by Gabriel Neil It has been confirmed that the trading half of Northern Rock will be sold to Richard Branson’s Virgin Money for the sum of £747 million, at a £373 million loss to the taxpayer. Northern Rock was nationalised in 2008 by the Labour government at the start of the international financial crisis, as [...]
by Ashleigh Gibbs The potential closure of a small arts and craft store has struck a further blow to a local shopping centre in Kirkcaldy. Burns and Harris, one of the centre’s longest standing occupants, has been forced to reduce opening hours and create redundancies adding further speculation about the future of the ailing Postings [...]
by Gemma McCallan It has been announced that the £350 million Opportunity Omagh development is underway with supermarket giants Tesco confirming their arrival. There have been mixed reactions to the news however, with claims that it will have a detrimental affect on the town centre, taking business out of the town centre. Omagh Chamber of [...]
by Jane Bretin Edinburgh Napier University has just announced the sale of their historic Craighouse campus to be converted into new homes. The sale of the campus is part of a “long-term plan and is unrelated to education cuts” according to communications officer, Patrick McFall of Napier University. The site was acquired by the university [...]
by Emily Glass National Museums Scotland have finally secured a set of four Iron Age gold neck ornaments after raising funds for two years. The treasure was found by David Booth in 2009 in his first outing with his metal detector whilst at work. Chief Game Warden at Blair Drummond Safari Park, near Stirling, Booth [...]
by Anne Mackie and Emily Glass A recent report by Barclays Banking suggests the number of millionaires in Scotland has increased by almost 20 per cent in the past two years. Around 40,000 individuals now boast net wealth exceeding £1 million – a definite increase from the 34,000 at the end of 2008, and it’s set [...]
By Eva Deckers International students in the UK are having a hard time finding student bank accounts. While UK residents can opt for special offers to come with their students accounts, international students are left with no options but to save their money and hope for the best. So far only Santander, the Spanish bank, [...]
By Tom Barry The private sector in Scotland has recorded its strongest rise in activity since June 2007.
By David Walsh and Anne Mackie It’s billed “the Athens of the North” but new plans are being put in place to boost and revive the profile of Edinburghs New Town. New evidence suggests the city is failing to make the most of its neo-classical architecture, streetscapes and it’s role in shaping the Scottish Enlightenment. [...]
Speech analysis by David Walsh Podcast by Katy Docherty and Emily Glass ‘The Big Society’ could be compared to ‘The Big Bang Theory’ in many ways. It may make a loud noise with the promise of creating something, but is the new rhetoric for old fodder merely just smoke and mirrors to save face in [...]
What was once synonymous with America is now becoming a staple of Scottish tradition, but how is it being adapted across the pond, and how has the recession affected the prom business? Patrick McPartlin went to find out. For most British schoolgirls, the idea of a prom normally involves splashing out on expensive dresses, getting [...]
By Emily Glass The dilapidated old Odeon cinema on Clerk Street, Edinburgh is set for renovation to restore it to its former art deco glory. The New Victoria Project has revealed its detailed plans today for the site if its planned purchase is successful. The New Victoria Project is made up of Edinburgh University Architecture [...]
by Fearghus Roulston The minimum wage in Ireland will be cut by a euro, falling to €7.65, as part of a planned series of austerity measures introduced by Taioseach Brian Cowen today. The plans, outlined in a 170-page document, involve cuts to the social welfare budget and a hike in income tax. The Irish government [...]
By Ryan C. Gavan and Edoardo Zandona The Irish austerity budget is likely to be Brian Cowen’s last action as Taoiseach , as he is set to call an election early in the New Year. The budget was set to be announced on December 7th but after mounting political pressure, an announcement will be made this afternoon. [...]
By Gavin Harper MSPs will have their pay frozen for the next two years, as part of a scheme that plans to reduce the running costs of the Scottish parliament by up to 12% and save nearly £10 million over the next four years. These plans still require the approval of MSPs, but they are [...]
By Catherine Mumford Audit Scotland will be releasing an interim report on the Edinburgh trams in 2011, drawing on audits already carried out by Transport Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council. The report has been given the go-ahead after a request from the Accounts Commission and Robert Black, the Auditor General of Scotland. The controversial tram project [...]
by Paul Foy Portugal and Spain have called on the Irish Government to accept financial help from the EU, as countries borrowing rates suffer as a result of the Irish crisis. Irish Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan will discuss the crisis tomorrow with his European counterparts in Brussels, and the Spanish and Portuguese are hoping that [...]
By Colleen Reid A funding initiative to give power to local people, ‘£eith Decides‘ is an X-Factor style pilot project which sees local groups and charities battle it out for a share of Leith’s Community Grant. £16,600 in total is up for grabs, with the people of Leith to decide where and how it is [...]
By Euan Black Edinburgh’s local business owners and residents gave the Scottish Government’s Alcohol Bill a lukewarm reception today. The bill will outlaw volume discounting – offers such as two crates of beer for £14 – and make a ‘Challenge 25′ ID policy compulsory, and has paved the way for a possible Social Responsibility Fee [...]
By Sean Stringer With the announcement of a nationwide financial crisis, fears were raised about the effect it threatened to have on the future of both local businesses and more established nationwide organizations. With the public spending less money, due to the fact income is said to be 10% lower than it would be if [...]
By Cally McWilliam The uncertainty over the closure of RAF Lossiemouth continues today as Defense Secretary Liam Fox confirmed last night that no decision on the future of the base would be taken until next year. The announcement came during a discussion with MP Angus Robertson, the SNP representative for the Moray area. This comes [...]
By Sarah Vesty The UK’s biggest airport firm, BAA, has released figures showing a 3.5 per cent passenger increase at Edinburgh airport last month, despite losing their appeal against the Competition Commission to continue owning Stanstead, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports. Glasgow experienced a fall of 7.4 per cent compared to last year. Following the Court [...]
by Adam Smyth New developments have come to light today regarding the ongoing dispute between German construction firm Bilfinger Berger and Transport Initiative Edinburgh(TIE). The argument surrounds changes to the design of the 11.5 mile tram line being built from Newhaven to Edinburgh city Airport and who will be paying for them. Estimates for the [...]
By Tony Garner An Indian businessmen has given assurances to fans of English Premiership football club Blackburn Rovers that he will put their interests first in his dispute with Venky’s, the Indian poultry conglomerate whose £46m takeover of Blackburn is expected to go through this month. Saurin Shah claimed that Venky’s had promised him that [...]
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