Part 3 of the series: Scotland at the Crossroads – Money, Markets, and the Economics of Independence. Launching a new currency is less like flipping a switch and more like carefully rewiring an entire economy while everything is still running.
Scotland has long punched above its weight when it comes to live entertainment. From grassroots music venues and independent theatres to pubs hosting local bands and iconic nightclubs, these spaces have been central to the country's cultural life and local economies.
Geologically, rare‑earth elements (REEs) occur in several parts of the UK — notably in Scotland’s alkaline intrusions, Cornwall’s granites, and Northern Ireland’s basalts — but none are currently mined at commercial scale. The UK Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy confirms that Britain imports almost all rare earths, with domestic capability focused on midstream processing and recycling rather than mining.
Opening today (Tuesday 7 July 2026) the six-week call for evidence will gather views on: modernising the earnings limit to reduce the impact of the current cliff edge, improving predictability for carers with varying incomes, and better supporting those with work and caring responsibilities. Carers, people with care needs and carers’ organisations encouraged to have their say on reforms to be made to the outdated system inherited from previous Government.
The potential new prime minister Andy Burnham has stated on a few occasions his commitment to the pensions triple lock. Is he already eyeing up the next general election?.
Ahead of Secretary of State Peter Kyle’s appearance on Tuesday 7 July, the Business and Trade Committee has asked the Department to reconsider the Government’s “inadequate” response to proposals to improve UK plans for small business growth. In February of this year the Committee reported that small businesses across the UK were facing cost pressures comparable to the conditions of the pandemic, but without pandemic-style support packages.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often portrayed as something that exists in the cloud – invisible, intangible and somehow detached from the real world. The reality couldn't be more different.
Politicians of every persuasion like to describe small businesses as "the backbone of the British economy." It is a phrase so overused that it risks becoming meaningless. Yet the latest figures suggest that backbone is beginning to weaken.
Two new non-invasive diagnostic technologies can be used in the NHS while further evidence is generated to speed up the diagnosis of endometriosis in primary care. Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK, yet the average time to diagnosis is more than 9 years.
When people hear that the US dollar has fallen in value, one question often follows: Does that mean oil – and therefore petrol – becomes cheaper? The answer is yes... but not always.
When unemployment rises, governments take notice and when factories close, headlines appear. But some of the most important warnings about the future of jobs appear much earlier — in places that receive far less attention.
The Japanese yen has fallen to levels against the US dollar not seen for around 40 years. At first glance, that might sound like a problem only for Japan.
The latest business survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides a mixed picture of the UK economy. The good news is that most businesses are still operating.
For decades, people in the UK tended to view air conditioning as something that belonged elsewhere. It was associated with office buildings, hotels and hotter countries rather than their own homes.
Many major tech companies have pledged to pay their fair share of the costs associated with generating and transmitting more electricity to serve large data centers. But ratepayers across the United States are worried about the potential costs they might have to bear.
The winds that sweep across the Western Isles have shaped the region for centuries—sculpting its machair, powering its fishing fleets, and defining the rhythm of island life. Today, those same winds are at the centre of a debate that reaches far beyond Lewis: a debate about how Scotland should pursue its renewable‑energy future, and what communities must weigh when global climate goals meet local realities.
Councillor resignations over taxi‑licence scandal Highland Council saw three resignations after the licensing committee allowed a convicted rapist to retain his taxi licence. The decision triggered widespread anger across Caithness and beyond, with residents questioning how such a ruling was possible.
Views are being sought on plans to introduce two new council tax bands for properties worth more than £1 million and £2 million respectively to help fund local public services across Scotland. A public consultation seeks responses on possible increases of around £720 and £3,600 above the current highest Band H council tax charges.
Part 2 of the series: Scotland at the Crossroads – Money, Markets, and the Economics of Independence. Few questions in the independence debate carry as much weight or as much confusion as the question of currency.
The UK's savings system is dominated by ISAs and pensions. Together, they account for most personal savings.