In October, the UKHO hosted the UK's first cross-government geodesy, positioning, navigation and timing working group. Representatives from 19 government bodies came together to share insight on the risks, opportunities and interdependencies linked to PNT systems, including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
GAD supported UKSA with analysis of currency exchange data to help UKSA protect public funds by managing its euro payments to the European Space Agency. We helped the UK Space Agency (UKSA) with its understanding of financial risk - helping protect public funds while enabling the UK's space ambitions.
Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce publishes final report and calls for radical reset of overly complex nuclear regulatory system. An overly complex nuclear regulatory system has contributed to the "relative decline" of the UK's ability to deliver faster and cheaper nuclear projects.
The probability of a UK-level mansion tax being introduced under Reeves is moderately high around 60-70% for some form of annual levy on the value above £2 million, with a significant risk of political pushback and uncertainty over revenue. Key supporting factors include a strong fiscal incentive, active policy development, relatively narrow taxpayer base, and administrative feasibility via council tax mechanisms.
Richard Murphy is a British economist, accountant, and academic best known for his work on tax justice and progressive fiscal reform. He is the author of the Taxing Wealth Report and a prominent voice in debates about how the UK can raise revenue fairly without burdening ordinary households.
The Government launches a consultation on the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to cut electricity bills for 7,000 manufacturers and boost finance access with a £4 billion British Business Bank plan. Business Secretary sets out vision for optimism and economic growth at keynote speech to CBI's annual conference.
For years, Universal Credit has been sold as a modernised safety net — a single benefit that smooths the path between unemployment and work, topping up incomes when wages fall short. But scratch beneath the surface and a harsher truth emerges - Universal Credit is not just a lifeline for struggling families, it is also a subsidy for employers who refuse to pay a living wage.
Royal Navy intercepts Russian warship and tanker in the Dover Strait and English Channel whilst RAF P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft deployed to Iceland to patrol North Atlantic. The UK Armed Forces are on patrol from the English Channel to the High North amid increased Russian activity threatening UK waters.
The government has confirmed that from April 2026 the full new state pension will increase by around £550 a year for those receiving the full rate. The increase is based on the triple lock formula (i.e., highest of inflation, average earnings growth or a 2.5% minimum).
Many older pensioners (i.e., people who reached State Pension age before the "new" State Pension was introduced in April 2016) feel that things are unfair. There is quite a bit of evidence for why they feel that way, plus real policy tensions.
Financing guarantee by UK Export Finance is now available to bolster domestic critical minerals capabilities. UK-based businesses supplying critical mineral products can now access high-value finance to secure long-term import contracts or invest in domestic capability.
As the Chancellor prepares to deliver the Autumn Budget on 26 November, the swirl of speculation has reached fever pitch. What began as whispers about income tax rises has now expanded into a sprawling menu of possible measures a smorgasbord of tweaks, levies, and stealth charges that could reshape household finances, business margins, and even the way we drive.
Visitors from 85 nationalities, including the United States, Canada, and France, who do not need a visa will not be able to legally travel to the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from 25 February 2026. This is a significant step towards digitising the immigration system and paves the way for a contactless UK border in the future.
Legislation to correct an error in law for owners of unoccupied properties' liability to pay non-domestic rates has been published. The Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020 devolved to councils the power to provide discounts to owners of unoccupied properties from 1 April 2023.
Ah, Budget season. That magical time of year when economists, journalists, politicians, Twitter doomers, estate agents, and your Uncle Dave all join hands across the nation to participate in Britain's most cherished ritual: wild, unrestrained, utterly baseless speculation.
High-street shops, cafes, salons, and small local businesses pay business rates based on the rateable value of their physical premises. Online retailers, meanwhile often operate from cheaper warehouses in out-of-town industrial parks.
Imagine powering long-haul aircraft and heavy ships with fuels derived from just air, water and renewable electricity. This is moving from science fiction to the verge of reality, thanks to the falling price of renewables like wind and solar.
The UK Government's rail fare freeze announced this week applies only to England and English train operators. Scotland's rail services are run by ScotRail, which has been publicly owned by the Scottish Government since 2022.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes is to host a summit following a visit to the Exxon Mobil plant at Mosmorran with Scottish Enterprise's Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, on Tuesday. This visit and summit follows the Deputy First Minister's announcement to the Scottish Parliament last week that she will convene a taskforce with Scottish Enterprise Hundreds of staff have been told that their jobs are at risk as the petrochemical company prepares to close part of the site in February.
As the Chancellor prepares to deliver the Autumn Budget on 26 November, pensioners across the country are bracing for changes that may not be announced with fanfare but will be felt in their pockets nonetheless. The issue at hand is not a headline tax rise, but something subtler: fiscal drag.