News Archive

19/7/2026

Ukraine's Oil War: How Attacks on Russian Refineries Are Hitting the Kremlin at Home and Abroad

For much of the war, Ukraine concentrated on defending its territory and attacking Russian military targets close to the front line.  Today, however, Kyiv is pursuing a very different strategy—one aimed at the heart of Russia's economic engine.  

19/7/2026

Scotland's Energy Surplus: How Does It Fit Into the UK's Overall Energy Mix?

Scotland's renewable energy growth is impressive, but it is only one part of a much larger UK energy transformation.   England and Wales are also rapidly expanding renewable generation, particularly offshore wind, solar power and battery storage.  

19/7/2026

The Price of Free TV: How Piracy Helps Fund Criminal Enterprises

in some cases ordinary users who buy illegal IPTV subscriptions are indirectly helping to fund criminal networks.  The situation is more complicated than simply saying every user is knowingly supporting organised crime.  

19/7/2026

Could UK Pension Funds Become the Engine of Growth? Using Britain's £3 Trillion Asset Pool for Housing and Industry

One of the biggest debates in UK economic policy is whether Britain is making the best use of its enormous pension wealth.   UK pension funds manage trillions of pounds of assets, making them among the largest pools of investment capital in the world.  

19/7/2026

The Tax Tightrope: How Could a Future Government Raise Money Without Increasing Income Tax, National Insurance or VAT?

Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister on Monday is a done deal.   The UK tax system is much broader than the three headline taxes.  

18/7/2026

Cutting My Electricity Use: A Caithness Experiment in Real‑World Savings

Living in Caithness means living with long winters, short daylight hours, older houses, electric showers, immersion heaters, and the constant background hum of energy costs.  Over recent months I’ve been running a personal experiment: how far can I push down my daily electricity bill through simple behavioural changes — the kind anyone in the Highlands could adopt without spending a penny.  

18/7/2026

The $100 Oil Question: What Happens if the Strait of Hormuz Stays Closed?

For years, oil prices have risen and fallen with little more than a shrug from many people in the UK.  Unless you filled your car with petrol every week or ordered heating oil for your home, the changes often seemed distant.  

18/7/2026

The three steps needed to climb out of the UK’s fiscal hole

As the new government wrestles with tight budgets and rising expectations, economist Ruth Curtice at the Resolution Foundation sets out a refreshingly sober roadmap for recovery.   Her three‑step plan—balancing the books, tackling long‑term pressures, and boosting investment cuts through the noise to show how fiscal realism could support communities like ours, where every pound spent on energy, pensions, and infrastructure matters.  

18/7/2026

 
Small Changes That Can Protect Your Household Budget When Prices Become Unpredictable

Over the past few years households have faced a series of financial shocks.   First came the surge in energy prices, followed by the highest inflation rates seen for decades, rising interest rates, higher food costs and continued uncertainty over global events.  

18/7/2026

First British-made artillery barrels delivered to Ukraine

First deliveries of British-made artillery barrels to Ukraine, under a £61 million contract supporting hundreds of UK jobs.   British-made artillery barrels are being delivered to Ukraine, part of the UK’s enduring support.  

18/7/2026

Care workers to be represented in fair pay agreements

New negotiating body to be set up as part of the first ever adult social care fair pay agreement, representing millions of care workers.   Made up of trade unions and employers, the body will negotiate on pay, terms and conditions and wider employment matters, giving care workers a voice; The first ever fair pay agreement for care workers is backed by £500 million, part of the government’s landmark Employment Rights Act.  

18/7/2026

 
Why Diesel Could Become the UK's Next Fuel Shock – Even if Oil Prices Don't Explode

When people hear reports that oil prices are rising, they naturally expect petrol and diesel prices to follow.  But there is another possibility that receives far less attention.  

18/7/2026

Concerns about food prices remain high in latest annual consumer tracking data

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published the end of year report from its monthly Consumer Insights Tracker (CIT), summarising key findings between April 2025 and March 2026 and longer-term trends.   When we asked respondents whether they had concerns about a range of food related topics, from a list of options, food prices has consistently been the most common concern.  

18/7/2026

Why a War in the Gulf Could Increase Your Mortgage in Caithness

When most people hear about conflict in the Middle East, their first thought is usually the price of petrol or heating oil.  For those of us in the far north of Scotland, that concern is understandable.  

18/7/2026

The Silent Battle: Why Bond Markets Could Matter More Than the Battlefield

Every evening the news shows missiles, damaged buildings and military briefings.  These dramatic images dominate television screens and newspaper headlines.  

17/7/2026

UK Trade Figures: May 2026 – What They Mean for the Highlands and the Wider UK

The Office for National Statistics has released the latest UK trade figures for May 2026, and—as is often the case with trade data—the picture is mixed.  Some sectors are showing real strength, others are softening, and the overall balance is still firmly in the red.  

17/7/2026

Caithness: The County That Helps Power Britain – But Who Powers Caithness?

If you stand on Dunnet Head on a windy day, it is easy to forget just how important Caithness has become.   Electricity generated around Scotland flows south to millions of homes.  

17/7/2026

Ukraine's War on Russian Oil: Could the Fallout Reach Your Fuel Tank?

When people think about the war in Ukraine, they naturally think about the battlefield.   But a second battle is taking place far behind the front lines.  

17/7/2026

Could Britain Become More Energy Secure – Or Are We Still Vulnerable to Events Thousands of Miles Away?

When Russia invaded Ukraine, many people assumed the biggest effects would be felt in Eastern Europe.   Instead, households across Britain soon discovered that a war more than 1,500 miles away could affect everything from electricity bills to supermarket prices.  

17/7/2026

If Scotland Is an Energy Powerhouse, Why Aren't Scots Paying Europe's Lowest Electricity Bills?

Stand on the north coast of Scotland on a windy day and it is easy to believe we should have some of the cheapest electricity in Europe.   Around us are expanding offshore wind projects.