Tag: public spending
-
Labour’s £4m AI Training Push Under Fire Over Fake Courses
Overview: A £4m AI Skills Push in Question Labour’s ambitious £4 million initiative to upskill the public in artificial intelligence has come under intense scrutiny after investigators revealed that a flagship training platform is offering courses that do not exist. The controversy centers on an AI Skills Hub launched by the party’s ministers, which was…
-
Labour AI Training Hub under Fire for Fake Courses Allegations
UK Labour’s £4m AI Skills Initiative Questioned as Courses Reportedly Do Not Exist The Labour party’s high-profile push to equip the public with artificial intelligence (AI) skills has hit a snag. A flagship training website, touted as a central plank of a government-backed effort to democratise AI literacy, is facing scrutiny after officials acknowledged that…
-
Total Government Borrowing in 2025 Exceeds OBR Forecasts
UK Borrowing in December 2025 Beats Forecasts as Total for the Year Rises The latest release from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirms a pivotal moment for fiscal policy in 2025. Government borrowing in December stood at £11.6 billion, a figure that surprised City economists who had forecast a higher deficit of £13.4 billion…
-
Scottish Budget 2026: Live updates as Shona Robison unveils spending and tax plans
Live updates: Scotland’s Budget 2026 kickoff Finance Secretary Shona Robison has outlined Scotland’s budget for 2026, signaling a focus on capital investment, economic resilience, and targeted tax measures. The central thread of the day is a commitment to broad-based growth through a capital program that will underpin long-term projects across transport, infrastructure, and public services.…
-
Scottish Budget 2026-27: Tough Choices Ahead for Tax and Spending
Overview: A Draft Budget in a Challenging Climate The Scottish government will unveil its draft Budget for 2026-27, signaling a critical moment for tax policy and public spending. Finance Secretary Shona Robison has warned that balancing the books will require difficult choices as she frames the government’s approach to funding public services, infrastructure, and growth…
-
Audit Slams Hamilton’s Outdoor Shelter Project: Taxpayers Bear the Fallout
Audit Finds Urgency Superseded Governance in Hamilton’s Outdoor Shelter Project An independent audit conducted by Hamilton’s Office of the Auditor General has raised critical concerns about the city’s approach to its outdoor shelter project. The report concludes that under pressure to finalize the shelters quickly, officials prioritized speed over the foundational principles of due diligence…
-
Catastrophic MoJ Jail Lease Could Cost UK Taxpayers Over £100m
Introduction: A costly leasing decision under scrutiny The Ministry of Justice now faces scrutiny after a 10-year lease for a prison, later found to have high levels of a poisonous gas, is projected to cost UK taxpayers more than £100 million. The revelation has prompted questions about risk assessment, tenancy due diligence, and the long-term…
-
Dartmoor Prison Waste: MoJ Spends £100m on Unused Facility
The facts at a glance The UK Ministry of Justice has spent about £100 million keeping Dartmoor Prison operational on paper, even though it currently houses no inmates. MPs on the Public Accounts Committee have raised serious questions about a 10-year lease signed for the facility, which has long been described as radioactive and unsuitable…
-
Catastrophic MoJ Jail Lease Costs: Hidden Risks at UK Taxpayer’s Expense
Overview: A lease that sparked alarm The Ministry of Justice faced sharp criticism after the National Audit Office (NAO) and Parliament’s spending watchdog concluded that a 10-year lease for a prison, later found to have high levels of a poisonous gas, represents a “catastrophic” decision. The landmark assessment warns that the deal could ultimately burden…
-
MPs Blast Dartmoor Prison Lease as a £4m-a-Year Waste
MPs Say Dartmoor Prison Lease Was a Wasteful Decision The Public Accounts Committee has labeled the lease of HMP Dartmoor as a fiscal misstep, arguing that a £4 million-a-year contract was a needless drain on public funds. The prison, which has been empty for 18 months, stands as a stark example of how procurement decisions…