32 h. ago West Lothian business leaders meet to hear how they can benefit from government help

'A number of companies again flagged concerns over staff and skills shortages'

Politics

3 d. ago Bespoke whisky business awarded licence in the heart of busy West Lothian town

West Lothian Licensing Board agreed to award a premises licence to The Wee Whisky Shop in Linlithgow High Street run by Andrew Ure.

Events

3 d. ago Spending more on benefits would be ‘wrong approach’, Jackie Baillie says

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader defended the UK Government’s welfare cuts as she said the rise in the benefit bill is ‘unsustainable’.

Politics

3 d. ago DWP confirms three benefits targeted by new bank checks clampdown first

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has updated the public regarding the crackdown on benefit fraud after the Government announced the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill

Economics

3 d. ago DWP confirms three benefits will be first to face new bank checks crackdown

Three types of benefits will be targeted in specific measures to clamp down on benefit fraud outlined by the Department for Work and Pensions in Government guidance

Economics

5 d. ago Keir Starmer is one of Labour’s most rightwing prime ministers. And one of its most leftwing, too | Andy Beckett

The PM offers a political hybrid designed for a fickle electorate. There are short-term electoral gains to be won, but risks in the long termFor more than eight months now, since shortly after Labour won power, more and more people have been outraged by the government’s moves to the right. Starting with its decision to keep the Conservatives’ cruel two-child benefit cap last July, the government has regularly given these critics reasons to feel shocked, betrayed or just disappointed.From deportation videos to Keir Starmer’s declaration that “I like and respect” Donald Trump, from repeated public sector cuts to the chancellor Rachel Reeves’s talk of “tearing down regulatory barriers” in this week’s spring statement, Labour has often behaved as if the boundaries between its supposedly centre-left politics and the politics of the right or even the far right have simply melted away. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Scottish Government will ‘look at every lever’ to avoid benefit cuts – Robison

It came after the Chancellor outlined cuts of almost £5 billion in her spring statement on Wednesday.

Politics

6 d. ago Reeves’s benefit cuts to plunge 250,000 people into poverty, government admits

There was outrage as the chancellor announced yet more welfare cuts which are now set to affect 3.2 million families

Politics

7 d. ago Reeves’ benefit cuts to plunge 250,000 people into poverty, government admits

An extra 50,000 children will also be left in poverty after the Labour chancellor’s move to slash £5bn from the welfare bill

Politics

7 d. ago What time is Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement budget announcement?

The Chancellor is going to say she needs to go further, as DWP benefit cuts have not saved the Government enough

Politics

8 d. ago Benefit cuts 'will have zero financial impact on Scottish Government', says Ian Murray

The Scottish Secretary said the SNP Government had been told that the welfare reforms would not result in its budget being cut.

Politics

1 week ago MSP would still be in my government despite branding benefit cuts 'austerity', says Anas Sarwar

The Scottish Labour leader said his party was "absolutely united" despite many MSPs and MPs attacking the welfare reforms.

Politics

1 week ago Inside the battle to make ends meet as benefits fail to keep up with soaring rents

New analysis has found almost half of all private renters who receive housing benefit experience a shortfall between the government support and monthly rents. Holly Bancroft and Albert Toth speak to claimants and charities about the struggle to keep up with rising rents

Events

2 w. ago Scottish Labour health spokeswoman slams UK Government over benefit cuts

Carol Mochan said her own party's government "cannot balance the books on the backs of people who require benefits just to have a passable standard of living".

Politics

2 w. ago How the Labour Government's benefit reforms will affect Scots

Liz Kendall said the reforms would save the UK Government £5 billion.

Politics

2 w. ago Politics Weekly Westminster: the cabinet revolt over benefits cuts

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss whether the backlash to the government’s planned benefit cuts will result in a U-turn. And which other departments could face eye-watering cuts?To purchase tickets for Pippa Crerar’s live conversation with the health secretary, Wes Streeting, please visit: theguardian.com/WesStreetingEvent Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Politics Weekly Westminster: The cabinet revolt over benefit cuts

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss whether the backlash to the government’s planned benefit cuts will result in a U-turn. And which other departments could face eye-watering cuts?To purchase tickets for Pippa Crerar’s live conversation with the health secretary, Wes Streeting, please visit: theguardian.com/WesStreetingEvent Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Politics Weekly Westminster: cabinet fears over benefit cuts

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss whether the backlash to the government’s planned benefit cuts will result in a U-turn. And which other departments could face eye-watering cuts?To purchase tickets for Pippa Crerar’s live conversation with the health secretary, Wes Streeting, please visit: theguardian.com/WesStreetingEvent Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago John Swinney urges UK Government to 'think again' on benefit cuts that will 'punish' most vulnerable

A Scottish Labour MSP has warned the prospect of members quitting the party over benefits cuts should be a "wake-up call".

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Long Covid forced me to quit the job I loved’: Benefit cuts fears of thousands still too ill to work

Long Covid sufferers open up about lives destroyed by illness as they accuse government of ignoring them

Science