Storm Austen is bringing strong winds and an amber warning today, while politics, policing and tax also make the headlines. Here is what you need to know.
Amber warning as Storm Austen brings 70mph winds
An amber weather warning is in place for Storm Austen, with winds of up to 70mph expected. The Met Office says buildings will “probably” be damaged. Check the latest warnings before you travel, tie down or bring in anything loose outside, and expect disruption to your plans today.
Source: Manchester Evening News
HMRC wrote off nearly £13bn last year
HMRC, the government’s tax authority, wrote off nearly £13bn in revenue last year, and some people have been told they are not expected to pay. If you have an outstanding tax bill or have received a letter from HMRC, read it carefully and contact HMRC directly if you are unsure where you stand.
Source: BirminghamLive
EU to ask the UK for more Ukraine funding
At a summit in Brussels, EU leaders will press Andy Burnham to contribute more to Ukraine’s defence in 2027, and post-Brexit issues are also on the agenda. Brussels says recent requests to the UK, Canada and Japan for extra financial aid have gone unanswered. Talks between the UK and EU can affect future arrangements for people who live, work and travel between the two.
Source: The Guardian
Met detective criticises force over her rape case
Linda Williams, a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police, has said the way the force handled her case felt “like being raped again”. She was attacked by her colleague David Carrick, who was jailed in 2023 for sexual offences against 12 women. Her comments add to the pressure on the Met over how it treats victims within its own ranks.
Source: BBC News
DUP split over Stormont’s future
Upper Bann MP Lockhart has stepped down as a DUP party officer after a disagreement with party leader Gavin Robinson. Lockhart wants the DUP to withdraw deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the powersharing executive. If the party did this, it could put Northern Ireland’s devolved government at risk.
Source: Evening Standard
Who is the masked man in London?
A man dressed as Batman has been doing good deeds around London, including filling potholes and paying for people’s fuel. He now has a large following online, but nobody knows who he is.
Source: BBC London
UK Today is a curated digest: we summarise and link, the reporting belongs to the publications named. Something wrong or missing? Tell us.
Sources
- BBC London: Who is London's mystery Batman doing good deeds?, accessed 23 October 2026
- Manchester Evening News: Storm Austen LIVE updates with amber warning in place and 70mph winds expected, accessed 23 October 2026
- BirminghamLive: HMRC write offs confirmed with people told they aren't expected to pay, accessed 23 October 2026
- BBC News: Detective raped by colleague says Met handling of case 'like being raped again', accessed 23 October 2026
- The Guardian: EU leaders to press Burnham to pay more towards Ukraine’s defence, accessed 23 October 2026
- Evening Standard: Lockhart quits as DUP party officer amid rift with leader over Stormont’s future, accessed 23 October 2026
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