UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has made some significant reforms in her latest budget. Notably, she has committed to easing living cost pressures with widespread energy bill support, higher taxes for the most expensive homes, and axing the two-child cap on certain benefits.
Scotland's onshore GDP grew by 0.2% in the three months to September (2025 Quarter 3), up from the growth of 0.6% in the three months to August, and growth of 0.5% in July, according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician. This follows growth of 0.2% in 2025 Quarter 2 (April to June).
Agency will receive an extra £25 million to help it tackle rogue directors. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced funding boost for the Insolvency Service The government will invest £25 million over the next five years to enable the Insolvency Service to disqualify more rogue company directors The Insolvency Service has welcomed news in the Budget that the agency will receive an extra £25 million over the next five years to help it tackle rogue directors.
Prices on Amazon and other online retailers marketplaces will rise in coming years as a result of the changes in the 2025 Budget. Here's how and why.
Finance Secretary responds to Chancellor's statement. The UK Budget "fails to deliver" for Scotland and will not move the dial on the cost of living for squeezed households, Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said.
The government has announced that any unused £1 million allowance for agricultural property relief and business property relief will be transferable between spouses and civil partners, to bring it in line with the treatment of the nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band. This makes the inheritance tax rules for those with agricultural and business assets less complex and fairer.
It is that time of the year again - Black Friday is almost upon us. What used to be just an American event has now taken over the calendar in many other countries as one of the key shopping events of the year.
Rachel Reeves says her budget delivers stability. The Office for Budget Responsibility's charts tell a very different story.
The BBC Radio 4 programme to day is packed with lots of advice about how to get your money back after being scammed. Rules have changed so this is well worth listening to.
Michelle Eames - Helpbox UK..
Today the big planning application to be debated at the North Planning Committee of Highland council is the development at Spittal near Halkirk. The scale of the development may be put into perspective by applications already in process for accommodation units (villages) in several locations.
Statistics on annual average private sector rents to the end of September 2025 have been released today. These statistics are based predominantly on advertised rents and so reflect rents that landlords are charging when their properties become available for rent at the point of tenant turnover or when properties are new to the rental market.
Tobacco & Vaping: What's Changing The Budget confirms that duty rates on all tobacco products will rise by "RPI inflation + 2 percentage points." These changes take effect from 6 pm on 26 November 2025. There will also be a new duty on vaping products (vape liquid).
This Government's first mission is growth: to create good jobs, raise living standards and improve public services. We’ve taken bold action already: Increasing public investment by over £120 billion during this Parliament.
Freeze on income-tax thresholds until 2030-31 — The thresholds for paying higher-rate income tax will be held steady until 2030-31. That means with wage or inflation-linked pay rises, more income will fall into higher tax bands.
The government is introducing a new annual surcharge on residential properties worth over £2 million. Starting from April 2028, owners of homes above £2 million (valued in 2026 prices) will have to pay this surcharge in addition to their existing Council Tax.
The UK's National Living Wage (NLW) will rise to £12.71 per hour from April 2026, a 4.1% increase from the current rate. The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for younger workers and apprentices will also see significant increases.
Income-tax thresholds frozen until 2030-31 Your personal allowance and higher-rate threshold won't rise for another five years. Impact: If your income increases with inflation or promotion, more of your pay is taxed.
Rachel Reeves sets out a Budget that delivers on the change promised by the government to cut NHS waiting lists, cut debt and borrowing and cut the cost of living. Chancellor doubles down on cutting cost of living and inflation for hard working families across the UK with £150 off energy bills and freezes for rail fares, fuel duty and prescription fees.
Cash Isa savings will be restricted. The amount of money that can be saved tax-free each year in a cash Isa (Individual Savings Account) will be reduced from £20,000 to £12,000 a year for the under 65s.