HMRC and the government are moving to make NI numbers routine for savers — ISA managers already must take them for new accounts, and banks/building societies will be required to collect NI numbers for (ordinary) savings accounts under rules being introduced for April 2027. What that means for you ISAs: From 6 April 2025 new ISA applications must include the investor's National Insurance number (unless they're not eligible to have one).
Trump's trade war triggers a collapse in US exports, worsening the trade deficit and hurting American business..
Politicians tell us the UK is "borrowing too much" and faces a "debt crisis." That's wrong. The government creates the pounds it spends, and what's called "borrowing" is really just it accepting deposits — or savings — from the public and financial markets.
The UK government has announced it will not put taxpayers money in to subsidise bioethanol plants in the UK affected by he UK/USA trade deal. Under the May 2025 UK-US trade agreement, a 19 percent import duty on American ethanol was scrapped for up to 1.4 billion litres annually—equivalent to the entire UK market—opening the door to cheaper US-produced bioethanol.
In 2025, Canada quietly began rerouting its $18B aluminum exports - not toward the United States, but toward Europe. Why? Carbon policy.
With the UK government facing a multibillion pound gap between revenue and spending, calls for a wealth tax are becoming louder. More than 30 top economists recently wrote to the chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, saying the measure could raise billions of pounds.
Politicians tell us taxes pay for public services. In reality, it does something far more important — it shapes our society.
While most of us who do not work in the bioethanol industries the affects are widespread on food and fuels. Perhaps we all need to get a better look at the other affects that are coming under the UK/USA Trade Deal.
Unexpected growth in the UK economy isn't enough to detract from the gaping hole in the country's public finances. Speculation is ramping up about what steps the chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, might take to plug the gap come the budget in autumn - and there are no shortage of ideas.
ScotRail saw its busiest week of 2025 so far with almost two million people travelling by rail - largely thanks to Oasis at Murrayfield and the Edinburgh Festivals. Around 328,000 people travelled with ScotRail last Friday (8 August) - up 19 per cent compared with the same day last year - and 327,000 on Saturday, up 12 per cent on 2024.
Rachel Reeves may be about to close a major inheritance tax loophole — and the wealthy are calling it "dangerous." But what's really dangerous in Britain? It’s not taxing the rich. It’s child poverty, crumbling public services, NHS queues, unsafe housing, and inequality.
CMA publishes the latest set of banking scores, meaning consumers and businesses can more easily compare services and get the best possible bang for their buck. Challenger banks continue to lead the way in the latest set of banking satisfaction results published by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The Resolution Foundation yesterday published what may be an over-optimistic look at the latest economic figures. GDP growth slowed to 0.3 per cent in Q2 2025 - a stronger performance than both market expectations and the Bank of England's forecast last week.
£2.4 million project to support people from Highlands and Islands. A new residential rehabilitation service focused on supporting people from the Highlands and Western and Northern Isles to recover from drug and alcohol use has been officially opened.
The Scottish Government's National Speed Management Review recommends a suite of speed limit revisions on the A9 to lower casualty rates, enhance journey-time reliability, and align heavy goods vehicle (HGV) speeds with cars. A public consultation running until March 2025 attracted over 19,500 responses, informing Transport Scotland's final proposals.
Government launches AI crime prevention challenge to support safer streets. Experts set challenge of creating detailed interactive crime maps that identify where crime is most likely to happen to allow for better prevention Tool to be fully operational by 2030 with Britain's brightest minds backing law abiding majority over law breakers.
The changes to the application forms are - introducing a requirement for all applicants for a firearm or shotgun to provide two referees including annex A in the prescribed firearm and shotgun application form, providing a guide for referees. a new reference in the prescribed forms to neuro-developmental issues as a potential relevant medical condition which may need to be declared in certain cases by the applicant and reported by their GP.
HMRC interest rates for late payments will be revised following the Bank of England interest rate cut to 4.00%. The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee announced on 7 August 2025 to reduce the Bank of England base rate to 4.00% from 4.25%.
More than 25,000 tonnes of material have been used to safely backfill the basement structure of a demolished turbine hall by NRS at Dungeness A site, Kent. Originally constructed in 1965, the turbine hall stood 26 metres above ground level and housed four turbogenerators that converted nuclear heat into electricity for the National Grid.
Patients who use social media to plan cosmetic procedures will now access more reliable information thanks to a landmark new initiative. New online campaign to give people clear, reliable advice before travelling overseas for cosmetic or medical treatments.