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Local authorities in Scotland are at risk of running out of money if the Scottish government does not increase their funding, according to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla). The council body issued a pre-Budget warning ahead of the Scottish budget on 19 December, saying that councils need nearly £14.4bn in the budget just to “stand still”. Council tax freeze adds to pressure Cosla’s warning comes after First Minister Humza Yousaf announced a council tax freeze at the SNP party conference in October, without consulting the council leaders. Cosla says this policy, along with the impact of inflation, means local authorities need almost £14.4bn in their 2024/25…

The UK government’s decision to increase the minimum salary threshold for skilled worker visas has been met with fierce criticism from MSPs and rural groups in Scotland, who say it will have a devastating impact on families, businesses and communities. Visa changes threaten to split families The new rules, which will come into effect on 12 April 2023, will require skilled workers from outside the UK to earn at least £26,200 per year or the going rate for their occupation, whichever is higher. This is an increase from the current minimum of £25,600 per year or the going rate. The change…

Former Green MSP Andy Wightman has announced his plans to introduce a private member’s bill in the Scottish Parliament that would aim to transform the ownership and use of land in Scotland. The bill, which he hopes to publish by the end of the year, would propose a comprehensive package of measures to address the issues of land concentration, land speculation, land taxation, land use planning, and land rights. Land concentration and inequality Wightman, who is now an independent MSP for the Lothian region, has been a vocal advocate for land reform in Scotland for decades. He is the author…

Johnson denies lying to the public and parliament The Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced a grilling by a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, where he defended his government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and denied lying to the public and parliament. He also rejected the allegations made by his former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, who accused him of being unfit for office and responsible for thousands of deaths. Johnson claimed that he had followed the scientific advice at every stage of the crisis and that he had acted with “the intention to save life and minimise suffering”. He also said that…

The Labour Party has been criticised by its own members and supporters for agreeing to the government’s proposal to increase the minimum salary threshold for overseas workers from £30,000 to £36,700. The move is seen as a betrayal of the party’s values and a concession to the anti-immigration sentiment in the country. Why did the government propose the hike? The government claims that the hike is necessary to protect the domestic labour market and ensure that only the most skilled and qualified workers are allowed to enter the UK. The government also argues that the hike will help reduce the…

Labour’s public relations strategy is not working and needs a radical overhaul, according to a former adviser who worked in the party’s communications team. He said that Labour is losing the battle for public opinion and failing to connect with the voters who matter most. Labour’s message is too vague and negative The former adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Labour’s message is too vague and negative, and does not offer a clear vision of what the party stands for. He said that Labour needs to articulate a positive and distinctive agenda that appeals to the aspirations…