News Archive

14/12/2025

Preparing for War? What UK Politicians Are Saying — and What the Government Is Actually Doing

Over the past year, a noticeable shift has taken place in the language used by British politicians and defence officials.  Statements about "war‑fighting readiness", warnings that threats may be "closer to home", and announcements of large, specific increases in military spending.  

14/12/2025

Will increased military spending and munitions production create jobs?

The scale and type of spending the government is committing to especially new factories, long-term contracts, and "always-on" production — is much more job-intensive than past defence spending.  That makes job growth very likely.  

14/12/2025

Has the UK Closed the Tax-and-Spend "Doom Loop"? What It Means for Everyday People

In recent years, economists and commentators have used the phrase "doom loop" to describe a cycle in public finances where slow economic growth leads to higher taxes, which in turn dampens growth further, forcing the government to borrow more or cut spending, and the cycle repeats.  In the UK, this term has been applied to debates around the autumn 2025 Budget, rising taxes, and ongoing government borrowing.  

14/12/2025

 
Why Are CEOs Paid So Much More Than You? - Richard Murphy

Chief executives in the UK and the US are now paid hundreds of times more than the people who actually create value in their companies.  This is not innovation or entrepreneurship - it is extraction.  

14/12/2025

 
8 Christmas Tax Hacks HMRC Hopes You Forget

This video may be worth watching for any business.   Jingle all the way..  

13/12/2025

Young people encouraged to Reach for the Sky as government announces £750,000 to create the next generation of aviators

Funding ensures young people from all backgrounds can learn about the varied, highly skilled jobs and future opportunities in aviation across the UK.   £750,000 awarded to projects encouraging young people into careers in the aviation sector Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund goes to projects across the UK aiming to showcase career paths, boost skills and futureproof the aviation sector projects focus on getting young people from diverse backgrounds into aviation, creating access to opportunity in high-skilled jobs Projects to inspire the next generation of aviators across the UK are set to get a boost as the government today (12 December 2025) announces a £750,000 boost to projects inspiring young people to explore careers in aviation.  

13/12/2025

Scottish Resilience committee meets to discuss winter flu - Hospital admissions rise as cases continue to increase

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has chaired a resilience meeting this afternoon to discuss the rising number of flu cases and the subsequent pressure on health services.   She was joined by the Health Secretary, the Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Gregor Smith and Public Health Scotland Head of Health Protection (infection Services) Jim McMenamin.  

13/12/2025

New qualifications to tackle NHS skills shortage

New qualifications in MedTech to tackle 145,000 skills shortage and ease NHS pressures.   new Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) in MedTech will help fill critical skills gaps, with estimated 145,000 jobs needed by 2035 across the sector.  

13/12/2025

Last chance to get vaccinated before Christmas as flu cases rise

Weekly UKHSA report for the 2025/26 season, monitoring respiratory viruses as people are encouraged to take simple steps to protect themselves.   This weekly bulletin brings together the latest surveillance data, along with the latest public health advice for flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other viruses.  

13/12/2025

Doctors shape vision for future medical workforce

A new report exploring views on how Scotland's medical workforce might need to evolve over the next 15 to 20 years has been published today.   The Future Medical Workforce report follows six months of extensive engagement with the profession, and we have listened to over 2,000 doctors through a national survey and 40 focus groups.  

13/12/2025

Funding to support up to 460 new jobs at Grangemouth

Up to 460 new jobs are expected to be created at the Grangemouth industrial cluster and surrounding area, thanks to £8.5 million new Scottish Government funding.   Following the allocation of £1.5 million of Scottish Government's Grangemouth Just Transition Funding to Scottish biotech company MiAlgae, up to 310 jobs are expected to be created over the next five years.  

13/12/2025

Scottish neighbourhoods to be revitalised with £280 million named

The 14 Scottish most in need communities each to benefit from up to £20 million UK Government Pride in Place Programme funding.   Local communities are at the heart of Scottish life - and the UK Government is today announcing the 14 neighbourhoods each receiving up to £20 million to restore pride in their area and open doors to new opportunities.  

13/12/2025

UK launches new Military Intelligence Services as hostile threats surge

New unified organisation to speed up how Defence gathers and shares intelligence.   UK military intelligence will be more efficient, faster, and better able to anticipate future threats as the Ministry of Defence launches the new Military Intelligence Services (MIS).  

13/12/2025

DVLA's top tips for avoiding scams

Tips for motorists on how to recognise and avoid scams, including emails and text messages.   DVLA is reminding motorists how they can keep themselves safe from vehicle and driving licence scams.  

13/12/2025

 
The real reason Venezuela matters

Venezuela is home to the world's largest proven oil reserves with an estimated 304 billion barrels.   And there's one big reason why America is so interested.  

13/12/2025

 
Recruitment drive for local plan inspectors

The Planning Inspectorate is recruiting experienced planning professionals to become local plan inspectors.  Applications open in early 2026.  

13/12/2025

More than £400m paid out for sustainable food production

Three quarters of farmers have received Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship payments Three quarters of eligible farmers have already received their Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship payments since the 2025 payment window opened on 1 December, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) confirmed (Friday 12 December).   So far, more than 28,351 payments have been made, bringing the total amount paid to farmers to £435.6 million.  

13/12/2025

 
If every country is in debt, where's the money? - Richard Murphy

Most people believe the national debt is a danger to our economy.  In this video, I explain why that story is wrong.  

12/12/2025

October 2025, the UK economy shrank slightly, while the US economy was expanding strongly and the EU economy was growing modestly

In October 2025, the UK economy shrank slightly, while the US economy was expanding strongly and the EU economy was growing modestly.  This contrast highlights how the UK's stagnation is more domestic in nature, whereas the US and EU are benefiting from stronger consumer spending and investment.  

12/12/2025

Federal Reserve Independence, Political Pressure, and Global Monetary Stability - Lessons from History and Implications for the 21st Century

As President Donald Trump threatens the independence of the Federal Reserve Bank a look at history may give us some warnings about inflationary pressures that could result.   Central bank independence has become a foundational principle of contemporary macroeconomic governance.