Latest News

Today

 
Are Politicians Counting on Us Not Understanding the Numbers?

Politics runs on promises.  Build more.  

Yesterday

 
Measles Is Making a Comeback And Britain Has Lost Its Elimination Status

There was a time when measles was becoming something most parents in Britain barely had to think about.   Vaccination had changed the picture so dramatically that measles seemed to belong to another generation.  

Yesterday : Local Authority

 
Do We Need a New Kind of Cemetery? Could Highland's Greenspaces Help Make Funerals More Affordable?

There may be no more appropriate time to ask Highland Council whether we need to rethink the way we remember those who have died.   The Council has just launched a six-week consultation on its draft Greenspace Biodiversity Management Strategy 2026-2030.  

Yesterday

 
Britain's Immigration Numbers Are Changing But the Story Is More Complicated Than the Headlines

Britain's Immigration Numbers Are Changing — But the Story Is More Complicated Than the Headlines Britain's immigration system is changing rapidly, but the latest official figures suggest that there is no single story that can accurately be described simply as "immigration going up" or "immigration coming down".   The Home Office has published its latest Immigration System Statistics, covering the year ending June 2026, and the figures show significant falls in work visas, study visas, family visas and small-boat arrivals.  

Yesterday

 
Britain’s £3 trillion national debt is not what you think - Richard Murphy

The national debt is nearing £3 trillion, and almost everything said about that claim is wrong.  It is not a debt in the way a household mortgage or a credit card is a debt - it is just the nation's savings.  

Yesterday

Almost One Million Young People Are NEET — What Does It Say About Britain's Future?

Almost One Million Young People Are NEET — What Does It Say About Britain's Future? There is a number in today's labour market figures that deserves rather more attention than it is likely to receive.   Almost one million young people aged 16 to 24 are currently not in education, employment or training.  

Yesterday

Are Britain's Universities Becoming the Next Big Financial Crisis?

For generations, the university has been regarded as one of the safest institutions in Britain.   Universities may have argued about funding, complained about governments and fought over student numbers, but there was always an assumption that they would still be there.  

Yesterday

Britain Helped Invent the Computer. So Why Is It So Difficult to Build Data Centres Here?

Britain Helped Invent the Computer.  So Why Is It So Difficult to Build Data Centres Here? There is something slightly strange about Britain's position in the modern data-centre race.  

Yesterday

240 crypto millionaires revealed in new government data - HMRC publishes first official statistics on taxable cryptoasset gains

240 people reported more than £1 million in capital gains from cryptoassets in the 2024 to 2025 tax year official statistics show, accounting for £717 million of cryptoasset gains between them.   Total taxable capital gains from cryptoassets for 17,600 individuals were £1.38 billion in the 2024 to 2025 tax year, with an average gain of £78,000 reported per individual.  

Yesterday

Britain's New Trade Strategy: Why the Cheapest Supplier Isn't Always the Cheapest Choice

Britain's New Trade Strategy: Why the Cheapest Supplier Isn't Always the Cheapest Choice For more than three decades, one principle has dominated the way we have thought about international trade: buy from whoever can supply something most cheaply.   It seems obvious.  

Yesterday

The Government Says Families Have Saved Millions. But How Do We Know?

There is an interesting question hiding behind the Government's latest claim about its Great British Summer Savings scheme.   The Government says families have saved millions of pounds.  

Yesterday : Local Authority

Council Funded Advice services assist 25,000 customers and exceed £30.3 million in financial gains

Almost 25,000 customers were assisted by the Council’s Welfare Support Team and Citizens Advice during 2025/26 for support with welfare, debt and housing issues.   As a result, financial gains for clients exceeded £30.3 million, representing a £18.84 return for every £1 allocated to these services by the Council.  

Yesterday

 
The Economy Is Growing - So Why Doesn't It Feel Like It?

There is something rather strange happening in the British economy.  The latest House of Commons Library economic update suggests that the UK economy has shown “unexpected resilience” despite the continuing conflict and its impact on energy prices.  

Yesterday

Forget the hype and gloom – Britain is experiencing a broad-based productivity recovery

Output per hour has increased at a respectable annual rate of 1.1 per cent on average over the past two years, rather than the dismal 0.2 per cent fall implied by flawed official statistics.   The UK’s productivity recovery present throughout the economy rather than via an AI boom or a retail-and-hospitality bust, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Monday.  

27/8/2026

How Many Petrol Stations Could Highland Afford to Lose? The Ukraine Warning We Shouldn't Ignore

There is a question about fuel security that most of us probably never think about until the petrol station is empty.   How many filling stations could Highland lose before everyday life began to break down? It is a particularly relevant question after what has happened in Ukraine this summer.  

27/8/2026

New Creative Trade Forum to boost UK creative industries announced at Edinburgh International Festival

The Creative Trade Forum, a new partnership between government and industries to boost UK creative businesses, has been launched today in Edinburgh.   UK creative businesses from film, TV, music, arts and more set to benefit from new partnership to help them sell more ideas, talent and products overseas.  

27/8/2026

From pipe band to premium exporter: Scottish shortbread firm scales global sales with UKEF support

Government-backed finance helps Aberdeenshire's Dean's of Huntly scale up production and meet growing export demand across four continents.   A £1 million trade loan, guaranteed by UK Export Finance, enables Dean’s of Huntly to meet rising export demand in Australia, China, Japan, the US and Europe.  

27/8/2026

 
Households can save as plug-in solar panels come to market

Households can save hundreds on bills as plug-in solar panels become legal to use and buy across the country.   Plug-in solar panels now legal to buy and use across the country Households could save up to £110 a year, with panels providing up to 20% of average home electricity use Savings follow government cuts to VAT on energy bills to offer breathing space this winter More families are set to save money on bills as plug-in solar panels become legal across Great Britain.  

27/8/2026

10,000 work experience opportunities for young people as Sainsbury's joins national drive to tackle youth unemployment

Thousands of young people across the UK will get the chance to gain work experience, build confidence and develop skills to help them get ready for work as Sainsbury's launches a major new “Modern Work Experience Programme” designed to help more young people into employment.   Sainsbury’s to offer around 10,000 work experience and skills opportunities to help young people gain experience, build confidence and prepare for work New programme launching from October.  

27/8/2026

Scotlands GDP 2026 Quarter 2 (first estimate)

Scotland’s onshore GDP grew by 0.7% in the three months to June (2026 Quarter 2), compared with growth of 0.1% in the three months to March (2026 Quarter 1), according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician.   In the three months to June, the sector with the largest contribution to three month GDP was Retail, Wholesale & Motor Trades, which contributed around 0.1 percentage points of growth to the overall three month growth of 0.7%.