Latest News

2/7/2026

 
Scotland has “high potential” for new nuclear development

Technical study on suitable areas in Scotland for new nuclear published.   Scotland has areas with “high potential” for new nuclear development from a technical perspective, according to a new siting study by the government’s nuclear delivery body.  

Today

Is Britain Ready for the New Commodity Economy?

Britain has spent decades worrying about inflation, interest rates and economic growth.  Yet the next great economic challenge may not be financial at all.  

Today

Are We Entering a New Economic Era? From Globalisation to Scarcity, Security and AI Power

Every so often, the global economy doesn’t just change direction—it changes character.   The post-war era was defined by rebuilding and industrial expansion.  

Today

Preparing for the New Economy: How Families and Businesses Can Build Resilience in an Age of Higher Costs

For years, we assumed that most goods would become cheaper, deliveries would arrive on time and borrowing would remain relatively affordable.   That world may be changing.  

Today

The New Global Scramble: How AI, Defence and Net Zero Are Competing for the Same Resources

For much of the twentieth century, the world's great economic battles centred on one commodity—oil.   Nations went to extraordinary lengths to secure it.  

Today

 
Waiting Times For Medial Appointments in Scotland Improving But So Slowly It Will Take Years To Get The Backlog down

The Scottish Government is right to highlight that there has been measurable progress, particularly in reducing the number of people waiting more than a year.  However, when you examine the underlying Public Health Scotland statistics, a more nuanced picture emerges.  

Today

The AI Power Boom: Where the New Energy Infrastructure Will Rise And What It Means for the Highlands

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a software revolution—it’s becoming one of the largest physical infrastructure build‑outs in modern history.  Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, Oracle, OpenAI, xAI and others are collectively committing hundreds of billions of dollars per year to AI data‑center expansion.  

Today

The Coming Local Government Crunch: Five Difficult Decisions Every Scottish Council May Soon Have to Make

For years, Scotland’s councils have been operating under financial pressure.  Budgets have risen, but so too have costs, demand, and statutory obligations.  

Today

Scotland's Councils Aren't Running Out of Money – They're Running Out of Choices

The latest Scottish Government local government finance figures reveal a story that is both reassuring and worrying.  Councils are not collapsing financially, nor are they suddenly awash with cash.  

Today

The UK’s Major Transmission Upgrades (2024–2040) - Could Scottish Government Apply A Levy for Income?

These projects come from National Grid ESO’s Pathway to 2030, Beyond 2030, and Ofgem approvals.  They represent the largest expansion of the UK’s electricity network since the 1960s.  

Today

New Housebuilding and Affordable Housing Supply 2025-26 in Scotland But The Target Looks Very Hard To Reach

There were 17,268 new homes built and 14,955 new builds started across the social and private sector in 2025-26.   On the basis of the latest figures, the Scottish Government is behind the pace required to meet its own affordable housing target, although it is still too early to say that the target is impossible to achieve.  

Today

The Dollar, the Fragmenting World Economy, and Why Scotland No Longer Has Its Own Banks

The global economy is shifting.  Sanctions, trade wars, geopolitical rivalry, and the rise of regional blocs are slowly pushing the world toward a more fragmented, multipolar financial system.  

Today

Asylum seekers will pay towards costs of accommodation

Asylum seekers who can afford to will be required to repay a flat-rate contribution towards the cost of their accommodation and support.   Asylum seekers who are able to pay back the cost of support and accommodation will now be required to, under new laws.  

Today

UK targets services exports in China trade talks

Cooperation with China to increase exports already showing results as iconic British brands like Barclays and Formula E expanding in the Chinese market.   200 UK and Chinese businesses to meet and deepen trade ties.  

Today

Welfare reforms saving taxpayer £1 billion come into force

Reforms to the Motability scheme come into force today (1 July 2026), saving taxpayers £1 billion by 2030 while protecting disabled people's access to cars, scooters and powered wheelchairs.   Reforms to the Motability scheme to ensure fairness for taxpayer, whilst still supporting disabled people’s mobility, come into force today.  

Today

New independent appeals body to speed up removals

New independent appeals body to speed up removals of foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers.   A once-in-a-generation overhaul of asylum and immigration appeals will create a single route and end the merry-go-round of repeated appeals.  

30/6/2026

A Tunnel Across the Pentland Firth: How a Caithness–Orkney Fixed Link Could Transform the Far North

For more than a century, the Pentland Firth has been both a gateway and a barrier.  It connects Caithness and Orkney geographically, yet separates them socially, economically, and administratively.  

30/6/2026

Should Shetland Build Tunnels Like the Faroe Islands? The Costs, the Benefits, and the Future of Island Connectivity

For decades, Shetland’s inter‑island ferries have been the backbone of life across the archipelago.  They carry workers, students, freight, and families — and they do it in some of the most challenging seas in Europe.  

30/6/2026

Government crackdown on fraud leads to cancellation of over 450 Blue Badges in the Wirral

Over 450 Blue Badges have been cancelled after findings show permits issued to deceased residents were still being used.   459 unauthorised Blue Badges cancelled in Wirral Council, saving over £363,000 for the taxpayer.  

30/6/2026 : Other Public Services

 
Innovative robotics trialled to tackle nuclear waste challenges

Innovative robotic solutions being trialled at Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) Oldbury site to tackle most challenging aspects of legacy waste management.   Oldbury nuclear decommissioning site is a trailblazer for robotics and other innovative approaches, with NRS deploying robotics trials in South Gloucestershire to tackle some of the most challenging aspects of legacy waste management, reducing risk to workers and improving efficiency.