Sophie Taylor, associate, looks at the top stories from the week ahead.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Chris Hoy, Scottish six-time Olympic gold-medallist, revealed (£) this weekend the sad news that his cancer diagnosis is terminal. Hoy’s inspiring positivity has been commended by figures including the prime minister as he moves forward with determination.
Storm Ashley cast a cloud (along with considerable wind and rain) over much of the UK’s Sunday plans. A storm of different measure, however, raged on in the political sphere with speculation mounting over the contents of chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget. Rumours circulated of an extension to the freeze on income tax thresholds, which Labour criticised when it was introduced by the Tories. That’s a hard sell, chancellor.
Former Stirling Council chief executive Carol Beattie – who has been slammed for recent “shameful” comments about the monarchy – was appointed interim chief executive of the SNP on Saturday. This follows the resignation of Murray Foote, who could not “make the necessary personal commitment” to deliver necessary changes to the party.
The Scottish Parliament is in recess until 27 October, but it is business as usual down at Westminster, with the Employment Rights Bill making its way through the Commons.
First minister John Swinney will today give a speech expected to be his most outspoken on the budget yet, urging Reeves to build a new economic model around investment in public services to boost growth, describing it as a “make-or-break” moment for the nation.
Adding further pressure to her budget woes, Reeves will be among those told tostart paying down mounted national debts during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank’s annual meetings, which kick off today in Washington. The IMF will also reveal its World Economic Outlook on Tuesday, and its Fiscal Monitor on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, prime minister Keir Starmer has swapped Westminster for Samoa, where he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, kicking off today, with King Charles joining on Friday.
In brief - Scotland's economy and business
- Daily Business is reporting some of the biggest pub groups, cafes and restaurants have signed a letter to the chancellor calling on the budget to reform business rates. Some businesses in Scotland are concerned rates bills are becoming unsustainable, and trade body UKHospitality is calling for a replacement “multiplier” for the sector to be applied across the UK.
- According to data produced by EY, UK home insurance prices will continue to increase (£) through this year and next due to supply chain pressures, the rising number of payouts and inflation in claims costs.
- The Scotsman is reporting (£) on some potential unintended impacts of Labour’s end to the VAT exemption on private school fees. Scottish law firm Lindsays has warned the move could lead to more school closures in Scotland, fluctuations in house prices and changes to catchment zones, with some Scottish schools seeing a reduction in rolls already.
Shifting the dial - recent research
With the introduction of Labour’s new Employment Rights Bill to the Commons, new research conducted by YouGov for The Times investigated how the British public feel about it.
In support of the bill’s proposals, the survey found that:
- 68% of people support the ban of at least some types of zero hours contracts, with only one in nine (11%) opposed to restrictions on them
- Two thirds of the population (65%) would like people’s right to work flexible hours expanded
- Just over six in ten (62%) support the extension of the legal right to sick pay, and to give employees protections against unfair dismissal as soon as they start a job
- Seven in ten (69%) members of the public favour giving employees a legal right to not be contacted by their employers outside working hours
- Nine in ten Britons (89%) agree that all tips must be passed onto employees
The bill’s removal of the turnout threshold for strike ballots was the least popular change. Only 22% of the British public agree that the 50% required turnout threshold for a ballot on industrial action to be valid should be removed, while 44% are against scrapping it.
Overall, YouGov found that the British public view the Employment Rights Bill favourably, with six in ten (60%) believing enacting the changes it proposes is the right thing to do.
The week ahead - fill your diary with key events
The Scottish Parliament is in October recess until 27 October.
Monday
-
Westminster
- Commons oral questions: Home Office
- Commons legislation: Second reading of the Employment Rights Bill
- Lords oral questions: Building capacity in councils and housing associations within the next three months to deliver a significant increase in new social homes
- Lords legislation: Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, committee stage (day 1)
- UN: Biodiversity Conference (COP-16) opens
- US: IMF/World Bank annual meeting week begins in Washington
- UK: Wes Streeting to announce a “national conversation” on the NHS’ future
- Samoa: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2024 begins in Apia, and runs until Saturday
- Singapore: The Singapore International Energy Week begins, and runs until Friday
- Reports: Rightmove House Price Index
Tuesday
-
Scottish Government data
- Annual Vaccination and Immunisation Report, Tuberculosis Annual Report for Scotland, Report on Widening Access
- Westminster
- Commons oral questions: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
- Commons adjournment: Postal voting at general elections
- Westminster Hall debate: Large scale energy projects and food security
- Lords oral questions: Impact of the benefit cap on child poverty
- The General Committee will take oral evidence on the Renters’ Rights Bill
- The Built Environment Committee will take oral evidence on The Grey Belt
- UK: Prisoner early release scheme changes start
- Russia: BRICS Summit hosted by Russia
- Europe: European Parliament vote on €35 billion loan to Ukraine
- Reports: IMF World Economic Outlook and Global Financial Stability Report
Wednesday
-
Scottish Government data
- Life expectancy 2021-2023
- Westminster
- Commons chamber: Prime Minister’s Question Time
- Westminster Hall debate: Future of fusion energy
- Lords oral questions: Impact of working from home on productivity in the public sector
- Lords oral questions: Number of decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines in Scotland and how many years will it take to safely dismantle them
- Lords legislation: Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, committee stage (day 2)
- UK: New national and London living wage rates announced
- Reports: IMF Fiscal Monitor published
Thursday
-
Scottish Government data
- Results from June Agricultural Census 2024
- Westminster
- Commons oral questions: Cabinet Office
- Commons general debate: Black History Month
- Lords oral questions: Meetings between UK and Scottish government ministers in the past month and what matters were discussed
- Lords oral questions: EU Settlement Scheme
- Lords debate: Impact of the government’s climate policies on jobs, growth and prosperity
- UK: Angela Rayner addresses the Local Government Association annual meeting
- US: Kamala Harris and Barack Obama campaign in Georgia, G20 finance ministers meet in Washington
- France: Ministerial conference on Lebanon hosted in France
- Reports: UK flash Purchasing Managers’ Index
Friday
-
Westminster
- Lords debate: The situation in Ukraine
Sunday
- UK: Johnnie Walker presents final BBC Radio 2 show, clocks go back as British Summer Time ends
- Japan: Snap general election