Jimmy Reid Foundation

Unions have been in decline in the UK for 50 years. A new law could begin to reverse that trend Less than 4% of young workers now belong to a union.

The Employment Rights Bill will not reverse decades of union decline and marginalisation in the UK overnight – but it represents the first pro-union reform in decades. For workers, this could reverse long-term trends in wage suppression and exploitation. theconversation.com/unions-have-...

Business leaders' warning on living standards after long-term health inactivity surge A leading economist has warned politicians need to be “rethinking people’s living standards” to end a trend of long-term economic inactivity due to poor health.

Business leaders warn ScotGov over NHS and living standards after long-term health inactivity surge. New productivity research has revealed that more than one third of workers are absent long-term through poor health, higher than rUK. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

20-year high for Scottish economy on key measure The Scottish economy has hit a 20-year high on a key measure

Scottish economy hits 20-year high on key investment measure. But overall a mixed picture. However, Scottish labour market remains relatively resilient. Business confidence improved notably, a reason to approach the coming year with cautious optimism. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2568556...

Scottish Power liable for worker's asbestos death, Supreme Court rules Robert Crozier died after developing cancer from asbestos exposure while working for Scottish Power.

Scottish Power liable for worker's asbestos death, Supreme Court rules. Action on Asbestos said the ruling was "simply marvellous news" for other families who had been affected by asbestos illness. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

‘If I must die’: poetry from Gaza creates an alternative archive of testimony Poetry offers something that news and visual imagery cannot in times of crisis: depth over immediacy and meaning over spectacle.

‘If I must die’: poetry from Gaza creates an alternative archive of testimony. Poetry offers something that news and visual imagery cannot in times of crisis: depth over immediacy and meaning over spectacle. theconversation.com/if-i-must-di...

Should the UK follow Australia’s under-16s social media ban? It could do more harm than good Children may be put off telling adults about something harmful they’re not supposed to have seen.

Should the UK follow Australia’s under-16s social media ban? The evidence base in favour is not strong. It could do more harm than good. theconversation.com/should-the-u...

Why OpenAI is a prime example of the ethical limits of capitalism Money and morality are a challenging corporate combination.

Why OpenAI is a prime example of the ethical limits of capitalism. It started as a non-profit with a serious moral mission – and its story demonstrates the difficulty of combining morality with capitalism. theconversation.com/why-openai-i...

Pensions policy reforms central to unlocking £220bn ‘investment prize’ The UK could unlock up to £220bn in additional investment over the next decade if a package of reforms - including several significant pensions changes - is fully implemented, according to modelling b...

Pensions policy reforms central to unlocking £220bn ‘investment prize’. Even a modest shift in investment allocations could make a significant impact. The TPR is also investigating regulatory barriers. All issues we highlighted in our pensions paper. www.pensionsage.com/pa/Pensions-...

Our latest briefing examines the impact of the UK Budget and the challenges facing ScotGov. The UK Budget provides some relief, but a medium-term funding gap remains. We need radical reform of devolved taxation rather than tinkering at the edges.
reidfoundation.scot/2025/12/uk-t...

How to move beyond a cluttered, fragmented and reactive system The current system is cluttered, fragmented, reactive, and lacking a clear sense of what regional policy is trying to achieve

Roy: Regional development needs a better sense of what it's all about. A debate that dwells on structures, governance and process may feel frustrating. Many readers will argue we have had too much preoccupation with politics and not enough delivery. 👏👏 www.heraldscotland.com/news/2567524...

Apprenticeship reform will serve young people, our communities and the planet For the 2025 Young Workers Month, the TUC Young Workers Committee spotlighted the need for apprenticeship reform. Apprenticeships should be a bridge from education into work, giving young people skill...

Apprenticeship reform will serve young people, our communities and the planet. Many are employed on almost unliveable wages while receiving less and less quality off-the-job training alongside their work. www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/appren...

Are Brits really leaving the country in droves? No. We estimate that emigration is lower now than it was five years ago

Are Brits really leaving the country in droves? Using OECD data emigration of British citizens is lower than it was several years ago. In the years before Brexit emigration averaged around 275,000 compared with 220,000 today. (from @TheEconomist) economist.com/britain/2025...

In Falkirk on the Cladhan Hotel side of the road after the weekly demo the pavement & parking area are spotless. Facing them.......on the Master-race side it's a midden of discarded food, cans, & miscellaneous rubbish.
A mess for others to clean up.
There's a metaphor in there somewhere

Scottish Government accused of 'rationing education' in damning new colleges report Union leaders have accused the Scottish government of “rationing education” in a damning report into a college sector facing “unprecedented strain”

ScotGov accused of 'rationing education' in damning new colleges report. EIS sets out the effect of real-terms budget cuts, increasing marketisation, and widening inequality in provision but also highlight the strengths of Scotland’s colleges. www.scotsman.com/education/sc...

Our new paper on Industrial Strategy Zones (Freeport’s etc). At best, they represent poor value for money, at worst, a systematic transfer of collective sovereignty from communities to corporations. What we need is a comprehensive industrial strategy. reidfoundation.scot/2025/12/indu...

2025 at the ERS: Our year campaigning for change Each year we write an Annual Review which looks back at our achievements across the last 12 months, and explains how our team have campaigned towards securing our vision for a democracy

Each year we write an Annual Review which looks back at our achievements across the last 12 months, and explains how our team have campaigned towards securing our vision for a democracy fit for the 21st Century.

How the UK’s dependency on cars slows down the economy Clogged up Britain

Moving to a situation where cars are not considered the fastest and most convenient mode of transportation will take ambition and imagination. But the alternative is a very expensive dependency, which clogs up the UK economy. theconversation.com/how-the-uks-...

Our new paper on Industrial Strategy Zones (Freeport’s etc). At best, they represent poor value for money, at worst, a systematic transfer of collective sovereignty from communities to corporations. What we need is a comprehensive industrial strategy. reidfoundation.scot/2025/12/indu...

David Tennant rails against 'stupid' theatre cuts and 'throttling' of future talent The Scottish stage and screen star says he is 'selfishly relieved' he is not starting out as an actor today.

David Tennant rails against 'stupid' theatre funding cuts. He said the ability of Scotland and the UK to “punch above its weight internationally” was being put at risk by the lack of investment at grass-roots level. Indeed, as we highlighted last year. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2567126...

Farage criticised after 'harmful' claim about Glasgow pupils Farage added: “This is not diversity, as the left always preaches. This actually is the cultural smashing of Glasgow."

Farage criticised after 'harmful' claim about Glasgow pupils. Growing up with more than one language is linked with cognitive strengths in attention, flexibility and problem solving.“Don’t take notice of the bigotry of grown adults who should know better.” www.heraldscotland.com/politics/wes...

Writing off student debt could help tackle depopulation Writing off students loans could help boost dwindling populations in rural Scotland, according to a new report.

Wiping student debt could attract more young to rural areas. Follow Norway and Canada and consider the move for certain "priority professions" to encourage more young people to settle in challenging areas like the Highlands. Also needs housing action. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2566899...

Glasgow ‘holding back’ Scotland’s economy without metro mayor, report warns Glasgow is underperforming by £7.3bn a year, a new report warns, as it calls for a 2027 metro mayor to drive growth across the City Region.

UK thinktank: Glasgow needs mayor to tackle £7.3bn productivity gap. Report “feels lazy and not properly interrogated.” Indeed, devolution to local government yes, but mayors add nothing other than further centralisation. Tokenism at best. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2566788...

How unsustainable global supply chains exacerbate food insecurity The expansion of global food supply chains can reduce food security, while improving regional food systems can improve food security.

How unsustainable global supply chains exacerbate food insecurity. Global supply chains reward profitable exports, rather than combatting food insecurity. They often direct resources away from where they are needed to where they are profitable. theconversation.com/how-unsustai...

What five years of evidence on hybrid working tells us about the future of employment There’s growing evidence about how to run hybrid working well – but some organisations still worry about opportunities to collaborate.

What five years of evidence on hybrid working tells us about the future of employment. HofL inquiry offers a wealth of insight as to how employers can adapt and refine their hybrid working practice to achieve both productivity and happy workers. theconversation.com/what-five-ye...

‘Shocking’ pay and profits revealed as firms 'cash in' on vulnerable Scots children Scots private childcare chiefs are pocketing salaries up to twice that of the First Minister while companies rake in huge profits — despite…

Calls to ban profit in Scots children’s care as huge salaries exposed. Private children’s homes across Scotland have been banking an estimate £10 million a year in profits. The highest paid director pocketing over £750,000p.a. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2565958...

Lenders gear up for loosening of capital rules by Bank of England Bankers are expecting easing of leverage ratio as part of forthcoming review

Playing with Fire.

British banks expect their capital requirements to be eased.

Lower capital requirements and higher leverage to be permitted as post-2008 crash reforms scrapped.

Banks will do more gambling to boost profits. Public purse will bear the cost of bailouts.
archive.ph/hygat

How to solve child poverty | British Politics and Policy at LSE Contrary to conventional wisdom, increasing parental employment would make little difference to child poverty rates overall.

How to solve child poverty. Getting more parents into paid work will make little difference to child poverty rates overall – unless accompanied by wider policy action. Work does have benefits, but for 43% it wasn’t enough to cover the extra costs. blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

🔴 NEW: The University of Edinburgh has quietly paid more than £750,000 to a controversial consulting firm amid job cuts - staff say bosses ignored "repeated" questions about its role.

Read more about 'Nousferatu' 👉 www.theferret.scot/p...

Water shortages could derail UK’s net zero plans, study finds Tensions grow after research in England finds there may not be enough water for planned carbon capture and hydrogen projects

Water shortages could derail UK’s net zero plans. Tensions grow after research in England finds there may not be enough water for planned carbon capture and hydrogen projects. Scotland is not that far behind. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Revealed: Europe’s water reserves drying up due to climate breakdown Exclusive: UCL scientists find large swathes of southern Europe are drying up, with ‘far-reaching’ implications

Europe’s water reserves drying up due to climate breakdown. UCL scientists find large swathes of southern Europe are drying up, with ‘far-reaching’ implications. Even half of Scotland by 2050. www.theguardian.com/environment/...