Of the four fundamental freedoms democratic politics should promote - the freedoms of speech and worship and the freedoms from want and fear, the freedom from fear is the most important because it is the back stop created by the failure of all the others. So why aren't our politicians trying to deliver it? ABOUT RICHARD MURPHY Richard Murphy is Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School.
FM thanks departing Ministers and commits to continue consensus-building approach. The Scottish Government's formal co-operation agreement with the Scottish Green Party has ended, First Minister Humza Yousaf has confirmed.
Information about National Insurance contributions, qualifying for the State Pension, understanding your National Insurance record and whether you should fill gaps in your record. ou have until 5 April 2026 to make up for gaps for the tax year 2019 to 2020.
More child and vulnerable adult witnesses involved in serious criminal trials will have access to specialist suites to pre-record evidence, away from the courtroom, following a further £2 million investment from the Scottish Government. The funding means dedicated facilities - known as Evidence by Commissioner (EBC) suites – will be established in areas covered by two sheriffdoms which don't currently have their own designated facilities.
Government has launched Help to Grow: Management Essentials, a new online training course for small business leaders. Government has today launched Help to Grow: Management Essentials, a new online training course filled with practical advice and resources for small business leaders.
Winter Heating Payment supports households on low incomes, including older people, disabled people and families with children under five. People in Scotland have received more than £30 million via two Scottish Government benefits to help them deal with increased energy costs this winter, new statistics have show. Child Winter Heating Payment helps families of the most severely disabled children and young people. The official figures show more than 400,000 Winter Heating Payments of £55.05 were issued between November last year and the end of March.
Tax systems need to be fair. There are two ways of determining if they are.
Consumers looking to switch their current account will find switching cash perks have vanished. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk compares some of the most attractive current account packages for consumers to consider.
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) have announced the signing of a new articulation agreement. Yjis will allow learners who have completed SQA's Higher National Certificates and Diplomas to seamlessly progress onto UHI degree programmes at advanced levels increasing accessibility to higher education and streamlining progression pathways.
UK trade trends have been volatile over recent years following a range of overlapping economic and trade shocks. UK export growth has become increasingly dominated by services since 2010, with goods exports increasing by just 7% in real terms, compared with services exports growing by 63% over the same period.
Thousands of voters in the May local elections are at risk of being disenfranchised because of "cynical" rule changes that make photo ID compulsory, Labour's metro mayors argue. Mayors including Sadiq Khan in London, Tracy Brabin in West Yorkshire and Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester have come together to raise awareness of changes they say are a "brazen assault on our democracy".
Britain needs to increase investment in its power sector four-fold over the next decade to deliver the crucial next step in decarbonising the economy. But promises that electrifying our home heating and driving will lead to lower energy costs have relied on the pre-energy crisis low interest rates world returning, and we need a plan for paying for this investment in case interest rates stay at current high levels, according to new research published on Monday 22 April 2024 by the Resolution Foundation.
While the UK's economic outlook is expected to remain modest this year, growth is predicted to build throughout 2024. That is before accelerating in 2025 thanks to falling inflation, higher consumer spending and anticipated reductions in interest rates, according to the new EY ITEM Club Spring Forecast.
Borrowing - the difference between public sector spending and income - was £11.9 billion in March 2024, £4.7 billion less than in March last year. Borrowing in the financial year ending (FYE) March 2024 was provisionally estimated at £120.7 billion, £7.6 billion less than in the same twelve-month period a year ago but £6.6 billion more than forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
Consumer behaviour indicators showed increased activity in the latest week, with aggregate UK spending on credit and debit cards increasing by 1% compared with the previous week and transactions at Pret A Manger stores increasing in 9 of the 10 location categories; meanwhile, overall retail footfall remained broadly unchanged. (Bank of England CHAPS, Pret A Manger, MRI OnLocation).
The latest results suggest business conditions remain challenging but estimates since January 2024 show small signs of improvement for some measures. More than one in five (22%) trading businesses reported that their turnover had decreased in March 2024 compared with February 2024, while 16% reported their turnover had increased; these figures are broadly stable with February 2024.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (April, 17th) sold 1,101 store cattle and 63 OTM cattle. Bullocks (553) averaged 312.0pp per kg and sold to 383.1p per kg for a 355kg Limousin cross from Wester Tomloan, Nairn, and £1,680 gross for a pen of 588kg Limousin crosses from 2 Hallum, Forss.
Retail sales volumes (quantity bought) were estimated to be flat (0.0%) in March 2024, following an increase of 0.1% in February 2024 (revised from 0.0%). Within retail, sales were mixed, with automotive fuel and non-food stores sales volumes rising by 3.2% and 0.5%, respectively.
In 2022, there were 10,048 deaths (16.6 per 100,000 people) from alcohol-specific causes registered in the UK, the highest number on record. The number recorded in 2022 was 4.2% higher than in 2021 (9,641 deaths; 14.9 per 100,000) and 32.8% higher than in 2019 (7,565 deaths; 11.8 per 100,000), the last pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic year.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), in collaboration with its subsidiary Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), has awarded two contracts to establish an innovative partnership for the enhanced management of asbestos waste. The Asbestos Innovation Partnership (AIP) will work with the NDA, NWS and the supply chain, to test and develop new solutions to treat asbestos waste, helping to deliver efficiencies and enable more effective waste management.
