For the past couple of years, borrowers have been given a fairly reassuring message. Interest rates rose sharply to bring inflation under control, but once inflation began to fall the expectation was that rates would gradually come down again.
For much of the past year, the direction of travel seemed reasonably clear. Interest rates were expected to continue falling as inflation came under control.
There must be a point when a government stops reviewing a problem and starts solving it. For women and families in Moray, that point may feel a very long way away.
Scotland has a population problem. The number of births is falling, the population is ageing and in many parts of the country deaths now substantially outnumber births.
Scotland has a child poverty target written into law. By 2030/31, the proportion of children living in relative poverty after housing costs is supposed to be below 10%.
More than 250 paid NHS placements will be made available to parents across Scotland as part of Scottish Government efforts to eradicate child poverty. The paid placements, covering roles such as porters, caterers, healthcare support workers, administration assistants, and assistant technical officers, will be available across 18 health boards.
For several years, millions of British homeowners have enjoyed something that now looks increasingly like a historical curiosity: a mortgage costing perhaps 1%, 2% or 3%. Those cheap fixed-rate deals provided households with a degree of financial certainty that was almost taken for granted.
The Scottish Government has announced more than 250 paid NHS placements for parents on low incomes as part of its effort to tackle child poverty. It is difficult to argue against the basic idea.
Most people filling a diesel car or van this week will already have noticed the pain. The average UK diesel price has now reached £2 a litre, a record level which means that filling an ordinary 55-litre tank costs around £110.
The number of sub-5% fixed mortgage deals has plummeted during September, while the average five-year fixed rate has now hit 6%, - Moneyfactscompare.co.uk analysis. The number of sub-5% fixed mortgage deals has plunged by 99%, from 1,494 since the start of September 2026 to just nine today.
Anyone eligible to vote in the contested Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Council election is reminded that their postal ballot papers need to be completed and returned in the pre-paid envelope provided by 12 noon on Thursday, 8 October 2026. Candidates standing were invited to submit a statement to support their candidacy and these statements are provided in the envelopes mailed out along with the ballot papers to all eligible voters.
Scotland's economy is proving more resilient than might have been expected. That is the encouraging message from the latest Fraser of Allander Institute Economic Commentary.
Britain's road haulage industry is under pressure, and the numbers provide some evidence that this is more than just a few individual companies getting into difficulty. In 2025, 401 UK companies classified as freight transport by road entered insolvency.
Britain is being encouraged to prepare for emergencies. The advice is sensible.
Just announced 8:00am today - BT has agreed a rescue of the stricken broadband supplier through a pre-pack administration which will safeguard hundreds of jobs. TalkTalk has been under serious financial pressure, with reports that the company could enter administration.
Andy Burnham’s revelation that he was prepared “to go all the way” in terms of the UK’s relationship with the EU came as a shock to many. While a commitment to rejoining the EU in the next Labour manifesto is far from a given – and the prime minister’s language was non-committal – the statement broke a taboo in the party.
There is something slightly odd about the way we are increasingly being encouraged to use electricity at different times. Octopus Energy, for example, has its Octoplus rewards scheme, under which customers can earn Octopoints for changing their electricity use.
Bowel cancer has traditionally been thought of as a disease mainly affecting older people. That is still broadly true.
Below average September rainfall compounds drought issues in southern and central England. Most of England’s reservoirs are now classed as notably or exceptionally low after another dry month and the government is working with water companies to ensure supplies are protected.
MoD extends £190 million contract with Airbus to maintain the RAF's A400M Atlas fleet, boosting aircraft availability while sustaining over 350 UK jobs. £190 million contract extension with Airbus to support RAF’s A400 Atlas fleet, retaining more than 350 UK jobs.
Airlines will be required to seat children under the age of 14 with a parent or accompanying adult free of charge. extra charges for parents sitting with their children scrapped across airlines to help people with the cost of living.
The Scottish Government is investing nearly £3 million to help turn university research projects into commercial business propositions. Seventeen projects from seven different universities will share £2.92 million of funding from the Proof of Concept fund, which was piloted last year to help researchers explore and realise the commercial potential of their research.
If you have been listening to the latest oil-price reports, you could be forgiven for thinking that crude oil is hovering around $100 a barrel. And that is broadly correct – if you are talking about the Brent futures price.
It has been quite a busy week for Caithness. There have been stories about buses, an election, hundreds of incoming workers, battery storage, the airport, tourism and a village shop.
The United States is sending thousands more military personnel and another aircraft carrier strike group towards the Middle East. This isn't simply a few extra troops being moved around.
RG SetSquare has a requirement for multiple HGV Drivers required for an ongoing assignment with our client. 6 month contract.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join QS, supporting UHI North, West & Hebrides with examinations. QS are looking to recruit a Depute Chief Invigilator to be responsible for supporting the Chief Invigilator (CI) with the organisation and supervision of invigilation for National Qualifications, in accordance with QS policy and procedures.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join QS, supporting UHI North, West & Hebrides with examinations. QS are looking to recruit an Invigilator to undertake the duties of invigilation for National Qualifications, in accordance with QS policy and procedures.
Women going through the menopause are being offered an ever-growing range of supplements promising to help with hot flushes, poor sleep, mood changes, brain fog, tiredness and a host of other symptoms. But new research raises an uncomfortable question: are some women paying hundreds of pounds a year for products that offer little more than a much cheaper ordinary multivitamin? The answer is not that all menopause supplements are useless.
Bacon has suddenly become a rather more complicated item on the shopping list. Should we worry about nitrates and nitrites? Is nitrate-free bacon healthier? And if supermarkets are now selling bacon without added nitrites, is it worth paying extra for it?.
The Highland Council has agreed to submit proposals for two Short Term Let Control Areas (STLCAs) to Scottish Ministers following extensive public consultation and consideration by local area committees. At today’s special meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee (28 September), Members approved the submission of proposals for: An Inverness City Short Term Let Control Area, covering Inverness and surrounding areas; and A Highland Rural Short Term Let Control Area, covering Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness South, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, Lochaber, Skye and Raasay, and Sutherland.
There are times when a story from thousands of miles away makes you look at your own garden slightly differently. Reports from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky describe residents facing such severe shortages of food that some have reportedly been eating plants growing in their gardens that most of us would simply call weeds.
Five place based residencies across Caithness and Sutherland. The Caithness and Sutherland Culture Collective Partnership invites applications for five artist residencies, each rooted in a different locality and hosted by a partner organisation.
Kennel Assistant Donald S McGregor & Partners, Thurso are looking for a proactive and hardworking Kennel Assistant to join our team. We are looking for someone who takes pride in maintaining high standards, is organised and reliable, and enjoys working as part of a busy veterinary team.
A beautiful mid-terraced, three-bedroom (one with ensuite), stone-built home which retains many of the original features, with a large area of garden to rear. Accommodation comprises vestibule, hallway, lounge, sitting room/dining room, Ashley Ann fitted kitchen and a utility room on the ground floor, upstairs from the landing there are three bedrooms, one with ensuite and a family bathroom.
Vapes, Drinks and Spiking: What Young People and Parents Need to Know A recent BBC report has highlighted an issue that parents of teenagers may find worrying: the possibility of drugs being put into drinks or even vapes without the person's knowledge. It is a subject where sensible advice is more useful than alarm.
This doer-upper was started and now looking for a new owner to finish it. Hidden away in Beaufoy Street, this lovely stone-built property has a new fitted kitchen, oak doors fitted throughout and now needs plumbing and electrics to be finished, along with decoration.
Sutherland has had another week in which several apparently separate stories point towards the same underlying question. How does a huge rural area attract investment and economic activity while maintaining the homes, services and communities needed to support it?.
The future of disability benefits is becoming one of the more difficult issues facing the UK government, with spending rising rapidly and increasing numbers of people receiving support. A new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) examines what could be changed in Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the main working-age disability benefit in England and Wales.
Something rather important is happening around the United States, and it may be bigger than the individual tariff announcements, political arguments or daily movements in the oil price. America is changing the way it deals with the rest of the world.
Canada has spent generations building its economy around its huge neighbour to the south. Now it is looking across the Atlantic.
The Bank held interest rates as expected in its MPC meeting Thursday), with the real news coming from a welcome change in how it intends unwind Quantitative Easing (QE) and a gloomy outlook on the cost of living, the Resolution Foundation said today. James Smith, Chief Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said, “The Bank’s decision today to hold interest rates was welcome but expected.
Qualified Mechanic required for maintenance and repairs for various types of vehicles. MOT Experience would be advantageous but not essential.
NUVIA UK is looking for a technically minded and proactive Dounreay Beach Monitoring Project Technician to support the delivery of the Dounreay Beach Monitoring Project and related radiological monitoring activities. This varied role combines fieldwork, instrumentation, technical data analysis, GIS mapping, equipment calibration and report writing.
We’re looking for friendly, reliable and enthusiastic people aged 18 or over to join us as Part-Time Bar Staff Perfect for anyone looking to work a few shifts each week, with opportunities to cover midweek, evenings and weekends. To apply or find out more, please contact Vicky at thecaithnesscollection@hotmail.com .
We're Hiring | Experienced Chef The Pentland Hotel is looking for an experienced chef to join our kitchen team in Thurso on a Full-Time or Part-Time basis for the right candidate. We’re looking for individuals with previous experience working in a professional kitchen who are confident in a busy environment and take pride in maintaining consistently high standards.
A college + university like no other With 19 campuses and centres across the North and West Highlands, Skye, and Outer Hebrides, we cover a geographic area larger than Wales, comprising 40% of Scotland’s coastline. Our campuses and centres are located within historic towns and villages, set amongst the shorelines, mountains, and moors, with local staff working across our region to support our students and communities. Position: We are seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented Registry and Admissions Officer, with a focus on Registry, to join our Student Records team in Fort William, Thurso or Stornoway.
Food & Beverage Supervisor Ideal for an experienced and confident individual looking to work a few shifts each week while taking on additional responsibility within our food and beverage team. Whether you’re looking for a few shifts alongside other commitments or you’re ready to take the next step in your hospitality career, we’d love to hear from you.
An entirely fictional account of what might happen if a Roman historian were suddenly transported to America in September 2026. When our Roman historian arrived in America, he was initially rather pleased.
Set within generous grounds and enjoying wonderful open countryside and sea views, Kyleburn House is a substantial traditional stone-built property offering exceptionally spacious and versatile accommodation in a peaceful rural setting. Extending to approximately 357 sq m (3,841 sq ft) overall, the property provides an interesting and flexible layout that would lend itself to a variety of uses and lifestyles.
KR Properties are delighted to bring to the market this spacious two-bedroom townhouse, offering well-proportioned accommodation over two floors within an attractive traditional stone-built property. Access is via a shared main entrance door, which opens into a shared entrance hallway serving this property and one neighbouring home.
3 bedroom gas central heated double glazed property with kitchen bathroom and WC on 1st floor..
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