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News Archive

12/10/2025

What work means to working-class young men in an age of increasing automation

For years we've been warned that technological advances and artificial intelligence (AI) are set to sweep people out of work.  But when we think about whose jobs are really under threat, the answer isn't quite so simple.  

11/10/2025

 
Trading Standards - Storm Damage - Find Trusted Traders & Report Issues

Following Storm Amy there is likely to be an increase in roofing and property maintenance scams, with cold callers knocking on doors and offering to repair damage on the spot, providing high quotes for repair work.   If your property needs repair or maintenance work carried out, make sure you find the right trader.  

11/10/2025

Women out of employment in their late 50s harder-hit by state pension age increases; enhanced targeted support should accompany future increases

Raising the state pension age boosts finances but hits women out of work in their late 50s hardest.   Increasing the state pension age is a coherent way for the government to ease pressure on the public finances from rising longevity at older ages.  

11/10/2025

 
Trading Standards - Delivery Scams

43% of respondents to this year's Big Scottish Scam Survey had experienced a delivery scam.   Scammers typically direct people to malicious websites by sending scam text messages and emails claiming that you need to rearrange a missed delivery.  

11/10/2025

More Children Need Support - But Are They Getting It? Comparing England and Scotland's School Systems

Across England, the number of children receiving support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has soared over the past decade.   The proportion of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) nearly doubling.  

11/10/2025

DWP Launches Historic Crackdown on Benefit Fraud with 5,000 New Inspectors

In a sweeping move to tackle benefit fraud and protect public funds, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recruited 5,000 new inspectors—the largest expansion of its enforcement team in decades.   The initiative is part of a £9.6 billion plan to reduce fraud and error in the welfare system over the next five years.  

11/10/2025

Trading Standards - Recognise Misleading and Aggressive Sales Practices

According to a recent survey we carried out, almost half of Scots (46%) have experienced an aggressive or misleading sales transaction, with 33% believing they have been misled into completing a sales transaction.   Do you know how to recognise misleading or aggressive sales practices and what to do if you experience them?.  

11/10/2025

Trading Standards - Challenge Poverty Week

This is Challenge Poverty Week, an annual awareness-raising campaign led by Poverty Alliance Scotland.   Over the last few years, rising costs have led to a rise in illegal money lending and people in financial difficulties may feel that they have no option but to turn to a loan shark.  

11/10/2025

Changes to UK visa and settlement rules after the 2025 immigration white paper

On 12 May 2025 the government published a white paper policy document called Restoring control over the immigration system.  The document proposed some changes to make it harder to move to and settle in the UK, with a view to reducing immigration.  

11/10/2025

Should the UK Ban Buy-to-Let and Focus Solely on Building New Rental Homes?

As the UK grapples with a deepening housing crisis, a provocative question is gaining traction.  Should the government ban buy-to-let investments and instead focus exclusively on building new properties for rent? With over 1.3 million people on social housing waiting lists and private rents consuming more than 30% of household income, critics argue that the buy-to-let model has distorted the housing market.  

11/10/2025

 
Trading Standards - Recruitment Scams

There has recently been a huge increase in recruitment scams, where people receive unsolicited texts or WhatsApp messages.   They offer paid work completing simple tasks such as writing online reviews for products or services, liking social media posts, completing surveys or watching videos.  

11/10/2025

What property-tax reform could look like in UK and will Scotland will follow

The idea of overhauling Britain's property taxes has moved from occasional debate to active policy discussion.  Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been reported to be exploring major changes.  

11/10/2025

Government's proposed unemployment insurance benefit could save billions annually

Enhanced unemployment insurance to reward jobseekers while reducing support for long-term claimants of contributory disability benefits.   The government plans to introduce a new ‘unemployment insurance' (UI) benefit to replace the two current contributory out-of-work benefits.  

11/10/2025

Bank of England warns about possible stock-market correction

In its latest Financial Policy Committee (FPC) update, the Bank has flagged that the risk of a "sharp market correction" has increased.   A particular concern is the valuation of AI- and tech-oriented companies.  

11/10/2025

Oil Prices Dip as Gaza Ceasefire Eases Geopolitical Tensions

Global energy markets saw a modest pullback this week as news of a Gaza ceasefire reduced the geopolitical risk premium that had supported crude prices for much of the past year.   Oil benchmarks — Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) — each fell between 1 % and 2 % in early trading following the ceasefire announcement, extending a multi-week decline.  

11/10/2025

Work placements for young people on long-term benefits - help or hard line?

The UK government's new plan to offer paid work placements to young people who've been on long-term benefits has sparked both praise and concern.   Ministers say the policy will help thousands back into work.  

11/10/2025

 
Is Britain's inequality really decreasing? - Richard Murphy

Right-wing commentators claim inequality in Britain is falling.  It isn't.  

10/10/2025

 
Britain's huge wealth gaps mean a typical worker would need to save more than a lifetime's worth of their earnings to become wealthy

It would now take 52 years' worth of typical earnings - £1.3 million in total - to move from the middle to the top of the wealth distribution, as wealth gaps continue to grow across Britain, according to new research from the Resolution Foundation, published on Wednesday 8 October 2025.   Before the fall examines the scale and distribution of household wealth across Britain, using the latest data from the ONS Wealth and Assets Survey.  

10/10/2025

 
Care system reform lacks clarity and accountability - Failing So Far

Plans to improve Scotland's care system have been slow to come together after not enough early delivery planning by the Scottish Government and COSLA.   The Promise, a national commitment to improving the lives of care experienced people by 2030, was made by the Scottish Government in 2020.  

10/10/2025

This Halloween will be a £1bn monster event thanks to the rise of the ‘Boo box'

Trick or track?.   Home deliveries will be at the heart of Halloween this year as Boo boxes become the new TikTok trend.  

 

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