The Scottish government has announced that they will have to make spending cuts worth £500m, with Finance Secretary Shona Robison outlining a plan to find savings across various sectors. Robison emphasized the need for tough decisions to reset public finances onto a sustainable path due to constraints on funding from the UK government. The Scottish government’s total budget for 2024-25 is about £60bn.
The decision to cut some arms sales to Israel by the UK government has received mixed reactions, with some MPs criticizing the move while others have welcomed it as a first step. The Muslim Council of Britain has given a qualified welcome to the decision, highlighting the importance of adherence to international law in conflict zones. Prime Minister Johnson’s spokesperson has reiterated that the UK remains a staunch ally of Israel despite the suspension of some arms sales.
In other news, the Department for Work and Pensions will change how pension credit is administered to increase the number of eligible people claiming it. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that the budget will include a tax roadmap with guarantees not to raise corporation tax above 25%. Labour’s general secretary, David Evans, has also announced that he will step down at the party conference after serving through a period of transformation for the party.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com