Global Scans · UK · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Achieving Brexit will dominate the UK's agenda up to and beyond 2020 with uncertainty rife until clear decisions are made on the form of Great Britain's future relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.

• [New] Sustainable infrastructure and finance will be key areas for trade in 2026. / UK Canning House
• [New] Transport for London (TfL) is warning that unclear clauses in the Great British Railways legislation going through Parliament could leave it with long-term uncertainties about its operations. IanVisits
• [New] Only zero emission vehicles will be sold from 2035 onwards. / UK GB News
• [New] The Bank of England, faced with high inflation, has been slower to cut interest rates than expected. The Guardian
• [New] In the UK, one rate cut in 2026 is fully priced in, but several economists predict the Bank of England will ease rates at least twice. The Guardian
• [New] The UK will be the third-fastest growing G7 economy in 2026, with real GDP growth rate of 1.2%, maintaining a mid-table position. PwC
• [New] Starting from early 2026, the age for a free bus pass in England will officially begin its transition from 66 to 67. mplconstructionllc
• [New] The UK government is investing in its semiconductor sector £200 million between 2023-25 and £1 billion between 2025-35, with a bias towards research and development, domestic infrastructure, design / IP, and compound semiconductors. Research Nester
• [New] The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber and yellow cold health alerts for England as temperatures fall below freezing, which could increase the pressure on hospitals. The Guardian
• [New] The UK faces a 1-2GW annual solar engineering, procurement and construction shortfall, and vessel scarcity threatens delivery of roughly 4 2GW of approved offshore wind capacity, requiring near-doubling of installation capability. Financier Worldwide
• [New] From 2026, shipping operators calling at UK ports will be required to purchase allowances under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme. Tunley Environmental
• [New] Amid weak productivity growth and persistent economic uncertainty, the UK government will have to strike a delicate balance between fiscal discipline and the long-term need for green investment. London Business School
• [New] The UK is expected to align its framework, embedding whole life carbon assessment into procurement. Whole Life Carbon
• [New] 2027 will see a major confrontation between Big Tech - and its allies inside the Trump administration - and UK and European regulators. Industrial Estate of Mind
• [New] The SDR acknowledges that the UK faces immediate and persistent threats, describing a security environment in which state-on-state conflict has returned to Europe and competition now spans cyber, space, and the information domain. Royal Aeronautical Society
• [New] The Bank of England is expected to continue cutting interest rates in 2026. Fidelity UK
• [New] The UK Fashion and Textile Association is warning that 2026 will mark a decisive shift in sustainability regulation for fashion and textiles. TEXtalks | let's talk textiles...
• [New] Labour's build, baby, build housing policy means more homes are being built on green belt land, meaning less natural flood defences, more runoff and increased flood risk for existing homes. / UK The Guardian
• [New] UK travel companies are bracing for one of their busiest periods for bookings as winter-wearied consumers plan sunny breaks, with package holiday bookings forecast to be up 5% in January 2026. The Guardian
• [New] There might be new partners, from Canada and the United Kingdom to a loose global coalition seeking to save teenagers from social media. The Parliament Magazine
• We see the potential for a Bank of Japan rate hike; expect the Bank of England to cut; and think the European Central Bank will hold rates steady, even as it turns more hawkish. BlackRock

Last updated: 06 January 2026