Richard Murphy: “What we actually have here is…an admission that the government can create money at will. So the 'magic money tree' exists, as a matter of fact.”

A LETTER from the Economic Secretary of the Treasury has confirmed that the government does not need to raise money from taxation to fund government spending, leading to advocates of increased public investment to declare “the magic money tree exists, as a matter of fact”.

Writer Rhiannon Spencer-Jones says we have a responsibility to consider the consequences of how we spend our money

EARLIER this month, every single person who went to their polling station took an active step in deciding our country's future. 

However, the voting doesn't stop there. It is critical to remember that every pound - every penny - we spend in our everyday lives is also a vote for one thing, and against another.

Unions call on new Glasgow administration to fulfil ruling on £50m boon

WOMEN SEEKING JUSTICE from Glasgow City Council (GCC) for exclusion from bonus payments and the chance for equal pay over decades won a major battle in the Court of Session this week.

The court ordered GCC to pay the female council workers their share of a £50 million windfall after a legal ruling over equal pay.

Yesterday (Tuesday 30 May) the ruling found in favour of over 6,000 claimants who brought their case supported by public sector trade unions.

Two thirds of Scottish small employers of EU workers are concerned about future skills shortages, according to new research from the FSB

SCOTTISH FIRMS face a “chronic skills shortage” as a result of the UK Government’s attempts to bring about hard Brexit according to a new Scottish specific study by the Federation of small businesses (FSB).

The report shows that two-thirds of small Scottish employers with EU workers are concerned that future skills shortages will force them to close operations, scale down their business or leave the country altogether.

Local community gets guarantee of new homes from community windfarm projects

FIVE HUNDRED HOMES are to be built in the Scottish Borders from the proceeds of a windfarm community project called the “Fishermen Three”.

Completed between the end of March and start of April, the three machines are Danish designed Nordex 2.5 megawatt (MW) turbines which are projected to produce profits of £20m for the community through the sale of renewable energy.

Campaigners urge people to rise up with event against councils as unethical investments are exposed 

A ONE NIGHT “FESTIVAL OF DIVESTMENT” tackling the investments of local councils in polluters has been hailed by environmental campaigners as a way for people to find out what their local authorities are up to and learn about more ethical ways of investing public funds.

Taking place April 27 at 7pm, the event organised by Common Weal and Friends of the Earth Scotland will feature films, poetry, music, art and social media training.

Members of the Sick Kids community buyout group to hold public meeting to take hospital into community’s hands

AN EDINBURGH AND LOTHIANS community group is planning to obtain the right to buy a local hospital and healthcare centre that has come up for sale.

The Sick Kids hospital in Marchmont and Sciennes could be purchased through the Scottish Government’s community right to buy scheme which grants locals the right to buy out land and property.

As the SNP confirms its support for a third runway, transparency campaigners question influence of the airport industry on Scottish politics 

THE SNP have come under pressure from campaigners and opposition parties in Holyrood for alleged connections between the lobbying of operators at Heathrow and the recent decision by the party to back the Heathrow expansion.

Social entrepreneur asks if Scotland has the bottle

RAISING his hand in a hall full of attendees, financial services expert and pro-independence activist Mike Fenwick placed a pound into a four litre bottle and challenged "all those who want to see change" to also place a pound of their money inside.