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.
Highland council have announced resurfacing & drainage works being carried out on A99 Cliff Road, Bridge Street, High Street, George Street & North Road in Wick from Thursday 4 Jul 24 for approx 3 weeks. Road closure will be in place from Wed 10Jul - Sat 14 Jul between 10am & 3pm daily for the corner of Bridge Street & High Street to enable works.
13% of UK shoppers didn't make a single online purchase in 2023, with 16-24 year olds among the most resistant, says the home delivery expert Parcelhero. New analysis by the home delivery expert Parcelhero says a surprising 13% of UK adults with internet access didn’t buy a single item online in 2023.
Daniela Gabor is professor of economics and macrofinance at UWE Bristol and she has written an extremely interesting article at the Guardian on private finance coming into the UK's infrastructure. Handing vital infrastructure to private investment companies will generate windfalls for investors and leave the rest of us worse off.
Change in your pocket or purse is something we think about only when we need to but businesses need it almost every day. With Bank of Scotland proposing to close the last bank branch in Wick next year will cash be hard to come by without a trip to a branch in Thurso.