News Archive
22/6/2024
Council Budgets Across The UK Have Huge Funding Problems
Why are most of the election programmes hardly mentioning Council Budgets that affect most people very directly across many services. NHS has often been highlighted but councils across UK are in serious trouble financially.22/6/2024
What The Election Date Betting Scandal Really Tells Us About The State Of British Politics
Many stories of political wrongdoing involve an element of plain stupidity - at least the ones we find out about. In fact, many of the most famous scandals in modern history have involved moments where one thinks, "Crikey, these guys aren't half as smart as they think they are." Partygate is a pretty good example.
22/6/2024
Business Insights And Impact On The UK Economy
More than 1 in 5 (22%) trading businesses reported that their turnover had decreased in May 2024 compared with April 2024, which is broadly stable from last month; in contrast, 17% reported that their turnover was higher, while the proportion that reported turnover stayed the same was 52%. Nearly a quarter (24%) of trading businesses reported an increase in the prices of goods or services bought in May 2024 when compared with April 2024, down 4 percentage points.21/6/2024
Solar Panel Email Scams - Trading Standards
There has been a recent increase in reports of scam emails offering grants or funding for solar panels. Some say that having the panels installed will increase your property value and decrease your energy bills, while others mention 'free electricity'.21/6/2024
Gardening Scams - Trading Standards
At this time of year there is always an increase in scams related to gardening and landscaping, where cold callers offer to cut trees, tidy gardens or clear gutters They often ask for money on the spot, either as a deposit or to pay for materials, but don't return to complete the work. Here are some recent case studies: Cold callers visited several properties around Inverness, offering to cut and tidy trees.21/6/2024
Public Sector Finances UK - May 2024 - Borrowing Up - Debt Up
Borrowing - the difference between public sector spending and income - was £15.0 billion in May 2024, £0.8 billion more than in May 2023 and the third highest May borrowing since monthly records began in 1993. Borrowing in the financial year-to-May 2024 was £33.5 billion, £0.4 billion more than in the same two-month period a year earlier and the fourth highest year-to-May borrowing since monthly records began.21/6/2024
Retail Sales Great Britain - May 2024
Retail sales volumes (quantity bought) rose by 2.9% in May 2024, following a fall of 1.8% in April 2024 (revised from a fall of 2.3%). Sales volumes rose across most sectors, with clothing retailers and furniture stores rebounding following poor weather in April.
21/6/2024
Housing Prices In Highland - Latest ONS Report
The Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR) measures private rent inflation for new and existing tenancies. The UK House Price Index measures house price inflation.
21/6/2024
Roofing Scams - Trading Standards
Some of the most frequently reported doorstep scams relate to roofing, where a cold caller says that urgent repair or maintenance work is required. One couple in Aberdeenshire recently agreed to have their roof tiles replaced for a cost of £13,000, to be paid in cash.21/6/2024
Average Private Rents Rose In Highland And Islands
Highland is in the broad rental market area of Highland and Islands. Private rents in Highland and Islands averaged at £668 a month in May 2024.
21/6/2024
Courier Fraud - Trading Standards
There are continuing reports of courier fraud across Scotland, with people losing thousands of pounds to scammers posing as police officers. The scammers typically cold call and say they have concerns regarding fraudulent use of your bank card.21/6/2024
I Can't Wait For The 5th Of July - Richard Murphy
After 5 July the hard work begins. Then we have to work out how truly socially transformative ideas can be promoted so that the 2029 election campaign can be won for the people of this country.
20/6/2024
Curbing The £20 Billion Rise In Working-age Incapacity And Disability Benefit Spending Is A Task For The NHS And Employers, Not Just The Treasury And Dwp
Addressing rising incapacity and disability benefit spending will be a key task for whoever wins the next election. But with the increase driven by Britain ageing, becoming less healthy and experiencing more disability, politicians will need to focus on the underlying causes of a rising caseload, not just on restricting the eligibility and generosity of claims, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Thursday 20 June 2024).20/6/2024
Inflation Returns To Target For The First Time In Three Years - But Concerns About Higher Prices And Strong Services Inflation Remain
CPI inflation has fallen back to the Bank of England's target of 2 per cent for the first time since July 2021 - a welcome return to normality – but worries about the legacy of high prices and stubborn underlying inflation remain, the Resolution Foundation said on Wednesday 19 June 2024 The biggest downward contribution to the fall in inflation in May came from a welcome fall in food-price inflation, which fell to 1.7 per cent in May, the lowest annual rate since October 2021, reflecting falls in food prices. This was partially offset by higher petrol prices.20/6/2024
Britain Has A Welcome New Policy Consensus On Housing, But It Also Needs New Cash To Make A Lasting Difference
A welcome new political consensus is emerging on housing, with the Conservative and Labour manifestos both combining support for first-time buyers with stretching housebuilding targets. But the lack of cash for affordable housing will make these targets hard to hit, according to new Resolution Foundation research published yesterday.20/6/2024
Tory And SNP Seats To Drop Further As Labour Soars And Libdems Increase
The latest Yougov poll Show further slides in the number of seats for Tory and SNP. Keir Starmer continues to be on a record-breaking path, according to YouGov's latest general election MRP model.20/6/2024
Bank Of England Holds Interest Rate At 5.25%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment. At its meeting ending on 19 June 2024, the MPC voted by a majority of 7-2 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%.19/6/2024
Another Financial Headache For Scottish Government As Company Sues Over Scrapped Bottle Return Scheme
A waste management firm has started a £200million court claim against Scottish ministers over the failed bottle recycling scheme. Lawyers for Biffa Waste Services Ltd addressed judge Lord Clark at the Court of Session yesterday.
19/6/2024
Producer Price Inflation, UK - May 2024 - Highest Levels Since May 2023
Producer input prices fell by 0.1% in the year to May 2024, up from a revised fall of 1.4% in the year to April. Producer output (factory gate) prices rose by 1.7% in the year to May 2024, up from an increase of 1.1% in the year to April.
19/6/2024
