News Archive

23/12/2025

Thousands to benefit from multi million investment to justice

More people facing debt, house repossession or custody battles will benefit from free legal support thanks to a multi-million pound grant for the sector, the Deputy Prime Minister announced today (Tuesday 23 December 2025).   Nearly £20 million for legal support over the next three years.  

23/12/2025

 
Boom lifts Cherry Pickers and baubles - keeping Britain's festive spirit aloft

UK launches anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into imported boom lifts to defend British manufacturers.   UK launches anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into imported boom lifts to defend British manufacturers.  

22/12/2025

Healthcare regulator suggests simple winter wellness choices to keep you safe this cough and cold season

As the cold weather sets in and coughs and colds become more common, the MHRA is reminding people that small, everyday choices can make a big difference to winter wellbeing.   From choosing the right cough and cold remedies to using vitamin supplements safely, making informed decisions can help you feel better while avoiding unnecessary risks.  

22/12/2025

Health Care Policy Shifts, Afordable Care Act Subsidy Expiration In USA And Political Impact

As 2025 draws to a close, significant health-care policy changes are scheduled to take effect in the United States, primarily involving the Affordable Care Act (ACA).   The expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies and other Republican-led policy changes could increase healthcare costs for millions, potentially lead to coverage losses, and have meaningful consequences for voter attitudes and outcomes in the 2026 mid-term elections.  

22/12/2025

Fuel margins remain "persistently high" and this is not explained by operating costs, CMA finds

CMA publishes latest report analysing competition in the road fuel market and the factors influencing prices paid by drivers.   New analysis shows fuel retailer operating costs do not explain why fuel margins remain at persistently high levels.  

22/12/2025

Why deepfake health videos are so common and why you should be careful taking the advice on them

AI tools are cheap, fast, and realistic.   Voice cloning and face-swapping tools are now widely available.  

22/12/2025

The world will need 30% more food by 2050

Family farms, which include 500 million smallholder farmers, produce most of the world's food, yet many remain in poverty, relying on traditional methods and lacking access to markets, finance, and technology.  Supporting them to become commercially successful is critical to creating jobs, reducing poverty, and improving global food security.  

22/12/2025

Serious Fraud Office and Five Eyes on foreign bribery indicators

International taskforce releases indicators to help businesses and professionals detect corruption.   The Serious Fraud Office (SFO), working with law enforcement partners across the Five Eyes nations, has published guidance to help businesses, professionals and the public identify potential indicators of foreign bribery.  

22/12/2025

Recognising and supporting kinship care in Scotland

Consultation on national vision for kinship care.   Proposals to provide consistent and fair support for families caring for children unable to live with their parents have been published.  

22/12/2025

Taxpayer cash protected as crackdown on rogue landlords expands

Hundreds of thousands of people will benefit from an expansion of a trial to tackle poor housing and protect taxpayers' cash from rogue landlords.   Around 400,000 households receiving housing support to be better protected from rogue landlords thanks to an expanded crackdown scheme.  

22/12/2025

CMA proposes to accept remedies in pastry deal

Remedies proposed to resolve concerns that Vandemoortele's deal to buy Delifrance could have led to higher costs for supermarkets and commercial foodservice customers.   The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is proposing to accept remedies offered following its investigation into Vandemoortele's deal to buy Delifrance.  

22/12/2025

Committee Chair welcomes Short Breaks Service for children and young people

The re-introduction of a short break service for children and young people in Inverness was welcomed by the Chair of Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee, Cllr David Fraser on a visit to The Orchard - a registered care home for children and young people.   Cllr Fraser and Cllr Morven Reid, Depute Provost of Inverness and Area met with staff and children at The Orchard and were impressed with what they experienced.  

22/12/2025

 
UK achieves first plutonium milestone

The NDA group has delivered a UK-first nuclear milestone, marking a significant step toward permanently disposing of the nation's plutonium legacy.   The UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group has delivered a UK-first nuclear safety milestone, by safely processing a can of plutonium residue into a stable waste form for the very first time.  

22/12/2025

 
More people taking control of their tax as HMRC app use surges

HMRC provides a rundown of the HMRC app in 2025.   Over 4.2 million HMRC app downloads in 2025.  

21/12/2025 : Local Authority

Highland Council's Finances - Rural Realities, Structural Pressures and the Consequences for Local Services

Highland Council offers a stark illustration of the financial challenges facing Scottish local government, amplified by geography and demography.   Covering a vast, sparsely populated area, Highland must deliver services across long distances with limited economies of scale.  

21/12/2025

The Scottish Budget Context: Limited Room for Growth As The Scottish Budget Looms In January

Due to the UK Government delaying the budget so much this year it has pushed the Scottish budget setting process into January and consequently Scottish councils will also have much later dates probably February or March to set their own budgets.   The Scottish Government's budget is shaped by a mix of UK government funding (the block grant) and tax revenues raised in Scotland (mainly income tax, some property taxes, and other devolved levers).  

21/12/2025

 
If we want tax justice in 2026, this is the way to tax wealth - Richard Murphy

The push for wealth taxes has been one of the defining economic debates of 2025.  The question now is whether we want policies that work.  

21/12/2025

Scottish Local Government Finance in Real Terms - A Decade of Pressure and Its Impact on Services

Over the past decade, Scotland's local authorities have faced sustained financial pressure.   While headline figures for council funding have often risen in cash terms, the real-terms picture — once inflation, wage growth and rising demand are taken into account — has been far more challenging.  

21/12/2025

 
Christmas breaks the rules of economics - Richard Murphy

Christmas is economically strange.  We stop working.  

21/12/2025

 
Ignore This HMRC Letter... and you'll REGRET IT - Nudge Letters Are increasing

Good Advice in this video for anyone doing side hustles or more..