News Archive

26/5/2025

TaxPayers' Alliance reveals 1,694 NHS senior managers on six figure pay packets

NHS Rich List finds that 1,694 senior managers received more than £100,000 in total remuneration in 2023-24 1,557 had salary entitlements over £100,000, including 279 receiving between £200,000 and £300,000 and 17 who received over £300,000.  512 senior NHS managers had higher salaries than the prime minister.  

26/5/2025 : Local Authority

Regeneration Capital Grant Fund 2026-27 - opportunity to submit expressions of interest

The Highland Council is now accepting expressions of interest for the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for 2026-27.   The Fund supports locally developed place-based regeneration projects that involve local communities, helping to tackle inequalities and deliver inclusive growth in deprived, and fragile communities across Scotland.  

26/5/2025

How is the Scottish Government making sure more houses will be built in Scotland

The Scottish Government is working on a multi-pronged approach to boost housebuilding across the country.   At the heart of its strategy is the commitment to its long-term target—to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032—through initiatives like the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.  

26/5/2025

 
Might Trump cause the US to default on the dollar? And what might happen if he does?

The world's financial system depends on the dollar, and the man in charge of it is mad, bad, or both.   Where are we with the management of the world's reserve currency need in that case?.  

26/5/2025

 
New dawn for rail as South Western services return to public hands

Train operators will have to meet rigorous performance standards and earn the right to be called Great British Railways.   watershed moment is the beginning of the end of 30 years of fragmentation, frustration and poor performance.  

26/5/2025

 
Largest ever UK defence AI trial conducted across land, sea and air

Sailors and air crews are set to benefit from new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities following the UK's largest ever multi-domain AI trial, bringing together land, sea and air equipment.   The trial provides valuable data to develop and validate AI algorithms.  

26/5/2025

Labour Party Dilemma Over Pensioners and Children

There is a growing debate—and plenty of media commentary—suggesting that recent Labour Party policies have appeared to favour pensioners over children.   Critics point to decisions such as maintaining or even reversing cuts to winter fuel payments for older people while delaying or only modestly addressing measures aimed at reducing child poverty.  

26/5/2025

Farmer payments begin - Upland Sheep Support funding

More than £6 million support for hill farmers has been paid out to more than 1,000 businesses.   For the second year running the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) has processed more than 95% of eligible applications before the end of May.  

26/5/2025

 
‘Get on and Build' Deputy Prime Minister urges housebuilders - England

Councils will get new powers to keep housebuilders on track to ensure they play their part to deliver 1.5 million homes.   Councils will get new powers to keep housebuilders on track to ensure they play their part to deliver 1.5 million homes.  

26/5/2025

Scottish Economic Bulletin: May 2025

Scottish economic growth has strengthened at the start of 2025 following a weak end to last year, however business activity and consumer sentiment indicators remain weak, in part reflecting the backdrop of increased global economic uncertainty and the recent increase in inflationary pressures.   Scottish GDP grew 0.7% in the 3 months to February, strengthening from zero growth in the final quarter of 2024.  

25/5/2025

 
Record Numbers of US Citizens Moving To UK

There has been a record number of Americans applying for UK citizenship in recent years.   In 2024, over 6,100 applications were submitted, marking a 26% increase from 2023 and the highest number since records began 20 years ago.  

25/5/2025

 
Continuing to seek Chinese investment in the UK comes at a heavy political price - Should Have Stayed In the EU

One major consequence of the UK government's resistance to rejoining the European single market is that it is forced to go around the world seeking trade deals and investment.   Recently, the government has boasted of successful arrangements with India, the US, and some new agreements with the EU.  

25/5/2025

 
UK's India trade deal offers wider access to a surging economy - and could make food imports cheaper

After more than three years and 14 rounds of negotiations, the UK and India have finally announced a free trade agreement (FTA).  UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will formally sign the deal on a visit to India later this year.  

25/5/2025

 
Trump's Impact: US Tourism Crisis Costs Billions

International tourism to the U.S.  is in freefall, with economists warning of a massive economic blow.  

25/5/2025

Working women are too often left to deal with endometriosis alone. But big changes could be coming

Endometriosis is a long-term and invisible gynaecological condition that affects around 1.5 million women in the UK alone.  It's known for its unpredictable and debilitating symptoms, like chronic pelvic pain, heavy periods and fatigue.  

25/5/2025

How the UK could monetise ‘citizen data' and turn it into a national asset

Data is the lifeblood of artificial intelligence (AI) and as such is a hugely valuable resource.  Entrepreneur Matt Clifford's report on the AI Opportunities Action Plan, commissioned by the UK government, has set out some ambitious recommendations for unlocking UK public data to power AI development - and serve as a state asset.  

25/5/2025

 
Trump's 50% Tariff Bombshell - The EU has 3 Options

Trump just announced a 50% tariff on all EU imports—blowing up hopes for a US-EU trade deal.   In this video, we unpack why it happened, what it means, and how the EU might hit back.  

25/5/2025

 
Europe makes HUGE announcement, deals UNEXPECTED BLOW to Trump

Europe deals UNEXPECTED BLOW to Trump with major announcement..  

24/5/2025 : Local Authority

Committee to discuss delivery plan for 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund

At the meeting Economy and Infrastructure Committee next week (Thursday 28 May) members will decide how over £3 million of funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will be used over the next 12 months to deliver a positive impact across communities.   The proposed 2025/26 Highland UKSPF Delivery Plan is made up of a range of projects geared to delivering positive impacts.  

24/5/2025 : Local Authority

Final phase for Community Council Scheme Review public consultation

The Highland Council has launched phase 2 of a public consultation on how Community Councils across the Highlands are created and governed.   The Community Council Scheme Review was on the agenda of the Highland Council meeting held on the 15 May 2025, Members agreed to the phase 2 review of the Scheme and that the proposals informed by the phase 1 review be subject to further public consultation.