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News Archive


27/1/2025
Top 10 risks for the government and public sector in 2025 EY reportThumbnail for article : Top 10 risks for the government and public sector in 2025 EY report
Integrated risk management and courageous leadership will help government and public sector leaders mitigate interconnected threats in 2025.   Evolving disruption, plus tension between growing mistrust and public expectations of government, makes managing risk deeply challenging but vital in 2025.  
27/1/2025
Private sector expects activity to fall again - Growth Indicator January 2024
Private sector firms expect another significant fall in activity over the next three months (weighted balance of -22%), according to the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) latest Growth Indicator.  Expectations are broadly unchanged from December, which were the weakest in over two years.  
26/1/2025
Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm Still ProgressingThumbnail for article : Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm Still Progressing
In December Caledonia Offshore Wind issued an update on progress towards one for the biggest offshore windfarms in the Moray Firth.   Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm is looking forward to 2025 having built a solid platform for success over a whirlwind 12 months, with strong project fundamentals to deliver on Scotland's offshore wind ambitions and the UK's clean power 2030 plan.  
26/1/2025
£300 billion Sitting in no Interest Accounts - No matter your amount should you be opening a interest bearing savings account
So many of you love your bank that you make them a gift of your money by leaving it sitting in an account with no interest adding to the bank profits.   Time to take a look at opening another account to move some money to earn interest.  
26/1/2025
Government goes further and faster on planning reform in bid for growth in England
Chancellor continues bold reform of the planning system to deliver on the Plan for Change for working people.   Chancellor reveals new plans for more houses near commuter train stations to kick start economic growth, as government continues its bold reform of the planning system to deliver on the Plan for Change for working people.  
26/1/2025
ScotRail Advisory notice: Storm Éowyn - Sunday 5.00pm
We are sorry to any customers who have been disrupted by the ongoing impact of Storm Éowyn on rail services.  Work continues today (Sunday) to recover the railway from the very significant damage caused by the storm.  
26/1/2025
People are claiming Bitcoin is the new gold It isn'tThumbnail for article : People are claiming Bitcoin is the new gold It isn't
People are claiming Bitcoin is the new gold.  It isn't.  
25/1/2025
Silicon Valley's bet on AI defence startups and what it means for the future of war - podcastThumbnail for article : Silicon Valley's bet on AI defence startups and what it means for the future of war - podcast
From Gaza to Ukraine, today's war zones are being used as testing grounds for new systems driven by artificial intelligence.  Billions of dollars are now being pumped into AI weapons technology, much of it from Silicon Valley venture capitalists.  
25/1/2025
'AI agents' promise to arrange your finances, do your taxes, book your holidays - and put us all at riskThumbnail for article : 'AI agents' promise to arrange your finances, do your taxes, book your holidays - and put us all at risk
Over the past two years, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has captivated public attention.  This year signals the beginning of a new phase: the rise of AI agents.  
25/1/2025
Could AI replace politicians? A philosopher maps out three possible futures
From business and public administration to daily life, artificial intelligence is reshaping the world - and politics may be next.   While the idea of AI politicians might make some people uneasy, survey results tell a different story.  
25/1/2025
The Sun settles with Prince Harry - here's what we still don't knowThumbnail for article : The Sun settles with Prince Harry - here's what we still don't know
Following a dramatic last-minute settlement in court, Prince Harry has again been victorious in his mission to take on the UK's tabloid press.  Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers (NGN) - publishers of the Sun as well as the now defunct News of the World - offered the Duke of Sussex a "full and unequivocal apology - for the serious intrusion by the Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities".  
25/1/2025
Opening the black box: how ‘explainable AI' can help us understand how algorithms work
When you visit a hospital, artificial intelligence (AI) models can assist doctors by analysing medical images or predicting patient outcomes based on historical data.   If you apply for a job, AI algorithms can be used to screen resumes, rank job candidates and even conduct initial interviews.  
25/1/2025
Almost 2 million people in the UK didn't have the right ID to vote in 2024Thumbnail for article : Almost 2 million people in the UK didn't have the right ID to vote in 2024
The 2024 general election was the first in the UK's history to be run under a system of voter ID.  When heading to the polling station, people could only vote if they proved their identity first.  
25/1/2025
Severe weather and disruption expected to continue - 4 .25pm Friday 24 January
First Minister John Swinney has asked people to continue to follow Police Scotland advice not to travel during the red weather warning and to be mindful that dangerous conditions will persist for the rest of the evening while the amber warning remains in place.   It follows a meeting of the Scottish Government's Resilience Room (SGoRR), which is co-ordinating the response to the damage and disruption caused by Storm Éowyn in Scotland.  
25/1/2025
British household wealth increased to £13.6 trillion on the eve of the cost of living crisisThumbnail for article : British household wealth increased to £13.6 trillion on the eve of the cost of living crisis
The latest data from the Wealth and Assets Survey (WAS) shows that British household wealth continued its upward march.   It hit a record high of £13.6 trillion in the two years to March 2022 (equivalent to £294,000 for the typical household), before a likely fall during the cost of living crisis - according to quickfire analysis from the Resolution Foundation, produced with the support of the abrdn Financial Fairness Trust .  
25/1/2025
MPs to examine the Barnett formulaThumbnail for article : MPs to examine the Barnett formula
The Scottish Affairs Committee will hold the first evidence session of its inquiry into the financing of the Scottish Government.   Inquiry: The financing of the Scottish Government Watch: Parliament Live Scottish Affairs Committee During this inquiry, members will examine the current funding model for the Scottish Government and the wider framework for fiscal devolution.  
25/1/2025
Government spends big in the run-up to Christmas - but borrowing still in line with OBR forecasts
Higher than expected spending meant that public sector borrowing in December was £3.2 billion above the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast.   But cash measures show government requirements remain on track in the run to recent new year market jitters, the Resolution Foundation said on Wednesday 22 January 2025 .  
25/1/2025
IEA - Create a new Hong Kong in the UK, economist argues
In a new report for the Institute of Economic Affairs, Economist Vera Kichanova argues that the UK could and should create new self-governing cities like Hong Kong within its borders, to drive growth and prosperity.   Freeports strategy in the UK is insufficient, adding more bureaucracy and red tape for short term political gain instead of using economic freedom to drive growth.  
25/1/2025
Adam Smith Inst - Tax Loss from Millionaires Leaving the UK Last Year Equivalent to Over Half a Million Average Taxpayers
According to new analysis from the Adam Smith Institute (ASI), the lost annual income tax revenue from millionaires leaving the UK is equivalent to the annual income tax take of over half a million average taxpayers.   According to New World Wealth, 10,800 millionaires left the UK in 2024; New analysis by the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) shows that, in order to make up for the shortfall in income tax, replacing just one millionaire would require at least 49 average taxpayers.  
24/1/2025
SNP Announces Another Giant Waste of £30million On Not Having A National Care Service
Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport had the unenviable task of finally after 3 years and having spent £30million that a new long promised National Care Service was not coming yet.   Instead it is being kicked down the road by creating a National Care Service Advisory Board, on a non-statutory basis - err another talking shop with no powers.