Sophie Taylor, associate, looks at the top stories for the week ahead.
Storm Éowyn caused destruction across the country and left thousands without power. The Met Office said the storm, which brought winds of up to 114mph, was “probably the strongest” to hit the UK in the last 10 years.
As the damage continues to be assessed, some Scottish employers may face penalties (£) for requiring staff to travel during the extreme weather.
In Scottish politics, another longstanding SNP MSP has confirmed his intention to stand down at the 2026 Holyrood election. Business minister Richard Lochhead announced yesterday he plans to seek new challenges (£) “outwith frontline politics” after representing Moray for 20 years. It comes after he suffered a life-threatening sepsis infection last year.
Meanwhile, we found out this weekend that Donald Trump likes Keir Starmer “a lot” – so much so he chose Starmer as his first call with a European leader following last week’s inauguration. The US president told the BBC that the prime minister has done a “very good job thus far” (£) and floated the idea of the UK as the destination for his second term’s first international visit.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will urge Labour MPs to back her strategy for economic growth (£) today, which includes plans for a third runway at Heathrow, before spending the next two days meeting - and attempting to compel - chief executives. Watch out for her growth-oriented speech on Wednesday, which is sure to take a leaf out of Trump’s “boosterism” book.
Today, Holocaust Memorial Day, is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The BBC will be showing a series of commemorations taking place to mark the anniversary, featuring our own senior partner Sabina Kadić-Mackenzie discussing the Bosnian genocide, her story and the work of Beyond Srebrenica, of which she is chair.
This week will also see some significant data releases, including GDP estimates from the Scottish Government on Wednesday, and from the EU and the US on Thursday.
In brief - Scotland's economy and business
The latest CBI growth indicator survey revealed pessimism across the private sector, with one in five UK-listed companies issuing profit warnings in 2024 and a “significant fall” in trading expected over the coming months.
National security concerns have been raised over Scottish Government plans to hand £60 million to two Chinese companies (£), Mingyang Smart Energy and Orient Cable, to build wind farm factories in Scotland. Defence experts believe China could use the equipment to disrupt the UK's energy supplies amid any diplomatic issues.
Following pressure from the Labour government, Britain’s competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority, will adopt a more growth-friendly approach by relaxing regulations under its new chairman Doug Gurr.
Some of Scotland’s most prominent business groups have expressed concerns over the threat of tariffs from the US (£), warning that the taxes may end some exports to the US completely.
OpinioNation - columns of interest
Ruchir Sharma argues in The Financial Times that Trump’s threats of higher tariffs may not reap their desired results. Instead, they could compel US allies to find alternative partners (£) and, in turn, “undermine US relevance as a trading power”.
Britain ought to generate its own national AI champions and stand firm on its AI Opportunities Action Plan, rather than watch American AI drive mass automation. Doing so, Will Hutton writes in The Observer, will be crucial for our economic prosperity and building allies in the EU and beyond.
David Gelles analyses in a short video for the New York Times why Donald Trump pulling out of the Paris Agreement - a pact between almost all nations to tackle climate change - has been described as an “abdication of US leadership” with serious consequences for global environmental goals.
Shifting the dial - recent research
A poll by YouGov for campaign group Best for Britain revealed that UK voters believe trading relations with the EU should be prioritised over those with the US.
Based on a sample of 15,000 people, across Scotland, England and Wales almost one in two people (46%) think the EU should be the government’s top priority when it comes to trade, with less than half this number (22%) favouring the US.
This opinion remained constant across every constituency - you can find out the margin between preferences for the EU over the US in your area here.
The week ahead - fill your diary with key events
Monday
- Holocaust Memorial Day
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Westminster
- Commons general debate: Creative Industries
- Foreign Affairs Committee oral evidence: Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- Environmental Audit Committee: Outcomes of COP29
- France: Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture begins
Tuesday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- Time for Reflection: Mirrin Kirkpatrick and Sarah-Jane McKeown, Holocaust Educational Trust Ambassadors
- Scottish Government debate: Investing in Public Services Through the Scottish Budget
- Members’ Business – Clare Adamson: Brexit Harm to Scotland, Five Years Since the UK Left the EU
- In the Holyrood committee rooms
- Health, Social Care and Sport Committee will take evidence on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1
- Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will take evidence on rent control measures in the Housing (Scotland) Bill
- The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee will consider the powers to make subordinate legislation in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
- Scottish House Conditions Survey 2023
- Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics, up to September 2024
- National Population Projections, 2022-based
- Commons Ten Minute Rule Motion: Women’s State Pension Age
- General Committee oral evidence: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
- General Committee debate: Tobacco and Vapes Bill
- Industry and Regulators Committee oral evidence: The energy grid and grid connections
- European Affairs Committee oral evidence: The UK-EU reset
- Scottish Government data
- Westminster
Wednesday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- Scottish Labour Party debate: Health
- Members’ business – Jackson Carlaw: Holocaust Memorial Day 2025, For a Better Future
- In the Holyrood committee rooms
- Economy and Fair Work Committee will consider a draft report of the Data (Use and Access) Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (in private)
- Public Audit Committee will take evidence on NHS in Scotland 2024
- GDP Monthly Estimate, November 2024
- GDP Quarterly National Accounts, Quarter 3 2024
- Prime Minister’s Question Time
- Westminster Hall debate: Housing targets in rural areas
- General Committee oral evidence: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
- Scottish Affairs Committee oral evidence: The financing of the Scottish Government
- Environmental Audit Committee oral evidence: Governing the marine environment
- Scottish Government data
- Westminster
- UK: Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ speech on growth; Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey appears before Treasury committee
- Lunar New Year
- Reports: US and Canada interest rate decisions; Ofcom report on parents’ and children’s media literacy; Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s annual report on UK poverty; Good Growth Foundation launches first report
Thursday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- First Minister’s Questions
- Members’ Business – Alex Rowley: Scottish Engineering’s Engineering Skills Gap Analysis for Scotland
- Ministerial Statement: Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding
- Finance and Public Administration Committee debate: Scottish Budget 2025/26
- Appointment of Board Members to Environmental Standards Scotland
- Westminster
- Business Statement
- General Committee oral evidence: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
- General Committee debate: Tobacco and Vapes Bill
- Public Accounts Committee oral evidence: Use of AI in government
- Reports: Q4 GDP estimate in EU, Germany, France, US; December unemployment data; European Central Bank’s interest rate announcement; ONS quarterly crime statistics
Friday
- UK: Border declarations for EU imports come into effect; Six Nations begins; fifth anniversary of Brexit
- EU: Sanctions on Russia due to expire
- Reports: EU consumer expectations survey; UK Nationwide House Price Index
Saturday
- US: Possible imposition of tariffs on Chinese, Canadian and Mexican exports
Sunday
- US: Groundhog Day