Katrine Bussey

Former UK prime minister Gordon Brown warned that Ukraine is approaching a critical point and could face its worst winter since Russia’s invasion began. He urged Donald Trump and Western allies to strengthen support for Kyiv, including allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles to defend its population and energy infrastructure. Brown also cautioned that Britain and Europe must support Ukraine without provoking a direct conflict with Russia, and said proposed Ukrainian production of British SCALP missiles may have little immediate effect.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has called for immediate UK Government assistance after Ofgem raised the energy price cap by 4% for October, taking a typical annual gas and electricity bill to £1,723. Consumer organizations warn that rising costs are worsening household hardship and energy debt, particularly ahead of winter, while forecasts suggest a further increase to £1,872 in the New Year. The UK Government points to a VAT cut and earlier bill reductions but faces calls for a social tariff and a targeted energy debt-relief scheme.

Police Scotland is investigating the deaths of Paul Lafferty, 50, and Gary Beatson, 54, whose bodies were found with serious injuries in a flat on Chancellor Street in Glasgow’s Partick area. Detectives are reviewing CCTV, conducting door-to-door inquiries and appealing for witnesses who saw or heard anything suspicious between Friday morning and Sunday afternoon. Increased police patrols will remain in the area while the investigation continues.

Offshore Energies UK chief executive David Whitehouse is urging Andy Burnham’s Government to approve the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil and gas projects in Scottish waters, arguing they would strengthen domestic energy security, support jobs and generate tax revenue. He says approval would represent a powerful reset in relations with the sector, while rejection could undermine a wider £50 billion pipeline of projects. Environmental campaigners oppose the developments, and the Labour Government has pledged not to support new oil and gas projects, although Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has indicated she will take a pragmatic approach. Government officials say North Sea oil and gas will remain important alongside renewables, nuclear power and other low-carbon technologies.

UK energy consumers minister Martin McCluskey says the Radio Teleswitch Service was successfully switched off at the end of June, despite a small number of remaining RTS meters. He says those households are no longer dependent on the outdated technology, which once controlled heating and hot-water systems, and that suppliers can rapidly replace meters where problems persist. The government delayed the shutdown by a year because of concerns about disruption, while Ofgem had warned of heating failures, mistimed storage-heater charging and inaccurate billing. Households experiencing issues are advised to contact their energy supplier and MP.

Adura chief executive Neil McCulloch has called for timely approval of the Rosebank oil field and Jackdaw gas development, arguing that together they could attract £10.8 billion in investment, support thousands of jobs and apprenticeships, strengthen domestic energy production and generate substantial economic activity. Rosebank, located northwest of Shetland, is subject to a public consultation, while the UK Government will decide whether it proceeds. Environmental campaigners, Uplift executive director Tessa Khan and Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell reject the project, arguing that most of its oil would be exported, it would not reduce household energy bills or materially improve energy security, and its emissions would be incompatible with climate goals. The dispute is framed as a test of the UK Government’s approach to fossil-fuel development and climate policy.

Staff at Glasgow Caledonian University represented by the EIS University Lecturers Association will strike during graduation days, including three days this week and additional dates in August and September. The union is opposing proposed cuts affecting 100 jobs, warning of compulsory redundancies, increased workloads and damage to teaching, research and course provision. It says a costed alternative plan was rejected and argues that the university’s £95 million in cash reserves could help protect jobs. The university attributes the cuts to a substantial fall in international student income, says no final decisions have been made, and intends to minimize disruption to graduation ceremonies.

A survey of more than 500 Scottish businesses found that 32% want business rates reduced, while 40% support lower taxation overall. Rising rates have led many firms to increase prices, delay growth plans, draw on savings or investments, introduce new charges, or cut staff. Concern about business survival has reached its highest level since March 2024, while confidence in government responses has declined. Charlotte Street Partners called for major reform and lower employer taxes, and the Scottish Government said an independent review would examine the rates system and the effects of the 2026 property revaluation.

North-east Scotland has a narrow five-year window to replace declining oil and gas employment with renewable-energy jobs, according to the Energy Transition Institute at Robert Gordon University. The region holds a large share of the UK’s offshore energy workforce, and many workers’ skills could transfer to offshore renewables with limited upskilling. By 2035, renewables could account for 55% to 70% of regional offshore energy jobs, but failure to invest quickly could cause skilled workers and supply-chain capacity to leave permanently. UK and Scottish ministers highlighted existing renewable-energy, grid, training and just-transition investments, while the Scottish Government argued that the energy profits levy and accelerated North Sea decline could undermine a managed transition.

Nicola Sturgeon has described the aftermath of Peter Murrell’s admission that he embezzled £400,310.65 from the Scottish National Party between 2010 and 2022 as probably the worst week of her life. Speaking at Listowel Writers’ Week, Sturgeon said she felt deceived, misled and betrayed by her former husband, who has been remanded in custody pending sentencing. She said she had not known about the embezzlement or the origins of items purchased with the money, and rejected the assumption that she must have been aware. Sturgeon acknowledged that her public position made the personal crisis more difficult, said she was only beginning to process events and might seek therapy, but insisted she would eventually recover.

Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner Nicola Killean says evidence supporting a blanket ban on social media for under-16s remains limited, mixed and inconclusive. She argues that a ban would not address exploitative algorithms or harmful platform business models and could push children toward less regulated online spaces, disproportionately affecting rural, disabled and socially isolated young people. The UK Government received more than 81,000 consultation responses, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged swift action on measures to reduce online harms.

Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband and former Scottish National Party chief executive, pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party between 2010 and 2022. He was remanded in custody after admitting that some of the money was spent on luxury items, including a motorhome, cars, watches and a telescope. Sturgeon said she was unaware of the wrongdoing, learned details through newspaper reports and felt deceived, misled and betrayed, describing the period as one of the worst weeks of her life.