The Government announces new plans to align key institutions under the National Wealth Fund that will boost growth and unlock investment. The Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds have today instructed officials to immediately begin work to align the UK Infrastructure Bank and the British Business Bank under a new National Wealth Fund that will invest in the new industries of the future.
Modern slavery must remain on the political agenda at this UK election, Hope for Justice's policy and programmes experts have insisted. It comes as the UK's richest family are on trial in Switzerland for human trafficking and exploitation. The charges against the Hinduja family relate to their practice of importing servants from India to look after their children and household, the BBC reports.
Labour could change the UK. It could require that our banks make sure they have a presence in every town in this country where there are more than 10,000 people.
From tomorrow (Wednesday, 10 July 2024), ScotRail will introduce a temporary timetable to provide greater certainty and reliability for customers. This is a result of the ongoing impact of fewer train drivers than normal currently being available for overtime or rest day working, as is their contractual right, following confirmation from drivers' union ASLEF that it will recommend to its Executive Committee a ballot for industrial action over pay.
UK Total retail sales decreased by 0.2% year on year in June, against a growth of 4.9% in June 2023. This was above the 3-month average decline of 1.1% and below the 12-month average growth of 1.5%.
The latest reconviction statistics for the 2020-21 offender cohort have been published today by Scotland's Chief Statistician. This is the second year that reconviction data affected by the COVID-19 pandemic has been published.
Rachel Reeves should use her first weeks as chancellor to overhaul how fiscal policy is made - and introduce changes that would give the Labour government a better chance of making progress on its priorities. Some of the most enduring reforms made by UK chancellors have been to the structures that support economic policy making and announced early on in the life of a new government - from Gordon Brown's granting independence to the Bank of England in 1997 to George Osborne's creation of the Office for Budget responsibility in 2010.
Individuals could spend more time under community supervision as part of their prison sentence, a consultation has proposed. Views are being sought on changing the point of release under licence conditions for people serving a custodial sentence of four years or more, which would provide a more managed return to the community and be a proportionate way to reduce the pressure on the prison estate.
Highland Council today (8 July 2024) launched a 12-week public consultation on its draft Ecology Strategy and Action Plan. The draft Ecology Strategy and Action Plan was approved at May's meeting of Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee and sets out an ambitious set of actions to tackle biodiversity loss and address the ecological emergency. Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans, said: "The climate and ecological emergencies are interconnected, and biodiversity loss threatens our well-being and survival.
The Education Secretary has today (Monday 8 July 2024), begun work delivering the government's pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers. Bridget Phillipson will immediately embark on resetting the government's relationship with the sector and transforming the image of teaching - seen by the government as key to both recruiting new teachers and retaining those already in classrooms.
Douglas Alexander the new Labour MP for Lothian East served in several roles in the past Labour government including transport secretary and international development secretary. He was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade on 6 July 2024.
Moneyfacts UK Mortgage Trends Treasury Report data reveals the availability of deals at 95% loan-to-value rose to its highest point in over two years. Overall, it was the fifth consecutive month of rate rises to the two- and five-year fixed mortgage rates.
In her first speech as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves laid out plans to rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off. Last week, the British people voted for change.
The UK's new Defence Secretary has pledged to step up the UK's support for Ukraine on a visit to Odesa, less than 48 hours after his appointment. Following a meeting with President Zelenskyy and discussions with his counterpart Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Mr Healey announced that the UK would provide a new package of support to the country, including more artillery guns, a quarter of a million ammunition rounds and nearly 100 precision Brimstone missiles.
First Minister John Swinney will welcome new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to Scotland today Sunday 7 July 2024 Speaking ahead of the meeting, the First Minister said, "I was really pleased to have the opportunity to speak to the Prime Minister on his first day in office and to congratulate him and wish him, and his family well. "I look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to Scotland where I hope to have constructive discussions with him on our shared priorities for the people of Scotland.
When teaching British political history, I usually stress two points. First, the British Conservative Party have been among the most successful office-seeking parties in electoral history.
Ian Murray has been appointed Secretary of State for Scotland. Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said, "It is a real privilege to have been asked to serve in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's first Cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland.
Democracies are no better than other forms of government at avoiding catastrophic mistakes. But they are much more effective at rectifying them.
Angus MacDonald - Scottish Liberal Democrats has been elected as the Member of Parliament for the Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire constituency at the UK Parliamentary general election held on 4 July 2024. The total number of votes cast across Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire constituency was 48,224.
Jamie Stone LibDem has been returned with an increased majority in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross. Jamie Sone increased his majority over the SNP by a huge amount.
