Uk Government

The UK government has announced what it describes as "the strongest, most robust changes to payment laws in over a generation", with measures it says will be the toughest of any G7 nation. At the centre of the reforms is a substantial expansion of the Small Business Commissioner's powers, including

Alan Stewart examines the UK government's push for greater domestic steel use, arguing that while well-intentioned, the policy risks raising costs and constraining investment in steel-dependent sectors – particularly in Scotland. The UK government’s ambition to increase domestic steel us

Simplifying the tax system is the greatest boost the government could give entrepreneurs, according to ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). In response to a HM Treasury consultation Tax support for entrepreneurs, ACCA says entrepreneurs and investors are put off investing in th

In a deliberate departure from the fiscal volatility of recent years, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver a "boring" Spring Statement on 3 March. By stripping back the House of Commons address to a concise 20-minute update, the Chancellor is expected to provide a "stability dividend" for a bu

The Financial Conduct Authority faces an uncertain future following a government U-turn on plans to overhaul how auditors are policed. Despite an announcement in the King’s Speech in July 2024 that the current Labour government would advance the long-awaited audit reform and corporate governan

The Forth Green Freeport (FGF) has marked a joint agreement which unlocks £25 million of seed funding from the UK government to support reindustrialisation of the Edinburgh, Fife and Falkirk areas, to attract £7.9 billion of private and public investment over the next decade. At the Port

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander has launched the Local Growth Fund, a £140 million initiative designed to drive economic prosperity across Scotland.

The UK government has announced a significant reversal on its inheritance tax policy for family farms, raising the tax-free threshold for agricultural and business property from £1 million to £2.5m. Experts at Johnston Carmichael have characterised the decision as an "early Christmas pre

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced she will deliver her Spring Statement on 3 March, providing an update on the UK’s economy and public finances. She has instructed the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to prepare an economic and fiscal forecast to accompany the statement on the same

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has urged UK politicians and regulators to adopt a holistic approach to business oversight, warning that the cumulative weight of red tape poses a significant threat to enterprise. In its response to Unlocking business: Reform driven by you,

The UK government has agreed a £150 million joint investment with INEOS to safeguard the future of the ethylene plant at Grangemouth – the last in the UK. The deal, which includes a £120 million government support package, safeguards 500 jobs at the site and hundreds more across th

Cryptocurrencies will be regulated similarly to traditional financial products under new legislation set to come into force in 2027. The Treasury is currently drafting rules that will bring the sector under the strict oversight of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

More than 7,000 companies, business leaders and workers have now signed a public letter urging the UK government to fast-track its new North Sea fiscal regime, amid growing concerns over thousands of avoidable job losses. The letter – which has gained support from First Minister John Swinney a

More than 6,000 companies, business leaders and workers have signed up to a campaign calling on the UK government to fast-track its new North Sea fiscal regime and avert tens of thousands of “avoidable” job losses.  The decision by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to extend the Energy Profi

Responding to a Scottish Affairs Committee report on Scotland's space launch sector, the UK government has committed to setting out its strategic approach to support the sector in 2026. The committee’s report, published in September 2025, warned that Scotland was at risk of losing a “gen