Rail services between London, Essex and Cambridgeshire have been brought into government ownership after the third train company was nationalised today 12 October 2025. Greater Anglia will soon be joined by West Midlands Trains, which will be nationalised on February 1, 2026.
Gold and silver prices are soaring to new record highs due to geopolitical and economic uncertainty, with investors flocking to these assets as a safe haven. Silver, in particular, is outpacing gold, driven by a combination of investor fear, strong industrial demand for its use in technology and green energy, and a tight supply.
The United States has fired a fresh salvo in its economic standoff with China, announcing a sweeping 100% tariff on all Chinese imports effective from 1 November 2025. Framed as a national security measure, the move is poised to reshape global supply chains, rattle markets, and send ripple effects across the Atlantic with UK businesses caught in the crosscurrents.
Some of the world's biggest tech firms have soared in value over the last year. As AI evolves at pace, there are hopes that it will improve lives in ways that people could never have imagined a decade ago - in sectors as diverse as healthcare, employment and scientific discovery.
For years we've been warned that technological advances and artificial intelligence (AI) are set to sweep people out of work. But when we think about whose jobs are really under threat, the answer isn't quite so simple.
Following Storm Amy there is likely to be an increase in roofing and property maintenance scams, with cold callers knocking on doors and offering to repair damage on the spot, providing high quotes for repair work. If your property needs repair or maintenance work carried out, make sure you find the right trader.
Raising the state pension age boosts finances but hits women out of work in their late 50s hardest. Increasing the state pension age is a coherent way for the government to ease pressure on the public finances from rising longevity at older ages.
43% of respondents to this year's Big Scottish Scam Survey had experienced a delivery scam. Scammers typically direct people to malicious websites by sending scam text messages and emails claiming that you need to rearrange a missed delivery.
In a sweeping move to tackle benefit fraud and protect public funds, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recruited 5,000 new inspectors—the largest expansion of its enforcement team in decades. The initiative is part of a £9.6 billion plan to reduce fraud and error in the welfare system over the next five years.
According to a recent survey we carried out, almost half of Scots (46%) have experienced an aggressive or misleading sales transaction, with 33% believing they have been misled into completing a sales transaction. Do you know how to recognise misleading or aggressive sales practices and what to do if you experience them?.
Across England, the number of children receiving support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has soared over the past decade. The proportion of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) nearly doubling.
This is Challenge Poverty Week, an annual awareness-raising campaign led by Poverty Alliance Scotland. Over the last few years, rising costs have led to a rise in illegal money lending and people in financial difficulties may feel that they have no option but to turn to a loan shark.
As the UK grapples with a deepening housing crisis, a provocative question is gaining traction. Should the government ban buy-to-let investments and instead focus exclusively on building new properties for rent? With over 1.3 million people on social housing waiting lists and private rents consuming more than 30% of household income, critics argue that the buy-to-let model has distorted the housing market.
There has recently been a huge increase in recruitment scams, where people receive unsolicited texts or WhatsApp messages. They offer paid work completing simple tasks such as writing online reviews for products or services, liking social media posts, completing surveys or watching videos.
On 12 May 2025 the government published a white paper policy document called Restoring control over the immigration system. The document proposed some changes to make it harder to move to and settle in the UK, with a view to reducing immigration.
The idea of overhauling Britain's property taxes has moved from occasional debate to active policy discussion. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been reported to be exploring major changes.
In its latest Financial Policy Committee (FPC) update, the Bank has flagged that the risk of a "sharp market correction" has increased. A particular concern is the valuation of AI- and tech-oriented companies.
Enhanced unemployment insurance to reward jobseekers while reducing support for long-term claimants of contributory disability benefits. The government plans to introduce a new ‘unemployment insurance' (UI) benefit to replace the two current contributory out-of-work benefits.
Global energy markets saw a modest pullback this week as news of a Gaza ceasefire reduced the geopolitical risk premium that had supported crude prices for much of the past year. Oil benchmarks — Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) — each fell between 1 % and 2 % in early trading following the ceasefire announcement, extending a multi-week decline.
The UK government's new plan to offer paid work placements to young people who've been on long-term benefits has sparked both praise and concern. Ministers say the policy will help thousands back into work.
