Today marks one year since the attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians, which triggered war in the region last October. In anticipation, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer penned a piece in The Sunday Times underlining the risk of unrest in the UK (£), inspired by the conflict. Meanwhile, police attended Kelvingrove art museum (£) in Glasgow yesterday after a pro-Israel vigil was met with counter-protestors.
Parliament returns today after a conference season which saw the main parties fleshing out their post-election identities. Reform and the Lib Dems want to be the alternative opposition, while Labour battles to focus on governing amid the background noise of scandals, policy disputes, and unhappy MPs.
Next Saturday will mark Labour’s 100th day in office. The week got off to an inauspicious start with Sue Gray’s quitting as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff yesterday. Though Gray had become a lightning rod for criticism of the party’s internal governance, Starmer may have to go further to show critics he means business in the face of slumping poll numbers.
For the Conservatives, the party’s leadership contest moves to its next stage this week, with votes to whittle down the contenders due to take place on Wednesday and Thursday. Of the four remaining – Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick – only two will be put to the membership for a vote in November.
Prosecutors charged with investigating SNP fraud allegations are understood to be looking into claims relating to a ‘fake company’, which may have received payments from the party, according to the Sunday Mail. The paper was reportedly briefed by two anonymous sources who alleged £100,000 had been sent to the fictitious company for refurbishment work.
In brief - Scotland's economy and business
- The Scottish National Party criticised the UK Government (£) for prioritising two carbon capture projects in England over Scotland's Acorn project. Keir Starmer announced plans for the English projects, costing nearly £22bn, while the Acorn facility in Aberdeenshire remains overlooked.
- The Scottish branch of the Confederation of British Industries has formally begun to recruit for a new director, following the elevation of Tracy Black to a UK-wide role. Former deputy director of policy, Marg Simpson, holds the role on an interim basis.
- Vacant local authority homes in Scotland reached their highest level in nearly 20 years (£), with over 11,500 properties empty. This represents a 62% increase since 2018. The news comes as the Scottish Parliament is considering amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, whose measures are intended to address the crisis in the market.
- The Scotsman reports that Chinese-American businessman Dr. Charles Huang, who donated £50m to the University of Strathclyde, is accused of using "stolen profits" (£) from his private equity firm, Pasaca Capital, to fund the contribution. Huang faces legal action in the US over allegations of defrauding investors and diverting profits.
- In The Financial Times, Simeon Kerr looks at pumped storage hydro power (£) and how Scotland’s lochs could hold the key to our net zero challenges.
OpinioNation - columns of interest
- In his Herald column, Mark Smith examines the business and political pressures facing garden centre chain Dobbies, including the Scottish Government’s plans to ban peat sales (£).
- Reflecting on the winter fuel payment cut, former Labour MP George Foulkes makes the case for a social energy tariff (£) in The Scotsman.
- Gary Smith laments the closure of Edinburgh’s People’s Story Museum (£) and urges the city to do more to preserve its working class heritage in The Sunday Times.
- Finally, Torsten Bell is a Labour rising star. The newly minted MP laid out his economic worldview in his debut book, published this year. Mark Thomas looks at the tension between Bell’s ethos and the direction of his party as it heads for an austerity budget.
The week ahead - fill your diary with key events
Monday
- Westminster returns from recess
-
In the Westminster committee rooms
- Great British Energy Bill: Programming sub-committee – Private Meeting
- First anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel
- Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz to be interviewed on CBS’ 60 Minutes
- Nobel prize for medicine announced
Tuesday
-
In the Holyrood chamber
- Scottish Government Debate: Challenge Poverty Week
- In the Holyrood committee rooms
- The Finance and Public Administration Committee will undertake pre-budget scrutiny
- The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will consider a Stage 1 draft of the Housing (Scotland) Bill (in private)
- The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will undertake pre-budget scrutiny
- Debate: Cultural and economic contribution of the Edinburgh Festivals, brought by Chris Murray of Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
- The General Committee will take oral evidence Great British Energy Bill
- In the Westminster hall
- In the Westminster committee rooms
- Michael Gove to assume role as editor of The Spectator
- British Retail Consortium-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor to release latest figures
- Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) meeting of EU finance ministers to take place
- Nobel prize for physics announced
Wednesday
-
In the Holyrood chamber
- Scottish Green Party Debate: Finance
- Scottish Green Party Debate: Transport
- In the Holyrood committee rooms
- The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will consider the following petitions:
- PE1931: Improve the R100 rollout by prioritising properties who currently have speeds of less than 5 Mbp
- The Economy and Fair Work Committee will take evidence on Scottish Government Priorities following the publication of the Programme for Government. Witnesses include deputy first minister Kate Forbes, as well as senior officials.
- Prime minister’s questions
- In the Westminster chamber
- First round of the Conservative Party leadership contest
- Presidential and parliamentary elections to take place in Mozambique
- Nobel prize for chemistry announced
Thursday
-
In the Holyrood chamber
- First minister’s questions
- In the Westminster committee rooms
- The General Committee will debate the Great British Energy Bill
- Second round of the Conservative Party leadership contest
- President Joe Biden travels to Germany
- Former prime minister Boris Johnson to launch new memoir, titled Unleashed
- World mental health day
- Nobel prize for literature announced
Friday
- Plaid Cymru annual conference to open in Cardiff
- Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize announced
- Monthly GDP estimates released for August
Saturday
- Labour Party’s 100th day in office
- World Arthritis Day
Sunday
- Parliamentary elections to take place in Lithuania
- No Bra Day