This is adynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help byediting the page to add missing items, with references toreliable sources.
Scotland's "Not Proven" verdict is abolished in all new trials.[1]
Figures indicate that 41,472 migrants crossed the English Channel during 2025, almost 5,000 more than 2024, and the highest annual number since 2022.[2]
2 January
TheFTSE 100 rises above 10,000 points for the first time in its history.[3]
An amber weather alert for snow, which came into force for Scotland from midday, is extended until Monday 5 January, while there are yellow warnings for snow and ice for parts of England and Wales.[5]
BBC News analysis indicates that a record amount of electricity was produced through renewable energy during 2025, with wind being the most prolific.[6]
TheMinistry of Defence announces thatRAFTyphoon jets took part in a joint airstrike with France on a suspected underground arms cache inSyria that was previously used byISIS.[8]
4 January – TheMet Office issues fresh warnings for snow and ice across the UK on Monday 5 January as people return to work and school following the Christmas break. An amber weather alert for fresh snow is also issued for northern Scotland.[9]
5 January
New powers come into force allowingmobile phones belonging to migrants to be seized without their arrest.[10]
A ban onjunk food advertising comes into effect, as part of a drive to tacklechildhood obesity. This affects TV adverts shown before 9pm and online adverts at any time.[11]
6 January
The UK experiences its coldest night of the winter so far, with temperatures reaching as low as −12.5 °C (9.5 °F) inMarham,Norfolk. Snow and ice warnings continue to affect much of the country, closing more than 1,000 schools and causing widespread travel disruption.[12]
The Met Office issues a fresh yellow warning for ice and snow for much of the UK ahead of the arrival ofStorm Goretti. Snow is forecast for the UK for the 6 and 7 January, and for England and Wales for the 8 and 9 January.[13]
Technology SecretaryLiz Kendall demands that social media companyX deals withdeepfake nudes generated by itsGrok AI model, and says thatOfcom is now "looking into this as a matter of urgency."[14]
Prime MinisterSir Keir Starmer announces that the UK and France have signed a declaration of intent to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a peace agreement is signed with Russia.[15]
7 January
TheMinistry of Defence confirms that British armed forces supported the US seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic.[16]
The UK government proposes that learner drivers wait six months between taking their theory test and their practical test as part of plans to improve road safety.[17]
8 January
A red "danger to life" wind warning is issued by the Met Office for south-west England asStorm Goretti heads towards the UK, with gusts expected to surpass 100 mph in some areas.[18]
Tougher rules for people applying to come to the UK on skilled worker or scale-up visas begin.[19][20][21]
The UK government announces it will make changes to plans to increase business rates for pubs.[22]
A review finds that two serial rapists were among 131Metropolitan Police officers and staff who committed crimes or misconduct after they were not properly vetted.[23]
9 January
Storm Goretti brings heavy snow, ice and high winds to the UK, with further cold weather forecast. A yellow weather warning for ice is in force for much of the UK for Saturday 10 January, and a yellow warning for northern England and Scotland for Sunday 11 January.[24]
Defence SecretaryJohn Healey tells reporters that British bases, personnel or equipment will not be used to support US military action againstGreenland, following recent remarks byDonald Trump about the need to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory.[25]
Two people are arrested following protests outside theIranian embassy in London during which a demonstrator climbs on to a balcony of the building.[27]
Weather warnings for snow, rain and wind are in place for Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England until Monday 12 January, before milder weather is forecast to end the cold snap.[28]
11 January
Four people are killed and five others injured in a head-on car crash on Wigan Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester.[29]
BBC News reports that the UK government has paid "substantial" compensation toAbu Zubaydah, who was tortured by the CIA and remains imprisoned without trial atGuantanamo Bay after almost 20 years.[30]
BBC News reports that the UK government has identified a legal basis by which ships belonging to "shadow fleets" can be boarded and detained if they enter UK territorial waters.[31]
The UK government releases apothole map showing which local authorities have been fixed with a new traffic light rating system.[32]
12 January
A major incident is declared as tens of thousands of people across Kent and Sussex remain without water, have low pressure or intermittent supplies, caused by recent cold weather and a subsequent breakout of leaks and bursts.[33]
Ofcom launches an investigation intoX amid concerns that itsGrok AI tool is being used to create sexualised images.[34]
Technology SecretaryLiz Kendall announces that the UK government will enforce legislation in theData (Use and Access) Act 2025 (passed in June 2025) making it illegal to create non-consensual intimate images, and make it illegal for companies to supply the tools to create such images.[35]
A shortfall in UK defence spending promptsSir Richard Knighton, the Head of the Armed Forces, to warn that the UK is "not as ready as we need to be for the kind of full-scale conflict we might face".[36]
Wing CommanderSasha Nash is appointed to lead theRed Arrows, succeeding Wing Commander Adam Collins, and becoming the first woman to take on the role.[38]
The UK government drops plans to require people to sign up to their digital ID card scheme in order to prove their eligibility to work in the UK.[39]
Following his conviction on 5 September, actorJohn Alford is sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting two girls aged 14 and 15.[41]
Home SecretaryShabana Mahmood says she has lost confidence inWest Midlands Police chief constableCraig Guildford after Israeli football supporters ofMaccabi Tel Aviv were banned from a match againstAston Villa after police overstated the threat posed to Israeli fans. Mahmood says that she will reinstate legislative powers allowing chief constables to be dismissed by the Home Secretary.[42]
Ofwat is to review the operating licence forSouth East Water following disruption to water supplies in Sussex and Kent.[43]
Fast food outletTGI Fridays closes 16 of its UK restaurants with the loss of 456 jobs.[44]
15 January
Office for National Statistics data indicates the UK economy grew by 0.3% in November, faster than had been forecast, largely as a result of good performance in the automotive and service sectors.[45]
Shadow Justice SecretaryRobert Jenrick is sacked by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for "plotting to defect". He is later unveiled as Reform UK's latest Member of Parliament.[46]
Downing Street announces it no longer has confidence in West Midlands Police chief constable Craig Guildford.[47]
Ofwat launches its investigation into South East Water.[48]
Hutchison and others v County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, an employment tribunal case between a group of eight female nurses and the NHS Trust, rules that the NHS trust had harassed and discriminated against eight nurses by requiring them to share a changing room with a transgender women and by not taking the nurses concerns seriously.[50][51]
Following his conviction on 12 December, Robert Rhodes is sentenced to at least 29 years and six months in prison for murdering his wife, after new evidence disclosed by their child led to a second trial.[52]
Craig Guildford announces his retirement from the role of chief constable of West Midlands Police.[53]
17 January
US President Trump announces that the UK, along with other European countries, will be hit with a 10% tariff on "all or any goods" exported to the US from 1 February, amid an ongoing dispute over theannexation of Greenland. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer describes the threat as "completely wrong".[54]
The UK government withdraws an amendment to its Hillsborough Bill that would require MI5 and MI6 employees to only give evidence at the discretion of their boss.[56]
South East Water apologises as 4,000 homes in Kent experience problems with their water supply.[57]
19 January
During a speech about the Greenland crisis, Starmer says a trade war is "in no-one's interest" and that the "right approach" is "through calm discussion".[58]
The UK government is to launch a consultation on a potential social media ban for children under the age of 16.[61]
Environment SecretaryEmma Reynolds announces an overhaul of the water industry, including unannounced inspections, compulsory water efficiency labels and MOT-style checks on companies.[62]
20 January
Plans for a controversial new Chinese "mega-embassy" in London are approved by the UK government, amid ongoing debate over the security risks.[63] Downing Street hopes that the 20,000 square metre complex, set to become the largest embassy in Europe if built, will pave the way for trade deals with China.[64]
The UK government announces its £15bn Warm Homes Plan, which will make households eligible for grants to install solar panels and other green energy saving technology in order to reduce household bills.[65]
Inflation rose from 3.2% in November to 3.4% in December, the ONS reports, driven by higher air fares, tobacco, and food prices.[67]
TheParliamentary Commissioner for Standards rules that Reform UK leaderNigel Farage breached MPs' rules 17 times by failing to register financial interests totalling £384,000 within the 28-day limit, but concludes that the breaches were "inadvertent" and do not require sanctions.[68]
ChancellorRachel Reeves says she "would never rule anything out" when asked if the UK would impose retaliatory tariffs on the US.[69]
Data from the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency indicates that instances of driving test cheating in England, Scotland and Wales rose by 50% during 2025, withbluetooth and imposters two common ways of cheating.[70]
Storm Ingrid: Severe weather warnings are issued for heavy rain in large parts of the UK.[72]
23 January – MPs from both sides of the House condemn remarks byUS President Trump downplaying the involvement ofNATO in theAfghanistan War, during which 457 British service personnel lost their lives.[73]
Storm Ingrid causes overnight damage in Devon and Cornwall, with the partial collapse of a sea wall protecting railway lines at Dawlish, and damage toTeignmouth Grand Pier.[75]
NHS England announces plans for a database of cancer genes that would allow people to check their potential risk against developing certain types of cancer.[76]
25 January
Andy Burnham is blocked by Labour's National Executive Committee from standing as a candidate in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.[77]
Storm Ingrid: A clean up operation begins following damage caused by the storm in Devon and Cornwall, with a limited service on theGreat Western Main Line following the collapse of a sea wall at Dawlish.[78]
A group of 86 protesters demonstrating in support of aPalestine Action prisoner on hunger strike are arrested after breaching the grounds ofHMP Wormwood Scrubs.[79]
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announces plans to restructure policing in England and Wales, with the creation of a National Police Service for the most complex crimes, and a reduction in the number of local police forces by two thirds from the current 43.[82]
Former Home SecretarySuella Braverman becomes the latest Conservative MP to defect to Reform UK.[83]
The Met Office issues a severe weather warning for wind and rain ahead of the arrival ofStorm Chandra, the third major storm to make landfall in the UK during January.[84]
Revel Collective, owners of Revolucion de Cuba and Peach Pubs, is to go into administration, with 2,200 jobs at risk.[86]
A study by theCentre for Social Justice suggests there are 700,000 UK university graduates out of work and claiming benefits.[87]
27 January
Storm Chandra hits the UK, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. Weather warnings and flood alerts are in place for many areas, causing travel disruption and closing hundreds of schools.[88]
A plan to capground rents at £250 a year in England and Wales is announced, along with proposals to ban the sale of newleasehold flats and give homeowners greater control over how their buildings are managed.[89]
50 Labour MPs have signed a letter objecting to the decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in a forthcoming parliamentary by-election.[90]
US Coast Guards abduct the captain and first officer of a Russian-flagged oil tanker and remove them from UK territory. The US force sailed the vessel, theMarinera, into UK waters after seizing it south of Iceland on 7 January.[92]
28 January
Starmer travels toChina for talks with Chinese leadersXi Jinping,Li Qiang andZhao Leji. The three-day trip, which includes around 60 British business and cultural leaders, is the first time a UK prime minister has visited the country since 2018.[93]
The ONS reports that homicides in England and Wales have reached their lowest level in almost 50 years, largely due to a 23% drop in knife murders.[95]
Downing Street announces that China has agreed to relax travel restrictions for UK citizens, allowing them to visit the country for up to 30 days without a visa.[96]
AGreat Ormond Street Hospital review into limb reconstruction surgeon Yaser Jabbar finds that more than 100 children were harmed as a result of operations performed by him.[97]
The UK government rejects a compensation claim by the groupWomen Against State Pension Inequality for those affected by the raising of the state pension age during the 2010s.[98]
The UK government announces the continuation of the Warm Home Discount for a further five years, giving around six million low-income households a £150 discount on their annual energy bills.[99]
30 January
Asylum seeker Deng Majek is sentenced to a minimum term of 29 years in prison for stabbing to death Rhiannon Whyte, a hotel worker in Walsall.[100]
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appears in the latest batch of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice. Photographs appear to show him kneeling on all fours over a female lying on the ground.[103]
A second woman alleges that she was sent to the UK byJeffrey Epstein for a sexual encounter with Mountbatten-Windsor.[104]
The files also reveal that Epstein sent £10,000 toPeter Mandelson's partner in 2009.[105]
Peter Mandelson resigns his membership of theLabour Party saying he does not want to "cause further embarrassment" after documents released as part of the Epstein files suggest Jeffrey Epstein paid him $75,000 over three separate payments during 2003 and 2004.[106]
Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch calls for a "full Cabinet Office investigation" into whether Mandelson and his husband accepted money from Epstein during his time as a minister, while Lib Dem leader Ed Davey says Mandelson should be stripped of hispeerage.[108]
The SNP and Reform UK report Peter Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police after emails suggest he forwarded internal government information to Jeffrey Epstein when he was business secretary in 2009.[108]
Former Labour MPDan Norris, 66, is arrested for a second time on suspicion of a string of sexual offences between the 2000s and 2020s.[109]
During a hearing at theOld Bailey, serial killerSteve Wright pleads guilty to the September 1999 murder of Victoria Hall, as well as the attempted kidnap of another woman.[110]
Data released by theMet Office confirms that January 2026 has been the wettest for a number of years for many parts of the UK.[111]
Adult websitePornhub will restrict access to its content from the UK.[112]
A police investigation is launched into whetherPeter Mandelson committed misconduct in office over allegations he leaked government information to Jeffrey Epstein.[113]
Sarah's Trust, a charity founded bySarah Ferguson, announces its closure "for the foreseeable future" following fresh details of her friendship with Epstein.[116]
Two men are killed after a light plane crashes near Manchester.[117]
The UK government publishes its ten year cancer strategy for England, which aims to ensure that three quarters of cancer patients are surviving for at least five years by 2035.[118]
An 18-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder after a student fromDe Montfort University is stabbed to death in Leicester city centre.[120]
FivePalestine Action members are cleared of aggravated burglary after breaching the premises of an Israeli defence company based in Bristol, and are released on bail ahead of a potential retrial for other charges which the jury failed to reach verdicts on.[121]
A ban on asylum seekers using taxis to travel to and from medical appointments comes into force.[122]
2025 North Sea ship collision: At the Old Bailey, 59-year-old Vladimir Motin, captain of thecontainer ship MVSolong, is sentenced to six years in prison for gross negligence manslaughter that left 38-year-old Mark Angelo Pernia missing presumed dead.[124]
During a speech in East Sussex, Keir Starmer apologises to Epstein victims for appointing Peter Mandelson and "believing his lies".[125]
2021 English Channel disaster: An inquiry into the deaths of at least 30 people who drowned while attempting to cross theEnglish Channel in 2021 is concluded. It reports a "significant, systemic failure on the part of government" and highlights three fatal errors – people smugglers overloading the boats, the slow response of a French Naval vessel, and flaws in the Coastguard's search and rescue operations – finding that several of the casualties were preventable. Inquiry chairSir Ross Cranston points to chronic staff shortages and limited capacity ofHM Coastguard inDover.[126]
TheMet Office confirms that rain has fallen on every day of 2026 so far in South West England and South Wales, with both areas receiving 50% more rainfall than usual.[128]
6 February
Building societyHalifax reports that in January, the average price of ahouse in the UK exceeded £300,000 for the first time.[129][130]
More than 70 flood warnings remain in place across the UK, following prolonged and record-breaking rainfall.[131]
TheMetropolitan Police confirm that two properties linked to Peter Mandelson have been searched following allegations of misconduct in public office.[133]
Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, chief executive ofGlobal Counsel, a company co-founded by Peter Mandelson, announces his resignation following revelations about the firm's potential links with Jeffrey Epstein.[134]
7 February
TheForeign and Commonwealth Office announces a review into a pay-off given to Peter Mandelson after he was dismissed as the UK's ambassador to the United States.[135]
Brioche Pasquier issues a recall of some packets of chocolate and hazelnut-filled brioches amid concerns they may contain small pieces of plastic that could pose a choking hazard.[136]
Documents released as part of the Epstein files suggestAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein during his role as trade envoy during 2010 and 2011.[138]
The Met Office confirms there are 88 flood warnings and 223 flood alerts in place in England as the rainfall continues.[139]
9 February
ThePrince andPrincess of Wales issue their first statement on the Epstein files, saying they are "deeply concerned" by the revelations.[140]
10 February – The Met Office issues further yellow warnings for heavy rain for parts of the UK on Wednesday 11 February, while the Environment Agency has 97 flood warnings and 153 flood alerts in place.[142]
The manufacturers of plant-based drinkOatly lose a long-running legal dispute withDairy UK, the body representing UK dairy farmers, over the use of the word "milk" in the product, with theSupreme Court ruling that it cannot use the description.[144]
12 February
Office for National Statistics data indicates the UK economy grew by 0.1% in the final three months of 2025.[145]
Vincent Chan is sentenced to 18 years in prison after admitting to 56 sexual offences, including the abuse of children at a nursery in north-west London. Parents tell the BBC they felt "ignored" after warning childcare bosses about Chan months before his arrest.[146]
The UK government announces that NHS staff in England and Wales will receive a 3.3% pay increase in the next financial year.[148]
Merlin Entertainment reverses its plans to exclude people with autism, ADHD and anxiety from the disability queueing policy at its theme parks following criticism from those who would be affected.[149]
13 February
At a hearing atPreston Crown Court, Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein, who plotted anISIS-style terror attack against the Jewish community in Manchester, are sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum terms of 37 and 26 years respectively.[150]
The High Court rules that theHome Office acted illegally by proscribingPalestine Action as a terrorist group, but the group remains illegal while the Home Office appeals the decision.[151]
Yellow weather warnings are issued for northern Scotland and north east England as overnight temperatures are forecast to drop, bringing the UK a widespread frost following several weeks of wet weather.[153]
February –Topshop is scheduled to return to the high street, with branches opening in 32John Lewis & Partners stores. TheTopman brand is also scheduled to return in six stores.[154]
28 February – The2026 Brit Awards are scheduled to be held at theCo-op Live arena in Manchester, the first time in the ceremony's history that it will be held outside London.[155]
6 April
TheState Pension age begins its transition from 66 to 67 under the Pensions Act 2014.[156]
A new law comes into force in England banning the keeping of allprimate species as pets in domestic settings.[157]
