Jimmy Reid Foundation

Climate resilience – the benefits far outweigh the costs - British Politics and Policy at LSE The UK has to accelerate its efforts on building climate resilience and learn from how other communities around the world are adapting to climate change.

Climate resilience – the benefits far outweigh the costs. The Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance has been working with communities around the world for the past decade to implement a wide range of locally led solutions that deliver clear benefits. blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

Why has the Bank of England cut interest rates? Rates are now at their lowest since March 2023 even though inflation is well above target.

Why has the Bank of England cut interest rates? Food inflation will not be deterred by high interest rates - look at supermarket profits for that. Consumers have not felt confident enough to increase spending despite higher pay. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Council Tax punishes low-income households and locks in inequality. It's unfair, outdated and unfixable.
As a member of #TaxJusticeScotland, we're backing calls for all parties to step forward with concrete plans to replace it with something fairer👇
bit.ly/40RkT5T

The biggest problem for Starmer and co: the machinery of government is broken and they can’t fix it | Martin Kettle The prisons crisis is symptomatic of a dysfunctional system that is defeating these ministers as badly as those before them, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

Prisons. On the one hand, governments have all promised more police and tougher sentences. On the other, they have all promised to cut departmental spending. As there are almost no voters in prisons, the criminal justice system became a target for cuts. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Colleges need urgent reform to escape survival mode Scotland’s colleges are at a critical juncture. The scale of global change is immense, and the current model requires urgent reform, writes Prof…

Colleges need urgent reform to escape survival mode. “Colleges need greater and more stable investment and stronger political recognition for the work they do for individuals, families, employers and communities.” Both points we made in our colleges report. www.heraldscotland.com/news/educati...

Council Tax punishes low-income households and locks in inequality. It's unfair, outdated and unfixable.
As a member of #TaxJusticeScotland, we're backing calls for all parties to step forward with concrete plans to replace it with something fairer👇
bit.ly/40RkT5T

Chemical pollution a threat comparable to climate change, scientists warn More than 100 million ‘novel entity’ chemicals are in circulation, with health impact not widely recognised

Chemical pollution a threat comparable to climate change, scientists warn. More than 100 million ‘novel entity’ chemicals are in circulation, with health impact not widely recognised. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Pushing airport expansion while rail travel languishes – so much for Labour’s green agenda | Polly Toynbee The climate damage done by avoidable flying is huge, yet the government continues to see planes as the answer to its economic woes, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

Polly Toynbee: Pushing airport expansion while rail travel languishes – so much for Labour’s green agenda. The climate damage done by avoidable flying is huge, yet the government sees more planes as the answer to its economic woes. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

🧵NEW: This is an unprecedented intervention.

Almost every single living, former head of the IDF, Mossad (Israeli foreign intelligence), Shin Bet (domestic intelligence) & Police Commissioner urges an end to Israel’s war in Gaza.

“This is an extremist government. It has taken us all hostage.”

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The argument may be that AI centres will also be bill payers. The more you consume the larger proportion of the network costs in your bill. The numbers look huge to us mere mortals, but remain a small element of bills.

We suspect that train has left the station. If we have to build the data centres, it makes sense to site them near to where the energy is generated. Bit like coal power stations in coalfields.

Row over £17.6m of public money spent on Scots sporting estate with 'no plan' Concerns have been raised over why ministers sanctioned £17.6m of public money to buy a sporting estate nearly three years ago without yet…

£17.6m on Glen Prosen estate with no management plan. ScotGov bought to “demonstrate how land in public ownership can help us tackle the key challenges of climate change and nature loss, whilst critically encouraging access to land and creating new jobs.” www.heraldscotland.com/news/2535636...

More electricity pylons 'crucial' despite cost to bill payers Transmission network operators plan to spend £32bn over the ten five years upgrading lines

More electricity pylons 'crucial' despite £34bn cost to bill payers. An extra 310 miles of lines is needed over the next five years in central and southern Scotland to support an expansion in AI and demand for heat pumps and electric vehicles. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Young carers face higher risks of depression, anxiety and lost futures – and most receive no support Young carers are less likely to finish school, get a job, or stay well.

Young carers face higher risks of depression, anxiety and lost futures – and most receive no support. If we fail to support them, we fail an entire generation of quiet caregivers – and risk undermining the sustainability of our care systems for decades. theconversation.com/young-carers...

Why does modern politics feel so chaotic? A communications strategy inspired by First World War battleship camouflage, and adopted by the likes of Donald Trump, has made politics feel chaotic.

Why does modern politics feel so chaotic? Faced by Trump’s scattergun message approach, opponents must decide if they will match his frantic levels of communication or instead focus on a few specific issues. It might appear chaotic but there is a method. blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

What will expanding Heathrow do to UK’s net zero plans? Government is counting on tech to provide a panacea, but there may be simpler ways to keep climate goals on track

What will expanding Heathrow do to UK’s net zero plans? Scupper them. Why not substitute train journeys for flying? 3m flights within the UK between and 15 flights a day to Brussels, which is just over two hours away by train from London. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Enough of the billionaires and their big tech. ‘Frugal tech’ will build us all a better world | Eleanor Drage Titans like Musk would love us to believe innovation means top-down solutions that only enrich the wealthy. In fact, we all have the power, says Eleanor Drage, research fellow at Cambridge University

Enough of the billionaires and their big tech. ‘Frugal tech’ will build us all a better world. Titans like Musk would love us to believe innovation means top-down solutions that only enrich the wealthy. In fact, we all have the power. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Why should staff of highly profitable companies foot this bill? Employees of these companies should not be made to pay the price for the rise in employers' national insurance

Why should staff foot bill for NI rise? Some firms which have cut back on hiring, reduced employment, or clamped down on staff remuneration are making big profits. They pocketed the Corporation Tax savings and profits remain a driver of inflation.
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

Protect and simplify disability benefit, review urges Scottish Government Protect and simplify disability benefit, review urges Scottish Government

Protect and simplify disability benefit, review urges Scottish Government. "There is evidence of the economic value of the wellbeing impacts of disability benefits and these significantly outweigh the financial costs associated with administering them." www.holyrood.com/news/view,pr...

How the UK’s cold weather payments need to change to help prevent people freezing in winter The cold weather payment is important but needs to be made in advance of freezing temperatures.

How the UK’s cold weather payments need to change to help prevent people freezing in winter. Smart meter survey shows high level of self-disconnection. The cold weather payment is important but needs to be made in advance of freezing temperatures. theconversation.com/how-the-uks-...

Ongoing effect of government move on Scottish businesses laid bare The major hit to Scottish businesses is laid bare in this key report

Fraser of Allander business survey. “The results in the second quarter marked a recovery of sorts after a very difficult first quarter. However, it’s clear that overall business confidence remains challenged.” www.heraldscotland.com/news/2535399...

Will UK’s 10% discount get more people buying electric cars? The evidence doesn’t look good Would-be buyers are still put off by a patchy national charging network.

Will UK’s 10% discount get more people buying electric cars? Evidence doesn’t look good. Would-be buyers are still put off by a patchy national charging network and perception of cost. Working better with fleet cars. Look to Norway for strategic change. theconversation.com/will-uks-10-...

Royal Mail’s delivery pledges have changed. Here’s what the company could look like in future Could letter deliveries ultimately be under threat?

Royal Mail’s delivery pledges have changed. Here’s what the company could look like in future. The changes inevitably leaves the letters side of the company as a much smaller offering – with a very uncertain future. theconversation.com/royal-mails-...

UK to recognise Palestinian statehood unless Israel agrees to ceasefire – here’s what that would mean Recognising Palestinian statehood is an important step, but without a formal political process, remains largely a symbolic gesture.

UK to recognise Palestinian statehood unless Israel agrees to ceasefire – here’s what that would mean. France and UK first G7 countries to do so. This is an important step, but without a formal political process, remains largely a symbolic gesture. theconversation.com/uk-to-recogn...

Government’s sick pay reforms deliver at least £2bn net boost for business – TUC The government’s plans for stronger sick pay will deliver significant financial benefits to businesses up and down the country, which are five times the costs, according to a TUC and WPI economics rep...

Government’s sick pay reforms deliver at least £2bn net boost for business. Additional £800m benefit to the Exchequer from increased tax revenue and lower social security and £700m to the wider economy from reduced health-related economic inactivity. www.tuc.org.uk/news/governm...

Israeli human rights groups hold a press conference to issue a report saying Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, in East Jerusalem, July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Two major Israeli human rights organizations, B’Tselem & Physicians for Human Rights, officially declared Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, citing bombs targeting civilians, displacement, and deliberate starvation. The first time the Gaza genocide is called out from within Israeli society. #3E🧵

Glasgow secures leading role in Westminster’s £500m push for innovation The Scottish region is one of 10 UK areas to receive the funding designed to push tech clusters across the country.

Glasgow City Region has been awarded £30m as part of the UK’s wide-reaching plan to boost local economies through innovation. www.holyrood.com/news/view,gl...

Union hits out at government over £1m workload scheme The Scottish Government is seeking a technological solution to the crisis over teacher workloads, but the country's biggest union is unimpressed.

EIS hits out at government over £1m school workload scheme. According to the OECD, contact time in Scotland is around the highest in the world and far beyond the limits set by the top-performing European countries. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2534680...

Starmer and Reeves should prepare UK for wealth tax, say top economists PM could raise ‘tens of billions’ while positioning Britain as progressive, say Thomas Piketty and others

Starmer/Reeves should prepare UK for wealth tax, say top economists.

Long overdue.

Top 1% have more wealth than 70% of population combined.

Laws bent to help the rich - privatisations, PFI, corporate subsidies, capital gains and dividends taxed at lower rates than wages, unchecked profiteering.

How the UK could reform the European convention on human rights Politicians have long raised concerns about the extent to which international human rights law affects UK migration policy.

How the UK could reform the ECHR - or not. Judgments by the European Court of Human Rights against the UK are rare. Since 1980, there have been only four cases where the court ruled that the UK violated the right to family life in a deportation case. theconversation.com/how-the-uk-c...