News Archive

5/6/2026

Scotland’s Tax System: Three Voices, One Message - Why Complexity Hurts the Highlands

When three very different institutions — the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC), and the Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) — all turn their attention to Scotland’s tax system wha is he result.  The result is not a chorus in harmony but a layered critique.  

5/6/2026

 
Trump is raising your mortgage cost. So, why can’t Britain offer fixed-rate mortgages for life? - Richard Murphy

Most British mortgage holders live with uncertainty.  They always face the risk of higher repayment costs through no fault of their own.  

5/6/2026

Britain's Businesses Under Pressure: Costs Rise as Confidence Wavers

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) Business Insights survey paints a picture of an economy that is still struggling to find firm footing.  While many businesses continue to trade successfully, rising costs, economic uncertainty and pressure on consumer spending remain major concerns across the UK.  

5/6/2026

Scotland On The Increasing Credit Card Slippery Slope

The evidence suggests that credit card debt in Scotland is increasing, although Scotland-specific figures are not collected as comprehensively as UK-wide figures.   If interest rates rise as some analysts are predicting the situation for people with credit card debt will get much worse.  

5/6/2026

 
Coloradans are getting squeezed by credit cards while trying to navigate high costs

Colorado’s breath-taking landscapes are increasingly overshadowed by breath-taking bills.  Despite a high-growth economy, many households face a concerning paradox.  

5/6/2026

Shops Footfall Hit By Record Sunshine In UK But Scotland Went Slightly Up In Places

Total UK footfall decreased by 2.6% in May (YoY), up from -10.7% in April.   High Street footfall decreased by 1.5% in May (YoY), up from -9.2% in April.  

5/6/2026

Britain’s Economy Sends Mixed Signals: Growth Continues, but Warning Lights Are Flashing

The latest real-time indicators from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal an economy that is still moving forward, but not without growing strains beneath the surface.   The value of the ONS real-time indicators lies in their ability to provide an early glimpse of economic activity before the publication of traditional economic statistics.  

4/6/2026 : Other Public Services

Wylfa Decommissioning But With Good Propects For Future Nuclear Dvelopments

Wylfa, located on Anglesey, North Wales, is a historic nuclear site that operated from 1971 to 2015, featuring the UK's largest and last Magnox reactors.   Known for its significant contribution to UK energy, it is currently undergoing decommissioning while being designated as a premier location for new, small modular reactor (SMR) technology.  

4/6/2026

Brand new dental school places in 'dental deserts' in England And What Happens in Scotland As Shortage of Dentists Continues

Patients in England set to benefit from the first sustained expansion of dental school places in nearly 20 years.   First sustained expansion of dental school places in nearly 2 decades Targeted at areas where patients have struggled to access NHS dental care University of East Anglia (UEA) and University of Portsmouth to each receive 25 new dental training places Patients in so-called ‘dental deserts’ will benefit from the first sustained expansion of dental school places in nearly 20 years, with 50 extra dentists to be trained in the regions that need them most from 2027 onwards.  

4/6/2026

 
Chancellor Rachel Reeves speech at the Scientific Superpower Conference

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has (3 June 2026) delivered a speech at the Scientific Superpower Conference.   Thank you And thank you to the Supercluster Board especially for everything that has gone into today and over the last year and a half.  It’s great to be able to be here to speak to you this afternoon.  

4/6/2026

 
UK–Ghana Growth Partnership to Drive Jobs, Investment and Skills

UK–Ghana Growth Partnership (2026–2028) aims to boost jobs, trade, infrastructure and skills through major investments and private sector–led growth initiatives.   The UK and Ghana have signed a new Growth Partnership aimed at delivering tangible benefits for people and businesses in Ghana, including more jobs, stronger infrastructure and better access to skills and education.  

4/6/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council agrees to consult on major investment in Thurso schools

Highland Council’s Education Committee has (3 June 2026) agreed to launch a statutory consultation on proposals to transform education provision in Thurso.   The decision marks an important step in shaping future investment in Thurso’s schools, giving pupils, parents, staff and the wider community the opportunity to help influence how modern, high quality education provision is developed for the town.  

4/6/2026

Trump's New Tariff Gamble: Why Scotland Could Feel the Pain

Donald Trump has once again placed tariffs at the heart of American economic policy, and while the headlines may focus on Washington, Beijing and Brussels, the consequences could be felt in factories, distilleries and ports across Scotland.   The latest proposals from the Trump administration would impose new tariffs on imports from dozens of countries, including the United Kingdom.  

4/6/2026

 
Cheating in exams with high-tech smart devices poses growing threat, warns Ofqual chief in new podcast

Scale of the challenge should not be underestimated and requires speedy action, says Chief Regulator Sir Ian Bauckham.   Cheating in exams using latest high-tech smart devices poses a growing threat that must be tackled quickly and not underestimated, Ofqual’s chief has warned in a new podcast.  

4/6/2026

Major new package of support for young people announced with Kings Trust In England - Scotland is Different

The Government is backing The King’s Trust’s new youth opportunity initiative with £10 million of funding, launched (3 June 2026).   The nationwide initiative will fully launch in 2027, providing young people with access to more trusted adults, training, skills and work experience opportunities.  

4/6/2026

GCHQ confirms heavy Russian losses as Moscow avoids negotiations and civilian casualties grow: UK Statement to the OSCE

UK Senior Military Advisor, Colonel Joby Rimmer, cites GCHQ intelligence assessments on heavy Russian losses, criticises and condemns Moscow’s refusal to engage in serious negotiations, and highlights ever increasing and unacceptable civilian casualties as a result of Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine.   Mr Chair, only a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, one that safeguards its sovereignty, will deter further Russian aggression.  

4/6/2026

 
Universal theme park to be UK’s most popular tourist attraction

The Universal United Kingdom Resort, one of the largest ever investments in the UK tourism sector, will employ thousands and entertain millions of people.   Comcast NBCUniversal has committed to invest over £5bn in the entertainment resort complex during the expected 5 years of construction, as well as an additional £1bn in capital investment over the first 10 years of operation.  

4/6/2026

Backing Scotland’s entrepreneurs - Funding to drive business innovation across sectors

An annual conference for the Games sector and a pilot matching film and TV producers with business angels are among new initiatives that will be supported as part of record Scottish Government investment in innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship this year.   A total of 44 projects will share £1.75 million through the Scottish Government’s Ecosystem Fund to help entrepreneurs and businesses emerge and grow.  

4/6/2026

Unlocking West of Shetland reserves could reduce imports and be better for global climate

With the PetroJarl Rosebank having left its dry dock in Norway last Saturday and arrived on location west of Shetland, an important major new peer-reviewed study underlines the importance of the area for extending the life of the UK's oil and gas sector.   It is economically, environmentally, and strategically beneficial for the UK to prioritise domestic oil and gas production rather than increasing reliance on imports, according to new findings from researchers at the University of Aberdeen.  

4/6/2026

 
Will new towns be another PFI disaster? - Richard Murphy

Labour says it wants to build new towns.  But if Rachel Reeves funds them through PFI-style private finance, those towns could be financially crippled from the start.