The latest housing figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in October 2026 reveal an interesting contrast between Scotland's housing market and the experience of people living in the Highlands. Across Scotland, house prices are continuing to rise, although the rate of increase remains relatively modest.
Many of you will have heard politicians recently saying the welfare spending, social payemnts etc are out of control but it is complicated topic and easy to create confusion so we decided to look closer. Starting from an article by Richard Murphy we take a closer look.
The first household energy bills reflecting the price cap increase introduced on 1 October are now arriving, and many families will be looking at the figures with growing concern. Unfortunately, there may be worse to come.
Highland Council is facing another difficult financial challenge, with councillors being told that a further £39.2 million in savings must be found over the next three years to balance the authority's finances. The announcement, made at the full council meeting on 29 October 2026, represents a substantial deterioration in the financial outlook.
Plans to make public procurement for lower-value contracts quicker, simpler and more proportionate have been announced. Subject to Parliament’s approval, the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 threshold for goods and services will be increased from £50,000 to £100,000 and the works threshold will increase from £2 million to £4 million.
From the loss of a direct bus link to Inverness to uncertainty over rural broadband, a difficult council budget and the future of community organisations, the past week has provided plenty for Caithness residents to think about. But there have also been celebrations, local achievements and signs of community spirit.
Ten years after the referendum that took Britain out of the European Union, the relationship between the two sides of the Channel is beginning to change again. The British Government is now openly discussing closer economic and political cooperation with Europe.
Households are already struggling with high energy costs, but the next three months could bring another substantial increase. European gas prices have climbed to levels not seen since the 2022 energy crisis, and the consequences are likely to appear in household bills just as winter reaches its coldest period.
The future of the North Sea energy industry is once again attracting considerable attention. With the UK Government facing difficult decisions about oil and gas production, energy security, investment and the transition towards renewable energy.
The closure of Scotland's only oil refinery and another major plant in England has left Britain with just four operational refineries. As attacks on energy infrastructure disrupt international supplies, Europe is reconsidering the importance of domestic refining.
The Budget Is Over, But Are Britain's Financial Problems Really Solved? The Big Decisions Still Awaiting the Government The Chancellor has delivered the Budget, set out his tax and spending plans and attempted to reassure financial markets that Britain is getting its public finances under control. But the Budget has not settled some of the most difficult questions facing the Government.
People across Scotland are being invited to have their say on proposals to make recycling easier and more consistent. The Scottish Government consultation seeks views on a new household recycling code of practice, which also aims to increase recycling rates and help reduce carbon emissions.
For decades, the United States has enjoyed an enormous financial advantage over the rest of the world. Governments, central banks, pension funds and international investors have been willing to lend America money by purchasing US government bonds, commonly known as Treasury securities.
UK and Ukrainian defence companies have come together at Larkhill Garrison on Salisbury Plain to showcase the latest innovations in battle-proven drone technology. 12 Ukrainian drone manufacturers showcased combat-ready uncrewed systems to UK industry, investors and military officials.
There was a time when governments, councils and public bodies made decisions, explained their reasoning and got on with the job. Today, it can sometimes seem that hardly anything happens without first launching a public consultation.
Local communities across the UK are benefiting from Civil Service jobs coming closer to home, with four in five civil servants based outside London. Over two thirds (c 67%) of all new full-time Civil Service positions in key regional locations.
The Government has found another way to increase the tax burden on people who have put money aside for the future. But there is an important detail that deserves more attention than it received in the Budget announcements.
Young people are increasingly finding themselves caught in a financial trap before they have had a proper opportunity to establish themselves in adult life. New research from debt charity StepChange suggests that borrowing is becoming an increasingly familiar part of growing up, with potentially serious consequences for financial habits, independence and future security.
Britain's private landlords are facing another tax increase, and the question increasingly being asked is whether owning a property to rent out is still worth the trouble. The Chancellor's latest Budget has added a further two percentage points to the tax rates on property income from April 2027.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has kept interest rates unchanged, but the decision offers little reassurance that borrowing costs have peaked. Rising oil and gas prices, driven by the continuing conflict in the Middle East, are increasing the risk of another wave of inflation across Europe.