News Archive
10/3/2024
Another Major NHS Capital Project Stopped - Dunoon GP Relocation Project Update
NHS projects are in meltdown following Scottish Government instructions to halt all capital building programmes in Scotland. The affects are being felt across councils and health boards.9/3/2024
NDA Group Hosts First Ever Large-scale Graduate Recruitment Event
This week, the NDA group hosted it's first ever large-scale graduate recruitment event in Manchester, with over 600 candidates in attendance. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group held its first ever large-scale graduate recruitment event in Manchester this week, bringing together more than 600 candidates as it looks to double the number of opportunities across its graduate schemes this year.
9/3/2024
Sweet And Sour Budget Combines £8 Billion Election Year Personal Tax Cuts With Post-election Plans For £38 Billion Of Tax Rises And Spending Cuts Middle Earners Gain At The Expense Of Pensioners And Public Service Users
The Chancellor announced another pre-election sweetener of further National Insurance rate cuts, taking total net personal tax cuts this election year to £8 billion and prioritising workers over pensioners. But he has left a sour taste for whoever wins the next election, with £19 billion of post-election tax rises and another £19 billion of public service cuts, the Resolution Foundation said in response to the Spring Budget 2024.9/3/2024
Losers From the Budget - Pensioners and Low Income Earners
So much talk about the cut in national insurance but if you are a pensioner you re going to pat more in tax due to the freezing of allowances. Low earners also gain little from the reduction in National Insurance and will also see their tax rise due to the freeze on allowances.
9/3/2024
Chancellor Reverses The Policy Priorities Of The 2010s, Rehashes Its Austerity, And Records The First Ever Polling-day-to-polling-day Fall In Living Standards
The likely last Budget before the General Election showed that this has been a parliament of flatlining growth, falling living standards, and notable redistribution from the old and the rich to the young and the poor, according to the Resolution Foundation's overnight analysis of the 2024 Spring Budget. The Foundation notes that the approach taken by the Chancellor in this Budget and recent fiscal events is in marked contrast to the approach taken in the 2010s.9/3/2024
Why Owning A Second Home Is No Longer Worth It
Jeremy Hunt sent a clear message to Britain's second home owners in his Budget this week: sell up to make way for first-time buyers. The Chancellor laid out plans to abolish tax relief for holiday let owners, scrapped stamp duty discounts for multiple home purchases and encouraged second homeowners to sell by cutting capital gains tax.
9/3/2024
How Have Think-tanks And Others Responded To The Autumn Statement?
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) published an initial response to the Budget, in which IFS Director Paul Johnson said cuts to the main rate of National Insurance contributions for employees. The self-employed "will benefit millions of workers", and is preferable to cutting income tax rates, as reducing National Insurance contributions "reduces the tax wedge between different sorts of income, benefits those of working age in work, and should have marginally more positive work incentive effects".9/3/2024
The Real National Debt 2024 - A Staggering £12.1 Trillion
The Taxpayers alliance has prepared notes on the real national debt that look scary. The chancellor has unveiled his budget for the upcoming financial year.
8/3/2024
John O'Groats Postmistress Marks 30 Years At The Helm Of Her Post Office
Postmistress Barbara Harper, known by her community as Fiona, has celebrated her 30 years' milestone at the helm of John O'Groats Post Office, which has been run by her family since 1881. Fiona has been presented with her Post Office 30 Years' Long Service Award with thanks to Fiona and three generations of her family for their devoted service to their community.
8/3/2024
Outcome Of Investigation Into The Directors Of The Collapsed Greensill Group
The Insolvency Service confirms the outcome of its investigation into the directors of the collapsed Greensill group of companies. A spokesperson for the Insolvency Service said "We can confirm that the Insolvency Service has commenced director disqualification proceedings against Alexander (Lex) Greensill to have him disqualified from running or controlling companies for a period of up to 15 years in respect of his conduct as a director of Greensill Capital (UK) Limited and Greensill Limited.8/3/2024
Cuts And More Cuts But Still Cash For Arts In Highland - £30,000 For Tapestries
The Co-Chairs of the Inverness Castle Delivery Group, Fergus Ewing MSP and Cllr Ian Brown, are delighted to announce the award of £30,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in support of framing the 57 panels that will form the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands. This financial commitment from HIE has contributed significantly to the preservation of the 57 panels created by communities across the Highlands and Islands, of which 32 will be included in the first exhibition as part of the Inverness Castle Experience.
8/3/2024
Steadfast Defender NATO Exercise Well Underway
Exercise Steadfast Defender 24 is split into two overlapping parts. Each phase of the exercise includes a range of associated exercises hosted by different countries.
8/3/2024
ICES Divisions 6a And 7a Queen Scallop Fishery Closure
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) alongside UK Fishing Administrations (UKFAs) and the Isle of Man Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) are closing ICES divisions 6a and 7a (see map ) to the queen scallop (Aequipecten opercularis) fishery from 1 April - 30 June 2024. The closure is designed to offer protection for queen scallops during part of their spawning season and support future growth in the population.
8/3/2024
Insolvency Service Secures Bankruptcy Restrictions As Part Of Ongoing Work To Tackle Covid Loan Misconduct
Restrictions have been secured against people who falsely applied for Bounce Back Loans. Individuals all made false applications, examples of which include overstating the income of their businesses, or in one case, not trading when they received the funds.8/3/2024
Sugar Deal Could Raise Prices For UK Shoppers
The CMA's initial investigation has found that TLS' purchase of Tereos UK & Ireland could result in higher sugar prices. Following an initial Phase 1 investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that T&L Sugars Limited's (TLS) purchase of Tereos UK & Ireland's ‘business to consumer’ packed sugar business (TUKI B2C) from Tereos SCA (Tereos), could lead to a substantial lessening of competition.
8/3/2024
Additional Funding For Early Learning And Childcare Staff - £12 per hour from April
High quality, accessible and affordable childcare is a key part of driving equality in the workplace and tackling the gender pay gap, First Minister Humza Yousaf has said. On a visit to mark International Women's Day 2024, the First Minister announced £16 million of additional investment to enable people delivering funded early learning and childcare in the private, voluntary and independent (PVI) childcare sectors, to be paid at least £12 per hour from April 2024.
8/3/2024
UK To Supply More Than 10,000 Drones To Ukraine
Britain steps up support to Ukraine today with a complete package of £325 million for cutting-edge drones to help fight Putin's illegal invasion. The investment, which will deliver more than 10,000 drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces will harness the UK's world-leading defence industries to deliver advanced new drone capabilities to Ukraine throughout 2024.
7/3/2024
The Spring Budget 2024 Explained In 90 Seconds
Paul Johson has been the Director of the IFS since 2011. He is also currently visiting professor in the Department of Economics at University College London.
7/3/2024
Longer Budget Report - Chancellor Delivers Lower Taxes, More Investment And Better Public Services In Budget For Long Term Growth'
‘Budget for Long Term Growth' sticks to the plan by delivering lower taxes, better public services and more investment, while increasing size of economy by 0.2% in 2028-29 and meeting fiscal rules - taking the long-term decisions needed to build a brighter future. Economy turning a corner, with inflation expected to fall to target next quarter, wages consistently rising faster than prices and better growth than European neighbours.
7/3/2024
