fly to Paris for crunch talks to salvage the deal this week. [LBC]

Royal Mail staff hid post to look like delivery targets met

Postal workers from across the UK have told the BBC they are being asked to move or hide mail from senior bosses so it looks like delivery targets are being met. They told BBC Your Voice they are often told by managers, “take the mail for a ride” when they raise that they have too many parcels to have time to deliver letters as well. Royal Mail bosses are due to answer questions from MPs on Tuesday about the ongoing postal delays impacting millions of people across the UK. The company said it took claims that posties were hiding letters “very seriously” and that 92% of letters were delivered on time. Royal Mail has a legal obligation to deliver first-class post six days a week. [BBC]

Concerns around new tax rules for small businesses

Small businesses are “dismayed” at the prospect of tax rules being tightened under new proposals set out by HMRC. The rules, which are subject to a consultation, would require close companies, which are defined as firms controlled by five or fewer individuals, to provide HMRC with details of all transactions between the company and its participators. This would include all cash withdrawals, loans, debts, dividends, other distributions and transfers of assets to and from the company. [CityAM]

Ministers delay new rules for low-carbon housing in England

Buyers of new homes are likely to be shackled to high gas prices for years to come, as the government has delayed bringing into force new regulations on low-carbon housing. Most newly built homes will come equipped with solar panels and heat pumps from March 2028, according to updated regulations for England called the “future homes standard” (FHS), but the government has relented on plans for more stringent rules under pressure from housebuilders. A loophole in the regulations that allows for wood-burning stoves in new homes could also help to scupper plans for homes to be fully carbon-free. [Guardian]