Author: James Carter

Growing numbers of Scottish workers are choosing to live south of the border and commute into Scotland for work, as tax experts and estate agents point to a widening gap between income tax rates in Scotland and the rest of the UK under the SNP government. Scottish workers are increasingly opting to live in England while commuting across the border for work, as a widening gap between Scottish and UK-wide income tax rates makes basing a household south of the border financially attractive. Under the Scotland Act, a person’s tax status is determined by where they live rather than where…

Scotch whisky producers have credited King Charles with helping to secure the removal of US tariffs on Scotch, after President Donald Trump ended the levy following the King’s state visit to America in April. Scotch whisky distillers have thanked King Charles after Donald Trump agreed to scrap tariffs on Scotch exports to the United States, with the change coming into effect yesterday. Industry figures said the King’s efforts during a state visit to the US in April played a key role in securing the deal, which is expected to strengthen exports already worth close to £1 billion a year. First…

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed he will maintain the state pension triple lock, guaranteeing younger pensioners at least an extra £313 a year from April 2027, though the final figure could rise significantly depending on inflation and wage data. Younger state pensioners are set to receive at least £313 in additional annual income from next April, after new Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed he will honour the state pension triple lock. Before taking office, Burnham pledged to keep the triple lock mechanism in place, a commitment already contained in Labour’s 2024 election manifesto. He confirmed the pledge in…

The Justice Department has withdrawn subpoenas seeking to force three New York Times journalists to reveal their sources over reporting on President Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet, after a federal judge sharply criticised the government’s handling of the case. The US government has withdrawn subpoenas that would have compelled three New York Times reporters, Maggie Haberman, Eric Schmitt and David Sanger, to testify about their sources for articles concerning President Donald Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. The withdrawal came in US District Court on Thursday, following a heated exchange between Judge Arun Subramanian and government attorneys, during which…

New figures show homelessness in Los Angeles has risen for the first time in three years, with Mayor Karen Bass attributing the increase to federal policy changes and reduced state funding, as the issue becomes a central theme ahead of November’s mayoral election. Homelessness in Los Angeles has increased for the first time since 2023, according to figures released Thursday, reversing two years of decline that Mayor Karen Bass had previously highlighted as a key achievement of her administration. The latest count found a 3.5% rise in the number of people experiencing homelessness across the city compared with the previous…

Footage shared by Nigel Farage has racked up millions of views after capturing the exact moment a woman shouted abuse at him from her car, only to plough into the vehicle in front seconds later. Nigel Farage has posted a video online showing a woman hurling an insult at him from behind the wheel, moments before she collided with another car. Sharing the clip on X, the Reform UK leader wrote: “This lady shouted abuse at me and then crashed her own car. That’s what you might call instant karma!” The footage was captured during a campaign walkabout with Reform…

Sir Keir Starmer has formally stepped down as Prime Minister after two years in office, telling the country he goes “with good grace” as he handed over to Andy Burnham in the first transfer of power between two Labour leaders since 2007. Sir Keir Starmer bowed out as Prime Minister today, delivering a brief farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street before travelling to Buckingham Palace to formally resign to King Charles III. Flanked by his wife Victoria and closest political aides, the outgoing premier said his “work is done” after two years leading the country, describing the role as “the…

Andy Burnham has used his first speech as Prime Minister to promise a “ten-year plan” for Britain, pledges on rough sleeping and the cost of living, while facing an immediate test over key Cabinet appointments including the Chancellor role. Andy Burnham has acknowledged that the Labour Government “needs to be better” after formally taking over from Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. In a speech delivered in Downing Street, Mr Burnham signalled a shift to the Left, calling for public services to come under “stronger public control” and setting out plans to “reindustrialise” the country. He said ending rough sleeping would…

Nigel Farage will contest the largest candidate line-up in UK parliamentary by-election history at Clacton on August 13, in a contest he called himself amid scrutiny over undeclared donations to his finances. Nigel Farage will face 33 rival candidates when voters in Clacton go to the polls on August 13, in a by-election he triggered himself. Tendring District Council has confirmed that 34 candidates in total have been officially nominated, making it the largest field ever assembled for a UK parliamentary by-election. Among those standing against the Reform UK leader are comic candidate Count Binface and actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox, while…

President Donald Trump used a dramatic primetime address to allege that China had illicitly obtained 220 million US voter files in what he called the largest compromise of election data in history, while several major broadcasters declined to air the speech live. The address also touched on alleged Venezuelan efforts to manipulate vote totals, and formed part of the administration’s wider push for the SAVE America Act. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump made his central allegation directly. “The People’s Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history, resulting in…