
John Swinney must get spending right after funding boost
There is no shortage of options for the Scottish Government when it comes to spending the extra £5.8billion it will receive in funding by the end of the decade.
The recent UK spending review by Rachel Reeves saw a commitment by the UK Government to investment even more in the NHS across England.
That means in turn a cash boost for Holyrood thanks to the Barnett Formula, the long-standing mechanism used to calculate funding for the devolved administrations.
While there is huge pressure on the public finances, it's worth repeating that overall spending is rising and not being cut by the Labour government.
Keir Starmer has endured a difficult first year in power but he cannot be accused of bringing back austerity.
Politicians in Holyrood and Westminster face extremely difficult decisions on where public money should be spent.
SNP ministers have awarded record investment in the NHS but other parts of public life are struggling.
The Record reports today on the grim conditions many police officers currently work in, with some police stations falling apart due to slashed maintenance budgets.
But Scots see the impact of cut-backs to council budgets every time they leave the house. Roads are filled with ever-deepening pot holes, while many pavements are cracked and uncared for.
And £5.8billion is a lot of money but it's not a magic wand. Not everything can be fixed in a flash.
But making sensible spending decisions is something John Swinney and his government must get right.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Light in darkness
The terrible scenes of death and destruction in Gaza have shocked the world.
From the appalling Hamas-led October 7 massacre to the daily death toll of Palestinians, it has been the darkest time in the decades-long dispute.
In such an intractable conflict, amid a horrific loss of life, with distrust and loathing on both sides, it is hard to have hope at all of any kind of resolution.
If any progress is to be made, however, it is clear it can only be when the killing stops.
A ceasefire is the first step but it can only be achieved if all parties are willing to talk.
It is welcome, therefore, that Israel has finally decided to send a delegation to Qatar to discuss a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas.
US president Donald Trump is also due to meet Israeli PM Benjamin
Netanyahu today.
Hopefully, these are significant steps on the road to peace.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times
43 minutes ago
- Times
Binyamin Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel peace prize
President Trump has said it is 'very meaningful' to be considered for the Nobel peace prize after Binyamin Netanyahu presented him with a nomination letter on a visit to the White House. The Israeli prime minister said the accolade was 'well deserved' because Trump was 'forging peace' in 'one region after the another'. 'I want to express the appreciation and admiration not only of all Israelis but of the Jewish people and many, many admirers around the world for your leadership,' Netanyahu said during his visit to Washington on Monday. The two leaders discussed a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. Under the proposed deal, Hamas would release ten living and 18 dead Israeli hostages in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops to a buffer zone on the Gaza Strip's border. • Can Israel and Hamas co-exist? Trump's ceasefire depends on it Israel would allow international charities and the United Nations to resume aid deliveries to Gaza rather than entrusting the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American organisation mired in controversy, with alleviating Palestinian hunger. More than 700 Palestinians have been killed seeking food since the foundation started distributing aid, according to the territory's Hamas-run health authorities. Trump and Netanyahu had dinner together in the White House on Monday night, which marked the third visit by the Israeli prime minister to Washington since the start of Trump's second term. In a deft act of diplomacy — one that recalled Sir Keir Starmer's presentation of a letter from King Charles to Trump inviting the US president on a state visit — Netanyahu began the dinner by lauding Trump's achievements, describing his 'many admirers around the world'. The Israeli prime minister then produced a letter and reminded the gathered press of Trump's role negotiating the Abraham Accords during his first term. Under the accords, a handful of Arab countries recognised Israel for the first time. Efforts to incorporate Saudi Arabia into the agreement have stalled during Trump's second term amid widespread anger in the Middle East over the ongoing war in Gaza. Netanyahu said: 'He's forging peace as we speak in one country, one region after another. I want to present to you the letter I sent to the Nobel prize. It's nominating you for the peace prize, which is well deserved and you should get it.' Reaching over the dinner table for the letter, Trump said: 'Wow. Thank you very much. This I didn't know. Wow. Thank you very much. Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful, Bibi.' Trump has repeatedly criticised the decision to give the Nobel peace prize to Barack Obama in 2009 and has often appeared to covet the award himself. During a meeting with Netanyahu this year, he fumed: 'They will never give me a Nobel peace prize. It's too bad. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.' Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, will head to Qatar this week to continue mediated negotiations with Hamas over the ceasefire. 'We have an opportunity to finally get a peace deal, Mr Prime Minister,' Witkoff told Netanyahu at the dinner. An initial ceasefire deal collapsed this year amid anger in Israel over Hamas staging public handover ceremonies for the hostage releases and Netanyahu's refusal to completely withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza. Trump also said he had agreed to an Iranian request for talks after the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites last month. Witkoff said the meeting would be soon, perhaps in a week. 'We have scheduled Iran talks, and they want to … They want to talk,' Trump said. On Ukraine, Trump appeared to suggest he would allow weapons deliveries to resume. Asked if the US would keep arming Ukraine after the suspension of a crucial delivery of air defence missiles and other munitions, Trump said: 'We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They're getting hit very hard now.' He added: 'I'm not happy with President Putin at all.' It came after Trump told President Zelensky of Ukraine he was not responsible for the weapons freeze in a call last week, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Ministers in talks with City over climate finance for disaster-hit nations
The Foreign Secretary has pledged £12 million from the Government's tightened aid budget in a bid to enable faster payouts for nations experiencing climate shocks like hurricanes and tornadoes. Mr Lammy will join the Chancellor, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Environment Secretary Steve Reed for the first meeting between multiple Cabinet ministers and finance leaders on Tuesday. The group is expected to discuss how the sector can play a part in channelling investment into climate initiatives in emerging markets. The Government hopes the £12 million for pre-arranged finance for disaster relief and risk insurance will cut the cost of responding to extreme weather events, and the time it takes for countries to recover from such shocks. This funding is triggered by certain warning signs — such as a forecast or weather event itself — to enable faster payouts, the Foreign Office said. It comes after the Government slashed the UK's overseas aid budget from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in order to pay for increased defence spending. The UK's climate finance commitments come from its aid budget. The Foreign Secretary said: 'The climate and nature crisis is the greatest global challenge we face. Failure to act will cause unprecedented environmental damage, fuelling displacement, conflict and famine. 'Tackling this crisis is also a huge opportunity for people and businesses here in the UK, delivering on our Plan for Change. The green sector is worth trillions of pounds, and I'm determined that we seize on the economic growth, jobs and security it offers. 'The City of London, the world's leading sustainable development financing hub, has a crucial role to play in this.'


The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Trump and Netanyahu meet at White House amid indirect ceasefire talks
Update: Date: 2025-07-08T01:19:19.000Z Title: Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at the White House for his scheduled talks with', 'Donald Trump', 'this evening. Content: Israeli leader met US secretary of state and Middle East envoy before arriving at White House Cecilia Nowell (now); Abené Clayton, Fran Lawther, Chris Stein, Lucy Campbell and Yohannes Lowe (earlier) Mon 7 Jul 2025 21.19 EDT First published on Mon 7 Jul 2025 04.50 EDT From 6.54pm EDT 18:54 Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at the White House for his scheduled talks with Donald Trump this evening. The Israeli prime minister met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this afternoon, the Associated Press reports, citing the prime minister's office. The visit comes as indirect talks between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza continued for a second day on Monday. Trump has increased pressure for a deal in Gaza in recent weeks and raised the possibility that a ceasefire could be declared in a matter of hours or days. Hamas demands an Israeli withdrawal, while Netanyahu insists on Hamas disarming. The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu could give new urgency to the US ceasefire proposal, but whether it leads to a deal that ends the war is unclear. Updated at 6.57pm EDT 9.14pm EDT 21:14 A judge has ordered the Trump administration to continue disbursing Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood, despite a provision in the president's recently signed tax and spending bill. US district judge Indira Talwani issued a temporary restraining order in response to a lawsuit filed earlier today by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The lawsuit argues that the ban on Medicaid funding, which targets Planned Parenthood for providing abortion care, will see increased rates of untreated sexually transmitted diseases and cancer, as well as unplanned pregnancies, nationwide. Updated at 9.19pm EDT 8.55pm EDT 20:55 The Department of Veterans Affairs will no longer need to cut 80,000 jobs, as ordered by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, because it has already cut staff by 30,000 through retirements, buyouts and hiring freezes, the agency said today. In a news release, veterans affairs secretary Doug Collins said: 'Since March, we've been conducting a holistic review of the department centered on reducing bureaucracy and improving services to Veterans.' 'A department-wide RIF' or, reduction in force, 'is off the table, but that doesn't mean we're done improving VA. Our review has resulted in a host of new ideas for better serving Veterans that we will continue to pursue,' he added. 8.44pm EDT 20:44 Ahead of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's arrival in Washington DC today, demonstrators gathered outside of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv to call for the release of the 7 October attack hostages and urge a ceasefire. Here are images from the rally: Updated at 8.55pm EDT 8.23pm EDT 20:23 Donald Trump said he lifted the United States's sanctions on Syria at the request of Middle Eastern leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister added that Syria's new leadership gives Israel a chance at a new relationship with Syria. 8.11pm EDT 20:11 Donald Trump says the United States will resume weapons shipments to Ukraine. 'They have to be able to defend themselves. They're getting hit very hard now,' he said. The president did not add any additional details. Last wee, the Pentagon halted shipments of US Patriot air defence systems and other precision weapons to Ukraine after concern that US stockpiles were running too low. 8.09pm EDT 20:09 Trump and Netanyahu are answering questions about Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who won New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. In response to a question about Mamdani, who has said he would enforce the International Criminal Court's arrest order if Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited New York city, Netanyahu said 'I'm not concerned about that'. Trump, who has threatened to deport Mamdani, who is a US citizen, said 'I'll get him out.' Later Trump called Mamdani a 'communist and said 'he's said some really bad things about Jewish people.' 7.58pm EDT 19:58 Donald Trump passed on a question about a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, asking Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to answer instead. 'I think Palestinians should have all of the power to govern themselves, but none of the power to threaten us,' he said. Updated at 8.02pm EDT 7.54pm EDT 19:54 Trump says Iran has approached the White House for talks following the United State's strike on the country's nuclear facilities. He also compared the US's strikes to the country's decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan during World War II. 'I don't want to say what it reminded me of but if you go back a long time ago, it reminded people of a certain other event. And Harry Truman's picture is now in the lobby, in a nice location, not in the lobby where it should have been, but that stopped a lot of fighting, and this stopped a lot of fighting,' he said. 'I hope we're not going to have to' strike Iran again, he added. Updated at 7.54pm EDT 7.51pm EDT 19:51 Donald Trump says Russia's war in Ukraine is a 'horrible thing' and that he's 'not happy' with Russian president Vladimir Putin. He added that it doesn't matter that it's not Americans who are being killed. 'I'm disappointed frankly that President Putin hasn't stopped,' he said. 7.48pm EDT 19:48 In response to a question about the future of Gaza, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: 'It's called free choice: if people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave.' 7.45pm EDT 19:45 Also at the Trump-Netanyahu dinner, Trump confirmed his plans to visit victims of the floods in Texas on Friday. 7.45pm EDT 19:45 Speaking at his dinner with Donald Trump, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has sent a letter to the Nobel committee nominating Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. Updated at 8.53pm EDT 7.36pm EDT 19:36 Demonstrators gathered in Washington DC today to protest the arrival of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently meeting with Donald Trump for talks many hope will lead to a ceasefire agreement in Israel's war with Gaza. Here are a few images from the scenes outside the White House and Blair House, where Netanyahu met Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff earlier. 7.17pm EDT 19:17 Donald Trump signed two other executive orders today, amid his tariff announcements. One directs his administration to 'strictly enforce the termination of the clean electricity production and investment tax credits', Biden-era subsidies for wind and solar projects. The other extends a federal hiring freeze through October 15. That order, which states 'no Federal civilian position that is presently vacant may be filled, and no new position may be created,' does not apply to military personnel, immigration enforcement, national security, public safety or the Executive Office of the President. 6.54pm EDT 18:54 Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at the White House for his scheduled talks with Donald Trump this evening. The Israeli prime minister met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this afternoon, the Associated Press reports, citing the prime minister's office. The visit comes as indirect talks between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza continued for a second day on Monday. Trump has increased pressure for a deal in Gaza in recent weeks and raised the possibility that a ceasefire could be declared in a matter of hours or days. Hamas demands an Israeli withdrawal, while Netanyahu insists on Hamas disarming. The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu could give new urgency to the US ceasefire proposal, but whether it leads to a deal that ends the war is unclear. Updated at 6.57pm EDT 6.03pm EDT 18:03 Donald Trump has set new 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea, as well as new tariff rates on a dozen other countries, including Bangladesh and South Africa. The announcement was made via a post on Truth social that included letters sent to the nations' leaders. He also signed an executive order on Monday extending a 90-day pause for a slate of so-called 'reciprocal' tariffs first introduced in April – in effect pushing back the deadline of trade talks back to 1 August. Read the details of Trump's most recent moves here. Updated at 6.26pm EDT 5.43pm EDT 17:43 The Trump administration will deport Kilmar Ábrego García if he is released from custody, a Justice Department attorney said in court this morning, according to the New York Times. The Maryland father, who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March, is currently detained on smuggling charges the Trump administration filed after he was returned to the United States. Ábrego García's lawyers have asked the Federal District Court hearing the smuggling case to keep him in custody so that the federal government does not deport Ábrego García before the criminal case is concluded. Updated at 5.43pm EDT 5.35pm EDT 17:35 California has rejected the Trump administration's guidelines on transgender athletes, education secretary Linda McMahon said in a social media post. Since taking office in January, Donald Trump has directed his Education Department to enforce Title IX, a civil rights law preventing sex discrimination, to prevent transgender athletes from competing on teams that align with their gender identity. In June, the Education Department found that California had violated civil rights law by allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams. In her post, McMahon included email screenshots showing that the California Department of Education and Interscholastic Federation had opted not to comply with the Trump administration proposal, which would have required the state to apologize to athletes who had lost competitions to trans athletes. In a screenshot of an email, California Education Department general counsel Len Garfinkel wrote that the state 'respectfully disagrees' with the Trump Administration's analysis.