News Archive
20/4/2024
PM to overhaul benefits system and tackle Britain's sick note culture in welfare reform speech
In a major speech on Friday 19 April 2024, the Prime Minister unveiled a package of welfare reform measures to tackle the unprecedented rise in economic inactivity and ensure our benefits system is better targeted at those who need it most. PM to announce plans to overhaul benefits system to ensure people who are fit to work aren't left behind on benefits.
20/4/2024
The Freezing by Scottish Government Of Capital Spending Hits Shetland Hospital
Every part of Scotland is hit by the freeze on capital spending by Scottish Government. The Shetland Times has highlighted the issue in the long running campaign to renew the Gilbert Bain hospital.20/4/2024
UK Government Sells Assets For Efficiency And To Help Deficits
The latest figures released today in the government's annual State of the Estate report, highlight the significant progress being made to make the public estate more sustainable and efficient. Over £163 million in savings was secured last year due to reduced overall energy consumption across government buildings.20/4/2024
UK And US Sanction Leading Iranian Military Figures And Entities Following The Attack On Israel
The UK sanctioned a further 7 individuals and 6 entities that enabled Iran's destabilising activity in the Middle East, including its direct attack on Israel. On Thursday 18 April 2024 the UK has sanctioned a further 7 individuals and 6 entities who have enabled Iran to conduct destabilising regional activity, including its direct attack on Israel.19/4/2024
Taxing Land In Scotland And Replacing Council Tax
A proposal for a Local Authority controlled Land Tax with projected revenue for each Local Authority in Scotland. Land is possibly the greatest immovable asset and store of wealth in Scotland that is not currently taxed.
19/4/2024
Dingwall And Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 17 April 2024
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (April, 17th) sold 1,101 store cattle and 63 OTM cattle. Bullocks (553) averaged 312.0pp per kg and sold to 383.1p per kg for a 355kg Limousin cross from Wester Tomloan, Nairn, and £1,680 gross for a pen of 588kg Limousin crosses from 2 Hallum, Forss.19/4/2024
Live Scotonomics Special With Professor Richard Murphy - The Wealth Report Discussion
The video is almost 53 minutes but well worth watching if you really want to understand wealth, taxes and debt. This month marks the start of a new tax year, during which we will inevitably have a new government.
19/4/2024
A 3% Inflation Target Would Work Just As Well As A 2% One
The UK's inflation target is 2%, but 3 per cent would do just as well. Let me explain.
19/4/2024
A 10% Student Tax Is Unfair
Why are we imposing tax rates only designed for those with much higher incomes onto students earning little more than the minimum wage? It makes no sense, at all. Why are so many people paying up to 38 per cent tax on quite, well, average levels of earnings in the UK? As we know, the basic rate of income tax on earnings up to £50,270 a year in the UK in 2024 is supposedly 20%.
19/4/2024
Britain's Super Rich Unlikely To Move To Boring' And Culturally Barren Tax Havens
The vast majority of Britain's extremely wealthy people would never leave the country for tax reasons, partly due to the stigma involved in doing so, according to new research from the International Inequalities Institute at LSE. Tax advantageous destinations are widely regarded by the wealthy as ‘boring' and ‘culturally barren' and tax migrants are judged on moral grounds as unduly economically self-interested.18/4/2024
New Disability Benefit For Pensioners - Replacement For Attendance Allowance
Pensioners in five Scottish local authorities will be the first in the country eligible for a new disability benefit, subject to parliamentary approval of regulations. From 21 October 2024, Pension Age Disability Payment - the replacement for Attendance Allowance - will be piloted in Argyll & Bute, Highland, Aberdeen City, Orkney and Shetland.18/4/2024
Minimum Unit Pricing Rise - Price Increases For Wine, Beer And Spirits
The minimum price per unit of alcohol will increase by 15 pence after the Scottish Parliament approved plans to continue with the public health measure. As part of a ‘sunset clause' when Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) legislation was introduced in 2018, it had been due to end on 30 April, however today's vote by MSPs ensures its continuation.
18/4/2024
Trading Standards - Delivery Scams
According to our Big Scottish Scam Survey, the most common scams are related to deliveries, with 55% of respondents having experienced a delivery scam last year. One recent scam text message reads: "EVRI mail package in process of transportation due to damage to the outer package, address information is lost, can not be delivered.
18/4/2024
Trading Standards - Doorstep Scams - Driveways
There have been several recent reports of cold callers offering to carry out work on properties including gardening and driveway cleaning. One man paid cold callers £700 in cash to clean his slabs.
18/4/2024
Boost To Everyday Charitable Donations Through New VAT Relief
Consultation on VAT relief on everyday charitable donations will be launched before 23 July 2024. New VAT relief to encourage businesses to donate everyday items to charity will be consulted on.18/4/2024
3% Inflation Just Fine - Richard Murphy
The Bank of England is determined to keep interest rates high, create a recession and keep unemployment high until inflation hits 2%. But no one knows why 2% is the right inflation target.
18/4/2024
UK No Longer An Outlier On Inflation As It Falls Below The US Rate For First Time Since In Two Years
CPI inflation fell to 3.2 per cent in March - falling below the US inflation rate (CPI for All Urban Consumers) of 3.5 per cent for the first time since March 2022 (but still above the Eurozone rate of 2.4 per cent) – bringing an end to the UK's unwanted status as an outlier on inflation, the Resolution Foundation said on Wednesday in response to the latest ONS data. The latest fall was less than markets expected, but driven by a welcome fall in food inflation (down to 4 per cent, from 19.1 per cent last year).17/4/2024
New Members Of The Scottish Youth Parliament Elected For Highland - Wick Representative Megan Travers
The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) has welcomed five new Highland members following the outcome of recent elections. Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) are elected every two years and become the voice of Scotland's young people.
17/4/2024
Wick RNLI Lifeboat Launched To Assist Round Britain Rower
Wick RNLI lifeboat the Roy Barker II was launched at 7:15pm on Sunday 14 April to go to the assistance of a round Britain rower. The rower had successfully passaged through the Pentland Firth and was making his way down the east coast towards Freswick when there was a change of wind direction which made getting around the headland against both wind and tide very difficult.
17/4/2024
