News Archive

Teachers Strike Action In Scotland To Close Most Schools On Thursday 24 November and Two more days of action in January

The EIS has announced two additional national strike days in its ongoing campaign for a fair pay settlement for Scotland's teaching professionals.   Following a meeting of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Extended Joint Chairs this afternoon, at which no new offer was made, EIS members are set to take strike action next week, on Thursday 24 November, in schools across Scotland.  

Royal Mail Strike To Hit Several Days In December - Better Post Very Early for Christmas

Royal Mail workers are to stage six more strikes next month, including on Christmas Eve, in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.   The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) said its members would walk out on 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24 of December.  

Cornwall Insight Responds To The Autumn Statement

Dan Atzori, Research Partner at Cornwall Insight:.   "The energy announcements from the government's Autumn Statement today will be felt across households, businesses and throughout the UK energy market.  

The Autumn Statement 2022 Speech As Delivered By Chancellor Jeremy Hunt

Mr Speaker, In the face of unprecedented global headwinds, families, pensioners, businesses, teachers, nurses and many others are worried about the future.   So today we deliver a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and rebuild our economy.  

10.1% Rises In Benefits And The State Pension

To protect the most vulnerable the Chancellor unveiled £26 billion of support for the cost of living including continued energy support, as well as 10.1% rises in benefits and the State Pension and the largest ever cash increase in the National Living Wage.   To support the poorest pensioners, I have decided to increase pension credit by 10.1% which is worth up to £1470 for a couple and £960 for a single pensioner in our most vulnerable households.  

The National Living Wage Will Be Increased By 9.7% To £10.42 An Hour

Working age benefits will rise by 10.1%, boosting the finances of millions of the poorest people in the UK, and the Triple Lock will be protected, meaning pensioners will also get a rise in the State Pension and the Pension Credit in line with inflation.   The National Living Wage will be increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour, giving a full-time worker a pay rise of over £1,600 a year, benefitting 2 million of the lowest paid workers.  

Pm Statement To The House Of Commons On The G20 Summit: 17 November 2022

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a statement to the House of Commons on his attendance to the G20 Summit in Indonesia.   Thank you, Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would like to make a brief statement on the G20 Summit in Indonesia, but first I'd like to address Russia’s missile strikes on Ukraine this week.  

Energy Profits Levy Increased

To ensure businesses making extraordinary profits as a result of high energy prices also pay their fair share, from 1 January 2023 the Energy Profits Levy on oil and gas companies will increase from 25% to 35%, with the levy remaining in place until the end of March 2028, and a new, temporary 45% levy will be introduced for electricity generators.  Together these measures will raise over £55 billion from this year until 2027-28.  

Hunt Combines George Osborne Rhetoric And Gordon Brown Policy, Announcing Energy Support Today And Tougher Times Tomorrow With Top-heavy Tax Rises And Backloaded Spending Cuts

The Chancellor has responded to a grim economic outlook with renewed energy support next year and a backloaded fiscal tightening, combining huge stealth tax rises with far less concrete spending cuts, the Resolution Foundation said today (Thursday).   The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts combine an energy shock driven recession - unemployment is set to rise by 500,000 and the economy to be no larger at the end of this parliament than at its start – with fast rising debt interest costs, leaving borrowing £270 billion cumulatively higher over the coming five years than was expected to be in March.  

Scottish Government Hits Out On UK Autumn Statement - Households ‘paying A Steep Price For Uk Economic Mismanagement'

The UK Government's Autumn Statement fails to address the pressure on devolved budgets to help people with the cost of living crisis, support public services, and finance fair pay offers, according to Deputy First Minister John Swinney.   Reacting to Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt's fiscal announcement, Mr Swinney expressed dismay at his failure to address the impact of inflation on the Scottish Government’s budget, when businesses and households continue to face financial uncertainty and £1 billion in savings have had to be found to help those who need it most.