News Archive

20/5/2026

Real wages on the cusp of shrinking for fourth time since financial crisis

The UK labour market entered the period of instability caused by the war in the Middle East in a weak place, with unemployment at 5 per cent, the volume of payrolled jobs falling and pay packets on the brink of shrinking in real terms again for the fourth time in less than two decades, the Resolution Foundation said on 19 May 2026.   The latest ONS data shows February’s fall in unemployment was a blip.  

20/5/2026

The Market in Fake Insurance Policies on Social Media - A Checklist how To Spot the Fakes

There is a growing market in fake insurance policies being sold through social media, and the evidence is now very clear about who the main targets are and how the scams work.   The FCA, Insurance Fraud Bureau, Aviva, and multiple UK news outlets all confirm a sharp rise in what’s known as “ghost broking” — criminals selling bogus car‑insurance policies via Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram.  

20/5/2026

Why Oil Prices Are Moving: A Simple Explanation and Price Today

USA has eased some sanctions today and today’s oil price is very marginally down.  Using data from the Financial Times, Trading Economics, and Reuters here is a brief summary of the position.  

19/5/2026

From Free Parking to Revenue Stream: Why Highland Council Is Expanding Car Park Charges

For decades, many Highland car parks were seen almost as a public right especially in rural communities, tourist beauty spots and smaller towns where parking had traditionally been free.  But across the Highlands, and increasingly across the rest of the UK, councils are steadily turning more of these spaces into paid parking areas.  

19/5/2026

Caithness at the Sharp End of a Fragile Industrial Recovery

The latest Index of Production from the Office for National Statistics offers another reminder that the UK’s industrial foundations remain uneven, fragile and deeply exposed to global pressures.  On the surface, the first quarter of 2026 looks mildly positive, with production output rising by 0.2% and manufacturing showing a more convincing 0.8% increase.  

19/5/2026

Considering Oil Problems and Possible Rationing of Fuel In Late 2026

At the moment, rationing of petrol and diesel in the UK or most Western countries is still considered a last-resort scenario rather than something imminent.  But the risk has clearly risen because the oil market is now relying heavily on emergency reserves rather than normal supply flows.  

19/5/2026

Latest Energy Cap Forecast Shows Likely Shock Increase In Prices

The latest forecasts suggest the UK energy price cap for July–September 2026 is now expected to rise quite sharply from the current April–June level.   The current cap is £1,641 a year for a “typical” dual-fuel household, but the newest forecast from Cornwall Insight published today (19 May 2026) puts the July cap at about £1,850.  

19/5/2026

New parents urged to claim Child Benefit for their baby now

Parents urged to claim Child Benefit for their new baby to avoid missing out.   6.8 million families are claiming Child Benefit more than 30% of new parents are missing out on payments by not claiming in their baby’s first year parents urged to claim via the HMRC app to ensure they get their payment as quickly as possible One in three new parents are missing out on Child Benefit payments in their baby’s first year, new figures reveal.  

19/5/2026

 
The secret power behind the City of London - Richard Murphy

Who really governs Britain? In this video, I explore the hidden political power of the City of London Corporation and the offshore finance network linked to it.   Most people have heard of the City of London, but very few understand that it operates under a unique constitutional structure unlike anything else in the UK.  

19/5/2026

 
Recent fall in youth employment approaching the decline seen during COVID and 2008 financial crisis

In the three years from December 2022 to December 2025, the share of 16- to 24-year-olds in payrolled employment fell by 4.3 percentage points (equivalent to 330,000 people) from 54.9% to 50.6%.   In comparison, the decline seen over the COVID-19 pandemic was 6.5 percentage points, while the fall in the 2008 financial crisis was 5.4 percentage points (relative to the pre-crisis trend).  

19/5/2026

 
Largest ever UK business delegation to the US launches Greater Together Los Angeles

The Secretary of State for Culture, Lisa Nandy and Minister for Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall, will today lead a delegation of 250+ strong business and cultural leaders to the US to drive economic growth at a major expo, Greater Together LA.   Following King Charles’s historic address to Congress, the UK Government’s GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign is holding a major expo in Los Angeles, California, from 18th - 22nd May, 2026.  

19/5/2026

 
What China Understands About AI and Energy That the US Doesnt

As the United States and China compete for dominance in artificial intelligence, energy is emerging as a critical battleground.  Former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson warns that while the US still leads in AI technology, electricity shortages could become a major constraint as data center demand surges.  

19/5/2026

Largest crackdown on late payments in over 25 years as landmark Bill enters Parliament

Ministers announce the introduction of legislation to tackle late payments and protect small businesses.   Small Business Protections Bill introduced to Parliament to back small businesses with the toughest late payment regime in the G7.  

19/5/2026

The Bunkum About Media Reports Press and Online Of New Parking Rules

There are no new DVLA parking rules coming in this week.  The stories circulating online are real, but they are not DVLA rules and not taking effect this week.  

19/5/2026

Banking reforms to boost investment by billions for British businesses

British businesses stand to benefit from billions in fresh financing being unlocked through reforms to the bank ring-fencing regime.   Reforms to ring‑fencing to create a more agile and proportionate regime that reduces duplication within banks and removes barriers to lending and investment.  

19/5/2026

 
The Charge of the Fuel Brigade With Thanks To Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Half a tank, half a tank, Half a tank onward, All in the diesel queue Waiting and worried.   “Forward for fuel once more!” Governments thundered.  

19/5/2026

Price Caps On Food Back in the News So Let's Take A Closer Look

The Scottish Government proposal (led by the SNP in 2026) to cap prices on up to 50 essential goods—such as bread, milk, and rice—is intended as a temporary, emergency measure to combat high cost-of-living pressures.   While designed to improve affordability and nutrition, industry experts and economists widely argue that such price caps are unlikely to work effectively or sustainably in the long term.  

19/5/2026

 
Why Andy Burnhams economics are deeply neoliberal and will fail him and Labour - Richard Murphy

Andy Burnham says he wants to break with the failed neoliberal economics that have damaged Britain for decades.  He talks about public ownership, reindustrialisation, regional investment and rebuilding public services.  

19/5/2026

Britains Labour Market at a Turning Point - Unemployment Rising

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) releases published on 19 May 2026 point to a labour market that is weakening more quickly than headline figures alone suggest.  The unemployment rate has risen to 5.0%, vacancies have fallen to a five-year low, payrolled employment has dropped sharply, and wage growth is slowing.  

19/5/2026

Tesco, Aldi, and the Illusion of the Price Match

Tesco’s advertising campaign around Aldi Price Match is designed to reassure customers that they no longer need to leave mainstream supermarkets to find discount prices.   The message is simple and psychologically effective: why shop at Aldi if Tesco offers the same prices? However, a closer examination of the scheme reveals a more complicated reality.