The UK and Norway are now taking quite different strategic approaches to the North Sea even though both still need oil and gas. Norway has decided that fossil fuels remain central to its economy and Europe’s energy security for decades ahead.
There is now fairly strong evidence behind the widely discussed prediction that the UK energy price cap could rise by around 13% from 1 July 2026. The main source is energy consultancy Cornwall Insight, whose forecasts are closely watched because they model Ofgem’s actual pricing formula.
the UK deliberately chose a competitive market model rather than a single regulated “best price” system — and changing that would require a major political and legal overhaul. Here’s what’s going on.
The main change just announced in the UK tax system is a rise in the tax-free mileage allowance for people using their own vehicle for work journeys. From the 2026/27 tax year: The Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rate rises from 45p to 55p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles.
The number of children living in the private rented sector (PRS) has almost tripled over the last quarter century, from 1.1 million children in 2000-01 to 3.2 million in 2024-25. As a result, children are now more likely than working-age adults to live in the PRS (23 per cent compared to 22 per cent) as it increasingly becomes a permanent tenure for many young families, the Resolution Foundation said on Saturday 23 May 2026.
£96 million to be allocated to create tens of thousands of placements on building sites across the country to plug skills gaps and boost housebuilding. Although the headline announcement was mainly framed around regional funding in England, there are indirect and potentially some direct implications for Scotland too.
Applications open for operators to join the self-driving vehicles pilot scheme. Applications open for operators to run taxi, bus and private hire-style self-driving vehicles, in British first passengers could book journeys through operators later this year.
A new planning policy aimed at influencing some lighting requirements in new developments that are subject to planning control will be considered by members of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee when they meet on Thursday (28 May 2026). The proposed Dark Skies Draft Planning Policy sets out how the Council could reduce light pollution across Highland, supporting environmental protection, community financial and tourism benefits and sustainable development.
Most households think saving money means cutting back on things they enjoy. But the truth is far simpler: the biggest, easiest savings come from questioning the things you do out of habit, not out of need.
Scotland’s councils need greater ambition to redesign services, with financial pressures growing and demand continuing to rise. Councils have been changing how they work and deliver services for years, making significant savings.
The Pensions Commission has (19 May 2026) published its interim report on the state of retirement saving in the UK, setting out the key challenges facing the current system and where it will focus its work next. Interim report highlights key challenges in retirement saving across the UK with 15 million people currently undersaving for retirement.
A major new report from the Fraser of Allander Institute argues that Scotland has quietly built one of the most successful early-stage investment ecosystems in the world. This is heloing to create thousands of jobs, support high-tech startups and channel billions of pounds into risky young companies that traditional lenders would often avoid.
Vital emergency services, military operations and British businesses will be better protected through a new system to protect UK satellites and the services they provide from space. First time images from Noctis-1 space telescope are released, capturing objects such as the International Space Station and the UK’s SKYNET military communications satellites.
Most people think the next economic crisis will begin when shortages become obvious and prices start soaring. I disagree.
Long-term immigration is where an individual moves to the UK for 12 months or more. Long-term emigration is where an individual leaves the UK for 12 months or more.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is not just another geopolitical shock. It is the beginning of a physical supply crisis that could transform the British economy and everyday life.
The Highland Council has installed automatic bollards on Fort William High Street as part of the Fort William Pedestrian Improvement Scheme. The High Street pedestrian zone will commence from Monday 25 May 2026.
April 2026 delivered a sharp reminder that Britain’s retail sector is still on shaky ground. Despite a 0.5% rise in sales volumes over the three months to April, the month itself saw a 1.3% fall — the steepest drop since May 2025.
A new draft Public Transport Strategy for 2026–2036 will be considered by Members of the Economy & Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 28 May 2026, setting out an ambitious vision to strengthen and modernise public and community transport across Highland. The proposed strategy builds on the Local Transport Strategy Delivery Plan agreed in February 2026 and responds to key challenges, including a shrinking local bus network, rising contract costs, and evolving travel patterns.
A £1.25 million project to transform Wick town centre into a more welcoming, attractive and pedestrian friendly space is continuing to make steady progress, with completion now expected this summer. This represents an extension to the original timeline, however, a phased approach to opening, starting this month, will minimise disruption for visitors, local residents, and businesses.