Latest News
30/4/2024
First Minister Humza Yousaf Stands Down
on 29th April 2024 Humza Yousaf SNP First minister of Scotland announced he is standing down. The announcement last week that he was ending the Bute House agreement with the Green Party started the slide to the end.30/4/2024
Online Voluntary National Insurance Payments Service Launches
Find out if voluntary National Insurance contributions will boost your State Pension. The government is making it easier for customers to check for and fill any gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record to help increase their State Pension by launching a new online service today (29 April 2024).
30/4/2024
Pay Packets Worth Less Than 2008 In Nearly Two-thirds Of UK Local Authorities - TUC Analysis Reveals
Pay packets are still worth less than in 2008 in nearly two-thirds (63%) of UK local authorities, according to new TUC analysis, published today (Monday 29 April 2024). The analysis of official statistics shows that 16 years on from the global financial crisis, wages are set to be lower - in real terms - in 212 out of 340 UK local authorities in 2024.Today
Large Company Accounts Are Works Of Fiction - Richard Murphy
The accounts of large companies in the UK are complete works of fiction. Now, I don't make that claim lightly.
Today
Unearthed From Greenpeace Exposes Tory Dirty Tricks Using Multiple Facebook Groups
Hi folks, Crispin here, one of the editors at Unearthed. I'm writing to let you know about an investigation we've just published.Today
What Does The End Of The Bute House Agreement Mean?
On 25 April 2024 it was announced that the Scottish Government Cabinet had agreed to end the Scottish Government's formal co-operation agreement with the Scottish Green Parliamentary Party (often referred to as the ‘Bute House agreement') with immediate effect. This blog considers the cooperation agreement, the circumstances which led to it being ended and what this may mean for government in Scotland.
Today
DWP Disability Benefit Cuts Will Impact 450,000 People - But Very Few Will Actually Find Paid Work
The Big Issue magazine has outlined its view of the affects of the UK governments proposed changes for claimants. Forecasts show that the DWP's disability benefit cuts will not have the intended results of pushing people into work.Today
Changes To Annual Heavy Vehicle Testing Start Today
From today, Monday 29 April 2024, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will no longer be issuing paper certificates for heavy vehicles (HGV/PSVs, Trailers) that have passed their annual test. Certificates will be able to be viewed, downloaded and printed freely from the MOT History Service (MOTH) throughout the year.
Today
New Laws To Protect Consumers From Cyber Criminals Come Into Force In The UK
From today, regulations enforcing consumer protections against hacking and cyber-attacks will take effect, mandating that internet-connected smart devices meet minimum-security standards by law. World-first laws protecting UK consumers and businesses from hacking and cyber-attacks take effect today (29 april 2024).
Today
Can They Fix It? CMA Report Looks At Property Factoring Arrangements On Housing Estates
An article from spice-spotlight.scot. The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently published the final report of its market study into housebuilding in England, Wales and Scotland.Yesterday
Statement From Welsh Secretary And Chair Of The Tata Steel/port Talbot Transition Board
Secretary of State for Wales-led Transition Board agrees broad support plan for those affected by Tata's move to greener steel. On Thursday 25th April 2024 the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board met to agree the way forward to release funds to help the thousands affected by Tata's decision to move to greener steel-making at its Port Talbot plant.
Yesterday
HMRC Research - Impacts Of 2018 To 2019 Scottish Income Tax Changes On Intra-UK Migration And Labour Market Participati
From the tax year 2018 to 2019, the Scottish Government introduced 2 new Income Tax bands, as well as increasing the rates for 2 of the existing bands. As a result, Scottish taxpayers on higher incomes experienced an increase in the proportion of income which is paid in tax, whilst taxpayers on lower incomes experienced a decrease in the proportion of income which is paid in tax.Yesterday
Government Work Scheme Delivers Almost 100,000 Placements Highlighting Britain's New Approach To Welfare
Almost 100,000 workplace training places have been delivered in the past year for jobseekers, smashing the Government's 80,000 annual target, new data has revealed. Record number of workplace training places have been delivered this year helping boost jobseeker skills and the economy.Yesterday
Is There A Better Way To Pay For The Nhs? - A Podcast
The NHS is front and centre of a general election campaign. Rishi Sunak has placed the NHS at the heart of the five pledges he wants to voters to judge him on, while Keir Starmer has made NHS reform one of the five missions which he says would drive a Labour government.
Yesterday
Royal Navy Ship Joins International Effort To Build Pier For Aid Delivery Into Gaza By Sea
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Cardigan Bay will support the US military as it builds a new temporary pier to deliver aid directly into Gaza. Royal Navy support ship RFA Cardigan Bay is sailing from Cyprus to provide support to an international effort to build a temporary pier to allow delivery of humanitarian aid directly from the sea.
Yesterday
Air Strikes Against Daesh - RAF Launched A Guided Bomb
The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Sunday 21 April 2024 - RAF Typhoons struck a rocket launcher in northwest Iraq.
Yesterday
Humza Yousaf's Precarious Position Puts The SNP - And Scotland - At A Crossroads
The Institute for Government has set out the legal position regarding the Vote of No Confidence and likelihood of an election. The Scottish government has been plunged into crisis by the dissolution of the cooperation agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens following disputes over climate and gender policy.27/4/2024
I Might As Well Stop And Diversify Into Holiday Lets - New Research Reveals The Reality Of Farming After Brexit
The UK's farming landscape has changed dramatically since Brexit. Agricultural policy has been adjusted, and EU subsidies, which funded UK farming for decades, are no more.
27/4/2024
Scottish Government Extra Money For Housing From Scottish Government Goes Nowhere Near Tackling The Problem
Efforts to boost affordable housing supply by acquiring properties to bring into use for affordable housing and help reduce homelessness will be given an £80 million uplift over the next two years. The funding, announced by First Minister Humza Yousaf on a visit to Hillcrest Housing Association's Derby Street development in Dundee, will increase the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget to nearly £600 million in 2024-2025.27/4/2024
