The Budget Is Over, But Are Britain's Financial Problems Really Solved? The Big Decisions Still Awaiting the Government The Chancellor has delivered the Budget, set out his tax and spending plans and attempted to reassure financial markets that Britain is getting its public finances under control. But the Budget has not settled some of the most difficult questions facing the Government.
UK and Ukrainian defence companies have come together at Larkhill Garrison on Salisbury Plain to showcase the latest innovations in battle-proven drone technology. 12 Ukrainian drone manufacturers showcased combat-ready uncrewed systems to UK industry, investors and military officials.
There was a time when governments, councils and public bodies made decisions, explained their reasoning and got on with the job. Today, it can sometimes seem that hardly anything happens without first launching a public consultation.
For decades, the United States has enjoyed an enormous financial advantage over the rest of the world. Governments, central banks, pension funds and international investors have been willing to lend America money by purchasing US government bonds, commonly known as Treasury securities.
Local communities across the UK are benefiting from Civil Service jobs coming closer to home, with four in five civil servants based outside London. Over two thirds (c 67%) of all new full-time Civil Service positions in key regional locations.
The Government has found another way to increase the tax burden on people who have put money aside for the future. But there is an important detail that deserves more attention than it received in the Budget announcements.
Young people are increasingly finding themselves caught in a financial trap before they have had a proper opportunity to establish themselves in adult life. New research from debt charity StepChange suggests that borrowing is becoming an increasingly familiar part of growing up, with potentially serious consequences for financial habits, independence and future security.
Britain's private landlords are facing another tax increase, and the question increasingly being asked is whether owning a property to rent out is still worth the trouble. The Chancellor's latest Budget has added a further two percentage points to the tax rates on property income from April 2027.
New restrictions take effect across the UK, banning sales of nicotine pouches and nicotine-free vapes to children, while also targeting promotional offers and sales through vending machines. Young people will face tighter restrictions on buying vapes and nicotine products following new measures that came into force across the UK on 29 October 2026.
A growing off-grid solar industry could provide electricity to almost 400 million people by 2030, while creating jobs, supporting small businesses and helping some of the world's poorest communities gain access to reliable energy. That is the central finding of a new report published on 27 October 2026 by the World Bank Group and GOGLA, the global association representing the off-grid solar industry.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has kept interest rates unchanged, but the decision offers little reassurance that borrowing costs have peaked. Rising oil and gas prices, driven by the continuing conflict in the Middle East, are increasing the risk of another wave of inflation across Europe.
A seemingly genuine job offer, an invitation to attend an online interview and a request to complete a technical test might sound like an ordinary part of modern recruitment. But increasingly, cybercriminals are turning this familiar process into a way of breaking into computers, stealing information and gaining access to business networks.
Canada is taking a significant step towards changing the way it sells one of its most valuable natural resources. Prime Minister Mark Carney has backed a proposed new oil pipeline that would carry crude from Alberta to Canada's Pacific coast, opening up a much larger export route to China, Japan, South Korea and other Asian markets.
Disruption to Russian and Ukrainian grain exports is adding to rising food, fuel and fertiliser costs. Britain may face another squeeze on household budgets, but the consequences for poorer countries could be far more severe.
New legislation gives trade unions greater access to workplaces, strengthens protection for workers taking strike action and makes it easier for unions to secure recognition from employers. The changes apply across Scotland, England and Wales.
The Chancellor has announced help with immediate pressures, but important decisions on welfare, public spending, housing support and the future tax burden remain unresolved. Is the government buying time to develop a long-term plan, or postponing choices that will become harder to make? The Chancellor's Budget on 28 October contained a long list of measures intended to help households and businesses cope with rising costs.
Canada's Prime Minister warned that the old international order was breaking down. His response has been to challenge American trade pressure, strengthen Canada's domestic economy and build new relationships with Europe and Asia.
The Resolution Foundation has examined the Budget in considerable detail, looking beyond the Chancellor's announcements to assess who really benefits, who loses and what problems remain unresolved. Its 48-page report makes uncomfortable reading for a Government hoping to convince voters that household finances are improving.
Residents, businesses, community groups and visitors are encouraged to continue to take part in a series of public engagement events to learn more about the proposed Highland Visitor Levy and how they can contribute to the statutory public consultation. In addition to the online webinars held earlier in the process, a programme of in-person events will continue throughout November.
Members of the public, community groups, the business sector and young people will be invited to share their views on how The Highland Council balances its budget and plans spend over the next three years. The Council needs to find £39.2 million of additional savings over the next three years to deliver a balanced financial plan, driven largely by the impact of rising costs and the ongoing impact of wider economic events.