The year 2025 proved to be another dramatic and unpredictable chapter in British politics, defying Prime Minister Keir Starmer's pledge to move away from Westminster soap opera. Labour grappled with the realities of government, while the political landscape fractured with the remarkable rise of Reform UK and persistent global instability.
A Year of Political Upheaval and Shifting Alliances
The political establishment was rocked as Nigel Farage's Reform UK took a lead in a YouGov poll for the first time in February, marginalising the Conservatives and establishing a new major force. This surge was cemented when Reform's Sarah Pochin won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in May, toppling Labour. The party's influence grew in local councils, though it faced internal scandals, including the conviction of its former Welsh leader, Nathan Gill, for taking Russian bribes.
On the left, the Greens found new energy under leader Zack Polanski, while Jeremy Corbyn's fledgling Your Party was beset by chaos from its launch in July. The Conservative conference in October was described as half-empty, symbolising the party's struggles.
Starmer's Government: Domestic Struggles and a Transatlantic 'Bromance'
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration faced significant internal challenges. Chancellor Rachel Reeves's Spring Statement sparked a major backlash over disability benefit cuts, with government analysis warning 250,000 people could be pushed into poverty. A subsequent massive Labour rebellion in July forced a dramatic watering down of welfare reforms.
In a defining moment of foreign policy, Starmer cultivated an unlikely 'bromance' with US President Donald Trump. After a February meeting in the Oval Office where Starmer offered a second state visit, the Prime Minister rowed in behind Ukraine's President Zelensky following a Trump tirade. The relationship continued at Trump's Scottish golf course in July, with the UK securing a trade deal to shield against US tariffs.
Domestically, the government seized control of Scunthorpe steelworks to prevent its closure, began rail renationalisation, and extended free school meals. However, it was rocked by high-profile resignations, including Angela Rayner in September over a stamp duty scandal and Tulip Siddiq in January amid an anti-corruption probe.
Budget Bombshells and Global Turbulence
The run-up to the November Budget was mired in speculation and leaks. Chancellor Reeves initially hinted at a manifesto-busting income tax hike, only for leaked reports to reveal the plan was dropped. The final Budget saw taxes raised and the controversial two-child benefit limit scrapped, but the entire document was accidentally leaked online by the Office for Budget Responsibility beforehand, leading to the resignation of its boss, Richard Hughes.
Internationally, the world watched Trump's second term begin with sweeping executive orders. The UK moved to a war-footing posture, pledging to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and later to 3.5% by 2035. The year ended with a fragile Gaza peace deal and a controversial US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine viewed as favourable to Moscow.
Other key events included the death of Pope Francis, the election of the first North American Pope, Leo XIV, the passing of the assisted dying bill, and a major shake-up of human rights laws to speed up deportations. As the year closed, Starmer framed the next election as a two-way fight with Reform for the 'soul of Britain', setting the stage for another tumultuous year ahead.
