News Archive
29/4/2024
DWP Disability Benefit Cuts Will Impact 450,000 People - But Very Few Will Actually Find Paid Work
The Big Issue magazine has outlined its view of the affects of the UK governments proposed changes for claimants. Forecasts show that the DWP's disability benefit cuts will not have the intended results of pushing people into work.29/4/2024
What Does The End Of The Bute House Agreement Mean?
On 25 April 2024 it was announced that the Scottish Government Cabinet had agreed to end the Scottish Government's formal co-operation agreement with the Scottish Green Parliamentary Party (often referred to as the ‘Bute House agreement') with immediate effect. This blog considers the cooperation agreement, the circumstances which led to it being ended and what this may mean for government in Scotland.
29/4/2024
New Laws To Protect Consumers From Cyber Criminals Come Into Force In The UK
From today, regulations enforcing consumer protections against hacking and cyber-attacks will take effect, mandating that internet-connected smart devices meet minimum-security standards by law. World-first laws protecting UK consumers and businesses from hacking and cyber-attacks take effect today (29 april 2024).
28/4/2024
Humza Yousaf's Precarious Position Puts The SNP - And Scotland - At A Crossroads
The Institute for Government has set out the legal position regarding the Vote of No Confidence and likelihood of an election. The Scottish government has been plunged into crisis by the dissolution of the cooperation agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens following disputes over climate and gender policy.28/4/2024
Statement From Welsh Secretary And Chair Of The Tata Steel/port Talbot Transition Board
Secretary of State for Wales-led Transition Board agrees broad support plan for those affected by Tata's move to greener steel. On Thursday 25th April 2024 the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board met to agree the way forward to release funds to help the thousands affected by Tata's decision to move to greener steel-making at its Port Talbot plant.
28/4/2024
HMRC Research - Impacts Of 2018 To 2019 Scottish Income Tax Changes On Intra-UK Migration And Labour Market Participati
From the tax year 2018 to 2019, the Scottish Government introduced 2 new Income Tax bands, as well as increasing the rates for 2 of the existing bands. As a result, Scottish taxpayers on higher incomes experienced an increase in the proportion of income which is paid in tax, whilst taxpayers on lower incomes experienced a decrease in the proportion of income which is paid in tax.28/4/2024
Government Work Scheme Delivers Almost 100,000 Placements Highlighting Britain's New Approach To Welfare
Almost 100,000 workplace training places have been delivered in the past year for jobseekers, smashing the Government's 80,000 annual target, new data has revealed. Record number of workplace training places have been delivered this year helping boost jobseeker skills and the economy.28/4/2024
Royal Navy Ship Joins International Effort To Build Pier For Aid Delivery Into Gaza By Sea
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Cardigan Bay will support the US military as it builds a new temporary pier to deliver aid directly into Gaza. Royal Navy support ship RFA Cardigan Bay is sailing from Cyprus to provide support to an international effort to build a temporary pier to allow delivery of humanitarian aid directly from the sea.
28/4/2024
Is There A Better Way To Pay For The Nhs? - A Podcast
The NHS is front and centre of a general election campaign. Rishi Sunak has placed the NHS at the heart of the five pledges he wants to voters to judge him on, while Keir Starmer has made NHS reform one of the five missions which he says would drive a Labour government.
28/4/2024
Air Strikes Against Daesh - RAF Launched A Guided Bomb
The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Sunday 21 April 2024 - RAF Typhoons struck a rocket launcher in northwest Iraq.
27/4/2024
Rail Nationalisation Makes Sense - Richard Murphy
Labour says it is going to nationalise Brtain's railways Its plans make sense - as far as they go. But, like so much that it does, this plan does not go far enough.
27/4/2024
I Might As Well Stop And Diversify Into Holiday Lets - New Research Reveals The Reality Of Farming After Brexit
The UK's farming landscape has changed dramatically since Brexit. Agricultural policy has been adjusted, and EU subsidies, which funded UK farming for decades, are no more.
27/4/2024
Scottish Government Extra Money For Housing From Scottish Government Goes Nowhere Near Tackling The Problem
Efforts to boost affordable housing supply by acquiring properties to bring into use for affordable housing and help reduce homelessness will be given an £80 million uplift over the next two years. The funding, announced by First Minister Humza Yousaf on a visit to Hillcrest Housing Association's Derby Street development in Dundee, will increase the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget to nearly £600 million in 2024-2025.26/4/2024
Rishi Sunak Wants To Cut The Cost Of Sicknote Britain - But We've Found A Strong Economic Case For Benefits
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has announced a crackdown on sickness and disability benefits in order to end a "sicknote culture" and "over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life", in part because he claims that "good work" can actually improve mental and physical health. He instead wants to focus on "what people can do with the right support in place, rather than what they can't do".
26/4/2024
Public Investment: What You Need To Know
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has published an explainer report setting out what public investment is and how Labour and the Conservatives differ on their approaches. Everything you wanted to know about UK public investment but were too afraid to ask - including analysis of Labour and Conservative plans.
26/4/2024
New Powers To Seize Cryptoassets Used By Criminals Go Live
Greater powers for the National Crime Agency and police to seize, freeze and destroy cryptoassets used by criminals have come into force today. Greater powers for the National Crime Agency and police to seize, freeze and destroy cryptoassets used by criminals have come into force today.
26/4/2024
Making Fit Notes More Effective As Rishi Sunak Will Make It Harder To Get Sick Notes
The prime minister claims benefits have become a "lifestyle choice" for some, causing a "spiralling" welfare bill. If the Tories win the general election, Mr Sunak wants to make it harder for some patients to obtain a sick note.26/4/2024
Where Are The CFOs? Two-fifths Blame Professionals Stepping Into CEO Positions
CFO Talent Gap - two-fifths of business leaders blame professionals stepping into CEO positions. 41% state CFOs moving to CEO positions as key driver of CFO turnover.26/4/2024
Children (Care And Justice) Bill Passed
MSPs have backed Stage 3 of the Children (Care and Justice) Bill, enshrining in law age-appropriate care and justice for vulnerable young people across the country. As part of wider work to embed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in law and to Keep the Promise, the Bill contains a series of measures to improve children's experiences of the care and justice systems, whether victims, witnesses or children who have caused harm.26/4/2024
